Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-09-25
THE ADDRESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC
CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

The democracy of Carroll county have been
favored with a reriew of the "Act for levying
taxes passed March Cd 1896" PURPoRTING to be
the result Of the combined labors of the demo-
cratic Central Committee. Judging from its
length, its false reasoning its msstatement Of
facts, and violation of truth, we should think it
intended for puzzle to amuse the democracy
until after the election; and in as much as pub
lie discussion on the part of candidates is deemed
dangerous in the present campaign, we don't
know but such puzzles, ntersperseda this is, with
literary and political fiction, may supply its place,
and occupy the minds of the democracy in an
agreeable manner.
We do not intend whatwe have to say as re-
view of this review, but finding in it so many
statements given as facts which contain no truth,
so much reasoning which is mere sophistry, so
many appeals to common sense which are worse
than nonsense, we cannot allow it to pass unno-
ticed.
We feel that we would not wrong the honora-
Bile men who constitute that committee, that we
would not be depriving them of much honor,
disrespectful as it might seem, were we to insist
that its true author is not one of the committee
whose names are appended to the article. But
as the committee avow the authorship they are
entitled to all the disgrace which such an article
must entail upon them.
In an introduction of nearly two columns,
they expatate learnedly and pathetically upon
'the struggle between capital and labor, ,"-''the
object of state legislation, viz: the efforts of cap.
ita to subject labor to its control;' and upon the
latter topic, remark, this principle is so openly
presented in the iniqutous tax law, that it would
be impossible to force upon our minds any other
conviction than that wealth will in few years,
unless checked in its unhallowed aspirngs be the
sole dominant and ruling power, in the State of
Ohio" Only imagine for moment the con-
sternation and horror depicted on the counte-
nances of Gen. Stdger and Capt. Arbuckle,
when they made the discovery that "money hath
power and a dominion. THAT "uness check
ed" it would soon be ''the sole ruling power in
Ohio, and that this niqutous tax law, the re-
suit of wicked legislation-aids in giving wealth
this power. Their tender sensiblities, their SYM
pathes for the poor man must have been awfuIly
shocked indeed. Their lamentations may do in
some other latitude, but when the reflection of
oealtFS giving men pOwer, draws tears from
these men, you may expect to hear of the Gen
eral abandoning his present calling, and seeking
wealth and fame among 'the robbers on the Rio
Grande."
But the eXordium passed, they undertake an
analysis of exceptionable portions ofthe tax law.
After noticing the first and second sections ofthe
law, and the kinds Of property therein specified
not exempt from taxation, they dash into beau
tilul passion in view of its horrid "inqusitorial"
Provisons-& disregardng truth, they give full
play to imagination. They say a com mpiance
with the requirements of the law "forces YOU to
place under oath on the duplicate, every thing
that can be felt, seen, smelled or handled, dead
and living; or it subjects to the inspection and
valuation of the assessor every article you own
from the garret to the cellar" "The chambers
of your wife and daughters are liable to prying
curiosity or official impudence, and the dressing
table, and the bed utensils become objects of tax
able importance and perhaps of after gossp!"
Shocking!-Well let us see how much of this is
true.
The third section of the law describes the
property exempt from taxation. Among other
things, we find the following articles enumera-
ted as exempt "All claims against the State ev-
idenced by certificates of stock, or funded debt,
h heretofore issued.
All kitchen furniture, beds and bedding, be.
longing to private families, and other household
furniture and books belonging to any family, not
exceeding one hundred dollars in value; and
each keeper ofa tavern or boa riding house shall
be entitled to hold, exempt from taxation, kitchen
furniture beds and bedding, not exceeding in val
ue two hundred dollars.