The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-24
The Ic"uus Will be-,
Taxing Newspapers.


We noticed that MIR. Morrill,, one OF the Rep
rcseG7atives from this State in Congress, and
s-Aon?ber Of the Committee Of Ways and Means,
stated tie other day tina, The Committee would
proosb,yrccommend stamp tax on Newspapers,
.s one means OF raising revenue. Just what, or
how great tax the Committee would deem it
hes t. !ery ia that way, was net stated, nor
was Il possible to infer from the remark, whcth-
~ Mr. II. was Aiinself in favor Of or hostile To,
tsic H4casar:. N1t The suggestion has heen
.tgly caught up by some of the city papers,
who's: main support is in advertising, and who
mop, to make, instead of lose, money by this
.orm 81 taxation, and warmly commended,-
though VIC are glad 70 see tina, the Boston Jour-
mai IS gate decided in condemnation OF it, 1t
is sillPly "a tax upon what has come to be far
the cheapest and most extensive, and in ,hese
times the most valuable means of education and
Information. 1t is a tax upon intelligence and
upon education. Can any good reason be given
why 1t should bo LAID. 4 newspaper is no:
luxury u9w,-i's chcapaoss takes it out Of tina:
cIsy3oIy. 1t is, however, almost ii necessity oi
life i Il atamp tax were imposed-whateycr
tha: tx might be, i, would simply raise the
pric, q the papers, as much as the amount Of
the ;a&, AMI 50 bring the price out Of tie con-
sun.er. Bat we all know that in these times
whe' the poor, especially, arc retrenchiDg BY
compulsion as much as possible, and save barely
cnv.sA 10 get tie weekly news from the scat Of
war. where scmo dear relative i. standing with
his comrades upholding the flag of his country,
ih..t ary enhancement OF the price Of newspa-
pc.S woa!d deprive them of this welcome Wis
tor, While those in easy circumstances would
read their papers as usual. Why, if this kind
d taxation is TO lie rcsorted to, not tax the
minister i1r every sermon he breaches, the tee
chez f., every recitation he hears, public lee.
Jarcls TOR every tcke. that is sold to their lee
tuIvs, publishers Tor every book they print
IN short, station the ugly tax satherer in every
avc.ae through which information comes to the
MIND, to levy bis toll upon every species of in
formation that helps educate Us all?
Is it in accordance with the theory of our in
s:itut.ons, institutions which must rest for sup.
pogt unon the general intelligence of the people
IN take Eucn measures as will make the newspa.
PSF. instead 0! as now, :! common vistant in
e'ety house, luxury only to be enjoyed by the
few Shall We compel the education of our
cd!dten in the free schools, at the public charge
au- give tie poorCs. alongside with the wealth,
less tGc same advantages OF the common school:
Of OF: land, but charge them as q source of rev
cnce, for the cheapest, and yet most valuaLl,
mcapo u iaiormaLiOn Of their state, the nation
and til world Is it not the boast OF this coun
,ry tau: tie newspaper goes into every household
and ia j: wise now to raise its pric. 50 that /
Snsi. be excluded from any?
Newspapers are noi iuonopolcs that II ak
grea, profits, aud there fore ought to be taxed
The newspaper enterprise Is open to every on
tl.IS has the courage to engage in it. II tn
proprietor has the good fortune to have SOM
capital in his business ha s, as the laws Lon a. e
taxed for that alike with bis noighb9r who make
his living from his farm. II he makes money -
which few papers DO IT these times-he 10 taxe
for that. Then where is tie justice oil makn
the subscriber pay the government 4 tax for ev
cry paper ho reads?
The truth is, Congress, in its cfjrts to raise
revenue ios this cInn'.y, is in great dan.cr q
following ;5e .'Il pies .. England, not con