American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-02-24
For the American Republican
TAXATION.

Allow me few lines in your paper, to no.
| ice the remarks of can Oppressed and Over
taxed Property Holder
Several measures have been proposed by the
present House of Delegates for raising addition
al revenue for the purpose Of paying the inter
lest on the State debt. All of these measures,
with one exception, have been permitted to pass
70 their final passage in that house, without one
word of opposition so far, as | now recollect,
from any one in Baltimore.
The measure | except is the Stamp Act-to
This measure, there has been and is decided OPP
position by the greater part Of the Merchants
and traders of Baltimore-ana beg here to say
That when | speak of the merchants and ira
iers, speak of the mass.
The opposition to this measure has been di-
,ected openly-to itself-by name. The mer-
chants and traders have opposed and do oppose
his measure, and this only, and they assign the
eason oftheir opposition.
They allege that the Stamp act is contrary
o the bill of Rights, which declares, ''that eve
y man shall be taxed according TO his actual
worth in real and personal property in the
State" whereas the tax, in this case, would
fall principally upon or 1000 merchants and
raiders, without any reference whatever, to
What they might be worth in either real or per-
ohal property.
They allege that such a. tax is calculated to
operate injuriously upon the trade and conl-
nerce Of the city, by imposing upon it, buzz
hen which no other mercantile city in this
ountry has to bear, and thereby increasing the
dvantages which near and rival cities already
njoy over this.
They assert that they already bear more than
heir equal share of taxation, because their notes
eceiVable, and stocks of goods, and debts due
hem are assessed and taxed, while their notes
ayable are not taken into the calculation.
They assert that beside this, they principally
ay into the State Treasury annually, about
10000 over and above what they pay in conf
ION with the rest ofthc State, viz for licences
bout $4,000, for protests about $4,000, for
uction duties about 100000.
II They declare that they are ready and willing
pay their proportion of taxes equally laid up
a all according to their actual worth in real
nd personal property.
do assert that this is fair statement of the
purse of the merchants and traders generally,
reference to the measures proposed by the
legislature for the raising of additional reve-
ne. If any thing different has been done or
i'd by any merchant, | have not seen the proof,
I'd challenge its production.
Here then is open opposition to one specific
fopositon, tor reasons assigned
If there be any unsoundness in any of the a.
positions let it be pointed out and ex
Wed. If the arguments used by the merchants
I'd traders are false, let them be met and re-
ted.
But this course of proceeding would not an
yer the purposes intended to be accomplished.
he true issue, sis the Stamp act just or not"
or there is no other act in question: is con-
antly avoided. Your correspondent instead
meeting this question deals in the following
sertions and charges:
sour eyes and ears are daily saluted through
e pablo press, and on the streets, with bitter
mplaints of the gross inequalities OF the pub.
burthens, working, as is alledged, the most
flair exemptions in favor Of the great mass Of
j!aers OF real estate-and visiting with the
lost unsparing hand of oppression, the. mer-
Ylntile and trading classes--thc representatives
id owners of the great amount Of personal
operty.
"The fairness and common honesty of Lee
Station, both past and present ARE most uncere-
oniously and unsparngly assaled; all sug
stions for raising additional revenue except
an increase of the direct taxation are uni
rmly opposed public meetings and
sate combinations to forestall the action of
duly constituted authorities in regard to the
aetment Of a particular measure; or failing to