The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-07-25
Resistance to Unequal Taxa
tiOn.


is the first duty of every man. 1t is so,
because unequal taxation Is the great
instrument of those whose aim it is to
grow rich at the expense ofthe produc-
ing classes, and not from their own ex-
ertions. 1t is SO, because to be the
victims of that description OF taxation,
is to ,Uear The badge Of inferiorify-to
confess that those who are exempted,
are a superior class, who rule by a sort
of divine right. In every nation in
which tyranny and wrong have been IN
the ascendant--and where have they
not at times been supremeG; they have
established unequal taxation, and throw
upon the masses the great burden OF
supporting the expenses of the state,
often embodying the worst kind OF
abuses. Wherever the people have
submitted 10 such exactions, liberty
has ceased to exist, and the vitality of
the nation has become rapidly extinct.
The proudest races have been humbled
into the dust, because they were not
sufficiently aware of the truth, that lib
erty cannot abide in that land in which
the producers oil wealth do not control
the expenditures Of the public money,
and it is not levied in an equitable
manner.
That it is matter of extreme diff
Guilty to apportion taxes so that every
man shall bear his amount of the pub
lie burdens, is most true; but there is a
vast difference between system OF
taxation which aims at being just, and
measurably approaches its end, and one
which openly and unblushingly bears
upon its front the doctrine of inequality.
Our present tax law is of this last char
acter. To whatever praise boldness
in the practice of iniquity is entitled,
that law can claim. Whether its fra
mers intended 1t should exhibit its char
acter so plainly, is quite another mat
ter; but that whose runs may read its
unequal equlrements-its exemption
of non-producers, and its exactions
from the industrious--is indisputable.
1t was framed with special eye to the
interest," Of what is generally called the
monied class-to the good Of capital in
masses, and for the purpose OF driving
capital into masses, of forcing it to ag-
gregate. Framed by leading wings,
and for the accomplishment of the ends
which they every where have in view,
it was scarcely possible for it to have
any other character than that which it
openly bears. If the reader will cast
his eye over the states, and see in which
Of their number wbig rule is best estab-
ished-the least liable to be shaken.
much less to be overthrown--he will
find that it is those states in which
wealth has been most aggregated
Massachusetts, is emphatically a whlg
state, and Massachusetts has more cor
porations on a large scale, than any
other member of the confederacy--
factories, railroads, banks, &c. &c.
| What has succeeded so well there, may
we'll incite the wings Of other states to
exertions Of the profoundest nature. II
associated wealth has made Massachu-
setts wbig state forever, why should
not the same cause yield the same ef.
feet in Ohio? And what SO likely to
cause the association Of wealth in Ohio
as to grant special privileges to the
1 rich, on the condition of their working
in common? Once unite the wealthy,
and let them taste the sweets of prIvi
lege, and there can be no doubt Of theiI
supporting the party which will have
SO bountifully endowed them with sour
ces Of enjoyments unknown to tht
many. There is not a bad principle 9
humanity that will not work IN thei