Nebraska advertiser., 1861-08-22
Remarks on the Direct Tax Bill.

We publish upon another page a sum-
mary of the Direct Tax Bill which has
been recently passed by Congress. This
subject is one so novel and so peculiar
that it strikes the American people with
surprise, and already we hear whisper
ings of discomfort at some Of its provis-
ions. The object Of this direct tax is to
raise 500, 1000, 600, an amount sufficient
to pay the yearly interest on the public
debt. Our people hate to be taxed, but
none more so than our Southern brethren
in arms against US. Hitherto we have
been able to maintain a powerful govern
ment ct comparatively a small expense
raised by indirect taxation; none felt the
burden Of the government, while ali en-
ioyed It's inestimable blessings. For once
in its whole history, by a strange combi-
nation Of events, a citizen taken from the
common walks Of life, was Constitutionaliy
elected President who was regarded with
much disfavor by a portion of the States,
and this was seized upon as a pretext on
their part to declare themselves indepen-
dent. and a rush was made to arms TO
vindicate this position. The government
was assailed long before the present in
cumbent entered upon the duties Of his
Office, and large amounts Of property
was wrested from It's possession by Yio-
lenCe, such as no other government on
earth would have submitted to without a
struggle. The government was lettering
upon its base and was threatened with
overthrow.
Only two alternatives presented them
selves. Either to allow the government
to be overthrown by armed violence, or
for the people to rise in It's defence. The
loyal citizens determined on the latter
course. They sawit was their only hope,
and they were swift to obey the call Of the
country, not simply as partisans of the
President in power, but as loyal support
ers of a kind and forbearing government.
All governments have their severe
trials, and ours ought at least to show
vitality enough to Withstand one election
Of Chief Magistrate for four years with
out suffering an overthrow, even though
he may be distasteful to a certain section
Of the country. If defeated parties are
to learn from this solemn lesson in our
country's history, that their discontinue
al the polls can be removed at once by a
resort to arms-bullets instead Of ballots
then there remains to this people moth
ing but anarchy and confusion, the re-en-
actment of those violent struggles such as
have marked the history of Mexico dl-
ring the past few years.
We confess that all our ideas Of good
government founded upon social order,
and security for person and property, re-
volt instinctively against such theories
OF course no one could have conceived the
ridiculous idea of a government under
taking to sustain itself from overthrow
against a formidable rebellion, without a
most serious drain upon the taxable re-
sources of the people. The cost of our
vast military and naval operations neces-
sary to achieve the great ends which the
government has in view are enormous,
audit rests with the people nov to say
whether these ends shall be urged for.
wardor whether we shall lie; the govern
ment 90 to a quietand ignominious grave.
These are the two plain propositions
now before the people, and it is for them
to determine which horn of the dilemma
they prefer. Some say it is the polti-
clans who have done tall. True, indeed,
and if about a hundred rabid ones on
both sides had been hung during the last
twenty years we should have had no such