The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-01-17

ance of republican goVernme Mt, and he il the
most dangerous offender who attempts to
undermine or destroy it..
The people of Ohio justly complain OF
high public exactions. They have deputed
you to reduce them. Every property holder
in the State enjoins this upon you as your
first great duty. But reform, to be beneficial
must take the right direction. To produce
high taxes, or to connive at exorbitani fees
and salaries, is wrong; but to misdirect en-
deavors to correct public abuses is no less
mischievous. Unmatured wholesale reduc.
tions OF fees and salaries are sure to be soon
repealed. Such measures always lose to
the people the real reform which they de-
mand. True reform first ascertains care
fully where extravagance and malreasance
exist. 1t exposes and corrects them. II
screens no public sbuse from merited oblo-
guy, and yet it shields from unjust, sweeping
censure the upright public servant. Ii ex.
smines into aud therefore understands pub
lie evils, aud the laws which follow become,
in consequence Of their wise discrimination,
the permanent policy Of the State.
Questions arising out of and connected
with public revenue, have been vexatious in
all ages and in all governments. They are
so in ours. Taxes, whether levied by a
monarch's arbitrary will, or through the legal
action Of popular government, are unpleas-
ant to those who pay them. The number OF
those who are anxious to share the expendi-
atures ofthe government,is is far greater than
those who volunteer to contribute towards
them. Propositions to deplete the Treasury
for objects of speculation, ornament and
pride, find frequently more supporters than
those of acknowledged general utility
The revenue officer who collects the taxes
rendered necessary in consequence of some
lladvised appropriation, is always blamed,
while he who occasioned them, escapes
the public censure. The Constitution
wisely provides "that every law imposing
tax shall state distinctly the object of the
same, to which only it shall be applied"
Ii this provision, in its full meaning and
intent, were properly carried out so as to en-
able the pnblic to fix with certainty the re-
sponsiblity of taxes upon those who really
occasion them, it would, to great extent
guard against inconsiderate public outlaws
Profigacy would be earlier exposed and the
required reform applied in season to prove
remedy. a
We should discriminate between the mere
machinery for the collection of taxes and
the influences leading to, and the authorities
directing the levy. Our revenue laws
should afford to the Taxpayers frequent and
early opportunities to watch, Judge and di.
rect our financial policy. The fewer indirect
and special taxes we have the less chances
there are to conceal improper expenditures,
and the more certainly will the rise and fall
of direct taxes indicate the financial quality
of our government. We are rapidly an.
proaching the period when our direct proper
ty taxation will afford such indications, un-
less We purposely counteract this tendency.
Special taxes are becoming imperative, their
levy indeed being of doubtful constitutional
ity. The extraneous revenues to the State
Treasury are likewise constantly diminish
ing, and nearly al our resources will soon
have to be derived through the grand dupi-
cate. We shall then, with greater certainty
and simplicity in our financies, have the un-
erring index above alluded to.
The constitutional provision upon the sub
ject is guaranty against arbitrary taxation.
Heretofore such guaranty has been secur.
ed to corporations alone through judicial in.
terposition; now they and the people equally
enjoy it by constitutional rule. In other
Governments the taxing power is without
limitations; in ours it is restrained to prop
erty tax. The power to borrow is also wise
ly confined within very narrow limits. I'm
der such system financial abuses cannot
be long concealed, because the amount of
taxation will indicate to each tax payer the
degree Of economy or wastefulness that may
at each period characterize the government.
The fact that taxes are one thing, the tax
law another, will then become apparent to
all; and we will look to the General AS.
senbly, and to the local authorities of the
State, fora reduction oftaxes rather than to
Executive officers. Any attempt to reduce
the taxes in the aggregate by mere change
in the mole and manner of collecting them,
wilbproye as futile as an attempt to change
the weather by breaking the barometer.-l
Real retrenchment, to have lasting effect,
must spring from and be maintained by GEN
eral Assemblies whose economy and watch
fulness shall reflect the wishes OF frugal
and enlightened people, @
feel great solicitude that the system of
all State expenditures of every de-
scriplion to be brought under the revision Of
the chief financial officers ofthe State, shall
be strictly and permanently adhered to-
This is demanded by the constitution as
we'll as by sound policy. 1t operates as a
of malpractice which had hith-
erto defed all attempts at reform.
The contracts recently entered into by
the Board of Public Works for the repairs
Of the canals, involving an entire change Of
policy on that subject, having ELECTED veryt
general public discussion. The saving to
the State by thi, change amounts to ninety
three thousand one hundred and seventy
two dollars per annum. when compared with
the avarage expenditure of the last six years,
and will no doubt exceed that sum under fa.
ture lettings. The contract system, has
many advantages over the policy that hus
hitherto pursued, aud | am inclined to|
think should be permanently adopted. The
success of any system, however, involving
SO large an expenditure of the public mon
ey, depends In great measure on the man.
ner and spirit in which 1t ia carried out. A
very general publicity of the lettings, and
the confidence Of the people in the Impair
tiality and fairness Of the awards are ele.
ments without which it can never become
established. s ~ s9
The contract system is increasing in inn
portance and extent, and will, no doubt,
gradually supercede the employment ofreg.
ular officers in many Of the departments of
the public service. The change in many
would be healthy one, and should
in my judgment be encouraged by the pass-I
age OF such laws as would allay all APP
and fdlly secure the confdenceI
ot the people. Welare accustomed to the