Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-06-20

The New York World sums up two of
the more important items of business that
must receive attention at the extra session
of the new Congress, which commences on
the 18th of July two weeks from next
Thursday. The great end to be kept in
view by the representatives of the States
and of the people, is to provide efficient
means for crushing out the rebellion.
The World makes it the first business
0! Congress to provide the requisite militia
ry force, as is made by the Constitution
the exclusive province Of that body "to
raise and support armies" and "also to
provide for organizing, arn1ing and disci-
plining the militia, and for governing such
part of them as may be employed in the
seavice of the United States.,' Military
levies, it is urged, must be authorized far
beyond any requisition that has yet been
made and the President clothed with pow
er to summon to the field half million OF
men, # necessary. The navy, too, it is
insisted, must be largely increased for the
eilectual blockading of the rebel coasts
and the protection of our commerce from
privateers.
The World is doubtless right in think
ing that the most difficult matter of the
secession will be to settle the mode of rails
ing the vast sums necessary for the com
plete overthrow Of the rebellion. II
states that at the time of the first call fo.
troops, the Government owed about one
hundred millions. 1t allows two hun
dred millionsfo putting down the robel-
lion, and fifty millions to cover all peaceful
defcits-making gross sum of three hun
! dred and fifty millions to be provided for.
How is all this nancy to be had? The
present tariff, the World says, will not
yield over thirty-ive millions, and no tar
If that can be devised on strict rev.
enue principles, even with the heay-
lest duties that can be laid on tea,
coffee and other articles now on the free
list, will yield more than fifty millions
not enough to meet the ordinary expenses
of the Government. Direct taxation for
federal purposes, it is said, would be a
new thing to our people. 1t would be
new only In the sense that it has not been
rcsorted to recently. Twice only has the
Federal Government laid a direct tax
once to hell pay off the debt incurred in
the Revolutionary way, and again aid in
defraying the expenses fthe war Of 1912.
Whatever objections there may be to di-
rect taxation, 1t seems proper that the ex-
penses Of this war should be met by an as
sessment upon property in some shape,
and not by heavy duties upon the neces-
saries of life, which are used by rich and
poor alike. Such duties and taxes fall
oppressively and uniustly upon the fam
lilies of those who have gone into the field
to fight the battles of their country, and
who, for the most pant have either little or
no property.
The World favors the creation by loans
of a funded debt of three hund el and fi-
ty millions. The largest national debt
we have yet had was in 1916, when it
reached one hundrrd and twenty millions.
But the World thinks that our available
resources are ten times greater now, than
they were then. Now, let those resources
be looked to, and let the means used for
meeting the expenses of the war bear as
! lightly as possible upon the laboripg mass
and especially lyupon those who have or
may risk their Lives in the army or navy.
AS the people have nobly responded to
the call Of the country for men, so they
will cheerfully respond to the call for mo-
ney, for the purpose Of crushing out rebel
lion and saving the Unicn.-StateSman.