Litchfield enquirer., 1842-05-12

1u' recommend, therefore, that theV be placed nm
yer the supervision OF the Bank Commissioners anC
that those officers be invested with the same power
10 exemine into their affairs and correct abuses
"n'ch they possess in respect to the banks
:, Az me modItlca lions OF the of Congress estah
Ishing uniform system of bankruptcy, which it i.
ADMITTED are necessary, if that act 1.-THE DoIicv al
which may well be dOubed) 10 to be continued in az
,s'ence' sincerely hope that provisions may he made
10 include all the moned corporations in the coun.
try. Give to the citizens the authority thrOuoh the
!nterposltIon OF the courts of law to mace in the
hands oil commissioners, the affairs Of every nstilu.
ZION issuing paper currency, which refuses the re.
dempton OF ITS bills on demand, and we should hear
no more complaints OF deprecated currency or ex
ceSSive exchanges nor Of the necessity Of Nation
al 6ahk TO correct the regulate the other Let
every sound. well regulated bank he protected in the
enjoyment OF every just right but let tho whole
Ech"o OF aihless institutions which have been scat.
'freu through the country, setting the laws at def.
""ce, c"rrophhc the currency, and deceiving the
community, be driven from existence, and their ma
nge!nent exposed to the world, and our business, our
currency, and our exchanges would be in prosper
oas condition.
The laws respecting the imposition and
collection OF taxes, are in many respects de-
frctive and unequal. 1t has ever been the
policy of our law 10 assess the taxes in some
suitable proportion upon the polls and prop.
crty of the people. A poll tax, equivalent
to tax upon real estatc Of the va.Ge Of six
hundred and sixty-seven dollars. is imposed
equally upon every citizen, with certain spe-
CITED exceptions. without any reference to
his properly. To this extent all men contr-
butte equally to the support Of the govern
ment, as ii consideration for those equal per-
sonal rights which is its Object to secure. In
establishing the rule of assessments upon
property, ii would seem to be the part Of JUS
tice to assess every nun according to what
he is actually worth. To Just the extent to
which property is exempted from the tax
l;rS Al
polls. If the principle be admitted that n
portion Of the public expenses shall be paid
by the equal contribution of every citizen,
and the remainder by an equal tax upon the
property of the people, the just and equitable
mode would seem To be, to make the amount
Of ii man's property, at It's cash value, the
rule for his assessment. The fact is notori-
Gus that men of the largest property, some
times pay, comparatively, the smallest n.
s.otsnt 1T tnXns, while severe inposiiions are
sometimes cast upon Tnen Of very moderate
sn'nns. Let it be made the duty OF the As
SCISSORS to assess every person. ut such sum
as, from enquiry Of him, and otherwise, they
believe him TO be nctuallT worth and il he
is dissatisfied with their Judgment, give him
the privilege of appealing to he Board Of
Relief, and of being examined before them
Nl,d"r oath as TO the amount OF his property:
and let such other facts and evidence be eX-
hibi'td as shall tend to establish the truth.
IN this mode, through the action of the rs.
SCISSORS in the first instance, and by the revl-
sion md correction of the board of relief, an
equal aud Just rulc Of taxation would be OBJ
tanned. Assessments upon merchants, man,
ufncturerS and mechanics, should in that
CASE he abolished. recommend the whole
subject to your wise consideration.
| recommend the total and unconditional
rrpta! of al existing laws authorizing inn
lrisnnmert for debt That there should re-
main, AT this enlightened period, n law upon
cur statute book, so inconsistent with the sp,-
r' Of republican institutions, and so directly
at war with tho dictates Of humanity itself, is
q subject Of the deepest surprise.
The operations of such laws have always
hcen oppressive in the extreme. They in
vnhn personal liberty, by placing the rights
Of one man at the disposal Of another. They
make no distinction between misfortune and
crime, and they place honesty and fraud up
on a common basis Public sentiment is in
this case consonam with common justice. in
demanding their immediate repeal. In the
event Of YOUR concurrence in thus opinion,
some further provisions will be necessary to
guard the rights OF the creditor against
fraud, and To secure n faithful application OF
the property of debtors in payment OF thcif
lust debts.
The laws inhicting the punishment of
death for certain crimes. have tor many
wears been gradually yielding 10 the de.
mands of humanity. by constant dim'nn-
ton of the number of offences 10 which this
ranshment has been applied. ! am not a.
ware that those offences il respect 10 which
this runishmpnt has been abolished. have at
all increased il consequence OF 1t. inc pro-
gross Of public sentiment in favor OF abolish
ing capital pnniShnents altogether, has, IN
modern times, been rapid and general; and
The plea for lis necessity has been success
fully nssailcd. The object of all punish
mcnt should be, the prevention OF crime ana
Inc reformation Of the offender. 1t is the
certainty If punishment, and not It's severity
which most operates To prevent crimes
Having long entertained the opinion that the
nractice of taking life AS a punishment is not
necessary tor the protection Of society, de-
sire to see it entirely abolished. Holding
this opinion, and in obedience to what tcel
10 be my duty. recommend that the pun
or death for crimes be abolished, and that
solitary imprisonment for life be substituted
in its place.
The law requiring IN annual registration
Of the electors, is not believed 10 have been
of that essential benefit for which it was de-
signed, and has been attended with much IN
convenience and considerable expense. The
protessed object OF the law was to guard a.
gainst illegal voting but this object can,
=, ok, be obtained in much more simple
rn1,e,,,. Make it the duty of the Town Clerk
~ rr-.i> or every mans name as he deposltes
h;s haiio.., and the means will be in the
sands of tie. Authority of every town. to pro.
.ect he halo, box from unlawful votes. A
careful revision Of ibis and other election