Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-05-11

For the last four yeats, the war has en-
crossed so much OF public attention, that
the people have had little time or opportu-
nifty to think Of anything else. But now,
as there is a reasonable prospect that hos
tilities are at an end, it becomes the peo-
pie Of the country to give earnest heed to
other subjects Of paramount Importance,
which affect their interests deeply and vi
tally Foremost among these is the sub
iect of taxation. The magnitude of 'de
debt incurred by the war is almost h.yond
computation.
But the great, the l@e.,;ing fact, to be ta-
ken into consideration is, that the vast
amount required to discharge this debt, or
to meet tho interest upon it, must be drawn
directly from the labor and not the capital
Of the country. This is a fact that should
not for moment be lost sight Of.
This has been the case, to some extent,
at least, undercvery Administration Of the
Government, for the reason that capital
can be concealed, while the home and the
stock of the farmer, mechanic and laborer
cannot be. Men of wealth, too, generally
manage, even il taxed to the full extent
Of their means, to secure an offset in the
shape of office, contracts, or privileges of
some sort, which is not accessible to those
whose whole time and energies are needed
for the current support of themselves and
families.
But these inequalities are now made the
more conspicuous and oppressive by the
positive action Of the Government, in ex-
emptiug its bonds from taxation. Millions
upon millions, in this State alone. which
have heretofore, as money at interest, con-
tributcd revenues to the State. are now
Withdrawn from the list Of taxable prop
erty, and stored away in government bonds,
drawing extra interest, which is part OF
the public debt, and which other property
must be doubly taxed to pay. One man
has thousand dollars at interest. Before
the lst of April he collected it, and con-
cealcd it in Government bonds, and thus
escapes taxation. Another has farm
worth thousand dollars. His local tax
cs will be increased not only by the dimin
ished amount of taxable property occa
stoned by his neighbours action, but by tn,
necessity of paying his neighbours interest
There is palpablc and manifest iniustic,
and oppression in this kind Of legislation
aud it ought to be remedied. 1t can be
but it will take time to do it. The grea
mass of the people, upon whom this bur
den falls so heavily, must take the mater
in hand in legal and legitimate way, ant
correct the evil, The way to do it, is tc
restore the good old days of Democrat,
supremacy, and with it the cardinal prin
ciple of that party, that the burdens, a
well as the blessings of a free government
should be borne alike by the rich and tn,
poor. The stale and infamous doctrine o
ancient lederalism--"Let the Government
take care Of the rich, and the rich will TAX
care of the poor"---should be repudiate,
and denounced by every man worthy o
the name of freeman.
Let Democrats again be placed in ofiic
and Democratic principles be again restor
ed, and the evils and expressions whicl
now weigh SO heavily upon the industr,
and prosperity of the people, will soon b
sWept aWay