The Van Buren press., 1868-09-18
Taxes = Beauties Of Radical Legislation

TaXeS-beautleS OF haolcal Legislation,
The true end and aim of all govern.
mcnts shonld be the greatest good to
the greatest number, To so arrange laws
as to be productive OF happiness to the
people and q bulwark of protection to
their life, liberty and property. But little
happiness can be found in abject poverty
when that poverty is brought about by
evil legislation. When those who enact
laws forget the duties they owe to the peo-
ple, and instead of seeking to render the
condition the masses more tolcrablc
aim all their legislation at filling their
own capacious pockets, they rapidly
breed a horde of corrupt followers
and soon plungc the people into poverty,
misery, and distress Are we not in this
condition? II wcare it needs no arg,l
Inent to convince any one, that change
is essential and is the only pcaccablc rem,
ely known to our form of government
What have the pseudo statesmen. who
have flooded our State, done for us, by
legislation, calculated to increase our
comforts and amelioratc our condition.
Money is the fruit ofhbor and the magic
wand that calls up comforts, necessares
and luxuries Of life. ANY system oflaws
that unnecessarily deprives the labormg
man or other, of his money for public
ases is, in its very. nature aud essence,
vicious, to be deplorcd-and ought speed
lily to be abolished, Among the most
vitality important laws or acts passed bv
the bogus Legislature recently adjourned,
stands prominently forth the new "Rey-
enue law" This act was withheld from
the watchful eyes of the people, as long
as decency would permit. The" advanc-
ed sheets containing "the most impor-
tant acts, necessary to be known" were
long since promulgated, but did not con
tain this most important and necessary
to be known ofall the criminal acts Of
this body. Why9 The act answers for
itself. 1t is the key that unlocks the
door and fully reveals, to an astomded
people, the deep-seated corruption of its
AUTHORS. Will the people read and pom,
der few extracts from this "act," that
completely revolutionized our revenue
systemg After enacting in section LIST,
that all real and personal property shall
be subject to taxation, the act defines
by section End what is meant by per
sondi property" in the following words ;:
".,Erery tangible thing being the subject
of ownership, whether animate or i,on;
matc.N This, then, is the meaning ofthe
act You are taxed at about the rate Of
five DOLLARS $500 on every One Hun.
drcd Dollars, (slOO) worth of personal
and real property; and personal property
means cats, dogs, pigs, hogs, calves,
ycarlings, COWS, steers, colts. horses
pocket knives, table knives, forks, plates,
spoons, cups and saucers, Gngcr-riugs,
ear rings hats, boots, coats, pants, socks
lis 1t necessary to further anumcrate the
hundred Of trifing things, which can be
the subjects Of owaership," and which
are, for the first time in our history made
subjects of taxation Each one can make
his own list Everything you oma o.,
earth, and the sroud md ccria for yopy
J0ay 9fter death, is TAXED and for what :?
i it to pay the expenses of your State
Government economically administered :?
By7no means. ltiis to PAY the carpet
baggers" and " scallawass,' who have
been hoisted into office By the votes Ola
large MINORITY OF THE PEOPLE The ex.
ira Supreme Judges. Circuit Judges, and
to plS2or the THOUSANDS STOLEN in.thc
rabfc Printing business. But suppose
you And that BY paying this onerous tax
you will beggar your family, take the
bread from yosr se.fe and children and
'yon~fuse to pays 'Scction30 acquaihts
ycu with the consequences AZ follows
ascc, 80, AT any time subsequent 10 the
,.frst ,day pfJune, in the year 1869, and
y saeA, ,ysAr thereafter, ct any time subse-
',quchttO tho FIRST day Of May, after such
~itAxcs become due, the collector or his
y deputy shanqist,ain sufficient goods and
""cbattsk. bf'oaging 10 tie persoa-cAWged
= ritA ta<sy keied npoa pasoaui proper
- lyi'I no., ste,s. aud after advertising for
"tsn dsys sell the sasne 70 the highest
\ b3dder," stc. (, Did, devIlish ingenuity
ever invent viler scheme to non the peo.
n|s .aaass The Euiss q !awY This Is done