The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-03-03
GR0WLER's INCOME TAX.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

ne wicked; the work of politicians. Tt
"a fighting of brother against brother "
ut terrible thing in his eye. If you a.
n, him who began the war-who struck
b the nations life-if self-defence we
- not duty--he would reply with vag,
l. generalities, made up for partizan tick
sentences, which he had learned witho,
he comprehending their just significance.
c. Growler came in upon me the othe
day hourishing a square piece of blu
e paper, quite moved from his equinimit,
q "There it is just so much robbery
Stand and deliver it in the world. Pis
tolls and boyonets Your money or you
II life r'
k | took the piece of paper from his han
and read
; "PHILADELPHIA, Sept, 1863
Il ORCHARD GROWLER, Esq,
!, CDR. to JOHN NJ. RILEY,
1 "Collector of Internal Revenue:
y "For Tax on Income, for the
year 1862, as per return
made to the Assessor of
the District, S43 21
"Received payment,
"JoHN NJ. RILEY,
Collector"
"You're all right" I said smiling.
"Pd like to know what you mean by
all right 2" Growler was just then a lit
tie offended at my way of treating this
very serious matter, serious in his eyes,
| mean. "Tve been robbed of forty
three dollars and twenty-one cents" he
continued. Do you say that it is all
right :? 4 minion of the Government
has put his hand into my pocket and has
taken just so much Of my property. Is
that all right p
"The same thing may be set forth in
in very different language" [ replied
Let me state the case"
Very well, state it !" said Growler
dumping himself into chair, and look
ing as ill-humored as possible.
Instead Of being robbed, said, "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 protection"
"Oh that's only your way of putting
the case" retorted Growler, dropped lit
tie 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 2"
"Yes."
"What would it have cost you to de-
fend that property from the army of Gen.
Lee, recently driven from our State by
national soldiers ?''
"Cost me-" Grower looked at me in
a kind Of maze, as though he thought me
half in jest.
Exactly! What would it have cost
you? Lee, if unopposed, would certainly
have resched this city, and held it; and
if your property had been of use to him,
Or any of his officers or soldiers, it would
have been appropriated without so much
IS saying-By your leave sir. Would
forty three dollars and twenty-one cents
have covered the damage? Perhaps not
I Psssibly, you might have lost nehalf to
u io-thirds os all your worth"
Growler was a trife bewilded at this
way of putting the case. He looked puz-
lied.
"You have store on South Wharves?"
aid l.
eyes" {
"What has kept the Alabama or Flor
da from running up the Delaware and
'urning the whole city front Do you }
lave forts or ships of war for the pfotec- '
ion of your property? If not, who pro-
ides them? They are provided and 9
ou are safe. What is your share of the
expenses for a whole year? Just forty '
hree dollars and twenty-one cents 1t
ounds like jestp' =
Growler did not answer So | kept
a. d
But for our immense armies in the p
eld and navy on the water, this rebel
on would have succeeded. What then?
lave you ever pondered the future of
his country in such an event? Have
on thought of your own position Of :,
ne loss or gain to yourself? How long II
o you think we would be at peace with !,
'ngland or France if the nation were '
and hostile Confederation u
Established ON our Southern border p II
Would our wur taxes be less than now?- 1. l.
Would life and property be more secure? II II
lave you not an interest in our great III
my and navy, as we'll as | and every "a %
her member of the Union Does not .
our safety as well as mine lie in their e'
zistence? Are they not at this very p'
me the conservators Of everything we
Did dear as men and citizens Who e. !.
lips and pays the army? Who builds 81 81
i'd furnishes these ships? Where does ec
e enormous sum Of money re-
hired come from? Is it the nations ~
people aggregate in power and vi
unifcence and so irresistiblein might nj
lconquerable. Have you no heart swell ",
lgs of pride in this magnificent exhibi- N
IN Of will and strength 7 No part in
e nations glory :? No eager hand help
G to stretch forth ?' ito