The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-21
THE BONDED WHISKY BILL.
Letter from Hon. E. Barksdale.
jackson. Oct. -. 1885

JACkSON, Ocl. IL, 1000.
EDITORS OF THE SWORD AND SHIELD
In your Issue of the 10th, coupled with
some censorlous observations which ]
will leave unanswered, you have
stated that my vote for the "don-
ded whisky bill" "needs explana-
tion.n 1t was cast during the first session
Of the 4Sth Congress. Since that time The
Democratic party of the District have
passed judgment rpon my official course
bv a unanimous nomination, which the
whole people have ratified by majority OF
between i've and six thousand. The aues-
ton was finally disposed of at that session.
It is res adjudicata-a settled issue, both
as to my vote and the main question itself.
But will not take advantage Of this fact.
There may be persons knowing moth
ing of the reasons that influenced my ac-
ton and being willing to trust my iudg-
ment, who, like yourselves, desire ian ex-
PLANTATION" and / am willing to repeat it
-ven at this late day, assured that the
courtesy of speaking through your col
nmns to YOUR numerous readers vii. be ac-
corded to me.
The bonded whisky bill, which has been
20 much misunderstood, did not, as some
seem to have supposed, have for its OBJ
iect the repeal or the reduction of the
whisky tax. 1t simply proposed that the
tax should be paid when put on the mar
<et for sale, just as the tax is paid on to-
bacco, instead of when first manufactured,
with this condition, however, against the
whisky manufacturer, that the holder OF the
,rticle should pay to the government what
the government pays an interest on lis
highest bonds. 1t was purely economic
question. involving not the payment of the
tax, but the time and conditions on which
it should be paid. Some said, pay the tax
when the spirits are first manufactured.
Others said let it be paid, if preferred, with
interest, when put on the market They
who took the latter position and voted for
The bill, said that the Treasury was over
flowing with idle money, temptation to
profigate expenditure that the principal
could not be used, but that the govern
meat did need the interest to meet the ac-
cruing interest on It's bonds. Another con-
sheraton in favor of the bill was that if
the tax was forced, it would food the coun-
Try with cheap whisky and thus encourage
intemperance. This apprehension, as is
known, has been realized.
Again, the opposers OF the bill gave as
their reason, that they were in favor OF
repeating the tax on spirits altogether in
order to necessitate the retention of the
tax on clothing, iron, and other necessaries.
Mr. S. j. Randall, in his vigorous speech
against the dill, used the following signii
cant language.
I am prompted by no unkind feeling toward the
whisky manufacturers in my opposition to this
bill, for II could refere them By repeal Of The tar
toto b. partial repeal they scosid hare ny earn
support and Iseoaid rejoice. | FEAR THAT 1T (the
bonded BILLY TENDS TO MAKE PERMANENT THE IN
rERNAL TAX whisky rax.) ABHoE THE SYSTEM
ut.sN A u
continuance for longer day than can hello, and
therefore any eflegisiatio likely perpetaate IT,
feel a saiepia duty requires me to resist
In plain words, as shrewd politician as
Mr.. Randall who we'll understood the
bearing and effect Of the bill for which the
Sword and Shield takes me to task for
voting, said that he opposed it because it
would tend TO make permanent the tax on
schisky"
On the other hand, Mr.. J. G. s. Black
burn, a leading advocate of the bill, said
81 am not an advocate of free whisky am not |
an advocate OF that policy which would defeat this
spirits purchased at confscaton rvtes, flooding |
every hamlet and village in the land in order thai
ne coanfry may Be freufed q arhfsky at fire ceas
drink, and salt and sugar al my oeafs pound"
If Mr. Randall ON the one side and Mr.. |
Blackburn on the other, were logical. il |
necessarily followed that the shortest way
to repeal the whisky tax was to vote
against the bill which you arraign me |
for supporting. / am not in favor of re-
pealing the tax on whisky, and therefore |
did not adopt the policy which was design
ed to accomplish that result.
On this particular occasion, though l Il
have been selected as the sole object of |
the Mississippi delegation were
ovonlu dfvsdad Rr.f n xroa bxr !, -. 80.