, 1864-05-27


AT DEAR Sir I feel Obliged to you for tho time
and attention you have thkea to read, consider,
aud reply to the matterof the papers sent for
onjectlon to a system Of direct Hxation has also,
as It deserves, my respectful esteem.
The three hstt objections 10 the income tax to
mint By an individual who, enjoying au income Of
EGO per an1nm. wrote down 800; Of another,
Who probably had good income from big business,
" Who wrote down mil - and OF third, who coz.
siIered three--eycntbs Of his profits (hss incomc
beiDg Ptecxrious) sufficient sum to return as sub
ject 10 iucomc tax
ri0ls evasto1Aof the Income tax; but ev:ssious,
probably 10 laryer amount, less obvious a1l zen.
Grail. uste isardulsnily mischievous. yade ths
existins Indirect s7stem' Of taxation, and wholly
escape that general censure and reprobatiou
which are surely rtited on Unfair efforts to avoid
!: tust share Of direct tnxos. The honest portion
9f the eom,nunity, ard tas "a many Who cannot hldo
come tax, wilt in tine become from per=onal In
terest the vgant guardans over the equitable dis
tribut:on to every one Of tho fscl contributions
ineauitahie levy Of taxes or tho fraudulent
taxation, hat ought 10 claim the list eans,deza-
never to ignore that all individual and national
wealth, and even tho very means Of human exist
cnce, derend wholly on the abundance Of Indus
confederation, therefore, in the lcvytng oil taxes
Is to choose the system which least tends to en-.
nance tile cost and price OF commodities; because
In proportion as any a1tice ia reduced IN price 60
arc Its consumption and demond for its reprodnc-
tfon increased, and stimulus to provide abund-
once fs given for the benefit Of she wcr1ds inhab-
ta1ts. TEeee augmented industrial productions
arc essentially the elements Of expanding com
merce. They promote national prosperity n ghtp-
ping, railroads. and every branch Of tndustra, nv.
suits snd create the aflluent means IA tho hant;s
Of The people Of paying &c e taxes required to sns
tain ior CONNER good The couniry's revenue,
Inc ..e1ease OF price by indirect taxation, On the
.Jntrury, reyerses these favorable circumstances,
1t dimtnisAeR consumption By adding to the cost
OF commodities. Contracts the t1eld Of commerce,
induces national decadence. and diminishes the
ahilitJ OF the people to aGP2p1f tia necessary
GosernuesSs expenditure. Thfa great add crying
assaIQbet1uctIon u .he expansion offree commerce
with the whole world, wnith would give food and
clothing h abundance to all Gods creatures, md
Eon!d cnri II .BYery one In every class: Is great
and wosld-wtd5 1ni7uity that cannot be charged
Direct taxation Il comparatively free from this
awful Charge and 1t ii fkis most important fact in
favor Of the Income tsx, that It does not tend TO
Iep1ess the expansion 81 commerce, which consn-
tntts It's Role merit. ,,,.,,
the purpose OF diminishing their consamp:i1a ia .
proposition Of doubtful mora. J. Ine Psoaloltlon3
Of erch articles appears to me ope FuIe ~, 95at II.
mode o. legislative action. TaA o ..u ~ W tne
purpose Of repression In such caae esTe Ioo Macn@
The character OF price paid to parp stGa! naqu1r
oI recurrence to the sale Of ''indn1e. '1ses!
Mr am nnn1,s y@n1s tFaly 4wHEsoE a. srt F..