Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-01-16
DIRECT TAXATION.

For the first time in the history of this coun-
try it has become necessary for the government
to levy direct taxes on scales of gigantic magni-
tude. Besides the revenue from taxes upon
imports, the government requires at least $780,
100000 year to be raised by direct taxation.
To enable the country to realize this vast
amount, everything taxable should be taxed.
All professions 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 eXhCrbitant taxes as those of England,
where according to Sidney Smith, people have
been taxed upon every conceivable necessity,
comfort, convenience and luxury, from the era
die to the grave where the schoolboy whips
taxed top; where the youth rides taxed horse
over taxed road where the old man is med
icined with taxed drugs, makes his will upon
taxed paper dies on a taxed bed, and is buried
in taxed coffin; but still, as the remedy is
necessary and unavoidable we hope that the
government will make it strong enough to be
completely eiIicacious.
Receipt stamps, window lights, gold watches
books, newspapers and newspaper advertise
ments, horses and carriages--lottery dealers,
grogshops, banks, insurance companies, incor-
porations, brokers stalls-everyth thing and every
body taxable should be taxed. Those who can
afford to keep cats and dogs should pay one
dollar per head for the enjoyment. Those who
can afford to drive or ride fine horses about the
Central Park should be made to pay one hun
dred and fifty dollars year for each animal
and the privilege. Those who can afford to
carry watches and be independent Of the City
Hall clock should pay for their convcniences
70 say that the people will pay these taxes is
saying that they will do what it is impossible to
avoid. To say that they will pay these taxes
cheeriully and willingly, is but to say that they
love their country; that they are grateful for
past immunities, benefits and blessings derived
fnom 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 coun-
try has never asked any such thing before
Direct taxation now affords every stay home
patriot chance to he a hero.
1t will do all 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 better
from corrupt politicians and swindling lobbyists
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 necessary
The rebels are learning to appreciate the pre-
ciousness of a good and free government by
the sacrifices they have to endure in their in
sane effort to destroy the Union. We will
learn precisely the same lesson by the sacrifices
we shall he obliged to endure to preserve the
Union. North and South we shall have better
patriots, better men, better Americans and a
better country, when the war it over and peace
again brings plenty.-Nc,o York Heraid.