The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-12-15
EV Ms WILL e:
MONDAY MoRNING:::::::::;::::::::::::;;::::DEC. Il


contrary, is one Of the most GENEROUSLY taxed
States in the Union when we compare the
amount paid to the county and State with the
benefits bestowed by the government upon the
people. The citizens are less cared for and
aided, though they pay more for what they
get than any people in the country. This
is surely the case in Southern Indiana; we are
not so competent to speak Of other parts Of
the State-and the heavy exactions Of the tax
gatherer are enforced with penalties and OPP
pressions no where else known. Other States
reward the prompt payer by reduction Of
one or two per cent from his tax; here in this
State, if the poor man don't meet the demand
on a certain day, he is mulct in penalty Of
ten per cent, and if this be not paid according
to the memorable demand, he is further pun
ished by costs and forftitures, that are % per
cent and often so and 100 per cent On the Or
iglnal tax. They are infections unknown any
where else, and seem to be imposed to hecce
and punish the poor delinquent, rather than
for the benefit of the State. The mode of ad
vertising and sale is unnecessarily expensive
and iniquitously oppressive. 1t is a system
not required in any other State we are ac-
quainted with; and it is a gross libel upon the
people of all parties, in Indiana, to pretend they
are so forgetful Of duty and patriotism as well
as moral obligations, and say these heavy pen
altes are required to force them to pay their
just dues to their own government Are they
SO lax in spirit and negligent in support
ipcr 4ba a. 10 C+o4 hot
they have to be spurred up like dull nags,
with roWels that penetrate to the quick? The
government have the first lien upon all prop
erty for taxes; it cannot escape the payment.
Why add to the burthen by unnecessary pen
alties? If the government is obliged to resort
to sale to enforce its claims, let it give all the
indulgence it can; spare all the costs it can;
and not like the vindictive, oppressive credit
or seem to take delight in the suferings and
sacrifices of its victims.
1t is not correct, to say the delinquent tax
payers, are land spectators; such are not men
SO regardless Of their interests; if they are,
their career as spectators is short, and they
are not long numbered in that class. But in
every county, most Of the dolinquents are
poor men, willing but unable to pay; and it is
they who suffer these heavy extortions There
are many non-resdents in the list, but they
too are often poor, and frequently widows and
orphans; but whoever they may be, poor and
needy, residents or residents, or rich land
spectators, the State of Indiana has not vet
fallen so low in morals and political radical
ism as to legislate for OF against any class O.
citizens. She still cherishes all and protects
all that come into her dominion. The rich
Spectator brings his money into the State
pays taxes, raises the prices of lands and con-
fers benefits, and has rights Of property equa
with others. Within our acquaintance We
can point to men who have lost their all BY
the clutches of the tax collector
The first duty Of the next Legislature is t.
pass new appraisement law, and devise new
mode of collecting taxes. The present assess
ment bears very unequally on different por
tons Of the State. The central and northern
sections have increased in population, ant
property has been more enhanced in thos
parts since 1850 than in the southern regions
and the present valuation is very unjust w
impeach no party; the whole system of finan
cial legislation in the State for the last twent
years has been injudicious and wasteful w
have men Of sagacity and intelligence enoug
in our present Legislature, if they will Civ
themselves to the labor, to devise good system
If the Democrats have the will to relieve tn
people, let them commit the subject TO one {
their own party whom we can name to tn
active and intelligent member from PER-
county. Let him devise system-give t
him the duty of investigating the past fraud
abuses and errors-let him sft the past MAJ
agement of the sinking Cund--the frauds i
the swamp Landslide mode in which Il
bank charter was obtained, in the grant
which, a revenue or bonus was sacrifice
which would have paid the legitimate expens,
of the State government. The whole syste
for years has created an Augean stable
offensives, which requires a yonng Uercult
to cleanse. If there be not native ability
provide better system Of relief to the peopl
send commission to the old fashioned Sta
of Kentucky-to the more enterprisng Sta
of Tennessee-to Alabama-to Georgia-si
ting in the darkness of slavery; to old Ne
England, to New York, New Jersey, Mich
gan and Ohio; many of these have larg
debts, better State, county and municipal sy
TENS than we have, which they support wit
out oppression to the people.
Taxes are no oppression to people, whe
the government rett1rne odnauo+a baDoG4e. e