The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-19
Maj. Barksdale's Vote on the Bonded
Whisky Bill.

Gibson. Like everything Mai. Barkskale
writes, it is conclusive.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,, g. S. /
WAsHisGToS, d. G., May 18th, 50
J. G. SPENCER, Esq Ny Dear Sir: As
| cannot leave my post OF duty to defend
my official record in person, without vio-
lating my obligations to my constituents,
Who have a right 10 demand that | shall
devote my whole attention 10 public ques-
lions and to their local aud personal inter
ests I thank you Tor asking my attention
to Col. Hooker's arrangement OF nv course
in a speech recently delivered 1t Port
Gibson, upon what Is known the
Bonded Whisky Bill" in the 43th Con-
gress. Since that Congress adjourned, the
Democratic party OF the District have
passed upon my official record by a unaui-
nous nomination in 1884, and the whole
people have passed upon it BY a majority
Of five thousand four hundred and sixty
votes at the polls. The question Is res
both as TO my vote, and the
measureitself. Nevertheless. Will not take
refuge behind this plea. For my guidance
upon the bonded bill, | had conspicuous
examples. The question was by no means
a new one On the l4th day OF March,
1873. Dish Cong. 2d, Session, Cong. r. p.
I776) Messrs. c. L. HOOKER and the entire
Mississippi delegation, with the exception
Of Col. Singleton, voted for "a bonded
whisky bill" granting three years extern
sion triih0m iaferest. The bill for which /
voted limited the extension to two years,
and required the payment Of per cent
interest.
On April 3D.. 1892 the House Of Repre-
sentati9es, (47th Congress, lst session. Con-
gressional Record, p. 254lJ passed the
same measure, except that It extended the
time for the payment Of the tax indefinite
Is. and required no interest. The yeas
and nays were not called, and presumably
it passed by nearly a unanimous vote, y
under the rules, a small minority can de
mand yea and nay vote, and invariably
does, when there is Il division upon an
important question. The bill thus endOrs
ed by Col. Hooker and his colleagues went
TO the Senate and was amended, 50 as to
limit the extension to two years, and
require the manufacturers 10 pay a TAX OF
4 per cent. This occurred before my
membership commenced. The bill IN that
shape received the sanction Of both of our
distinguished Senators. Senator George
voted for it ION The 4th January, 1888.
and said that Senator Lamar was abse ut
and paired with Senator Dawes, and that
if present, he would have voted for the
bill
In all the State there was not syllable
Of censuTe breathed against her Represen-
tatives and Senators for the votes they had
given. / know there was no arraignment oi
Col. HOOKER, who for eight years repre-
scented the old 9Th District, and whose frsi
vote for the bonded whisky bill was given
as early "a March 4th, 1873, and whose
last vote was cast as late as April Sd
1882. II was an economic question, not
involving the matter Of taxing whisky,
but simply the time at which the tax
should be paid whether when first distill-
ed or when put on the market for sale, and
the people knew that the Representatives to
whom they had conided an important
trust, were influenced by proper inten-
tions, and acquiesced in their judgment.
The question naturally arises, why am /,
Of ali the Mississippi Senators and Rep
resentatives, at this late date, after my
conduct has been passed Upon by the peo-
pie, and the issue is no longer practical
one, singled out for ceusure? And with
what propriety does Col. Hooker arraign
me for voting for a measure which he him
self slpported?
A word as to the bill. which has evil
IDENTIFY been misunderstood. 1t did not
have for its object the repeal, or even re-
ductiou of the whisky tax. 1t simply
proposed that the tax should be paid when
1t was put on the market, just as the tax
is paid on tobacco, instead OF when first
manufactured with this condition, how
ever, that the holder OF the article should
paw to the Government the same interest
a per cent? which it pays on its highest
bonds. 1t was an economic question in
volving only the time and conditions on
which the tax should be paid. Some said,
pay it when first manufactured others
said let ii be paid, with interest, when put
on the market They who took the latter
position, and voted for the bill, agreed
that the Treasury was already overlooking
with idle money-a temptation to extrava-
gance and proAigate expenditure; that
the principal was not needed, but that the
Government did need the interest to meet
the accruiug interest on its bonds. An
other consideration wich Influenced those
who voted for the bill, was that to oppose
extension Of the time OF payment OF the
tax, would be to flood the market with
cheap whistles, and thus encourage intem-
perance. This apprehension, as is known,
was speedily realized.
Again, the opposers of the bill gave as
their reason that they were in favor Of
repeating the tax on spirits altogether, aud
their conduct was controlled by that mo-
tive. Mr.. Randall, in his vigorous speech
against the bill, used this significant Ian
guage:
II am prompted by no unkind feeling
toward them the whisky manufacturers
in my opposition 10 this bill, for il could
to-day relieue them by repeal Of the tar in toto,
or 6yd partial repeal, they p0aid hare my ,gaTm
advocacy, and ,could rejoice. What | fear
is that IL tends to make permanent the In
ternal system the the whisky and tobacco
taxi | abhor the system of
taxing whisky and | stand against its con
tinuance for day longer than we can
help and therefore any act of legislation
likely to perpetaate Il, l teel solemn duty re-
qures me 10 resist"
In plain words, Mr.. Randall and his fol-
lowers opposed the Bonded extension bill
for the reason that they wanted the whisky
tax repealed, and extension was calculated
''to perpetuate it," On the other hand
Mr. Blackburn, leading advocate of the
extension bill, speaking for himself and
others said:
81 am not an advocate of free whisky
am not an advocate of that policy which
would defeat this measure, and glut the
market with the cheapened goods whisky
purchased at contiscation rates flooding
every hamlet and village in the land
in order that the country may be treated to lrhisk,
at fire cents a drink, and salt and sugar al fit,
cents pound"
Ii 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 extension bill. In voting for the bill
| voted to continue the tax, and to prevent
flooding the country with cheap whisky
The question is pertinent to what
have done, and what | will do upon the
question of repealina the tax on distilled
spirits. 1t is readily answered. On the
| 9Th April, 1884, Hon. Mr.. Thompson, OF
Kentucky, offered the following resolution
in the House of Representatives
Resolved, That it is unwise aud inexpe-
dent for the present Congress to abolish OF
reduce the tax upon spirits distilled from
grain. (43d Gong. LIST Sess., Cong. Record
2742)
Ny vote is recorded in favor OF this res
olution- | will add that | will never vot,
TO repeal, or to aDate, the tax on spirits d
any other luxury while the people ar,
taxed on the clothes they wear, the nipple
ments they work with, and on the neces
saries that sustain life.
Yours respectfully,
E. BARKsDALE.
T.