The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-01-31
The Repeal Of the Stamp Tax.

AC pCui u Tic CtdlAp
Mr.. Editor 1t will be seen, by ref
erence to the Baltimore papers, that
petition is TO be sent from that CITY to
the Maryland Legislature, urging the re-
peal Of the Stamp Tax. This change in
the financial arrangement, together with
the reduction Of five cents in the hun
dred dollars of the State tax, was rec
commended by the Governor in his an
nual message. Theschrme at first sight
does seem plausible. The Stamp Tax
is borne largely by the city of Balti-
more, aad it is natural, that her business
men and especially those who speculate
on borrowed capital, should seek TO rid
themselves OF this burden; and the asri-
culturists in justice to themselves, will
hail any measure, that lessons the onus
of taxation under which they groan.
But let us examine a little into the
real state of the case, and see whether
the agricuturists will gain aught by
the change, and furthermore, if it be not
just and right, that Baltimore city should
pay the Stamp Tax until the State debt
is entirely cancelled. The amount ac.
cruing to the State: from this source of
revenue, is about fifty thousand dollars
per anum. Does it not follow ii this
amount is cut off from the annual re-
ceipts Of the treasury, the State will be
so much longer in paying oft the debt,
and that the agricu!tuEists, instead of
paying twenty five per centum for ten
years, will pay twenty per centum for a
much longer period, perhaps forty Years;
for the Governors calculation does not
look to the liquidation of the debt till
+ the year 1890
1t needs no superior discrimination to
perceive, that before the expiration of
half the time allowed by the Governor
for Iiqudating the whole debt, the agri-
cuIturist will have paid as much tax un.
der the twenty per cent rate, as they
would have to pay under the present
rate up TO the time the debt is entirely
paid, allowing the Stamp Tax to re-
main.
But is it right Baltimore city should
pay this tax +! We say yes. First: be-
cause it vas for the completion of GER
tain Public Works, almost entirely for
her beneft--at least so intended that
we are now involved in debt What
benefit is, Or ever Wi! be, the Baltimore
& Ohio Rail road, or the Chesapeake &
OHIO Canal to us of the Eastern Shore
None whatever. And vet We have
borne the lnhic ton OF a tax of twenty
five per centum for ten years, and are
willing to bear it ten years longer, but
not forty. Again: the Stamp Tax falls
most heavily upon spectators; men who
trade on borrowed capital, and never
have their purchases on hand above a
day or so, leaving the assessors no chance
at them. Without this Stamp Tax hun
dreds Of men in Baltimore would grow
rich without ever paying one cent OF
tax, until they begin to make show of
assessable property, while the industri-
Gus laborer, who earns few hundred
dollars, and buys a patch of ground
must be borne down with taxes, and
looking into the picture through long
vista of FORTY yeors, sees no respite from
taxation.
We hope the agricultural commune
ty, and especially the Eastern Shore,
will flood tie Legislature with counter
petitions. against any change in our tax
laws. Let us show Governor Lowe,
the balt is two small to conceal the bait
ed hook, and that we are not willing to
condemn ourselves and our children, to
/ forty years of taxation, in order that he
may pay Baltimore city for elecling
him to the Gubernatorial Chair, or pur-
chase its votes for something else.
STAMP TAX.
Elkton, ian. % 80.