Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-03-05

The Southport Telegraph, Loco, takes
ground in favor of direct taxation. This is
the second locofoco paper which we hive
had occasion 10 refer to within few davs
as supporting this oppressive and anti-de no
cratic doctrine.-Chicago Erprsss.
1t will readily be perceived that in this
case, the oppressive and anti-democratct doc
trne, consists in advocating direct, in con-
tradistinction TO indirect taxation. The mo-
ney which supports the government; must and
does come from the people; the question
then is as to getting it by direct or Indirect
taxation. Let us examine then INTO the
character and tendency of the two modes,
and discover, if possible, where the an.;-de-
mocratic and oppressive features really are.
Now as the people have TO pay the tax,
whether direct or indirect, it is PLAIN that the
mode of collecting which is the cheapest or
requires the least per centage on the amount
collected, is the least oppressive. The
agents to collect by direct tax, would be as
SCISSORS and collectors; now we all know from
our home affairs, that seven or eight per cent
will pay these officers and procure the mo-
ney 10 be deposited in our treasury From
the character of our country, the sparseness
of our settlements, &c. it probably costs
quite as much to collect taxes here, as any
place in the country; is it not fair then to
say that for seven, or eight or ten per cent
at most the whole revenue could be collect
ed and deposited in the national treasury.
The agents Of indirect taxation are, Gus.
tom house officers, with an army of depend
ants, such as assistants, inspectors, wei ghers,
guagers, &c, with marble palace at every
port on the frontiers, in which to do business.
Revenue cutters, with their officers, sailors,
and marines, and the army of men to build,
keep them in repair, and furnish supplies.
Officers of civil law, courts, and agents DIVA
rious kinds which we cannot here specify.
Now does any man believe that all this is
maintained at an expense no greater than
would result from direct taxation We have
not the data at hand to show tho exact cost
but will not the involuntary belief of every
man side with us, when VIC set it down at
from 25 to 80 per cent. If this latter then,
be the democratic and least oppressive mode,
we are TO conclude that it is worth from 25
TO 80 per cent for man to have his pockets
picked indirectly, in preference TO having
the thief approach him boldly in 'front.' But
we have looked at indirect taxation in its
most favorable light We shall exhibit it,
in perhaps its worst point, by quoting from
contemporary awe produce sugar and mo-
lasscs say to the amount of Sl6,O0o,000 a
year, and import to the amount Of $4,000
00e in gear The duty on the imported
adds from two and one fourth to three and
half cents on the pound to the cost of the
sugar, and from SIX TO eight cents per gallon
to the cost of molasses. This furnishes an
aggregate revenue of $l,50O,0C0 to the
government. But the whole amount of lone
production, four times the quantity import
ed, is advanced in price just as much as the
imported. So that we pay duty on the
whole S20,00o,000 worth of sugar and
molasses, while we import only one fifth part
Of it, and while only one fifth part OF the in
creased cost goes into the public treasury
Thus we have tax paid TO the sugar planters
$4,000, 000-government duty, 81 500, Oc0
So tax TO consumers to 81 Of revenue to
the government. Again: we manufacture
about SS0oe0,0 900 of cotton and wooden
goods in year; and import, say 100000
600 in year. On what we import, we pay
an average duty of 80 per cent, which goes
as revenue to the government; say S6,000,-
600. On an amount four times as great of
home manufacture, we pay corresponding
advance in price; say s24, 100000; not a
farthing of which goes TO the treasury of the
government Here we have again, tax paid
by consumers to cotton and wooden manu-
facturers s24, 900, 900; government revenue
on imported cotton and WOODEN ST, COO 200;
or the same as in the other case, So tax for
81 of government revenue. Add, now, the
merchants per centage on the S37 ,00o,0 900
additional cost of the yearly aggregate of the
above commodities, and we have at least the
amount Of 3 Il, o00, coo of taxation in order