American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-17

E~NA'S NA@~NN'b Dy lCCS, "
keep an accurate account of his receipts
and expenditures, and transmit the same
to the appropriate department, at the seat
OF Government, with the view that gen
eral synopsis of such accounst be published
once year for the information OF the peo-
pie Of the State. These local Offices are
generally lucrative, and it is believed that
not less than two millions are annually col
lected BY fees from the people. and / can
see no good reason why the latter should
not be able to ascertain the compensation
which is severally received by their own
agents. 1t is almost impossible to secure
proper Legislation on this important subject
while so little tangible information is before
the General Assembly.
The preceding statements contain, it is
believed, all the information that is neces-
sary, with the accompanying reports and
exhibits. to enable you to see in What par
tcular divisions Of the public service and
for what objects, the exactions are improp-
erly high, and where our efforts should be
especially directed to bring about reduc-
ton. The local causes which have SO dis
proportionately swelled the burdens of the
people, you, coming from all parts Of the
State, can no doubt explain to each other.
In reference to these causes, however,
and especially the fees Of county and other
local officers, it would prove Of much assis-
tance in your deliberations, if in the early
part of the session you would order suita-
ble inquiries 10 be addressed 10 the proper
authorities.
All will admit that tho public burdens,
tor a government happily SO very circum-
scrlbed in its sphere as ours. are high be-
yond apology. True. high taxes are not
OF themselves conclusive evidence Of bad,
nor low taxes always proof of good gov
ernment, yet the amount is a motter prop
er for comparative inquiry especially where
the rise is sudden. Such examinations
lead 10 reliable information, both as to the
amount, and, which is more important
point, the purposes to which the money is
applied. Sound political economy does
not rest on any specific amount cfta2ation.
but rather on such an administration OF
public affairs, as guided by PROPER spiri,
of ffugaliiy and republican simplicity, dis
charges scrupnlouSly every duty essential
to the public welfare Every inancia
transaction should be subjected to the mos
rigid accountability, and all misapplication'
of the public money be severely punished
Puolic virtue is essential 10 the mainten
ance of republican government, and he i.
the most dang gerous offender who attempt.
to undermine or destroy it.
The people of Ohio Justly complain oI
high public ex0ctions. They have deput
ed you to reduce them. Every property
holder in the State enjoins this upon yol
as your first great duty. But reform. tc
be beneficial, must take the right direc
ton. To produce high taxes, or to con
nive at exorbitant fees and salaries, i
wrong; but to misdirect endeavors to cor
rect public abuses is no less mschievous
Unmatured wholesale reductions Of fee
and salaries are sure to be soon repealed. -
Such measures always lose to the peopl
the real reform which they demand
True reform first ascertains carefully wher
extravaganza and malfeasance exist l
exposes and corrects them. 1t screens n,
public abuse from merited obloquy, an,
yet it shields from unjust, sweeping Gems
ure the upright public servant. l! exam
ines into and therefore understands publ
evils. and the laws which follow become
consequence oftheir wise discrimination
the permanent policy of the State.
Questions arising out of and connecte,
with public revenue, have been vexatiou
in all ages and in all governments. The
are so in ours. Taxes. whether levied b
a monarch's arbitrary will, or through tn
legal action ofpopular government, are uu
pleasant to those who pay them. The nun
ber of those who are anxious to share tn
expenditures of the government, is ia
greater than those who volunteer to cor
tribute towards them. Propositions to de
pleto the Treasury for objects of specula
ton, ornament and pride, find frequentl
more supporters than those of acknowledg
ed general utility. The revenue Office
Who collects the taxes rendered necessar
id consequence Of some ill.advised apprC
priation. is always blamed, while he occi
stoned them. often escapes the public Ger
! sure. The Constitution wisely provide
: "that every law imposing a tax shall stat
distinctly the object ofthe same. to whic
only it shall be applied" If this provi
ion, in its full meaning and intent, wei
properly carried out so as 10 enable II
} public to fix with certainty the responsible
} ity Of taxes upon those who really occasio
them, it would, to great extent, guard (
gainst inconsiderate public outlays. Pro
J ligacy would be earlier exposed and the RI
} quired reform applied in season to prove
remedy.
We should discriminate between ii
/ mere machinery for the collection of ta1
es and the influences leading to, and tn
, authorities directing the levy. Our rever
De taxes should afford to the tax. payer
frequent and early opportunities to watcl
Judge and direct our financial policy
) The fewer indirect and special taxes "
{ have, the less chances there is to conce
improper expenditures. and the more ce
/ tainly will the rise and fall of direct tax
indicate the financial quality of our COVER
: ment. We are rapidly approaching IL
, period when our direct property taxatic
! will afford suoh Indications, unless We On