The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-09-15
THE TITHE LAW.

1ne haIelgn Standard has pronounced the
1.-THE law unusual oppressive and unjust" The
Fayetteville Observer, in justification of the law,
replies to the Standard in an able and convincing
article, from which we make the following extract
But is the law unusual, oppressive and unjust?"
we propose to discuss that question with the
Standard.
Unusual, in the present day, we admit it to be.
Impressive, too, far all taxes oppressive,
I and no farther Unjust, we deny that it is. We
are not aware that the Standard has stated any
grounds on which it contends that the law is OPP
pressive and unjust. So that our work is, not to
combat any arguments against the law, but to show
its equality, as compared With other taxes
But first word as to the origin of this system
of taxation. That which is now denounced by one
of the Standards favorite candidates for Congress
as ''odious Jew law" and by the Standard
itself as Oppressive and unjust" is but the
same kind of tax as the first one Of which we read,
either in sacred or profane history-the tax laid
by God himself upon the Jews. It is true that
before that, Abraham had given to Melohizidek,
King of Salem, tthe of the spois he had taken
in battle but that voluntary Sofferng to ''the
priest of the most high God" The first tax, as
we have said, was a tax in kind Of tithe lor
tenth of all the produce of the lands of the trees
and of the focks. See Leviticus, 9th chapter,
30th verse. May it not be one of the causes of
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land, that We have not only departed from the
original ordinances of God but accustomed
selves to speak of them with irreverence, odious
and unjust
+ But is the law unjust? How unjust? We
suppose it is meant that it lays upon the farming
interest proportion of taxes larger than is laid
upon other interests or pursuits. Let US see how
this is
The tithe lar does not reach the pool, man or
| aconaan at all. Every one is entitled first to
serve for his or her own use so bushels of sweet
potatoes, so bushels of Irish potatoes, and 100
bushels of corn Cor so bushels of Wheat) also 20
bushels of peas beans. Here is, at present
market rates, nearly thousand dollars worth Of
produce Of the farm upon which no tax whatever
is levied It is evidently more than many poor
families make and enough to bread good sized
family; and as for meats, the tax is one-tenth Of
all the bacon estimated at 90 lbs. of bacon to 100
lbs. of pork, whereas 100 lbs. Of pork will make
nearly 70 lbs of bacon besides the parts not cured
into bacon. So that out of every 100 lbs. of pork
some Is or 20 lbs are unfaxed. On cattle the
1.-THE tax is not laid-it is per cent only on the
value
It is manifest from this statement, (for the ac-
curacy of which see the law itself) that the ttile
law does not reach the poorer class of farmers;
though from the manner in which the matter is
handled by some, it might be supposed that it was
to protect this class from oppression and injustice
that the law denounced and its repeal demanded
The law operates only upon the larger farmers, who
make surplus to sell, and ,cho are not tdred an
any other Day by the law; that is, neither their
lands nor their negroes, nor their incomes from
the sale of the surplus productions of their farms,
are taxed This 1.-THE tax is therefore the only
way in which these well-to-do farmers called
upon to contribute to the support OF the govern
ment and the war; and it is the only way in which
their land and negroes can be taxed. The consti-
tuition forbids the taxing of lands and negroes till
census is taken cannot be taken dur
ing the war. Consequently, but for this 1.-THE
law land and negroes, the great wealth of the
South, would escape taxation at all. Is this
the object of the Standard We cannot believe
it, however much it may be the object Of some
interested persons who are endeavorlng to excite
public prejudice against the law.
Is it oontended that the amount of the tax is
unjust by comparison with the taxes upon other
property and business? Let readers examine |
the law and see how heavily every other business,
and all descriptions of property are taxed, and we
think they will come to the same conclusion with
ourselves, that the the tax farmers is less than
the average of other taxes property, production
and income And be it observed that these small
farmers are the only class altogether exempted
from taxation, except salaries under $1,000 and in
comes ut $500. Everything else, everybody
else is taxed.
The tIbe tax is 1ust TO the S0idler In the army,
because it does not tax his land which is lying idle
at home, but only taxes the surplus productions OF
those at home. 1t is just to him also, because 1t
will furnish certain and it is hoped adequate !
supply of food for bis support in the army instead
of the inadequate ratons he has heretofore been
often obliged to submit to-. And only think OF
it, people at home are raising'a camor against
law which is enacted expressly to provide food for
the soldiers In the army . !
The law is wise and just one for the reason |
aso that it is part of system intended to put an
end to speculation in provisions. 1t is well known
that men have accumulated princely fortunes by !
going over the country and buying up things |
which they knew the government was compelled to
have, and after getting monopoly making the |
government pay enormous prices. This will now
be stepped, and along with il, in a measure, the
progressive imitation of the currency and of prices
and the temptation which SO many otherwise good /
men give way to- to hoard up their supplies under
the heretofore certain expectation of rise in
prices. Neither the speuator NOR the producer |
will hereafter be sure of great customer who will
be compelled to buy of them at any price, how |
ever extravagant.
Again The goveks tient will be saved by this
tthe law, from the necessity of issuing one or two
hundred millions more of treasury notes. Those /
notes, coming upon already redundant currencya.
would necessarily still further depreciate Con- /
federate money, aad thus add to present evils and |
entail still heavier debt upon posterity. 1t is /
the Interest cf every man to keep down that debt