The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-10-22

This table. rs has been seon. has boon
hnsed upon your reduction Of tho public debt
hy scaling procesE, to- II uaxim,m Of even
the largo amount Of $4,000, 900, which
snount I llavo selected simply Tor the Inlr-
pose Of illustratior.
TAXATION.
Taxation in dciiuod ns the taking OF private
property for public nac. Tho exercise nf this
power is always regarded by the individual
with jealous eye: and is n subject Of
ospocisl intcrcAt 1t affects in it's operation
every Individual who forms component pnrt
OF tile body polite, whether lie be the ownor
III property or not. The discussiolI uf tho
various aystomn aud tho beat methods OF
taxation. engroasss the attention of the atatcs.
men OF thu civilized world. Whether IN
proud Britain. restivs Franco, imperial
Russia or fovcrsh Italy," il is u, the proseu,
moment question OF oil absorbing interest
Taxation, in nome form, is as ancient
in origin u. society itself. No civilized com.
munity can Oxist without taxation and H.,
high degree Of civilization IL attainablo with.
out comparative Mrge Lrrution.
Tho principle. laid dawn by Adam Smith.
which has been cnYrnnrd upon the f,,nda.
mental laws Of every civilized country, that
the subjects Of every State ought to contri-
buto towardH tho support OF tho government
AS nearly ss possible in proportion To the
revenue Ihey respectively enjoy under tho
protection Of tho State" liz u tr,sm univcr.
sally accepted. That aystcm of taxation.
therefore, is mosl just nnd equitable. and
loast oppressive, which is 40 framed ms to
carry this proposition into actual operation
Tho constitulion Of this State evidences tn.
intention OF ts trainers TO illustrate this prin.
cipis in that scction which provides for
Uniform and equal rate Of nsscSsmont and
taxation, and which declares thnt all property.
real, peraonal or possessory. shall bc subject
10 drnti0n
This system Of taxation succeeded tho .vs.
tom, or rather lack of ryatcm, Of the Icudnl
ageH. when all property was hold M ncfs Of
the crown. The crown wnH maintained by
the crown estates. The lords, or the original
sovereigns undor tho crown. c1actcd tribute
from their aerfs. In time OF wnr each lord
was expected 10 furnish his quota OF troops
and boar his share of tho cxpcnse Justice
was administered by tho lords propr;olors,
and the measure OF justice notcd out was
regulated by tho ability of the persom so DO.
string 10 pay for it.
Among tho Hebrews, during the time of
Solomon. taxea were levied upon houses and
transit taxes and tariffs OIL the introduction Of
foreign merchandise. So oppressive WIS., the
system of taxation then that it caused tho
stoning to death Of Adoran, who was lover
Ano l''ou'e anu Tic SecCsHOfl OF tic ten
tribes.
III tho Alhenian republic no diec. ,nxes
were leviod upon real or personal estate, hut
rcven'lo was derived from tho sale uf public
land, Rncs and cunfscntinns. nn,l 4 capitn,ion
tn1 upon freedmen and foreigners, duties upon
foreign commodities and merchandise
In Rome. under tho republic the spoils of
coLqerod nations aud the annual tribute re-.
quired OF thom, paid tho expenses Of the gov
crnnicnt, but under tho empire portions Of tho
revonuo were Bcqucstratcd, captation taxes
loviod ta1os on corn and heavy sums exactcd
for tho privilege Of Roman citizenship
In France, prior to tho revolution Of l79S,
the nobility and clergy were exempt from tax.
alton, and tho burden rested heavily and with
crushing weight upon tho poor. Resort was
often had to forced loalis, sale Of monopoics.
aud cvcn coniiscations, to mco. tho oxtrnva.
CANT expenses Of tho monarch
10 return from tlis ,ligresaiOn az tp the W.
rious methods of taxation Of force ut different
periods of tie history Of tho world, Tic sys-
tenn OF taxation which now prevails is prc.
emlnont!y superior III that tho burden is equal
ized, caci, individual contributing hi: share of
the expense Of tho State in proportion to tho
protection OF lifo and property lo onjoys un-
dor tho laws Of tho State.
1t will bc admitted by all that taxation is \,
necessary expense il is MISC IL desirable OK
pcnso.
:" 1t Gun probably 10 demonstrated" il
lins boon said, that there is no ono act which
can he performed by community. which
brings in so large return to tho credit of
civilization and general Happiness. us the ju