The New York herald., 1862-02-11


intensely warm in summer and intensely cold
In winter. They have a show window look
decidedly inappropriate in private dwelling.
and should be consistently left to the tender
mercies Of those storekeepers who exhibit
patent rocking horses or fancy collins
Necessity OF Immediate Taxation.
Now that the Treasury Note bill has passed
the House of Representatives, the Tax bill ID
next in order, and ought to be reported imme-
diately by the Committed Of Ways and Means
1t is the only solid foundation on which to rest
the Treasury Note bill and the other bills which
constitute the series of financial measures essen
tial to the existence Of the government II h
only from the proceeds Of the Tax bill that the
interest on the bonds which are to be the basis
of the Treasury Note bill can be paid; and Il
provision be not made for the payment of the
interest the bonds will soon become Of doubtful
value, and the Treasury notes will be ruinously
deprecated. The sooner the Tax bill, there
fore is brought forward the better, for 1t is this
alone that will create confidence in the securi
ties of the government. Why should the com.
mittee hesitate to produce the bill! II is ono
tainment of the credit and good faith of the na-
ton. Upon it, moreover, depends the success
of the war. Our naval and military operations
are of highly encouraging nature, and every
omen indicates triumphant issue to the pro
gress of our arms. But money in abundance 10
needed at every step; without it nothing can be
done; both army and navy will be paralyzed;
all the ground that has been gained will have
to be abandoned, and all the blood and
treasure expended will be in vain.
Now, money without taxes is impossible, and
not moment therefore, ought to be lost in per
fecting the necessary measure for organizing
comprehensive system of taxation II is true
that the imposition of direct taxes by the federal
government is a new thing in this country, and
many members of Congress will probably deem
it unpopular. In this they are mistaken But
if il were true, there is something more unpopu
lar still, and that is the surrender of the Union
cemented by the blood of our ancestors With
out sufficient taxation the surrender must
be made, and then wo TO those whose duty il
was to have supplied the means Of carrying on
the war, but failed in the hour Of need
The bill ought to be so framed that its opera
ton will reach all kinds Of property and income,
and thus the burden, being equtably distributed
over all, will be scarcely felt by any particular
class A tax Of two hundred millions would be
only about two cents every day for each indi-
yidual; and far more than that amount is abso
lutely wasted in every domestic circle For the
last thirty years we have squandered in super.
| fuous dress alone more than two hundred mil
lions per annunl, and during that period ths
same amount has been lost by waste Of food
and injurious indulgence in drinks We
| are the most extravagant nation ON
earth. No person who has not travelled
in Europe can have any conception OF
the difference in economy between us and
Europeans By the incest calculation they re
| gulate their expenditure according to their
income, and if the income is large still there 10
economy, and wealth is accumulated instead Of
being dissipated in folly. We, on the contrary,
never make any such calculation, and scarcely
ever think Of the morrow. The chief reason Of
this difference is that in Europe it is hard 70
make money. In this country, on the contrary,
it is extremely easy. What is easily got is essi-
| ly gone. We have fruitful soil, of illimitabls
extent, and good climate; our agricultural
productions are Of great value, and our trade
and commerce are widely extended. Hitherto
we have been free from taxation, and we scarce
| ly knew what to do with our money. Now We
have something to do with all that is redundant.
| Our national existence is at stake, and it will
require but a small exercise of economy 10
effect such saving in our personal expenses
as will be ample to preserve and defend It,
The facility Of obtaining money in this coun-
| try has not been favorable to the growth Of
either public or private virtue. Il is one cause
Of the profigacy and corruption Of our politi-
clans in large cities. Profusion is the order Of
the day, and to keep pace with the times they
plunder the people in order to keep fast horses
! and fast women. We shall now be compelled To
adopt style of living more like Europeans,
and the morals of the community and our ma
! tional affairs will be in more healthy condi-
ton. Thus adversity will not be without Its
salutary nses.
| Another good result from vigorous taxation
will be that the people will henceforth take
greater interest than they have done 10 public
affairs Eager in the pursuit Of money, they
have too long neglected their duties to the
republic to which they owe their freedom and
protection. Now that they must put their
hand. into their pockets to pay the tax gatherer
they will he more likely 20 lock sharply after
the expenditure OF the public money. They
! will watch and visit with their indignation sii
wasls and corruption, and will not stand such
enormous plunder a. has taken place since the
\ - ~ Had
been laid on in the beginning. the shoddy specu-
| Jators in New York, and the peculators in Mis-
souri, and elsewhere. would mol have dared to
perpehate such deeds in the face OF
| the people. IL would then have been