Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-04-07

compelled to furnish more than three. Citi-
zens of less estate joined or dubbed to-
gether to furnish galley. This tax, which
ceased with the emergency, was levied with
out distinction of persons, except that Or
phans, under pupilage, (archans,) and IN
married heireSses, (epiclesi,) were exempt.
Thirty-one persons as Assessors, Collectors,
and Treasures, were charged with all du-
ties pertaining to the revenue of Athens.
The revenues were discussed for the main
tenance Of the army and navy; the wages
Of Senators, Judges, Assemblymen, Ambas-
sadors Policemen, Advocates, and State
Physicians; the erection of Notifications,
docks, arsenals and walls; the repairing of
roads, streets, and harbors; the mainten-
ance of poor and disabled citizens, and OF
the children of those who had been slain
in battle; donations; Me0ric money for the
populace; the building and repairing OF
temples; banquetS, festivals, and sacrifices,
and offerings in honor of some deceased
hero, or of some of the gods; prizes and
professions; theatrical and gymnastic en-
tertainments, &c, &c. The custom of pay
ing soldiers was introduced by Pericles.
They had no regular fixed salary; the pay
ranging according to the condition of the
soldier, or the service to be performed.
''The rights of property and persons" (says
an article in DeBow's Berieao, from which
we collate these facts, "were protected;
wrongs were redressed, and the first great
lesson of human liberty was illustrated by
practical xperience-that every citizen
may govern himself his household, and his
estates, pursuant to his own Judgment,
when not inconsistent with the public inter
ests or morals"
The system of farming out the taxes,
established centuries upon centuries since,
is, to this day, continued in all the Eastern
countries. But customs rarely ever change
in the East The taxes are frequently col
lected by force Even the British Govern
ment, in order to collect taxes from their
possessions in India, have recently inflicted
the most severe and cruel punishments up
on the natives.
The revenue of Great Britain is obtained
by custom duties, excise duties, stamp du-
ties, land taxes, assessed taxes on houses,
servants, horses, carriages, armorial bear
ings, game, &c Custom duties have formed
an important branch of the public revenue
of the most ancient States, and in modern
times they have been extensively imposed.
In England they have been charged from
a very remote period Of time; and have in
creased with the increase of civilza ton and
commerce The various duties were coIlec-
ted in book Of rates, or tariff, and pub
lished, for the first time, in the reign of
Charles II. The revenue derived from the
custom duties in 1896, in the reign of
Elizabeth, amounted to only about 45, 600.
In 1850, the custom duties of the United
Kingdom yielded the sum of 922,Ol9, 1874
of which Great Britain furnished G19, $751;
28O, and Ireland 92,O64, 5O4. The land
tax, now in operation in England, Origina-
ted in 1892, being intended to replace the
subsidies and such like grants previously
ado to the Grown
These systems of taxes, and modes of
raising revenue, show family the foundation
and outlines of all taxation, and what is
true of a State or nation, is to great ex-
tent true Of incorporated towns and cities.
The system of raising revenue in our own
country, is well known. To ALEXANDER
HAMILTON belongs the distinguished honor
of putting in motion the wheels of the best
financial system ever devised for a free and
Independent Republic, ALBERT GALLATIN
did much, Also to complete and carry out
the system. Too much credit cannot be
bestowed on these brilliant names, for the
important services they have rendered to
mankind, in this department of the Govern
ment.