Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-09-24

10 prosperity, and by Withdrawing from the EN-
Ployer the means OF rewarding The laborer, en-
courage idleness, dissipation, aud Prohgaey.
The next question Of importance, is the tax
law. During the PredOminance Of LOcOioeOsm
in the Councils Of our State, the annual revenue
failed 10 meet the demands upon the Stale Treas.
ury, and those in power resoued to the miserable
expedient Of borrowing money 10 meet the ac-
cruing interest; thus the State debt was rapidly
aceumulaIing, our burhens increasing. while our
ability to pay was fast diminishing and we were
steadily descending TO the goal already reached
by some Of our sister States. failure to meet
our obligations seemed almost inevitable; the
State bonds became deprecaledi purchasers pass.
ed them by with significant shake Of the head;
and the prospect before US seemed so dark and
gloomy that STATE reputation was al times adyo.
Gated in our legislative halls, as the only means
Of escaping impending dangerl Added to this,
were the evils Of dsordered currency, depres.
sion in all branches Of business, and, as an inev.
liable consequence, reduction the revenue re.
ceived from ourpublicwOrks. Thesystemof tax.
alton, then in operation, was unfair, unequal and
unjust. The revenue had to be increased so as
to enable the State 10 meet its obligations, or Ohio
must henceforh be classed amongst the repudia.
ting States. This was the position Of our State
affairs at the time the Wings Obtained the ascen.
dency in the Legislature. The imbecility, reck-
lessness, and rascality Of their predecessors had
brought upon US all the evils we have mention.
ed but before The creditof the State was entirely
destroyed, the people awoke 10 a sense of their
danger, and called other sleersmen to the helm.
The Wings applied themselves diligently to the
task of remedylng the blunders of their prede.
cessors in Office. After provldingrhe peoPlewilh
asound currency, they cast about them for sys-
TEN Of taxation that would at once enable the
State to meet its obligations, and bear as lightly
as possible upon the people. The tax law, then
in existence, taxed some articles principally
those indispensable 10 the farmer and laborer) at
exorbant rates, while it left exempt from taxation
merchants capital, money at interest, and most
Of the luxuries and costly furniture Of the veal.
thy. To increase the taxes on the species Of
property then taxable, would throw heavier bur-
thens on one portion of the people, while anoth-
er portion, more able 10 bear just proportion Of
taxation, would be permitted to escape by paying
few cents, and, in many instances, be left en-
trely exempt. But one other system Of taxation
presented ITSELF That was to bring all properly
upon the duplicate, and levy taxes upon it accor-
ding TO its true value. twas believed that such
a system Of taxation would produce sufficient
revenue to meet the wants of the State without
increasing the taxes Of most Of those then taxa.
Bile; and, after mature deiberaton, this mode of
taxation was adopted. The Loco(ocos in The Le-
gislaure expended all their ammunition TO prevent
the passage Of the new tax law; but without ef-
feet. 1t became the law OF the land, despite their
efforts. Their opposition however, did not STOP
with its enactment. They attempted to cripple
its operations thwan its designs, misconslrue its
provisions, and lalsfy its character, with view
to render it odious. Their opposition was again
fruitlcss. The better the people became acquan.
ted with its provisions, the more they liked its
features; and the tax law was trlumphantly sus.
tained at the ballot.box. Under the wholesome
provisions Of Wing legislation the credit Of the
State beganto revive, her obligations were prompt
ly met, her revenues were increased, the accru.
ing interest on State bonds paid without borrowing,
and fund for the final liquidation of the debt es-
tablished. At this time lhecredit Of Ohio stands
as fair as that of any other State in the Union;
her bonds are at par; and the Auditor OF SAFE
has publicly notified the holders of domestic
bonds that the State is now prepared TO pay them,
and that the interest on the same will cease alter
the lst of November next. What contrast
this from the period when Locofocoism swayed
the destinies Of the State! What n change is
there for the betterl This change is the first
fruits Of Wing legislation. Shall those fruits be
permitted 10 fully develop themselves or shall
we again return to the state of daPida,ion from
which we have lately arisen! These are ques.
tons to be decided by the people Of Ohio on the
Cd Tuesday Of October next.
Besides dsordered currency and blighted
State credit, the Wings, on coming into power,
found the public works in The hands Of dishonest
agents. Extravaganza and corruption were win
ked at by the Board of Public Works. fraud,
peculation, pilfering, and punder were found TO
exist on our public Improvements. These things
were known to those in authority. Mr.. Brough,
while Auditor of State, openly charged them to
exist, and yet, neither the Legislature, TO whom
the charges were addressed, nor the Board OF
Public Works, whose special duty it was to guard
against such rascality, took one step toward cor.
recting theml Those dishonest servants were re.