Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-25

resistance to the establishment of inequalities.
Monopolies, peTpetnifies aud class legislation are
contrary to The genius OF free government, and
ought NOT 70 be allowed. Here, there is no
The principle Of our government is that of
equal laws and freedom Of industry. Wherever
monopoly attains a foothold it is sure to be q
source Q. danger, discord and trouble. We shall
Dus Ininil our duties as a Governnlentby accord
ing equal and exact justice to al men, special
privileges 70 none. The Government is sub0rdi-
nate 70 the people; but, as the agent and repre-
sentative OF the people. it must be held superior
TO monop0lies, which, in themselves, ought never
70 pc granted, and which, where they exist, must
pc subordinate and yield to the Government.
government was formed for the protection Of
Ine INDIVIDUAL and every act of the Government,
state or Federal, which tends to iniict injury
upon the honest industry of the citizen, or to
bring II into unfair competition with capital or
penal labor Is contrary to the spirit of our Gov
eminent and the intention of its founders.
II. That 1t is well and publicly known that
enormous frauds have been perpetrated on the
revenue OF both the State and Federal Govern
menus, and that colossal fortunes have been made
az the public expense. This species Of corrup-
ton has increased, is increasing, and, if not
diminished, viii bring US into total ruin and dis
grace. The public creditors and the taxpayers
are alike interested IN an honest administration
OF the finances, and neither class will long en-
dure the large-handed robberies of the recent
past. For this dscreditable state of things there
are several causes. Some of the taxes are so
lald as to present an irresistible temptation TO
evade payment.
The great sums which members of Congress
ana revenue officers may win by connivanee at
fraud, create a pressure which is more than the
virtue OF many can withstand; and there can be
no doubt that the open disregard of constitu-
tiOnal oDlgatons avowcd by some of the highest
ana most inn uential men in the country, has
greatly weakened the moral sense Of those who
serve in subordinate places
The expenses Of the United States, including
interest on the public debt, are more than six
times as much as they were nine years ago.
-. That the attention of our Senators and
Representatives in Congress is earnestly invited
to the necessity Of thorough revision OF our
revenue system. 1t has been assumed that the
revenue of the State in fact is the State, in ef--
feet all depends upon it, whether for support or
reformation of the government. Through the
genius and character, and therefore, it will dis
play just as much Of its collective virtue, it is
possessed Of just revenue. Our internal reve-
nue. laws and impost system should be so adjust
ed as TO bear most heavily on articles Of
luxury, leaving the necessaries of life as free
from taxation as may be consistent with the real
wants of the Government economically admins
tered. Taxation would not then fall unduly on
the man of moderate means; and while none
would be entirely exempt from assessment, all, in
proportion to their pecuniary Abilities would con-
tribute towards the support of the State. A
modification of the internal revenue system, by
a large reduction in the number of articles now
subject to tax, would be followed by results
equally advantageous to the citizen and the Gov
1t would render the execution of the
law less expensive and more certain, remove OBJ
structiODs to industry, lessen the temptations to
evade the law diminish the violations and frauds
perpetrated upon its provisions, make its opera
tons less inquisitorial, and greatly reduce in
numbers the army of tax gatherers created by
the system, who take from the mouth of honest |
labor the bread it has earned
IA That retrenchment, reform and economy |
should be carried into every branch of the public
service, the expenditures of the Government re- |
duced and the people relieved from oppressive |
taxation; a sound currency should be restored, |
and the public faith in regard to all its Just and
equitable obligations sacredly observed.
The accomplishment of these important re- |
suits, together with the complete restoration of |
the Union Of the States upon the principles Of the
Constitution, would inspire confidence at home |
and abroad in the stability Of our institutions,
and bring to the nation prosperity, peace and |
good will.