2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
A two page folio ALS, Kingston, Ulster Co., New York, August 6, 1783. As the Revolutionary War draws to a close and our fledgling nation comes into being, this man has been allocated the extremely unenviable task of collecting a tax on TEA for the American Government! This unfortunate man, named Christian Tappan, is responsible for collecting a quota of tea tax in Ulster County, New York. His duties have been thwarted by the County Board of Supervisors who, when called to hold a meeting to apportion the Quota to various parts of the County, simply adjourn after voting to meet and discuss the Problem at a later date. In this manner they have delayed the institution of the tax for several months. The collector has been powerless to stop this delaying action. In part:”…as to the policy and rectitude of the proceedings of that honorable body I shall neither presume to condemn or justify. All I could wish to aim at is to pursue the Duties required by me of the said act. To do this I find myself incompetent. In case I should make an attempt [ to pursue my duties] ..I am apprehensive that the question would arise for me to prove I was the County Treasurer, as my appointment is no more than a verbal one…The source or Fountain head from whence these taxes were to issue…have in that stage been so checked that I find myself at a loss to give them vent…”. One can certainly understand this poor man’s reluctance to attempt to collect a tax on TEA! Indeed, all concerned must have harbored the most serious doubts of the sanity of the legislature that passed that Ordinance. A tax on tea, of course, was one of the sparks that finally lit the American Revolution, and would be almost certain to be unfavorably received after 8 years of long, bitter , struggle. The government’s interest might be better served by placing a similar tax on an entirely different commodity. Though easily readable, the document is accompanied by a complete transcription. Clean fold splits repaired with archival tape, other wise very good.
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