The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-08-19
GEN. VEATCn AND COL. BeHART.
4 GREAT POLITICAL LoHE-FEAsT.

given, the large hall was filed
with ladies and gentlemen. who
were anxious to hear General
Veateh, our next Congressman,
and Colonel DeHart, former Fede-
raj officer, and one of the most elo-
quent speakers who has yet visited
our city.
General Veatch was introduced
to the audience by Mr.. Philip Decker
and was received with loud and en-
thusiastic applause. When quiet had
been restored, the General said that
he would at once proceed TO speak Of
the financial question. When hon
est men come to take view of the
subject, there could not be much diff
ference OF opinion. 1t was fact that
all were aware of, that great
debt hung over the people of the
nation, amounting to about $1,000
100000. There was but two ways of
settling that debt-one was by repudl-
alton, and the other by paying it, He
believed that all honestly disposed
men were in favor of paying the debt.
If the question was put to all honest
men, they would say pay it, but the
mode Of paying the debt was a sub
iect for consideration. There were
two modes by which this debt might
be paid, or two modes by which the
money could be raised for the pay
ment of the dcbt-one was by direct,
and the other by indirect taxation.
As to the question of the tariff,
all parties were agreed on
that point. That goods of foreign
manufacture should be taxed sufi-
GENTLY to protect manufacturers at
home was a settled question. On
that proposition no Democrat pro-
posed a change.
1t was about the internal revenue
tax that he proposed to speak, and it
was that he wished to examine into.
All could understand that the tax
levied by the State and by the county
was for the support of the State and
county governments. Tho mode of
raising tax, as proposed by the Re-
publican party, was by indirect tax
alton, or by levying a tax on those
who have an income of over one
thousand dollars, and on the legal
profession, the medical profession, on
steamboats,, hotels, &C., and those
who are able to pay the tax. This
was the system proposed by the Re-
publican party.
The Democrats asserted, in their
platform, that they were in favor of
equal taxation. Equal taxation meant
that every foot of land and every dol
lar of produce should be taxed. BY
that system, If the national debt was
to be paid, the proportion ofthe debt
for Indiana would be 1884, 900, an d
on the valuation of property each
man would have to pay SIT so on the
81, 900 of property, or 81 70 per hun
bred dollars worth. By this system
the poorer States would be
made to pay more than the
richer ones. It was argued that the
poor pay the tax. In the county of
Vanderburgh the banks pay about
81, 1000 of tax. Can any man tell
what proportion of that tax the poor
man, who never entered a bank in
his life, paid? The legal gentleman
paid license or a tax for the privi-
lege of praeticing his profession. He
was taxed because he could afford to
pay it. Could any man tell how, or
in what way the quiet, orderly and
peaceable man, who never had
a law suit in his life,
paid any part of that tax ?
The hotels were taxed because the
business would allow it; but could
any man tell how, or in what way, the
farmer who never had occasion to
stop at hotel, paid part of the in
ternal revenue tax?
But it is contended that the land
lord, with a large income, pays a
heavy tax, and in turn makes up for
that out Of the tenants. But what
about those men who never rented a
foot of land in their lives, and make
less than 81 900 per annurn; can any
man tell how, or in what manner, they
pay an income tax? The telegraph
companies were taxed, because they
were corporations which could afford
to pay the tax. Can any man tell
how farmer, who never sent or re-
eeived telegraphic dispatch in his
life, paid any part of that tax?
Thus it was, hotel keepers, steam
boats, lawyers, doctors, and all men
whose income exceeded $1,000 per an
mum, and who were able to pay this
tax, were required to bear the bur
| den. This was the Republican plan
for the payment of the public debt,
| The speaker alluded to the fact that
those who never pay any Government
tax at all, were those who most gen
orally complained. a-
1t was argued that there was gov.
eminent tax on cigars. If men chose
to indulge in the luxury of a
cigar, they, Of course. paid a
proportion of the government
tax indirectly, but it was the
manufacturers. who could afford it
who paid this tax. The government
had levied tax on whisky. 1t used
. to be said when men went into sa-
loon, that they went there to take 1