The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-04-27
From the Times
Congress-The PeopIe-Taxation.

The reluctance to tax heavily which Congress has
displayed ever since the began, and regret to
say IS still displaying is very remarkable and fast
becoming incouprehensblc. The voice of the public,
as expressed through the preas, il strongly in
favor of the imposition OF as heavy burdens may
be at least the larger portion of the
public expenditure but the indsposition Of the House
OF Representatives to comply with this demand seems
fully great ever IL The Tax Bill is
postponed until the latter half of the sson-is intro
duced slowly and heavily, and appearantv with much
groaning and moaning and hen ready for action it
made to stand aside for that unprofit BILE of all
occupations, the discussion of declamatory resou-
tons.
involving as insvitabl ydoes, irretIievabe injury to
the public credit, and threatening with National
bankruptey-the calamity which we have all Of us al
ways dreaded, which our enemies have steadily pre-
dcted, and on which they most rely for
throwthough it sends thrill of alarm and anxiety
throughout the entire country. seems produce no
more impression on Congress than railroad accident
or Copierhead riot.
1t is very difficult for this horror Of tax
alton the part o; the National Legislature, except
by ascribing ~ a very false notion of the Of
public feeling Congressman evidently imagine that
people have learned nothing from the events of the
last three years. and that still under the impress
sion that We can pay the expenses of the by
means of loans and paper money alone. There could
not, satisfied, be . greater mistake. II
perfectly proper and pruden, for the overnmen. at
the outset OF the war to rely mainly or wholly
those tao resources.
suffice TO disp the gold and silver in circulation
. perfectly legitimate financial expedient in a sudden
emergency, borrowing
much of tine capital Of the country may not be
otherwise employed And with the IDEAS which
then prevalent IN all quarters 70 the probable dura
ton Of the war, there nothing wonderful in the
general desire that the Treasury Department should
not resort to heavy Il xaou until these two of
supply had been exhausted.
But there has since then . wonderful change come
over the spirit Of our dream. Everybody has now,
matter what bis political opinions may be, just
estimate OF the nasn . o. the strugg. IN weh we
under the influence of overIssues Of paper, has
been brought home to the minds Of the masses in q
way winch no amount Of poltico-economcal preach
ing would ever have done.
There was not much use ia preaching the necessity
for taxation TO people who had been taxed and
great war ~ long any other means Of paying the
bills remain Exhausted. But the most ignorant AMI
stupid person in the community has received sharp
lesson, and IS st daily receiving it, IN the inconve
niences Of trying to carry on war without paying
taxes.
The most tremendous burdens ever imposed BY sny
Government on any community would not equal, in
the same length Of time, the losses which all classes
and conditions the North have sustained during the
last months owing 70 The depreciation Of the
rency, and the consequent rise Of prices and The de-
rangement Of trade and Industry. Everybody feeis it,
from the apple dealer 70 the banker everybody knows
that it would be better for him 10 par ten per cent
his income, beside excise duties everything psoduc
ed sold, than live the life Of uncertainty and anxiety
we are now leading pussins out o. sight aisetetSer
war, and On our National credit
Conse ,nentiy bold that the suppositioa that the
ppse are nos rc7ls TOT AM ssfioES5S AAx1ucn
that sconer than encounter it, they prefer gong
they are, that they do mt understan4 the
nature Of the crisis through which they passing
s notcriousiy untrue, that II il Influences Con-
gress ia shrinking from the Tar Bn s',ey be
ignorant Of the feelings of their consttnssfs b.
unfit 70 represent them; aad they not influenced
BY II, t<r recent behavior indicate indifference TO
the Puble interest % gross and saanele=s - be
little. anything, siOrs q The The major
ity are 50 fond q 6en0uncing
Not prorEde FIR the of The Treasury At this
su.eBl bob by imposing Axes and paying them =