Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-06-03
Council of Censors.
EQUAL TAXATION.

We take pleasure in publishing TINS
morning letter addressed by Hon. ). M
Dorr to Mr. Dewey, the member OF tue
Council of Censors from this county upon
the subject of Equal Taxation. ME-
Dorr presents his views in very aoie
ond forcible manner and they Will not
,,;1 20 command the earnest attention OF
The Council about to assemble at Montpe-
lier. and Of the people at large. We COM
mend the letter to careful and consider
ate perusal
7aMe lien. G. c. Deooey.
MY DEA1: SIR,-The Council of Cen
sors, of which you are member, will as
semble at Montpelier on the first We'd
nesday in June next. You will not,
am sure, question my confidence in your
discrimination and ability if as one OF
your constituents respectfully call your
attention, and through you that of the
Council Of Censors to an important duty
imposed upon it by the express provi-
sions of the constitution of our State.
My reasons for doing this are not that
there is any ambiguity in either the lam
guagc or spirit of the constitution, but
because ] believe there is a widespread
dissatisfaction in the state among the cam
did, reading and rejecting masses of the
people Mt the unequal and unjust levy
and collection of taxes in all parts of the
commonwealth. | have the further con
yiction that while the inquiry and inyeSti-
cation into this matter is made impera-
tive by the constitution, aad has been so
since 1899, it has not in our latter Coun-
ellis received that scrutiny which was in
tended by its trainers.
There is nothing which will so surely
bring a statute into disrepute as its con-
slant violation with IMMUNITY, and that
this 43rd see. of our constitution, proyid-
ing a Council of Censors and prescribing
their powers and duties, has no stronger
hold on the affections Of the people is in
part, at least, owing to the conviction
among the people that it has become Il
maze mottrofJ @ryu. which had better be
disposed OF at once 10y its abolition
In the early history of our State, the
most rigid scrutiny was exercised upon
all the branches of inquiry laid down in
our organic law, but in later years the
conviction prevails that these examina-
TONS ii ever made, were of the most SUI
periicial character, and oftenor as the re
suit of the mere rec Election of the cur
rcntoyent, Of the last scptcnary
The provision OF the constitution to
which I desire to call your special atten-
ton, is in these words "They are also to
inquire ii the public taxes have been just
~ laid and collected in all parts of this
commonwealth"
The burdens of supporting the govern
ment are very wi-ely imposed upon the
real Land personal property Of our citizens,
each being obliged to contribute in the
ratio of his worldly possessions. Tie
purpose of our fathers was. that this dis
r'hutiou should be made permanent and
never open to the suspicion Of inequality
or injustice. Ii legislation should ever
tgeome corrupted, the rich impose heavy
huriAens upon the poor, centralized or
class influences prevail to the injury Of
any one. this power WIS placed in reserve
that the evil might be corrected, the fiat
Of tn. constitution break down the dis
tinetious, and i'll commanding appeals to
the people and their servants secure the
remedy
An Important truz Ia, been conf'lcd
ia you blythe people Of our County and
state. While you are representative Of
whole people, you have been selected
from among the many able men Of our
county to guard a, well the interests Of
the people in one OF the most i'm
psrtaut counties in the whole com
nonvetIth. That the duties devoly-
ing upon you 10y the acceptance of this
trust. Will be most faithfully executed,
have never questioned, and that you may
feel that others besides yourself have felt
ana are feeling an earnest interest III the
questions which must be met and answer
al by the council Of which you are a mem
Der. is one reason for my addressing You.
Have the public taxes been justly laid
ana collected If they have not, the con
shtution has been violated, and the peo
pie have suffered injustice and injury If
this is capable Of demonstration, no clear
er duty ever devolyod upon a constitutions
al body than To proclaim it to the people,
Al
prapiatc channel the application of the
remedy Tie people of Vermont, with
iI their characteristic forbearance, will
NOT forever submit to injustice. Unequal
tt>uinn brought directly home TO their
heads and pockets II half dozen times or
more every year, is no unfaithful remind
er Of injustice. TO demonstrate that
taxes are not Justly laid and collected :"
need only to refer to the history of our
own town We have large. grand list,
probably much Larger than any other
town in the State We have also a large
debt, and no one will question that our
taxes are also large To some taxpayers
the taxes are not oppressive; to others
know that they are. To a man strug-
Cling under debt. which he hopes to
pay by honorable industry and the most
searching economy, know the taxation
III our town and State is a serious him
drance in reducing his debt. His diff
Guilty is aggravated perhaps by his debt
being mortgage on farm, which he
had hoped to leave uiincumbered for his
wife and children His scanty store of
personal property is SO far an offset to his
debt, but this is little relief to his bur
thens, He has struggled for five years
manfully, but to no purpose. What is to
be done-2 He is reading man, reflect
ing man, Il man of judgment and pru-
dence He sees but one alternative-the