The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-02


(To be continued.) III.
Report Of the Select Committee,
RELATIVE TO oTHE PRINCIPLES OF TAX. (
N ALTON, AND THEIR PRACTICAL AP-
PLICATION. IN SENATE-Feb. 8, l848.
Continued
This exerlion Of the taxing power is
eminenlly unfortunate in another par
ticular. 1t brings private interest into
perpetual collision with public interest.
And nothing but youthful innocence
and inexperience can doubt about the
termination Of such conflicts. To ex@
pect public interest TO prevail in con-
les, with private, is TO expect an unarm.
ed dwarf to prevail over mailed giant
in full panoply. Private and personal
interest is adventurous and clamorous.
1t receives no wrong either patiently
or silently. Public interest often suf.
fe:s silently and unconsciously, and is
not even aware of the existence Of the
wrong-doer, or Of the nature Of the
wrong. necessarily engaged as they
are in their important and laudable pur.
suits, the interest Of the taxpayers is
often stabbed and wounded, while they
take no note Of the aggression or Of the
aggressor. When, four years ago, our
tables groaned with the weight Of petit
tions, from the central and western
counties, to reduce the emoluments Of
State officers, how many ofthe petition
ers knew that the pittance actually dol
ed out to the civil servants Of the State
engaged in the legislative, judicial, and
executive departments of the govern.
ment, amounted to about FIVE per cent
of our annual expenditures? The re.
peal Of the total civil list would have
afforded the taxpayers M appreciable
relief! An old Roman once exclaimed 2
that Anthony had a party, Octavius .
party, but Rome had none. Periods
have been in the history of our State
in which, if a citizen had exclaimed,
''privaie interests has party, local ia.
tereSt has party, the taxpayer has
none." he would scarcely have employ.
ed figure Of speech. The subject is
too serious for mirlh, or it might pro- 2
woke smile TO observe for what pur- {
poses the energies Of the taxing power
are sometimes invoked. Some yearslf {
ago the Columbus and Sandusky Turn g
pike Company had violent quarrel .
with the settlers along the line Of their q
mud road. Some of their gates were
cut down, and some violence done to
individuals. The General Assembly,
partaking somewhat, perhaps, in the
excitement, and persuaded that con-
dtion preceden. had been violated by (
the company, repealed their charter. 100
The company has been assiduous from
that day to this not in applications to the
judiciary department, to tly the ques.
tion whether there was really breach
OF a condition precedent, and Of course :
whether the repeal was rightful or y
wrongful not in applications to the &
legislative department, to strengthen the
bands Of social order, and afford them y
better protection against mob violence
but in applications to the General As. 4
sembly for damages out of the State.
treasury. That is, they wan: the total q
body Of the taxpayers 10 be answerabIe i
for the doings Of a lawless mob. They b
want the citizens Of Ashtabula, and
Columbiana, and Jefferson, to be an
swerable for crime of the commission
Of which they kne w nothing, and which
they could not prevent. But why par-ln
ticularize? A statute has been in force
for five years, authorizing the county
commissioners, upon private, personal,
individual solicitation, to set asidss si1s;
sentences of the courts, and 70 FeSnisi
all fines and forfeitures. Undsxiahisa
sy stem offences were indeed punisfsed<
but they were frequently punished In
the persons OF the taxpayers, by come
pelling them 20 satisfy bilITof costs
The committee mentions these facts to
show what crude, un wieldy notions are
often entertained Of the taxing power.5
II is the only function Of the governs
ment that is in perpetual enegy. Asa.
member Of the human body, which hasj
taken on preternatural growth, moi,
only becomes huge and monstrous ite
sell, but deprives every other part gof
the frame of its due nourishmsat, SO all
the other functions seem to minister t0s
& . f. Il O. -