Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-04-01

Mes.rs. EDlroRs I'm the few remarks that
We propose 10 make upon this subject we may
iilst say, that governments established to pro-
mote the welfare, and In some instances, secure
Tic liberty of the governed. This being the case
it is right. just, AID proper that the governed
should render unto Cesar tho things which are
Caesars.
In all countries where civil government rcigns
the rulers require that the ruled shall furnish Tic
means to carry on the government. This must
he raised by taxation in some form. The general
government may raise il Indirectly by duty on
imports, and the consumer pays ii without much
grhmbling, and scarcely knows how or when he
pays II. But for State purposes il cannot be so
raised. but must be laid more directly and here
is where the shoe pinches in the tax bill under
consideration. Each separate interest feels that
they have the greatest share. II the Legislature
wet0 to cali all classes of the community before
them aud ask how the lax should he laiJ each
would perhaps say (if not directly, Indirectly, !
tx everybody else but don't tax me; tax every
other interest but not that In which am engaged
The cillzcns OF New Castle county complain,
and perhaps justly, that the interests of that
comfy are taxed in the present bill heavier than
other portions OF the State. This NAV he so, and
yet If 50 less unjust than at first appears. Man
ulacurer5 have heretofore paid less than their pro-
portion of the taxes for County ans State pur-
poses. Heal estates have had To bear the greatest
pnrt OF tile burthrn. |. is therefore ri,rht tbnt
manufacturers should bear their just proportion
and no more, and we think it would have been
better had the Legislature appointed IL board of
a=stssOrs 10 lay the tax Ia bear Oii the entire
wealth of the State, whether it consisted in laud,
houses, stocks, bonds, capital invested in manu-
ihctutcS ships, steamboats, rail ears horses car
| riagcs or anything else that has value in H. We
see 10 reason why one owning n hundred thons-
and dollars in stocks, State or Government bonds,
which is paying him six or eight per cent. should
not pay rs much for the support Of the Govern
mont as another who owns u hundred thousand
IN real estate. that does not net him five per cent
| Ntiii.er do we see why another having hundred
lInn.an1 invested III manufactures should not do
im same thing. Wealth is wealth, whether 10
nllls, mines or meadows. The owner of hum
drr acres should be able, and not only able but
| willing to pay the tax ON hundred acres, and
1 kt wisc the owner of hundred or thousand In
anything else should be willing to pay hispro rata
on the amount Of his wealth.
A board Of assessois, consisting of two from
each county, Of the best and NEST jutlicous men
| IN the State (lf such could bo induced To cerve)
could take the prescut tax lists and compare the
relative value ul property all over the state and
revise the same WHEN needed, adding thereto
such property or stocks rs are not already taxed
and my Just and equitable tax On The whole,
amounting in the aggregate to enough to meet
the requirements of thu Government for State,
county, school and all other purposes for which
taxes are to he raised, aud all collected ut the
same time aud by the same officer, Elaking no
d, elimination. but let all thdt have an interest in
tic Government bear thrr preportionate share of
The hurthen, not excepting capiiatiOn tax, for
vs. tank any man who is either too poor or too
mean 10 pay so small sum ought hot to ask the
privilege To say how Others should he taxed
This my not be popular doctrine but we believe
Il Ia be true nevertheless. KENT.