Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-01-14
Ul)t Hret Nte9z'
BURLINGTON:
FRIDAY MORNING, JAN. Il. 1853.
LETTER FROM ONO.


Nf'vs Editors of HE Free Press:
The Constitution Of this state
says the Legislature shall meet biennalv. or once
in two years. Our present Legislature were chosen
| in October, 1857, to meet the January following
| The Senate and Representatives arc chosen for
! two years, consequently, this is not the year for
/ them to meet; but the democrats having major.
ity, voted to adjourn to the first Monday in Jan.
uary, 1859.
The pc'pl; Of this state are beginning to agitatc
for the repeal OF the opprc ssvo ton per cent inter-
ct law, which is drawing the lifc-blood from her
citizens The present law wus passed March ith.
ls'O, and took effect in May of the same year. /
/ am told tho law was never demanded by the pco-
pie generally, but that its concocion was brought
! about by money lenders and note shavcrs Take
the past year for criterion and it is a fact that
the laboring aud producing part Of community
cannot successfully prosecute business with a cap-
ital for which ten per cent interest is paid II Is
said, upon good authority, that the farming inter-
est Of Ohio, at the value which they stand upon
| the Grand List for taxation does not pay five per
cent. per annum; and the result is farming lands
have fallen in value just about in the proportion
that six per cent bears to ten per cent In other
words, farms that were worth $40 per acre, five
years ago, are not worth more than $50 now and
will not sell for that even.
am told before the enactment of this law
much of the wool raised in this State, manu-
fartnrod here; now much the largest portion goes
to the New England States The conclusion ofthe
whole matter is, the New England States are gain
ing ten per cent. on their capital, while Ohio is
decreasing at the same rate. | am also told that
most Of the money loaned here comes from the
Eastern states and New York; most of the money
lenders there have some friend here whom they
iutrust it with, to loan The amount loaned in
that way, 1 will not undertake to state; but it
may safely be called millions.
There is one other subcc. that is engros.ing the
minds of the people, and cmptyins their pocket, at
the same time that is taxes. The taxes are
enormously high throughout the state. In this
Town, (hcdiordJ tucy were IS cents on 500 last
year. tuis year they are 81 / : t. the sIUo. lAc
law makes it necessary that taxes should be paid
into each county Treasury or before the goth Of
December if you could step into the Treasurer,
Office at Cleveland, you would nnd out the
fooIini; Of the people. on can better INA ginc
than can describe the cursins and swearing that
i heard. The mild portion of the community
recommend getting up a sort of Indignation meet
ings, to see if they cannot bring about reform
and rctrcnchmcnt, don't know but they will
succeed in collecting this tax; but will ven.
turc my word for it, they collect another
as high. As near 1 can calculate, the farmers
in this vicinity, au average have to pay nearly
so each
1t is not expected iu the common
course of things that all that are born in
Vermont will or can stay there; but if l were
there, should stay there. That is SO.
The state raises this year (lojo) So,oOrooo, SO
l understand. Hamilton County, the largest in
this catc,pays ol,7OO,0O0. How much the State
debt is have not been able to ascertain, but have
understood they are paying nothing on the princi-
Ial. might tell you that | know, if people
tell me the truth, of men here that came when the
country was wilderness, say from 80 to 80 years
ago bought their land from 81, 80 to 3 90 per
acre, and their farms are mort gagged for more
money than they will sell for now; the reason why,
they were mortgasol when land was worth or
Nv l'f "0'- more than it now is. The truth IT,
people are Tremendously =. debt. While tb.re il
one who ha' got his farm paid for, there are ten
that have not Any man can buy many farms as
he can find money to pay for, for from So TO $50.
within 10 miles Of Cleveland.
was glad you gave it to Greeley, Of the y. Y.
ibunc, on account of favorng Dou glass election
in Ill.,. (my opinion is stephen A. Douglas is as
corrupt a he knows how to bel and also his favor