Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-10-01

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the country-is sought to be recommended to the
people, Is the favore one of the party that it will
benefit the poor by giving to them their food and
clothing free of taxation, and throw all the burdens
OF the Government upon prOperty.-A beautiful
and captivating theory truly, on the out side-but
rather too lmsy and iaacious, we should think. to
be successfully impressed upon the masses In the
process OF its attainment, it is perfectly obvious that
nearly all the mechanical and manufacturing inter
ess amongst us must be broken up; so that really
and substantially it only offers, to those classes of
our citizens, freedom from taxation at the expense.
or upon the condition, OF first making them paupers
We are aware. however, that it has long been a
favOrite idea Of Locofocosm that there is some
thing antagonishca IN the interests of the poor and
the rich SO called-(for in truth we have few such.
properly speaking, and they have found some
advantage in il, in quilting the simple and inflaming
the minds of the vicious but its absurdity and mis-
chievousness, we should hope, were too apparent
to allow them to attempt to incorporate it, TO SO Sc
rous an extent, in the public policy of the country
All experience shows that the most favorable times
for the poor are those of general pr perity and
that whatever depresses the men of property still
more dsastrously affects them With the former it
may operate mere curtailment of superfluities-
while with the poor it at once becomes a struugle
| for bread.
In proof that such movement is in the contem-
plation Of prominent men of the party we make the
following extracts. We must confess. thouob that
the very monstrosity of the hng-in its denational
izng oppressive and ruinous results to all the inter
ests of the country,-does somewhat shock our be-
lief in the sincerity of the intention OF CARVING il
out.
The New York Journal of Commerce saws:
''We state the truth about rsinp favor far di-
rect taxation, and give it opinion that further
agitation OF the tariff question Will be likely 10 re-
suit In further reductions; and these papers meet
the matter with slang and tell us we threaten'
correspondent of the same paper thus writes
from Washington:
81 heard many of the most influential of those
who had labored for the passage of the new Tariff
bill exclam-"NOw let there be no compromise
let our cry be do,cn aOh the Tariff; let us have
no duties-no custom houses let at once resort
to taxes on property for the support of the Govern
ment!" A league for those objects would nevita
bly, be supported by the whole Democratic party.
which, as long as it has Southern support, will ever
be In the majority; and two OF three wears more
would witness the utter do,cntd Of the Tariff sus-
tenn" '''
The Baltimore Argus more cautiously breaks the
ice as follows:
"ln fact even Direct Taxes have come to be re-
garded with less prejudice and repugnance than
formerly They are thought by some to be a
means, when combined with indirect taxes, of max
ing capital contribute It's proper proportion of the
public revenue, and Of relieving, to this extent the
worklngman, who by the present system of exclu-
sVe indirect taxation, bears the whole burden of the
Government"
The Globe, another organ of the Locofoco party
in New York, says:
''1here is disposition among Democrats to give
the new tariff fair trial. so that capital invested
under 1t may have fair chance TO PREPARE FOR
CHANGE still FURTHER REDUCING THE DUTIES
for, rest assured there will be no change but one of
still further reduction. A SYSTEM OF DIRECT TAX
ALTON WOULD BENEFIT NINETY-NINE MEN OUT OF
EVERY HUNDRED. Therefore we are WILLING 10
appeal to the interests of the people in settling this
question"
The following is the address of the jackson
Democratic Association Of Washington a
most precious document truly, it is. We very
much doubt whether it will not make some of our
more conservative Democrats stare at the startling
progressiveness of their principles!
"The Jackson Democratic dissertation of Wash-
ington to The Laborers and Iar- Payers Of the
United States
Gin laying before YOU the annexed statement.
permit us to make few remarks
''ln raising revenue for the support of the State
Governments, by universal consent the principle of
direct tax, levied on the property Of the citizen
has been adopted as the only just rule 1t distri-
butes the burdens of the States among the citizens
according to their ability TO bear them
''Why should the large sums which are annually
al
be collected on the opposite principle BY reve-
nue. tariff, You lay tax articles consumed by
the community, such as food and clothing which
are used equally by the rich and the poor and thus
make the poor pay as much as the rich Is this !
right What would the people OF any State do if
thelf Legislature were to make their State taxation
conform to that rue2 We suppose there would be
great agitation
III the repeal OF the tariff law Of 1916, which |
would restore the black tariff of 1872 with all its
opPressions-ro bbing the poor to increase the over
grown fortunes Of IOrdly nabobs-be forced as a
cause OF "agltaon" on the people, we call upon
mem 10 ponder upon and inquire into the principles
ABOVE suggested, and sec whether another and |
very different issue would not be more suitable.
VIZ Whether the present equitable revenue tariff
may not be reduced still lower and regulated with
view to permanent change Of the national re-
venue system.
eff, however, it shall be determined that the Ia
TIT system shall be used to raise revenue. and
the only question to be tried before the people shall
De, which OF the two acts. that of 1912 or that of
1916, shall be retained then we are willing to
meet the advocates Of monopoly on their merits.
AS an exempllfication Of their merits and prac-
teal bearing of the two systems, we respectfully
submit to your candid consideration statement
drawn from official document laid before the Sc
nate of the United States at its last session. on the
cail OF Senator from Massachusetts,. known as
~ fE,o xzI,o, ]