The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-08-28

wcoyE.Day MORNING.. AUG ~. is6l.
How shall the Dssses Tax be Paids
The direct tax levied by the Government upon
Michigan for war purposes. amounting to some
s.oo 600. has been the subject OF much discus
s;oo bv . portion Of the press Of our State
rb., ,hi, tax would be a heavy burden upon
the people Of the State. at the present time
there 10 no room for doubt, though the masses
will undoubtedly pay it without murmur'
shou,d its immediate collection become neces-
sity.
Having devoted some attention to this ques'
ton. We wish to raise the inquiry whether some
mode of payment might not be adop'ed' more
sou;table than the one directly contemplated oy
the Az, Of the General Government. As the
Government has provided for its collection oy
the States. and has allowed 6fteer per cent OF
the entire sum apportioned to each State Tor
such collection, il follows that . State, upon as
cunning the payment Of its proportion, will have
,o.s, 10 raise the required sum in any manner
il may choose.
A We have already said, its assessment upon
our people at the presen. time would De heavy
burden. The State Tax for the coming year VIII
ne oni,e large, while the county tax for the sup
nor Of families Of volunteers vii! aggregate a
much larger sum- Bot far greater than these
will be the loss to the people in the depreciation
Of real and personal estate, in the arrangements
NJ trade and commerce, and in the satisfaction
Of large numbers Of men from the producing
classes, and their addition to the stipend'Arles.
The main object of the one million loan, direc
ted TO be raised by the Legislature at its Extra
Session, is "the purchase OF all necessary mill
tary stores" "for such companies OF the volun
,eer militia of this States as may have been or
shall be mustered into the service OF the State,
or Of the United States" but the scope OF the
loan il for war purposes or in the language oil
the Act authorizing it, as we'll as in that OF our
State constitution for repelling invasion, suppress
sing insurrestion, or defending the State in time
of war; Is il then incompetent for asubsequent
Legislature to divert portion Of this loan fror'
the specific objects mentioned in that Act so
long as the constitutional provision is adhered
TO in the purpose to which it is appropriated?
But there is another view to this question. At
the late session of Congress an appropriation
vas made to the States, re-imbu'sins them In
part for expenses incurred in mastering. equip
ping and subsisting troops for the service OF the
United States. The sum re mbursed to Michi-
gan from this appropriation is to be fifty per
cent. Of the amount expended by the State for
special war purposes at the time the appropria
ton vas made. OF course, the principle OF re-
im,ursement to the States being recognized.
the balance of their expenditures for the sup
preston Of the rebellion. now or hereafter made,
will be paid in due time from the Golfers of the
general government.
II then the loan made by this State for war
purposes shall be deemed inaccessible in meet
ing this Direct Tax of the Government, Why
may no. their re endorsements be employed for
that object:
The loan was based upon the sound principle
that posterity should perform share of the Ia
Dor necessary to save the country from disrup
ton, inasmuch as the benefits derived therefrom
would almost wholly revert to them. This gen
Grafton Il in any case not only bear an enor-
mOusly g. ropor,ionate share of the pecuniary
expense, but they must pour out their blood on
many battle field to transmit to future geurIa-
tons the priceless inheritance of a country and
government for them to enjov.
But il the pecuniary expense incurred ia re-
imbursed to the State, and the general govern
ment seek an Offset in direct tax which is paid
the entire account will be closed up at once, ard
posterity will not even be compelled to balance
the ledger! This would be gross act Of ipjus-
tice to the present generation, and ought if pos
sible to be avoided.
An objection may be raised that the war loan
bonds will bring but ninety cents on the dollar
in market, and therefore the State would submit
to heavy loss by their sale. On the other hand
the deduction Of fifteen per cent. upon the as
sumption of the Direct Tax by the State would
compensate this loss and raise the bonds to a
premium Of FIVE per cent, while the Eve per
cent. saved from the collection Of the tax would
raise their value to the State to one hundred and
ten cents on the dollar!
We have thus set forth the reasons which in
cline US to favor the adoption of either the one
course or the other specified, instead Of raising
the Direct Tax in the manner contemplated by
the Government, should it perform that duty for
itself. We do not announce this a. policy to
be adopted by any one, but simply as a sugges.
t;ou for the consideration Of others.
THE EIGHTH REGrMENr.-The Grand Rapids
EJQIs, saws: 1--WE made short visit to Camp