The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-06-28
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vicksburg Herald.
The Port Gibson Reveille thus expresse.
its conviction about Congressman Robert
sons suggestion to rebuild the leEees viii
the cotton tax Illegally collected BY ths
United States:
The modesty that tints the cheeS O.
loneliness and beauty with the lights and
shades of mellow bushes, will never trouble
Mr. Robertson
He simply wants to take the legitimate
property of one people to protect the prop
erty of another That's all He has as
much right to take the unlawfully held
cotton money, as he has to take unealled
pension money or any other sacred private
property, for building levees. The cotton
tax money is not treasure-troye. 1t is the
money of ruined people, taken from them
by a "bold Buccaueer, and the bold
Buccaneer pretends to want to restore it
We fear he pretends one thing and intends
another.
The editor of the Times Democrat says
"the States of Louisiana, Mississippi and
Arkansas, were robbed of this money"
Not those alone, but all the cotton States
were alike robbed. by this lawIess cotton
tax. The editor don't ask to have the
money refunded to the true owner. but he
wants it to build levees. He claims that
the rightful owners can't be found-the
planters who paid this cotton tax. We can
find scores of them IN this county, and
many hundreds all through the State, who
hold the evidences OF payment. We paid
s., 500 of the lawless tax, and have the
papers to prove it, as have others of our
neighbors and friends, who paid that tax
In the name of the deealogue, and all the
people of all the cotton States, we protest
against this unjust and unrighteous scheme
to rob Peter to pay Paul
A levee built out of the proceeds of that
money-the money of ruined people
wouidn't stand big shower of rain.
The ReVeille takes a correct view
of the injustice of appropriating this
tax to rebuilding leyees on the Missis-
sippi. We are as much in favor of the
United States improving and controlling
the United States river as any one can be,
but we are not in favor of it using money
that rightfully belongs TO others for that
purpose. Such an act of injustice is not
expected, even by those who live in the
Valley.
While our eotemporary was discussing
some plan of returning the tax. The mat
ter is exciting lively interest, and our
articles have brought us numerous letters
strongly indorsing our position that bill
should be introduced in Congress for the
of the money. Many gentlemen
who paid large amounts assure us they will
be entirely satisfied for the Legislatures of
the various States from which the tax was
to dispose of it. We are strongly
impressed with the opinion that the best
thing TO do first is to get the United States
to refund to each State the amount collec-
ted from it, according to the figures in the
possession of the Government. II the men,
bers of Congress from the cotton States
agree upon a demand of that nature, it is |
difficult to see how the Government can, in
the face of the decision of the Supreme |
Court, refuse 70 make restitution.
When each State shall have been put in |
possession of the amount due it, the Legis- |
lature which is supposed to represent the |
people, can dispose of it.
That body would doubtless refund to the |
the rightful owners wherever it is possible |
to discover them. All such details can be |
settled after the money is refunded to escn /
State by the United States, but certainly |
not before. First let the cotton States bv |
their Congressman unite on bill that will |
cause the United States to pay into the
treasury of each State the amount illegally |
collected from its citizens. What does our
and all others interested, say
Of the frststep proposed We hope there
will be very general expression of public
sentiment all over the cotton States Such |
an expression is needed, for in all the eleven
million bills introduced by Southern men,
Ders this session, there is not one sensible
enough to be maintained.