The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-09-09
From Indianapolis Journal
TaxatiOn-Direct and Indirect


Thomas A. Hendricks, lent the light
of his luminous countenance to a
Democratic convention held a few
days since in Clinton County. He
also consumed two hours of daylight
in addressing the remnants Of the
anti-wa Democracy of that county,
but whether he narrowed up their
souls by repetition of his usual
TRADE against New England, the
published proceedings strangely are
silent; but as speech from the Sena-
tor would not be his speech unless it
contained divers and sundry epithets
against New England, we hazard
nothing in assuming that he was him.
self on that occasion.
1t is not the speech, however, that
we propose to notice, but portion OF
the resolutions adopted by the meet
ing, which were probably suggested
by the Senator, and were as follows:
"Resoired, That we are in favor of
a system of equal taxation, predica-
ted upon all property and valuables,
that the burden Of labor may be
lightened
.'Resolced, That we demand the re-
demption of the United States Gov
eminent bonds In the same currency
In which they were contracted, that
there may be no unjust discrimina-
ton between the citizen and the
bondholder
The men who adopted the first of
these resolutions would feel grievously
oppressed if the National Govern
ment should change its present meth
cd OF collecting revenue for the one
therein recommended 1t is the ad
gdlOrem system under which the
State, counties, cities, townships and
towns levy aud collect their taxes,
and it could not be extended to the
collection OF the large revenue de-
manded for national purposes, with
out becoming absolutely ruinous to
the agricultural interest, the most i'm
portant Of all the industrial interests
of the country. The State levies taxes
on property, whether productive or
unproductive. while the bulk of ma
tional taxation islmposed upon profits,
consumption and Injuries, far less
burdensome system of revenue than
the inexorable, dead level method of
tax per cent. on the value Of prop
erty. .Lesft
The financial REPORTER 1866 shows
that the United States realized du--
ring that year, from the income tax,
$60, 1874, 1876; from stamps SIS, GA, 373;
from fcrmented and spirituous liquors,
$34,313,7 chewing and smoking
tobacco, $12,339, 921, and from licen-
ses. SIS, OILS, 743. ), sham e aas.l a@4
From these FIVE sources the Gov
eminent derived revenue of $780,
6O7,3S3, and but a small portion Of
this large sum was drawn from the
pockets of farmers. The largest item
is the tax upon incomes, of which we
venture to say the farmers of Clinton
County did not pay enough to serious.
ly damage sthem, indeed there were
several single Congressional Districts
In the Eastern States that paid
larger income tax than the entire
State Of Indiana, yet the favored
farmers of Clinton County we're led !
by pack Of repudiating demagogues
to declare themselves in favor OF
abollshlng all indirect taxation. where
by the wealthy and luxurious classes
are made TO bear the heaviest portion
OF the public burden. and OF raising
national, as well as State and local
revenue By direct tax upon their
own farms. There is no question but
that the commercial and manu{actur-
ing people of New England would be
extremely happy to accommodate the
Clinton County Democracy In This
particalar. for it-would greatly lessen
their taxes while corresponding
increasing chose sofs the agricultural
The truth is is > and it Aiis is well that
farmers should understand it. that
the revenue system of o the United,
Statesrhas been so framed as to favor
them, beyond any other class of the \
community, and when people In the.
rural districts are led by party mana
gers to clamor for a. change which
would require a direct tax upon all
property iuQproportiops to- it's value.
they are simply asking the imposition
of burden upon themselvesrwhich
they would find too grieyous to be
borne. 'a@ ahs7A aFA - ("
The second of the foregoing resolu-
lions has no practical Importance
now, and cannot have for years to
come. The Government is not ready
to redeem its twenty or forty year
bones, and until it has the means to
pay them 1t IS not important to dis
cuss the question whether they shall
be paid IN gold or currency. We
have yet to redeem large amount of
compound interest notes, and 7-3O
bonds, all OF which are payable in
legaltenders, aad-un they are out.
of the way there is no necessity for
vexing the public mind IS to how we
shall discharge other obligations nots
yet due. a e ~ q..o a,,lsal.. s. S.. I
Il. sheridan,s Flghting Traits. . .Ia5..l