American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-10
For the American Republican.
REPEAL AND REFORM-TAXES AND
LICENSES

.NeSSrS. EdtorS:-We have a few doubts tc
express upon the necessity or propriety of GER
tain projected movements called reforms, as
well as upon various other matters, and upon
what we doubt not are substantial reasons, a
few of which we wish to present at this time
reservng others, to our minds equally cogent
for future occasion.
We doubt the proprety of holding ,carO
meetings, as is proposed, at this particular juno
ture, for the purpose as is alleged of bringing
about "ref0rm end repeat'-as in our opinion
the abuses complained of, when brought to the
tests Of common sense and fair analysis, will
be found to be fictitious rather than real
We doubt the honesty of certain leaders in
this crusade, the pretended advocates of Just re-
form-believing them to be now, as erer, the
real ADVOCATES Of reputation and revolution.
We doubt the fairness of mind of any man
or set of men, acho lCth knowledge and in rietc
Of the fact, that, in the entire city of Bati.
more, but nine individuals and firms, for 1914,
and but sic individuals and firms in IS43, paid
a traders license OH stock of goods of $50, 900
value, while vast numbers of our largest and
most responsible trading firms paid such license
only OH $1,000 or much less, have the efronte-
ry to come before the public, and to say, 'fhe
license lar imposes tao upon The amount (ot
goods Which the merchant has on hand al the
principal season Of Sate-thuS, in almost ereyu in
stance compelling payment upon much larger
amount than the actual ,cOrth Of the parties con-
csrned."
We DOUBT and distrust the moral honesty Of
any man, who, while penning for grave COM
mittee and the public eye such declaration as
is above quoted, is perfectly cognzant of the
general state of facts upon which the assump-
ton rests; and who, at any rate, upon turning
his mind homeward and to his own affairs.
could not but find confirmation strong, that
there existed at least one case, to himself most
peculiarly stamped and marked, in opposition
to his general theory; but we do not doubt, that
such an individual, in the sacrifice of means to
ends that would be sure to follow, would make
a most INSCRIPTIONS and unsafe leader of anv
party or faction.
We doubt the moral honesty of any man,
who, acting in the capacity Of Legislator,
proceeds under the strongest professions and as
surances to borrow money from innocent and
unsuspecting persons to the tame tune of Ss,-
000 900 at clip; and ever after, not only
makes no special effort for the payment of in
terest-but who, upon one sham pretext or 9TH
er, objects to, or resiss the various laws Judged
expedient by others, and designed to accomplish
such payment. We do not doubt, and no fair
minded man Can, that such individuals and par
ties are justly amenable to the moral charge of
having obtained, touched and taken upon pre-
fences little short Of false.
We doubt whether any fairness of mind at
taches to any man, who is ever before the pub
lie, with an cutlery against the oppressive bur-
thens of taxation, when in his own particular
case, as a citizen and a merchant, he does not
pay under the general assessment or under a