Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-03-20
THE "ACT TO SUSTAIN THE
CREDIT OF THE STATE"

sustain the credit of the State, and made
some remarks thereon. Not single press,
as far as we have observed, either whig or
loco, has spoken in defence of this act; some
of the loco presses, it is true, have come
tardily to the rescue, by descan,ing upon
the impossibility of passing a law which
will please every body, the proneness of the
people TO grumble at revenue laws, &C.
but as for attempting to show that it was a
wise law-that the objects of taxation were
wisely selected, and that its operations
would be impartial--,herc are none OF
them verdant enough for that!
1t may be well enough for us to state
here, that the representative from Howard
G. F. JACKSON, Esq, was the especial cham
pion of this law, and, we believe, since his
return home, has publicly fathered it. II
was brought forward just before the close
of the session, and passed in drunken
trolic, we are told by democratic press
When the vote was taken upon its passage
in the House, it stood yeas 40, nays "a
showing 81 members either absent, sick, OF
too drunk to vote!
Recolect, fellow.citizens, when you pay
your taxes this year that the increase is the
work of your late OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
les and clerks, when you are called upon
for one per cent of your wages, recolleci
who originated the law, and that we have
good democratic authority for saying i,
was passed in drunken frolic!
We shall have more TO say on this sub
ject hereafter. For the present we dismiss
it, by copying the following extracts from
the Missouri Statesman, TO which we invite
the attention of our readers:
"The bill, all in all, is wihou: example in the
legislative history Of the country. Not having
the moral courege to meet the crisis with the
boldness Of conscious right by levying constitu
tional tax upon the property of the people, it
seeks to quiet their murmurings by the egerde.
main process OF assessing rate bill upon physi.
clans and lawyers-a bill which will finally be
paid out Of the pockets Of the people themselves
1t does that indirectly which it had not the indie.
Pendence to do directly. 1t was conceived in
the spirit of demagogucism and panders to gno.
rant and ignobe prejudces hoping thus to cover
its retreat by an oucry against ''lawyers and
DOCTORS" Usurping authority not conferred by
the constitution, it levies tax upon k,o1cledge-
a tax which is unconstitutional and void. sim
liar tax upon the skill Of the Mechanic and Far
mer--upon the Carpenter, Cabinet maker
Brick.layer, Painter, Shoe maker, SaddIer,
Herdsman, Florist, Tobacco, Wheat, Hemp and
| Corn Planter, and any other and all other trades,
| callings and professions in socety-a tax upon
their knowledge and skill, as such, is clearly
within the scope OF the same policy and just as
constitutional. Property and not knowledge is
constitutional object OF taxation, and the
taxes upon this should be in proportion 10 its
value.
Under the the 14th section Of this bill all pr.
vatc individuals who are receiving an annual or
stated salary for their services, are taxed one per
cent. upon the amount Of said salary. This
will include Journeymen Mechanics and Trades.
men Of all kinds who are employed at stated
| wages: JOurneymen Saddlers, Carpenters. Black
smiths, Taylors Shoemakers, Tanners, Printers,
Bookbinders, Timers, Clerks, Statesmen, and all
other employments in life, save the hired laborers
upon farm. will come in for their share. And
more than this! Under this section all Teachers
Of Schools (NIale and Female;) Ministers of the
Gospel; all Agents for Bible, Tract, Missionary,
and other societies and also agents for Sabbath
Schools-all these, and more than these, are OBJ
ects of taxation to the tune Of one per cent
And what is more the 10Th section makes the
bill retrospective in its operation, on which &C.
count the assessments for the present year (lS4D
are to be made under it!
M AF