The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-01-24

Gan exercise by the General Assembly of
the power granted by the Constitution, 10
restrict the taxation by the authorities of ci-
ties and Incorporated villages, as well.ss Of
county commissioners, thereby preventing
the abuse of such power."-Ohio Democratic
Platform, 1855.
The foregoing declaration OF principle and
policy, constitutes one Of the resolutions Of
the Democratic platform adopted at the 8 h
Of January Convention, and we wish to call
to it, the special attention Of our readers.
No Subject is of more practical Importance
to the people of Ohio, than that Of taxation.
Especially is this the case, now, when our
citizens are groaning under the weight Of
their heavy burthens. That the people Of
Ohio are grievoasly taxed, no one can doubt;
that there is heavy blame resting somewhere,
is equally evident; and it becomes every
candid man to search out the true cause Of
the evil, and apply the proper remedies, SO
far Gs lies in his power.
Opposition presses have been busy in
charging all these evils upon the State 60
,yernment and upon the Democratic State
Administration. A brief examination of
facts and figures will show them to be guilty
of gross misrepresentation in this natter
We sre confident in asserting that the De-
mocratic party in Ohio, is not responsible for
the heavy taxes under which the people la
Dor, and that the Democratic State officers
are not in any degree TO blame, for the Sc
rious evils which exist in our financial af-
fairs.
The great burthen Of taxation, is charga-
Bile to mismanagemeIt in L0cal matters, and
has nothing to do with the expenses of the
State government. A few facts and figures
will demonstrate the truth of this assertion.
Let US take for example the taxes of the year
1853. The tax levied for that year, was the
enormous sum of SEVEN MILLION EIGHT
HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE THOUSAND
EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIVE Dollars. 1t was
made up as follows:
For support of stats government $593,30j
Interest and principle on Public Debt l,lf6,Ig3
Common School purposes I216,l33
For local purposes 4,97,4s3
s.a Total, S7,s23,5CJ
Here it can be seen, that the whole amount
OF tax for the year 1853, for the expenses of
the State government, including legislative,
judiciary, and executive departments, the be-
nevolent institutions, new State house, and
new lunatic Asyums, amounted to only
1893 ,396-which is not one thirteenth part of
the ,ohole amonat lerjsd for that gear Z.
Where then, did the remaining sum go to!
How was it expended, and who are response
Bile for it The State debt and interest on
the same, for that year, amounted as we
have seen to $lI86,793. This item is d.
rectly chargeaBle to the wings, for it was ex-
pended to paya debt created by them, and
which never would have had an existence
but for their Encouragement. But let US go
little further. Adding together the tax for
State and Common School purposes, and the
interest and principle upon the public debt,
we have $685. 1922, as the total sum ex-
pended for these three items. Subtracting
this from the whole tax, levied for said year,
we have yet remaining the very large sum of
FoUK MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY
SEVEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGH-
TY-THREE Dollars, This large sum, was
expended, for county, township, bridge, rail-
road, and other special and local purposes.
Here, then, it can be seen, that more than
one half of the whole tax levied for the year
1863, il Of local character, and the State
officers have nothing to do with it, and are
not in any manner responsible for it. The
origin Of all this tax oppression lies with the
local governments; and in order to effect q
cure, the remedy must be applied where the
cause exists. What folly and faIsehood fol
the Fusion press to attempt to make the
State officers responsible for these taxes.
r. We ask for the facts stated in this article
candid consideration. We would not for
moment, defend public officer whether
whig or democrat, who by his extravaganza
In the management of The public funds, in
screases the burthens Of the people. It's the
right of every tax payer to know just what
is done with his money, and todemand at al
times a rigid and economical administration
of State and couaty affairs. Let the axe be
laid at the root OF the eyili Let the author.
ties Of cities, villages, and county commits