Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-02-17
aRowLER,s INCOME TAX.

by the way, was particularly excited over
the Income Tax" or, as he called it his
"War Tax" He had never liked the war
thought il unnecessary and wicked, the
work Of politicians. This fighting of
brother sgainst brother was terrible
thing in his eyes. If you ask him who
began the war?-who struck at the ma
tion's life f-if self-defence were not
dutyt-he would reply with vague gen
eralities, made up of partisan, trickery
sentences, which he had learned without
comprehending their just significance.
Growler came in upon me the other
day, hourishing a square piece of blue
writing paper, quite moved from his equi-
nimity.
There it is! just so much robbery
Stand and deliver, is the word. Pistols
and bayonets Your money or your lifel"
took the piece of paper from his hand
and read:
PHILADELPHIA, Sep, 1868.
Orchard Gro,0Ler, Esq, DR..
To John II. Riley,
Collector of Internal Revenue for the
Fourth District of Pennsylvania. Office,
427, Chestnut Street.
"For Tax on Income, for the year 1862
as per return made to the Assessor of
the District, S42 2l.
Received payment,
''JoHN NJ. RILEY, Col"
you're all right" l said, smiling.
"I'd like to know what you mean by
"sll rightp Growler was Just little Of
fendsd at my way of treating this very
serious matter-serious in his eyes, |
-
dollars and twenty-one cents" he contin-
ued. "Do you say it is all right? A min
ion of the Government has put his hand
into my pocket and taken just so much
of my property. Is that all rightf"
"The same thing may be set forth in
very different language" | replied
Let me state the case"
every well-state it said Growler,
dumping himself into chair, and look
ing as i'll humored as possible.
Instead of being robbed" said l, ''you
have been protected in your property and
person, and guaranteed all the high priv
ileges of citizenship for the paltry sum of
forty-three dollars and twenty-one cents
as your share of the cost of protection
"Oh, that's only your way of putting
the case," retorted Growler, dropping a
little from his high tone of indignation
"Let me be more particular in my way
of putting the case. Your income is from
the rent of property
"Yes."
what would it have cost you to de-
fend that property from the army of GEN
era, Lee, recently driven from our State
by national soldiers ?"
"Cost mel" Growler looked at me in
a wild maze, as though he thought me
half in jest.
"Exactlyi What would it have cost
you? Lee, if unopposed, would certainly
have reached this city and held it; and
if your property would have been of use
to him, or any of his officers or soldiers,
it would have been appropriated without
so much as saying-By your leave, sirl-
Would forty-three dollars and twenty-one
cents have covered the damage? Per-
haps not. Possibly, you might have lost
one-half to tWo-thirds of all you are
worth"
Growler was trifie bewildered at this
way of putting the case. He looked puz-
zled.
"You have store on South wharves ?"
said /.
"Yes."
What has kept the Alabama and Flor
ida from running up the Delaware and
burning the whole city front! Do you
have forts. and ships of war for the pro-
lection OF your propertyi If eet. who
provides themi They are provided and
you are safe. What is your share of the
expenses for a whole year, Just forty
three dollars and twenty-one cents It
sounds like ajestP'
Growler did not answer. So kept on.
"But for our immense armies in the
field and our navy on the water, this re-
bellion would have succeeded. What
then? Have you ever pondered the fu-
ture of this country in such an event p
Have you thought of your own position
of the loss or gain to yourselfi How long
do you think We would be at peace with
England or France, if the nation were
dismembered, and hostile Confederation
established on our Southern border?-
Would our taxes be less than now?-
Would life and property be more secure
Have not you an interest in our great
army and navy, as well as and every
member of the Union? Does not your
safety as well as mine lie in their exist
enee? Are they not, at this very time,
the conversators of everything we hold
dear as men and citizens? Who builds
and furnishes these thingsl Where does
the enormous sums of money required
come FRONT 1t is the nations work
the people aggregated into power and
munifcence, and so irresistible in might
l-unconquerable. Have you no heart
swellings of pride in this magnificent ex-
hibition of will and strength No part
in the nations glory? No eager hand
helping to stretch forth :"
Growler was silent still.
There was no power in you or me to
lack the wave OF destruction that was
Hu fratricidal hands against US.
- nation, as an aggre-
ant in 0aeo-