The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-01-19
coPpERuEADs AND TAXES.

One of the principal points that
Copperheads intend to make the pres
ent year is the burdensome taxation
Already they are beginning to rear
and charge like baited bulls, but with
no effect, except a great splurge OF
froth and wind. With no idea oi
how to do it, or what is to be done
to reduce the taxes, they make a
general onslaught on everything that
looks like taxes. The National Debt
is paraded in hughest capitals, and
held up to the people TO frighten them
into the idea of national insolvency,
and general public and private ruin.
While they do this, they carefully
keep back the calculation Of Secre
tary McCulloch that the debt can be
paid in thirty three years. They tell
us that the taxes are outrageously
neavy, but keep quiet as to the reas-
on why they are so. They cry out
loudly against the taxes, but care fully
refrain from mentioning that every
dollar of it goes towards the reduc-
ton of our large, but necessary ma.
tional debt. They lay the responsi.
bility of the taxes on the party in
power, but forget to mention that
every possible means is being used
to lessen the expenses Of the Govern.
ment, with view to tighten the bur
den.
Suppose our national debt is large,
should we not through that see O
country wholly our own-rescued
from traitorous hands-and one that
we may proudly hold up to other ma.
tiops as a modelp
Suppose our taxes are heavy, are
we not now enjoying their fruits and
will not generations that are to come
reap their fruits ? Do we forget that
the taxes we pay 60 to refund the
money that armed and equipped and
paid the armies that gave us coun-
try? that il goes to refund the mon.
ey that was used to feed our soldiers,
to bind up their wounds, to care for
them while sick and languishing, and
now to give them money to preserve
those of them who haze been dis.
abled from suffering? Who can
have the heart to grumble ?-the Cop.
perhead.
We have a national debt of enor-
nous magnitude. For what purpose
was 1t created? For the preserva-
tim OF vur uativn's life. Was tie
cause worthy the outlayP Undoubt
edly. Then it should be paid, and in
what other way can it be paid than
by taxation.
With the burden of q national
debt, came q preserved Union and
its blessings. The national honor
and the honor Of each and every citi-
zen is pledged TO pay the debt. That
honor must be preserved.
Who are the men who howl about
taxes, and where have they stood
during the war for the Union They
are Copperheads. During the war
they stood aloof and talked of it as
"Lincoln's war;" "your war;" etc.
They discouraged enlistments, or.
ganized societies of traitorous
character, and did everything pos
sible to defeat the aims of the Gov
ernment. They failed in this, ex-
cept so far as to prolong the war and
largely increase our debt, and now
they ask the people to strike hands
with them in opposition to paying
taxes-in reputation.
1t is a gross, dastardly insult, and
worthy its source.
The debt will be paid, the taxes
will be paid by the people, and cheer
fully too at that; and the country
will increase in wealth the same as
though there was never such thing
as Copperhead.