The Portland daily press., 1862-10-16
0 F F CT l..
Assessors Notice.

NOTICE is hereby given that have been appoint
~ ed Assessor of Taxes for the First Congressional
District OF the state OF Maine, under the Act OF Con-
gress, approved July l. A. d. 1862, entitled An Act
to provide internal revenue to support the Govern
ment and TO pay interest on the pubic debt"
Ia compliance with the provisions OF said Act and
instructions OF the COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL
REVENUE, hare divided said District into eleven
divisions and appoint an Assistant Assessor in each
The LIST division comprises the towns of York
Wells. kennebunk, kcnnebunkport, and the city of
ant
I'd division, the towns of Kittery, Eliot, South
Berwick, Berwick and North Berwick; THEODORE
A: ROLLINS, of South Berwick, Assistant.
Sd division, the towns of Lebanon Sanford, AL
fred, Acton Shapleigh and Newfield; JOHN S. PAR
KER, of Lebanon, Assistant.
4th division, the towns of Saco, DAYTON LYMAN
and marlborough; JOHN GAINS, of Saco, Assist
ant
9th division, the towns of Buxton, Hollis, Lining
ton Limerick, Cornish and Parsonsfeld CHARLES
+. WELD of Buxton, Assistant.
9Th division. Wards /, 2, 3 and of the city of
Portland; SAMUEL SMALL. of Ward in said city,
Assistant. -!
7th division Wards s. and of said city of Port.
land, AUGUSTUS L. OERRIsH, of Ward G, in said city,
Assistant.
Sth division, the towns of westbrook, Falmouth,
Gorham, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth; DAVID
ToRREY, OF Wesibrook Assistant
9Th division, the towns of Brdgton, Sebago, Bald
win, standish, Naples, Harrison and Otsheld LOT
{. NELSON, of Brighton, Assistant
10th division. the towns of New Gloucester GRAY
North Yarmouth, Cumberland. WDdham Casco and
raymond SEwALL n. GROSS, of New Gloucester,
Assistant
llth division, the towns of Freeport, Brunswick.
Harpswell, Pownal and Yarmouth HEzEKIAH b.
MEANS, of Ffeeport, Assistant
The act under which these assistants are appointed
took effect on the LIST day of September instant.
Citizens residing in the large business centres of
this district have doubtless read it, and can hence
form their own conclusions in relation its provis-
ions but as there many in the agricultural see.
tons VINO may have been unable TO obtain copy for
examination wish TO call their attention TO some of
its principles.
Soon after the rebellion broke out Congress found
il necessary assess small direct fax on tho sever
al States 10 maintain the credit of the country The
States being authorized to the payment of the
sum demanded of them, had the power to assess it
upon all the property within their limits
Farms and ether real estate being, from their ma
ture, more exposed than other objects of taxation
money, created in sustaining the government during
this war, and they could not long endure the burden
a direct tax would impose upon them
Maine proportion t that tax has been liquidaied
and paid IN order to provide in part tile future
expenses of the war, Congress wisely determined TO
raise from the people without State interview
ton ara without taxing the producing asses. TO
effect this object and to make the fax equal in every
State they have passed what has been termed ali EX-
cise Act Passing by the farmer, the mechanic the
fisherman, the lnmberman and many other pursuits
SO essential TO our rosperity a people, this act
,eVies us igh contributions upon the we lth, the
Injuries the pleasures. ard business of the country
II cornes its operations chiefly TO the cities towns
ard Hlges and gathers its revenues from the chan
ncis IA which floats the money of the country.
II does not tax real estate of any description nor
with very few exceptions, personal property. The
excess oVe ~ ounces of silver spoons plate, ard
riding carriages of all descriptions valued with the
harness at SIS aud upwards. must be assessed. With
the exception of these two items there is not prob
ably farmer nor mechanic in this district within
the act; These are taxed al a sum nconsiderable
that il is 70 be hoped every citizen who desires the
rerpey OF his government will, in this terrible cri-
SIS OF IFS AFFAIRS. assume checrfny his proportion of
its necessary burdens, and If he is fortunately the
owner of an article liable be assessed put va ne
upon it which shall bring ii within the act. 1t may
fv hn pfn ko.s II
butte dollar for the preservation Of his government
The professional man - the retail trader ose
sales exceed one thousand dollars per year-the man
ufacturer of any article the sales of which exceed
six hundred dollars per year-the hotel keeper-the
man whose yearly income exceeds six humid ed dol
lars and several other empoymefs are to be assessed
II Is presumed all such are conyefsant with the pro-
visions OF this act.
would call their attention to sections from six to
eleven inclusive, and section fi1ty-cight.
These sections impose the duty upon every person
liable TO be assessed Tor tax or license, TO callimme-
diaiey upon the assistant assessor and make up and
sign their several If they neglect so to
do, he is required TO increase their fifty per cent
ana no discretionary authority vested in the asss
tant or the assessor 10 make any abatement of this
amount See section IL.
1t will be perceived by a careful examination of
these sections, that Congress relying upon the pari-
otism of the business men of the country proceeded
upon the hypothesis that every liable TO be taxed
would substantially assess himself, aud sign the bills
liking the amount he was TO pay. If the act there
fore complied with, the assistant is but
recording off GER who receives ard properly enters
Hc sts ceNeied nm by the cltizen, and his duty in
relation 10 fixing valuation upon objects liable TO
taxation. is rather advisory than absolute. In order
however to prevent the selfish, the indifferent the
Iaiorous IRON escaping their proper proportions of
the public burden. Congress has liked the penalties
for their neg eci, prescribed in section IL.
Having been intrused by the President with the
duty OF seeing that these tax ats are properly pre-
pared, and seasoIabiy deliver ed 10 the collector of
this district, respectfully request all good citizens
within 10 call Immediately upon the assistant
OF the assessment district where they reside and
denver hlm lists as required in the sixth section of
the act He will give all persons the necessary in
formation 10 enable them 10 comply with its proyis-
ions, and furnish blanks therefor
NATH'L G.. MARSHALL
Assessors Office CITY Buildings,
Portland, Sept. ], 1852.
septl0eoG3w