The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-07-12

No body ever called those imposts a
direct tax. Those duties range from
twenty-five to siAiySper cent. No
doubt such duty, when levied on all
the goods imported INTO country,may
ordinarily increase the price. Buthow
does such an impost resemble a direct
tax Of about one per cent laid on mer-
chant capital. How could such mi
mute concern be calculated! What
part Of it could be levied on pound of
coffee or a yard Of cotton or even Of
cloth. Could any thing short Of uni
versal and strict combination enforce
such principle? And is n OF the inter-
est too minute to bring about such a
combination. On the other hand do
not all writers agree that enormous
taxes upon agriculture raise the price
of the first necessaries of life?
Fellow citizens, you may rest assur-
ed that the men who are thus persua-
ding you in roundabout manner, that
the farmer ought to be loaded with all
the burthens of taxation, are in reality
leading you into error. Their doctrines
are false. lfmerchants' raise the price
of their goods, as they do not sell the
first necesslres OF life the demand
slackens, their stocks increase and they
are glad to come down again. II enor-
nous taxation is laid upon the farmer,
upon his land and work cattle for in
stance, it increases the costs OF produc-
tim; and as he sells the first necessa-
ries of life, he can enforce rise Of
price. This is the language not only
of common sense but of every political
economist, who treats Of the subject.
Fellow citizens, if you dislike taxa
ton stand by the corps of Treasury
GUARDS. Their remedy is RADICAL
They take the bull by the horns. II
the corps Of Treasury Guards, such
as has been formed in the Chic Legis.
lature for the last two years, had been
formed ten years sooner, ten millions
of dollars Of your money would have
been saved and regiment of specula-
tors and public plunderers would have
been disappointed. This is our real
CRIME. This is the reason why we are
to be huuted out Of the public coun.
cils. We have mortaly offended the
powers that be. Reader do you doubt
this?
As to the fam that bankers are only
taxed on their dividends. How were
they taxed last year, two years ago, ten
years ago, and at all times past! If it
is now wrong to tax them SO, was il not
equally wrong in all times past and
with all parties in power? If this is
an objection to the new law is it not
an equal objection to the old? Or ra-
ther is it not an objection to the old
law alone, for the new one simply
omts the subject and says nothing
about it. voted for tax on the whole
capital Of bankers, but apprehend our
twenty and fifty per cent men would
as leave pay small tax upon their cap
itaI as a proportion Of their dividends?
But is it treating the public with due
candor and fairness to bring this for
ward as an objection to the new law?
If wrong, is not the wrong in the old
one?
In future my own name will be sign
ed to these letters. began to write
them last year in order to disclose the
mysteries OF the plunder system, and
proceeded to the eleventh in the Sc
ries. Then my attention was called to
this subject, but whenever the sky
brightens little, | will return to the
prosecution of my original design. The
way the olunderers have done up some
Of their work is UNIQUE, it would be
gratifying to tell my friends about it,
but while the war lasts must be con-
tent to address myself principally to
self defence, and give my old enemies
the spectators dig under the fifth rib
occasionally. as opportunity occurs
And mark it, the enemies of this frau
dulent system, will ultimately prevail,
no temporary clamor about new tax
laws will always be able to screen it
from merited odium. But let the event
be what it may, would rather DESERVE
success without attaining it, than ATTAIN
it without deserving it. Every body
knew who wrote these letters before,
but being called on by name, | shall
answer by name.
EDWARD ARCHBCLD.
No. XVIII. June %, 1845.