Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-02

, VI
tiers, and independently of all lega
objections, make it immoral for thu
government now to enforce its pre-
tence of title. One of these is that tb'
payment of taxes on those lots wher
due was rendered to the United State
Commissioner and refused By him
And when the sale took place th'
same Commissioner required bidders
to bid rates far higher than thu
amount of the taxes, and in
some cases struck of property
to the Government because nc
friends of its owner would bid or was
able to bid hundreds or thousands o.
dollars over the amount of the taxes,
1t was a work Of force under the bay
onet, and men were told that if they
did not bid something in proportion
TO the value of the property, he Mr.,
Commissioner, would strike it off tC
the United States" Besides he would
not allow taxes to be paid on any
lands except by the owner in person,
nor to be redeemed by any agent,
Notwithstanding friends of the owners
always stood ready to pay and re-
deem. The whole process was
simple outrage not designed
to benefit the Government, but
as a speculation for the benefit OF
the Commissioner and the tax title
mOngers whom he took into his
spoils ring. We are prepared to
prove here that there was no fair
ness or justice to the owners Of prop
erty in this whole proceeding, and
not a whit more to the government.
If the government was to have the
benefit of the iniquit0us proceeding,
it would have millions Of property to
look after instead of a few outside
lots which escaped the clutches of the
camp followers because they had
their hands full of other plumber too
valuable to make these lots worth
looking after. The United States
now comes in for their
Ieavings. We hope before the collec-
tor here takes any further steps in
the matter he will advise the Secre-
tary of some such facts as those to
which we have limited, comprising,
however, but q of a hundred. The
whole proceeding here in the matter
of collecting direct United States taxes
was partial, inequitable and tyrannical,
it was operated for the benefit of army
officers and spectators ION the
make and a sWindle on the govern
ment as well as a cruel injustice to
the people. What was taken, was
taken as an act Of war, or a a result
of the opportunity given to
the thieves and eormorants
following in the wake of the
army; and Ben. Butler has as
good u right to go back to New Or
leans to gather up a few odds and
ends of silver spoons and forks which
dropped out of his budget on leaving
there, as the Government to 60 back
to Fort Pickering to pick up a few
leavings which the commissioner and
the Lewises, Houghs, TOmmys, Beech
ars, Smiths, ct I'd Ohlae genus would
not have. If this thing is..pursued, we
promise a damniRg exposure from
there are some individuals who
will be fortunate, if they can stand
rom under. As showing how unjust
t will be for the government to en-
ioree its claim against these lot
holders, another circumstance has
been brought 70 our notice,
which is not alone, but only one OF
many similar eases. Some Of these
OTIS were taken during the war for
government use, and buildings, some
lines of considerable value, torn
from them. Was it not enough
hat the whole property was thus
AIKEN and used, and compensation
herefor promised, but never made,
hat the oWUers are also charged
With taxes when they had no use of
heir property, and when it was in
he actual occupation Of the govern
nent, and now the title too, is
0 be Invested after the property has
cen returned to the owners Does
ot. the act of the military authorities
Selling and using this Fort Picker
rs property during the wal estop
be government from also exacting
axes?
1t certainly does, ifjustice is to be
one, and the moral aspect of the
natter is considered, and the gov
rnment proposes to keep faith with
For example, take the case
Nh. Merriman. He has always
zen so ''loyal" that he has never
cen known to get out of the blue to
lis day, or to walk the streets of the
ty without a United States flag crop I
ing out from the top Ofhis beaver, I'M :
IS it was when attending some spirit :
,eance," to which those who excel '
loyalty are so much addicted. His
t was taken, valuable buildings on {
torn down and destroyed, posses
Dn of the property retained by the
three years, remunera- l
IN promised, but never made. and Z
xes levied by sale to the govern E
emf; and the government now as the :
ward of loyalty is demanding the t
simple title. If thus il rewards its y
ends, it "a better TO rebel a little, !,
most Of the rebels got off better ii
Merriman. 1t viii befOund when 5
e Facts are all investigated, that the .
vernment has no property in Fort Z
ekering to which a private individ- a
! could assert a title without blush II
: for shame. Investigation will dis a
Sc that the seizure of these lots will u
disgraceful; and we therefore trust r
2 pursuit will be abandoned BY MIR. d
eretary Boutwell,. Of
Il
The Peoples Journal, Hamilton. Il
NADIA, gives a list of twenty WOODEN Is
1 linen factories insthe province Of W
tario, Upper Canada) which have
her been closed or burnt down and II
! rebuilt, because Of the ruinous n
eign competition to which they Y
re subjected. 1t adds: th
Many mills have run at a loss rather th
n shut up, q others have been hui ST
occasionally, and nothing but the TO
protection Of Is per cent. saved the 10
Dlen and cotton mills Of the country y
10 icing shut up and forever. liz mav