The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-04-28
MIR. AIKEN ON COTTON TAX.
speech Delivered in House of Repres
entatives by Congressman =,
Aiken.
Mr.. Aiken said:

'" h"'e clapScu since the REM
nants of two great armies met for the
last time at Appomattox. Whatever
prejudice, whatever bitterness what
ever injustice survived this parting
found no lasting place in the hearts
OF those who had borne the brunt Of
battle. In the shallow graves of
those who did not live to see the dawn
of peace blue and gray slept side by
side, as do children Of the same moth
er Honor and valor had exactcd Tire
sacrifice. and the true soldier, North
and South. standing over these gray
cs. grounded his arms anl said, cit
], is cnouoh.'
II those who saved the Union in
! fact by offering their lives for its cx-
is1encc had also been intrustcd with
the governments policy Of recon-
struction. The legislation that l am
goin" to ask for and that | have pro-
posed in Il bill-H. Y. 19747-would
\ have been unnecessary. The bill to
(which I refer is as follows:
A bill (H. Il. 19747) to provide for
Iefundiny TO lawful claimants the
Ioce2ds of the cotton lax unlawfully
objected.
Be it enacted. etc, That the COM
missioner Of Internal Revenue shall,
1 Immediately upon the passage and ap-
proval of this act. compile state
! nnf Il, Il,
2ille@ally collected by the United Stat
32s government on at.-',,nl op the taS
on cotton for the years 1863. 1864,
| 1865, 1866. 1867, and 1865, respective
ly, in the several States, and show
ing. if possible, the persons. firms. or
corporations paying The same, with
the amounts 50 paid. which statement
when properly certified 40 to lis cor
rectness. shall be fled with the clerk
Of the court of clatms and a lupl,-
cate thereof filed with the treasurer
of the United States
See. .. That the court of claims is
hereby clothed with full and complete
authority and jurisdiction to hear, try
and Indicate all clair->s made under
this act by persons. firms, or corpor-
ations, or their lawful heirs or repre-
sentatives. claiming to have paid such
tax for any or for all the years here
in stated. and when said court Of
claims shall have adiud"ed Il claim
Just and lawfully. made. in the name
nf o,.i,
shall approve the s;n,.c. and the clerk
Of said court Of claims shall certify
said approval and transmit the ap-
proved claim to the treasurer OF the
United States who shall pay the
same.
Sec. :. That sum sufficient to
cover the total amount of cotton tax
collected. rs shown by the statement
of the commissioner Of internal rcvc-
nue.. is hereby appropriated, out of
any funds in the United States treas
ury not otherwise appropriated and
the same shall be available for the
payment Of all approved claims for
the refund Of said cotton tax. claim
ants to have five years in which to
present and establish thcir claims,
and the uneXpircd balance accredited
to each State, after all approved
claims have been paid and pending
claims deducted. shall be paid 10 the
treasurer If that State. to be used as
"A public school fund.-
4 4, al
#;effcct Immediately upon lis passage
&and approval by the president.
S53 | refer to the rcfunding Of the cot
Nton taxes illegally collected mainly
@from the Southern States.
5M That this lax was ILLEGAL. that IS
MAS unjust. from whatever standpoint
Viewed. there is not a shadow Of
doubt In the only ease brought be
Giforc the Supreme Court Of the Unit
}ed States the eight Judges sitting
were divided, four and four. Lead
ING men who have stood in line Of
battle in the Union army. notably,
Hon. G.. II. Grosvcnor. whose ability
We all know. whose zeal as a federal
Isl is unqucstioned. whose Judgment
is worthy Of the highest respect. free
" stated that This tax was wrong, H.
, lc"al. anf unconstitutional. This leg
islaiivc hulv admitted lis error by re-
pcalinr the act after 1865. even in the
midst Of most hostile legislation
against TIC South.
Al i n,,1I hnt