The Cecil Whig., 1866-10-06
Compensation for Emancipated
Slaves.

We notice, by our exchanges, that the
alarm is being sounded throughout the free,
or northern, counties OF Maryland, that the
object which lends most power to the efforts
of the slave party, composed mainly of the
fragments of the old Democratic party, EN-
bracing all the rebel element Of the State, is
the hope Of receiving compensation for their
former slaves, by tax on the property of
the State. We have heretofore referred to
this matter in casual and partial manner;
and propose to present some more definite
facts for the consideration of our readers.
The value of the taxable property of
Maryland, assessed for State purposes, in
1863, was S27s, 5O7, $40. The number of
slaves owned in Maryland, at the beginning
Of the rebellion, was, in round numbers,
$1,000. These 81 900 slaves, valued at S40O
per head which was the maximum taxable
value of that species Of property, and
which was considered far below the real value
by slave owncrs-will amount to, in round
numbers, $35,0Oo,O00.
In the debates, in the convention, when
the present Constitution of Maryland was
being framed the slavery representatives
claimed that their property in slaves, at the
commencement of the war, was worth $50
OoO.o 900, and this amount they will strive to
secure as compensation, out of the property
Of The x-payers of the State, if they can
persuade the people to place them in power.
But, for illustration, we will state their claim
at So, 900, 900, and see how it will effect the
interest Of Cecil county, in paying her share
OF that tax.
The assessablc value of property in this
county, for 1866, was something over So. O00,.
600, but, dispensing with fractions, we will
set it down at that sum.
The property Of the State, for taxable pur-
poses. being valued at two hundred and
eighty seven and a half millions, on which
to raise Il tax of thirty five millions for the
payment of eX shareholders. would require
levy of more than l2l per cent The tax.
able property of Cecil, in round numbers,
was valued, in 1866, at S., 900, 900, accord
ing to the above computation, which is de.
rived from the statistics of property as given
in the Comptrollers last Annual Report,
and from the assessment books of this county.
We find from this data that the tax to nav
for slave property in Maryland would take
from the pockets of property holders in this
county Sl,0oo,00 Every man can com.
putc what he would have to pay of this slave
tax, by multiplying his present tax. which is
about | per cent, by II. Thus, if he pays
Sl2,1o on $1,000 worth Of property, for
State and county purposes, he would be re-
quired to pay an additional tax of Sl25,
making his whole tax sl37.50 Oh his 81 200
taxable property.
We now ask if property holders of Cecil,
to crafty party prcjudices or party pride, or
for the mere vim of saying they belong to
the 'Democratic party" or any other party
are willing to vote fora party who are pledg-
ed to the laying of this enormous burden on
the property of the State and county? We
trust they will repudiatc such a policy by
casting their votes against the Copperhead
johnson ticket, now soliciting them in this
county.