Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-12
R0UAL TAXATION,

Probably we cannot do our readers bet
tar service than to keep the tax question
constantly before the public. Legislative
power has been misused and abused in
many ways, but most of all in silly and
selfish efforts TO tax the people into happy
progress and brilliant prosperity. Our pro-
te tive tariffs are legislation of this charac-
ter. From the official report Of 1870 we
fad the value of wood screws made in this
country, s., 425,473; value Of imported
screws $34,70I; duty 80 per cent and money
paid into the Treasury S17,497. The tax
paid by the people at large to two or three
manufacturers of screws is SLIP, 736,
which is fifty per CEN On ali the screws they
made. Is it equal aud just taxation to put
seventeen Thousand dollars into the
public treasury and take not only
that sum out Of the pockets
of the people, but seventeen hundred thOus-
and dollars In addition thereto, which sum
goes directly into the hands Of protected
manufacturers" He must be smart law
yer who is able TO coneoct or devise 8 sys-
tenn of taxation more outrageous against
common sense, common ju.tice and COM
mon decency. The above is fair sample
of our federal legisla ion to enrich favor
i e few at the expense of the many. Com
mon mechanics are compelled to pay about
ten dollars bounty on all the files they use
to few manufacturers, where one dollar
duty on imported files goes into the treasury.
Is it not time for farmers and mechanics to
consider this great question Of taxation, and
insist that their representatives In Congress
and State Legislatures shall equalize taxes
and greatly reduce the amount collected?
Over taxation in every conceivable form
has teen worked and pushed to the ex-
IRENE by greedy spectators, sharpers and
thieves. When our taxes were only one
fifth of one per cent the people prospere
and 10 one complained. We then had bon
est men to make and administer our State
and Federal laws. Honesty, truth and
economy are cardinal virtues, with
out which robbery Is inevi able.
1t is gross abuse Of power, a cad fiscal mis-
take, to collect so much money in the shape
of taxes as a temptation TO steal the whole
or part of it, by some direct or indirect
means. Chicago collects over six million
dollars year, and the city and county of
New York fifty.two million. Hot-beds
of vice and crime Of such msgni~
tide, produce their HAYES Of
murder, defaleation and forgery.
l. remains to be seen whether the rural
population has intelligence, energy and
virtue sufficient to resist this tide of gener-
al Generalization, and remove all the temp
tstions of high taxes, both direct and indi-
rect, State and national, which are sappiDg
the foundation of our republican system Of
government. Man never has resisted for
any length of time, great temptations to
commit crime; and no government can
wisely put such temptations before is sub
,iects. Governments transcend their duties
when they go into partnership with corpo-
rations, giving them vested rights and i'm
munites as matters of private gain.
Such abuse of legislation creates, in part at
lesst, moneyed and manufacturing arts
tocracy. There is reason 10 fear that law
yers have imposed on the country ten times
more laws than the best interests of the
people require. They are tie reverse of
improvement and progress in simplicity,
honesty and fair dealing between nan and
man. Extravaganza, high fees and double.
dealing appear to render high taxes indis-
pensable TO make one folly keep step with
another. All this means terrible war at
no distant day, between labor, capital and
the right to govern this land Of great exper.
in1nOts