Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-01-25
8radford geporter.
Towanda, Thursday, January 25, 1866.
TAXATION.

Weil-WlSher OF the nation VIII aFpldud the
measure Besides the weighty reasons as
signed by the Secretary of the Treasury,
and the Controller Of the Currency, for con
fining the objects of taxation, and relieving
labor, there is at least one other consider
alton that has not been adverted to- and
which appears important to us. it is the
fact, that the labOring men have put down
the rebellion, and when we say this we say
a great deal but just that which the truth
warrants Nne-tenths of the millions who
went out in defense of the nations life,
came from the farms and workshops of the
land This can not be successfully refuted,
and we doubt whether any one will ques-
ton the fact 1t was the farmers and the
mechanics, who did the desperate fighting
that conquered the foe. They it was who
exposed their lives, and endured the hard
ships of the war They suffered starvation,
and the untold c:uelties of AndersonvilIe,
and other Southern prison-pens and now,
shall the labor Of the poor remnant Of those
who have returned from these scenes OF
horror, be taxed to support the government?
No. will be the emphatic reply of every
right-minded citizen; and yet by taxing
the farmers, tanners, clothiers, and the other
needful vocatiOns, those who fought the
battles of the country, will have good
share of the government tax to pay.
\ country is rich, strong, and great in
proportion to the numbers, the strength,
and the activity of its laboring population.
1t is therefore the aim of every good gov
ernment to stimulate labor, and not to re-
tard it by imposing burdens, Unfortunate
ly for us, in our treatment Of labor we have
been too much influenced by the contracted,
and degrading customs and practices of the
European governments. When we discard
these, and give to labor the first, and most
honored place in the social community, as
in the body polite. we will have a start in
the right direction, and not till then. If,
when our State governments, and the Gen
cral Government, commenced selling the
pubic domain, they had 9'ren 1t to actual
settlers, and, along with 1t, one or two dol
lars per acre for every acre improved in
stead OF selling l. to spectators by the
township, the material wealth Of the nation
1rOUld be d0uble what itnow is and the pop
ulation nearly so. This is not idle asscr-
ton, but is susceptible Of the clearest dem
onstration. The pioneer Of every new coun-
try, Is the iorerunner OF civilization. He
/ Is TO society, what John the Baptist was to
Christ. lie leads the way to new Eight,
and higher life; yet seldom does he get
any credit tor the blessing ne conters on his
race, by the heroic tortltude, patient suffer
ing, and endurance
But we digrcss. We started out to com
mend the efforts which the financial officers
/ of the government are making to confine
the objects Of taxation. We quote two
! brief paragraphs from the report of the
Controller Of the Currency. as follows
1T is believed that from a few sources a
revenue can be raised sufficient 10 meet the
interest ON the public debt, pay the ordina-
/ " cxpcuses of Government, and coutrjbute
thirty millions ofdoIIars annually to q sink
ing fund that will pay the national debt in
thirty-two years and half
The tariff can be so adjusted as to pro-
duce one hundred and twenty millions Of
dollars one hundred millions can be raised