Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-02-17
Taxes and the New Constitution.

Lady Cartcret wife Of Lord Lieutenant,
said to Swift "The air Of Ireland is very ex-
cellent and healthy" "For goodness sake,
madam" said Swift, I" don't say SO in England,
for il you do, they will certainly tax it," Ire
land, has long been the victim, Of British op.
preston. She has been taxed until poverty,
and even famine has stared her full in the
face; to escape from which, her inhab tants
have fed from their native land by millions,
leaving behind them, barren fields, and DESC
late homes, made such by being over work.
ed, to meet the oppressive exactions Of their
landlords and the enormous taxation Of their
naughty mistress, England. The citizens of
Ohio, il it were not for their fertile soil, their
business activity. and indomitable courage
would be in as bad Ok. so Far as taxation is
concerned as Ireland. According to late
decision of the Supreme Court, the citizens
of Ohio under the new constitution, are to be
taxed on all the real estate and personal prop
erty they may have in their possession, with
out any deduction on account OF debts.
Equal Taxation is the doctrine. But will
any man contend that it is equal to tax the
poor man more than the rich. What we un-
derstand to be equal taxation is, in the first
place. to ascertain what every mans property
is worth in cash, including real estate and per-
sonal property. If one man owns 10000 dol
lars worth Of property, free Of debt, then that
is the amount on which he should be taxed.
If another owns ten thousand dollars worth,
and is owing on il FIVE thousand dollars, which
is secured by mortgage on said property. Is
| it equal to tax him on ten thousand, and at
the same time tax the amount of the notes
and mortgage held by his creditor. Thus
creating farab1e property to the amount OF
FIVE thousand dollars which would not have
existed but for the debt contracted. That is,
the man who has purchased the property
pays tax on ten thousand dollars, when he is
only worth five thousand, and the man who
holds the notes and mortgage pays taxes on
FIVE thousand dollars as personal property,
making fifteen thousand dollars taxable prop
erty out OF ten thousand Now if this man
had KEEP. bis FIVE thousand dollars in his pock
ct, be would have been taxed only on that
amount. But because he has purchased land
or goods or town lots, and has contracted q
debt of FIVE thousand dollars, he must pay
tax on ten thousand dollars. And the mar
to whom lie owes the FIVE thousand dollars
pays tax on that amount. Are debts prop
erty? Is a mans wealth estimated by the
amount ofhs debts? 1fnot why then should
be be taxed on his debts? Is il fault 10 be
in debt? But, it may be said that il debt.
were deducted, mue! Of the capital, properly
belonging to the state, could not be taxed a
all, for the reason that many having claims
do not live within the bounds of the state
Admit it. Who is to blame for il? Musl
the poor man be taxed, because the man o.
whom he has purchased property, is not a
citizen Of the State of Ohio: Away with
such nonsense. five are to have equal tax
alton let us have it. If not let us known it.
We are aware that no part Of National, OF
State governments is SO difficult as the 6nan
cial. The difiulty is not usually. however
so much in the system of taxation. as in the
amount to be raised. To meet the expend
lures of the Government of the State of Ohio
in connection with the interest on the public
debt. requirers the taxing and double taxing
of everything possessed and not possessed. o.
all debts and credits "For goodness sake
let not our Legislature know that the air o
Ohio is excellent and healthy" for if they
knew it "thcy would certainly tax it!'
School Directors,