Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-22
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS- BIZ coz.
OSEL ROBERTSON TOPP AND NIX.

MEMORIAL To CONGRESS- BIZ coz
ONEL ROBERTSON TOPP AND Nh
A. T. LACY,
The memorial to Ongress, which w
publish in this issue, asking congress Il
refund the cottOn-taX money for thI
reason that the acts levying this tai
were unconstitutional, is from the pen o.
| Colonel Robertson Topp, and is a part o.
the proceeding in Mississippi. As s
constitutional argument it is lucid, terse
forcIble, and so plain that the dullest
schoolbOy can comprehend it. We
think no unpreiudiced man can read il
and not be convinced that congress, in
/ levying this tax, has done that which is
expressly forbidden by the constitution.
II it be an effort of genius to reduce to
simplicity that which was before COM
pick, here is an effort Of genius Of the
highest order-mUltUnl ia pdrU0. Under
the acts levying this tax the govern
ment WIS collecting between twenty
and twenty-five millions of dollars from
the people Of the southern States annu-
ally. To the exertions of Colonel
Fopp and Mr.. A. T. Lacy, oil
this city, the people OF the south are
mainly indebted for the repeal OF these
laws, and to them is due the grateful re-
CARDS Of every citizen Of the south.
Colonel TOpp, in connection with two
OF three well known philosophical cit
liens Of this city, has been engaged at
great expense for seven years in the ef-
| fort to get this cOttOn-taX money refund
ed. Under great encouragement he has
pursued it with energy, zeal, talent and
an iron will deserving the highest COM
mendati0n. He is a man above all
others pTe-eminently qualified to con-
summate great enterprises. If he shall
succeed in having the cotton-tax refund-
ed, and these agricultural colleges estab-
iished, the wisest, greatest and most dis
tinguished may well look to their
lsurels. We appeal to the whole people
Of the south to aid him, and thereby aid
themselves. We appeal TO every news
paper IN the south to publish this article,
this bill and memorial. We appeal TO
every influential citizen in every neigh
bOrhOod to cut out from the newspapers
this memorial, paste it to paper, and
have it signed by thousands and tens Of
thousands, and forwarded in December
next % their respective representatives
ct Washington. We appeal to the citi-
zens everywhere in the south tocut from
newspapers, or have published this Mis-
sissippi cOttOn-tax .refunding bill. Let
them address to their present represent
atives in congress, and those elected to
the forty-fourth congress, this letter, or
something like it:
SIB-The undersigned citizens beg
cave TO lay before you a cotton-tax re-
funding bill, prepared at Holly Springs,
Mississippi. II meets our views IN
every particular, especially sections
eight, nine and ten. The section pro-
viding for agricultural colleges we esti-
mate most highly. We wish this bin
passed Just OS Il Is. We shall be highly
grauned 70 know that YOU will give
utis bW your Jealous support. Your
written answer expected. Very respect
fully, etc.
The people Of the south should re-
member that they have had a partial
failure Of crops, that they are ia debt,
and not prosperous. Every citizen
should likewise know, whether he is d.
recuy concerned in the cotton-tax or
not, that the return at this time Of sew
enty millions Of dollars 70 the people Of
the south would cause new enterprise
and bring joy and blessings to gladden.
the hearts Of thousands now destitute.
VIII you aid, as suggested2