Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-04-02
PuhTn Tazatian-Yo!untarg Taxation Debts.

day. Shades and clouds play ofer the
minds Of all classes in view Of increased
taxation. Property taxation must reduce
the wages Of the poor laborer; the forth
coming rate of taxation must reduce the
profits of capital, however invested. Men
talk as chidren-in seeking some manner
Of investing capital which taxation may
not reach. There IS no way to eyade, for
taxes levied upon personalities with reason
able order must effect labor and profits;
when these are effected tie whole domest
ic, industrial, commercial and civil parts
are affected. The design of Congress is to
levy lightly upon lands. This is right, yet
the result of any tax must be to reduce the
profits Of labor. The only good we can
see ia throwing the Ourthens Of taxation
upon personal property Will be to drive
capitalists to land holding. Many capital
lists in every community will exchange their
personalities or moneys and mortgages for
farm property in order to escape heavy
taxation, insurance, perishableness, &C.
A few will embark their capital in the
manufacture Of tax exempted articles; some
will resort to government bonds drawing
7 $40 per cent and tax free; some will
count on this means, some on that, for
evading iaxation, even to the extent of
perjury as heretofore. But evasions must
fail, as the great public necessity will pro-
duce a demand for uniformity that shall
bring all to level.
The country has been caught mapping,
up to the very day of calamities; like
Gods judgments which always come upon
men in their sIumbers while riches and
pleasures dance about them; even so these
tax loyies for the support Of slavery be-
gotten war. True, men had time and
again been reminded hat the expressions
Of Gods poor must accumulate as debts
drawing compound interest upon the
shoulders Of the innocent as well as the
guilty. AS in the days Of Moses and the
Prophets, so ia ours; men did not heark
en- then; they Knocked, even at the build
ing Of the ark. In this our day Of light
men will doubt Christ's second appearing,
doubt the judgment, disbelieye at the last
sound Of Gabnefs trumpet. Is it then
strange that SO many have disregarded
universal law that where humanity is OPP
pressed, enslayed, crushed, there must fol-
low a day Of retriEution, IN which the m
nocent must share in pocket, in tears, in
blood But men have not set ther houses
in order whether from disbelief in the fu-
ture or from lack Of wisdom IS not for US
to Judge. 1t is sufficient that events are
upon US and must be met.
While events dawned, men persisted to
the very day # retribution in voluntarily
taxing themselves for credit bought prop
erty, burthened with interest and State
tlxation The prospective is heavy for
such, and considering that they are among
the best men Of our country, given to In
d 81 y, to perseverance, and hopeful Of
fortune, they ought to be saved from pow
erty's discouragements. To this end we
call the public attention.
Say fourth Of the laboring, tax pay
inc, energetic masses arc dangerously III
debt for lands purchased years ago; also
that such debts were contracted in part Or
whole for more lands than they can cult
vato properly. Such persons must pay
taxes for these surplus, useless lands, must
pay interest upon money due for such sur
plus lands-all this without any hopeful
prospect Of speedy rise ii the price Of
land property. These facts furnish the
grounds Of argument for selling such sur
Plus lands, or surrendering them if posi-
ble to creditors at some price, even at
half Of original cost. Creditors viii find
i. to their interest to ta'e the lands 50
held on mortgage, take them on agree
ment, without foreclosure charges, and up
on terms not oppressive. Such must Be
the result better 50 at once; better, we say,
as this will unshaekle debtors, enable them
p begin again and soon become forehand-
Cd and able.o re-purchase tic same prop
erty. We urge this practice as adapted
fer the day. adapted for creditors As wen as
debtors and good for the country. DELAYS
must heap expenses upon all parties and
none g benefited. Interest paying must
cease among farmers, BY failures if mol ~
foreclosures Or amicable means.
These voluntary taxations for lands an9
borrowed money are seyerer troplLs
than war taxes. Voluntary taxations are
supporting a host Of idle men operating
a. money lenders and land iobbsfs. Eve
~ town contains five or six on more men
Il IL