Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-06
DESCRIPTION OF A WELL-TAXED
COUNTRY.

Sidney Smiths terrible picture of his own
well-taXed country will never be forgotten.
What was then, and is still, true of England
has been made too true of our country, by
the wicked policy of sectional parties and by
the robberies AID plundering which were
permitted in the prosecution OF the war.
Here is the picture:
Taxes were piled on taxes, until they
reached every article which enters into the
mouth, or covers the back, or is placed I'M
der foot; taxes upon everything which it is
pleasant 10 see, hear fee, smell, or taste;
taxes upon warmth, light, and locomotion;
taxes ON everything on earth and in the
waters under the earth; on everything that
comes from abroad or is grown at home; tax
es ON the raw nlateriel; taxes on the fresh
value that is added TO it by the industry Of
man; taxes on the source which pampers
mans appetite, and the drug that restores
him TO health: ON the ermine which decora-
ties the Judge, and the rope which hangs the
criminal; on the poor mans salt and the
rich mans spice; on the brass nails of the
coffin and the ribbons Of the bride. At bed,
board, couchant or levant, we must pay.
The school boy whips his taxed top; the
beardless youth manages his taxed horse
with taxed bride, on a taxed road; and
the dying Englishman, pouring his medicine
which has paid seven per cent into a spoon
that has paid fifteen per cent, filings himself
back upon the Chintz bed which has paid
twenty-five per cent, makes his will on an
eight pound stamp, and expires in the arms
of an apothecary, who has paid license of
hundred pounds for the privilege of put
ting him TO death. His whole property is
then Immediately taxed from two TO ten per
cent. Besides the probate, large fees are
demanded for lurying him in the chancel;
his virtues are handed down TO posterity on
taxed marble; and he is then gathered to his
fathers, TO be taxed no more"
England was hundreds of years in piling
up the debt which compelled this taxation.
We did an equll sob" in four years. II We
shall prove as smart in paying as in accumu-
lating il, and tlus speedily relieve our peo-
pie from its great burdens, we shall much
more exhibit orr superiority TO our English
ancestors and in much more favorable
light-Dotrot Free Press.
EUGENIA or President JoHNsoN.-A
gentleman well informed about the chit-chat
and private little incidents in the palace,
tells me that the Empress Eugene express
ed great surprise at the extraordinary abil-
Ivy AtNlASAt = oAlnNhu AllsHiaNtA III MS hiCS-
sage Ii appears that II. Faverney, the
Secretary Of Legation at Washington,
having come to Paris to enlighien the En-
peror ON the state Of public sentiment in the
United States with regard TO Mexico, had
an audience with their Majesties. On pres
enting himself before the Emperor, his
Majesty remarked that he was much occu-
pied, and that, as the Empress understood
and took 4 great interest in affairs relating
to Mexico, he would refer NJ. Farvernsy to
her. The interview with the Empress was
prolonged enc; she took deep interest
in whatever related TO the United States
and Mexico, and il appeared as If food Of
light had buns. upon her about that conti-
nent, and particularly about the United
States. She aked particularly about Presi-
dent johnson, and remarked that his mes
sage had greatly surprised people in Europe.
"Why, sir" she said, "we understood he
was nothing hut a tailor. He is great
statesman"