Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-20
The War Tax.


slowIy, As all measures of such mag
uitude must. The question is no lon
ger, Shall we tax ? but, Ho,r shall we tax !:
What articles win yield the greatest reve-
nue. with the least pressure on the interests
Of the eOuntry7 Almost every interest
proposed to be taxed is said to be repre-.
sentsd at Washington besiegiug the Com
mittee of Ways and Means for as great i'm
munity as possible for its own particular
benefit. Probably this lobbying will do
more good than harm, for whea the pres
SURE comes from so many directions the
weight will be likely to settle dOwu about
the right place 10 the end. II is extremely
difficult to regulate tariff on all classes
aud interests 50 as to tax every one Impair
TALLY aud in the first experiment of tue
kind ever tried IN this country, it is hardly
TO be expected that this can be attained alb
sOlutely. OF course the great bulk of the
tax viii have to be paid by those who have
wealth and resources, but every thing aud
every body will have TO contribute some
thing. 1t is the first time iu the life OF
this nation that the hand of gOvernmen,
has been laid directly upon us. We have
enjoyed its protection all our lives, aud II
would be the yeriest ingratitude to be.
Erudge it pittance to defend itself now,
even If we did not consider that We want
that beni6eent protection continued as We
hope to have it continue, forever.
The tax must be heavy, that much We
know. 1t would be ouerOus even if tn,
War were to stop Io-morrOW; and If i,
goes on another year it will be doubled
1t is costing enormously, and the prie,
must be paid. Bot for all that, it will mol
cost Oue-huudredth part as much, even i
iIlast Eve years, as a disruption of the
Government would cost. Besides We mus
remember that the resources Of this eoau-
Try are eosrespOndingIy enormous. Only
restore the authority OF the Federal Uuiou
on = drm and consistent basis, and war
debt often years would be nothing. but =
spur to the renewed energy and prosperity
of the country. II it pledges all the re-
sources of the whole people 10 su6due this
great iasarreeIiOa, aud We ret sub,iae it.
the eOuutry aud the world Woald be great.
ly the gamer over Eaat IL would be If per.
Inaleas peace on this eoa,ineu, Uess to be
destroyed as it would be by the success.
of this REBELLION Congress may be As.
sured that the country Is willing TO b,
taxed all that may be necessary. AN they
want is that the money shall be veil aPpIi
ed. There is as much patriotism il pay.
ing this war tax as there IS in shouIdsrial
amuskes, though not quite As mach per
soual danger.
Tue ends of justice would be attained
if the eOaspiraiOrs Who brOugh. this VA
upon US, could be made 10 pay its costs
But that cannot be, for most OF the hea,
devils have nothing that can be reache,
but their neeks.
Ills bat the same old experience repeat
ed. The wicked eOuspire aud the inuOcen
suffer. Tse rebel chiefs could iuausurat
fearful destruction, bat they are power
less TO make restoration. The price of hi
war has to be Pahd by the guilIless and un
offending, just as the cost Of every Othe
war has been before. Many have pai,
their portion already with their blood
many Others will yet cancel theirs with tht
same. Let Us Who are asked saIy for sub
stance, give it freely. aud thank God ",
have Tito giVe.