Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-06-03

4
laid in the North.
Ii was the intention Of the trainers of
he federal constitution, that the Southern
masters should pay the same amount of
axes for fve sIaUes, as should be paid by
three freemen in the North. This ratio
was claimed by the Shareholders, on the
avowed ground that three free laborers |,
are worth as much as FIVE slave laborers. |
1t was first proposed in the old Continent
al Congress, on the occasion of amending
the Articles of Confederation, so as to
confer upon that Congress the power to
levy taxes according to the population of
the several States. In forming our pres
ent constitution, this ratio was applied, not
only to the apportionment of taxes, which
was agreeable TO its original design, but
also to that of representatives, which was
not agreeable to its original design, and
had no legitimate relation to it. This
use of it was obnoxious to common sense.
as to the plainest principles of free gov
eminent. If there be solecism, which
produces an inextricabe confusion of
ideas; if there be tyranny against which
hdlutC IISCS Will uuUltSIdOlG
vehemence, it is that which reduces hu-
man soul to three fifths of itself, and then
declares this vul gar fraction of man
chattel interest, for every purpose except
that of rivetting the chains by which he is
reduced For this purpose, forsooth--
for accumulaling unnatural power in the
hands OF the Iyrant, so as to render self
acknowledgements dream of blood. he is
regarded as person, and constituent of
Southern representatives in Congress-
20 heaven! earth! and shall couple hell q
The masters have had their quota of
power for slaves as persons, but have new
er paid their taxes for them as proyerty.
Of eight hundred and fifteen millions Of
dollars raised by the federal government,
only teceIOe millions have been levied in
the proportion intended by the constitu-
ton. All the residue, being eight hund-
red and three millions, has been derived
from duties on imports. Let us consider
who pay these duties.
Every citizen of the free States, though
he be the poorest laborer, or even pau
per, consumes many things, which are
taxed for the national treasury, about
| t'oemty tfoe millions per annum. 1t is
true that this tax is paid in small install
ments, and without the payers knowing
what part Of his money goes for taxes
and what for the real price of the com
modify he buys. Thus, we pay two OIL
three cents on every window light; two
to twenty cents on every bit of crockery
or glass ware, and every cheap looking
glass twenty cents TO dollar on ever,
pair of shovel and tongs, or andirons -
twenty-five cents on every dollars worth
OF furniture; ten to twenty cents on eve
: ry pound of feathers; four to fifty cent.
on every knife and fork three to thirt,
cents on every latch, lock, or pound O
nails; one to four dollars on every print
ed cambria, muslin or ging ham gown -
one to six dollars on every wooden coat
and in proportion on vests and pantaloons
twenty-five to fifty cents on every bed
blanket; twenty to thirty cents on every
pound of wool; three or four cents or
every pound of paint four or FIVE cents
on every quire of writing paper; one tc
five dollars on every paper-hanging for &
! ANOAA LAiOC W VII CPGTH IuuL
ing gun; dollar and half on every
musket; five to forty cents on every pail
OF gloves; fifty cents to two dollars or
every parasol or umbrella; half cent or
every pound of flour; quarter of cen
on every pound of salt; two cents ON eve
ry pound of brown sugar. three to ter
cents on every pound of white and loaf
live cents on every gallon of molasses.
Now the bulk of the twenty-five mill
ions of revenue is raised on the articles
above enumerated. They are articles
which all the inhabitants of free State
whatever their sex, color, or condition, dc
more or less use and consume, and 70
, which by consequence they are more O
less taxed If merchant import car
go of sugar, for which he pays five cents
a pound, he pays on the arrival of hi
vessel here, or within a given time, tw,
cents more on every pound of it to tn,
government, if it is not Intercepted. Chi
increases the price to seven cents, and a
seven and half to eight cents the i'm
porter sells it to the retailer, and the re
taller to the consumer at nine or ten cents
Thus the consumer has to foot the BILL
,, He has to pay not only the government
tax, but interest upon it from the time O
the arrival of the merchandise, until ht
purchases it; for the importer and the re
taller include in their prices, interest 0.
their stock in trade; so that while we pa,
twenty-five millions of revenue to thu
government we also pay to the merchants
: and traders million and half of inter
est for their having advanced this revenue
to the government Tor our account.
From those who pay these taxes in tn,
south, the whole laboring population is tc
be deducted. The slaves consume nex
. | To nnthinr rrh;ch 10 Ne tavos =