New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-31
The Poverty Of the South.

xD0 1Ov0Ety u ING 6VosDs
Southern Democratic newspapers, Con
opinion az exist in that section, are c0ntinu-
ally ''exalting their hour" over the poverty
of the South. In view of the constant re-
currence of good crops, the increase Of man
utacturing industries, the additional amount
of bank cspical reported for several years
past, the growth of small farms, towns, and
retail stores, etc., in ell directions this out
CRY does not seem to be we'll grounded. The
ast cotton cfoR nos He1S 5 bosa ssd
probably reach an aggregate Of ,5O0. 900.
| There has been an increase of 44O, 600 bales
exported over the preceding crop. Prices
| have not ruled high, but are not unproHt-
| able.
The truth is that the outcry about South
| ern poverty has . tw0-fOld s0urce-one 10
| political, and the other 10 Of the social class
or caste character. Take the latter, and it
| will be found that the growlers are the for
mer plantation barons and their dependents,
who have been unable to adapt themselves
to the new order Of things, and - rule
| are poorer than they were. For political
| reasons the Confede ate Democratic lead
ers are continually encouraging the cry of
poverty, sectional and personal, among
| their ASSOCIATES and followers. 1t increases
| the hostility to the Union, or rather the ma
l
| ence of which the "lost cause" sentiment 10
fed.
The congressional branch of this talk is
! adroitly managed. Two points are aimed 1t.
| These are to relieve the South a. far - prac-
| teal from the payment of taxes or revenue
| to the general government Hence the re-
| duction of the force needed to collect the
| taxes on whisky, tobacco, etc. But little
| can. however, be done in that direction.
Il V1n ia M nntF
worked. The Congressional Record shows
| the activity of the men who attempted to
destroy the Union in the present endeavor
! to plunder it's treasury.
| Southern war and other claims to the
amount OF many score of millions are all
ready. The House has already passed q
bill restoring thereto Southern men who
were borne on the pension rolls in 1861.
| The Confederate brigadiers all voted for
| the payment Of arrearages.
| An attempt has already been made to
| put in train measure to secure the refund
| ing of the direct war tax on lands collected
| under the act of Congress of August 5, 1861
| imposing tax of $40 900 600 upon the va
rious States, upon which nearly $l6, 900 600
| were collected. resolution was offered
and referred to the Committee on Ways
| and Means. where an examination showed
| the purpose OF The Confederate prOposer
The law provides that any State or Terri.
tory might assume the duty Of collecting
the tax and pay its proportion into the
national treasury, in default of which it be
| came the duty OF the President, with the
advice and consent of the Senate, to ap
| point commissioners to make the necessary
assessments and collections. All but Colo
RADIO and the eleven rebel States assumed
the responsibility, and paid their quota,
except New York, Wisconsin, Kansas, Cali.
furnia, Colorado, Washington Territory,
Utah and Oregon, from which there is a
| small unadjusted balance due the United
States, amounting in the aggregate to
| 81, ,237 ,317. This balance will undoubtedly
| be properly settled, but the ex-rebel States
| do not show well, as the following table
| illustrates: