Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-01-14
FREMONT, sANDUsKY COUNTY, JANUARY H. 1854

taxes do not always indicated unnecessary ex-
travagance, and for many Of our rxactions. at
this time, we may plead the force Of circum-
stances.
We are young and rapidly growing people
we have every thing to create, all our pub ]
lie buildings to erect, and large and onerous
debts to discharge. 1t is, nevertheless true,
that our financial system is without those
snutary checks which expirence has shown 20
be necessary in all public transactions; nor
will it be denied, l apprehend. the; greater
degree of ecnnemy may be attained. The
recommends ions already made, will, If adopt
ed, do much to secure this end.
Our taxes are now levied upon an uniform
and equitable basis they should be expen-
ded under the strictest accountability. Sat
isfy ihe people that the funds drawn from
them, are properly and economically applied,
and the taxes now complained Of, will be
cheerfuy borne.
The very large amount which has been
drawn from the people Of this State during
the past year, for the support Of the various
governments under which they live, will GER
talnly excuse the sarnestness with which |
have pressed the subject Of our expenditure
upon your consideration.
Estimating the revenues of the General
Government at S5s, 100000, il will produce
for each member of Congress about $3.50, 900.
There are twentyon members
from this State making about S5,00oo0o
State, County, TIP. and City taxes 1901 l66
Fees of County officers estimated at $4,000
per county 100000
Special taxes, as Auction Duties, DC 100000
Fees of Justices of the Peace, Con-
stables. DC, 100000
Making a total of sl4,lOl, ,l66
This is an annual burden, equal to one
half the value of the whole State fifty years
ago, and requires a tax of $25 on every voter,
and of nearly six dollars on every individual
in the State! When burdens become so on.
erous, it is proper that every outlay should be
examined with the strictest scrutiny.
Ny predecessors have had frequent occa-
sion to remark upon the safety and dispatch
with which the taxes are levied, collected and
disbursed, by the County and State officers.
Defalcation have been Of rare occurrence.
Our treasury system has, therefore served
as model ior other States, and in many re-
spects for the General Government.
A practice is said to have grown up in
many OF the large towns, however, of bankers
and brokers paying interest on deposits. The
State surely has no objection to this when
confined 10 the transactions ofprivate indivld-
uals. But it is also charged that these estab
} lishments sometime become the repositories
ofpubc officers. and that large sums arc
thus realized by specializing upon the money
of the people. These representations may
have their origin in suspicion, but they
! have called forth feeling Of dissatisfaction
and alarm, that can only be allayed by thu
adoption of such measures as will prevent the
possibility OF SO dangerous practice. The
present statutes are defective in this particu
! lar, and required revision. II public mon
! ey should be guarded with the utmost care
) and all application oft except to the purposes
5 for which ii was raised, should be strictly
prohibited by law.
An objection has sometimes been made +
this policy, that is locke up the treasure @
the people. This objection, when examined
! will dc found to be without any real founda
ton. In this State, as already observed, th
revenues are chiefly raised from direct taxa
ton. for. certain we'll known purposes, AM
: payable at periods entirely within the contro
p, of the Legislature. At no period is it neces
sary to keep any considerable amount o.
hand, while our treasures might most of tn
time, convipeiantly, be empty. Under thes
circumstances, there surely can be no dificu
ty in SO modifying the laws that all DANCE
of defalcation or improper use of the publ
= funds will be avoided and the money of th
people, at the same time, be left in their ow
q pockels until required for the public service
Q You will perceive the necessity Of thes
/ remarks, intimately connected as they arr
:, with the public debt and its final pay ment.
q The entire d ebt of the State outstaudin
;, Nov. Is lh, 1853. was as follows:
FOREIGN.
e Five per cent. stock payable Jan. l,
:. 1851, ...........''...'...' Siou'uou
i've per cent. stock payable Jan. l.
1900, '''.''.'..' ''''''''''''''' i'"~'oVo
Total five per cent. stock. l,I75,O0O {
Six per cent. stock payable Jan. LIST,
1891 '................ S3,2J2, ID
0 Six per cent. stock payable January
/ LIST, 1861 $3.50, $50
Six per cent. stock payable January
y LIST. 1871 ...................... 2,lS3,53l
Six per cent stock payable January
n LIST. 1876 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. l,tOO,OOO
! Total six per cent. stock 1914, 900 I
h Total. -. l4,9l7,OOO
J. DOMESTIC.
i Ohio canal stock, faith aud credit bonds,
loan Of 1874! !...................... 500
. Miami extension loan bonds loan OF l842 926
Cabal, school and ministerial bonds loan
: Of lS46 ................... ...,... lOV
Il National road stock ................. 5T6
Total over rdus.................. sa.44s
Miami extension canal stock, faith aud
credit bonds payable after 1886. -. $l4 500
= Miami extension laud bonds, payable
/. after s63. ...................... IA
293 6s5