Mississippi Democrat., 1846-05-06

4
the right to tax posterity, even for govern
mental purposes, does not exist, nor can
1t be obtained, as future generation can
not consent to any thing, not being in ex-
lStence. Whenever these limits are disre.
garded by those in power, the right of re-
pudlaton, always existing in the people,
Is the only remedy. This is the great con-
servative feature in a government where
the people are sovereign and supreme +;
without 1t, no republican government could
exist. The constant tendency, in all go
VernmentS, to use powers not given to
them, would soon produce despotism, were
1t not for This salutary principle. Many
people are in the habit of speaking lightly
of an abuse OF the taxing power. This
evlnces a total disregard of the lessons of
history. 1t is this that has pulled down
and destroyed more governments than any
thing else.
What was it that led to the American
Revolution, and the subsequent dismem-
berment Of the British Empire, but the
attempt to tax the American colonies for
other than governmental purposes? 1t
was this, and this only. The colonists
were determined not to be taxed for any
other purpose than the support of their
own provincial governments They would
not even recognize the principle of taxa
ton for any other purpose, by submitting
to a tax OF five or six cents pound on
tea. Hence resistance and freedom fol.
lowed.
Ii we consult sacred history, we find
more than one ilustrious example in point
1t was this that caused the children Of Is.
rael to rebel against the Egyptians. Their
tasks were too hard. Their labor was
exacted and taken for the support of others
Rather than become slaves, they rebelieC
and sought liberty in the wilderness.
Again, the separation Of the twelve tribe.
of Israel, alter the death of Solomon, was
caused by the declaration Of Rehoboam-
" My father made your yoke heavy, and |
will add to your yoke. Ny father chastis,
ed you with whips, but will chasrise YOU
with SCORPIONS" = which simply meant
that he would tax them heavily, and op-
press them tor his own benefit and aggran-
dizement. Ten of the tribes alter this
declaration, being imbued with love o
liberty, and a termination to resist op.
preston and unjust taxation, even from the
"LOrd's anOinted," rallied under the stand
ard of JcrobOam, son of Nebat, and pro,
claimed and maintained their indepen
dence. This, finally, led to the total de.
structiOn Of the descendants Of Jacob, as
an organized community. Thus we see
that the tax question, now SO lightly treat
ed by many sages of the present day, was
regarded as more important than all others
| by persons living three thousand years ago
What was it that caused that deep anC
never to be forgotten excitement ia many
of the Southern States, especially in the
State of South Carolina, in 1881 and '32
Simply the fact. that the general govern
ment was using the taxing power Impro
perry, or for other purposes than the sup
! port OF the government. The CaroIinian
were willing TO be taxed so far as was re
| qulslte for the support OF plain and eco
nOmlcal government, but the use Of th
taxing power, beyond this, they righsf4lI,
considered tyranny Of the worst kind. -
Would the taxes have been Iightened, bu
for the knowledge Of those in power, tha
Carolina was right, and only urging tht
great conservative principle Of all popuIa
governments? Certainly not. Why is
that the South and West are so opposed tc
and dissatisfied with, the tariff Of 1912.
For 70 other reason than because we ar
certain, that by it we are taxed for othe
purposes than the support of our govern
ment. Il is felt that 1t is an abuse oc tn
taxing power. Hence, some of the State
talk Of resistance, if the oppressive law
not repealed or modified.
!, The right of. repudiating debts Of til
most sacred kind, when their paymer
would lmPoverlsh, or greatly opprcss tn
people, was recognized. in its fullest e,
tent, by our revolutionary ancestors
Hence, more than two hundred millions
continental money, for the payment
f which the faith of the government Wa
, pledged again and again was repudiatet
This was debt contracted for the purpos
! of ushering a government into existence
, consequently more binding, if possible
than one contracted for the support of g
vernment. Yet it was repudIated, becauS
it was obvious, that the attempt to max
, the people pay it, would tax them I'M
slavery, or produce domestic revolution
Our worthy ancestors saw, that II the Pc
pie were taxed to pay this enormous deb
their slavery 20 stockholders, brokers, an
, fundmongers, would be more complete lha
any arising from the exactions OF the Br
tlsh government.
Subsequent to the Revolution, in II
Congress of 1899, the Republican par
contended for the right OF rePudlatlng,
: part, debts made for carrying OH the wa
after the continental money ceased to CT
: cuate. That is, they were willing TIL