The daily gazette., 1875-12-11
From the Phils. Inquirer.
rAxING CHURCH PROPKRTS

From the Phils. Inquirer.
TAXING CHURCH PROPERTY.
Tho suggestions and recommendation
contained in the Presidents Message, in
q ,nneetion With taxing church property,
are not likely TO meet with the approba-
ton OF Congress nor with the hearty
concurrence Of the people. Net with the
approval Of Congress. because that body
will consider that the question Of taxing
real property ia one which with the indi-
vidusl States can best deal; and not the
concurrence OF the people. because the
feeling ia very generally shared that oil
the church property which is devoted
exclusively to church purposes should
not be taxed A fair expression of pub
lie opinion upon this important subject is
contained in the new Constitution OF
PENNSYLVANIA, which declares that the
Legislature may exempt from taxation
actual places Of religious worship" aud
+ "institutions of purely public charity
Legislation upon this question has al
ways been of pretty much the same char
acter everywhere, and that which has
been the rule always and everywhere
may be accepted as pretty nearly righ' ,
and as the best expressions or the COM
mon intelligence. In this country ct
least, course of legislation, persevered
in for many years by different Legisla-
turee, elected directly by the people, is
apt to run close to the popular will. and
to fairly represent it.
Church property has not been taxed il
this country when it has been devoted
exclusively to religious worship, for
what will seem, to most intelligible
minds. as reasons sufficient. Churches
are gene, ally recognized as free school
houses in which the highest, because
best. teaching is given, and we do not
tax free school houses, because to dc So
would be to tax the dissemination OF
knowledge, which the constitution of the
q, untry prohibits doing. The inhdei
and atheist may object TO their teachings
and they do object to them, and further
declare that they should not be compell-
, ed to pay taxes for that which does not
benefit them.
) But should the whole neighborhood il
the midst of which a chur,h edihce. Is
erected Dt peOpleu bJ lHhutiS anu ulAit'
lists they would still be benefited by hav.
, ing that church edifice among them, ever
though their reality were additionally
; taxed. for it is impossible TO erect q
e church building in any neighuorhooc
| without largely enhancing the value oi
all adjoining property. If those livini
\ in proximity to a church pay higher
= taxes because the church is there, the,
can we'll afford to do so. for their pro
V perty is more valuable because it !
y there.
n The country or town is likewise bone
:, fted by it, for church is, in every case
a great conservator of the peace. Plac
q church and give it a congregation i
p the most criminal neighborhood that tn
sun shines upon, and the church will b
u equal ut least to one policeman, if no
q half dozen. 1t it be erected anon
novels they will disappear and give plae
IL to structures OF better aud more valu
< able character. If it be builded anon
r. uaverns and other low resorts they wi
also disappear, for the church represent
lie tho moral sentiment and law of the con
10 munity, before which vice must and q
!, ways does give way. 1t may be aenis
IL by one man out of thousand that tl
en- morol influence OF a church in any cor
,s munity is not great enough to exempt
from paying its share of taxation, Il
ed the nine hundred and ninety mine othe
n. wi cont md to the end of time that 4
=. moral influence is great enough, and tn
az will be right.
he Congress cannot touch this matter.
,h is not national question, nor can it
safely or wisely made one. There is
u' ready sufficient autherit7 centralized
en- the General Government, and too littl
if anything, left of State rights, VIII
" the States show that they are incapat
ull of wisely controlling their own intern
llc affairs it will be quite time enongh
:, the National Government to be putti
he Its broad shoulders to the wheel, but
ls' the present the States need no such a
They can attend to both their church
ga and their schools without interferer
es from Congress,