The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-08-22
THREE THOUSAND MILLIONS.
Radical Taxes for Six Years--InC .
qualities Of Taxation.
From Gen. Morgan's Speech at Sidney, Shelby
County, August 8.

County, August 8.
THREE THOUSAND MILLIONS IN SIX YEARS.
hold in my hand letter just re
ceived from the Hon George S Bout
well, showing that the amount of reve-
nues collected by the Government du
ring the last fiscal year amount to 3S2,-
100000 and odd dollars Mr.. Boutwell,
remarks that it is proper to say that the
items given in this statement are in no
case less ttan stated, and that they will
all probably he increased when the true
amount is ascertained. Taking the to-
tai amount of revenue collected during
the last fiscal year at S4O0,OOO,OOO, it
makes the entire amount collected since
the conclusion of the war 50, O0,000,-
600, which does not INCLUDE two or three
hundred millions received from the sale
of munitions of war after its conclusion,
and which sum has never been accoun-
ted for to Congress, but in violation of
the law and the Constitution, and with
ont any appropriation having been made
by Congress, has been used by heads of
Departments. The case stands thus,
then: Within six years of time nearly
S3,000,000,O of revenue have gone
into the hands of those in charge of the
Federal Government since the conclu-
sion Of the war, and yet the public debt
has been reduced only S2S4, 100000 of
money. What, fellow citizens, has gone
with the rest? ...-.
INEQUALITIES OF TAXATIoN-oHIo AN
NEW ENGLAND.
There is another point, nv fellow cit
izens, to which l shall briefly call your
attention, and in doing 50 it is not for
the purpose of exciting any sectional
prejudice, for l love my whole country
from the snowy mountains Of Maine to
the beautiful sunny savannas of the dis
tant South but the fact is that this Gov.
ernment is being entirely administered,
not in the interest of the people, but of
a handful of monopolists, most of whom
are the millionaires of the East. Nor
are they satisfied with controlling the
general legislation of the Government
to their own advantage, but with an in
genuity that would excite admiration
did not the burdens created by them
fall upon our shoulders, they have
thrown the great bulk of internal reve,
nue. taxation upon the shoulders of the
West. In 1868 the New England States
paid S25, ,162,04l, while in 1871 the
whole amount paid by New England is
only S6,50S,000, being decrease OF
SlS,654,O00. On the contrary, Ohio in
1868 paid twelve millions of taxes
while in 1871 she pays sixteen millions
being an increase of about four millions
In other words, while in 1868 New En-
gland paid more than double the amount
of taxes paid by Ohio, in 1871 Ohio
pays nine and half millions more thar
all the New England States together
Massachusetts alone in 1868 paid nearly
eighteen millions Of taxes, while Ohio
paid only twelve millions; while in 1871
Ohio pays sixteen millions, and Massa
chusctts four and half millions.
a.t DUTY OF DEMOCRATS.
This, my fellow citizens, is the four
teenth time during the present campaign
that have met the people in council
and 1 regret to say that it is the only
really small meeting that l have address
ed. In some places, Woodsfeld for ex
ample, when estimated by the popula
ton of the counties, these meetings
were the largest that have seen since
1868. The point, however, to which
wish to call your attention, in this: Ev
erywhere have been l have heard som'
Democrat remark: 1.-The people don
take interest as they ought to in the vim
dication of their rights" The ReDub
lcans, even wheE convinced that th
Government is so badly administered
will not aid us in correcting the abuses
which are destroying them and us alike
and there is too much reason to believ
that our free system of Government il
damned from the very apathy of tn
people. Now, my friends, have
word to say to You. The fault is our
more than the Republicans. Had tn
Democrats last year polled the sam
vote they did in 1868, we would hav
carried seventeen Congressional district
in. Ohio. In this very county, whicl
did better than most all the counties il
the State in getting out a vote, ther
were more than nine Democrats ava,
from the polls in each township at tn
last election, and in some counties o
this State the number amounted to fifty
Upon calculation based upon figures
and not upon speculation, I undertak
to say to you now, that if the Demo
cratic party don't carry the State on til
10th day of next October, the fault i
ours. Large numbers of Republican
have lost confidence in General Grant
They are not prepared to act with us
but still they desire that the Dcmocrac
shall carry the State Of Ohio in thi
election, in the hope that the army
office holders who stand at the back @
General Grant will not be able to fore
him upon them, at the next President;
election, as their candidate
! But there are much higher considers
tions than the determination whethe
this man or that shall be Presidents
candidate, which should actuate us t
our duty. We believe that our free il
stitutions are in danger. We charg
and believe that our government has be
come hopelessly corrupt, and that re
form can only be brought about by
thorough change in its administration
Before, then, we blame others; let us d
our duty, and do it like men; and if W
arc not prepared to make an effort t
save our institutions, not only for on
own sakes, but for the sake of our chi
dren, then the time has come when "
are unfit for self government
General Morgan was frequently ap
Iplauded during his speech.
i A Reprehcnsible Habit.
From Once Week.
i There is no breach of that etiquett