Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-05-24
THE TAX BILL.
To the People OF ONO County.

GEHTLHMEH:-In the remarks l made
last night at the Court House, l stated
truthfully what this odious Tax Law IS,
! which was passed by the last Democratic
Legislature. told you that the leaders OF
the Democratic party would try to cover It
| up, and mislead you on the day Of election,
/ not that they cared one cent about your
taxes, but their object was to acquire pow
/ er and money for their own emolumenL-
told you that one of their modes TO
which they had resorted, TO effect this OBJ
| ject, was to disgrace me in public estima-
ton, by calling me BLdek Repub lieaH-an
! A60litioHiSi, &c,
Look at the Wheeling UziOa of yester-
day morning, you viii see an article
headed
"INPoRTED ARABIAN"
1t then goes on to say, MIR. F. H. Peir-
point, of Marion, was advertised to adj
dress the people of Ohio County on Tues
day night, on the subject of Tax on Free
Labor Why this gentleman is imported
| here on the eve of local election, we
know not. Our people have pretty gener-
| ally made up their minds to vote for the
best man, regardless of party" The wri-
! ter goes on TO say, tive will see whether
| Mr.. Peirpoint will dictate to the people Of
Wheeling" &c. Gentlemen, this article
was gotten up by men who are candidates
! for two of the highest. Offices to be elected
to-day. 1t was written by neither OF
them, but by an intimate friend at their
! instance and request.
/ You have ALI read the article. Mark the
heading .Imported Arabian" That is
another dodge TO disgrace me. Next q
sneer-that my object was to discuss the
subject of "Tax on Free Labor, That
am "impOrted from Marion county" for
| that purpose. The writer says, GAS far us
! the Tax Law is concerned, WE have not
J seen it in full to say whether we approve
1 it or dislike it." Several copies OF the
| Tax Law, from which read on Tuesdny
night, have been in the city for near three
weeks, accessible TO every body: But be-
cause the leading Office holding Democrats
have not seen fit to read it to see whether
they like il or not" am to be disgraced by
low sneering epithets-"IMPOTted -1rG61-
an, y 81 !NoROmaniae, stStark Aad," because
read it and exposed it. Here you are
told in plain language, "you, the people,
have no right to form any opinion about
the Tax Law, until WE, the Democratic
leaders have seen it at our leisure to see
whether WE like it or not. If WE leaders
like it, YOU the poor labOrers and voters
must be satisfied. This, gentlemen, is the
plain meaning of this sneering dictation.
Gentlemen of every class and party,
!
with you ISIS the system Of taxation IN
Virginia, rightR You all answer that it is
unjust and oppressiYe-unjust in the negro
exemption, and oppressive on the poor
laborer Who has had all the offices in
the state, the overwhelming majorities ia
the constitutional convention and in the
legislature. wherein these unjust eXemp-
tions and oppressive taxations have been
nade2 You all answer DENOcRATs.-
Democrats are responsible.
Am /, then, with other Opposition men,
doing right in exposing democratic misrule
and oppression? Or must we not say one
word, and yon wait patiently until these
democratic ofice-seeking gentlemen see
fit n examine tbe law and see whether
they like it or not2 These democratic lea
iers you'd rather haze red hot balls Of iToE
held 10 their eyes than to look th0t OdiOHs td1
La1D fairly in The face, and speak out the SeHtt'
nents of their hearts to The people. They
know as we'll as they know they are living
iIttia tdnGSr vtRatuit,is. qDigst .snd oppressive
for it. That it is done at the bidding o
the slaveholding democracy of the East
and that they, as the leaders of the part,
in the West, are bound to obey, and LEND
their influence to keep down the opposi.
ton party here to show acquiescence anC
approval.
Gentlemen, look at their clubbing. lool
at their lodging. covering up-their at.
fected ignorance of what the law is. Two
weeks since I exposed the law in the
Wheeling LntelLigeneer. They have had al
this time to meet the question
If have asserted falsehood they
have had ample time to contradict it,
Have they done it'll No. They may at.
tempt fabrication this morning, to gel
your votes. But teach them at the poll,
to-day that freemen are not TO be trifed
or tempered with. Head your ticket:
with opposition men and vote them
through. Go to your tax paying neighbors
Wing, Republican, American, and Demo.
Crat. Ask them if they are going to en-
dorse these oppressive taxes recommend
ed by Democratic Governors. Democratic
Board of Public Works and imposed by
Democratic members of the Legislature by
voting for Democrats. Or will they re-
buke Democratic candidates by voting for
opposition men. FellOw-citizens don't try
to merely elect opposition men to office;
but try by how large majorities you can
elect them. Go to the polls, roll up a
majority that will speak in thunder tones
to your oppressors. Then you will have
done your duty.
1t is said in the Union paper of this
morning, "That there is nc tax imposed on
lCGgeS except ON yearly salaries"
The writer in the Union says, Rdgel
earned By labor are not taxed, and Mr.. P.
knows this as well as we do"
The Auditor in his book furnished the
commissioners with the law puts this
question, "Question Is. An officer or
employee of railroad or other company
receives say $500, Tor $1,000 for his SER
vices payable monthly or quarterly. Is
it proper to tax the annual compensation
or income?"
Answer-It is. See Public Revenue
Law, &c, page l67.
Here is the declaration of the editor m