Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-11-16
MONTPELIER, VERMONT,
Tbr Traucler.
coRREspoNnENr.
For the Green Mountain Freeman.

mode Of T'aration-.a German Peasant become d
Ficeman European and ,4merican OPPRESSION
Ertcasioa Of S,avoy by Political P,trties ant
Politicians Resisted blythe friends Of Free Soil
free Soil principles among The Settlers Of the
WeSt-iScenes Of Chjidlood
MoNTPELIER, Ohio July q, 1848
On my return yesterday to Angola, had occasion
to transact business with tine County Auditor, and
found in the person of that officer an old acquaintance
L. H. Stocker by name, formerly student in the
"Vernont Literary and Scientific. Institution" at Bran
non. He labored for a time in this new country as
Baptist clergyman in which his talents and gift at
public speaking rendered HIM quite acceptable. Tie
receives fees in the discharge of his present duties
amounting from $500 to $1,000 per year. His broth
er Chester, as county clerk and Recorder, receives
from $1,000 to $l400 annually. 1t may be asked how
can the Recorder obtain so large sum in fee for
single year? Two reasons are given for this. The
first is, the law gives him one dollar for every deed
however short, which he records. The couny Au-
ditor has IS cents for transferring the title on
the auditors books to enable the county Treasurer to
make his tax; so that the simple record of deed,
which in Vermont costs man IS cents, costs here
81 %. The second reason is, that the record of eve
ry deed in most if not all of these wesenstatos, is
required to be kept at the county seat by the Record
or, probably to increase its importance and growth at
the peoples expense Thus at every sale exchange
of an 80 acre lot the farmer has to travel in many
instances, ten, twenty, thirty and even forty miles
through the mud, at all seasons of the year, and in
all weather, to confirm the title of his land The Re,
corde thus obtains dollar for every deed recorded
in the whole county. Nor is this ALL If any doubt
arises as to the title or encumbance land Journey
must be undertaken to the county seat to examine the
} records Or if the Recorder is employed for that
purpose it results in another fee How different this
from the practice in the eastern states, where the
title of land in each town is recorded by the town
cerk-and every man with but little trouble can
leave his deed and examine the records for HIMSELF
This Is IN evil in the new states, which calls aloud
for remedy, and whenever the people examine and
understand the matter, they will not long permit tC
remain unredressed.
As proceeded on during the heat of the day, UNI
der the deep shade Of intervening forests was Join
ed by an Indiana farmer travelling the same road
whose shrewdness of observation and remark interest
ed me, and very much relieved the monotony of the
road, He what is sometimes termed "fn
f booded Hoosier." As we turned an angle of the
road, met by cross road, noticeda one story build
h ing, somewhat large in its dimensions quite hgl
between Joints, and well finished AS this appeared
to be a novelty in the woods, cnqulred of nv new
friend what he called it-whether meeting house
an academy a school house. "Why, as to that, y
said he, sit is pretty smart chance for a moctm,
house, hut will do just as well for school house. 70
which it built and is used for both" "But" con
tinued l. "what is the reason of your combining bot
houses in one?" "The reason u.s." replied my com
panion, 'that we have no right totax folks to bu
meeting houses or pay the preachers, but we have
right to build school houses large as we please, ant
make folks out of the State foot the bills too"
On enquiry obtained from my Hoosier friend tn
following explanation as to the mode Of voting an
raising school and road taxes school district mum
r bering from five to a dozen or twenty men meet n
per notice, at neighbours house, some evening. an
vote to build a school house Of certain dimensions
large enough Of course for a meeting house) to b.
y, well finished in good STYLE by time mentioned
They vote that each inhabitant OF the district has III
privilege of furnishing his share of the tax sin wor
Or materials" building committee is appointed
$ who proceed to erect and finish the house. The ia
l. against the inhabitants by various MEANS gets "cyos
ed oui" but heavy in cash against nonresident
remains, which is punctually collected, or their Ian
sold to meet all the money expenses of the building
t, instances happen, where in reality the nonresident
build the houses and the residents are merely take
to comply with the forms. | say instances becaus
there are other cases where the residents seem di.
posed meet their full share Of the burthen and e,
i pense.
As it respects road taxes, the legislature of Indian
r. have, by law, authorized and empowered the count
" commissioners TO lay such taxes as they please ri
n consequence is, they have imposed taxes in son
Is counties high SO to each lot of so acres witt
e out reference to improvements l)t of improve
VI land under good fences and buildings may be wort
'r $1,000 or more, while a lot of wild unmproyed LAM
lie may not be worth fourth that sum; vet they al
y both taxed alike The value of property is no ruiC
= in taxing, If twere, there would be no oDpo1tunt
~, of taxing non-resdents higher than residents. wbic
could not, for moment be tolerated by the settler
- Nor is this all. My friend informed me that ma
with ms team was allowed S3 per day in working OF
he his rold taxes. days work pays the tax on an in
fl proved lot Of $1,000 value, while an ,ainnyoved lot
n $500 value, pays 50 in cash About the Justice
s. oXpediency Of this mode of taxation make no COZ
ment leaving the matter for those Interested to sett
among themselves. When ! remarked to NV ne
friend that the settlers managed the matter of fax
ar ingeniously, his reply was "Wa, they d." He al
nv stated that the Wolverines of Michigan, the Sue
* ers of Illinois, and the Buckeyes he was told. mana
Is ed pretty much in the same way"
Sc Montpelier i'm Williams county, has grown up
III year or two from woods and stunps to snug lit
e. viage with its usual aduucts, to wit store tavey
nc t.oice, besides Touring mill, saw mill nd son
- other machinery on the Little St Joseph.
ay In going west the other day, night overlook :
in several miles before reaching this village and ira
in eed on alone in the woods for mile or two. seek
l." tor some comfortable looking settlement in which