The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-07-16
Letter from HOn. R. w. FlOurnOy'
ON 1he subject of faxes.
PoNToroc, Miss, July 3rd, 1874
Eds CLARION: Please publish the
following and oblige
TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI
r.. w. FLoURNoY.

TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI
You are taxed beyond endurance,
and Notwithstanding the misrepresent-
ations of the Pilot newspaper, you do feel
and will continue to feel the expressions
under which your hard earnings are alb
stracted from YOU. Taxation Isl necessary
evil, and should be most prudently and
economically administered. You are ire
ouentlv informed by the Pilot, and papers
of its character, that you are not heavily
taxed, that your taxes are less than that
of many other states. Once for all let
it be distinctly understood that what
evermay be the rule, erroneous taxation in
other states is no criterion for the govern
ment of this State. lit is tallacious and
contemplate subterfuge to attempt to
palliate a great wrong by the example OF
another wrong.
propose to show that as the pretended
organ Of the Republican party in this
State, it seeks to hoodwink and deceive
its readers In its issue of June 18th,
referring to taxes, it says: All OF these
things are charged. All of these com
plants are borne to our ears upon every
breeze. And yet they are simply ridicu-
lous, and uncalled-for'
Now what are the facts according To
statements published in the New York
Times, of a very recent date, from otli-
cial sources ? 1t is shown that out of
thirty-seven states, there are but three
who paid higher taxes than we did in
Mississippi; those three are Nevada,
Louisiana, and Arkansas. 1t Is further
shown that there are but six states poorer
than Mississippi, whose average wealth
per head is 1852 81 whereas in many
of the other states the average per head
is largely over one thousand dollars. In
many of them where the average Is over
one thousand dollars, the taxes do not
exceed eight dollars per one thousand dol
lars worth Of property; yet IN this state
we pay over seventeen dollars on the
thousand Be it remembered that the
above estimate is based upon taxes last
year, when they were eight mills and a
half on the dollar, state taxes, and for
this year they are over fourteen mills,
which is nearly double what they were
last year.
The above statement is the amount Of
taxes paid in each State by their citizens
upon one thousand dollars worth of prop
erty, embracing all the taxes, whether it
be state, county, school or other taxes.
Again, in the State of Nevada, where
taxes are higher than in this State, the
average wealth Of her people per head Is
nearly three times as much as is IN this
State, and although not so much in Lou
isiana and Arkansas, there the average
per head is largely in excess Of Mississippi
The taxes in Arkansas is about one mill
more on the dollar than here, and little
more in Louisiana, that is when our taxes
last year was eight mills on the dollar;
now that it is raised to fourteen mills on
the dollar, we may partly conclude that
we pay a greater tax than is paid by any
other State. So it seems that one Of the
very poorest States in the Union pays the
highest taxes.
This state of things must continue so
long as the present extravaganza lasts.
The remedy is obvious. The registration
law must be abolished; there is no sort
Of necessity for it; its practical resu is are
that at every election, thousands who
have the right to vote, are prevented
from doing so, who did not register
could not from sickness, or absence, or
ignorance of the necessity of doing so.
The Legislature must meet but once in
two years, must not continue IN session
longer than two months. BY that,
very great saving can be effected, and
the people will have time to become some
what acquainted with the laws under
which they live The Chancery courts
must be done away with-the Circuit
courts attended to chancery business up to
few years since, and now when there is
less business in the courts more judges
and better salaries let them discharge
the duties formerly discharged by
fewer judges with less pay. And, to say
the least, business was as well done then
as now. The above retrenchments must
be made, or the people may rely upon IA
continuation Of their present burthens,
burthens which every man knows exist,
and which all feel but salaried ofiice-hol-
ders. These things should be fairly and
fully brought before the people, and they
can apply the remedy. In a government
by the people, it is their fault il
wrongs are not righted. / do not 60 into
the question as to whose fault it is that
we are oppressed; the important matter is |
whose fault shall it remain My own !
opinion is that men Of both parties are
for bringing about the present !
state of affairs, and for their continuance. /
IL. w. FLoURNoY.