The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-07-12
For the Spirit Of Democracy.
NEW TAX LAW.

NEW hA La W.
Mr.. EDiroR II shall respond to your
call after making one preliminary OBJ
servation. No public benefit is likely
to arise from a mere personal squabble
between you and me. Some of your
expressions seem harsh and would prob
ably CRATE upon the nerves of man
less susceptible than myself, yet shall
not write one word intended to be per-
sonalIy offensive to you. You possess
every possible advantage, you are the
owner of the press and of the office and
Of all things therein, and shall not SO
far forget myself or the proprieties and
decencies Of my situation as to send to
your Office one word offensive to you.
Indeed have not considered you as
my antagonist from the beginning; my
antagonist lives in another section Of
the State.
am not conscious Of having spoken
harshly ofany one single democrat, un-
less the AccUsER of the BRETHREN at
Columbus can be so called.
AS to my position boldly avow my
self one of the LOWER TEN THOUSAND
and in favor of the mercantile and mo-
ney tax. The wealth and influence of
the upper ten thousand will purchase
them advocates enough. Yet though
friend to the general policy of the
new tax law | am perfectly free to ad-
nit that it needs amendment. 1t is not
perfect, nothing human is perfect. But
it is no evidence its imperfection that
dlsingenuous skill can find objections to
it. Was not the old law equally OBJ
iectionable9 The Widows COW was
taxed at her full average value in mon
ey, while the rich nabob who lived in
a palace in town only paid taxes on the
excess of its value above t,oo hundred
dollars, that is he had the first two hun
dred dollars of its value clear of taxa
ton. Now is not this objection to the
old law Just as valid and just as weigh
ty as the objections made to the new9
And are not the numerous objections
to the old law mentioned in my former
letters Of the same characterl Men Of
glass throw no stones. In other words
be candid and open with the world,
well assured that candor and fair deal
ing will wear the best, last the longest
and serve q mans turn m lost effectual-
" in the end. Nabobs and lordlings
be content with your situation, satisfied
with the advantages which you possess,
stir us not up, or we will carry the war
into your Africa and then see which
will,prevai, we Of the LOWER TEN THOU
SAND, or you OF the upper crust.
The whig news paper at Steuben-
vile in imitation OF its brethren at Gin
cinnati is vaporing about capital leav-
ing the State, let it go, great deal Of
capital left the States in the Revolu
tionary war,and went to Nova Scotia.
Why in the name of Heaven did not
these men begin their clamor before
the debt was contracted. In future let
them learn to complain before the ex-
penditures are made, before the bills are
run up, or else forever after hold their
peace!
Fellow citizens, am not only in fa-
vor of the new tax law with some
amendments, but | am in favor of ex-
tending its provisions. We Of the Low
ER TEN THOUSAND must call for more
articles on the tax list. Mark that
We must have tax on gold watches
and jewelry and gold and silver plate,
and rich turkey carpets and mahogany
side boards and centre tables and mar
bic slabs and elegant furniture with
which the mansions of our rich nabobs
are filled, and upon plated harness, &c.
&c. &c. This is no new idea with
me, appeal to you fellow citizens, to
say whether did not argue for this to-
gether with merchant and money tax,
when first candidate before you, in
order to cut down your land and live
stock tax. You know that | did ;there
are hundreds that can bear witness for
me to this point. Atmy first session
introduced bill for this very purpose,
but was overpowered by the influence
Of wealth in the House, for rich men
will work for their own advantage. But
this measure will intailiby carry at the
next session unless you join the nabobs
in an absurd clamor against the new
tax law. 1t i, sister and kindred
measure, one will not live long on the
statute book without the other. We
struggled hard for this provision at the
time Of the passage of the act, and were
only prevented from obtaining it by
want time. But you JOIN in the cla-
NOR and hunt down and harrass those
who are trying to alleviate your burth-
ems By adding new subjects Of taxation |