Mr. VANWIN KLE. The circumstances which have led me to introduce this resolution are briefly these: at the time this direct tax was imposed, the State of WestVirginia was not in existence; nevertheless we admitted the obligation of the tax to be laid upon our lands. Commissioners were appointed to collect the tax in the State of Virginia, and they have been operating for some time. We have had no notice of any intention to collect that tax within our limits, and as late as the 4th of this month the commissioners appointed by the State of Virginia have issued a notice regluiring the people in a certain district of West irginia to pay their taxes at once. Several of the counties within that district are those that have been most devastated by the war; and the Legislature of WestVirginia at its late session remitted and released the State tax for 4 years on that very district. But, sir, we have a claim. as the Senate will remember, against the U.S. amounting to twice as much as our share of the direct tax, and in the bill which has already passed the Senate for the payment of that claim, it is provided that our share of the direct tax of the old State of Virginia is to be deducted from the amount found due us. This collection is producing a great deal of distress in those counties. As I have already said, they are the counties in the State which are perhaps least able to bear it, although I presume the process will go on. This resolution proposes simply to suspend the collection of this tax until the 1st of h arch next, which will enable the Legislature to hold its annual session, or until the accounts of the State with the General Government are adjusted, which will probably be done and the mono paid in the course of 2 or 3 mont s. We are able to pay this tax, if we had any permission to do it.We do notask the abatement which was allowed to other States who were allowed to a it, and we are not included in the relief bill that has been to posed in the HoRep, which refers only to the rebel States. As this cannot be of any injury to the Government, and as a balance of money on any fair adjustment of accounts is actually due to the State of WestVirginia, I trust this relief will be granted by the Senate.