The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-07-21
The Code.

We had something TO say Wednesday
about the Code. few further practical obser
va,ons upon the subject, may not be without
their effect. 1t Is too frequently the case, that
people in all departments of business, are given
to condemning acts, which in fact, or in imng.
nation, operate disadvantageously to their in
terests, while such disadvantage is as ,ften. or
ottener, the result OF error carelcssness, or bad
management on the part of those, who Sc
| !ected to do the business, than any well founded
objections to the principles upon which that bu-
sness is done Our system of laws is new
one ; men have been compelled to take h,ld of it,
without knowledge If its principles and pro-
visions; and it is not strange, that errors should
have been committed in the hurry OF admins
tering said laws, for which the officers and not
the laws, should be held responsible. Let Us
dispassionately examine this system; all lis
various provisions its pecuarities and reforms
the manner of its administration its practical
bility and effect, after full and fair test of its
| operation; and then fexperience admonishes US
that it requires amendment alteration, or re-
|
ions, in the Code, which we are satisfied, from
the brief experience we have already had, that
changes are important, but let us not with one
universal peal Of condemnation, obterate a
work which has cost much time lobor and cap
ital to produce
The revenue law is portion Of the Code,
which is perhaps as much objected to, as any
portion of the entire Volume and to our own
certain knowledge, it has arisen in this vicinity,
as much, if not more, from an erroneous com
slruction of its provisions, as from any valid
objections to the principles involved Many
persons have believed, that in listing property,
they were obliged to swear to the catue, as well
as the amount of their property. Upon this err
roneous construction of the law, first impress
IONS have been formed, and let us bear in mind,
that however absurd those impressions NAV
subsequently prove 10 be, it is always a very
difficult matter, to thoroughly eradicate them
No man has to swear to the value of his proper
ty, for this is fixed by the Assessor, but merely
to the class and amount of said property.
Again, the objection arises, that it is not RIGHT
TO COMPEL oil persons to swear to the list of
their property. Under the old law, it was nee
essary, where the Assessor was in doubt as to the
correctness of the party's list, TO oblige him to
swear to the statement. Under the present law,
no discretion is left with the Assessor. or dis
tncton made between men, but all are placed
upon one common platform of equality And
the result of the adoption of this provision, as
shown by the Auditors statement, exhibits an
increase in the amount of property. sufficient to
reduce the taxes for the coming year, to more
than one half, wha! they have been heretofore.
With such a result before us, can we with anv
propriety, offer the mere fact, that all men are
Obliged to swear to the amount of their property.
not its value, good and valid objection TO the
continuance otthe law,or as a reason for its aboll
ton? 1t seems TO US not. We cerlainly can per-
ceve no good reason for it, and sincerely hone
that our people will give The subject their cool
reflection, before they pass an indscriminate
condemnation upon it. It will not do on this
grave question, TO be governed by what whie
news papers and office seekers say, unless they
present good and substantial reasons for every
objection they offer.