The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-09-06
ne From the Detroit Tribune
Increase Of State Tax.
Not Republicans, Responsi.
BILE for the Increase.
IL Results from Democratic Neglect to
Obey the Constitutional Provisions
and levy such Iaces hitherto as were
absolutely Necessary.


"The democracy of Michigan arraign the past
and present Republican State administration before
the people as extravagant and corrupt who charge
thut they have increased the taxes of the State
from sl43, ,255 in the year 1854 to 1872 l53 in 1882
Resolution of "democratic' Disuaion State Con-
rention.
Taxation is subject of deep inter-
est to the people. The charges made
in the above resolution are broad and
specific. Let MS examine the subject,
candidly, cordially, patiently, fully. We
ask your earnest attention to the facts
we shall adduce.
First, then, referring to the Auditor
Generals reports for the years named,
we find that the amount of specific and
direct taxes received in S54 were S2z7,-
OS6. 95, and in 1859 S347,S74.43. We
do not propose that either of these
amounts included all the taxes due the
State in these years; but it is fair to
presume that the unpaid taxes were
about the same each year. The figures,
then, in the resolution quoted, make the
"demorcatic" taxes of 1854 $S3, ,S3l less
than they were and the Republican
taxes of 1859 S34, ,2s9 more than they
were, exhibiting, a difference, or mis-
take of $l1s,l29 against Republican
administration. Every reader must
judge for himself whether this was de-
signed or not, as other facts are devel-
oped and contrasted with the gross and
sweeping charges against the Rcpubli-
cans. To say the least of it, the. pal
pable mistake in the figures looks sus-
picious, if not designedly untruthful.
Second. AS to the "increase of those
State taxes. Whyhave they increased?
and who, or which party, is responsible
for, or Justly chargable with the cause
and necessity for their increase The
fair and true answer to these questions
will determine the truth or falsity of
the charge against the Republicans,
contained in the above resolution of the
domecratic ;" State Convention.
The State Constitution makes it the
DUTY of the Legislature "to procide. for
am annual Tar SUFFICIENT, with 9TH
er resources, TO PAY THE ESTIMATED
EXPENSES OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT,
THE INTEREST ON THE STATE DEBT,
AND SUCH DEFICIENCY as may occur
in the resources" Here is the plain
DUTY of any and every administration
in control of the governments duty
imposed by the democrats ; for it will
be borne in mind that they made the
present constitution, and governed un-
der i: until January, 1855. That duty
is just and proper one. Every State
and government should provide, with
certainty, ample means for raising suffi-
cient revenue to pay, every year ALL its
annual expenses. 8e "a q sro9
Now, although this constitutional
duty was imposed by democrats we
charge first, that they neuer, in any sin
| gle year, regarded that wholesome and
necessary constitutional provision, from
the organization of the State govern
ment to the time they were driven from
power-that this is one, aye, the great
cause of the increase of State direct
Taxes-that they neglected, year after
year, and always, s'to provide an annu-
al tax sufficient y for the s'estimated !"
or ordinary Expenses of the State gov
eminent" much less for s'the interest
on the State debt" or for any "defcien-
cy in the resources" We charge, see-
ond, that but for this Democratic, ne
glect Of a Constitutional Duty, the State
debt would have been nearly, if not
quite, paid, and that there would not
have been any necessity for one dollar
OF direct tax to pay the ordinary ex-
penses OF the government, during the
five years of Republican administration,
nor at this time, nor for years to come,
and consequently, that the democratic
party and administration, Nor the Re