The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-08

il gives his properly, he ought Of right pay tax,
in proportion 10 its amount and value.
recommend, therefore, the imposition OF poll |
tax and tax upon real and personal property, In
proportion 10 its value. | also recommend that
provision be made, that individual who shall re-
fuse 10 pay his taxes being able, when they shall
be legally demanded, shall be permitted to bring a
civil SUIT, IN any court i'll this State tor the period
of one year and not then, until all arrearages are
paid. This may seem harsh measure, but it is
not. The honest individual who pays his taxes
will not feel IL, and he who wishes to evade the
OF the just dues OF the State, ought to feel
II. There are some individuals in California, who
intend 10 remain here only while they extract her
gold, and enjoy the protection of her laws, and
who would willingly return without paying
anything. This is particularly the case with
the great mass Of foreigners IN the country In re.
mote sections OF the State, II may be very difficult
TO enforce the collection of the revenue by levy
and sale. Many Individuals perfectly able to pay,
would find means to avoid the collector. But the
silent and sure operation of the provision recon-
mend, would insure the collection Of the revenue
promptly, and with but little expense. There are
few men who would, by their own voluntary act,
exclude themselves from the courts OF justice,
| recommend that the collectors be authorized 10
receive the taxes in California gold, a, the usual
rates of sixteen dollars per ounce, troy.
Were the State revenue to be collected IN coin,
it wouls greatly increase the demand already 50
great for the Custom House, and would thus ope-
rate still more DJuriously upon the abonng miner;
besides, IL would be almost impossible for persons
IN the mines to provide themselves with the coin.
Iwoud also recommend that the revenue law be
so framed as TO require the collector to go around
with the assessors; otherwise one half the revenue,
in some districts, would be lost in consequence OF
the frequent change OF residence
The operation OF reasonable and sound system
of taxation upon The agricultural resources OF the
country, would be most decidedly beneficial, IN
very short period. Most of the fine agricultural
lands of California are now In the hands OF a few
persons, who suffer them to remain wild and I'M
cultivated. A few months ago, when the populi-
tion was small, and the wants OF the community
but few and simple, The natural pasturage of the
country. with limited cultivation OF the soil, was
ample for all the purposes of lite but under the
changed circumstances, when our country teens
with people who must be fed, and when the popu.
lation is rapidly augmentlng, II is unreasonable,
if not impossible, that the country should remain
in a state OF nature.
No country can safely depend upon an uncertain
foreign supply OF the first necessaries OF life. Such
a supply woua be subject TO all the vlclssltudes OF
war or peace, would never be regular, and prices
would always be iuctuating, either extravagantly
high, or so low as to discourage importation. The
provisions themselves are generally stale and un.
wholesome, and, no doubt, one hall the disease sui
tered in the country has arisen from this prolific
source. When those who own such immense
tracts Of rich, fertile, and beautiful lands, now IN
state of nature, producing no rents or profits, shall
have 10 pay taxes upon them in proportion to their
value, they will find it their interest to sell out por-
tons to those who will cultivate them; and thus
encouraging the agricu ural industry OF the coun-
W,
value Of the portions not sold. In the last fifteen
months, the number of cattle in the country has
been rapidly decreasing, while our population has
increased In the same ratio. Fresh meats are in
disrensable TO our health, and cannot be imported
and if this state OF things should continue only
few years longer, the increased expenses OF living
Will be so great, that mining and other kinds OF
business must cease to be profitable. The const-
tuition makes it the duty OF the legislature to en-
courage agricutare-that first and noblest of all
industrial pursuits; but ! am not aware OF any
other means at present within your power, than
those have suggested
That portion Of our people resident in California
before It's cession TO the United States, have not
been accustomed to "a system OF direct taNation !;
and being the principal owners OF the landed pro,
perty of the country, may not at first understand
the Justice or the necessity OF the revenue system
our constitution and condition make 1t lndispensa-
BILE for you to adopt The Mexican government
derived no revenue from California except that
produced by high tariff upon imports. These
taxes were paid by the people In the shape OF exor
bitant prices for the merchandise they purchased.
But this portion OF our population will soon learn
that, under our system, the federal government can
alone levy duties upon mports-that the State can
not do SO, and has only left TO her resort TO
system OF direct taxation To raise those means in
dispensahle TO the very existence of the government
itself. They viii also see that our constitution
establishes the first principle that all property shall
be taxed IN proportion 20 Its value and that the
Legislature has no power or right, either 10 favor
or opyrees any tlass of persons, bat must look to
the property itself, in whose hands soever it may
he found. They VIII also learn, that the same
American manufactures. upon which they were
accustomed to ray such high duties, now come into
ports duty free, and that they are compensated
for the direct taxes they pay, the increased value
Of their property, and the decreased prices of the
merchandise they consume.
IL has been truly as beautifully said, that a
wise legislator adapts his action To circumstances.
These he cannot create or remove-he can only
conform TO things he cannot control. He must
take mankind and society as he finds them, not as
-. Ian.
as TO produce gradual Improvement but he cam
not expect M once 10 reverse or overcome even the
pieludices OF a community.
Our constitution has wisely prohibited slavery
within the State so that the people Of California
are end for ever free from this great social and
political evil. But the constitution has made no
provisions in reference to the settlement al free
people Of color within our limits, but has left the
Legislature TO adopt such legislation upon this de-
Icate and important subject as may be deemed
most essential to the happiness Of our people. The
constitution excludes this class oi persons from the
right of suffrage. and from all Offices Of honor or
profit under the state.
For some years past have gwen this subject my
most serious and candid attention; aud | most
theeriuly lay before you the result of my own
n Elections There is, in my opinion, but one OF
two consistent courses to take in reference to this
class Of populations either 10 admit them to the
iull and free enjoyment al all the privileges guaran-
tied by The constitution TO Others, or exclude them
from the State. IL We permit them 10 settle IN our
state, under existing circumstances, we consgn
them, by our own institutions, and the usages of
our own society, 10 subordinate and degraded
position, which itself but species Of slavery.
They would be placed IN a situation where they
would have no efficient motives for moral or in
ielltctual improvement. but must remain IN our
midsi, sensible d their degradation, unhappy
the mselvss. enemies to the institutions and the
secretly whose usages have placed them there, and
for ever hi teachers IN all the schools ct ignorance,
vice. and ldleness.
Our position upon the Pacific, orr commercial
and mineral attractions, would brlng swarms OF
this population 10 our shores. Already we have
almost every variety OF the human race among MS
"a heterogeneous mass Of human beings, Of every
Ter cusge, aud OF every hue. That period is ra-
Tdy approaching when the natural Increase OF
population in the States east of the Rocky Noun
tains i1rendcr slave labor OF little or no value,
and when Investments IN that species Of property
will cease 20 be remuneraiive. II measures are
not early taken by thus state, slaves will be manu-
mitisd in the slave States. and contracts made
with them TO labor as hirelngs for gwen num-
Der Of yeafs, and they viii be brought to Celiornla
IN great numbers. Cur State Is now IA a position