Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-09-18
The Limitations of Government.

O'COnOr Of New York to the Louisville
strdght-out Democratic Convention The
letter is a valuable contribution t. the dis
cussiou Of the functions Of government, and
whether right or wrong in It's views as
whole VIII serve a useful purpose # it draw.
the attention Of thoughtful men to the ideas
which it advances. There is NJ doubt that
Il tendency to look upon government as a
machine with which anything can be done
from carrying on foreign wars to regulating
the affairs OF neighborhoJds is fraught with
serious peril to the stability Of our institu-
uJns and what is most singular
about this modern tendency is, that it If
working its evil effect at the very time when
politicians on both sides are most loudly
protesting their devotion to liberty and
equal rights. Our form Of government was
i5-eit a protest against the fact that the gov
ernncnts Of the old world governed too much
that Is, interferei too much with indiviiu-
al liberty and equal rights Our t5reiathcrs
said in their Declaration of Independence
that governments only rightluIIy existed by
the consent OF the governed, and were IN
stItutcd amoIg men t. secure lite. liberty.
and tie pursuit Of happiness and it is be
cause large part Of =. the governmental IN
JerFcntlJn now practiced in carrying On the
affairs Of society Is rather 10 violation OF
Jle fundamental prlnci Plies uuo1 whiel our
fathers established this government that
there is need Of reform in the very IDEA Of
< ,vcrnmcut itself Indeed there l. much
Doubt whether any reform slor- 81 this w.u
prone auythin. but palliative, instead o.!
beng what we need most Of all raIlc1I
cure IF the evil
The Suggestions o. Mr.. O'CJnJr respect
in- t,xltiJn are worth careful consideration
also There can be no doubt that the people
il they We're directly taxed, would be more
watcatuI Of the expenditure Of their money.
and wouid look with di7trusr upon every
measure calculated to increase taxation.
There IS M doubt also, tina. direct taxation
-raer is, such taxation as we resort to in
N.ru .ut d support our STATE government
Is much m5re equal IN its distribution tb4n
the jairc.. taxation which raises ii, hun
drgis 81 millions by customs, or bv interaal
taxes 1u production Of any kind UaIer thu
one Kind Of taxation the poor man does
not pay taxes upon property, because he has
NJ property, while the rich must pay upon
rLe.r wealth. Under the inJirect taxtti.u
the IJ5r man who has large family NAV
possibly IF JbIiyeI to contribute more rhtn
Che rich who has NJ family
BIcst.ll tniirecs taxation il p,plIar bo-
cause II occasions less grumbiInz- rc5-
pie make les objection about paying il
since, generally. they pay it without know
ing l--tnIit is not, ,hercforc. likely 8 81
changed ~ present for any other method
Ii 's,iI a. no hurt, however, ro s. o.cl-lou4,
Is t.ii tIa1 system which works wei In Viii
stare miLh- work well 10 a nation And !,
obese days Of exravagtncs in public appr5.
pr.a-'oa- aud public expenditures. ana of tle
5rs tte-5 h5esaiIty ~ gifts 70 what are cAllcI
E courtesy. great public enterprises. 5ut
r.laa ars usually enterprises more f,r the
JeH-h. % luj.yiiIts tlln 81 the pI3I.. il
nay 1a worth OR while t9 consider whether
'ne 'ttI d reform is not 10 b-insl1. raxlt.5u
lome more senslbly g the pockets or rle
people
ar O'ctnJr j. un iouotsily ri5l5 us..u
insisting talt the government Is the best
v.Ia pays as il goes We agree t4at tuj.
IS tie best policy for individuals, although
Individuals cannot create an Indebtedness
that binds rosterity- We even hold thlta
government cannot bind it, successors as ID