The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-07-05
Abolish the Internal Ievenue system.
A BRIEF BUT POWERFUL SPEECH BY THE
HON. $. 5. cox.
Congressional Record, JUNG 15.l

Congressional Record, June 10.
| beg the attention of members to say
that enough has been developed, owing to
the unfortunate colloquY that has taken
place, to show honest people who are watch
ing our proceedings with more care for our
own honor than we seem to be doing. | say
the revelations which have been made in
connection with the internal revenue system
have begotten much suspicion. Whether
well or ill-iounded, l do not say; but it calls
for very careful investigation. The result
will be, and not very remote either, that
the whole internal revenue system will be
blotted out. 1t ought to be.
l believe if the tariff were properly ar
ranged, if the number of articles upon
which duties are levied was cut down from
more than 1000 to some smaller number
and with revenue qualities, it would not
require a commission to frame tariff that
would yield revenue enough to pay all the
expenditures Of frugal government.
would hail the day when this internal rev.
enue system shall be abolished, and our rev.
enues be collected with revenue purposes,
neither political, partisan, nor protective.
We have had it now twenty years. 1t
was 4 war measure. It has done its work.
/ Il is past its usefulness. know the effect
Of it in my own State. You gentlemen who
favor a free ballot and an honest count per-
haps do not know how the internal revenue
officers, the storekeepers, the gaugers, and
all Of the employees of that bureau, force
| by their espionage and terrorism the free
ballot It is a power which l could, had
/ time, display here in its enormity, and
I from published and notorious facts.
II is an expensive system. 1t is costly in
country and city. Go to North Carolina.
/ I defy any man Of common sense to tell me
that the system in North Carolina pays
either morally or economically. Take the
several districts of North Carolina as you
find them in the report of the Commissioner
Of Internal Revenue. Take its Sixth Dis
triet You will find that it costs to collect
S5l0,9i4 Of revenue over $2S4,415. 1t is
over 81 per cent. for the cost of collection.
\ Yet in that same State, quiet and orderly
as it is, they collect their State taxes for ave
Y per cent, or sec, ,5l3 as the cost Of collecting
I $5S0, ,263.
Thisexpensive system does invade the
towns and cities. As / said, it forces the
ballots. 1t uses spies and informers-per
sons Of bad fame throughout all history
OF all those which history hands down as
most execrable are the spies and informers
They are voluntary witnesses for aeonsider
alton, which the amendmento Of the gentle
man from Kentucky, (AIr. Whitley woulI
cut up the roots.
With permission quote the description
OF the detested informer given by the Irish
orator Curran. It was familiar to on
school boys 1t ought to direct US on thi
amendment:
In a case Of life--of honor and Of infamv-
, 70 credit vile informer, the perjurer Of 81
! hundred 0aths, q wretch whom pride, honor
OF religion could not bind The forsaken pros
: tituio Of every vice calls upon you with on
= breath to blast the memory OF the dead and Z
| blight the character Of the living. He measure
I his value by the collins Of his victims and i
the Geld ofevidence appreciates his fame q
j the Indian warrior does in hght, by the nun
Der Of scalps With which &c can swell hi
triumphs. He calls on yau By the soleml
) league Of eternal justice to audit the purity O
. conscience washed in his own atrocities
q He has promised and betrayed; he has swOr
:. and forsWorn; and whether his soul sha
g loheaven or 10 he'll, he seems altogether II
!. different, for he tells y9u he has establishe
an interest in each.
n / make this speech now not for the pul
4 pose or With the expectation that an
special reform viii be made Is this bill
But We cannot fail 70 see that 4 relorl
must commence some time and somewher.
nt This whiskey stencil, which has been re'
le tiiated N this House, may be the mean
under froridencc, 81 - arranging parti
IN she next election that We win tear 4
this internal revenue system by the ro1ls