The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-05-24
Communications.
D For the Spirit of Democracy.
To the People of Monroe County
TAXES AND TAXATION.

Mr.. EpIroR-The subject Of taxes and
taxation has become matter of absorb.
ing interest TO the taxpayers Of Ohio.
Sophistry and defamation, without stint,
are employed upon the subject. Let the
people Of the enlightened portions of the
State content themselves with clap-trap,
with slang phrases, with empty declama-
ton; but above all things let dark Monroe
abide by her good old CUSTOM, used and
"for time whereof the memory
of man runneth not to the contrary" of
calm discussion, patient investigation and
firm and temperate decision.
Fellow citizens, If the subscriber address
you at all, on public occasions it will be in
this spirit. will either speak to you as
brother speaks to brother, friend to friend,
neighbor to neighbor, or will utterly re-
frain. Far from acquiescing in the policy
Court, many persons contend that as we
have entered upon the ad valorem system
Of taxation that system should be carried
out thoroughly. That an actual debtor
should, for tax purposes, be allowed to de-
duct the amount Of his bona 6de. debts,
from the aggregate Of his visible property
real and personal. These men are right.
Time will mature and establish their opin-
ions and bring them into operation in &C.
tual law and practice. Here, perhaps,
some retainer of the treasury will open his
eyes and raise his hands and exolaim, 80.
what shifts, what evasions, what frauds on
the revenue would such system fix up
and provide for!!!" Not at all neighbor.
Your fears are groundless! Is the thing
morally right! That is the important ques.
ton. Now we cannot open our eyes with.
out perceiving that the rule recommended
is right. is equitable. Suppose two neigh.
bors, each possessed Of about five thous-
and dollars worth of personal and real
properly, but the one is unindebted and
the other owes two thousand dollars.
Ought any just government; to demand the
same amount of taxes from two men thus
differently situated? Do we not know that
their abilities to pay taxes are very differ
ent? That if the debtor is charged only
with three thousand dollars, he will still
pay his taxes with much more hardship.
much more privation and much more diff
Guilty than his unindebted neighbor. who is
charged with FIVE thousand? Moreover it
would be easy to devise system, which
would efectually guard the treasury from
frauds and evasions. Compel the taxpay-
er, who claims deductions for Indebtedness,
TO name in his list given in to the Assessor,
the name Of each creditor and the amount
Of each debt. As this would be perfect
evidence in behalf Of the alleged creditor,
we might pretty safely rely upon the self.
interest Of uen not to bring upon them
selves false accusations and suspicious of
debt. And if any further security is want
ing. conscience, and fear Of the penalties
Of perjury and dread Of infamy might be
safely relied on to do the rest. II would
also be another means OF discovering who
are the creditors, who are the real owners
Of the property and wealth OF the country
and who ought to pay the taxes. This
scheme if adopted, would be adopted in
obedience to the dictates of moral recti-
lude. And imperfect beings like men.
whose mental vision cannot take in the
whole compass Of things. ought to make
the standard Of absolute moral rectitude,
their standard Of political expediency, well
assured that whatever is morally wrong is
not truly expedient though supported by
present appearances. Democratic pro-
gress must conform our laws and institu-
lions, more and more to this standard. OF
democratic progress itself will be worthless
| and vain. | have no fears that these prin.
f,.1c s,nC cd In
the contrary they will, as John Quincy
Adams SAID in his controversy with Henry
Clay about the northern fisheries. "stand
the test Of human scrutiny, of talents and
Of time"
But the legislation Of the Supreme Court
or rather OF the majority Of that body, fo'
Judge Ranney strenuously dissented, is
anti. progressive in all particulars. They
find, as they imagine, one wrong commit
ted. and in their attempts to redress tha
wrong. they commit another and much
more flagrant one. The rule which they
] introduce, in the curt but expressive Ian
guage Of the Cincinnati Enquirer, taxes {
man ION all he owns and on all he owes. ,
Now this is clearly unjust. and if the fore
going principles are correct, being unjus
it is inexpedient. Suppose two men eacf
in possession Of five thousand dollars
worth Of visible property. real and person
al, and each has one thousand dollars ow
ing to him, but the first owes nothing. ant
the second owes three thousand dollars
The judicial rule Of taxation charges III
second with sum Of money precisel.
equal to that demanded from the first. |
there any elemen, OF justice in such requi
} sition? Again suppose Mr.. Smith, in ad
dition to his visible property. to have on
thousand dollars owing TO him. but himsel
owes twenty. five hundred dollars to others
, The government hunts up and charge
} him with this one thousand dollars Of mer
! fancy stocks. Is it not evident that
charges him upon subject matter whic
. gives him no ability TO pay? His neighbc
: Thompson has the same amount OF visibl
property and is unindebted and unincun
: bersd. He is charged with one ,housan
dollars less than Smith, and his propert
is clearly worth fifteen hundred dollar
J. more!!! - t3
But il is said that the Assembly act itse
|. | ollows a m an M deductions from the val,