Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-06-10


the right 10 surround itself with such safe
guards, and, if necessary, with such mystery
In its movements as it may deem necessary.
II is nobody's business but its own. At the
same time, we hold that the necessity which
first induced secrecy in its councils, and extra
ordinary obligations among its members, has
long since passed away, and we therefore hail
the adjustment of these two features at the
present time, with unfeigned qualification
We believe, moreover, that the step might
have been taken year ago, not only with
safety, but that it would have been highly con-
ducive to the interests Of the party.
The recent action of the National Council
has now deprived the opposition of its last vul-
nerable point of attack, while it has also served
to render us more formidable. The hue and cry
that the American party warred against the re-
lgion of portion Of our citizens has about
subsidized, and is only occasionally renewed by
those who lack intelligence or common pru-
dence, for the masses generally understand the
subject too well to be deceived.
Too much credit cannot be awarded to Hon.
Humphrey Marshall, of Kentucky, the pioneer
in this movement, and who literally fought it
through the recent Council Such man was
needed to throw himself into the breach, and
to his undoubted patriotism, sound reasoning
and fervid eloquence, is doubtless owing the
passage of the resolution.
We now stand before the country an open,
undisguised, and powerful party. Thousands,
whose sympathies have always been with us,
but who have been conscientiously opposed to
the secrecy hitherto existing in our organiza-
ton, will flock gladly to our ranks. In the
business and patriotism of our course our con-
fidence is unwavering, and that it must prevail
we feel as certain as that our fathers first
achieved our national Independence
Relative Taxation in Europe and America.
1t may be well for us, who are occasionally re-
voting at what we consider the imposition of Sc
we're taxes in this country, to glance atthose levied
and submitted to under the British and foreign
governments. The statistics of this subject are
full of interest and we will endeavor to furnish
them more at length hereafter At present we
will only refer to a few items Of the expenses of
the British Government, in order that we may
compare them with similar ones under our own
The annual direct cost Of maintaining the Royal
Family, and the royal pensioners connected there
with, is nearly eight hundred thousand pounds, or
four millions of dollars. Prince Albert alone re-
ceives a direct annuity of thirty-eight thousand
pounds for doing absolutely nothing The coach
men, Positions, and footmen of the Queen receive,
within about twenty thousand dollars as much as
all the Executive officers Of the United States Gov
eminent.
Queen Victoria's milk bill alone is seven thou
sand dollars per annum and what in this country
would be called her liquor bill amounts to the
handsome annual sum of fifty thousand dollars
equal to two years salary Of our President. The
stones alone in the crown worn by the Queen on
opening the sessions of Parliament, have cost the
people about five millions Of dollars while the ag
gregate salaries of our President and his Cabinet
amount to but about one hundred thousand dollars
per annum. These are mere items of public money
received by few individuals. Add to these the
enormous sums necessary to keep up the civil,
military and naval establishments, the ten millions
annually paid to public pensioners and the fright
full expenses of the established Church, and we
cease to wonder at the rate of taxation to which
the British community is compelled to submit -
The following table shows the relative taxation
imposed on the people Of six different nations, per
capita, for every man, woman, and child, viz:
6 8. d.
England = Q IL 8
France IL 0
Prussia IL a
Austria 0 IL 8
Russia o 8 9
United States o Q 4