The Mississippi in the Civil War Message Board - Archive

Re: Tax on Dogs
In Response To: Re: Tax on Dogs ()

I am almost reluctant to chime in on what started out as an almost innocuous question about the dog tax. I certainly cannot speak to Mississippi politics, but I am not aware of any class basis for the enactment of the dog tax.
I side with Br'er Boz on this score, unless there is some strong evidence to the contrary. At least in South Carolina, the dog tax appears to have been solely a way to raise minor amounts of revenue, and it was enacted by the Radical dominated legislature after the War, not by the planter class, which in the late 1860's in S.C. -- as in Mississippi -- was virtually disenfranchised. This of course was after the Scalawags, Carpetbaggers, and their assorted allies took over State government in S.C., in 1866. In addition to the local dog tax (50 cents per dog), the Radicals also enbacted a 3 mill state tax which was designed to support education, but due to graft, theivery, and assorted chicancery, virtually noen of it reached the State Commissioner of Education.
The fencing laws were enacted in the early 1880's in S.C., and there was considerable controversy, with the landless people in opposition because it meant the end of free range. But until the invention and widespread use of cheap barbed wire, fencing on a large scale was impractical.
Now, if you're really in to the fencing laws, you need to make a visit to the Barbed Wire Museum in LaCrosse, Kansas. After you've looked at your umteenth strand of barbed wire, your eyes get a little glazed over. A great campy place to visit -- and not but about a two hour drive from the Carrie Nation Homeplace and Museum. The two together make for an interesting day!!
Merry Christmas.

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Tax on Dogs
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