Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-05-20
The Present Radical Tax DiSCOur-
ages Immigration and Drives
Out capital.

EECScHG AkduICdl lax D1SCOuT
ages Immigration and Drives
Out capital.
HE EXTRAORDINARY INCREASE o
EXPENDITURES.
VALUE OF PROPERTY REDUCED
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. MORE
THAN QUADRUPLED.
Mr.. PRESIDKNr:
| had expected that tic groans o
a taX-burdened people, coming ~
from every portion Of our State.
would have, at least, met with suG
tlclont sympathy, even on the Re.
publican side OF this chamber, AS to
have caused an attempt al ~allcvia.
ton. But, alas for the poor tax.
payer such is not the case, if the
spirit crlnced, by the Senators from
the Ind and 18th Districts, tScna,
tors Gibbs and Wmner,) is to be
taken as an index to the sentiments
OF Republican Senators. | do hope
that Senators will not insist on the
continuation of onc-half of one per
cent, but will agree to the amend.
ment ofthree.tenths ofono per cent.
For l verify believe that Il reduc-
ton OF the present ruinous rates of
taxation, will, in very short pc
ROD OF time, by the increase value
OF property, pay into the State
treasury more revenue, than the
present system.
Why, slr, do | come to this con.
clusion? Because, all property is
valuable, in the ratio Of its produc.
t'vencss, or capacity to yield. An
investment OF $4,000 which will
yield $1,000 per annum is GOOD.
But when the State, County, NUM-
clpal and School Taxes, on the SlO,-
O0O amounts to from $500 to $500,
Which is to be taken from the ST..
V0O, leaving a net proceed of but
from $500 to 500 on the $4,000
invested, then the investment be-
comes bad. Capital, at once, be-
comes dissatisfied and deserts such
Investments. Not that the Weld or
product is unsatisfactory, but that
so large an amount is absorbed By
burdensomc taxation. If such I'M
wise Legislation does not drive all
the capital out of the State it d.
m'nlshes the value ofpropcrty, Just
in the ratio that it increases taxa
tlon. The productiveness remain
ing the same, the increase eff taxa
ton diminishcs the value-and the
of taxation increases the
OF property. There are re-
pnbllcans that attempt to ridicuIr
conservative Senators by calling
us economists, when we insist on Il
reduction Of the imuositions from
our people and our State. | would
answer such with the assurance.
nat the honest Woodworking people
u our State, will in the coming
lection, make them repent for the
''gh-handed injustice perpetratcd
II lavish extravagant salaries, made .
y this Legislature. They seem to
that the land, the realty,
which is made liable by the act Of !
$40, for its own and the tax ON :
personality, is the only truly per-
property ofthc Stato--phvs-
cally the State itself.-As the pco- :
'lc are politically, tho State, all !
ngisIation should keep steadily in :
nc" the great objects of govern
lent, the security Of its citizens +,
nd the protection of its property, ,
nd not its contiscation. And | do !
1sist that Legislation which dimin. {
the value of property, oontis-
ateS it to the extont ofthat'diminu- :
ion. I
II is boosted here that the credit !
I the State must be sustained. !
o regret that such Senators torget '
nat the people. have rights that !
lust not only be respected, but !
lust be guarded and protected. |
nd while the State government )
lust have its necessary expenses /
romptly paid, the people, the ?
reat producers of the revenue of :
le State, must not be sacrificed. !"
u. President, it DOES appear TO me, |
ut III this case Of high taxation, !. .
'e contest is between tho TAXPAYER . y
: producer and tho officcholder on !
,nsumer. Yea, verify between q
Dor on the Que hand, and the Of :
'e-hoider on the other. But there
e Senators who insist that the =,
'penses of the government, be q
what they may, must be borne, .,
that the one-half of one per !,
ut. Is absolutely necessary Ia. sup i,
'rt tho government. Will Sena- !,
rs give mo thor attention for a r.
v minutes while | attempt to in II
'stIsate this subject? In this day q
Republican rule, | would ask 10 nj
nora are the greatly increased cx- m
fises oftlie government paidf To 81
9 officers Of the Republican GOV. 4,
nment; by whom are they paid? ii
Y we honest Taxpayers Of the or
id--the produec1s--the laborcrs. mr.
not tf4 taxes honestly applied i! 81
ant tAat they are. insist that sil
ey arO e~xtravaganb and greater IL
ase absolutely necessary. For an
etore the war there were in the Il.
ate Of Mississippi ten Circuit a.
ayes at q salary Of $500 each, NJ.