Litchfield enquirer., 1837-01-26
NoR TnR NiionnRR.

Mt! EdisOSI propose. in series of Ghort aFtclss, to notice 66ns of te provisions Of our Public Stat. utes," Jvh view to direct the attenton of your nu. merous fkaden to what seems io me to be defects which E3h for remedy. And,
 lst He statte regulating GssessmenEs. This stat ute pfOvides that all real estate sha be valued and set in the list at 3per cent of such value and fuher that all stocks and money at interest, secured by notes, bonds of responsible penOns or by mortgage 6n real estate, shall be set in the list at per cent the stocks being valued. Now why this disparity 7-
 suppose the reason far reason can be Gssgneds is that these last mentioned kinds of property ate more productive than the first. In some instances this is doubtless true; but it is far from being universally Who does not know that much real estate can be found in this state which yields per cent nett profit on its assessed valuation and mcre even more than our best stOcks7 But suppose, in some casess this moveabe property is productive than real estate -is it not at the same time much less secuTe7
 Now hold, and shall attempt to maintain, that the true republican, mode of taxation h to set all kinds of property upon the same footing. think it safe to trust Yankees to decide0u things cOnsidered-where is most for their interest to place their property What good reason can be assigned why one man should be subjected to twice the amount of public bur. dens which his neghbor sustans with equal property? can see none.
 Our legislature, last spring, wisely took hold of the subject of taxation, and made large stride towards pefecting the system And they doubtless commen- ced at the right end lift is be perfected at once -(when speak of perfection, mean the greatest degree of it of which the nature of the admits) for if any portion of community is to bear unequal share of the public burdens those whose property lies in stocks and money at interest are manifesty better able to sustain it than those embarrassed with deb- Still, every species and degree of inequality is unjust in issel and either directly or indirectly results in in- jury to aH.
 Let us look, for moment at some of the injurious effects of the inequality which have alluded. And frst it tends dishonesty in the community; to weak en the force of legal if not moral obligations and to destroy that respect for the laws of land which is indispensable in order to ensure obedience. For ex ample: The man who has money at interest-suppose the avails of real estate recently soldds that the amount to be set in his list is much greater than used to be assessed that estate-or generally the sales of real estate to fifty per cent atleast advance on the ordinary assessments and not only but this amount is to be carried out at double the per centage 20 that by a simple exchange of property, in kind merely he finds his taxes suddenly increased tsco hun dred per cent. Ths he says to hmself is the height of injustice and oppression. Now unless he feels the force of higher law, binding him to "be subject to the powers that be, however oppressive, (and toofew at the present day thus ee the force of that higher law) he tasks all has powers devise means by which he may evade the law of his country. And under the belief that man may surely stand upon his own nghts he is very scrupulous as to the means that he selects No man can go through this process with out doing violence to his moral sense, and weakening his feeling of obligation in regard to the social pact For he sees or thinks he sees the bonds of that compact thrown around him, not for his good, but to deprive him of his rights. Now where one law of the land is violated either by secretion, evasion, or u der whatever retexs far the influence of exam. pie gocs tends weaken the force, not of that law only, but of every other; and that influence is seen operating on all classes of society, especially on those to whom all law seems an unreasonable restraint. On ,hese its influence is small in silencing the whis- perings of conscience, while they are devsing means for the accomplishment of their unlawful desires.
 But am reminded, that at the commencement spoke of short articles. will therefore leave the sub feet here and if this shall far meet your approba- tion to obtain place in your paper. you may ex. pect to hear again from A FARMER.
 FOR THE ENQUIRER.
 TYRANNY. There is no character 90 universally hated as that of tyrant; nor is there any dero- gatory to the human species. It has been argued by many that man is doing peculiar service to his country in hurng syrant from the world. But not withs.andng, i, is my opinion that no man isjusd6a- ble in taking the life of tyrant. The laws of the ci. vized world such give ample redress for any injury We may stistai. He who commits murder in any way, under any pretence whatever iS in the highest degree criminal. And an individual has no right take upon himself that which devolyes on the laws of his country. From sordid and contracted principles generally arise the rastor and the tyraa One betfays his trust for god while the other tram- pies on the rights and liberties of his fellow creatures and generally. through vain ambition, is Cut of in the midst of his career An usurper s generally ty. rant; for he who to sassfy his own ambitious desires wrongs Another, can be looked on in no other light No sooner are his exalted views satisfied in res. pec than he has something else to obtain. His commonly has . dreadful termination. If he be . monarch. his life is generally sought after. either by conspirators or individuals. If he be private char acteF eurse aly13va attens3a him. tvrant Ia to ie