The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-02-05
Growler's Income Tax.
BY n. S. ARTHUR.

My nei9hbor GROWER, an eXcitable
man by the way, was particularly ex-
cited over his "Income Tax" or, as
he called it, a "War Tax" lie had
never liked the war--thought it un.
necessary wicked; the work of poll
ticians. This fighting of brother
against brother was terrible thing
in his eyes. If you asked him who
began the war? Who struck at the
nations lifep If self.defense was not
n duty2 lie would reply with vague
gencralitics, made mp of partizan,
tricky sentences, which he had learn
ed without comprehending their just
significance.
Growler came in upon me the 9th.
er day, 1ourishing a square piece of
blue writing paper, quito moved from
his equanimity:
"There 1t is! just so much rob.
berry! Stand aud deliver is the word.
Pistols and bayonets! Your money
or your life"
/ took the paper from his hand and
read:
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 1868.
RICHARD GRowLER, ESQ, DR..
TO JoHN w. RILEY,
Collector of Internal Revenue for
the Northern District of Pennsylvania.
Office, Az, Chestnut Street "For
tax On Income, for the year 1862, as
per return made to the Assessor of
the District S43,21.
Received payment.
JONI w. RILEY, Collector.
YOU'RE all right" said smiling.
II would like to know what you
mean by all right2'
Growlcr was just little offended
at my way of treating this serious
manifestations in his eyes. ] mean
i've been robbed of forty three
dollars and twcnti one cents" he
continued. "Do you say that is all
right? A minion Of the Government
has put his hand into my pocket and
taken out so much Of my property
Is that all right?'
"The same thing may he set forth
in very different language" / replied.
"Let me state the case"
VERY wcii-stats it." said Growl.
cr, dropping himself into a chair, and
looking as good humored rs possible.
Instead of being robbed" said l
"you have been protected in your
property and person. and guaranteed
all the rights of citizenship for the
paltrv sum of forty-three dollars and
twenty one cents, as your share ot
your cost of protection"
ooh. that's only your way Of put
tug the case" retorted Growlcr
dropping little from his high tone
of Indignation.
"Lct me be more particular in put
ting the case, Your income is thC
rent Of property?'
. Yes"
"What would it have cost you tC
defend that property from the army
of General Lee, recently driven from
: our State hv national soldiers?"
Cost mel" Growlcr lool cd ut mi
. in a kind Of maze, as though he tho
me halfin lest.
Exactly What would 1t hav,
cost Won! Lee, if unopposed, woulC
certainly have reached this city ant
held it; and if your property hac
hecn Of use to him, or any of his of
ficers, it would have been appropri
ated without so much as saying--h,
your leave, sir! Would fortv-thre
dollars and twentv-one cents hav
Q covered the damager Perhaps not
j, Possibly YOU might have lost frol
Q onc-half to two thirds of what you ar
: worth"
Growler was trifle bewildcred q
this way ofputting the case. He look
ed puzzled,
"You have n store on Sout
Wharvcs?' said /.
g "Yes."
9 "What has kept the Alabama O
|. Florida from running up the Della
= ware and burning the whole city front
!, DO you have forts and ships Of wa
for the protection Of your property
If not, who provides them? The
arc provided and you are safe. Wins
is your share of the expense for
whole year? Just forty-three do
lars and twenty one cents! 1t sound
S like jest!'
S Growlel did not answer, so l kel
on.
y "But for our immense armies in til
field, and navy on the water, this n
bellion would have succeeded. VIII;
Il then? Have yon ever pondcred til
future OF this country in such Il
n event? Have you thought Of you
own position? of the loss or gain
YOURSELF How long do you thin
- we would be at peace with Englan
Il or France, if the nation were dismen
bcred, and n hostile Confederation e
tahlished on our Southern border?-
Sc Would our taxes be less than now?-
Would life and property be more 8
- cure? Have you not an interest
;. our great army and navy, as well
/ and every other member of tl
Union? Does not your safety,
well as mime, lie in their existence
te Are they not, at this very time b
y conservators Of everything we no
70 dear as men and citizens? WI
or equips and pays the army? Whe
do the enormous sums come from?,