The New York herald., 1862-01-20
Taxation for the Union.


three of the greatest military Powers of
Europe-England, France and Prussia-toge-
ther with a plan for raising by taxation
$273,000, 900 per annum in the United States,
without the pressure being seriously felt by the
people. The facts, precedents and suggestions
thus exhibited in one view cannot fail to be
valuable to members of Congress at time
when they are called upon to impose such
taxes upon the whole people as will bring the
nation triumphantly out of the war. Such tax
alton is new thing in the republic, and it re-
quires no ordinary amount of skill and
courage to devise and carry out such
comprehensive system as will be ade-
quate to the grand object in view. There is
no other nation in the world 30 able to bear
taxation as the United States. 1t is only needed
that the taxes be imposed in an equitable and
judicious manner, and that the purpose for
which they are levied be for the common safety
and common interests. Are we not able to
stand heavier tax than Great Britain, with her
impoverished population? Yet in the begin
100000, pledged to the payment of loans for the
war, was levied by the British Parliament, and
that was distinct from the other taxes. The
whole taxation for the support of the govern
ment has been in recent years from $3.50, ,000,0 900
to s37O, 100000 per annum, or about million
per day In 1915 Great Britain foated an
unfunded debt of 1856, 900 900, and paid $780,
100000 in taxes when her population was only
half as large as ours is now. Will it be said
that twenty-four millions Of American freemen
have not the public virtue and the patri-
otism, or that they have not the ability,
to bear as much taxation as twelve
millions of Englishmen, particularly when
the object to be attained is infinitely
more precious than that for which England con-
tended? She struggled for maritime and
commercial supremacy, and to turn the balance
of power in Europe against her rival, France;
but we are fighting for our national existence,
and against the dismemberment of the country
by an organized rebellion.
There is one item in our tabular statement
which ought to be made to yield even more
than is set down to it, and that is the tax on
aliens. Foreign residents, enjoying all the privi-
leges of citizenship without sharing any of its
burthens, return to their native countries after
making fortunes, and carry with them the wealth
they realized.
The table which we present may, in some ar
ticles, overestimate the amount which can be
raised but it will be found that others under
estimate the amount, and the total of S273, ,000,-
900 will be found not above the mark.
How easy, then, will it be for Congress to levy
5000, 200, 900 in order to establish sinking fund
for the payment Of the principal of the loans,
and also the means of paying the semi-annual
interest 1t is not constitutional, nor is it just
that we should saddle posterity with
the payment of loans contracted by
us, unless we tax ourselves for q full
share Of the burthen; and If we did not
do this posterity would be justified in repudi-
ating the debt Let us then put our own shcd-
ders to the wheel, instead of looking to foreign
aid or posterity to assist us. Heaven helps
those who help themselves.
WISE AND FLoYD.-In the last summer cam
paign of the rebels in Western Virginia General
Wise, their great political prestidigitateur, and
General Floyd, their great thief, each COM
manded brigade, and were charged to co.
operate with each other in clearing the
yankees" out of the mountains. But General
Wise, on the approach of the yankees" up the
Kanawha, took to his heels, and, after hot
chase Of hundred and fifty miles, they had to
give him up, for they lost his trail, although, in
the course of the hunt they picked up nearly
all his wagons, provisions, munitions, &c.
General Floyd Jared no better. Overhauled
by our General Rosecrsns on the right, left and
rear, Floyd slipped off, under cover Of dark
ness, across the Gauley, and cut off immediate
pursuit by destroying the bridges and boats
behind him, after having abandoned his tents,
wagons, provisions and baggage en- masse. And
yet again he was overtaken by our troops. and
only escaped by dropping his wagons and bag.
gage as before, and by running through rain
and mud, and over rocks and ravines, night and
day, for two days, without stopping. From
these achievements Wise and Floyd reported
progress at Richmond, Wise accusing Floyd
of cowardice and treachery, and Floyd
denouncing Wise as a poltroon and mill
tary charfatan-and they were both right.
jeff Davis would doubtless have turned
them both adrift but for their great claims as
among the head Virginia conspirators in the
work of dragging that State into the dismal
swamp Of secession. Neither Wise nor Floyd,
therefore, could be kicked out with impunity;
but to prevent them from quarrelling hereafter,
Davis has judiciously placed them nearly
thousand miles apart, Wise being detailed to
the coast of North Carolina, and Floyd to the
western corner Of Kentucky. Moral: If two
cowardly generals, detailed to assist each other,
run away at the approach of the enemy, let
them be separated, so that each will be COM
PEELED to shift for himself.
TAX on NEwspAPERs.-We approve Of Mr..
Colfax's proposition to tax newspapers. There
is no reason why that species of property should
not be taxed Three millions of dollars could