Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-07-30

Mr.. Allen G.. Thurman, of Ohio, addressed
the recent West Virginia Democratic Mass
Convention, following Mr.. PendletoD. Judge
Thurman was the Democratic candidate for
Governor of Ohio at the last election, and is
the United States Senator elect, who will take
Ben. Wade's place next March. He said upon
the financial question:
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
Judge Thurman said the public debt amount
cd to So, 500, 900, O00 What it was exactly at
this time was difficult to say, from the fact
that the Treasury Department vas quite dlla-
tory in making its monthly statements. Per
haps this neglect arose from the tact that at the
last monthly statement the debt had increased
about nine millions Of dollars in a single month,
and that the next month will show an increase
of twenty millions-a monthly expenditure
sufficient in the days Of jackson TO run the
Government for SIX months IN all Its depart
I,ents while this is simply the increase OF the
public debt Tor the short space OF one month
The speaker read from the printed report OF the
Secretary of the Treasury to prove the correct
ness of his estimates.
TAXATION THEN AND NOW.
What a contrast this condition of national
finances presented with that which existed at
the time that Jackson made his proclamation
that the United States owed not cent IN the
world Why wonder these Radical Is sought to
avoid the issue, and DECLARED the only questl on
was whether we should have another civil war?
This cry might do to brighten few-the speak
er was about to say old women, but he would
mott might do to brighten few Waverlng
men, who could be frightened out of the coun-
try by q few old women with broomsticks.--
This terrible second civil war was put forward
now to divert attention from the public debt.
Compare our debt with that of Great BIZ
tain. Our debt was two thousand eight hun
dred millions; that of Great Britain four
thousand millions. But while our population
was only 100000, the population OF Great
Britain was 80, 10000 The rate Of taxation
in Great Britain was ninety cents on the hun
dred dollars, while the American people were
taxed ut the rate of IS % on the hundred
dollars More than three times as much as the
taxes imposed on what we had been IN the
habit of plying, as the poor, tax ridden peo
ple of Great Britain Some one might say,
You are mistaken Mr.. Thurman; | do not
pay So. % on the hundred dollars 1t might
not be the case with individuals, but such was
the rate Of tayason on the people in the az
grecate, upon their personal and real estate
WHO PAYS THE TAXES.
Ii might be claimed that the laboring Door
paid no taxes That was great mistake
Labor paid all the taxes. Tremendous ap-
plausc.
How was it that labor paid the taxes? The
problem was simple. 1t could be proved from
the Scriptures: 'ln the sweat OF thy face shalt
thou get thy bread" 1t was the mandate Of
Heaven that nothing was produced without
labor. Not particle OF wealth was created
except by labor. The little poverty. stricken
boy Of Western Virginia, who followed the
pillow, contributed more to the material wealth
of tie country than did the richest bondholdcr
who rolled in luxurious case. LAppIauSa
The grain of corn dropped by the little boy
would grow and benefit the world, but the man
who did nothing but live on the interest OF his
bonds added nothing to the wealth Of the
country.
Suppose some ambitious young copperhcad
should take into his mind to be the owner Of
six shirts-but if this Radical Government
continues much longer, you wont be able to
make SO extensive an investment Applause.
This ambitious young copperhead goes to the
store and proposes to get eighteen yards OF
muslin, for which the merchant charges 81
"How is this" says young copperhead u
used to buy eighteen yards Of muslin Tor q,
IF the merchant answered truthfully, he would
say, cit is true we now charge you 81 for the
same quantity Of muslin you used to buy Tor
81" The reason is this There is tax of
three cents a pound on the raw cotton. The
manufacturer who buys must add this to the
price Of the manufactured article Then
Uncle Sam comes to him and says: Dear Mr..
Shoddy, bought shoes of you in Massachu-
sets which lasted my soldiers only few days;
you sold me cloth to make them pantaoons,
which were not whole any longer after they
had stopped to drink from the brook the first
time put a little tax on your business. -
Mr.. Shoddy puts that little tax on the manu-
featured goods and charges it on the merchant.
Then comes Uncle Sam to the merchant and
says: "My dear fellow, know you are truly
loyal, laughter and applause you must pay
taxes on your sales. Or, if he is not truly
loyal, so much the more necessity that he shall
pay and this is cIapped on the price, land when
he finds young cOppcrhead comes to buy his
six shirts he finds three separate taxes on the
goods, which he has to pay. You see now who
has the taxes to pay. 1t is the laboilng man.
And so he will have these taxes to pay until
the Radical party is dead
Judge Thurman dwelt at some length upon
the draughtS made upon the people S pockets
by the Government. A national debt has been
pronounced national blessing; but the pro.
blem bad failed to be solved satisfactorily to
those who suffered the effects
The aggregate value Of the property in this
country was below what it was in 1860. Then
the negroes were put down at a thousand mil
lions. Lands can now be bought in the South
at five dollars an acre, which were before the
Icsr worth tiitV dollars ner acre
We have in this country the most memorable
system of taxation in the world 1t follows
man into every nook and corner Of his business
Ii bis vile has made a pound Of butter, it is
put down on his income list II some old
grandmother has plucked the feathers from an
aged and f0rlorn goose, the feathers and the
poor old goose must be taxed to support the
Government These inquisitorial tax-gatherers