The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-04-19
Reduction of Taxes,

EDS. CLARION; The people are pleased to
see tue many wise suggestions Of THE
CLARION to the Legislature in reference to
the needed legislation now pending before
that body. In none OF those questions do
the people now feel SO much interest as In
the reduction of the taxes. That the tax
payers of the State are now clamorous for
proper reduction OF the taxes, noye car.
doubt. 1t is equally tras that 4 the /, egia-
lature shall adjUHrn WITHOUT first making
The reqhction OF taEes which the taxpayers
NOW demand. a fearful reckoning will be
had WITH our Legislators on their return to
the.i constituency.
1t will be no sufficient answer to this de-
mand of the taxpayers. for our Legislators
to say that there are heavy liabilities resting
upon the State, and that those liabilities
cannot be promptly met and discharged
under any considerably reduced rate OF tax
alton. Il this proposition were even true
that constitutes no good reason why the
taxes should not be reduced. These liabil-
tiles were mainly incurred by the swindling
and thieving machine set in operation By
the Ames administration; and whilst they.
in the main, may constitute IegdL liabilities
that ought, some time, to be paid, no good
reason can be assigned why those liabilities
may not be funded and their payment post
pOned until such time as they can be IN ct
| without utter ruin TO the State and people.
True statesmanship never sanctions un-
necessary expressions upon the labor Of the
/ O..
Craftsmanship should always control the
exercise of the taxing power, and the bur
thens Of taxation should never be 50 in
creased as to produce prostitution Of enter
prize or ruin 10 the people. That this COM
! monwealth as overburthened with the
( taxes and other wrongs imposed by the
! Amcs administration, was fully proved by
| the extraordinary upheaving Of the masses
at the last fall election. Longer endurance
( became, seemingly, impossible, and "for-
calf ha ffrfsra
| pie and being pressed by necessity on one
/ hand and by patriotism on the other, the
/ taxpayers made the mighty effort that
made it possible for relief to come. viii
! the trusted Legislators now suffer that
chance of deliyerance to pass without con-
! summating the expected and promised de-
/ liyerancc? Surely they will not. That the
/ Legislature has done well so far as it has
/ gone, is admitted, ard their acts constitute
/ the glory politically OF all true patriots OF
/ this State and elsewhere. But ii that body
/ should now stop, or even suspend its good
! work before proper reduction Of the taxes
is consummated, the disappointment and
modification of the people will be indie
scribable-
These suggestions, Mr. Editor, and the
feelings here manifested (if, indeed, any
feelings be indicated,) in the opinion OF
/ YOUR eOFres pendent fully accord with
the views and feelings OF the people of this
part ofthe State; and whether they shall be
| considered or unheeded by our legislators
they are destined to enter largely Into our
| future. as people.
Having been lifelong Democrat and a
constant advocate OF the strictest economy
in the administration Of our governments
State and National, am always the subject
I of distress, whenever 1 see any administra-
ton of the government, than that which Il
in accord with the strictest economy. But
my modification is mixed with contempt al
seeing the late effort Of the wreckers, who
have brought disgrace and ruin upon this
commonwealth, to fix upon the great DEM
ocratie and Conservative party, the crimes
with which they, the wreckers, stand con-
victed before the world. In these remarks,
allusion is made, in part, to the proceedings
as published, of the late Ames- Morton-
Cardozo Convention, which met at jackson
CHIcKAsAw.