Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-06-02

tents are rich and varied as usual Among the ar
cles 1t contains is one which has attracted our at
tentlon particularly because the subject upon which
1T treats is one, above all Others, which the people
of our country should be led to investigate and I'M
derstand The subject is Taration, and the design
OF the writer to exhibit the sinvidious operation
and pernicious ultimate tendency of indirect modes
OF raising revenue for the support of government,
and the benefits which would result from direct
system of taxation Tor this purpose. That the ar
tcle is an able one, it superfuous to say and
had there been any thing needed to induce in our
mind feeling of opposition to tariff systems, whe
Their for purposes of protection or revenue, and
to make a convert to the doctrines of free trade
the views here presented would have gone far to-
wards doing up the work. And what the effect
would have been upon our mind, we are sanguine
1t will be upon the mind of any one who may not
have strong predisposition in favor of error and
against truth, far this subject is concerned.
We should be glad TO give our readers the benefit of
the article entire and would do so but for two rea-
sons The first is our limits are somewhat circum-
scrbed; and the second is, we are apprehensve the
space would be occupied in vain, as the invincible
repugnance of the generality of readers to long ar
ticles Of this character, no matter how important
the topic discussed might induce them to pass it
over entirely without reading. We venture, how
ever to present a few extracts studying brevty to
great extent as justice to the subject and the
writer will admit Of with the hope that the atten-
zion OF the reader will be attracted, and held until
fair hearing of the important views and propositions
advanced, may have been had:
The writer commences by saying
There is no shape in which taxation can be
made agreeable To the payers 1t is necessary
evil, an expense incidental to the organization of
civilized lne, like house-rent the wages OF do
meStlcs, AMI as such, should be met in a common
sense way The actual necessary outlay tor the
protection OF persons and property should be ascer-
tained and the amount levied upon the community
seeking that protection, IN manner TO lay the
burden propoTtlonabe upon each individual All
the persons IN the community look, In about an
equal degree, to the government Tor security in
person; Tor protection IN lie and limb against all
aggressors Whatsoever. Hence it is apparently
reasonable that every member SHOULD contribute
something to that purpose. In addition to this
object portion OF the public require security for
property, and protection against those who would
deprive them OF it. la TINS latter object a large
portion Of tie community IS not directly interested
in Il very minor degree only. 1t is true that all
are interested IN making the reward of industry
secure: but it Is not until man has acquired
property. that he becomes dependent upon the gov
erIment protection tor security in It's enjoyment.
Hence the holders q property having double de-
mand upon the government, viz, Tor security in
rt.,tl
doubly TOR its support The problem is to appor-
ton and collect The required sum from each person
IN the most prompt and cheap manner, that the
money may be applied as directly possible to
the purpose for winch ii is collected, and that the
mode OF It's collection should not interfere in the least
degree with the ordinary business of the country
ana the interchange OF its products The system
Of indirect taxation is comparatively OF modern
date, and 1t became a tavorIte with governments,
from the facility with which money could thereby
be raised without exciting discomfort In former
yes when taxes were demanded directly from
each citizen, the government was restricted in its
expenditure, through the difficulty OF collecting
large sums from the people and exposed 10 danger
Gus Ievolts through the nsoeucc and eXtortion of
lis agents. Had the wants OF governments been
moderate, and the direct collections conducted in
udIcious manner, there is but little doubt but that
much of that great inequality in condition, which
now exists, would have been avoided because
wealth would have been obliged to pay its full
share of the burdens of the state and industry nav
ING the full enjoyment OF It's reward, would never
have been depressed as of late years it has be-
! come under indirect taxes. The substitution OF
| these latter threw upon labor the whole burden OF
the government expenses, and by making property
| comparatively exempt, enabled it to accumulate
with greatar rapidty in fewer hands, and checked
I Its requirement by those whose only capital was
| their labor, and whose only income It's wages"
The condition of Great Britain is quoted as re
markable evidence of the evil of indirect taxes
Had Just system of taxation been in operation
at the close of the 18th century, Great Britain would
never have spent years and much blood and trea
sure in European wars, in which the people had nc
real interest The vast debt for the payment OF
| the mere interest on which the productive labor OF
that country is burdened almost beyond its ability
to bear, never would have been contracted and the
vast mountains OF wealth and deep valleys of pow
erty " which are now her leading characteristics
never would have exsted-for it cannot be doubted
that to the injustice and inequality of her indirect
systems of taxation, directly to be attributed the
/ great poverty which exists on one hand, and the
enormous wealth on the other
The example of England has shown that the
ultimate tendency OF indirect taxes is ruin to the
many, and that direct taxes must ultimately be re
sorted to. Wisdom would therefore dictate that the
true principle should be adopted before universal
distress compels it. Why wait until the many are
ruined before changing the false system which is
the cause OF the ruin OF the English enue three
tifths goes to the interest on the public debt In
Il, lT,,,+ NA,Ao IL
that the war is causing debt to be created which
may reach Sl00,000000, being already half that
sum That Is, however comparatively but a tenn
porary circumstance The ordinary wants of lie
federal government, are about S25OOO,0U0; OF thi:
! sum four hths may be raised by taxes on income
and property, and the remainder per capita of al
! tie population enjoying the protection oil the gov
eminent without any great burden upon any class
On the other hand, by removing all trammels upor
Trade and all restrictions aay,,o ~.