Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-01-21
DIRECT TAX OF 81.
A Bill to Refund it Passes the Senate

4 ~ Ni'FN VI ltlt hlOl IllH Ulsl-
ness the bill tor rebuilding the direct
tax of 1861 was taken up The ques-
ton being on Mr.. Chambers motion
to recommit the bill, the motion was
rejected.
The question was then taken on the
amendment offered by Mr.. Edmunds,
requiring all claims to be filed within
six wears, and it was agreed TO.
Several amendments of Il verbal
character were also agreed to.
Mr.. Berry offered an amendment
providing that no part of the money
collected from individuals shall be re-
tanned by the United States as n set
of against any State indebtedness.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Vance offered an amendment
extending the provisions of the bill to
THE COTTON TAX
collected under the law of 1882 and
subsequent laws. lie said that if the
direct tax was to be refunded, this
cotton tax, which was also a direct
tax. ought TO be refunded. If one
was a hardship, the other was equally
a hardship. The cotton tax was a tax
on exports and was levied on the pc
ctIliar product of II section of the
country so that there could be no com.
pcnsnting tax on any other section,
Mr.. George advocated the amend
ment. The constitutionaliiy of tho
cotton tax had been referred, he said.
to the Supreme Court, and the court,
consisting then of only eight members,
had been equally divided upon it. Be-
ing tax upon raw product, it was
virtually n tax on lands, therefore a
direct tax, which should be under the
constitution, apportionc',' 'ccordingto
population.
Mr.. Btrr, also ,dvecated the amend.
ment. Four-ffths ofthc money under
the bill to refund the direct tax would
90 TO the Northern States, and it was
equitable and just that the cotton tax,
which had fallen wholly on Southern
planters, should be refunded.
Mr.. Brown b,l wed the cotton tax
should be refunded, and whenever
that question came up in a manner
where he could properly vote tor it,
he would do so: but the adoption Of
the cotton tax amendment would, lie
was convinced, defeat the pending bin.
which he believed ought to pass. Ho
should therefore vote against the
amendment.
MIR. Morgan expressed his concur
renee with the views of Mr.. Brown,
MIR. Vance said that the amendment
had not been offered by him for the
purpose of defeating the bill. but no
could not see why, II the direct tax
were refunded. the other should not
also he refunded,
Mr., Call, while advocating the
amendment, opposed the whole bin.
Mr.. Beck said he favored the bin as
a measure OF Justice. but argued TINT
it should not be encountered with any,
thing'clsc.
Mr.. VOORHEES, also regarded the a.
mcndment rs one wli,h. if adopted,
would defeat the bill which he re-.
garded as an entirely just measure and
very crcdilable TO the gentleman who
had been most active and prominent
in bringing it forward. lie would
i'ok upon his vote for the amendment
as being n vote against the bill.
Mr.. Hampton stated some facts TO
show the State of North Carolina had
been actually made to pay some $780,
900, while her quota OF the direct tax
wa, Gn'NsS369 900.
Mr.. Sherman ADMITTED the fact but
said that the finance committee ad
thought II best not to dcnl with the
matter further ihtn refunding actual
money received by The United States.
Mr.. Hampton asked to be, and was,
excused from voting on the amend
msnt because he WAS directly interest.
ed in It.
y vote was taken on Mr.. Vance's
amendment and il was rcjcctcd--ycas
10, nays 46. After other amendments
had been offered and rejected, the bill
pnssed--vcas 10, navs 10.
The bill to direct the Secretary of
the Treasury to credit to each State
and Territory and 10 the District of
Columbia a sum equal to all collections
made thcrrtrom or from citizens or in.
habitanfs thereof, under the direct
tax of August 1861. 1t RENTS all mon
eys still due TO the United States un.
Ter such act. and it appropriates an
amount necessary for reimbursement
OF the sums collected directly from in.
dividuals TO be held in trust by tho
States tor the benefit of the persons
from whom they were collected or
llnir