The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-09-08
Judge Law and the Tax Bill.

that he was not, and is not, opposed to
taxation; but was and is opposed to the
present tax law, because OF some of its
outrageously oppressive features. Among
other things he objected to the manner
in which the taxes were to be collected;
to the salaries to be paid the officers, and
to the provisions of the bill providing for
the collection of delinquences. He was
in favor, SO he says, of having the States
collect the taxes In this the Judge had
an eye to the interests of his friends in
the South, who, he well knew, would be
compelled to pay no taxes For in all
those States the law would be dead let
ter; the State authorities being rebels,
would appoint neither assessors nor col
2 lectors, and the taxes would not be col
lected at all.
When asked why he did not propose
amendments to the bill, the Judge re-
plies that he did speak to some members
whom he thought had influence with the
Committee on Ways and Ysans, but his
suggestions were disregarded
Is it not humiliating to the indepen-
dent and intelligent voters of the First
Congressional District, to be Repre-
sented in Congress by a man who has
not the ability to rise in his place and
propose amendments to measures which
he believes will oppress his constituents? +?
Does not the cheek of all our people
tingle with shame, that we cannot be rep
resented by man who can boldly advo-
cate or oppose measures in which his
constituents are vitally interested, instead
of one who sneaks about the lobbies, and
by huttnn-holinn representatives from
other Districts and States, urgeing them
to do whathe ought to have the manliness
to do himself2 Had the Judge proposed
amendments to the bill in the House, and
urged their adoption, and the House then
voted them down, his consistency would
have been vindicated, end his constitu.
ents might believe his statements, that he
was in favor of taxation, but opposed tc
the manner of levying taxes contem
plated in the present tax law. But as
he offered no amendment during the
long time the bill was under considera
ton, and yet voted against its passage
near the close Of the session, chen thert
,oas no possible chance Of pegfectinS
another biU, we can only conclude he
was desirous that the law should eontaiI
as many unpopular provisions as possible
| in order that he might incite the people
against its friends; that the Govern
ment might be harrassed for want o
means, and our brave soldiers be de
prived of their pay This, we say, is {
legitimate conclusion; for no man il
Congress knew better than Judge Law
that without the passage of that or som,
other tax law the credit Of the Govern
ment was gone, our armies would b
forced to disband, and the triumph Q
JEFF. Davis secured.
These, we say are fair conclusion
from the Judges own position-from hi
own manner of defense. But the Judg
! is not honest when he says h
was in favor of taxation, and we procee,
to demonstrate it:
On Wednesday, June Is, in the earl
part of the last session, from the Commit
tee of Ways and Means reported a join
resolution House resolution 81, declare
tory of the purpose of Congress to in
pose tax, which was read first an
second time"
Mr.. Cunning, pending the question o
its engrossment, Mr.. Vallandinghar
moved that its further consideration |
postponed until Monday, the ed inst
On this proposition the yeas and nay
were demanded, and the motion to pos
pone was voted down. Among thos
voting to postpone, we find the name
of VIM. Allen, (since arrested for trea
5 on) Cox and Vallandingham of Obi
1 Richardson of Ills, Ben Wood of Ne
York, and Holman, Voorhees, aid La
of Indiana. io
The resolution was then read thi
}. time and put on its passage. The pre-,
GUS question was moved, and the resol
ton adopted by the decided vote of /;
yeas to 6 nays. Those voting in t
negative were Messrs. Allen, Norto
!, I Robinson, .Shiel, VOORHEES, and Wood
= OF course Judge Laws name is foul
d among those voting in the affirmativ
!, Not bit of it. The Hon member, wi
Or his worthy political associate, Vallar
igham, lodged.
Here we find the gentleman who
going about this District telling the p
R, pie that he was in favor oftaxesfor I
. support of the Government, but was