The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-01-24
W0ODSFIELD MONROE COUNTY OHIO JANUARY "a, 1865.

negotiation of loan of two million liv-
res in 1859; nor did the bankrupt meas
ures of the Able Feorrai in 1772, prevent
the negotiation of fresh loans in 177S, and
every subsequent year"
TAXATION.
Then, citizens, inasmuch as the Ma
tional debt is to be perpetual, and as it
bears compound usury, it behooves us to
consider the means by which the usury
can be paid.
Heuvy taxation is the logical and in
evitable consequence of a heavy debit
But what is taxation? tits the compul-
sorry taking from individuals, portion of
their property to be consumed for public
purposes. Hence by the payment Of the
tax, the individual becomes that much
poorer, and by the consumption of the
tax when paid, the State becomes to that
extent enfeebled. The dollar continues
to exist, but the bushel of wheat, the yard
of stuff, or the pound of powder which
the dollar purchased, are absolutely con-
sumed and destroyed. Money is the cir
culating measure of value, end the same
dollar by the process Of circulation may
purchase products to the value of several
hundred dollars, and ceaselessly continue
to purchase an indefinite number of other
values; but the -four, the gunpowder and
clothing, when eaten, burned or worn oat,
are absolutely consumed and lost forever
that is, the nation is exactly that much
poorer than it was before. And since
March 1861, the United States have actu-
ally consumed and blotted out of exist
ence, property equal to nearly one-third
of the real and personal wealth owned by
the Government and people of the Uni
ted States, without taking into account
the losses caused by the rayages of war.
INCOME TAX.
Political economists advise the levying
of one of the following kinds of tax, and
to exempt from taxation all other OBJ
jects:
1st. Either on capital, as in Ohio.
3D. Or on income.
Sd. Or on Consumption-all that is
eaten worn or used.
4th. Or on all kinds of legal forms and
proceedings, notes, bills, &C., &C..
Prior to the inauguration Of President
Lincoln, with the exception of the sales
of public land, and the postofice, the rev.
enue of the Federal Government, princi-
pally accrued from an indirect tax, called
tariff, on the consumption of imported
articles; and it was so light that the peo-
pie did not feel that a tax was levied. But
now we are taxed on incomes; we are tax
ed on consumption; we are taxed on legal
proceedings; and our rulers have copied
from England the long,detested, and just
ly odious stamp tax, and there are thirty
FIVE hundred specific articles upon which
there are different grades of taxation
Nor is this all: we are taxed three times
at least. on every article we wear. On
the leather of which your boots are made
there is tax before it leaves the tanner
who adds the tax to the value of the
leather, before he sells it to the bootma
ker; and when the boots are made they
are taxed six per cent. on their value
which tax is added by the bootmaker tc
the price of the boots, which have already
been taxed once; and when you buy the
boots, the seller is taxed on the profit he
makes on them, which tax is also added
to the price Of tne boots, and thus on tht
same pair Of boots, you have been taxed
three times. which, in degree, explains
the reason for the high price you paid fol
them. But although in the price of tht
boots you paid the tax assessed on th'
tanner and bootmaker, they also are suf
fcrers; for the higher the price Of boots
or hats, or coats,or dresses for your wives
and daughters, the fewer of these articles
will be sold; but the evil will not be great
lily lt,until our currency is reduced from
seven to three or four hundred million
dollars, when dollar greenbaek will b
redeemed by dollar in silver-that is
when the people feel that paper dolla
is really worth dollar, they will tax
care of it accordingly.
| 1t seems to me, citizens,an [ would b'
Iglad to learn your opinion relative t.
what | am about to say-it does seem t,
me that taxation should be equitable; tha
lis, that each citizen should be taxed ac
cording to his means; and if | am in er
ror, | trust that l may be corrected, Fo
example, where two persons have tn
same means, it appears to me that the,
ought to be taxed equally. But suppos,
that one of them is worth twice as mucl
as the other, would it be just to make tn
lpoorer man pay as high tax as the mai
who is worth two dollars to his one? Yov
say that it would be unjust to do so; and
believe that yourjudgmentis right. Well
then, let US suppose that Mr.. Jones, VIII
has no business or profession, and VIII
lives without labor, has wife and family
: and is possessed of an Income of sixtee
hundred dollars. accruing from mortgag
securities; and he has neighbor, MI
, Smith, who owns no property, but has
wife and family, and is also possessed Q
J an income of sixteen hundred dollars, tn
product of his industry. Now, these tw
men have the same income, and pay th
same amount of tax to support the Fede
raj Government; but what is their rela
tive situation? Jones is worth owe
J twenty Six thousand dollars secured
: mortgage, which Yields him, without Il
] Dor, sixteen hundred dollars year; viii
Smith owns no property, whatever, an
his income, which is the product of h
' toll, not only depends upon his health, bl
: also on his being able to procure emplo,