The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-09
Report Of the Select Committee,
RELATIvETO THE ESoFTAX.
=. ALTON, AND THEIR PRACTICAL AP.
PLTCATION IN SENATE-Feb 8, IS4S
lContinued.]

hELAIlfE,lO ldEPNlNCIPLESOF OF TAX
n, ALTON. AND THEIR PRACTICAL AP.
PLICATION. in SENATE-Feb. 8, 1s4s.
(Contnued.1 .'' 60
The great public has no one qualii-
cation for mighty commercial adven-
turer, except that variety and i'm
mensity ofresources which, is forever
furnished by individual exertion. 10
all that vide interval which separates
the cradle and the grave,s the prompt
ings of individual interest are perpelu-
ally felt. The efforts of the individual
through his whole lifetime to better his
condition, are strenuous and unremit-
Ing. II there is any where upon earth
al inert, sluggish, indolent race ofmen.
their characteristics are widely differ
ent from those Of the busy, Turbulent,
energetic Anglo Saxon. The individ
ual man is forever gathering honey
What a shame it is for government to
bear down with the formidable, irresis-
tible majority power, and seize it away
and feed it to a set of government
drones! If the government could be
restrained to its proper functions as an
active and efficient agency for keeping
the peace, this immensity Of individual
exertion would soon produce state OF
national opulence hitherto UNI nexampled.
Then individual wealth and sagacity
would soon construct all necessary and
profitable commercial improvements,
without risk to The taxpayer. sa
There is no unmixed evilsain this
world. The commercial experiments
Of the government will improve fhan.
ciaI science. AS governments possess
the happy knack Of abusing resources
of all kinds-as "wasling wealthis their
peculiar art" the other Of wringing
money from the hands Of those that earn
il will advance towards perfection. In
fact, il has made considerable advances
already. Political men even now pride
themselves on their dexlerity in draw
ing money from the pockets Of the peo-
pie; and The man who inventA a new
mode of attacking the taxpayer, feels
all the pride of a discoverer. Intense
anxiety for the preservation Of State
faith has made even good and generous
men look upon the improvements in
this ominous and sinister art with some
degree Of favor, because the interest of
an immense State debt has to be provi-
ded !or. An experiment of the kind,
made in the early history of our public
commercial enterprises, has produced
radical change in our CONSTITUTIONS
The most important branch Of the tax
ing power has been alienated from the
peoples representatives for more than
twenty-five years. A silent ukase steals
round to the different counties from
the autocrat. whose palace is the State
Auditors office, and no public statute
informs the people oftheir overgrowing,
ever.increasing burdens. The men who
passed this statute, creating this mon.
archicaI, one man power of taxation,
were not wil(ully and knowingly COR
rupt, but they were willing to do that
which would not bear the light Of open
day. They felt kind of instructive
consciousness that the peoples repre-
sentatiyes could not be trusted to lay
on those ever-incl easing burdens, which
the commercial speculations Of the
were about to render
inevitable. This very consideration
ought to have caused them to pause, !,
and ought TO have infused suspicion into
their minds that they were treading on
forbidden ground. When will men
learn that public prosperity is best pro-
NOTED by means consistent with abso
lutte reciitude? This irregular and i'll
boding exercise Of the taxing power has
been submitted 10, for fear that change
might possibly endanger- State faith.,-
That faith is now endangered in anoth-
erquarter. An enormous public debt,
contracted by a large number Of our
counties, will soon be The offspring Of a
new species of Legislation, which is at
once calculated Ia stimulate individual
cnpidity and the county majority pow
er to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. This com.
m,tee has argued this question to the
Senate in former report, and therefore
will not enlarge further than &c say,
that as far as the eve Of human sagacity
can penetrate the dim vista Of inturity,
there seem 10 be troubles, difficulties
and dangers ahead, which have their
origin in the rage for public commercial
specuIa,ions and for contracting
PUBIC aeo.sai maI aioes ss9w saa b.sa
This exercise ofthe taxing power has
another feature, most ungainlys and ,un-
fortunate. j No atiainable degree Of
human wealth will ever enable the gov
ernment 10 improve every section tof
the commonwealth squaliy and alike.
However extensive It's undertakings OF