Year: 1863




synopsis Of the law recently passed by Congress,
and which has no doubt been approved by the
| President


This law will bear very, heavily on all classes OF
our people. The income tax, for example is to be
ascertained in this way, that is, if we can form any
definite idea from the synopsis before u.s. The gross
income is to be ascertained by estimating "the an
nual value of property Of every description,
pied, or not hired by the owner," and to this IS to
be- added the gross income or profits of the owner.
From this is to be deducted "all the actual COSTS
expenses in carrying the business, the repairs of
houses, machinery and the like" and this will leave
the nett annual income and on this is to be levied
the amounts set out in the law. If the income is
five thousand dollars, the tax is six hundred and
twenty-five dollars; if ten thousand, twelve hun
dred and fifty dollars; if twelve thousand eighteen
hundred dollars, and so on in proportion. But no
such tax is imposed on those who pay tax in kind.
This income tax will not therefore, fall on the
planters and farmers; but after reserVing certain
quantity of articles produced they required to
render to the government one tenth Of what re-
mains For example, small farmer who makes
forty barrels of corn, will be entitled to reserve
twenty, and then of the other twenty he will render
two barrels to the government which, at fifteen
dollars per barrel, would be thirty dollars tax +
And the same as to everything else he produces,
with some reservations; and besides, ne-tenth Of
all the pork raised is to be rendered. Many of our
small farmers occupy and work rented land, and
pay to the one-fourth of the whole crop; and
after paying this fourth, they are required-re-
serving the quantities mentioned in the law-to
render one tenth to the government


The synopsis from the Sentinel is not clear as to
the income tax Section 9th, it seems, provides for
settling disputes as to annual income. When we
see that, we will know more about it


1t noticeable fact that no specific tax is levied
slave property by this law and that tax at all
is levied on slaves or land owned and occupied by
planters and farmers. 1t is true "the annual value
Of property Of every description, occupied or not
hired by the owner, is to be counted as part of
his income;" but this, if intended to include the
value of slaves and land does not apply to plant
ers and farmers, because they to pay their tax
in produce. White labor on the farms, and capital
invested in slaves on the farms, are thus placed on
tho same footing. The owner of fifty slaves, after
reserving the quantities of produce mentioned, will
render his one tenth the remainder to the gov
ernment; and will the small farmer along side of
him who works no slaves, but relies on his own
labor to support his family 1t is true, the owner
Of the fifty slaves will render his just proportion of
tithes to the government as well Us the small farm
er; but it will be, not of his own manual labor but
Of the capital he has invested in his slaves.


This law provides Cor estimating the crops and
delivering and receiving the governments one tenth
at some depot, not more than eight miles from the
place Of production" This, for example, will re-
quire at least five depots in the County of Wake;
and it will require the services of at least two per-
sons at each depot to receive, store, and keep an
account of these crops. Thus we shall have ten
Confederate oticeholders in this County alone to
receive and take care Of produce. The number in
this State will not be less than one thousand
Judging the future by the past they will nearly all
be the partizans and creatures Of the administration
at Richmond. The old Union men or ConServa.
tives are very we'll suited to fight battles and raise
produce, but they not fit it seems, to hold office
These office holders will swarm through the country
like the locusts of Egypt gathering the tithes. As
many teams will be required when the crops are
gathered to haul the government produce to the
various depots as will be needed by our planters
and farmers to haul their share to their cribs and
barns. The administration at Richmond will not
only pervade with its tithe gatherers every neigh
borhood in the Confederate States, but it will be-
come a mammoth engrosser and monopOlzer of
produce Holding the purse and the sword as it
does now and holding hereafter one-tenth of nearly
all the produce of the country, it will indeed be
power in whose shadow the State governments will
repose as little things. We fear it will be the re-
pose of death.


Every good citizen is not only ready but anxious
to contribute his full share to support the govern
uent and sustain our armies. Money is abundant,
and We had thought it was the policy of the gov
erment to collect all the taxes in money and thus
diminish the volume in circulation. 4 tax in kind,
as it is called or of one tenth of all the produce is
a new thing in this country. The system is Of for
eign origin, and is as old as the Jewish government
1t is the fvorite system oy which the kingly gov
ernment of England wrings from portion of her
subjects the Of supporting her splendid
Church establishment. 1t belongs to an era when
there was no currency but gold and silver, and that
| in small quantities. and when barter or swapping
prevailed instead Of enlightened commerce, based on
currency representing property. Such system is
odious to our people. 1t was agreed upon secret
session, and the people, therefore had opportu-
nifty to instruct their representatives aganstit Not
one in ten thousand of the people of this State ex-
pected such law would oe passed. even knew
it was under discussion. They looked for law,
and were anxious for law which would tax them
and tax them heavily if necessary, to sustain
the government and they ready to pay their
| taxes in such currency the government had pro-
viGed; bat they were not prepared for the tHhiRg
system, with the Inconvenience and evils which,


in all countries where it prevails necessarily attend
it. We do not refer to the constitutional power Of
the Congress to adopt such system, though such
power it seems to us, may well be questioned.
We will publish the law in full as soon as it is
received.


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