Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-08-07
EQUAL TAXATION.

The Democratic platform was constructed
with an Equal Tazatiun plank intended
as a catch-pcnny for the unwary.
Let us see how it would work. The In
ternal Revenue Laws, framed by a Repubi-
can Congress, apportionod the taxes, abso-
lutely required for the national support, in
such a manner as to bear heaviest upon
those who could best,bsar them, and lightly,
or not at all, on the poor Under that law
to-day no man pays an income-tax unless his
income Is over a thousand dollars. Under
this law scarcely fifty men in Bedford coun-
typay an income tax, and the great maiori-
ty Of the people pay no government tax at
all. This is judicious and statesmanlike;
exempting the poor and middle classes en-
tirely from the burthen Of taxation. Truly
this IS not equal taxation, but it Is the taxa
ton that pays the debt Of the nation with
out laying its burthens upon the poor and
the needy, the widow and the orphan and
the day-laborer Under it the poor man
and his children have all their rights and
liberties preserved, and are permitted to
occupy their homesin peace unmolested by
the tazgatherer' call Whatw ould the
catch-penny Equal Taxation" Of the
Copperbcad platfam do in this case
Letus see how Equal Taxation would
work. Equal Taxation would require
that every man who owns dollar worth
Of property should pay his exact pro
portion Of the amount Of taxes requisite
to pay the debts of the nation. Il
would carry the taz-gatheror into the poor
mans cabin to filch the last dollar of his
hard earned wages for taxes and leave hi.
children to famish for bread. 1t would toll
the widows basket Of meal and tax the pool
mans pig. 1t would lay the heavy HAND
upon, and exact the last penny from, high
and low, rich and poor, alike, never consid
eHng whether there was left a shelter for tn,
widow and her orphans or clothing anC
bread for the starving poor. Such woulc
be the result Of the 'Equal 7a1atiou' Goa
corning which Copperheadism makes such
hue and cry. True it is that the Republi
can Congress has not made an equal taz
law, but it is a just, fair, righteous and lib
eral one. 1t screens the poor in their pov
erty, and lays no additional burthen upor
the shoulders already bowed with the care.
ofpoyerty aud want. The Republican par
ty Is the poor man friend and cxempts hin
from taxes of every kind. Copperheadisu
yaunts itself upon Equal Tarataon, anc
would lay tax upon the last dollar of tn,
wayiarng poor. Let the poor man thinl
upon this, and consider whether he prefers
to be taxed. If he does let him vote thu
copporhead ticket, and cry out for Equa
Taxation and he viii get it. But if h,
wishes to continue free from taxes, and le
those who can afford it pay them, let hin
vote the whole Republican ticket. Let tn,
small-iarmer and mechanic, and every MAJ
whose income is less than $1,000 conside
whether he prefers to be taxed or not. 1
he is ambitious of figuring in the Interna
Revenue tax list, let him by all means yot
for Seymour and Blair; but if he prefers t,
remain free from taxes, as he now is let hin
not only cast his own, but persuade hi
neighbor to cast his ballot for Grant an,
Colfaz and the policy that exempts the BOO
man from taxation.