New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-31
THE PRESS AND TAXATION.

We have been favored with q autographed
circular soliciting our cooperation in an effort
to induce Congress to refrain from imposing
the "Taxcs on knowledge especially on
Newspapers-reported by the House Committee
of Ways snd Means. We must decline the In
yitation. We. certainly, have no especial love
for paying taxes, and think the Government
might better impose ten cents per gallon extra
on Rum than three per cent. on Newspapers;
but these are times which call on oil patriots
to bear cheerfuly their share Of the heavy
burdens imposed on the Nation by the Slave
holders Rebellion, and we are willing to pay
up to tho full measure Of our ability. II there
are high public reasons for leaving Newspapers
unta1ed, o. for taxing them but lightly, they
will naturally suggest themselves to the minds
of legislators; at all events, re shall not sug-
gest them. We have only to say on this head
that whoever supposes that we shall be bene-
flied by the imposition of taxes on Newspapers
regard. the subject in a light very different
from ours. We will cbeeriuly make over to
any one who takes the opposite view all the
incidental advantages we may derive from such
taxes if be will bind himself 10 pay hay our
proportion Of the taxes.
The Herald persists i'll urging Congress to
tax Newspapers-to tax them heavily-with
what purpose, We do not clearly make out.
Il pretends to argue that cheap newspapers
are necessarily controlled by agitators and
" low demsgogues"-t they ioment riots and
rcyolutions-that, owing TO the removal OF the
newspaper stamp, England is "rapidly going
4" down hill, and will BIO at the bottom, "
&c. 1t proceeds:
Now the true remedy which Espoleou ought to have sp
piled was that hlch long adopted in England bat Ia
now unfortunately sbandonedsIsiion. And that Is the
remedy for the cenoun,o tho press the United States
IA ought 20 be taxed Ike whitY any other luxury The
prose Il great luxury. high tar whisky will have the
eject Of diminhuy dunkenGs" rs s tendency will be to
u. Of the article to educated aud intelligent NOR
Who are not hkey .huse It, Again, whisky will be Of
batter qusy and will no, do much injury 81 IL does now
l, III. pres. In the way .Ied and such price put
on rew,pspes v them % 10 read oh'fy BY nirI
I,esusl The reso will be that batter article must be
produced; else 1t will not sell and consequently the de-
oraiur poisonous sheet will be driven ont OF tho marke,
Prop-,os Of public ouu. too would be men OF capital
who would have something lose By civil con'u'on or
public whose interest, thefsf)rr
with their duty In adv coating the right and denounc
Ing the wrous The cheap and nasty demaxoc papers which
nov done much to bring he country into its
en-. deploabs condition. The true remedy for tho evil the
true censorship hh fos public onynai' nothing viii
20 tend to the publication OF public morals Rspuslcs
ssys Monies 1uieu founded virtue Let that be
.pp-J by pseiou. priced newspspers and democ se
institution, perish sod give place to despom On the
other hand journals Of price and character conducted
well informed Intellectual cabcr and hose cir
ancss pse them above the reach Of corruption and lie
issusnce OF the oana well cacuea to preserve pub
lie virtue and republic rom this; dseneraey Of morals
which !. the sure precursor OF It, fall"
We Judge this Ia meant for badlnage, or
rather, that its object is to render the Tax
bill odious generally. Every one must see thai
when newspapers are "read chiefly by intel
L" leotual men," the poor will not be qualified
to vote, and will soon be deprived Of the elect
i've franchise. II the above is serious, We can
only explain il by supposing the writer to be
lnboring under the balucination that Pro-
Slavery Compromise had been effected, under
which jeff Davis and his crew were in full
possession Of the Government, aud were pro-
ceeding 10 mold il TO their own views. III So,
he will find himself good way ahead Of bis
reckoning.