Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-03-28
n'l,c Road rax.

hold OF copy oil the Code oil Laws.
passed by the las, Legislature. Sosoon
as we do, we shall take occasion to com.
ment upon and explain some acts which
we are satisfied will work injury TO the
interests of the people, to say nothing of
their injustice. -....-.
Our present design is to notice the
provision passed by the last Legislature
making Road Tax payable in naoney
instead Of labor, as under The old law.
This law will fall heavily and oppres-
sively upon The majority of our farmers.
1t is a fact-(which if the Representa-
tives of the people did not know by per-
sonal acquaintance with the situation of
their constituents, they were not fit to
be entrusted with their interests)--,hat
by far the largest number Of our popu-
lation are farmers, They are new be.
ginners, in new country, with limited
means to go on, after entering and open
ing their farms; and in fact, many are
just struggling along with many difficult
ties incidental TO the settlement of every
new country, TO open farms and build
comfortable houses for their families
dependent almost entirely on their hands
and untiting diligence to accomplish
these desirable objects. This, our leg
islators, living as they do in our midst,
and many of them farmers, must have
known; and with this knowledge Of the
condition of the country before them,
how have they acted! Did they gener-
ously step forward to assist The tax pay
payer? No, verify! They were not
satisfied to let the old law, against which
there has been no complaint, alone; bu,
actually increased the burden Of PEG.
pie already borne down by heavy taxes
to meet the eafraUagaace Q "a pr9figats
Legislature IN making e.rhorbitant al
io,rances to public servants. ,- t.
The old law required work on the
roads so many days in the year. This
was ligh. on our farmers and laborers, for
they could spare many days work from
their farms with their horses or oxen,
and comparatively speaking, not feel it
al all. But how is it now As scarce
as money is, and as hard pressed as they
are TO get hold of money, they must
raise the money To- pay this road tar :!
This will, in the place of a few days
work from each farmer, take right om
of their pockets some So, 900 to $4,000
an actual cash, in this COMFY asone.-
Farmers, are you prepared for ii! 1t is
the act of party from whose lips have
fallen honied words Of undying love for
the poor hboring man! Oh yes, if
you listen to them just before an cleo
ton. they are just ready to flight, bleed
and die" in maintaining your rights
One would really think, if he believed
their professions on such occasions, that
they were ready not only TO serve the
people for shecr love Of them, but were
ready to draw their coats, work your
farms and pay your taxes for you -
But no sooner are they snugly seated in
power by too confding constituency,
than they forget all their fine promises,
and thiuk and &C. as if the people and
all the world was made to honor them
and pour their treasures into their peck
cts. And if some one of their own
party, who is not quite los. 10 all sense
OF shame and duty to his constituents,
hints tina, this abuse of the peoples rights
and interests is not Democracy, is not
equal rights to all classes, these party
leaders--whose business it is TO guard
against any Infringement on Democracy
stretch their mouths in holy horror
and cry out disorganiSer, traitor, rene
gade, scamp, and the like ep.thets, and
forthwith the word goes round and the
offender is read OFT Of the pdrty-out
Of the Democratic y pariy-and for
what! For standing up manfully in de.
fence OF the interests of the people
| That is the crime for which the party
leaders are hunting him down. lis be-
cause he has dared TO go for the people,
and against the Democratic party, which
now means few demagogues and
drones who are fal,eniug on the hard Ia
Dor of the true Democracy. ..'"a.
Look at the road tax and some Of the
enormous expenditures of these men las,
winter, ye farmers, we men who live by
the "sweat of the brow" and ask your
selves in all candor, scan we support and
trust such men any longer!" With you
is the power 10 say to them, ''give an
account of your stewardship, We unlaith-
FIJI servants1" AT the ballot box is the