Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-10-14
SOMETHING ABOUT TAXATION

The Honorable Mr.. Lrttrell has a
heart which beats for the people alone
Their woes are his woes and he would
cheerfully lay down his life, or what is
more important to him, his office, if there
by he could promote their happiness
He is willing to make any sacrifice to
that end, and from the way he sacrificed
Truth we ought to believe him. But we
don't. We have watched j. X. pretty
well in his little career, and have about
rs much faith in what he says, as we
have in the Book of Mormon. Indeed
we are not quite sure we have rs much.
Mr.. Luttrell's heart is heavy at the
manifold expressions which have been
heaped upon the people of his bleeding
country. They are groaning under the
burthens Of the most tyranniole govern
ment upon which the sun ever shOne.-
Among other grievances of which they
have to complain is that Of excessive tax
alton. The laboring class is taxed on
everything. But there are two favored
classes which are not taxed. And the
good Mr.. Luttrel deprecates this condi-
ton of affairs. For all laws should bear
equally and no man should escape his
share OF the burdens Of government
The two favored classes who thus escape
are the bondholders and the Chinese. 1t
is very true that the bonds of the United
States are not taxed. And it is also very
true that by the terms of the law under
which the bonds were issued the holders
thereof were guaranteed that the bonds
should be exempt from all kinds of State,
county and municipal taxation. Here
was the plighted faith Of the government,
given in the hour of the nations direst
peril that whoever should purchase these
bonds should hold them free from all
kinds of taxation. They were issued at n
time when money was a necessity. and
their sale was promoted by the guaran-
tee given in the law. The effect of taxa
ton would only be to drive the bonds in
to foreign countries where they are not
taxed, and drain the country of coin to
pay the interest. And any law repeal
| ing or amendatory of the laws under
which the bonds were issued would be n
violation of faith such rs no man who
holds the honor of his country dear would
sanction.
But Mr.. Luttrell failed to speak of
another class who escape taxation and
who are to be found in oar midst. Ger
talny gentlcman Of his erudition should
know that all kinds of solvent debts,
whether bonds, notes or mortgages, are
not assessed nor taxed to-day in CaIifor-
min. And certainly gentleman of his
honesty would speak of it if he knew it,.
But the Honorable J. K. did not allude
to this little fact, as it would spoil the
potency of bis argument for if all sol
/ vent debts are exempt in California, so
would be the bonds without the aid of II
United States law. But it is the natural
disposition Of the man to give garbled
/
we do not wonder at it now.
Perhaps it would be as wei! to refresh
Mr.. Luttrell's memory IN reference to
the history Of the Democra:ic party on
this very question of solvent debts. I'm
der the Constitution of the State taxa
ton must be "uniform and equal" But
I o,,tn;, Io 1.F Gan Erapoieon roc,e
+ to pay taxes on the mortgages they held
and appealed to the Courts. The matter
was fought from court to court until 1868,
when a Republican Supreme Court de-
cided against the banks. Straightway
Brown of Tulare, Democrat, intrOduc-
cd bill to remit the taxes in question: -
The amount contendcd for was about
two and a half million dollars. The AS.
sembly was twenty two Democratic ma.
jority and passed this iniquitous bll-tht
Senate was Republican by tpo majority
and defeated it. They appealed To the
Courts again, and last year before 4
Democratic Supreme Court got a deci
blbIl ~ sun NuNul NilL Wv llOINp lOl,t-
of California go untaxcd.
We can only say further in reieronc,
to Luttre's position on the bond ques
ton, that if his ideas were carried out il
would deservedly destroy the credit o
our government. Under Republican
rule our national credit stands 50 higl
that Secretary Morrill, finds no difficulty
in calling in ;he bonds bearing six pei
cent interest and changing them for new
bonds AT ~ per cent. Could this be
done ii Democratic ideas prevailed The
nations creditors would scarcely sane
ton one breach of faith by giving US th'
opportunity to perpetrate another. AnC
the man so willing to break the promise,
made by his country is hardly the one tC
look to to keep his own.
Hl1x-.a--rs- a@sssa vl~@sss-