Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-28

1nJartbe cioaE ~ Isgislation. The only diff
ference between the two classes Is, Ihst OLo
takes the risk Of being eonNleted ~ psiTto-
and the other eyades punishment 49,
zether. He who rObs his ueishDof u tee1s
ton. only does IN another way WhAt a Aizn
wayman and thief does IN MS
and 1 agree with yOu- Inc taxes I'M
pesed upon the poor people OF Tennessee
bv the tyrants who have ruled for the last
few wears are no less unconstitutional
han those complained of in Arkansas;
md III there be a legal mode of resisting
the payment Of such taxes, let US oy ali
means resort 10 it.. We have been long
enough imposed upon me burdened by
tyrants; and let US now refuse TO be long
er burdened down by them. We have
been plundered by legislative thieves and
villains of the deepest dye have fattened
at our expense. They ave saddled a
upon US grievous to be borne, and
while we struggle and sweat to make the
tale of brick necessary TO pay the to
meet the interest on the State bonds,
these villains laugh in their sleeves, be-
they are mostly nOn-tax payers. Is
there a legal remedy Can we without
violence relieve ourselves from the heavy
tax? I wish 10 hear from you on the sub
ject.
securing relief for the future, SO far as
Tennessee is concerned. We shall
have a pretty large bill to pay for the
round of decentralization and dissipa-
ton which we have gone through for
a few years past, in which the vultures
have busily CLEANED the harvests as
well as the garbage, and it may be this
will 60 hard with US somewhatlonger.
But we have now a good round ma
iority of honest working men in our
State Legislature, and we doubt not
they win do all for Us which can be
legally and properly done. We may
take it for granted they viii refuse APP
preparations for pretended debts,
which we do not in law or conscience
owe, and that they will not shrink
from the task of Investigating the true
pecuniary condition of the State.
When this is ascertained, we doubt
not they viii take the proper means
honestly to provide for it. And so far,
we shall have no reason for repudia-
ton or excuse for resistance. The
only thing further we need for relief
is industry, economy, and an honest
administration of public affairs.
But to secure all this, salaries
must be reduced in many cases,
and where officials are amasslng
wealth by the fees and %perquisites OF
Office, TO the tune of tens and twenties
of thousands, as some are doing, the
wheels must be scotched at once, and
a check put upon the leak, which is
costing the State half million per
annum When the fees Of a clerk or
other officer reach 4DO0 in excess of
the proper expenses of his Office, we
should say the balance ought to go to
the State Treasury, as long as taxes
amount to eight per cent. and prohibit
the introduction Of capital, and so
long as it remains eternally true that
labor pays the taxes which are wrung
ut last from the sweat of the brow OF
the laboring poor. If we cut down
expenses and manage with severe
economy, half the present rate oftaxa-
ton will put the State bonds at par in
quick time. There will be no doubt
about our credit and ability to get all
the time we need. We shall not be
trusted if we go on in spendthrift fash
ion, as we have been doing, allowing
the plunderers TO work their will ad
H6ilm. But economy, energy and
fostering instead of depressing legisla-
ton, will give US credit, and we shall
have following prompt sunlight in
business.
There is one thing which ought
not to be overlooked by our
incoming Legislature, and which
will require critical inspection
and attention, and that is the
principle on which our State taxation
is based. To make taxes perfectly
equal, according to the means of every
variety of business, capital and abih-
ty to pay, is to give perfect content
and satisfaction to all, with ability to
pay. Though the taxes of A. are
heavy, seeing that they are necessa-
rily 50, hewill not complain if he is
taxed no more heavily than his neigh
Dor B. and the rest of the alphabet.
But taxing men by classes, selecting
out of the community as victims OF
taxation merchants, land owners, cot
ton producers, or others, who have as
good a right to thrive by their honest
business as other people have by
theirs, and especially at the same time
releasing capital in money, bonds, or
other forms, will not give satisfaction
or bring prosperity. The consequence
Of such legislation is to encourage
men to hoard, to depress business, and
to discourage production. The taxa
ton Of the State need not be exees-
sively heavy, if we will govern it at
the cost of 1850, as we ought to do,
and make taxation perfectly equal.
We think One-halfthe rates now paid
will then prove sufficient-at least, il
we pay nothing but what We owe,
and extend the time for payment as
we shall be entitled and free
to do, when it is seen that our affairs
are well managed, and the State once
more in the way to thrive and grow
in population and wealth. Cut down
the expenses; crush out the spoils-
men, whether they are born in Green
lands icy mountains or India's coral
strand, in America or Atrica; save your
money; and you may make taxes
bearable enough, 50 that we shall have
no complaints or failure to pay, as
was the case in the olden times. To
reduce the taxes and equalize them is
the surest way to increase the amount.
1t will bring in capital, capital will
bring in population, population will
bring wealth, and the more wealth
the more taxes at any given rate per
cent. Such a policy will double the
capital and population of Tennessee
within ten years. Its Inauguration
will be a boon to our people, which
win make a jubilee on every day of
its annual return. Low taxes, free
trade, large wages and great wealth
go together. The land will grow fat,