The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-09-21
Taxing Government Bonds.

The Democratic party nowhere claiin'
that government bonds are legally TAXA
ble "by or under State or municipal au-
thority; but it claims everywhere, IN
Wheeling as well as in New YORK; that
these bonds are taxable for Federal pur-
posesaby the Congress of the United
States, and it demands that they shall be
30 taxed. "Our Democratic friends I"
understand this matter perfectly. We
demand nothing in relation to the pub
lie debt, but such equalization OF the
public burdens as will enable the people
to pay it without sense of injustice
The exemption of government bonds
tom all kinds of taxation is manitestly
and palpably unjust 1t places upon d
part of the people the burden WHICH
should be borne by all. And whlIe the
Democratic party counSels no ACT VI io-
pudiution. no breach of the public faith,
il insists that at least some por-
ton of tho expenses OF the gov
eminent be borne by the capital
lists who derive their income by taxing
their poorer fellow.citizens. There is
nothing in the laws authorizing the is
sue of government bonds which makes
these bonds exempt from taxation under
Federal authority. They may be made
to bear o share of the public burdens,
without any violation of law or of good
faith. Justice demands that they be
taxed at the earliest possible moment.
And, while speaking of this subject,
we call the attention of our readers to
the estimate OF the State and county tax
for the current year, published in our
local columns this morning. The tax for
State and county purposes which is as.
sessed upon and must be paid by the
taxable citizens of Ohio county amounts
to about four per csst. of the property in
the county, Now let US see how this ex-
smption of government bonds from all
species of taxation works. A returned
soldier has succeeded, by much priva-
ton and rigid economy, in saving from
hispay and bounty, two thousand dol
lars which he has invested in O small
house aud lot and scanty stock OF
furniture. He is compelled to labor hard,
from morning until night, to provide
Subsistence and clothing for his family.
His taxes, exclusive of the city tax OF OF
any tax levied by the Federal govern
msnt, amount to eighty dollars per annan',
and it is only by the most watchful and
sslf.denying prudence that he is able to
pay the tax and keep his family from
starvation.
His neighbor, "loyal" man, who has
been, like DORSEY of Ohio, lighting
copperheads in the rear" during the war,
and who has managed by means OF some
fat contract or executive appointment to
Ill his pockets with public plumber has
invested twenty thousand dollars in colo
bearing government bonds. He owns NJ
real estate, but he boards at first class
hotel, sends his children to the public
school, Is protected by the police whilt
he walks upon the streets lighted at cit!
expense, spends his days in luxury AM
ease, enjoys all thsprotectiou and benen
of the Federal State and municlpa'
governments, draws twelve hundred dol
lars in gold from the United States treas
ury, and, except the poll tax OF one pa
try half dollar, is not taxed ole cent
Now is there any justice in this2 any
thing equitable or right2 Must thi'
state of things continue and grow worse :
The Democratic party of Ohio county IL
its recent convention at Triadelphia de
olarsd that it was Gin favor OF such b
system of taxation as will bear equal!
upon all classes Of citizens and was op.
posed to the exemption of any species OF
property from the burdens which should
be borne by all" All who agree With
that sentiment aud who believe the
present system unjust and oppressive
will naturally support the party that
protests against these things.