American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-02-27

ucdtnB all the WIlte cnluren IN the Sla'S' pe NC
cessary to lay tax OF at least S80,o0o--a larger
sum than the aggregate of the County rates and
levies, poor, and road taxes raised in the state
This would be almost exclusively paid by the hold
ers OF real property, who, being saddled with sol
enormous tax in addition to their present unequal
burdens, would be previously oppressed. The
owners of real property 1t will be remembered al
so hold more personal property liable to assessment
Hor instance, plate, negroes and every kind oil
live stock) than those who possess such property
without being freeholders. This description of
tsxables (enants) would in great measure be ex
empted, while many others holding Bonds, Notes
and other invisible property, together with proles
sional men, civil officers, millers manufacturers,
mechanics, sc, would in their distinctive charac
tiers escape without paying any thing, except the
tribe that would be laid on their capitation assess
ment Not only is real property disproportioDate-
ly taxed, but what adds greatly TO the difficulty oil
the case, real property is itself very unequslly d.
vided. law then, imposing tax OF this kind,
would be peculiarly obnoxious TO the proprieors
of great freehold estates, who might be expected
to make war on it Immediately on its passage, and
to exert their utmost influence TO get it repealed.
II may be said that the expense Of supporting
schools throughout the state, at present conduc
ted perhaps itte if any, short OF 100000 dollars
and that this is paid, not by the whole, but part
ionly, ofhe axables, to wit the parents and friends
lot children. 1t ought however, to be borne III mind
that school tax, though 10 be divided among all
the taxables, instead of part Of them, would be dis
ltinguished by two important differences; one that
the contributions of the taxabes would be invoun
tary; the other, that no discontnuance would take
place in respect to individuals does in regard to
the parents aud friends of children. An involuntary
burden, from which you are never to be relieved,
is in contemplation more frightGu than one whose
TO- eav hntb apo NH cd h.
those who have to submit to it, and has some limit
prescribed to its duration. This slows how neces
sary it would be, i'll determining on any mode Of
taxation for the support of schools, that it should be
free from every ingredient which would tend to
create dissatisfaction. But what would be more
calculated to produce this effect, than where its
Operation would be unequal, which any school tax
must be, (and excessively too, it has been shown,)
that should be levied on the present assessments
Should 1t be alleged STILL that the interest of the
school fund, with the proceeds Of marriage and tay.
ern licenses aided by small direct tax, and The
whole united with the voluntary subscriptions ofthe
citizens, is an alternative that might be resored to
Tor the improvement and support Of schools; to do
away the iorce OF the suggestion, II is necessary only
that the House should be reminded OF the crippled
enteebed state OF the school fund at this time, in
consequence Of diversion of the greater part of its
proceeds to object, must be confessed, foreign
to Its institution, but to be applied to which the faith
Of the state has been solemnly pledged. And as it
respects tax for the support Of schools, TO be laid
at this time. when it is considered that for reasons
which satisfied the jorities in both Houses ofth
General Assembly, resolution has been passed byl
them to provide for the exigences Of the Govern
meht by loan instead OF state tax and when the
objections before urged recollected, the idea isl
forbidden, and ought to be abandoned.
Upon the whole, 1t would appear that the school
fund being the only resource on which reliance
can be placed for founding new schools and melora.
ting the condition Of those established it ought
to be kindly and carefully fostered. fso fostered
and suffered to remain untouched, and if the pre-
ceding calculations be not erroneous, belief may
be confidently INDUCED, that in years from this
time 1.-THE period before computed) it may be put
into active and useful operation The Committee
aware OF the opinion entertained by many of our
citizens, that immediate and effectual aid 10 the pub
lie schools, might be derived from this source, have
thought proper to go into minute detail on this
point as could be done, without giving the report
too much proxty. They Judged equally reces
saTy to submit such an exposition of their views
respecting school tax as might tend to convince
all who have been dreaming Of succor 10 the schools
from that quarter, of the utter Iaacy Of their ex
pectatons and hopes. Thatthe public mind might,
at the same time, have something in relation thereto,
to repose on, they deemed it important also TO give
the outline Of system to be hereafter carried into
operation, and TO designate time, when, in their
view, it might be commenced TO secure the object
contemplated.
The committee cannot stand acquitted in their
own eyes of having fully discharged the important
duty lntrusted to them, without calling the attention
of the House to the money belonging to Delaware
College, which was paid into the treasury early in
1921, and has as yet received no investment. They
laIe OF opinion that this ehnuld he
some kind OF productive stock; and would Suggest
The expedency of authorizing the State Treasures
to purchase Herewith, the best terms that can be
procured, part of the funded debt Of the United
States or some kind of profitable stock, at his dis
erection, the dividends en- the same, together with