The assessment of tithes.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
I see urged in your columns as well as others, the necessity of the farmers supplying the demands of the
Government upon them for provisions for the army with a liberal hand and at reasonable prices, that the necessity for falling back may be avoided.
I can state that it is my opinion, and the opinion of others with whom I have conversed, that could they fully be persuaded that such a calamity would befall them, that there is not one east of the
Blue Ridge mountains and between the Rapidan and James river, who would not with an even supply of provisions for their families, and provender for their stock, cheerfully yield from one-third to one half of the same to the army.
I think I say correctly that the farmers in this section of the country, as a general thing, have met the claims of the
Government upon them with alacrity when well-defined and understood by them.
I will state that the tax law in kind has been variously understood, and while one might believe that he was bound by his construction or understanding of the law to furnish his gross crop of corn for assessment, many in the same neighborhood have thought, and been encouraged in the belief by Quartermasters' agents collecting tithes, and others, that the law required them to furnish for assessment only what remained after fattening their hogs; and, without any dishonest intention, have had their crops of corn so assessed — and the arguments used in favor of the latter construction are these: To tax the gross crop of corn one tenth and then the pork fattened on the same one tenth seems to be taxing the corn-again in the park, which the law could not have meant to do. Now, if this construction of the law be erroneous, and has been as generally acted upon throughout the
State as it has been in some sections of the country, I venture to assert that in the majority of such cases not more than one-third or one-half of the tithe of corn has been assessed or collected, and has thereby occasioned the loss of many thousand barrels to the
Government, if it be not hereafter collected.
For instance; a crop of corn of 80 barrels taxed gross would give 6 barrels, fatten 20 hogs, and they will consume at a moderate estimate 30 barrels, and with that reserved the tax on the remainder will be 3 barrels. I believe that instructions from the proper authority to agents to collect such reserves, and request through the public prints all who had committed such errors to correct them, would be of great good to the country.
A Louisa Farmer.
