Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-05

HreslQenL n. Hlll mo oulce- lQeEE
was fair attendance Of members pres
ent. Colonel Pinson presided for the
last time.
The Secretary read the minutes Of the
| two previous meetings, showing how the
new hall was procured, and how the
aticketn was elected. Mr.. S. NJ. An
derson was elected a member Of the
Chamber The Vice-President Mr.. Pet
tigrew) made some explanations in refer
ence TO work done on the Chamber by
mechanics. There being nothing else to
be done, the outgoing President,
COLONEL PTNsON,
rose and said that his labOrs as Presi-
| dent of the Chamber being now termin-
| ated, he would have nothing more to do
! than TO make a few farewell remarks,
and then induet his successor iato office.
PRESIDENT PRISONS ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN-Two years ago was
/ elected to preside over the deliberations
Of your honorable body, and during the
| time that has interviewed / have dis
charged that duty to the best Of my abil-
| ity. To-day, in retiring from the posi-
/ ton TO which your confidence elevated
me, / feel it incumbent upon me TO ex-
press my grateful acknowledgements for
| the uniform Kindness and courtesy which
you have ever extended to me during
my term of office. Doubtless, / have
often been remiss in the discharge Of
duty, but beg TO assure you it has not
been from a lack Of a thoughtful and
abiding interest in the success or pros
perity Of your institution, an institution
which has resulted in enlarged useful
ness and a source OF invaluable intorma-
ton. 1 have endeavored to maintain
the standard Of its utility by the ad-
vocacy Of
IMPORTANT MEASURES,
looking to the advancement Of the
commerce of Memphis and the acquisI
ton Of such statistical information as
might entitle your records to a charac-
ter of reliability as a source of infOrma-
ton. In this i have teen ably seconded
by Colonel TTOusdale, your efficient
Secretary, as his annual reports will
abundantly testify. The same remarkwill
aptly apply to the late Assistant-Secre-
tary, Mr.. ]. S. Hemstead, who left no
task undOne which a labOriOus, rigid as
siduity could perform.
During the last two years many i'm
portant subjects have been brought to
your attention, and have received the
sanction Of your approval, and if they
had been carried out, would have con-
duced largely to the interest Of your city.
First, and not least in Importance, of
these / will mention that, soon after my
installation into office, the great ques-
ton Of our
WESTERN EXTENSIONS,
by means of increased railroad facilities
to Kansas, Arkansas and Texas, was
brought to your attention by our wOr-
thy member, Judge 7. w. Brown, and
was ably presented in a lengthy and eX-
haustive report made by himself,
Hon. Jacob Thompson and Judge II.
G.. Smith. This report not only called
attention to the importance of building
a railroad to Kansas City, to the north
westward Of US, thereby placing US in
direct communication with the great
grain and cattle producing region Of the
Northwest, bringing US into immediate
contact with the intermediate cotton
growing portions Of Arkansas, from
which we could and would derive q
trade, the value of which is not to be
arrived at by any ordinary calcu-
lation, but it also directed atten-
ton to the West and Southwest,
lDOhluE 10 q llOAC "a lEulLlDuG u aAllN
with Pine Bluff, Camden, Little Rock,
Fort Smith and the Indian Nation, as
well as to Jefferson, Texas, Shreveport,
Louisiana, and through these latter
points to Northern, Central and West
ern Texas, and ultimately to Mexico
and Mazatlan. This action aroused the
public mind, demonstrated the utility Of
these enterprises, and they have never
-, -, " aTad aar rraaa5flr~
discussed. These important subjects in
part received tina attention of some of
our capitalists and enterprising citizens,
but, l regret TO say, have not met with
the success their Importance demands,
but that they will be
EVENTUALLY CONSTRUCTED
no one can doubt. If it is necessary
further to illustrate the great necessity
Of these connections, l will mention
that as soon as we began 70 move in the
matter we had the pleasure Of receiving q
duly accredited delegate from jefferson,
Judge Meade, who, in an able address,
expressed the greatest anxiety that that
portion of Texas should be brought IN
direct communication with Memphis,
and that if we would meet them on Red
river the State of Texas had made ample
appropriations to extend a railroad
through that State, from the northeast
to the southern portion Of the State. Can
it be doubted if our city will bestir itself
! and establish connection with Northern
Texas il will derive a trade sufficient Of
itself to build up a City?
Another subject has received your con-
sideTation, and one Of no less importance
than the one just mentioned, and that is
THE QUESTION OF TAXATION. .
A law exists in your State which i'm
poses a burthen largely in excess of the
benefits the merchants receive, in COM
parison with other pursuits, and hope
the question will not be allowed TO rest
until the odious discrimination against
YOU has been wiped from the
statute-books. That the necessary
and highly honorable vocation should
be stigmatised by being required
to pay an increased tax for the
privilege of doing business as
such is a disgrace TO the legislation Of
the country, and would advise con-
stant agitation until the evil has been
remedied. This subject greatly con-
Germs the interest of Memphis, and not
only Memphis, but all the merchants Of
the State. As merchants, we donot claim
that we shall be exempted from any
tax which the Legislature may impose
upon any other portion or class of our
people, but we do claim that we shall be
taxed as others are, and that our busi-
ness shall only bear an equal proportion
Of the burthens of the State Govern
ment. As the law stands we are taxed
on our capital at the same rate with all
add every other pursuit-farmers in
cluded-and then we are granted the eX-
elusive consolation and honorable pre-
rogation of paying fifty per cent. for
THE PRIvALEGE OF BEING MERCHANTS.
We think and feel this discrimination
to be unjust, and is not characteristic of
wise or Intelligent craftsmanship.
1t was Lay pleasure to be in the city Of
Nashville during the last session of the
Legislature, when the merchants tax
was a subject of constant conversation,
and heard no member express an Opin-
ion dissenting from the idea that the
discrimination against merchants was
unjustb but serious apprehensions were
felt among some of them that 70 place
merchants upon an equality with other
taxpayers would not be popular at
home.n As a remedy against this species
of class legislation would advise mer-
chants over the entire State to make the
| question of an equalization Of taxation
| to a certain extent point in the selec-
| ton of members OF the Legislature. Quail
| ification is the first test, but to be quail
fed candidate should be actuated by a
| sense Of justice and free from the stoOp-
ing condescension of the time-server
and demagogue. 1t seems not to be
remembered that The merchant has
borne an important and an indispensa-
BILE part in the resuscitation of every
interest in the South since the war, by
means Of his capital, credit and enter
prise; the agricultural interest has been
encouraged and sustained hich, hope,
has reached a point Of prosperity COM
mendable to the industry Of the plant
I ing community, and worthy Of the
farmers time-honored integrity. Then,
| | ask, why should a merchant be re-
quired to pay an additional tax for the
| purpose of pursuing an honorable avoca-
| tion-an avocation alike honorable to
| himself and useful to the agricultural
and mechanical interests of the country.
LABOR AND CAPITAL
should 20 together, and each is indis-
pensable-one to the other-and taxa
| ton shsuld be equal. Ii may be true,
the constitution may authorize az in
equality in imposing the barthens Of
State government, but the principle is
| not based in common justice, nor upon
the foundation Of sound policy or wise
| legislation.
Within the last twelve months anoth-
er important matter has been brought
before you, which greatly concerns