Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-01-23

me anxes an the same, his property should
pc adlndgcd, boundan held su irct 10 the
payment OF the same; and any non-resi.
dent ncg|ecting or refusing TO comply with |
such acquisitions, should he adudged TO
pay double taxes, with ten per cent. inter
cot on the same so long as he shall refuse
or negleetlo furnish such information to
be assessed and collected, whenever such
Tact shall be ascerlained; aud although the
land may have changed owners, it should
nevertheless, be bound for all arrearage-
taxes ard interest. Aud, in like manner,
wh"n any resident citizen shall neglect or
refuse To render faithful schedule Of al
the property tol which lac is subject to pay
taxes, for one year W series Of years,
when such fact is asrertalned, should b.
ENROLLED and assessed Tor all arrearages,
with ten per cent. ihierest per annum on
ihe same. Having taken passing noIrr
OF the public printing as Il fl item OF re
trenchmen,, sense Of duty i'npels ne I"
that subject again. The great pressure
that pervades the country, the low price OF
every article, the product Of our State, WITT
the embarrassmen,s Of laTg, portion OF
ahe citizens, is, am sure, sufficient lnsllii'
cation m my part TO urge retrenchnenI
70 its fu lest extent.
lam Of opinion that all messages, reports
and bills Of moment should only be print;
ed. and then barely sufficient tor the u.s.
of the two Houses; and that no resolution
shppld be printed at all; and all proclama'
.ions on the part Of the State should be con-
fined TO some three or tour newspapers.
j would further suggest the propreiy o
changing the present system OF chasing
and taxing lands in this State; for the rea
sons, that il 10 unequal in its bearings.
and embarrassing to those whose duty it is
20 assess them; and, in lieu tn ,reot, would
respectfully recommend the adoption of an
ad pdlorem system, as being more eqnI'a'
BILE; and by which means, you will compel
the rich TO pay the amount in which the
government protects them, and the poor
will pay but for the same.
The inequality of the present system is
obvious, from the fact that within fourteen
miles of the Mississippi river, We have
many poor persons who have settled on
the public lands, aud have secured t.
themselves pre.emptlnn rights for the SAM
whilst the rich spectators have brought
the finest soil of our State. The present
system extracts from the prescription
settler the same per acre, although ordna.
~ or second quality, in the FIRST class, ns
is obtained from the Spectator, in possea-
pion of the rich prairies of Yazoo, Big
Black and Tombisby, included in the 18th
class.
And 10 the further accomplishment Of
system and equity, would respectfully
recommend that the office of assessor be
dispensed with; it being matter vital,
important, as conceive, to the due guard
ing and checking all officers Of State, and,
10 lieu thereof would clothe the police
court with authority, at IT'S April session,
in each year, 10 appoint one Justice of the
peace in each police district, whose dni,
il may be made, on being notified OF such
appointment, to give notice of the snme 10
his district, and tina, in such time as NAV
be specified, that all persons in their dis.
lrict meet and render schedule Of all the
property for which they are subject 10 paw
taxes; which several magistrates may make
their returns to the clerk Of probate, whose
duty it may be made TO cmbody the whole
returns for each county in one assessment
list, AMI TO furnish one copy to he coIlec-
tor, one TO the county treasurer and one to
be sent tothe State Auditor.
The difficulty that exists in collecting
taxes irom transient merchants, lawkers.
pedlars and keepers Of billiard tables, could
be measuTably ohvia,ed by causing tha
Auditor to furnish blank licenses 10 the
CLERKS ofprnhate courts in each county,
and make il obligatory % all merchants.
hawkers and prdars, and keeperd Of Til.
lard tnhles, before they sh,ll presume TO
sell goods, or SET table for play, to obtair
license for the same; and, in default, shall
be assessed double, aud the house IN which
such goods may be opened, or table SET for
play, should be bound and held subject for
the nnvment of lbe same.
The amount Of def,caticns and insol
yencIes disclosed annually in the Auditors
report, cnn but satisfy YOU that there is
great remissucss on the part of some Of the
collectors
Onr revenue law, go complex and ms.
lined ny s'atu'ary provisions and amend.
men'sls to some extent, an apology for
them, but no, efficient to cover the whole
ground Of their ofTlnce.
"'lh this view Of the subject, shonld
you think proper To SO remodel the revenue