The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-07-11
The Tariff taxes the Poor. and
not the Rich.

Some weeks since, we pointed out the manner
in which the national and state systems OF taxation
upheld by the wings, affect the people-the former
90 operating to decrease their ability to raise the
means by which to meet the burdens imposed by
the latter There is another view of the subject
which shows that these systems bear hard upon
men In proportion to their poverty, while they op
crate to comparative release from the evils oil tax
alton to the rich. This will appear from briei
consideration of the manner in which the national
system works.
The object of the tariff is to raise national rev.
enue. In selecting the class of imports upon winch
duties are to be levied, in order to obtain the desi-
rad result, the statesman is compelled 10 choose
those which are not only necessaries OF lite, out
which also are consumed in large quantities. 1t
REQUIRES no very extensive knowledge on hls part
10 see. that il he imposes upon uxures very heavy
taxes. no revenue will be obtained thereby. HIS
object will be defeated in one OF two ways. Eitner
the rich will refrain from the use of such luxuries
or thew will obtain them by the enterprise OF SNUG
clers. Hence the fallacy of attempting to raise
large amount of revenue by placing high taxes up
on those things which the rich alone consume. 10
obtain any revenue from their use, the statesman
mustta them moderately. This is inevitable, from
The nature of indirect taxation. 1t cannot be avoi-
ded. and is the cause of that inequality which char
acterizes, more or less all our revenue bills. ihey
necessarily favor the rich, at the expense OF tne
a
upon labor, but indirect taxation particularly SO,
and mo branch of it with more unfdirness than that
which obtains under our revenue laws. Until
better views on this all-important subject prevail
IL will be impossible for any other RESULT to happen
Such being the case, indirect taxation not per-
mtting the law maker to tax the rich IN proportion
to their means, and great revenue being indis-
pensable to meet the yearly national expehol'ure,
what takes place? Why, that the greater part
of the burdens of society, ninetenths OF their
weight, to speak within bounds are, from the very
pecessity of the case, thrown upon the poor, the
yery men who should be exempted, so tar as pos
sible. from taxation. The taxes are SO apportioned
as to be placed upon the necessntes OF iye-upon
those articles which are consumed by the million
which they cannot do without, and which, there
fore, are certain to yield an ample revenue Du'
ties-low perhaps, in the abstract, but enormously
heavy when considered in connection with the
means Of those by whom they are paid-are levied
,snon the most common articles consumed by the
masses. by the farmers, mechanics, and other la
boring people, who make up the great bulk OF ev'
ery community on the earth The cheap thing
of the world are thus made the objects OF taxation
because they can neither be dispensed with MOI
smuggled into the country. People mustlive, ant
advantage is taken Of this iron necessity to impos'
,,pou their shoulders, burdens which even they
accustomed as they are to unjust imposltlons II
every way, find II difficult TO carry. From the be
ginning OF civilized society this has been the case
and Il will continue until the people shall full.
comprehend how shamefully they are plundered b!
the cunning few. The system will find its end on
" through the diffusion Of intelligence and the in
crease Of thought among the people.
The taxpayers of Ohio can comprehend the mag
nitude of the evil which the national system
taxation imposes, only by considering il in connec
ton with their state system Of taxation. They ar
now suffering under one Of the most inequitabl
tax laws that ever weighed down and paralyzed tn
energies of great people. Their conoition woul
not be so bad, unjust as is this local law, were
not for the existence Of the national system Will
they are called upon to pay enormous taxes, une
oually assessed for the use Of the state, they ar
At the same time made to pay nine-tenths of tn
amount OF Ohio's contributions to the revenue {
the nation. Thus, at the very moment when
their means are necessary to enable them to NEE
existing aud imperative demands for local purposes
they find those means immensely lessened by IN
working oi the revenue laws of the nation. Inc
are plundered on every hand, and yet are expecte
10 submit quietly, and 10 continue their confdenc
In the very party whose bad theories and wors
pfactice have reduced them to so perous cond
tion. They are plundered on every hand, and y
are expected to. submit quietly, and to contnu
their confidence 10 thevery party whose bad thu
ories and worse practice have reduced them to
perlIous condition. We are much mistaken,
their good sense, and the reflection to which
fairs must lead, do not open their eyes to the NJ