The New York herald., 1862-01-07
Direct Taxation.

ever, very bad for Dixie. =
Direct Taxation.
For the first time in the history of this
country, it has become necessary for the
government to levy direct taxes, on a
scale of gigantic magnitude. Besides the reve-
nue. from taxes upon imports, the government
requires at least one hundred millions of dollars
year to be raised by direct taxation. To ena-
BILE the country to realize this vast amount,
everything taxable should be taxed. All pro-
LESSONS, all incomes all real estate, all personal
property, should be taxed within due limits,
but to an extent hitherto unprecedented on this
side the Atlantic. The government may not
find it necessary to levy such minute and exor-
bitant taxes as those of England, where ac-
cording to Sidney Smith, people have been
taxed upon every conceivable necessity, COM
fort convenience and luxury, from the cradle
to the grave; where the schoolboy whips
. taxed top; where the youth rides a
taxed horse over a taxed road where
the old man is medcined with taxed
drugs, makes his will upon taxed paper
dies on a taxed bed and is buried in q
taxed coffin; but still, as the remedy is neces-
sary and unavoidable, we hope that the govern
I ment will make it strong enough to be COM
pletely eficacious
Receipt stamps, window lights, gold watches,
books, newspapers and newspaper advertise
ments, horses and carriages dealers,
grogsheps, banks insurance companies, in
corporations, brokers' stalls-everything and
everybody taxable should be taxed. Those
who can afford to drive or ride fine horses
about the Central Park should be made to pay
one hundred and fifty dollars year for each
animal and the privilege Those who can afford
to keep cats and dogs should pay dollar per
head for the enjoyment Those who can afford
to carry watches and be independent of the
City Hall clock should pay for their conve-
niences. To say that the people will pay these
taxes is but saying that they will do what it
is impossible to avoid. To say that they will
pay these taxes cheerfully and willingly is but
to say that they love their country; that they
are grateful for past immunities, benefits and
blessings derived from their country and that
they desire to have their country preserved and
perpetuated. We should be grateful that the
government affords every man an opportunity
to do something for his country-tO
make sacrifces-to submit to deprivations for
his country's sake. The country has never
asked any such thing before. Direct taxation
now affords every stay ay-at-home patriot chance
to be q hero.
1t will do oil of US good to be obliged to pay
cash down for our privileges. 1t will teach us
to prize, to appreciate, to enjoy, to cherish
them more. We shall learn to guard them bet
ter from corrupt politicians and swindling lob
byists, who SOW the seeds of treason. Ballots
will seem more valuable after we have fairly
paid for the balls and bullets which careless,
wrong or neglected votes have rendered neces-
sary. The rebels are learning to appreciate the
preciousness of good and free government by
the sacrifices they have to endure in their
insane effort to destroy the Union. We will
learn precisely the same lesson by the sacrifices
we shall be obliged to endure to preserve the
Union. North and South we shall have better
patriots, better men, better Americans and
better country when the war is over and peace
again brings plenty.
THE Nsw York CLUB-On New Years eve
the New York Club thought it proper to give a
dinner. to.a man whom every American ought
to regard with utter contempt-a man who,
during the six months he has been in this coup
try, has done nothing but vilify it and retail
scandals against individuals. We are quito
within bounds when we say that Russell of the
London Times has done more to imperil our
peaceful relations with Great Britain, to embit-
ter British feeling against us, and to promote
the interests of the Southern confederacy
abroad, than all other agencies combined. He
has been, and still is, Systematically at work
misreprcsenting our institutions, condition and
prospects, and penning scurrilous personalities
which disgrace even penny-a-lner. Yet this
man, in the face Of his notorious hostility to the
Union and everything that we most value, has
been selected by the New York Club as wor-
thy recipient Of its hospitality, and he has ac-
cordingly been honored by that body as dis
tinguished stranger, just as Prince Napoleon
was at the Union Club
1t speaks very badly for the members of the
New York Club that they should have made a
public guest of one who is our public
enemy. It was equivalent to endorsing all the
libels and sncers he has uttered against us and
extending to him the right hand of friendship.
Such an act is regarded by every good citi-
zen not only as an indiscrction, but an outrage
upon the popular feeling. The New York Club,
we may infer, would have been proud of the
honor of entertaining Messrs. Mason and Slidell
in the same manner, and il it were possible for
JEFF Davis to travel with safety under flag of
truce he would doubtless be especially well
come in the house where the scurrilous scribbler
was so lately guest. We are left to form q
very poor opinion of those who compose the
''fast" club of New York. They are commonly
supposed to be young men who ape the fash
ions and devote more attention to their whis-