The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-05-15

candidates. At present we can only indulge in
conjectures. A certain "Cass and Butler De-
mocrat, who saoent orcr'' for certain purposes,
covets the distinguished honor of being defeated
on the Congressional track,-hope he acont be
disappointed. Who they will run for Governor,
depends upon the delegation from Pottawatta-
mic. There's a good time coming, boys!
AID yalorum VS.. Specific Taxation.
A few weeks ago our Wing neighbor of the
Tribune commenced, as we supposed, series
of articles on "tariffs, in the first of which he
took ground in favor of specific duties and con-
demned the democratic doctrine of ad valorem
taxation. At the time of the appearance of his
first essay, we felt much like congratulating him
upon his position in assuming a defence of the
old and long recognized doctrines of the Wing
party. Butt he stopped too soon. 1t may be that
we shall not have another opportunity to join is
sue with him on that vital question, and we there
fore take the present occasion to defend the doc
trine Of our party in its relations with this sub
ject. Of ST., ... ...
~ And first, we hold that it is no defence of the
specific system to affirm that the real value of
imported goods cannot be precisely ascertained,
nor is that reason for condemning the ad valo-
rem system. If we assume a specific basis of
taxation on our foreign imports, we may, with
as much propriety, assume the specific basis for
domestic taxation. The same cause exists as
much'in one case as in the other, and were the
revenue inspectors chosen with view to their
qualifications, there would be less doubt of the
real value ofimported goods than upon property,
which becomes the subject of domestic taxation
Taking the Wing doctrine, then, as our basis
OF taxation, we shall find ourselves always on
the side ofthe rich, and against the poor-always
taxing the poor more than the rich, in proper
ton to their means. That this Is no idle asser-
ton, we shall endeavor to prove by facts. TAX
ing the Wing, or specific system, as the basis OF
both foreign and domestic taxation, we will il
lustrate our subject by reference to the article of
cloth. According to the Wing system, cloth
would be taxed at so much yard;-by the de-
mocratic ad valorem system, the same yard of
cloth would be taxed according to its ualue
Now, let US examine which system is most for
the public good--or what is the same thing, the
good of the people at large. By the specific, or
Wing tariff each yard of cloth, or pound ofiron,
or crate ofware, or pipe of wine or brandy, would
be taxed just so much per yard, pound, crate, or
pipe, without any reference or regard to quality;
leaving out all that relates to quality, and aten-
ding to nothing but weight and measure. The
tfol1 49, ~, H.
poor man would be obliged to pay as much indi-
rect tax fol cloth worth 80 yard, as rich man
would have to pay for cloth worth 8, 10, or Is
dollars, thus compelling the poor to bear four or
four and half, or seven and half times more of
the burden of taxation, than the rich man. ~,
"' The democratic, or ad valorem system discri
inmates, and places the two, or more classes of
the community, upon perfect equality, by say.
ing to all, You shall pay for your cloth, or iron,
or wine, in proportion to its value If the poor
man can't afford to wear better than two dollar
cloth, he shall pay less tax for his coat than a
rich man, who can afford to purchase one worth
fifteen dollars yard. This, in effect, is the
whole question at issue. The wing party insists
thatthe poor shall pay much tax for thing
of little or no value, as the rich shall pay for
thing of the same name, but of the highest value.
Garry out this principle from indirect to direct
taxation, where shall we stop? Nowhere short
of universal anarchy. For, will any one sup
pose contend, that if this question was brought
to direct instead of an indirect issue, and the
specific system of taxation should be attempted
to be enforced, that the people would submit?
Would man who owned house worth only
five hundred dollars, be willing to pay the same
amount of tax as the proprietor of house worth
five or ten thousand? We trow not Then whv
insist upon an unfair indirect taxation, and shrink
from meeting the question in the faces All
that is Wing doctrine. Keep the question far
away from the public mind, say our political OPP
ponents 1t will not do to make direct issue
with democracy, but make them believe that it
is the foreign exporter who has to pay the duty,
and not the home consumer; and our object, our
darling object-crushiug the poor to benefit the
rich--will be indirectly attained. , .,-..E,.r
D. These few illustrations win suffice to show
the inequality. and oppression of the specific or
Wing system, and the equality and fairness of
the ad valorem, or Democratic system of taxa
ton. The latter. system treats all alike in pro-
portion to wealth. ,,,dto..,. of,f.s. j,,-,. ,
hi Asdemocrats, we accept of this issue. We
are prouI of the doctrine which binds US to our
party; and we are sure that, if the question was
put fairly to the American people, an oyerwhecllm
ing majority would be in favor Of taxing accoyd-
ingto value. i n u Il. & s,,4,,sz .,ta u,
q DocToR WEBsTER.--The counsel for FRO,
fessor Webster, nave made application for anew
trial, on the ground Of some informality b The
Supreme Court have the matter under advise
ment: SO say the papers, Nh
~. pA ~