Letter from Levi Roberts to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; August 29, 1865

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Letter from Levi Roberts to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; August 29, 1865

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People

Fennell, J. D.Roberts, Levi Sharkey, William Lewis, 1798-1873

Events

Conventions Conventions--Mississippi. Constitutional Convention (1868)Taxation Taxation--Mississippi

Occupations

Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Sheriffs Tax Auditors Tax Collectors

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Marshall County. Holly Springs Tennessee--Shelby County. Memphis

Page 1

Holly Springs, Miss,
August 29, 1865.

His Excellency,
W. L. Sharkey,
Governor, & c,
Jackson, Miss:

Governor:

I have the honor to call the attention of your Excellency to several points that have arisen under your Proclamation of 17th ult., assessing certain taxes, and to ask for in-structions and advise thereon:

1.—In many instances parties have made affidavit that they have made correct returns of all moneys made by them by speculation during the war when to the knowledge of the Assessor, the returns were not correct. For example: parties often hauled cotton to Memphis, where the running was dan-gerous, for enormous prices, frequently amounting to one-half the cotton. The

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money thus obtained, was generally used to procure articles in Memphis, which were carried South, and sold at great profits. The parties contend this was not making money "by speculation," but by "manual labor." In some cases, parties admit having made many thousand dollars during the war, but by evasion, they say none of it was made by speculation. How can such cases be reached, and be made to pay the taxes justly due?—What process is necessary? Please send me written instructions on this point.

2.—I am informed the sheriffs of several counties have discontinued the collection of the tax since the adjournment of the Convention. I have thought that the money obtained, by this tax was for the use of the Pro-visional Government, and am now, therefore, engaged in collecting it. I mention the subject, thinking it might be well for your Excellency to call

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the attention of Sheriffs to it.

I have the honor to be,
Your Obt Serv't,

Levi Roberts, Ass'n Marshall County,

by J. D. Fennell, Ass't

Page 4

Levi Roberts
Sheriff
Asking some im=portant questions

Answered