The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-11-25
Report Of the Select Committee,
LATIvE ToTHE PRINCIPLES OF TAXI
ALTON, AND THEIR PRACTICAL AP.
PEICATION. IN SENATE-Fsb. 8. I640:

LtORVAU VA OhO SOAOOV oVAnAAAhVv0Ny
REL LATIvE TO THE EpRINCIPLEs OF TAxI
ALTON, AND THEIR PRACTICAL AP:
h, PLICATIoN. in SENATE Feb. 8, 1Sls:
The Senate, taking into considerti3n
that the taxing power is an interesting
faculty Of government which not only
may be abused, but which has, in facI
been abused, has laid its Injunction on
the subscriber to consider Of the subjects
and report the result Of his REFLECTIONS.
either accompanied by resolutions, or
otherwise, at his discreation. Is
The committee proceeds, mostcheeF;
fully, to the performance Of a task en-.
joined by an authority SO respectable,
only regretting that his powers afesnot
more fully adequate to its complete ac:
complishment. The eye Of philosophi.
cal criticism will, no doubt, be able 70
detect many imperfections in the work,
which must receive their palIiation and
excuse from the situation Of The work
man. The Iabors Of the. Senate have
been constant and severe, and the COM
mittee has participated in their, sewers
ty, in common with his fellows. To
expect from men SO situated, that AZ
tention TO style, arrangements or de.
tails, which full leisure alone can bex
stow, ,would be to judge them by harsh
standard. II men so overtasked can
array plain truths in plain language, no
more can be expected.
The committee will proceed, without
further preface or introduction. to the
performance to the task assigned. Tan
alton may be defined 10 be-, that pors
ton of the citizens property which the
law requires him to yield up to the gov
ernment, for public purposes. Hd" Is
the right Of the government to make
this requisilion to be demonstrateds-
1t can be demonstrated by the follow;
ing considerations. A state Of nature
is, amongst individuals as amongst ad-
tons, u state Of complete equality and
independence. Such individuals ac-
knowledge no common judge, and their
controversies are settled by brute force.
Injuries retaliated according to the en-.
travagant measure suggested by rsi
venge, become the instigatIon 10 fresh
injuries, and render strife almost inces-
SAINT. Rage, and fear, and hatred, and
despair are the dominant passions of
savages and barbarians,and render their
very existence unhappy and undeslra-
BILE. In such a state OF manners, prop:
erty is never found except in the small.
est shreds, and the rights Of life and per-
son are held by tenures the most inse!
cure and precarious. AS soon as light
and kno Wedge, by means of any favor.
able circumstances, begin to advance
amongst such people, men perceive the
misery Of their situation. and earnestly
desire superior order of things: They
then gradually enter into the social COM
pact, for the purpose Of arming indiyid;;
ual righ. with the aggregate Of social
strength. They constitute states and
governments, as agencies for the mann
tenace of the peace, and for the preser-
vation of social order. Agencies imply
agents, and as these agents devote their
time to the public service, they are en-
titled to a remuneration out of the pub.
lie purse. This is Inc true foundation,
and the only foundation of taxing pow
err. For even defence against foreign
aggression or intestine insurreciion IS
but auxiliary to this; for how can SO
cial order be preserved, if the nation be
either exterminated or overrun by
foreign foe, or thrown into convul-
sions by civil strife9 To submit 10
be destroyed by the power OF a for
eign foe, or by that Of intestine, fac
tions, would be TO commit national sui.
eide. And the soldiery are but servants
and agents Of tire public. aias5 qsal
Taxation, therefore, is not to be wan-
tonIy levied on :he citizen, nor levied
at all except in return for benefits con-
ferred. RlGHTFUL TAXATION is THE PRICE
OF SOCIAL ORDER. The people do not
always reduce these maximsa to the
form of regular propositions, but III isan
appreciation OF these elemen.
tary truths that render smuggling and
and all other frauds on the revenue dis
honorable and disgrace(uI amongst good
citizens. Suppose the government, TO
address recusant taxpayer, in the fol-.
owing language: Oh, ungrateful man,
you have peace 10 all your borders.-
The. mantle Of the law is spread over
you, to protect you when you sleep,
Ind to shield you when you wake. Your
locks and herds range over the hills.
md your rich harvos!s wave in the val,
eys. How differentis your situation
rom that Of the people Of those unhapr
~ countries where the law has lost its