Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-12
THE RICHMOND OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DECEMBER - 1883

he said was the general desire on the part OF
the members 10 hear him tnlk upon the prop0.
sition. which involved great constitutional
questions. He could find no warrant IN the
Constitution TOR the refguding Of the direct
tax. The advocates Of the bill believed In
the constitutional limitations, but thought
that the limitations should be on somebody
else and not on themselves. The principal
OF the bill was bad. II was bad that the tax
should be refunded because some States had
not paid II. lie could cite par case.
An honest diktilier might. for peculiar ressous,
locate bis still IN a secleded spot and make q
run Of good old apple jack. IL might be
that IN his haste 10 crafty human thirst be
would forget 10 call upon the collector. The
logic OF this bin was that n the Government
found that the dlstiller had not paid the tax
the tax should be refunded b those di.tillers
who had paid II. He did not believe that
shy OF these back taxes should be refunded.
The Dest tbing for Congress 70 do was TO
spit on the slste aud rub out these questions
aud give its attention 10 the present and
future. But II Congress was going into the
business OF rigbting the wrongs OF the
past he wished 10 call attention TO
the cotton tax. He pictured the cons
dtion OF the South when the Confederate
soldiers returned 10 their homes. ~
was a condition and not a tseory which had
confronted them. fL1ughter.l lie described
after begging pardon for personal remit
niscencesj the al. g." Inspected and Con-
demned) h0rse.aud.bull tongue-plow with
which no. started TO raise cotton; the joy
which he felt at being the possessor OF a
paper collar (which, be assured The gentle
men. might, with iudicious turning, be
made % last the whole summer; OF his as
pirations 70 he the possessoT OF black
coat, and Of bis failure 10 secure one on ac-
count Of the tax w0ich he had TO pay upon
his cotton. The tax amounted TO one fourth
the value Of the cotton. while It did not en-
nance Is price I cent. II taxes were 70
be refunded this cotton tax was the first
which should be dealt with, and he gave
notice OF an amendment which would con-
stitute The cotton tax fund a. an educational
fund for the states which had paid IT,
Pending further debate the committee
rose. Tue Speaker laid before the House a
communication from the Secrelsry OF State,
enclosing the final entertainment OF the re-
tult Of the election for President and Vice
President in the States Of New jersey. Kan
sss, Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, Mary
land, North Carolina. and Georgia. Lad on
luf khDlfs uE NDluHtltt'C ihfh ANaNht'A ~
session.
Mr.. Elliott, OF South Carolina, generally
favored the bill, though he thought it should
be amended in some particulars, and he cited
az sn instance % the hsrdships whichthe d.
rect.tax had given rive to the case OF Beaufort,
:. G.. where, in order N collect a tax OF
Sl1. 900, property valued at $4,000 had been
sold.
Dir. Herbert, Of Alabama, opposed the bill
on constitutional grounds and because Il
would work an injustice. IL would paw to
the State OF Maine per capita OF sixty-nve
cents, while 10 the state 81 Nebraskait would
pay but one and One.hsli cents per capita.
Passing 10 the discussion OF the cotiOn-taX he
argued that II was unconstitutional in that It
was moi uniform. The tax on cotton was 4
tax on tho only industry upon which tue
people Of the South must live.
Mr. GrOsyenOr OF Ohio, said that the
validity and binding force OF the act I'm.
posing a direct tx had never been ques-
toned. direct tax was All unpopular tax
and one which should only De resorted TO in
an emergency. In 1861 such an emergency
existed and the people OF tue loyal
states had paid tax and raised tue money
% save the people Of the South from their
folly--he would not say crime. because be
ulu lul WISH ~ fdht huf fAA'' 10
out Of the common fund raised by the tax il
WAS proposed 10 Withdraw what the oyal
states had put IN and TO leave the South with
out SIS record OF deialcalion. II Sl1,000,00
raised by that tax had crushed the rebellion,
destroyed slavery. and restored the Consii-
tuition. who were the most benefited by IT.
the men who paid the money or the men
rho were tosday honorable members Of n
great family Of stalesi Why should the
men OF the South complain that the small
principal should be returned 70 the STATES
that paid il, without interest, and the charge
OF defalcaton removed from the States that
bad not paid the tax? Underlying
this proposition was the great Tact
that the passage OF the hil would
put the people OF the country where equity
said that they ought to stand. 1t was step
towards the complete reuuiJn OF the hearts
Of the people OF the country; reunion not
enforced by law. but controlled and pro-
noted by the wish and purpose OF both sec
lions OF the county 10 do actual Justice to-
Wsrds each other.
Mr.. whiting, Of Michigan, opposed the
bin as being unconstitutional and unjust.
Mr.. Enlee, OF Tennessee. dccsred that the
bill was sustained neither by law nor by
precedent. lie denounced It as a subtcr-
fuge and fraud, and charged that its ain was
10 perpeluate the power Of trusts 10 exact tr-
butte from the people by means Of the high
tariff. Referring 10 the cott0n,laX, he At
tackled il on constitutional grounds, and
spoke in favor Of the proposed amendment
reiundng the tax, as far as possible, 10 the
persons who paid il, and reserying the re-
mainder as cOmmOB-schoOl fund.
Mr.. Dibble, OF South Carolina, stated that
il was mistake 10 suppose that the state Of
South Carolina was In default IN regard to
the direct tax. As matter OF fact more
than It's quota had been paid in. lie thought
that the reiunding OF the tax WAS a tho
roughly constitutional and equitable propo-
sitiOn.
Pending further debate the committee
rose, and the House. at . O'Clock, adjourned.