The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 183?-1840, 1840-01-17


your wisdom think lit to LET election Of those Off
Gers remain with the people, it would still be es-
sential TO make provision for the removal OF de-
faulters, and the filing the vacancies occasloned
thereby.
The Reports Of the late Treasurer, Samuel
Craig, of the present Treasurer, James 6. Will
iams, and of the Auditor of Public Accounts, are
here with transmitted. The receipts into the Trea-
sury, from the lst of January to the 30th of No
vember, 839, (both days included) amounted to
the sum oftwo HUNDRED and eighty-seven thou
sand one hundred and forty-one dollars and thir-
ty-two cents, and the disbursements during the
same period were three hundred and sixty-six
thousand two hundred and eighteen dollars and
nine cents. The sum of eight thousand four hun
dred and seventy-three dollars and eighteen cents,
obtained by the Executive of the Miss. Union
Bank, on account of notes taken for town lots,
and discounted by the Bank, as well as the fur
Their sum of one hundred and forty thousand eight
hundred and thr;Y-one dollars and seventy-six
cents borrowed by the State Treasurer OF that
Institution, in pursuance of authority vested IN
him by law, are included in the receipts. The
actual disbursements, therefore, exceed the re-
ceipts arising from ordinary sources, the sum of
two hundred and twenty-eight thousand three
hundred and eighty-one dollars and sevenIy-one
cents The sum of eighty thousand nine hundred
and sevcnty-one dollars and eighty-seven cents,
has been expended on the Capital during that pc
Rod. and the further sum of fifty-fve thousand
FIVE hundred and eight dollars and seventy-fve
cents, on re State Prison. The appropriation
made for clearing out the Chickasawhay river is
included in tEe disbursements, but has not been
paid IT. consequence of the inability OF the Irea-
surer, to cash the Aditor's W rrant
Thrty-three Tax Collectors are in default. the
sum of ninety thousand six hundred and seventeen
dollars and forty six CENTS Tor taxes accrung pror
to the year 1888; suits have been ordered against
them on their bonds. Twenty-six Tax Collectors
ale in default in the sum of twenty-slx thousand
nine hundred and eighty sdollars and twenty-se-
ven cents, for taxes assessed in the year 1888. 1t
is believed that these sums fall far short OF the
actual defalcations Immense already
collected, which are not returned on the roll OF
the Assessors, and under the existing laws, it is
imprac .icable to bring ocersin default toaccount
The total amount of State Tax assessed during
the present fiscal year, is Sl54,577 70. The as
SCISSORS of the counties of Carroll De Soto, Holmes,
Jackson, Jones, Kemper, Leake, Lafayette, No
xubee, Pike, Ponola, Rankin, Tishemingo, WASH
ington and Wayne have failed to return the assess
mcnt rolls as required by law The Auditor esti-
mates the State tax in those counties at So, $685.
81 suits will, in due season, be ordered on the
bonds of said detaulters.
ltappears by an exhibit accompanying the Au-
dtOr's Report, that many of the banks in the state
as well as their offices of discount and deposite,
pay no tax their real estate and capital stock.
The Assessors have failed TO assess the tax requi
red by the laws of the land. No proposition can
be palmer than that those who participate in the
benefits Of government should contribute to its
support. 1t is an axiom that, taxation being
sentlal to the existence OF every government, the
right cannever BE surrendered. No prior legsla-
ture had right to debar rs from imposing taxes
on every species OF property in our territory. If
the Banks had have paid adequate bonus to
the State. in consideration of being exempt from
he yOt,Id
thus have paip, in advance, an amou mt equal
to that due annually. in several OF our Bank
charters, it is provided that their capital stock
shall be exempt from taxation. Even admitting
such stipulation to be binding upon us, (Which
/ am far from conceding,) it does not exempt
heir real and personal estate, or money loaned at
interest, from taxation. The annual examination
Of the Banks, and the time spent in legisating
on their affairs cause a large expenditure of our
treasure; and justice, surely, requires that the
exclusive privilege of exemption from taxation,
should not be conceded. 1t will be impossible TO
preserve the public faith and credit of the State,
without a revision of our revenue laws. The dis
honest usurer, and the fraudulent banker, are at
present exonerated, and taxes alone collected
from the honest laborer. An examination of the
assessment roll will shew that small amount is
collected on money loaned at interest. The law is
eyaded BY shaving paper.
am opposed to the increase of taxes, at the
present period. Justice requires that they should
be equalized Not one third of the landed es-
tate OF the country, subjected to taxation, is ever
assessed. Maps containing the dates of the en-
ries of the various tracts have been procured by
he Board of Police in but few counties,-to in
sure the collection of the land tax. provision
should be made for making and furnishing to
Zach county Land Book, containing full des
,rpon of every tract, with the date OF the entry,
md specifying the various transfers.
A tax of one quarter of one per cent, on the
oans and discounts OF the various Banks in the
State, and an equal tax on ali paper purchased BY
Or held by them for property sold, or
money loaned, would afford large revenue. This
Measure, combined with others insuring the as
eoSment of all property liable to taxation, and the
prompt payment and collection of the same into
he State Treasury, would soon place the treasu- |
y in situation to meet all the demands upon 1t.
1t will be seen from the report of the State
Treasurer. that the Banks indebted to the State,
o whom indulgence was given by the LeglSla- |
ure, have all failed to comply with the conditions
If the act passed for their relief Suits have been
instituted against them their notes, amounting |
n all, to the sum of S238,098. Judgment has
,een obtained against the Mississippi and Alaba |
ma Rail Road Company for the sum OF S229,584, |
md interest. / consider the whole debt due by /
he Banks very doubtful. In my absence, the |
ormer Treasurer, Gen. Silas Brown, drew out of
he office of the Planters Bank the whole amount
hen on deposite, and received the same in Bran |
on money. | am firmly persuaded that the
1ank was bound to pay over that sum IN par |
unds. At the last session of the legislature, |
snt in a special Message on the subject, with Sc
eral documents proving the liability of The Bank.
Joint Committee was appointed to investigate
ne whole subject, but failed to make any iDqui-
' whatever, l respectfully refer you to said
lessage and the accompanying documents, and
1uuest fhe appointment OF a Committee autho-
zed to send for persons and papers, and charged
, report the facts of the case. Should it appear
lat the Planters Bank has abused the confidence
opposed in it by the State, and has. used the good
lnds deposited by the State Treasurer, and
llmed off upon the public creditors worthless pa
,r.--it will be advisable to repeal the goth sec
81 Of the charter, and make further provision in
lation to the safe-keeping Of the public funds
hat section provides further, shat all bills or
ties Of said Bank originally made payable, or
hich shall become payable on demand, shall be
ceiyed in all payments of the State.n Under1
Z existinglaw, that is the only paper money au-
orized 10 be received in payment Of the public |