The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-01-11
$s4l,sls.I5I. The lists Of personal

property included in thespring valuations,
are not yet made. Should they show an
increase during the year proportioned to
that of the real property during six years,
the amount will not be less than $751;
E000,O00; and the general aggregate, as.
suming that the total valuation of realty
will not be reduced by equalization, will
be about $9O0,O00,O00. The increase
for six years will be about $33,000.OeO
The Grand List of 1860 will doubtless
show, with reasonable accuracy, the true
am ult Of taxable property in the State.
Returns of exempt property from all the
counties, except Hamiltoh and Fayette,
exhibit an aggregate of $i0,5T0,S5S.
| These returns are doubtless imperfect.
/ The real amount of this description of
property, in all the counties, including
ehattels, does not, probably, fall much
short. of $50, 100000. The Commis-i
sioner of Statistics, basing his opinion on
reports of actual sales; estimates the. en-
tire propertysin the State, at ST ,o5s,0oO,.
900. -.f ..a-sgss -. esz -
The population of the State is about
two millions aud half. Such o popuia-
7 ZION, grown nyup from the twenty five thou-
fsand of sixty year ago, educated, ener>
getic and indefatigsbe, and possessed of
such mass of means, created by the
skill and industry of two generations,
presents striking picture of progress
aud power. ,l 1a. .ae .-G1 S'S -
venture to suggest the expediency of
directing -the-geperal valuation of real
estate, after the 4ext, to be made once
in five years; SO that the results obtained
under State authofity, may be easily COM
3pared with those obtained under Federal
4 in the census years. while those obtained
) by the general valuation in the,intermes
! diate years, and the annual estimates, will
supply the means of determining the rate
of growth and progress each year during
the interval between those years. : g.
The amount of debts, of whatever de-
scription State, corporate, commercial and
every other, is now estimated at $240,-
000,000; but of these not less, probably,
, than one-third would be cancelled by pay
5 ment of other deb.s embraced in the same
t aggregate. The whole existing debt
S constituting real charge upon the whole
existing properly, hardly, if at all, ex.
: cseds $l60, 100000; about one sixth o.
: its value. If this sum be compared, ho'
s merely with the entire property but with
e the entire products of the State, which
according 10 my estimate in 1858, o
: mounted in 1851 to $261, ,S67, 500, ant
!. doubtless exceeded that sum in 1859, o.
e with the probable net products after de
! Quoting the consumption, direct and in
b direct, Of the people, the qualification at
It ried by the spectacle of our genera
a prosperity will not be sensibly abated.
/ While this review Of the progressiv
1t development of, our revenue system and 9
IS our mater: al ssreseusces, must necessarll..
of inspire Just ccnfdence in the physica
: energies end financial strength of ou
d great commonwealth, it will also serve,
'r trust the humble purpose of contributing
Of to aclearer understanding of the relatiol
Of of taxation and disbursement 20 means G
D. contribution, and of the necessity of care
in fully observing these relations in leyie
land appropriations. sd3 % asoslg ~
~ The Fundamental principle. of our reve
e. nue. system, that all property,not exemP,
I'd ed upon overruling considerations of po
Sc icy, shall centribpte' to necessary publ
u. expenses in just proportion to value,
ae now firmly established in the conyctioH
be of the people, and nothing is more Gel
he tain than that they will insist on its 'un
of form and universal application. If the1
4. be any description of property which hi
1g hitherto escaped just contribution, the lei
o. islature representing the people will M
to hesitate to subject it to the operation,
ag the general principle. oa -8a,..,..e !.
of 1t is q great merit of the system thI
RS lit is easily understood, and that the resu
l.. of any given rate Of assessment cam
materially deceive expectation. As t
Ia Grand List supplies the basis of revenu
ew and as the necessary means to meet {
he State, County and municipal expenses a
p- provided by assessments for State pu
ith poses on the entire list and for local pu
Dr. poses on the property listed within t
he respective localities, legislative adjustme
ew of levies to the public needs, and of a
lu- propriations to levies, cln never be dii
in cult. The rates of levy being fixed, t
er. revenue for the years intervening betwe
raj general valpa,ionscan always be. predic
ed ed with reasonable certainty. The equ;
sd lied valuation is the permanent. and t
er annual valuations are the variable e.
ng ments Of the Grand List, The equaliz
md valuation once made remains unchang
ues until the next valuation year. The fl
We Grand List after equalization exhibits I
o. aggregate subject to contribution; and I
lad Grand Lists of subsequent years Unit!
g. new valuation, will, Of course, exhibit I
same aggregate, increased or diminish
ap- only by the increase or dimnution of (
ap- annual valuations, The Grand List
list no year except Immediately aftera gene
valuation, or in consequences of some il
ing islative. action, the results of which
ast Legislature must of course forsee, {
n is differ widely from that Of the proceed