The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-09-10
VncqunI Operation Of the Disiribu,iou
Policy.

Under the foregoing caption,-snys the IIar-
risburg Stale Capitol Gazcltc-wc find most
excellent and able article in late number of the
New Hampshire Democrat. As the question to
which the remarks have reference, is one which
deeply concerns large portion Of our frllow-citi-
zens--particuarIy the FARMER the MECHANIC,
AMI the LABuRING pooR Naive cannot better
clucdatc the gross injustice which would be done
to this valuable class of society, if the Whig
scheme of a DSiriJuiiOH IF the Proceeds If tie
SitS Of HE PaJEc L1ads should he carried into
operation, than by making few extracts from
the article of the democrat" To them we call
the earnest attention of our readers generally !;
sincerely believing that there is no unprcjudlccd
mind, which now gives or has given the subject
due consideration and reflection, and views it in
al its bearings as it should be viewed, but will
readily admit that this WiiS scheme Of Phlnder
hypocritically styled a "D SLribU.ion B H." is a
most unrlghtcous measure and calculated to pre-
ducc the most ruinous consequences to the people
md the country at large. The Democrat says
"ln the first place, in the division of
the proceeds of the public lands among
the States, great injustice may be done to
some, to the advantage of others. An.
when the money CONES 10 the States, IN
nine cases ont OF ten, it will be applied
to the same purposes as are ordinarily
accomplished by State taxation. Such
an application Of it, which is almost GER
tain to be made, will terminate in GROSS
INJUSTICE to the LABORlNG MEN of
the country, as we shall cndcayor to OK
plain.
The fact Is admitted, that there is no
surplus money in the National Treasury.
1t is also conceded that if the proceeds OF
the public lands are distributed, II will be
necessary to collect the same amount
back again by raising the duties on I'M
portatlons.
The taxes which go to support the
general government, are mainly levied
upon teas, sugar, salt, coffee, manufacture
ed iron, and cotton and woollen goods,
articles in general use among our people.
BY that system Of taxation, he who con-
sumes most pays the greatest tao.
BY our State system Of taxation, the
public expenses are levied mainly upon
property, so that he pays most Cho is
acorfh the most property.
Now let us suppose case, illustrating
the operation Of this distribution system.
In certain town, there is a rich man
who is taxed for property to the amount
of 100000. In his neighborhood there
is an industrious mechanic, worth not a
single dollar of taxable property, and
taxed only for his poll, estimated AT
$500. The rich man has but small
neutrality-suspicious. none AT all, and spends
for dutiabe articles only $500 per an
nun. The poor mechanic, has a large
family, and is forced to spend the same
sum tuI the same articles.
For the support of schools, the repair
ing of roads, the maintenance of the poor,
and the expenses of the State, county and
town to which they severally belong, the
poor man under the State system of taxa
lion, pays only one dollar where the rich
man pays one hundred. This is as it
should be.
The land bill proposes 10 distribute a
large sum among the States every year
under the name of the proceeds Of the
public lands, and then collect the same
money back again under the name of du-
tics. The share received by the several
States, would undoubtedly go in most
cases for the purposes above mentioned,
and prevent the necessity Of State, town
and county taxes altogether. The RICH
MAN, would save his HCNDRED
DOLLARS per annum, and the POOR
MAN save his ONE DOLL,lR!
But when the money is collected back
again, the POOR MAN and the RICH
NAN are made, in the case we have sta