The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-04-11

high taxes eriginated. we confess we do |
not know how or when.
But we come to the main question at
issue. From the Journals report of the
speech, we extracted the following:
"Ths effect Of the distributisn of the school
takes was unequal"
To which tho Statesman replies in this
wise:
I'VE showed most certainly that the
"efect" was not only unequal, but unjust.
and we do not think there were dozen
persons in the He'll that did not believe we
were correct as 10 both.'' :.
II was this sentiment to which we first
objected, and to which we still object. We
contended and still contend that SO long
as the people Of Monroe are compelled to
pay as much, in proportion to their wealth,
as the people Of Franklin, for building
palaces at Columbus, in the shape or
semblance Of State Houses, Penitentia.
ries. Asylums, &C., &C., or for digging
canals, or building ,urnpikes and rail.
roads, by which the State was swindled
out Of thousands upon thousands. as was
the case under the law commonly called
the "plunder law. we say so long as
this is the case, it is not "unequal' or
.'unjust" that citizens Of Franklin county
should pay the same per cent. upon their
wealth as the people of Monroe do upon
theirs for school purposes; and that it is
not unequal or unjust" that the funds
so raised should be distributed to each
county in proportion to the number Of
youth in each. And especially is this so
when the constitution declares that 1.-The
General Assembly shall make such pro.
visions, BY taxation, or otherwise, as, with
the interest arising from the school trust
fund, will secure thorough and efficient
system Of common schools throughout the
State," and that Laws shall be passed,
taxing. BY a uniform rule" allAproperty.
real and PERSONAL. Was it right, was it
Just, was i, equal. TO tax the people Of
Monroe the same, in proportion to their
wealth, as the people Of Franklin. to sup
por, tho State Government, to pay the in
terest and principal Of the State debt cre-
ated by digging canals, &c., &C.. and
now, when ths youth Of the State are to
be educated, make discrimin alton in
favor Of Franklin. or any other OF the
wealthy counties? These are questions
which we wish Col. MEDARY, or any one
else, who maintains that the distribution
Of the school taxes is unequal and unjust,
! to answer. We care not how>often Mon.
roe county issranked among the "poorer
counties" of the State; but we do care 10
have ii said that it is unequal and unjust
10 distribute the school funds in accord.
ance with the requirements Of the consti.
tuition Of the State, and in accordance
with the principles Of right and justice,
when the people of the State arc all taxed
equally, in proportion 10 their wealth, fol
all other purposes Of State government
II there are canal counties in the State
which are receiving more school funds
than they are paying. they must answer
for themselves, and place their defense
upon whatever grounds they see proper
We answer for Monroe, and base our ar
j gument upon the constitution, and upor
the equity of the case to justify the distri
button AZ it 10 now regulated. The Leg
islaturs of Ohio has no power to say tt
Monroe you shall pay ave mills on th'
dollar for the purposes Of the State Gov
ernment, and to the county Of Franklin
you shall pay only two mills on the dolla
for the same purposes. There would b
no uniformity in such q law-no Justice
no equality. Our taxes are already-in
cluding those 10 carry out our local polic'
regulat0ns-abou re- double what they ar,
in Franklin. This surely is as much a
we ought to be asked to bear.
The Statesman says the Journal "gloat
with 6endish JOY over the fac, that I
Democratic editor took up its false text
10 indi,e couple Of eolums upon" w,
have not seen the Journal. since tho sP
pearance OF our first article, and know no
wha, has to say upon the subject. Blu, thi
we will venture 10 predict, that the Jour
nal, published as il is in Columbus, will
|no, take any other or different position
from the Statesman, on the simple ques
ton Of the justice or equality Of the pres
ent mode Of distributing tho school fund
ERRATuM.- answer 10 the enigm'
of last week, on the fourth page, should b.
WINFIELD ScoTr. instead OF William Cul
len Bryant.
q @The Kansas election has resulted II
favor Of the pro, slavery candidates. Thi
IL bad state Of affairs.
Emperor Nicholas Last Words.
j According 10 English accounts. the Em
] peror Nicholas, when last addres ssin
alexander, advised him to make peac