The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-09-01

For special school 4 school house purp's, 1926 4s4
For railroad purposes, 23S,IS1 81
For other special purposes, l55,s19 81
DelinQ QueDces and forfeiIures, 2l7,ll2 16
Total amount for all purposes, so,O92,OOO 90
The foregoing, is clear statement of the
taxes and the purposes for which they were
assessed for the year 1854. Now ,Ohere have
the State officers been guilty of squandering
money! AS will be seen by reference to the
above table, only Three Millions, seventy.
seven thousand, six hundred and one dollars
and forty-one cents, ($3,077,60l 4l,) being
less than one, third Of the whole amount, was
for State purposes. The remainder being
the enormous sum Of Six Millions, fourteen
thousand, seven hundred and thirty eight
dollars and nine cents, ($6,Ol4.73s o99 was
for city, town, county, and other LOCAL pur-
poses. OF course, the State officers cannot
be charged with this last sum. 1t is assess
ed by local authorities and they have moth
ing to do with it. 1t never goes into their
hands. We have thus disposed cftwo-thirds
OF the WnOle TAX leFleu.
What becomes of the remaining $3,077,-
COL Al! BY reference again to the table it
will be seen that $l,3S7,OS7 96, of this is
for school purposes. State officers cannot
certainly be charged with this. They had
nothing to do in making the law, which com.
pels its assessment. II the law is wrong
they are not to blame for it; if right, then
fusionists ought not to complain at it.
Deducting the amount raised for school pur-
poses, we have only 81 ,690,5l3 As, remain
ing Of this sum. 81 l,OS3,662 Al, IS FOR
INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL ON THE PUBLIC DEBT.
State officers cannot be made responsible
for this. The debt was created many years
before they were elected to office-created
too by that same whig party of which, if we
mistake not, the editor of the Chronicle was
once member. The Constitution requires
that the interest and part Of the principal
shall be paid each year. This must be done
or the constitution violated and the State
debt in the end repudated.
We have now disposed Of all save the sum
Of $606,S50 SO. This amount is exhausted
in de(raying the current expenses of the
State government, including psy of public
officers, benevolent institutions, New State
House, New Lunatic Asylnms, &C., &c.
THE CURRENT EXPENSES OF THE
STATE GOVERN MENT AMOUNT TO
ONLY ABOUT ONE-FIFTEENTH OF
THE WHOLE TAX LEVIED for the year
1854. If this were equally divided among
the people of Ohio it would amount to abou!
tpenty:fre cents for each individual of the
State to pay.
Again we ask 0hei, and Where have Dem
ocrat;c State officers been guilty of squan-
dering the public funds? and by their ex.
travagance in creating the burthens of the
people! Point out the time and place. Put
your flyer upon any act of theirs if you can
where they have failed to perform their duty
They are not responsible for the local taxes
which constitute two thirds OF the whole
sum levied, for they have 10 control over
them whatever, and the money never goes
through their hands. They are not respon.
sible for the school tax, for they did not
make the law, while they are compelled to
carry out its provisions. They are not re+
sponsible for the publ debt, for it was cre-
ated before they were elected to Office. They
are certainly not censurable because $685.
$50 SO Is expended for the purpose of de-
fraying the expenses Of the State govern
ment. 1t is true taxes are high end our
burthens are heavy. But let the blame be
charged home to it's proper source, and il
will be found that the Democratic State ad
ministration is in no way deserving of cen
sure. Our public officers are ready. willing
and even anxious 10 have their official con
duct rigidly examined.