The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-25

NDAA ASO A14xA1DGAs 80 ~
cling to the old spirit OF luminosity, hatred and
revenge. 1t is manifested in the North by de-
mands for the execution of the rebels and CON-
hscation, and in the South by disposition to
stir up strife. But amy person of observation
cannot fail 10 see that this feeling is held
only by comparatively few people in each
section. The question tEen is, will Congress
| jeopardize the interests Of the country by
pandering to this miserable minority, or, like
statesmen, labor fer the complete and early
adjustment Of all our internal troubles by
carrying out the wishes of the masses, aad thus
secure an immediate restoration of the Union?
President Johnson sees and comprehends this
change oftone In Tie public mind. He restless
that the people desire above all things that
settlement shall be reached, and that In
accomplishing this the people arg ready 70
bury all anfmosities 30 as to allay and con.
ciliate, and not continue the spirit which
existed during the wm. 1t Is on tits poing
that the majority Of the present Congress have
failed to represent the people or appreciate
their duty to the country. They are not there
10 do the bidding Of contractors, TO devote
their attention to jobs nvT to widen the breach
! Between different sectiouss The people do not
desire them to teGr down and destroy, but TO
harmonic and build. up. II, therefore, shey
continue to do the bidding Of such destructive
radicals as Mr.. Stevens, and follow him in all
bis schemes again. the Presidents policy.
they will find themselves repudiated by the
people and their party destroyed.
TAXATION AND REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED
SrATHs.-From the time Of the first pro-
test against the British stamp dutics-from
the very origin of our governmental has
been one of its positive principles that
taxation and representation go together,
and must be proportionate to one another.
The good reason at the basis of this is
that the federal government knows nothing of
the people.except as 1t sees them at Congress.
1t has no power to inquire into such private
concerns as what incomes they have. 1t recog-
nizes each Congressional district as q Congress
sonal district only, and when it proposes to
raise given revenue by dirsct taxation on the
people the sum must be divided equally
among the Congressional districts, each dis
trict raising an equal share, without reference
to the relative wealth or poverty of its popula-
ton. The provision Of the constitution on this
subject is distinct that Representatives and d.
rect taxes shall be aPportioned among the sew
eral States "on the same basis, that basis being
the census taken to find out how many Repre-
sentatives each State is entitled to-. Elsewhere
the constitution declares that ono capitation
or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in pro-
portion to tho enumeration hereinbefore d.
rected to be taken" The Same enumeration
that ascertains how. many votes We are entitled
TO In Congress. must ascertain what. proportion
we are to bear Of the public burdens. ~
How. docs the operation Of tho Internal
Revenue law answer to this constitutional re-
quirements Not at all. It is outrageously in
defiance ofiG Far the larger part Of the revc-
nue. derived under that law il by direct taxa
ton, and the simplest consideration will show
that II IL enormously burdensome upon this
city. The receipts from internal revenue for
the last year were $2ll 100000 in round
numbers. This, under the constitution, would
require from each district represented in Con-
gress $l,200,0O0. New York city, having six
congressman, ought, therefore, U pay rs her
share Of the whole sum. 81 ,2O0, 900. But the
truth ID that this city did mot pay less than
S20O0O,000, and, perhaps, paid nearer
$so,ooo,OoO. We paid the proportion Of at
least twenty districts, where we ought only to
have paid for six. We paid tenth part Of the
whole sum, instead Of paying thirtieth part Of
It. The Internal Revenue law is, therefore, un-
constitutional and oppressive, and ought to be
repealed at once.