The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-12-11
EV A Ms WILL E:
Tax Cypress ions.

~AAANoS
not believe there is a more oppressiYely taxed
people, when estimated by the amount of SER
vice performed by the government for peo-
ple-than the inhabitants of the counties and
towns in this State; nor is there under the
worst despotism Of Europe a more oppressive
and burdensome process of collecting them
Under the present organization, the county
authorities are very inefficient and expensive;
and the township organization is still more
burthensome and useless. We have half a
dozen salaried officials in each county whose
duties could be better performed, as they are
done in Kentucky, by one or two efficient
men. The official business has been divided
and Offices multiplied for no other purpose,
but to increase the mercenary corps that fight
in the ranks of party, and do the abject SER
vice of party leaders, who in case of success,
pay these adherents with the spoils thus alb
stracted from the people. The question every
where is, what becomes of the money raised
by our excessive taxation. The corporate
towns have improved their condition, but
what have the county authorities done for
the benefit of the people, the last ten years
to justify double increase of taxes? We
have been familiar with the river counties,
from the Wabash river to Clark since 1910,
and it can be truthfully affirmed that at this day
they are not in as good condition in roads,
bridges and public Improvements for which
the people pay taxes, as they were fifteen
rr1ybi no IF t0v
alton have been more than doubled There is
not practicable carriage way in many of these
counties from one town to another, and the
number and condition of the bridges are at
present worse than they were, when the ex-
penditures of the counties were little more
than one-third the present amount. A jour
ney from here to New Albany with a carriage
through the populous river counties is an i'm
practicabiity. There is not another route
that can be pointed out, we believe, in the
country, passing through communities of
equal numbers and wealth, that bears so few
marks of the hand Of civilization in all matters
dependent upon the care and provision of the
public authorities.
What has the State government done for
the people? Have our laws been improved?
Is our judiciary system better and justice
cheaper? Would it not be blessing to the
State, if the whole legislation and constitu-
tional amendments for twenty years, could be
erased from the statute book? Do not the
amendments need now more amending than
the old text? In what manner has the con-
dition of the people been improved by the
State government, to make it worth more than
formerly? What public work of internal i'm
provement, has the State, in twenty years,
executed, or projected, or encouraged the ex-
ecution of? Jesse D. Bright boosted that the
glorious prosperity of the State was due to
the policy of the Democratic party. What
has any party, that has had its control, done
for the State, in twenty years, but to quarter
its hungry partizans upon the people, to feed
upon their substance; which is about the ex-
tent of the patriotic care of all parties in pow
or. The truth is the people flourish by their
own energies without the aid of government
and in spite of parties, and Notwithstanding
all their errors and expressions. Kentucky
pays scarce one fifth the amount of taxes that
our citizens do, and yet surpasses us in the
administration and condition of her public af
fairs. Her citizens pay Is to 25 cents on the
500. We pay 100 to 125 cents on the $1OC
for county and State purposes Some of hel
counties-Breckenridg for instance-pay al
their county expenses by poll tax of one
dollar. We pay the same poll and tax be
side of 79c on the $780, and the condition o
their public affairs compared with some o
our counties, is subject of modification t.
US. The question recurs, and it remains un
answered. What is done with the money ex
torted from US with such an unrelenting hanC
by the tax-gatherer? There is not tyrant
in christendom that sets up the rights of SOW
ereign lord with more memorable will, thar
our Democratic State. State necessity will
it, is paramount to all considerations of indi
Vidual rights, justice and mercy. 1t demand
its revenues, and affixes the most onerous pen
alties upon the poor delinquent that is unable
to fork up, as if it were crime to need tn
mercy Of delay.
These delinquent lists, with their frightfu
penalties attached, are proof how heavily tn
burden of taxation weighs upon the poo
land owners, and how unable they are to NEE
the first demand. How outrageously op
pressive must it be, then, to meet the inor
dinate penalties of so to 100 per cent. super
added, which is filched by the officers of tn
law and their favorites, from perhaps, the poo
man with his FORTY or eirhtv acres in tn