Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-09-15
BROOKvE FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA FRIDAY SEPTEMBER I 1854

and flch from every man his money
you would stand fairer in the estimation
o. the good and yirtuous than you now
do.
Scribner. go and preach your doctrine
TO the board Of excise, and not to me
&c am robber. what are theyi II is
by their authority do it.. They have
licensed me to sell, and the people
elected them knowing they would do il,
replied Parks, with an air OF triumph.
! Parks, having no disposition to fur
ther protract the unpleasant conversa-
iion. turned away from his hated antag-
onist
After collecting statistics from the
professional aud business men Of the
town who were friendly to the temper
ance cause, he was perfectly astonished
to find, on iJoting up the several sums
above enumerated, and aggregated OF
three thousand one hundred and eighty
dollars and three cents. He saw at
once the honest and industrious men Of
the town Of Harwood were paying cut
annually more than six hundred dollars,
besides their regular town taxes-three
fourths OF which no one disputed was in
consequence Of this traffic. This he
considered powerful weapon against
the legal sale Of intoxicating drinks,
nor did he hesitate to use IL. He made
known tho result Of his examination to
all the business men, and especially 10
N ..,ch m q ,.,axo ;nd;aarant - -.o...-..
tive in their feelings respecting this re-
form. He spent several days in visiting
the farmers, TO show them what an un-
Just tax the liquor traffic imposed upon
their property. Among others he saw
Mr.. John Hamilton, who owned three or
four hundred acres OF land, and who
prided himself upon his skill in tiling
tho soil. He had generally favored the
traffic, and had always cast his vote for
men on that side Of the question.
After the usual salutalions were pas
sed, Scribner broached the subject in
his abrupt manner by inquiring, Mr..
Hamilton. did you know Parks and Doiy
have mortgage on your farml
No. / didn't replied Hamilton, with
much astonishment.
Well, they have.
That is impossible. / owe no man &
cent.
Why. you don't pretend TO say your
property is clear, do you!
Most certainly | do.
What is the amount Of your taxes an.
nually.
About forty dollars.
Now will explain myself. said Serib-
ner. II you pay forty dollars, then you
give not far from twenty-six dollars to
support the rum traffic.
How can you make that appear ! ask.
ed Hamilton.
From statistics /; actual facts.
But where do you get your facts -
Can they be relied upon' You know,
Scribner, am little incredulous in
this matter.
Certainly they can. take them from
the report OF the committee appointed
by the legislature on the excise ques-
ton, in March, 1850. From returns
made to the secretary OF state, says
the report, 'the cost OF paupetism. in
ls49, was eight hundred and seventeen
thousand four hundred and forty-one dol
lars OF this the report estimates six
hundred and seventy thousand one hun
dred aud forty-three dollars for intem-
perance. Were there no dram shops,
and no intemperance, the whole cost OF
supporting the poor in that year would
have been but one hundred and forty.
seven thou sand two hundred and ninety
eight dollars. 'Taxstion for crime.'
says the report, ii is difficult TO es l.
mate. One trial for murder has rece Mt
" cost the country OF Albany six hun.
dred dollars. Another, the county OF
Orleans, one thousand dollars (and
still another. tie county Of Allegheny,
tho sand dollars.) Nearly all the
business Of grand jures, shsIiffs. con-
stables, aud almost the entire police sys-
TEN in all the cities is chargeable to in
temperance. So you see, Mr.. Hamll-
ton, | was right when told you the
rumsellers have n mortgage on your
property.
Upon my word, scribner, never saw
( Il in this light before. have slten read
in my paper that ntemperance increased
taxation, but | never saw the evidence
of IL before. recollect now the trial OF
Sanders, for killing Phelps, which cos;
this county nine hundred dollars. That
know wus cheargeable TO intemper-
ance, because Sanders was drunk when
he committed the murder.
But, neigbbor Hamilton, this Is not
the only tax Il imposes. have here
some statistics, which show how much
our business meL and farmers lose an.
nualIy in consequence OF this traffic.
After Scribner had read over the list
Hamilton laughed, saying. | can add
anotder item TO your category OF taxes.
Some six or eight years ago sold
COW to Sam Lsra5y, and agreed to take
his labor In haying for pay; but he new
or came near me. And what was still
more trying, he afterwards sold her to
Doty, no doubt for rum.
Well. friend Hamilton. that is the
way Il goes aud thrt 10 the way Il will
continue to 90. unless you and other tax
payers break away from your party aud
vote for men who will give US the Maine
law.
l have always been opposed to bring
ing il into politics, but ] must confess ]
believe we shall be compelled to do IL
In self.delence, replied Hamilton.
II Is already in politics, said Scribner
aud II Is the strong arm Of the law that
makes you pay twenty-six or twenty
eight collars annually TO support this
wretched system.
ScrIbner Ibelisve you are right.
Certainly am. Why. look at Her.
kimer county. Ia is49, there were one
thousand seven hund ed and thrty-nine
drunken paupers, according TO the re-
port Of the superintendent OF the poor
from whom q tax was levied OF ten thou
sand seven hundred and fifty dollars. or
five hundred and six,y-five dollars
and nineteen cents TO each of its nine
teen towns all of which was caused