The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-05-17
PHILOS.
For the Spirit oi Democracy.
NO. II.
MIR. EDITOR: :

MIR. EDITOR:
In former communication the attempt was
made to discover those principles by which UNJUST
may be distinguished from just taxation. Actual
instances will serve to exemplify those principles
The WARREN COUNTY CANAL may be safely
computed to have cost the State OF Ohio four
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The subscrl-
Der has seen estimates which make it cost much
roore,-some others which make !; !; lass. The
above computation is therefore probably not Jar
from the truth; but error in the mere statement OF
the amount will not alter the principle. The above
computation is offered as safe one, for no dispo'
sition is felt to exaggerae. The plunder OF the
people has been too enormous IN fact to need any
aid from exaggeration in order to make out
strong case The annual interest on the above
sum at per cent. is twenty-seven thousand dol
lars, which, together with the cost OF repairs, Is
every year LEVIED the people of this State III the
shape Of direct taxation, for the worthless concern
returns only one hundred and twenty-eight dollars
annually in tolls
Now what have the people Of Ohio to show in
return for this 1927 900 90 annually spent' Does
it help opay their governor assemblymen' judges,
clerks auditors sheriffs constables, or any other
public servant, Does it in any manner contribute
10 the well-being or comfort of the people! Not
in the least The capital was sunk and lost IN TINS
silly enterprise, and the annual interest has to Dc
by direct taxation in order to satisfy the de-
mands of the foreign capitalist, who advanced his
money on the plighted faith and credit of the State
If taxation, like all other values, is not to be taken
without an equivalent, is not this monstrous
violation of the right Of the people! Is not this
money levied upon them without an equivalent
without being sn the least subseryient to the pro-
motion of social order'
We readily grant that the mischief is now COM
plete,--tbat the general assembly could not now
repeal the law which drags this amount from the
pockets of the people without being guilty OF
breach of faith toward the foreign creditor, which
no honest man could countenance for moment,
and for which no amount Of pecuniary gain could
possibly be compensation. But by what righ'
did the general assembly originally pass the ACT
bestowing so large sum upon Warren county,
BY no right whatever. The whole thing was
wrong from the beginning, wrong in every par
ticular. The members of the Assembly were
deceived, their constituents betrayed, and the mo-
ney Of the whole people taken and bestowed on
few greedy spectators The mischief turks
the prnciple-its is inherent in all such acts Upor
right principles general taxes should never be laid
but for general purposes, beneficial to the who'll
people But these canal acts lay general taxes
, impose universal burthens, stimulate the whoE
people to effort and exertion and compel them 4
endure priyation for mere partial and local purpo
} sesl The whole people pay the price, and a fev
cunning ones take possession of the purchase
| The thing is wrong, or common sense iiseifis
} fool II this expenditure constituted the whol
, amo of our sacrifices, it might be ovcrlooke
c and forgotten ps too petty and Inconsiderablcss