The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-03-07
VOLUME VINO. 35.
The Cotton Tax.

A good opportunity, says the Augusta Con-
stituttonalist, is now being offered Northern
politicians who disclaim indulging in reyepgefnl
feelings toward the South to make good their
professions. A bill to refund the cotton tax,
illegally and unconstitutionally extorted from
the Southern people in the hour of their great
est helplessness and greatest need, is nov be,
fore Congress. 1t is gratifying to see that the
passage of the bill is advocated in some quar-
tiers from which we have not been in the habit
of looking for magnanimity, and have scarcely
hoped for justice. Some of the leading and
most pronounced Republican papers have of
late indicated a statesmanlike purpose 70 do
what was right in this matter, regardless of past
take pleasure in recognizing the Washington
Chronicle, whose sentiments favoring the meas.
ure we append: f..,;...;.
upon the question of the unconstltutio tionality
of the tax, the South is a unit; and very large
preponderance of the Northern Democracy, ii
not of the entire party, is of the same opinion.
1t is not an opinion merely, but profound and
settled conviction that the tax is unconstitu-
tional. In the most rabid period of sectional
bitterness, the legal profession in all sections
has shown marked leaning against the gov
ernment and with the South on the question.
The Supreme Court has stood equally divided
upon it, This is of itself q strong Indication
that the tax was unconstitutional; for it is but
natural to expect that court composed as that
is, would lean towards the government. It is
the policy, if not the function, of the Judiciary
to presume every thing in favor of the legality
of what is done by the two coordinate Depart
ments. ABE =
"But in case like this and under the pecu-
liar hardships of it, the impoverished and suf-
fering South ought to be allowed the benefit Of
the doubt. Congress might we'll grant in the
spirit of magnaninity what the law, as inter.
preted by a court not partial to the applicants,
has failed to extort." ~ ..;loe7 9ii; 20
Whether is be returning sense of justice oy
stroke of policy, in view of the pending quar-;
rel with England, and the probabilities Of war
that propitiates Northern sentiment in favor of
the bill, the South will be equally gratifed2if
this cotton tax is returned toher. It will come
to the South to reinyigorate her industry, build
up her enterprises, and give her new hopes Of
prosperity. Whether the money finds its way
back into the pockets of the cotton planters,
or of the cotton factors and merchants, stills
will come to the South, and difuse its benefits
among all. ~. ..-. %. .,..j
Sooner or later this money must and win
come back to us. 1t has gone Illegally into
tie Treasury, and the Southern people will
continue to knock at the door for it until iti
paid back. .-.i. s.er..n ,1...s,,
The party now in power may find it policy
to do Just and generous act by favoring the
bill now. If SO, it will go far to Offset in the
Southern mind many wrongs at its hands OF
which the Southern people complain. But
from this Administration or the next, we count
confidently on justice.