The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-01-24

TO OHe0Q Hid. Anu uudIly, cItlZenS, ln-
asmuch as you make the roads, and he
drives over them; as you put UP gas
lamps, and he sees by them; as you pay
for maintaining courts, and he brings
suit in thom, as you build jails and pen
Iitentiaries to confne persons who steal
his property; and lunatic asylums for his
care and restoration, should he become
insane; and dumb and blind asylums for
the benefit of his children, should they
become deprived of sight or hearing; in
asmuch as yon do all this, while he con
tributes nething-not farthing of his
bond money why, he naturally con-
cludes, citizens, that you ought to pay his
taxes and educate his children; and his
conclusion mustabejust, for you do both
without murmur. And yet, citizens,
you have the bad taste to boast that you
have descended from ancestors who COM
PEELED the British Government to repeal
the odious stamp act, and then made war
because England insisted on levying a
tax of three pence on pound of tea
Is it not strange, citizens, that we do not
blush with shame while we think of our
condition, and contemplate the deeds of
our sires
What, citizens, do you propose to do?
Are you SO weary of liberty that you are
content to become slaves? IF not, then
let us all cease our puerile chickering's
about party, and think and act alone for
our couutry-for our liberties. Do this,
and there is yet hope, for he never can
become a slave who is worthy of being
free.
THE SOLDIER AND THE BOND OWNER.
When volunteers could no longer be
obtained, all citizens between the ages Of
eighteen and forty-fve, who were not
rich enough to procure substitutes, were
liable to be compelled to join the army.
For the poor man, there was no hope-no
remedy. No matter how large or how
destitute might be his family, the hus-
band and father was forced to confront
the perils of war. The battle fought,
the victory won, peace restored, the SOL
dier returns home MANNED and helpless.
Perchance he has a small house, cow,
two hogs, and few chickens, and these
are the amount of his worldly store. Is
this returned soldier exempt from taxa
ton? No. Near by there lives sol
dier's widow. Is she exempt from taxa
tion? No. And further on resides fam
lily of orphans; the father was killed IN
battle, and the wife and mother died of a
broken heart. There |! behold them, in
this cold, bleak night. See those desc
late ones cluster around the dying en-
bers upon the hearth stone. Are they
exempt from taxation? No, my country
men, no! Their father slumbers in q
soldiers grave. with his country's flag
around him; but his orphans - look
The tax-gatherer is after them! Then,
in Heavens holy name, if those orphans
are not worthy of exemption, who are
who? Why ask the question? Is moi
the rich.
BOND OWNER?
/ Money was also needed, and none but
the rich had money to iend-and be il
here said in all justice, that here and
there among the rich, there were noble
and generous spirits who faced the storm
of war. But did the Government com
pei the rich to lend their money, as the
poor were forced to go to war? No; but
the money lenders said to the Govern
ment, "We see your distress-we know
that unless you obtain money, the Union
! will be dissolved but you can only have
oar money on certain conditions. You
J must pay usury--it must be paid in GOLD
: lit must be paid semi i-annually-we mus
!. be secured by mortgage nall the prop
! erty in the United States, and finally
lyou must give US your bond that in al
future time, neither we, nor our children
shall be liable to State or Municipa;
| taxation Grant eur terms and exist
refuse them, and perish ! The Govern,
ment yielded; the bond was signed
moneyed aristocracy was created in oui
midst; and to-day it controls both branch
es of Congress, and the Legislatures o.
every Northern and Western State.
! UNJUST TAXATION THE FRUITFUL soURCl
f OF CIVIL WAR.
5 In his great speech on 'ConciliatioI
) with America" Edmund Burke remark
ed,
!. at has happened, you know, sir, tha
the great contests for freedom in thi
country, were, from the earliest times
t chiefly upon this question of taxa
] tion.'
!? But of the many examples which nigh
e be cited, I will only refer to two.
: The House of Commons, alarmed a
!, the usurpations of Charles I, limited hi
} supplies. In the exercise of his prerog
r ative, the King dissolved Parliament, an
Y in violation of the British Constitution
: by proclamation, based on the plea Q
n necessity, levied taxes. And in order t
0 give color of law to his usurpations, b
called upon the judges to say 'twhethe
in case Of necessity, for the defense of tn
i. kingdom, he might not impose taxation
S and whether he was not the sole judge &
e the necessity" "And these guardians {
: the law" says Hume, with great CON
S plaisance replied that in case of necessi
II ty he might levy taxes, and that he wa
# the sole Judge of the necessity" A ne
It Parliament was held and dissolved, an
1t new taxes were levied by force of th
l. Kings proclamation. John Hampden-
) a name when must ever be revered, Will
s. liberty Is cherished--retused to pay Ii
y tax, and became the champion of II
n British Constitution. His trial rouse
d England from her lethargy, and inaus,
N rated the revolution which brought Il