The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-01-03
THE BILL TO REFUND WAR TAX
ESTOTHE STATES.
Speech Of General Weaver in the
House, Dec. 10, 1883.

In the first place. the direct tax
was levied in pursuance OF the pro
visions of the Constitution Of the
United States, and was lawfully lev
led for a patriotic purpose. In 20 far
as that tax was paid by the States it
was properly paid 1t can not be
said, then. that the amounts paid by
the various States and the people
constitute in any way a claim
against the government Of the United
States. 1t is neither Il debt due from
the United States to the States them
selves or to the people Of the States.
Then ii there is no equitable or legal
obligation on the part Of the govern
ment to refund this tax, what does
the proposition to refund it amount
to?
1t is simply proposition to donate
the money to the various States.
Now, l deny the existence ofany con-
stitutional authority to make such a
donation. 1t was claimed in my
State during the campaign that the
State was in debt. and the *4O0, 900
that she will get, or about that
amount in round numbers. will en-
able Iowa to pay her debt without
assessing the people in the usual way.
But, Mr.. Chairman, deny that Con-
gress has any power to appropriate
money to pay the debts of the States.
Hence l conclude that the PROPOSE
ton in the first place lacks constitu-
tional validity.
In the next place, this is a PROPOSE
ton to pay Southern war claims. The
State of Virginia paid $4,000 Of
this tax. Texas paid $iso.OOO. South
Carolina paid s2s2.0Oo. North Caro-
lima, $4,000. Missouri. s7Gl. 900.
Kentucky, $4,000. Georgia, Sll7.OO.
In all about "A. 500, 900 out Of the ST.
500, 900 collected was paid by the
States that were in either open re-
bellion against the government of
the United States or had furnished
troops to the Southern army.
Now. sir, if this We're IA proposition
to refund the tax paid by the States
engaged in the rebellion and that
furnished troops to the Southern ar
my, there would be Il howl that
would be heard all over the North
and all over the country against pay
ing back to those Southern States
the tribute exJOrted from them for
the purpose of putting down their
own rebellion. That is what this tax
was collected for. to assist in putting
down the rebellion; and the PROPOSE
ton to pay it back to them is no
more, no less, than proposition to
reimburse, in part, the Southern
States for their losses incurred during
the war. know it is relieved some
what, in the estimation Of some gen
tlemen. by the fact that the North
ern States get "divy.' But the fact
that certain Northern States have
pooled their interests does not alter
the fact nor add any merit TO the
bill.
These gentlemen are perfectly will.
ing this tax shall be paid back to Vir.
ginia; perfectly willing that South
Carolina shall have the amount. which
she paid given back to her, provided
Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and
the other Northern States can have q
s'divy" in the matter, and can be per-
United to put their hands into the
Treasury.
Sir, it may as well be admitted now
as at any other time that the South
ern States did not pay their share in
putting down the rebellion. They
did not pay their share of the stamp
tax, the whiskey taA. the income tax,
the tax upon the gross earnings Of
railroads, the tax upon manufactures
or Of any other tax levied to suppress
the rebellion; and If you are to pay
back to the States of the North-the
loyal States, if you please Then
share of this tax, upon the theory
that the South did not pay their fair
share, why is it not proper to go into
q regular examination of the respect.
i've shares paid by the Southern. and
Northern States, rip up the whole
question and have readjustment,
and assess the whole country to pay
back to the loyal States all that they
paid out for the suppression Of the
rebellion? This proposition is not
only unconstitutional but highly un.
reasonable and absurd.
The fact that we have surplus in
the Treasury does lot give propriety
or justice to this measure. II the
government of the Cniteo States
owes the States-the States that
paid this tax-the amount provided
for in this bill, it owes 1t without re-
gard to whether we have surplus IN
the Treasury or not. We are tile
trustees Of the money now in the
Treasury. 1t was collected for Ger.
tain purposes, and we are in honor
bound to thwart all propositions to
to expend it unlawfully. II we must
pay back the seventeen aud a halt
millions collected through the direct
tar, let us do SO 10y levying another
direct tax for that purpose. Let each
State pay its proportion. The money
now in the Treasury was collected
for different purposes, and belongs
to all the people who now live in the
United States; and We are trustees to
see that It Is properly disbursed. II
shall never be disbursed In the pay,
ment of the amount carried In thi,
bill if my vote can prevent 1t.