The Santa Fe weekly gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.T. [i.e. N.M.]) 1851-1854, 1852-12-25
Taxation-Duty Of the Citizen.

Taxaticn-Duty Of the Citizen.
In our articles upon Civil Govern
ment,' published some time since in the
Ga2ette, we could only glance at the va
rious topics connected with the subject,
without entering upon protroctcd dis
cussion Of any particnlArone. We wish
this week to notice more in detail one of
the subjects intimately connected with
the prosperity of every well organized
goveInment-we mean Iacatjoa,
The sitting of the Legislative Assent
bly,, at the present time, affords US
convenient opportunityof giving express
sion to our views upon this subject, and
we hope they may at least meet with a
candid consideration. We take it for
granted that the people Of New Mexico,
and especially the Representatives of
the people, in the Territorial Assembly
appreciate the privilege of having an
0rga0}2fd government. We say we
take this for granted, because people
who cannot, or do mai appreciate this
privilege are the last who shouldpossess
it. In other words, the people who
cannot perceive that a well regulated
governments betlerthanao gocaameat,
are not prepared for any government,
unless it be the arbitrary government Of
the sword aud bayonet. But VIC should
be very unwilling to make so humiliating
an admission in behalf of our citizens.
and must therefore take it for granted,
till convinced otherwise, } that they can
and do appreciate the blessing of having
a well organized, and well administered
government
Butwe cannottake it for granted that
a man appreciates any certain thing
which he needs and desires to possess,
Val6Ss els aollJjag topayMe ralue Of
u t6r ats p0SSeSSi0a We think tlis
proposition is so clear as to need no il
lnstration. You say, honest reader, that
a well organized and we'll administered
civil government is a great good, a de.
sirable good, thing which you are
; anxious to possess. You wish to see
your roads improved, your farms, and
Aocks, and dwellings protected from vi
oIence and degradation, your Territory
dotted over with school-houses in whicl
your children may be taught the art.
and sciences of civilizedlile. You wist
to see justice more faithfully administer.
ed, and secure prisons and work-house,
in which the vicious and lawless may bC
. shut up, and kept secure from plunder
! ing the honest parto community. Yo,
t wish to see improvements carried OF
e which shall conduce to the genera
E prosperity of the whole people.
f All these things, so essential to til,
prosperity-nay, to the very eri'sieac
Vi ci'il oNerilheh',--you say yo'
wish to see, and desire to possess, Blu
do you know, honest sir, that these thing
! cannot be possessed without payiagto
: them; and that price must be paid
We will not say adequate to their calgt
but at least adequate to oMeir cost. w
have not the charmed Tyre ofan Amphi
d on that a city, or even jails and work
|, ! houses, may spring into existence at il
o touch, nor even AIladin's magic lamp {
l. the Arabian fable. Officers Of Justice
y : and ministers Of law, and scbool-teach
p erS cannot live upon the wind OF liv
! IA upon fahn and grow fat. Tell us, dea
:, sir, how do you expect a civil govern
er ment to be carried on aDithom m0ney
C. lfyou have the modelof such govern
le ment, you should haveit patented immt
Of diately, for there will be great deman
for it when It'll known. Like the 'ph
loSopher's stone, and the perpetual mC
ton, such aform of government has mt
YER yet been discovered, and if youhay
:, been so fortunate, you will have tt
an an wide world as market for your patel
he and no opposition.
If If But, dear sir, unless you or some 9th,
st person should make such stupendol
v v discovery, We guess the world will ha,
f to wag on little longer just as it h,
d, done ever since its creation, and thos
e. who desire 10 have civil governmei
must pay the cost Of keeping ii in op
ration in some way or another.
1t is therefore the duty of the peop
= to pay for the necessary support Of Il
government under which they live, al
from which they receive their prote
ton. And, as we said in one Of our a
e, ticles upon Civil Government, so ne
+" we repeat, that the citizen VINO is n
willing to contribute his inst and emit