Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-02-07

can elect Sinclair for Governor by ma
tjority nearly equal to that by which
they were defeated last year. While
the Republicans do not confess that de,
feat is in store for them, they manifest
considerable uneasiness at the confidence
and enthusiasm of their opponents.
In a former letter made brief allu-
sion to the fact that in the ranks of both
parties there is considerable grumbling
about high taxes. As the question is
discussed in public meetings the dissat-
isfaction is daily increasing. The stump
speakers of the Radical party take good
care to.avoid the subject, but those of
the Democratic persuasion enlarge upon
| it with greatemphasis, and the T. L. LIS
are also industrious in aronsing the peo-
pie to realizing sense of the burdens
upon them. Governor Hartman, who is
making pilgrimage through the State,
only alludes to taxes and the national
debt, when he charges the responsibility
upon his opponents. What the demo
Gratis lay great stress upon is the proba-
bility of law taxing bonds and the
heavy taxes upon. certain articles of
manufacture. As before stated, there
are many Republicans who listen atten-
lively when these things are talked
about; and if they are assured that the
election of Democratic Governor in
this State will be a step toward reform
they will be pretty likely to throw their
votes accordingly. Aside from the ma
tional taxes, there is also considerable
growing about the manner in which the
State tax is levied, and the democracy
promise reform in this if they are given
the power. The obnoxious features of
the State tax are these:-Each city or
town makes up its own estimate and de-
cides what the poll tax shall be; and the
higher the poll tax the less will be the
tax on property. Here in Concord the
poll tax levied upon every voter is be-
tween seven and eight dollars, and in
some places it is as high as twenty dol
lars. 1t will be seen by this that the
rich men and property holders are pro-
tected at the expense of the poorer class.
If man fails to pay this extraordinary
poll tax he is of course disfranchised
from voting for the present and each sue
ceeding year until all past arrearages
are paid up. What the poorer classes
ask for and what the opponents of the
Radicals promise is law similar to that
in Massachusetts, which provides that in
no case shall the poll tax exceed the
sum of 50. All other necessary funds
to be raised by taxation must accrue from
property. There are many adopted
citizens in New Hampshire who have for
years refused to become haturalized on
account of the excessive poll tax, and
the Democrats are actively engaged in
urging upon such the certainty OF re-
duction next year, and the result is that
they have thus far succeeded in procur-
ing the naturalization of about thou
sand, and all of these will of course go
TOR Sinclair. The largest number natu
ralized in one place was in Manches-
ter.
The Democrats are very silent on the
Presidential question, but the Republi-
cans are as enthusiastic as ever for Gen.
Grant If reports are true, however,
there will soon be powerful undercur-
rent at work here against him. l learn
from good authority that General Butler
is preparing apamphlet, giving his mill
tary and political history, and among
the charges which it will attempt to
prove will be those of repeated acts of
drunkenness, backed up by the sworn
affidavits of certain officers under him.
This document, it is said, will be circu-
lated prior to election, both in New
Hampshire and Connecticut. 1t is sta
ted that an application was made few
days since to Senator Sprague, of Rhode
Island, for contribution of funds to
carry on the campaign here, and that he
refused most emphatically; and it is fur
ther alleged that both Sprague and But
ler would rather see the Democrats than
the Republicans victorious in this State,
for the reason that Grants chances for
the Presidency would be diminished and
those of Chase increased corresponding.
ly.