The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-03-09
The Interest of the Poor In Gov.
eminent,

/ H +
The inquiry is too often made by poor
and hard working men, says tho Proyi.
dence Post, of what interest to me is poll
tics? He improperly feels Insignificant in
the social scale, and although he regards
his vote as offseting that OF one whose o.
Ipinions he cannot agree with, yet he too
seldom appreciates the real Importance Of
Lit. The working classes Of our country
should remember that the burden Of taxa.
ton falls upon them; and that no measures
affecting the public welfare can be passed,
but its influence is fell upon the humblest
Of society. We do not remember clear
er exposition of this fact, than is stated by
Mr.. FLAGG. in his late official report. ex-
posing the gross waste of the public mon
ey. and consequent heavy taxation in N.
York. He remarks:
"1'here are thousands oftbe industrious
classes who have families, and must have
dwellings. and some Of them stables Tor
their horses. To allthese persons exces-
sive taxation is felt AS a real burden, eth.
erby direct assessments or an increase of
rent But there is very numerous and
needy class of persons. who are not on the
assessment roll at all. on whom high taxes
fall with crushing weight. This class is
made up Of helpless families. crowded into
small rooms, on a monthly tenure. and the
rent, perhaps, exacted in advance, with
no resource but the labor ofthe head Of
the family. at a dollar day, and often
thrown out Of employment at that. These
persons have the poor mans protection of
exemption from the roll of the assessors.
but taxation reaches them notwithstand.
ing their apparent exemption, through their
monthly rent
The landlord. whose mind is occupied
with the collection of his income and its
official Information. and can form toler.
able estimate Of the rate OF the next levy.
many months before the heavy hand Of
the tax-gather is felt in his pocket. He
scents taxation afar off, and while the ten.
ant is laboring daily to earn his dollar to
sustain his helpless family. he hearts Of
those who have theirl little household to pro-
vide for are made sad by the notice which
Jis served on them. that atthe commeace.
ment of the next month, an addition will
be made to the monthly rent. How is this
to be made up! Retrenchment in the lux
ures. even the comforts of life, is impossi.
BILE, for they have neither. ltmust be made
up by denial, 10 all the inmates, Of the
absolute necessaries Of life. and the chill.
dren, too young to command anything for
their labor, are sent out with their bare
feet and tattered garments to search the
deposits which your ordinance requires 10
be placed on the side walk for the ash carts,
to get the means of warming the room,
whilst others apply for the crupbs which
fall from the ricgh man table,. And por.
ton Of the earnings of the father are laid
aside to pay the additional srent. Thus
taxation, as unrelenting as death. brings
desoation and distress into i family which
before was contented and reasonably hap.
py with the bare necessarles Of lie. tits
in this condition in life that heavy taxation
most seriously oppresses It's victims
Heavy taxation does not deprive the rich
Of one single-luxury. Tothose ofmoder.
ale means it is ielt as burden. whilst that
class of persons who are not on the roll. |
but who are assessed through the increase
Of rents. feel II most severely, and perhaps
without being aware Of the cause"