The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-06-18
From the Ashland Times-l
TAXES.

4&A
other subject that so much interests the
people of this community as the one
bearing the above title. And although
various laws have been passed from time
to time on the subject, there is still
much dissatisfaction in the minds of our
citizens.
1t is claimed that our taxes are bur-
densom, and the expenditures of our
Government ~extravagant, which is no
doubt too true, but this is not alone the
burden of complaint. However extrav-
agant the expenditures of the Govern
mont, if the burden of taxation fell
equally upon all our citizens, there
would be less cause of complaint. Now,
SO far as l can judge of this matter, all
laws that have been passed since the or
tive in this matter.
1t must be Acknowledged that any
law that requires any person to pay Tax
es on either more or less than they are
really worth is unequal and unjust. The
question then arises, is there not some
mode that can be adopted that will fall
equally upon all ? There certainly is,
aud to this we must come, before our
laws regulating taxes, are what they
should be. And now as we live m this
glorious land of Liberty whore all are al
lowed, not only to think, but to speak on
any subject, provided they do not inter-
fere with the rights of others, 1 shall
take the liberty of proposing a plan, in
hopes that if it should be an unreasona-
BILE one, some wiser head will show me
my folly, or so amend the plan as to
make it what it should be, and when
ever the matter is properly presented be-
fore the people SO that they feel and
know what they want, our Legislators
will find no difficulty in enaeting such
laws as will fullysatisfy all, or at least a
large majority of the Tax payers.
In the first place I am opposed to all
exemptions; let all property be placed
upon the duplicate at its cash value. for
all exemptions, whether great or small
will alwa;,s work injustice.
In the next place let every person,
when listing his or her property, state to
the Assessor the amount of his or her
indebtedness, to be placed by him in a
separate column, and by him returned to
the County Auditor, and by said Audit
or deducted from his or her valuation of
whatever nature it may be.
l am aware that this plan is opposed
to long established usage, and the pre-
conceived opinions of some, but never
theless there may be more strict justice
in it than we would at first thought sup
pose.
There are, as I am well aware, some
objections to these propositions, but so
far as / can see, they are without good
reasons, and 1 shall not at present at
tempt to answer them. But if any per-
son shall offer any objections publicly, l
will answer them if can.
If these thoughts are worthy of pub
LEGATION IN your columns, you may pub
lish them, or treat them as you may think
best. j.. lNGMUND.
Jeromeville, May 1856.
Ess The above is from our good
uatured old friend Judge ~INGMUNp, of
Jeromeville, who has been voting against
tAe-Def7orrutic party cut of pure Gus
scducss," time whereof our memory run
meth not TO the contrary. The Judge
is an honest man, as re believe, and g
very clever fellow, but we are utterly at
a loss to understand how as old a poll
tician as he is, could bring himself up to
uttering complaints against a tax law
that his own party enacted. VIZ would
the propriety of appointing a
20 smelling committee, EFF which the
Rail Road" should, of course, be Chair
mamie always is-to examine the
Judges premises. He has certainly
been reading Democratic documents.
It would seem from the Judges arti-
that he is not aware that the fiat has
gone forth from the Times Office, that
the acts of the last Legislature are III
case to be discussed during the pres
ent campaign. No matter if the tax
is unjust and unequal-no matter if
it does Cypress the farmer and enrich
the banker-pchlke laborers must suffer
until their coE0rcG brethren are taken
care Of. We are of the opinion that
there are scores in this County, who,
like the Judge, have discovered the inc
qualities of the present tax law, and will
relief in thunder tones ere the
the ides of October. No other issue
than niggerisn1, Ell? We shall see
what we shall see.