The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-09-22
Judge Law and Taxation.

For some time the friends of Judge
Law contented themselves with the asser-
ton that he was in favor of taxation, but
opposed to the present tax law. They
relied upon the Judges well-known IA
cility for shedding crocodile tears over
the woes of a country he is doing his +
best to ruin, and his protestations of In
jured innocence, to carry him safely
through. Our seathing exposure of the
Honorable gentleman's hypocrisy, how
ever, and its effect among the honest
voters of the District, has convinced some
of the more knowing ones that the
Judges record needs explaining and
o bolstering up. The people, with strange
perverseness, regard the facts as more
worthy of belief than either the Judges
word or tears. Hence, the Yincennes
Sun comes to the rescue and copies
large portion of the Judges speech on
this point as editorial
1t reiterates the .falsehoOd that Judge
Law has always been in favor of levying
taxes in face of the fact that he refused
ed upon to carry on the war What
kind of a Representative is that, who is
always willing to vote money ont of the
Treasury and never willing to vote any
iA' What is the only fair construction
to be put on such conduct?
But says the Judge, editorially, in the
SWn-the salaries paid under the tax
Law are UNANIMOUSLY large. What is the
truth in regard to this matter?
Judge Pitcher was rendered the position
of Assessor foIthe First Congressional
District. He examined the law careful
ly, became convinced that the Office
1cOuldn' tpay, and accordingly refused to
accept the place. He preferred the Office
ofCommon Pleas Judge to being assess
or for this District-one of the best in
the State On this point we also find
the following in a Washington letter:
Nominally the Tax Law is already in
force. Practically 1 suspect very little
has yet been done beyond getting the de-
puties appointed in the several districts,
and getting the forms and instructions
into their hands,
The great practical difficulty in the
way is that the officers under the law are
not paid enough to warrant any one in
giving his time to it.
Gov. Boutwell,, Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue) says either Congress
must make provisions at once for in-
creasing the salaries ofhis officers, or he
will be compelled to abandon the idea of
putting the Tax Law in force. That is
the distinct alternative But one other
resort is left-that would be to appoint
officers whose consciences would not be
s..ehaseIse sriIssruera fneg aFere 90.
ing 1t legally or not, and for that Gov. B.
tartly suggests that he supposes neither
Congress nor the people are quite pre-
pared
The gentlemen who-were on here re-
Gently to give up their commissions. I'M
less they could receive assurances of a
living salary, were induced by the Com
missioner to retain their positions, and
get the law to working. If Congfess, at
Its next session, should not promptly
remedy the trouble, it is then understood
that they will at once resign In most
of the large cities the offices win be quite
lucrative enough, but in many of the
country districts collectors and assessors
will hardly be able to save as much as
day laborers at present rates.
The Vincennes Sun and Judge Law
will be very careful not to place this act
before the people, & eZW
But the Judge is in favor Of the States
collecting the revenue and paying it over
to the General Government. Artful and
far seeing Judge! How careful of the
interests Of his rebel friendsl Under
such a law, no taxes could be collected
in any but the loyal States, and wen did
the Judge know it; that, however, Is lust
what be was after. He don't want the
rebels hurt; he don'tdesire the .disloyal
to be compelled to bear their share of the
public burdens. He wants the loyal to
carry the whole load But is that what