The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-02-28
ISEQCALIrY OF TAXATION.
Taxation Reduced i'm the East at
the Expense of the West.

Taxation Reduced in the East at
the Expense of the West.
General MORGAN, of Ohio, IN recent
able speech, took pains to exhibit the
operations of this iniquitous system, in
manner which deserves the widest cir
culation, as it claims the most serious
attention Of all rejecting minds. Moth
ing so striking and conclusive has been
presented on this subject, and we avail
ourselves of the result of his patient and
valuable Iabors, in order that the coun-
try may have the advantage of some of
the various contrasts which he has
grouped together with great force and
clearness.
The figures which form the basis of
these calculations are taken from Mr..
DELANo's last report as Commissioner of
Internal Revenue, and therefore cannot
be disputed. Tne illustrations are from
three Western and three Southern States,
against the six Of New England. Ohio
during the current year will pay in taxa
ton SIG, ,O62,0 the six New England
States s6,5Os,oO and Massachusetts
S4,440,0OO. So that Ohio alone is taxed
1885,, 900 more than all New England,
and Sll, l,els,O0O more than Massachu-
sets.
In Illinois the comparison is equally
striking. That State is taxed Sl5,263,-
900, being ss,755, 900 more than all New
England. and $40, $4,000 more than Mss
sachusetts. Kentucky is taxed S8, 709, ,000
or. S2,2O1, 900 more than all New En-
gland. and 81, 4,265, 900 more than Massa-
chusctts.
Virginia, after all her sufferings from
four years of civil ,war,'is taxed $780,
600 more than Massachusetts, Missouri,
which was subjected to the sternest tri-
ais, will pay $4,000 more, aud Indiana
nearly as much.
Pursuing the comparison in another
form, it is found that the tax of Massa-
chusetts for this year is less than one
fourth of what was paid in 1868; that
Of New Hampshire onc-elghth; that of
Maine one-sixth that Of Vermont one
seventh, and that Of Connecticut one
fourth; while the Southern and Western
States are nearly doubled. In 1868 New
England paid s2s,Ooo,ooo, and in 1871
$6, 100000. In 1868 Ohio, Indiana, Iii
nois, Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia
paid S32, ,000,0 and in 1871 $53. $780,
600.
The act of July IA, 1S70,was heralded
to the country as a great measure for re.
duction of taxes, when it was, IN fact
only scheme contrived to legallze this
sectional partiality still more grossly
It's effect was to diminish the taxation oil
New England over s22,o00,00O, and to
add that amount to the burdens of the
six States which have been named.-
When the taxes were removed from man
ufactures for the benefit of these "soul
less corporations it was contended tha
the consumers would profit by CORES
ponding diminution in the prices of The
fabrics thus relieved That false pre-
ttense was soon exploded. The very mer
who voted for the ostensible reduction
increased the tariff on corresponding
foreign tariffs, and thus enabled the man
ufactnrers to maintain the old prices ; sc
that they gained the difference of the re
duced taxes. while the people were thu
only sufferers Plainly speaking,the ac
of 1870 was a Till to put twenty-five mil
lions Of additional profit into the pock
cts Of the monopolists, for which they
doubtless paid hanasolaefy,as they coult
well afford to do.
Let it be borne in mind that the State.
of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ken
lucky and Virginia we're required to pay
in 1868, $4,000 900 of taxes more thar
New England; in 1869, S34, 100000
more; in 1870, $4S,000,0O0 more; ani
in 1871, according to the official est
mate, S47, 900, 600 more. Such Unequal
! ity and imposition cannot fail to maxi
an impression npon the agricultu
raj interests of the country, which ar,
loaded down. with taxation in order tina
the profits of small and favored clas
OF manufacturers may be exorbitantl]
augmented And the least scrutiny vii
satisfy any candid mind, that this system
of legalized plumber is now maintained
by keeping up discord between the Nortl
and South, and the representation o
carpet-baggers to swell the vote of Ney
England.
Hard on the Legislature.
The Ohio Legislature talks about ad
journing on the 4th Of April. If tn
| members of that distinguished bod,
| would do themselves credit. and tn
State valuable service, they would ad
journ within the next ten days. All the,
need now to do, is to pass the necessar.
appropriation bills, adjourn SINE die, ant
go to thei: homes on the first train,7