Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-06-02
Taxation.

W. uoticc Ii VIC PiocScinSo Y -
State Convention that there has been
two days struggle over the Article IN th
Declaration of Rights. reported BY tb
Committee. denounciug tho imposition o
taxes "by the poll" as "gricvous an'
oppressive" and prohibiting the Leglsla
ture from laying them.
Whatever may have been the opinion
of the trainers of the Constitution of l776
on this subject; and we do not doub
they we're honest in their conviction W.
conceive that their declaration canno
now be held truc. We deny that the CAPT
tation taxes which arc imposed BY so many
of the most enlightened and liberal States
in the Union, ought now to be character
ICED in the Bill of Rights, as "grievou'
and oppressive" in any just sense Of those
words. We believe that taxes may be
imposed upon persons in such amount
and manner, as may be productive Of the
most beneficial results, and totally devoid
of any feature Of burdensomencss or OPP
preston.
Every citizen of the State; in return
for the protection he derives from its in
stitutions and its laws, is bound to render
it his support according to the measure OF
his ability. If he is without accumulated
capital in the shape Of visible property he
escapes property taxes, but he may be in
the receipt of a liberal income from hi'
labor. or of a salary for his services which
should justly subject him to proport-
tomato share of the public burdens. The
poll-tax in our neighbcriug States is im-
posed for certain special purposes, as for
instance-for the maintenance of llospl-
tails, of Asylums for the Blind. of insti'
tutions for the education of the Deaf and
Dumb, or more frequently. perhaps for
the support of general systems OF public
education by means of free schools. Now
i. cannot be denied that oil the objects
enumerated above-are of nature thai
appeals to the benevolent instincts OF al
mankind--alike. Rich and poor are equal
ly bound by every consideration Of hui
mainly to contribute to the relief of those.
misfortupcs, and to the elevation of the
race by the diffusion of knowledge. There
is not, there cannot be any hardship in re-
curing every man to do something in this
most humane and bene6cent direction.
The principle of the I'Oll-tax is employed
by the General Government in its ma
nagement of the Commercial marine Of
the country Every sailor in the mer-
chant service pays to the Government Il
certain monthly sum out of his wages ir-
respective other amount, called Hosp
tai money" The officers and men pay
alike the same rates, and the fund thu
raised establishes and maintains the
Hospital system of the United States, By
which every sailor, however, poor and
destitute, has always home in sickness
and old age, which he bias contributed t.
build up by moderate tax up his own
wages, and that of all others engaged III
the same sort of service
In our own County the same principle
has long been in successful operation
established by the voluntary will of the
parties engaged in it. At most if not al!
the collerios in our county. the miners
secure their medical and surgical atten-
dance by means of self-imposcd poll
tax upon all the employees of the mine OF
a small monthly sum. 1t is paid by al
old and young, sick and well, and lh'
amount thus raised is sufficient to sccur'
the faithful attendance Of our best physl-
clans.
Why should not then. our Convention
leave the Legislature at liberty to 'leFy
such tax if the people themselves desift
it through their lawfully elected delegate
in the General Assembly. 1t cannot
possibly be made oppressive or srlevous
for longer than two years, if at all-and
when the sacred right of suffrage is fully
guarded as it is by one of the propositions
offered to tho Convention and adopted by
it. there ought not to be whisper of OBJ
lection against it. aud will not be except
on tho part of demagogues-We had IN
tended. when we tcgun. to FAY something
of the unusual spectacle which has been
presented this year, of the whole people
with ono voice, demanding of their Rep
resentatives in Congress. to lay taxes
with an unsparing hand for tho support
of the Government in this war; but we
must postpone it to future issue.
The Subject OF Postal Reforms
lMOOrfant Changes.