Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-14
Yes, " Keen n Before the People"

oppressive to the mass of the people, to the
producers, and also TO the consumers, if
carried into practice, than the above, unless
it might be Wade Hampton's plank, "That
zee regard the reconstruction acts (so-cdlleD
of Congress as asurpations, and unconstitH-
tional, revolutionary and Uoid" Forced by
the cruel, causeless and stupendous war
waged by the Democratic party against the
government from 1861 to 1866, it was ne
cessary for the Republican party to resort
to taxation to provide for the wants of the
government, to equip, arm and pay the ar
my and navy, and to sustain the legal and
legitimate authorities in the enforcement Of
the laws and the vindication of the author
ity of the legally elected Executive. To
render this burthen as light as possible
upon the masses, it has been as far as prac-
ticable the policy of the Republican party
to tax luxuries, and leave the necessities of
life untaxed, thus throwing the weight of
taxation upon the rich, or those able or who
felt disposed to crafty their desires by In
dulging in articles of luxury.
When the rebellion burst upon the eoun-
try, the present system Of taxation was un-
known to the people, and unnecessary. The
war created it, and it is Democratic sys-
tenn, having been by that party forced upon
the friends of the government. The readi-
ness with which Revenue Department
has been created, and sufficient amount
realized yearly for the support Of The de-
partments, demonstrates the elasticity OF
republican institutions, and the ability of
our people to meet any national emergency.
During the first years Of the war we had no
revenue system, other than that created TO
meet the wants of the administration upon
a peace basis, and before the machinery Of
the department could be put in motion, the
war of the Democracy against the govern
ment had created an immense debt, upon
which to maintain the national credit we
have yearly to pay an amount of interest
far exceeding the costs of the civil depart
monts. The great financial burthen of the
war fell upon the people during tho last
year of the war, and the first year succeed
ing, or the years '65 and &c. The expenses
of the War Department for the year ending
June Both, 1865, was s1,O31, $4,000, an
amount so great that the revenues of the
years "a, 60 and &c would scarcely be suf-
fcient to discharge it and hence, at the
close of the war, we had debt of S2,757,
$50, 751, Of which the Republican party has
paid s246, 689, 757, leaving balance unpaid
of $2,511 geo, 900, and on which we have to
pay, yearly, $40, 100000 of interest The
Democracy forced the creation of the debt
by the attempted subversion of the govern
ment 1t is just debt, and the people will
not repudiate it, but will pay it. The debt
being just, the interest is just and must be
paid and we find that all the expenses Of
the administration at the present time, out
side of the ordinary expenses, which would
have accrued in time of peace, say 500, OOO,-
600 per year, are forced upon us by the De-
mocracy. They exist by Democratic action,
and are the result of rebel Democratic re-
belliOn.
The question pertinent to the issue is,
how they shall be paid, both debt and cur
rent expenses. The Republican party have
attempted to do this by taxing, as we said
before, as far as possible only articles Of
luxury. Taking the articles Of consump-
ton in the aggregate, the list of those taxed,
which are used by the masses, is very Gmi-
ted. The rich pay the burthen of the taxes
But the Democratic platform says, Equal
taxation Of every species Of property according
to its Udlue." Let us see how this would
result. Under Republican sway, all the
grains grown in the United States are free
from tax. The Democratic party would
tax them according to their value The
Repub licans do not tax horses, mules, cat
tie, sheep or hogs-the Democracy would
tax them all according to their value"
The Republicans do not tax farms or city
lots, houses or out-buildings. Democracy
would tax each according to its UaIue."
Republican revenue laws do not levy
taxes on property Of any kind, excepting
watches, gold and silver plate, &c. The
Democratic Platform says tar "eUery 8pe-
clos of property according to its valne."
The Republican party has protected, anC
is protecting, the poor men of the country
at the expense of the rich, by levying NJ
tax upon property, but by taxing income
which exceed 81 900 per year, after deduct
ing all losses sustained by fire, shipwreck
or incurred in trade, and all amounts paiC
for taxes and house rents so that if you
own 81 900 worth Of property and by mis-
fortune it does not yield you over 81 ,00C
income per year, You arc not taxed. Tn
Democratic party would tax every dollar''
worth of that property at the same rate tina
it would tax the rich and fortunate. L
would tar the poor mans last dollar.
Farmers, mechanics and ldb0rerS Of III
| South, do you rant an cad vdlOrem" tar leu
led upon your property DO you rant every
thing you orn tared according to its UaIue
IF you do vote the Democratic ticket.
you vote that ticket, you vote TO tax sac
cording to its ralue' your farm and you
city lot, your grain and mechanical tools
your horses, mules, cows, sheep, hogs, hay
bacon. potatoes. onions, and, in fact, every
thing that the earth produces or that live
upon its productions. More than that, yo
vote to tax your house, store, bedstead, ia
BILE and loom, the cradle in which the goo