Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-04-23

people b~hel9aclFts they AAo"
and realize the business and equity
Of the claim upon them for bene
fits received directly or directly,
positively or negatively.
But when the laws are made and
administered by those who do not
their authority so TO do
from the people, then taxation is
an onerous and hateful burden,
full OF gall, bitterness and humil.
iation.
In practical legislation the main
interests OF q State are pecuniary.
Let a State become utterly bank
rupt, her wealth squandered, her
money interests sacrificed, and in
the overwhelming maelstrom of
disaster are engulied, all other IN
terests, even personal, for they all
are cooperative aud coincident to
these.
The people then, who represent
this important interest are per
haps few in number but mighty in
effect.
In this sense the people are
those who own the lands, business
and wealth Of the State.
Our present rulers are such by
the force Of the bayonet and
votes Of those whose interest in
the States welfare is Of the weak
est and slightest character. Is it
strange, then, that this state OF
affairs, which is conclusively
termed the result Of circumstances
and the consequence Of our own
acts, should be in reality a terrible
punishment and an odious tyran-
ny? Is it strange that we of the
people shudder at the tremendous
power which is lodged in incompe
tent and INSCRIPTIONS hands, anC
which may be used to our great
injury, and possibly utter ruin
Is it strange, we ask, that We
should begrudge the taxes assess
, ed by such q horde, and lose al
faith in the wisdom and prophet
of their appropriation?
1t appears to be the purpose @
the State party to place . heav
+ tax upon real property. We d
VI
not and cannot object that rel
property shall bear its just pr
portion oftaxation. But it seem
d to be the intention to fastcn q
9 odious, exorbitaut and unfair ia
9 upon this species Of property
u Perhaps the plausible pretext
that the tax shall be the same pc
- centage as to be assessed npt
a. personal property. Such a ru
III is unfair.
70 Personal property is general
30 more remuncrative than real.
i. it fair and just to tax a species
At property valued at ten thonsaT
ar dollars, and which yields an incor
a of one thousand dollars, o
C. per cent. while another speci
q Of property Of same amou
=. il value, but which yiel
;. &C income Of five thousaI
dollars is assessed only at the sar
Nv rate per cent? In the latter ca
III the ability to pay the tax is Il
lr- times greater than in the form
Fe The ability to pay the tax shot
N be the grand criterion. 10 vi
I'D of this reasoning, it seems to
e. that the tax upon real proper
at least upon lands, should be
'"' sessed with caution, and with
gard to its proportional val
Southern lands, especially cot
,h, lands, are looked upon as
tremely productive, and so Il
md are, but it must be remcmbe
ion that there is hardly. 4 planIat
the which does not contain 4 large nj
ond Der ofacres or!and, often the lar
m proportion. which aye utterly
eat rqmuncra,iye, and even dead
w! pcnse, anil that the income Of
,li;atcd lands, spread over
''' whole tract, is diminished t
very reasonable amount. a
zen son why our people has TO ieaI
gu undue and cxorbitant tax u
we're lands is the fact that but very
ING, If the legislators and tax law II
.ros ers are owners Of lands to any
cot tent, being carpet-bagger' and
in groes, and therefore, the gre
thu the portion Of tax they can th