The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-23
Rank Taxes.

The Annual Report of the State Auditor,
shows that the amount of State tax assess
ed for the year 1854, was $3,077 ,60l Al,
and that of the amount so assessed, only
S9,S6s,O ,Oo3,22 was collected. From this it
will be seen that the amount realized by
the State is $2e9, ,598,l9 less than the a.
mount levied. This difference arises prin-
cipally from the refusal or the Banks of
OF Ohio, to pay the taxes assessed against
them. Thus the people are compelled to
make up from their own pockets, the sum
assessed against and justly due from the
chartered institutions of the State. This is
fragrant injustice. 1t is nothing more or
less than robbery committed under color
of law.
One Of the Issues to be made before the
people this fall, is: Shall Banks be COM
pelled to pay their taxes, the same as far
mers and other laborers! or in other words,
shall taxation be equal. Our political op-
ponents of the Whig, Know-Nothing and
Know-Something parties, are as a body,
the advocates of Bank exemption and spe-
ciai privileges. If they had the power, to-
day, they would not only permit but de-
fend this system Of injustice. They would
compel the farmers and mechanics of the
State who earn their bread by hard labor,
to pay tax upon all they possess, while
they would excuse Banking institutions
from the payment of taxes except upon
their profits. Is
For two years past, the Branch of the
State Bank at Ravenna has suffered losses
to q large amount. The result is that the
profits Of the concern, have been little OF
nothing. The law by which it was char.
tered as we'll as the decision of superan.
nuated Court, have declared that it as q
consequence, shall be exempt from taxatien
The farmers of Portage County have also
suffered immense losses by reason of the
drouth. But no such exemption is made in
their favor. On the contrary, they, togeth-
er with the mechanics, were compelled to
p0y VfCs Hafacy tWO tNou6duu uOlluTS Ol
tax for the year 1854. The injustice oi
this difference made between the two clas-
ses, is so fragrant, that every intelligent
citizen cannot fail to observe it. The
Banker is certainly no better than the
farmer. The Banking interest is not half
80 important as the farming interest. Why
then should the latter Oe required to sup
port the government, while the former is
not! The only answer that can be given
Is, that the old Wing, and now, the Know
Nothing party, by whose authority these
Banks were chartered, is in favor of eleva-
ting one class of men at the erpense of
another. 1t would raise the "money chang
ef" above the laborer, giving to one privie-
ges which the other cannot enjoy.
1t is time this state of things was cheng-
ed. The heavy burthens of taxation should
be shared equally by all, whether individ-
uals or corporations. This is q practical
question and one which affects the real in
terssts of the people. Our opponents seek
to cover up this issue, and to direct atten.
tion to affairs with which State and county
officers have nothing to do.
Let no man be elected as O member of
the next Legislature of Ohio, who will not
pledge himself to vote for the taxation of
Banks the same as other property.