Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-01-16

III PROVISIONS snalI ne IOun1 IN tHcn, Inser'
ted from motives Of expeliency, 10 meet the
views Of those who would have inserted
other provisions in the Constitution, or who
would have omitted some provisions there
| inserted, such provisions should be rigidly
excluded. The Constitution excludes all
! idea OF favor TO any portion Of the property
or business Of the State, and equally excludes
all idea Of disfayor Every Kind of lawful
business. and every kind oflawful property,
stands on a basis Of absolute equality. II eI
impossible tor language more positively and
comprehen-iyely to exclude all discrimina-
tons. The few items and kinds Of property
I which may. at legislative discretion, be
exempted from taxes, are clearly Defined
| Beyond and outside Of these no discretion
is allowed. Every other kind of property
is required to bear equal.burthcns, sameuess
Of tax, and to be taxed by a uniform rule
Has this standard of taxation been reached
by ou present law, or does involve within
its numerous and complicated provisions
some Of the results. on one side and the
other, OF past contreversiss2
Iti argued by some that successful ef-
fort is yet 10 be made IN adapt our tax laws
to the Coastitution that by tho present law
different kinds Of property are not treated
by uniform rule, but are valued by different
I
obvious meaning Of words in the Constitution
has been perverted By legislative definitions
contrary to their true meaning, by reason of
which some classes Of property are twice
taxed, and other classes not taxed at all
that the exemptions provided for in the
Constitution have been overstepped that
no man is now taxed either according to the
value of what he owns or what he is worth.
! The numerous demands npon nv time
nave been too exacting and imperative TO
admit OF such reflections as would justify
matured opinion but some OF these argu-
ments have been urged with 80 much force
OF reasoning, that L have not been able to
rid myself Of an impression that may be de-
serving of your attention. 1t is not to be
denied, however, that great approximations
have been made to justice and equality:
and no higher practical encomium need be
paid our past legislation than the acknowledg..
ment generally made, that close analysis and
somewhat rigorous logic arc necessary to
show Its injustice 1t Is obvious, all other
things being equal, the larger the grand list,
the smaller may be the rate OF assessment,
and the smaller the list the larger must be
the rate OF assessment. The object to be
gained by an increase OF the grand list
through more accurate and impartial vaiua-
tlons, is not an increase OF burdens, but
more Just distribution OF them. 1t IS
source OF satisfaction to Know that, IN any
contingency, the ability OF the State com
4 pared with her burdens is now far greater
! than In several OF her past trials, when she
met with courage and sustained with honor.
:
THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE SLAVERY oUIs-
TON.
nP Al ~l~~l~ "a
, the men and means employed by them &c
destroy the Government, and the necessity
OF recognizing the night which loyal slave
holders have, under the Constitution, IN
their peculiar institution, will produce
dlfflcult dilemma on the restoration OF the
. Union 1t Will. IN such event, doubtless
become matter OF negotiation between the
Federal and state Governments, and there
can be little doubt that the process OF ilbsr'
alton and colonization, which must be car
ried into effect In regard to the slaves oi
rebels, will be gradually applied by the Leg
islatures OF the restored rebel States to al
9 the rest; the Government OF tho United
States making ample indemnity TO the ow
ners for, the sacrifice. 1t may take many
6 years to accomplish this deliverance, but
= when accomplished, every uon-slaveholdel
i in the South will feel that It restores HIN
a 10 an equailty with those OF MS own Iacs
j asserting superiority, never known to hin
r before; and the shareholders will obtain II
o o the influx OF a free and industrious white
: population, and the growth OF arts and man
;, ufactures, an increase IN the value OF thei
: : land far exceeding the value OF the lntarss
. !. they held in their slaves
! The national grandeur that may be achiev
g ed by removing the cloud now obscuring the
= prospects of the great Republic, and giving
. birth to new one, in our American inter
i tropical regions, springing from a race O
:. |. frsemen, born among us, imbued with ideas
: and skillful industry derived from us, ASST.
= ted, directed and protected in founding
!, government for themselves-in a country
provided for them BY us--is a considera
a ton which cannot fail to commend tn,
. President = scheme of colonization to ever,
i man who would exait the glory of the ma
n ton. The colonies of Greece and Rome re
: The splendor and power OF Great Britain ar
it derived from lhe pe1ple sns mas pian.eu
st the ireeoom aug cniI,Ea'iUn mE SUI nas sprea
le around ths glope' Inc Oanauas are ~ Mor'
IS more 70 her thah 'he conques. OF inaa; .
)t Inc triuihpns sue mas won ior ci'ih1atio