Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-02-15

-@I1Na%N 49, @-HH
y. L. STEWART
Constable I4th Or. Dist. -. RAMSEY
On Friday the State Convention re
sumed the consideration ofthe follow
fng paragraph of section 2S Ofthe Leg
islative report Of Finance Committee
Capital invested in the buying anC
selling Of merchandise shall be estima
ted for taxation at the highest value
of the stock Of merchandise on hand
at any one period in the year prece
ding its assessment, and merchant,
shall pay in addition to an ad valoren
tax thereon a specific tax, which shall
not exceed five hundred dollars PEI
annum, TO be graduated as the Legis
lature shall direct; but peddlers anC
privileges may be taxed in such man,
ner as may from time to time be pre-
scribed by law.
The Chairman of the Finance Com.
mittee spoke in favor of the above
proposition, and desired to discrimi.
nate in favor Of hemerchants Of Ten
nessee against those of other States,
Nh. WARNER insisted that it was
framed for the benefit of Memphis,
Nashville and Knoxville wholesale
dealers, and would Cypress the small
dealers in the country. Mr.. HE'S
KELL insisted that heavy taxation of
merchants only raised the price OF
goods TO the farmer, without benefit
70 the farmer. He said that Tennes-
see merchants had built up a vast in
teTe-t in Tennessee and deserved pro-
lection. To tax them heavily would
discriminate against them in favor of
merchants Of other States, and conse-
quently damage all classes in Tennes-
see. Mr.. BRANDON preferred that
the matter should be regulated by the
Legislature. He favored the old sys-
TEN Of taxing merchants according to
the invoice cost OF their goods. He
thought the report Of the Committee
increased the taxable property Of the
farmer, while, at the same time, the
tax on merchants is lightened. Mr..
BROWN, of Davidson, offered in lieu a
provision that the business Of farm
ing, mechanical and agricultural pur-
suits and the learned professions
shall not be considered privileges an
der the Constitution" which was re-
jected by Il to i. Such a vote on 50
reasonable a proposition indicates
that the Convention is as blind as a
bat. If these pursuits should be
deemed and held a. privileges"
then nO business, no avOcation what
ever deserves to be encouraged, and
all enterprise, and all pursuits, which
augment the wealth Of individuals
and the State, should be repreSsed.
Such decisions indicate a degree Of
stupidity Of which the black-and-tan
South Carolina Legislature should be
ashamed.
In the afternoon session the above
clause was amended by inserting the
word privilege" after the word
specific thus changing it so as to
embOdy in the organic law the recog-
milton Of the business Of merchandiz-
ing as 50 far against public policy as
10 warrant a penalty specific
privilege taxi Of five hundred dollars.
Even this didnot satisfy Mr.. CARTER,
whe offered, in lieu OF the whole para
graph, the following:
But the Legislature shall have DOW
er TO tax merchants, peddlers and
privileges, in such manner as they
may from time 10 time direct.
And this absurdity-this placing
merchants on a level with peddlers,
jugglens, showmen and fortune-teIIers
Mr.. NETHERLAND warmly advO-
Gated! He did not approve merchants
being taxed only on the greatest
amount Of their capital, like other
people, as if they were a useful class
of population. He called tightening
the tax on merchants " class legisla-
ton" when merchants and the friends
of merchants asked nothing but per-
feet equality with all classes, and
stand ready to pay more promptly
than Others a fair and equal tax with
all other capital, interests and bust
ness, demanding no favors or reduc-
ton for their class as compared with
n other useful business whatever. (
NETHERLAND ought to be sent to
school to learn the elementary princi-
pies Of poll lca economy. He would
tax Tennessee merchants even beyond
the penalty Of $500 per annum for the
crime of selling goods, in order to
benefit the farmers! He does not
know that he is himself the true ad-
vOcate OF " class legislation" in the
most Odious form, and that his plan
viii destroy all values, land included;
IN a country where agriculture and
commerce may not thrive together
and have equal protection and eoun-
tenance. We are pleased to see
that our Representatives, SrF-
PHENs and HEIsKELL and BATE
took a more sensible view'Of the mat
ter. and advocate a common protec-
tiou of merchants and farmers, rather
chan the injury or oppression Of either.
II the Convention is not statesman
ike snough TO see that protection Of
and the oppression of none enters
into the trust which has been conhded
TO them, and is the spirit Of the powers
and instructions given them by the
people. the State is sold, and it win
be its misfortune if they remain in
sassion any longer. We would treat
Ire convention with all respect. But
= order to the respect Of the people it
respect itself. The following re
of Mr.. SAMPLE was rejected:
That capital invested in buying