I CR 1300 
 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 Communication o 
 Conf Pam #426 
 
 DTTOfiEblS/ 
 
MESSAGK OF THE PRESIDENT. 
 
 ticTiMOND, Va., Februaiy 12, 1864. 
 To the House of Representatives : 
 
 In response to your resolution of the 21st ultimo, 1 herewith trans- 
 mit, for your information, a communication from the Secretary of 
 War, relative to the delivery of the " tax in kind" at the Government 
 depots by the producers. 
 
 JEFFERSON DAVIS. 
 
 COMMUNICATION OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 
 
 Confederate States of America, i 
 
 War Department, ^ 
 
 Richmond, Feb. 4, 1864. ) 
 To the President of the Confederate States : 
 
 Sir : Your letter of the oOth ultimo, referring a resolution of in- 
 quiry of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the Con- 
 federate States, re(|uesting information as to the legislation necessary 
 to save the productive power of the planting interest from the damages 
 which may ensue from the enforcement of the clause of the act in re- 
 lation to the tax in kind. Avhich requires planters, within a certain 
 distance of the railroad; to deliver the tax in kind to Government 
 depots, has been received, and was referred to the Quartermaster Gen- 
 eral, in charge of the collection of that tax. His endorsement on the 
 resolution contains a full answer to the inquiry proposed, and a copy is 
 Respectfully submitted. 
 c> .1AMES A. SEDDON, 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
A. Q. M. General's Office, ) 
 February 3, 1864. ] 
 
 The clause of the act to which this resolution is supposed to refer, 
 appears in the eleventh section, whei'ein it is provided that producer:; 
 siiall be required to deliver their tithes '• at some depot not more than 
 eight miles from the place of production." This does not refer spe- 
 cially to railroad depots, nor is there anything in the act requiring 
 delivery on railroads, as the resolution seems to imply. Delivery is 
 to be made at quartermasters' depots, (which may be on railroad'^,) 
 and within the established range of distance. It is not perceived how 
 this provision interferes with the ** productive power of the planting 
 interest." The use, for a shojt time, of the means of transportation 
 necessary to deliver the tithe, does not seem injuriously to withdraw 
 it from farming purposes, ample time being allowed for the selection 
 of a convenient period of delivery. Where delivery is made at a 
 depot more than eight miles from the place of production, it is volun- 
 tary, and the excess of transportation beyond eight miles is paid for. 
 
 It has been recommended by this office that the range of delivery 
 be enlarged to fifteen miles, the farmer to be paid for transportation 
 the whole distance. This is calculated as a day's journey for the 
 teams of the farmer, and it is not supposed that this increase will 
 materially affect the planting interest, by thus employing, for S9 short 
 a time, at a convenient period, (ample time for the selection of which 
 is afforded,) such means of transportation as may be necessary for 
 this purpose. 
 
 Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. 
 
 LARKIN SMITH, 
 Assistant Quartermaster General. 
 
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