, 1862-03-07
THE TAX EATHERE3f.

Elsewhere Ii this paper we print brief
abstract Of the Tax Bill reported to the
House Of Representatives by the Conlmit-
~ Of Ways s,ld Means Il il, We pre-
zumc, substantially the bill that will be en-
acted Minor amendments may be made,
r:1tes may be altered, taxable articles may
i'c added 10, and others withdrawn from,
:hc list; but as whole the draft Of the
.n~ will probably remain unchanged
as The bill seems to read, and with. the
present business OF the TRIBUNE Office, we
sl'all he called upon to pay to the Govern
1nent, aside from al State, county, town
and city taxes, full Ten THOUSAND Do1~
LARS pr dnnEna, as our contribution for
the maintenance of the Union. We have
hecn, and SILL are, in favor of taxation;
and. though the burdens fall upon
newspapers with peculiar force,
owing to tho fact that they are published
at prices which are not easily increased,
like the price Of pound Of leather or
nusl,cl Of salt, We shall not shrink from IN
attempt 10 shoulder our just share Of the
burden that may be imposed upon the
country. The Union is worth more to US
aid to our children. than all the profits Of
ii the printing and publishing ever done
II Chicago. We can forcgo the hope Of
gain while the war lasts, accounting our
selves rich at the end, if the Union is saved,
-hough VIC lose all We have In this spirit
We trust The tax gatherer will be received
~ every loyal man
While We submit without repining to
what is equivalent to the imposition Of
zen PER cent mortgage Of onehundred thou-
sand dollars upon QUE property, we feel
that we now have q new and, If possible,
more perfect right to insist with increased
'e!iemencc upon tic passage of a Confsca-
ion Act. Of such comprehensiyeness and
Ningcne!y that no man Of property, in re-
,ellion against the Government, can,
wherever Fcacral conquest goes, escape its
application 10 his possessions This act, the
,cople Of the West will demand and they
E1 moi be lenient to the faifhless public
eryant Of any party, who, by word or
,c:c, denies them. The men Of the North
1pon whom these enormous burdens are
added fer tue first time in the history Of
he country, are innocent parties.
They have not sought war, nor
wished it. They have not willingly
incurred this debt, the weight Of which
III men are about. to feel They,
worked for and hoped for peace.
They receded, for the sake Of CON-
promise. step beyond the point indicated
. honor and patriotism They en1eated
indeed, aJecdy begged that the hand
ofviolence might be withheld: They we're
content to sow and reap, to buy and sell,
md to enjoy the benefcence Of law and
4ie security Of order But the conspiracy,
.ong maturing, was 1ipened, and the storm
-,urst upon them.
We propose, in spite Of the clamor which
men Of doubtful loyalty Will raise, to do
what we can to make the congpirators pay
the cost Of this fire that they have kindled,
ia create such public opinion that, for
very tax-gather sent out in the North
take the first fruits Of loyal industry and
tithe ofthe savings Of patriotic economy,
there shall be two commissioners, under a
con6scaton act, sent South to wiring from
he instigators OF this wicked rebellion the
ncay penalty that they have justly in,
94fz1d::- We hold that they should be taken
T. h: T word-sts+t they are alien enc
:nies--::nat Ill Icy have is at the mercy o.
he Government, and that, without nisggig.
ing, 1itilessly and surely, it should be CON
ver,ed to the payment Of this national bar:
3cn that their arrogance and treason have
Ecapcd upon the Republic.
How often and how early have the
friends Of free Government foretold the ap
proach Of this day. With what prophetic
wisdom hare they pointed out the sure effect
Of slavery aggression, as it was yielded to
year after year, With the vain and i]lus;yz.
.lope that aggression would cease, The
Nation pays the penalty Of outraged
usticc, in solid coin and blood. Here i
le goal 10 which the universal treason tx
hc fundamental principles Of law and Lib
csty has broughtus. Here is the outcome
If the quackcry in which or statcsme,
have indu}gcd. and Of the Inmanly COW
srd'cc that the people have. encouraged
Here is the v;udication, fn1l, patent, con
vinang. my ny'overwhelming, Of the profun
di.y and cFez.assiag truth Of the view
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