Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-08-19


Government bonds taxed the same as 9th
er property. 1t is unnecessary 10 become
indignant on this subject, for it is matter
that will be discussed more and more by
the people as they become better acqusint-
ed with the facts involved in the question.
As we understand it, this Government
is made for the benefit and welfare Of the
people. 1t is made by the people, and
for the people. 1t was never designed as
an instumentality by which privileged
class should be built up, who were to be
entitled by law to live without producing
and to make the labor OF the balance Of
their fellow-citizens defray the entire eX-
penses of the Government
We consider it the duty of every citi-
zen of the United States, to bear his equal
share in the obligations, burdens and re-
sponsibilities of the Government. We
understand this to be the cardinal princi-
pie upon which the whole organization
rests. If by any legerdemain of legisla-
ton, or by any temporary ascendancy of
class or party interests, this great cardinal
principle is violated, it is o right remain
ing with the people to correct such NAL
administration of their affairs in any man
ner that will be necessary to remedy the
evil, and as soon as they can change the
agencies Of administration. .-
We do not understand it to be within
the Constitutional competency of any set
of administrative agents the people may
temporarily select, to say to any class of
men: You shall henceforth be exempt from
your proportionate share Of lie obligations
Of this Government If one Congress can
make binding contract of that kind with
= one class, another Congress can exempt
another class, until those whose circum-
stances may not enable them to combine
for self-protection, may become the vic.
tins to a system of partial legislation
that would consign them to hopeless op.
preston.
We take it that the property and per
!. son of every man is pledged to an equa
t responsibility in bearing all the burdens o
} the Government, and that there is no Con
;, stitutional legislation that can relieve per
y petually the persons or property of an!
man or class from that obligation tina
the same power which attempts to do SO
4 can afterwards be appealed to to correc
the evil.
y Now let US look little further. Sa,
d the bonds of the United States, held il
A this country, amount TO one thOusan,
" millions of dollars That is perhaps one
:, tenth OF the total aggregate of taxabl
. property in the United States These es
Inmates are made in round numbers 70
p convenience. 1t is claimed that Congress
D. when it passed the laws under which thes
,e bonds were issued, provided that the
should not be liable to any tax, In othe
words, that if man would lend the Gov
10 eminent 800, 900, by buying one hundre
u U. S. bonds of 81 900 each, with none
/, that was liable of course to its proportio
sr of the burdens of Government, hi
800, 900 thus invested, should pay hiI
- perpetually seven and three-tenths pc
10 cent. interest per annum, and shall foreve
% after be exempt from taxation. Now, W
y say, that such pretended contract, mad
:" or proposed to be made on the part of tn
" agents of the people on the one side, an
class of avaricious men upon the othe
v is without Constitutional authority
against public policy, and null and voit
u and can be so rightfully regarded, as 500
NC as the people, who are the principal, O
ne whose behalf such bargain was mad
" can turn their agents out of Office, an
~ put new ones in their places, who will
Vi more faithful to their interests.
III, Where did the administrative agents
x of the Government get the right to repl
diate on behalf of one thousand million
of dollars, its liability to bear its share
10 the public burthens-HERE is WHERE TE
REPUTATION is. Is one thousand million
of dollars, belonging only to those Who ha
.,,oo,a . ba time raliaya1 nh Il