The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-10-12
an Internal Rerenue assessors
Experience.

An assessor of internal revenue in one
OF the country districts of New York thus
describes his experience among the farm
ers:
awe call to leave blanks with a farmer,
the owner of hundreds of acres, nearly or
quite out of debt, with spacious, we'll
furnished houses and outbuildings, and
every external appearance of thrift and
enterprise. He meets US, perhaps. with
a curled lip, or scowl, and commences
with TRADE on the war. We reply We
have no inclination TO discuss those topics
on this occasion, and he endorses the elig-
geStlon, but out of the fulneSs of his heart
continues, closing this part of the CONVEX
satlon with the remark that he has no
taxable income, and claims that his ex-
PLANTATION should be sufficient TO save him
from further trouble in the matter. We
reply that his statement must be made in
figures, and try to give him reasons why.
He replies that the whole war debt should
be repudiated. We make a short reply
and leave, and hear no more from him.
In making up our sheet his case presents
itself, and now comes the pinch. If We
assess him We are accused of political per-
secution, if We pass him by we are guilty
OF neglect of duty, and have disobeyed in
struetions. So we grasp our 'odious' pen,
enter a tax and the penalty, and take up
a new case. Next, farmer from DIFF
ferent locality presents himself in obedi-
ence with notice served, and expresses
himself ready to report
Question-Where is your statement ?
Answer have not had time TO make
one vet.
Question-How do you expect TO make
a proper report without onel
Answer-Oh, | can do it in very few
minutes
Question-What, and consider it suffi-
ciently correct TO swear to2 Why, yes. |
on stack Of Bibles as high as you please. |
We'll, then, proceed.
Question-How much live stock did
You sell in 1865, and what amount did
you receive?
Answer-None, | believe.
A short pause, with the head inclined
thoughtfully forward, while sitting at the |
table, '65. 90, 6-yes, l believe | did
sell two calves and so the believing and
guessing goes on with strong tendency
against tax, with memory apparently |
very accommodating, and when the bal
ance is struck the order of the blank must
be reversed in order TO receive the state
ment. Income far below nothing. And
yet this man is positively well of, lives in
good style, and acknowledges that he has
made money, but last year was a 'sticker'
so this case is passed by and left for fu-
ture consideration, with one positive de-
clslon on our part, and that Is, if you
should continue guessing hereafter as be-
fore, we shall feel compelled to guess also,
and not being very familiar with the act,
there may be some tall guessing against
you.
And now the scene changes. A come
ly, unassuming farmer approaches with
memorandum in hand, and presents a
statement, full and clear, in dollars and
cents even, which is readily transferred TO
blank No. u, and footed with the same
ease and quickness that the deductions
are that follow. A respectable balance
subject to tax is the footing. and vet this
farmer has no more visible appearance of
gains and profits than the two already
alluded TO. We raise our eyes from the
pleasant task Just finished, and how his
manhood, in contrast, looms up before us
how visible and indelible is that sacred
motto imprinted on his manly brow
First my God, next my country, then
myself >"