The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-22
THE CLIMBER OF COMMERCE.

a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was
held Yesterday at II NJ. President :. Y. Tupper
in the chair.
The chairman announced that the meetins
had been called for the purpose OF CONSIDER
ing the matter of the cotton tax, and 10 near
from Colonel Robertson Topp, OF Memphis,
Tenn, on the subject.
A communication from Mr.. Jos. l.. TOBIAS
was read to the effect that the importing mer-
chants OF Baltimore We're allowed 10 pay
duties on foreign gooisin currency, ana mat
the collector of that port was authorized
by the secretary Of the treasury TO receive
currency at the II M. value OF gold in New
York on the same day. The extreme scarcity
of coin in Charleston make 1t most desirable
that Our merchants should be allowed the
same privilege.
On motion of Mr. William Ravenel, the COM
municatlon was submitted to the president,
with instructions to communicate with the
secretary Of the treasury. and ask that tue
same privilege be allowed this as other Giles.
The following report was read:
The committee consisting of Mpssrs. E. h.
Frost, chairman; E. Willis, F. j. Pelzer, Geo.
H. Walter and L. D. Mowry, appointed by
former meeting of this chamber to investigate
the question of the cotton tax, have done so,
and herewith submit their report:
In memorials 10 Congress on tlls supJecC
emanaling from the Chamber Of Commerce. OF
the City OF Memph's. from the Chamber Of
Commerce OF The City of New Orleans, and
from the Merchants Exchange OF the City OF
ST. Louis, we ind all the issues which can pos
sibly arise treated with such fuEness, fairness
and great ability that we are saved the neces-
sty OF investigating and reporting upon SUBJ
ject already exhausted.
We point to the arguments used IL lnose
memorials, and we hereby ADOPT and lnuoTse
the same as true 10 every respect, especially
The arguments urged, intended TO show the
course of trade relative to cotton. aud that
the lax could not and was not added into the
price, and made 10 fall upon the consumption
II Is therefore resolved by the Chamber Of
Commerce of Charleston
That we consider the tax. which was levied
on cotton, was eminen'ly unjust, partial,
and We think plainly in violation OF the con-
slitution.
That we consider such legislation we'll cal
culated to engender incurable evils, and that
the wrongs perpetrated by the same should be
promptly redressed by refunding the money
collected under such oppressive and unconsll-
tutional laws.
IudL we uttcU1 ou1 uOoe ANSPSSS
fully memoraize Congress to refund the
moneys collected under those cotton tax laws;
That the president of This. Chamber be and
Is hereby requested to lay these proceedings
before the Congress of the United States, and
tnat he lay the same before The Governor ana
Legislature Of this State, now in session, with
O respectful request that they shall join with
and aid US In such efforts as they may deem
best to accomplish the objects inte nded; and
lha. an official copy be furnished the senators
and Representatives in Congress from this
State.
Captain George H. Walter here introduced
Colonel Topp, who addressed the Chamber,
giving them an interesting review of the origin
of the cotton tax, the steps taken to have the
tax refunded, and showing the Importance OF
the resolutions offered by The committee.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
Hon A. G. Magrath was then elected mem
ber of the board, after which the meeting ad-
journed.