The Van Buren press., 1871-08-22
For the v. b. Press.
Taxes.

We all know what taxes are. We are
made to feel it once in twelve months at
least, and sometimes oftener Some one
has said there are but two things abso-
lutely certain in this world, and they are
" DEATH and T'o1es and the latter
seems to be certain oftener than the for
mer. The fact is the Tax is Tyrant
that rules with an iron rod relentlessly,
and, without remorse, he reduces widow
hood and orphans to poverty and want,
and saps aud undermines the very foun.
dations of thrift and industry, and trans
fers the product Of honest toll into the
ever hungry Golfers of the public treasu-
ry from thence, the largest share leaks
through unseen openings into capacious
pockets Of fdishonest officials. But while
all feel tho weight of the taxes but few
take the trouble to- inquire into the cause,
for certain amount is absolutely neces-
sary for the maintainance Of peace and
quiet in the community. We notice one
fruitful source Of this burden: The
Dram Shops They are the lesches that
fastcn themselves upon the body polite
and suck out the life of its industries and
morals, and leave their loathsome slime
and poison to complete the works Of de.
structiop, 1t is ascertained beyond doubt
that nine, teaths of all the criminal cases
coming before our courts Of justice, have
their origin in or about dram shops.
One diry little cross road grocery will
furnish work for n grand jury the best
part OF n week, and as much longer for
the court. The county must feed some
in jail for from one to six months, and
as they have nothing must then pay the
bill so Dne-tcnths Of the expenses OF
our courts arc directly traceablc to the
dram shops. But this is not the greatest
evil. Every community is rich In the. ele-
ments of happiness and prosperity just In
proportion to the moral worth Of the in
dividuals composing it. Let us see how
dram shops affect morals. They are the
hot.beds of profanity: foul mouthed
swearing at all times and upon all occa.
sons, is heard from their visitors young
men are cnticed by gaudy show and bril-.
liant illumination, and the generally bland
manners 0 their proprietors, to enter
them, where they soon become familiar
with all the vices and wickedness Of the
community. They first take I" social
drink, "play game of billiards for pass.
time, from which ii is an easy step to bet
ting something on the game. And then,
if he has means, he is soon robbed by ex.
perts--tries to regain his losses, loses
more, and soon loses his character and
becomes a worthless vagabond. From
this source spring lying, stealing, forge.
ry, hghting murder, poverty, abuse Of
wife and children and all untold misery
incident to this catalogue Of crime. That
this is not an oyer-drawn picture, every
observant mind will readily acknowledge
and why men Of intelligence and good
judgment about other matters should
negatively, If not positively, sustain what
are the vampires of society, is . matter
beyond comprehension. -
TEyAs-There is prospect Of lively
times in Texas. The Radical governor,
Davis, and the Radical legislature are at
loggerhcads. The Legislature wants to
meet in extra session, in September, for
some purpose, and the governor wants
to prevent the meeting, if he can--par-
ticularly as it is intimated that the house
will attempt to impeach him, and depose
him from office. II was at first said that
the governor would issue a proclamation
forbiddng the special session; but the
latest givings out are that he will lock
the doors Of the capitol building, and call
upon the federal troops in Austin to
keep out the intruders. The extra ses-
sion is callnd for Senfnmher Lsof<is