The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-09-06
The Negro Tax.

UeuOcrut, in command Of regiment in
McClcilan'S army, writes hume to his pa
per as follows:
I'VE have never dared to hope that the
interests of the country could nc benefit
ted by the Republic an party, or that any
wise or beneficial policy could he either
conceived or executed by the diScordant,
fanatical and heterogeneous elements
which compose that party. But we had
hoped that, while nothing could be ex-
pectrd from their wisdom, or patriotism,
the desire Of place and power would re
strain the leaders from devi>ing schemes
which, while runouS to the country,
would be fatal to themselves. This cX
pectaton has, however, been utterly dis
appointed, for scheme, monStrouS in its
object, terrible in its consequences, odiouS
in every feature, has been the fit product
If party whose principles and leaders
have done 50 mach to ruin the Republic.
Negro tInan liatipn. a. it Is called, is this
prcciouS fruit Of Republican power
This is neither more nor less than an
agreement on the part of the Government
pt the United States to purchase the ne.
groc> al any slave State that is willing to
ematripate It's slaves. In other words, it
has been resolved by Congress that the
Government shall he converted into a
slave agency to purchase negroes at the
market price, and that plicc is to tie
winn. by taxation from the pockets Of
the aX.layerS Of the North who emanci-
Patel their negroes without dcmaujing
;,,iD Il ,1t.r e al from
the United States Government The
lnith Of the Government has been solemn
~ pledged to make this purchase of ne
.rorS, bv "A resolution which the Houses
of Congress have adopted at the SuggeS-
ton of President Lincoln; and adopted
in opposition to the votes and opinions OF
the few Democratic members who have
seats in either House. The whole scheme
is the peculiar property of the Republic
cans, who have the sole honor Of origina-
ting and adopting it. and who are thus
redceining their promise of 1.-TWO dollars
day and roast beef Ii is u scheme wor-
thy Of the party from whence it came
AS if the taxes to sustain the war, which
every patriotic citizen will chcerlully pay.
were not sufficiently burdrnsome, as II
ruined trade, depressed Industry, stagnant
commerce were burdens too little, the
people are to be taxed still further, to
buy worthless negroes in order to crafty
few fanatical AbolitionistS, whom it is
the interest Of the Republican Admins
tration to conciliate. The faith Of the
country, and the money of the taxpayer,
are thus rccklesSly pledged by Republi-
can President and Congress to this stu
pendous outrage, and the Republican
presses are loud in their approval of the
measure.
"But the wrong does not end here
What is behind is worse. For the expense
OF buying the negroes, large as it will be,
is only an item in the bill which the bur-
dencd taxpayers will have to foot in con-
sequence OF the purchase. The negroes
thus bought by the Government-Old and
young. intirm and able-will spread over
all the North. They will compete with
the white laborrF--they will lower the
price of wages both for men and women,
and even Tor mechanics. They will enter
our public schuols--they will be impris-
oned in our jaus-they will swarm our
aims houses--&ad We will be taxed TO
educate and nurture their yONlrs, Ss well
as provide for and bury their old. The
consequences are inevitable-fOr every
emanc pated negro will rush TO the North
as the Israelitcs Of old went to Canaan,
expecting to find land flowing with milk
and honey. When once here, they will
be too poor to go back, and we will have
to provide for them. The white citizen
WILL and mast be taxed to support the
emancipated negroes whom he fought and
paid for, and when groaning under the
burden let him remember that Rrpubli-
can President originated, a Republican
Congress adopted. Republican press APP
plauded this inonstrous scheme Of ROBBIE
nv. We have no fear that it will be for
gotten. 1t viii be remembered when the
time of our criminal courts is consumed
in trying negro crjminals-and our coun-
try expenses are increased BY the cost of
maintaining these prisoners in Jail and
penitentiary. IL will be recOllected when
the expenses of our almS-houses are dou-
bled by the negro inmates, who will flock
to them. 1t will be thought Of when new
school houses are to be- built, in order to
accommodate lfegro Children who under
our school lays, are entitled to the bene-
Cts Of our school system; and when the
children Of our white citizens are reciting
in the same classes and setting on the
Same benches with the children of the re-
leased slaves. 1t will not be forgotten
when the white laborer's wages are d.
unfinished one third by the competition Of