Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-04-07

TAX DAY.-There was very considerable excite
ment in town yesterday on the subject of Taxes as
each man engaged in business walked up to the Cap
tains Office to settle his fare for the coming year.
The scrptura axiom that it is blessed to give
than receive like all other rules has its exception
It does not apply to money, especially paid in the
shape Of taxes; and we win venture to say that no
bill providing for increased taxation yet was
will be popular. Legislators know this and hence
Legislatures so frequently shirk the responsibility
by making resort to temporary expedents, thus
staying off the evil only to make it still more evil
when it does come. The last Legislature of this
State entitled to credit for having had the man.
illness to meet the issue straight forward as ought
to be met-to have looked the difficulty fairly in the
face and provided for it. To have come openly and
at the first to what other States have only resorted
to, after having wallowed about in the slough of
expediency and of make-shifts until recovery was
almost impossible. All honor to the Legislature for
this
The Revenue Bill is loosely drawn, or at least it
appears So Some of its provisions are confused
and others unequal Admit all this. Does any
one remember to have heard or read of bill
of similar class, under similar circumstances aga
inst which similar class of objections were not rails
ed, and it may have been, with truth? The bill is
not perfect The inequality of taxation is the uni
versal complaint Throughout the world. Even in
States where the onerous burden of indebtness has
caused all the realms and regions of taxation be
fully explored, and where inexperience, at least,
cannot be plead in eXtenuation of error there is
about the complaint. Taxes are like sick
ness-they make one feel bad, matter where ocat-
ed or how laid Not but that great injustice may
be done by unequal taxation which injustice as soon
as discovered, should be rectifed.
Pending the election for Governor the whole cry
here was for internal improvements Mr.. Bragg
actually fell behind somewhat because it thought
that he not "good enough internal improve
ment man." The same was the case during the SEES
sion of the Legislature Mr.. Biggs denounced
all sorts of miserable sinner because although
willing to go for the central Railroad to the Noun
tains, he not yet prepared to carry it them
indfnlte distance towards shutdown, at
pense beyond the power of calculation. Now, every
body knows that the necessity for increased taxation
in this State has grown out of State investment in
public works. The mere expenses of the State gov
eminent the smallest item. Those who insist
upon public expenditures ought in consistency to in
sst upon their natural and inevitable consequence,
taxes which must sooner later and for meet
ing the requirements ofthe at once in the
in which must be met the Legislature deserves
praise for its manliness.
These remarks what may be called plain
spoken" but think they true and their truth
will be shortly felt and acknowledged. We can't
expect to eat our peach and have 1.-THE State to
spend money, and the citizens, who compose the
State to escape the payment. Coming to the matter
thus promptly will check the mania for reckless
State.
Commission merchants, and other whose business
is to be largely increased by the opening up of
of trade, must feel that they the very peo-
pie to cheerfully their portion of the burdens
arising from the expenditures made in opening up
these avenues. VIZ Journal