The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1858-12-25
From the Memphis Avalanche
, TAXATION-BIG BANKS AND LITTLE
BANKS.

Whenever an article appears in the Ava,
anche upon the subject OF banking, the
bankers turn up their sneering noses snd. g.
with an air Of lordly disdain, calculate
+" That subject tis stale -lhreadbare exhaust
ed" 1t may be very dissgreeable and un-
theme TO the mushroom arstocrat,
and to the nabob who has amassed large
fortune by dishonest system of espionage,
but it is one OF vital and essential magnitude
to the hard-6sted aborer, who has SO often
been feeced out of his hard earnings bv
these heartless sharks. There is not me-
chanic in Memphis who has not been cheat
ed and defrauded out of his hard earnings
by these swindliug rag-shops, called bauks !;
and this class will never grow weary in read
ing and supporting the paper that is striving
to protect their labor from the pillage Of the
plunderers. The hard listed yeomau of the
hills and holows, who whistles as be hoes
corn, and sings as he mauls rails, has often
been the dupe Of the designing and unprin-
cipled money y,scriveners, and, therefore, does
not regard the bank question as stale,
thread~bare or exhausted" So far as this
newspaper is concerned, they shall have for
The future, as they have heretofore, the
TRUTH, however unpalatable to monopoly
The evident tendency of banking is to make
the rich richer and the poor poorer" but
the discussion Of so grave a subject is not a
franchise exclusively for the rich, nor is an
infringement of this aristocratic prerogative
by the poor barbarians crime that deserves
death by fire and faggot,
We are opposed to all banks from princ-
pie. We care not a fig for any particular
institution. We have no wish to pull down
any specific bank and to build on its dis
honored ruins another. We do not desire
to drive away the present swarm of fat and
satiated flies that a more hungry and rapa-
cious brood may take their place. We OBJ
serve that few papers and politicians are
opposing specific banks and bankers, without
reference to principle. They exhibit an
amaz ng amount of potvaor in hunting
down starveling, unAedged new ban rs OF
small capital struggling into life This, we
presume, is prompted by the great banks
for, when they are asking new charters, they
are industrious in propagating the notion
that all the viIlainy Of banking is with the
small institutions, and all the virtue with
themselves, and manage to keep their little
dogs, Tray, Blanche and Sweet heart in
constant yelp after the small banks-them
selves all the while enj ying great deal o
composure, and attracting marked venera
ton. iJf # as
We have no defense to offer for the small
banks; but we cannot admire that valoI
which shuts its eyes to the delinquencies Of
powerful corporations, to assaI, traduce and
hunt down weak and lowly concerns, a
dozen of which could not do, together i
purposely bent on it, one-hslf the harm thai
is constantly perpetrated by single one o
the great banks, TO whose iniquiles many
gallant people ale so blind and amiably kind
While pursuing this poor, lean, weak, small
Q ,me, we shall strike at the big fish which
ave so anxious to eat up the little ones. THE
Greeks are at our door; = and since an etfor
is being made to show to the world how
little banks would act, we shall occasionally
show how big banks do act.
While upon the subject Of banking, an
idea occurs to us which we will hereafter
express. 1t is in regard to taxation. We
have not seen the law, but it is a well known
fact that banks are not taxed as other prop
erty. They IRE, in the first place, granted
exclusive privileges upon the subject OF tax
alton. We trust the next Legislature will
blot from the statute books such an odious
distinction and increase four-fold the taxation
upon the banking capital Of the State. We
go for equally in taxation. Moneyed corpO.
fations should be taxed at the same rate that
your COWS, horses, sheep, hogs, farming
utensils, beds, bedding and wearing appme
are taxed. Banks have no souls, they can
work the roads, nor do military duty, but
they do control your political and domestic
affairs-and this by the favoritism of Gov
ernment. And we think that they should
pay for it, as you, reader, are made to pay
for every falling drop Of your sweat; fol
your hardened hands for every clod Of earth
in your fields for the brick, mortar wood
and stone in your houses; for the bay aud
straw in your barns for the meat, flour
potatoes and turnips in your kitchens and
cellars; for the tea, coffee, milk and cream
you drink; for every hour you sleep; fol
every stroke Of labor you strike for th'
chairs, tables, stands, wares, carpets and al
furniture in your parlqrs and chambers fO
the money with which you build the church
es in which you worship-with which yOl
pay for the very Bible that points you t'
Whom you should pray at night, and return
thanks in the moTning-nay, for the verl
shrouds and coffius in which you wrap anC
deposit your deceased brother, sister, child
fathe-, mother or wife!
For all these, and all else you own or owe
in some direct or indi. .ect way, you pa
taxes. You pay taxes on your wealth, an
on your poverly-snd shall the banker no
pay in equal proportion on all the means an
elements he employs to fill bis pockets wit
his easy>earneG thousands
Nine mouths have elapsed since the gres
earthquake in Naples, which caused sue
destruction Of life and property, aud nothin
has heen done to rebuild the fallen cities, {