Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-03-18
From the Valley Wing.
Complaints against the Revenue
Law.

| meeting recently held at Primrose In
this county, in which resolutions were
passed, strongly condemna,ory oftae new
revenue law Of the State.
We have also received letter from a
subscriber in Mahaska county complain
ing in feeling terms of the operation of
the law and representing that the people
| in that region are universally dissatisfied
| with it. And, indeed, we have heard
nothing heretofore in favor of the law,
but vast deal against it. These facts
have suggested a train Of reflections and
queries to our. mind, which we would
submit to the people OF the State for thei:
reflection.
The laws Of our State are the legisla-
tive enactment of Locofoco principles and
policy. They are the result of the COM
bined wisdom of the Locofoco politicians
Of the State, aided by the experience of
twelve years almost uninterrupted a.il,!
entire control of its policy aud legislation.
How happens j, then that these laws fail
10 meet the appreciation Of the people?--
How is it that they are harrassing and
expensive to our citizens, and injurious
| to the interests of the State! How hap
pens ii that the Revenue Law, and in
deed almost the entire list Of our laws
are attended with so much expense and
vexation TO the people in their operation!
Locofoco politicians are accustomed to
boast of their economy, and of their de
votion to the interests of the people. Do
the people find these boasts justified by
the acts of their Legislators! Do our
laws truly refec, the sentiments Of the
people-of the masses-of our Sta.e?-
Are they really economical of the time
and money of the citizens; and do they
truly, to any extent, promote the best
interests Of the people of the Sta.e?-
These questions we leave with the voters.
for their consideration and decision.
We must, however, be permitted to
suggest some additional topics of their
minds for reflection.
II must be admitted that twelve years
is sufficient time to give the principles
and measures of party a fair trial, and
to test, by the results of such trial, the
tendency of their policy and principles,
to promote the interests of the people,
develope the resources of the State, and
advance its general prosperity!
Taxes have been high, and are now
enormously burdensome. The State is
in debt nearly to the fall limit Of the Con-
stitution restriction and The counties are
generally worse involved than the State.
The funds derived from the appropriation
of Congress to the only public Improve
ment of the State have been VIGOROUSLY
squaadered in the support of ,favorites,
for four years past, and but very little is
accomplished for the public benefit. We
have most expensive system Of State
and county administration of affairs, an
inefficient administration Of public JUS
tice, and exorbitant fees for private litiga-
ton. Our Constitution excludes sound
Banks from the limits of the Stale, and
Locofoco Legislators refuse to permit an
expression of the opinion of the people
on the subject. Our currency is there.
fore composed Of bills issued on the mis-
cradle individual shin plaster system, and
of those Of distant Banks. Currency oil
all kinds is becoming exceedingly scarce,
and this is producing its natural and nec-
essary effect of encouraging and building
up, IN all oar towns and villages, lively
business for thousands who are engaging
in petty larceny kind of note shaving.
| A I.ocofoco Legislature refuse to pass a
law regulating interest, leaving the mon
ey-lenders and shavers to be law unto
themselves, TO prey upon the wants and
absorb the hard earnings of the people.
These are only few instances of the
tendency and results of Locofoco rule
A depressed, discontinued and Justly
murmuring people attest the failure Of
! I4ocofocoism to fulfil its professions and
promises for the promotion of the vel
fare of the masses. Will the people
still cling to the mere name Of Democ.
racy? Still expect of its leaders meas
ures for the redress Of their grievances
and the alienation OF their burdens! II
itwise still to pursue the same course ant
select the same men, who for twelve
years past, have but increased your taxes
and your debts, and from whose legisla.
.lon you have derived no benefit, and are
al this day experiencing more injurious
consequences than ever heretofore.
i People of Iowa. we express the hon.
est and earnest conviction of our mind
when we say that the interests of the cit
liens of Iowa demand change of meas
ures and of men in our Legislative Halls
Will you boldly seek that change or will
4 you cravenly follow your leaders, for IL
years to come, to the utter perdition oil
your own interests as citizens and of the
prosperity of the State at large?
/ But we have already said more than
we intended, and will now append the
extract from the letter referred to, and the
proceedings sent us for publication.
| "There is almost universal disafIec.
( ton to our new mode of assessing prop
eriy, and many of the farmers have de-
termined not to list their property un1el
the law at all. There are many that ar,
not capable OF Listing their land, and con
sequently have to apply to their neigh
bors to get their property listed, aud .her
go before justice the peace and swea
to it. Now. | see exceptions to the Law