Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-27
COMMUNICATION.
To The Independent Citi.eas Of .4ler@adr

To the Independent Ctisens Of alexandria.
A writer, to be popular, must accommodate his
own views 10 the opinions and preJudlces OF those
around him-must sstrim with the breeze, and
with the current sail - fear, my elow-citizens,
that under this consideration, shall soon cease
70 become popular man. To hold my own sen,
tments. REGARDLESS of the dictatiOn OF others, and
fearlessly to express them, is privilege Which
will not sacrifice to gain the huZZas OF the multi
tude. or to enjoy the short lived honor OF beng
tbe :. people's man." What | think write, and
what write am responsible Tor.
The Exclusives begin to lind, feliow-cltizens,
that spirit is abroad which will not longer suffer
80 tamely the exclusive" way III which business
is managed in our town. You Will hnd that trle
meetings of the Council are now regularly attend
ed by numbers of respectable people-that Its acts
are beginning to be scruhniZed-the expressed
opinions of its members canvassed, ana their votes
incurred into. All this argues we'll for the health
and sanity of the town; it tells us, that you, at
least are not sleeping the sleep of death, and that
Won have aroused from that lethargc state OF feel
inc which. but short time since, held you, as 1t
were, spell bound.
The inyidions distinction, for long time act
ed upon by the Exclusives, and but lately avow-
ed in the Council, between mind and matter; or,
to express the idea more fully, the opinion OF the
Exclusives that the salaries attached to persons
of their order should be higher than those gwen
to Mechanics, is but part of the system am en-
deayoring to hold up to your abhorrence. VIII
not stop 10 inquire where in reality. the intellect
cf the town does he-perhaps, at last, we might
have to search for it in this despised and con-
demned matter: but will tell them and You, TEL
low-citizens, that we deserve not their taunts.-
These humble Mechanics" which they der'de,
shave exercised most powerful, direct, and de-
cided influence upon the comforts, the happiness,
the morals, the wealth, and the power OF man.
They have brought TO the common stock OF hu-
man knowledge, their full proportion of useful
science, invention, and genius" And what
would become of these very Exclusives, if they
were deprived of the aid and assistance OF the
Mechanics? NE, yes, we. make their roads and
dig their canals-for it is on our shoulders that
the weight of taxes rest.-We support the town.,
and are the men who will be the longest and most
constant in our support-We have no wealth,
here to-day and away to-lnOrr0w--nO bank stock
which can be converted into money when occa-
sion reuuires-no property which can pass hands
as Quick as cards, and often with as much Jug
Cling and manouyring-We are bound here by
ties, by feelings and principles, which do honor
TO human nature, and which the Exclusives can
not take away from us.
The fact that revenue is to raised to pay the
interest (Quere, when will the principal be pald'
of debt contracted without your consent, and
for which YOU are now made responsible, seems
sufficient, in the ewes of some people, to justify
any measures, however bUrthensome they may
be. In a short time the Assessors will be round
10 tax your property. presume that the order
of a member of the Council to the assessors, . to
assess the real property of the town as usual, be-
cause revenue is necessary, and must be raised,
or words to that effect, will be disregarded by
those gentlemen. IL certainly has not yet come
TO pass. that single Exclusive is to rule us by
the word of his power! But, as to the assessment
of property in general, look upon 1t as mani
testify unjust and oppressive. Property is, IN ge-
neral. rated at. 50 per cent more than ITS actual
value. For Gods sake. If we are 10 be screwed
TO death, let the screw be at least turned the right
way. Do not value my house at $1,000 to-day,
when cannot get $500 for it tomorrow. Ii the
..revenue mast be raised," let the Council add
additional direct taxes, and not rldiculously
charge property three times as much as 1T Is
worth. to support the expenses OF the town:
| verify believe, fellOw-citizens, that IN nc
place on the habitable globe are the taxes as ex
cessive as in this our little town. England Is q
perfect paradise to it, in the way OF taxation. we
are taxed for living and breathing-for pursuing
our avocations and callings-for building houses
and owning lots-for riding. tor waiking-in
short, for every thing almost connected with oul
being.
There is remedy, nv feIlow-citizens-a clear
light ahead. see it, and hope we shall all 1--we
to enjoy it. Fellow-citizens. remain your friend
A WORKING MAN.
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