The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-05-18
GOV TTLDENS SPEECH AT THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. BAN
QUET.
Tnuradau Epenina, Mau 4, 1s67.

Thursday Evening, May A, 1857.
The President said "The second toast
on the programme is, The State of New
York, and have great pleasure in pre-
senting to you in response to this toast
Gov. Tilden, who (great applause; the
audience rising and cheering)--who,
| say, has come down from Albany to be
with us this evening" Renewed ap-
lause. Gov. Tilden then said
have come here to night to speak a
word for our State. 1t must be but a word
though. think the wisdom of the com
mercial community is concentrated and
personi6ed in your presiding officer. APP
plause. | shall not, therefore, dare to
disobey his Injunction or to trespass upon
your time beyond the limit of his permis-
sion. We have heard from the gentle
man who last addressed you an account
of the melancholy and,deplorable expert
ence of the present incumbent ofthe Pre-
sidential chair. (Laughter.) | confess,
as look round me, see that the state
ment appears to have depressed several
gentlemen here. am myself a little de-
pressed this evening, for have just left
at Albany 27o bills that are to become
laws, and on which have to pass in the
next twenty odd days. But when think
of the several hundred bills that were
not passed, my melancholy turns into
joy. Laughter and applause.) | do not
know as | can add anything to what has
been already said in respect to our com
mercial troubles. Nothing so much in
terests this audience, but inasmuch as
the Attorney of the Federal Government
has come here and put in cQgHOVtt, |
do not see that anything remains but to
enter up judgement. Great laughter and
applause Undoubtedly when my friend
asked what is the matter with you, and
then answered it-over taxation and a.
buses in government-he put his finger on
the real evil But he seemed to have an
impression that the principal source of
the difficulty was municipal government.
Now, my fellow citizens, the Federal
Government draws from the FIVE millions
of people in the State of New York more,
far more oftaxes than the State Govern
ment and Local and Municipal Goveen-
ments put together, lApplause.) Mr..
Opdyke, in the Convention of 1867, esti.
mated the taxes of the Federal Govern
ment in the State of New York at $780,
ooo, 900; but putting it much less than that,
they exceed all local taxation and all
State taxation. And in that connection
have the satisfaction to announce to
YOU that this session of the Legislature,
which has just closed, has kept down the
tolls on the Erie Canal, provided for the
improvement of that great work, and
remitted eight Of the sixteen millions OF
taxes drawn from the people of this State
two years ago. (Applause,)
This leads us to consider a little, not
merely the evil, but the remedy. 1t is
idle to talk about over taxation unless we
reduce taxation. And it is gratifying to
me to say to night that at the close of the
present session the State Government re-
mits to the people of New York four mil
lions of taxes. (Applause,) quite agree
with the speaker who last addressed you
as to the inAuence-the power-this body
of men can exercise over public opinion,
and over the destinies Of our country
Ifwith firm, bold, fearless and decisive
hand you will strike at the root of these
evils, prosperity will again return. Zap.
plause,) OF course, | am not here to-
night to speak on this subject; l am simp'
ly making, as the Down East clergyman
says, the application of the very excel
lent sermon we have heard from my
friend. Great applause. (The friend
was the U. S. Attorney General, Pierre
pont.