The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-02-24
$50
Affairs i'm Tuscany.


the I'd instant, and the humiliating state of
siege, which has continued ever since the
troubles OF lS49, was terminated on the same
day by decree OF the Grand Duke of Tus-
cany. Leghorn is, therefore, no longer under
foreign military surveillance. The decree,
which removes the paralyzing incubus, how
ever, imposes some severe restrictions on the
freedom of the people as precaution against
insuuection. No family or individual can
hold any kind of arms or weapons the
press has no freedom voluntary assemblies
are forbidden, and all social institutions and
movements are subject to the strictest espio-
mage. These restrictions are nevertheless
more tolerable than the domination of an
iusolent foreign legion, and the population
experiences sense of relief.
Austria has withdrawn all her troops from
Tuscany, (say five thousand,) having other
use fox them, and the native Tuscan force
has consequently been increased to fifteen
thousand The Austrian garrison cost the
people of Tuscany over $800000 annually,
making near five millions since May, 1919
Then their presence was constant source Of
chagrin to all classes. The increased native
force will be much more agreeable, and pro-
badly quite as efficient as police guard.
The government has, however, at the mo-
ment of such a change, unwisely exasper-
Ased the feelings of the people by the impo-
silion of fresh taxes. By a revision of the
tariff, the duties upon both exports and i'm
ports have been materially increased. The
producers of straw, oil, wine, &c., COM
plain loudly of the impostS on these sta
Piles and anticipate a serious reduction in
their trade with foreign markets, which may
not be willing to pay these increased duties
This severe imposition upon the industry of
the country must be seriously felt.
The direct tax on personal property has
also been oppressively augmented. Furni-
ture, machinery, books, live stock, IN fact
almost all articles in daily use, now bear
enormous duties. Horses, for example, are
taxed thirty dollars per annum, and dogs
fifteen dollars; dwelling houses pay twenty
five Per cent. OF their annual value TO the
treasury. Besides these general impositions
by the State, every walled city land all
towns are inclosed in Italy) has local or mu-
ncipal taxes of its own. For instance, the |
manufactures of one town cannot be sent
into another, though its nearest neighbor,
for sale, without paying an octroi duty at the
gates. So meats, and other country produce,
are subject to these local duties. All city
gates are, In fact, petty custom-houses.
Of course this suicidal system of raising
revenue must still further embarrass the al
ready crippled industry of the country. 1T
is remarkably rich in natural resources, but
they cannot possibly be developed under a
policy which disheartens trade and enter
prise, and it must result in leaving the gov
ernment at last without the means of sup
port. 1t is irretrievabiy in debt, and this
policy will inevitably increase its embarrass-
ments from year to year,
The whole population is little more than
a million and half, and yet, as notice by
the annual treasury report just published,
the annual expenses of government are near
tight millions Of dollars. The ordinary an
nual expenses Of the state of New York,
with double the population, are less than
one. The cost of the Grand Ducal estab-
lishment is enormous The salary of the
President of the United States is S325 900,
while that of the Grand Duke of little Tus- |
cany is $4,000 or $36,000 a month -
This enormous sum goes to support in luxu-
ry a numerous household, with five or six
palaces, for winter and summer, in various
parts of the country. The assembly rooms
Of the Pitt palace in Florence, the usual
winter Ducal residence, have just been refur-
nsl1ed at cost Of over 100000. The |
chairs of these apartments cost 5000 each. |
The spectacle at the anniversary New Years
ball on Monday night, was brilliant beyond