The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-08-10
From the Ohio Stqtc Democrat.
THE TAX LAW OE i952-BANK
TAX

NlSlonS 10 lIt New Constitution OF ONO
has been in operation upwards of Il ycai
and we propose now 10 make some c5mpar
ison between the leading features ofthe new
law, which have been the subjects oGso much
animadversion by certain papers and poiiIi
clans, and the celebrated Wing law Of l"4t
and also to answer some Of The objection.
that have been urged against the new iaw
We are aware that the subjec! of taxation is
a very delicate as well as intricate one
Delicate, because that the people are Justly
and rightly sensitive as 10 the amount oI
their earnings, or properly, that is appropri-
atedby the sovereign poweroi the State from
their own use to the use Of Tie government
unless fully satisfied that tits judlciously y and
economically applied to the Legitimate pur-
poses ofgood government, and none other
and intricate, because OF the almost infinite
variety Of individual cases and circumstan-
ccs which have to be provided for by general
provisions; and consequently the utter in7-
possibility Of framing any tax law that viii
not operate more or less unequally, and pro-
duco inconyenienccs or hardships, in some
instances, in It's operation. Therefore it has
been truly saiG:
"Who'oro2pac rArLTLEss tax to see,
Expects what neither IS, nor was nor e'cr shall ba.'
We may; however, approximate towards
strict Justice in framing tax law as well as
any other by starting on upon correct prin-
ciples, always keeping those principles in
view, and applying them to every species Of
property and every class Of cases that may
arise. All will admit that EQUALITY is the
great principle t. be obseryed--every devi-
alton from that is so much Of an undue ad-
vantage given to the favored ones, and Il
corresponding burthen wrongiuIly imposed
ON the rest OF community.
Before, we proceed further, we wish to
say that we do not feel under any obligation
to defend ALL the provisions of the new law
There are several that do not exactly please
us. 1t happens, however, that the proSis.
ions which are obnoxious to us are the very
ones our Wing friends approve They are
moreover, contained in the old tax law, and
have been rejoned in the present: we pre-
sumo, from motives Of policy rather than on
account OF and iayorltism entertained for
them as distinct propositions. OF these,
and to which we aliude especially, is the
provision requiring every individual to make
out his statement under oath. However,
even that is very much improved, for now
the Jaw only requires the affidavit to Il true
exhibition Of thepropcrty, whereas, former
", tie owner must also swear to the VALUE
or pay il penalty Of 50per cent But while
we do NOT endorse all the provisions Of the
old law which have been retained in the
new AS a matter Of necessity rather than
preference. vet we DO endorse the general
principle u9on which it is baaed--thcae
parts olit which are essential INNoyATIoN
uDon the old system, and which have met
the most decided and bitter opposition from
our oDponents, we do most unquafiedly
approve, and we believe shat, IN Its praclI-
cal operation, it will more equally distribute
the burthen of taxation upon all the proper.
t, of the State than anv tax law we have
ever had.
Heretofore, our tax laws have all been
formed upon wrong PRINCIPLES. Their poi
lev has been wrong The burthcus of GOV
ernment have been imposed with an un<Dai-
iny hand upon the LABOR of our citizens, and,
caOilal. always crasping for exclusive priv
ii1es, although of all classes the best able to
sustain its proportion OF public burdens, has
been bv sDeciaal cnactments, EXEMPTED
Our tax gathercrs have been sent to the
hamlets OF the toiing yeomanry of our Statr
where, with scrutinzng eve. the llttle per-
sonal property, the plow-team milch cows
the few sheep and hoys: the kitchen furni-
ture, beds ana bedding, and other house
hold furniture over a certain amount--aiI
were sought out and required, under severe
penalties, to be placed upon the dupicate
for taxation. Year after year were these
rules beinr made more stringent by our
Legislatures, and taxes were accumu.ating
to such an extent that one universal com,
ulaint came up from the hills and valleys
of our State Of oppressive taxation upon
the landed interests. Why! Because our
lawmakers had contracted an enormous
public debt, the annual interest upon which
had increased to nearly one and a quarter
million of dollars, and in making provisions
for RAISING it bv taxation. they seemed to
have iorgottenthat there were other species
Of capitalupon wich to imposes taxes than
that invested in the soil Of the State, and
the labor employed in its cultivation The
wealthy CAPITALISTS, with their money inyes.
ted in the stocks OF tie State, in baking
institutions, or other corporations-alth although
ENJOYING exclusive privileges denied to all
otRers-although sustained and supported
by the toiIing many, and protected by the
government although sustained and sup
ported by the toiIing many, and protected