The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-08-28
,,1DS COUNTY TAXATION
.no,,,er Letter from democrats
JACKSON, Mss, August Is, 1873.

.,a- Mr. J. j HalbeTt complained OF the
n.uocratic party, that the county taxes had
toso run up enormously, and offered as
loot the statement that the taxes for 1877
Fl,,ra higher than they had been for some
-.,r. ureyfou-. His charge when he under
- IN 1--WE the figures was rather vague :;
,a fo vour last issue, not that | cared
tally what Mr. Halbert thought about
the Democratic party (for l regard that as
81 hint little consequence but because |
,tou0bt that the spirit OF his utterances was
,,iscbievous to the community. l gave the
iy,res representing the State and county
t1va-ioD for the years 1875-6-7, thereby
.boofDg that although the aggregate State
and county taxes for 1877 under Democrat
r. rnIa was 81 90 or $1,000 greater than in
7s-5 uuder Radical rule, the aggregate OF
the state aud county levies in 1876 under
Democratic rule, was S3 30 on the $1,000 less
,lau FIJI 1873 under Radical rule These
fgnres also showed a constant decrease of
the total State tax at each session Ofthe Leg
i.Iarure following the overthrow of the car
pa--ba.g government from 80 % on the $1,000
in 1879. then last year, to So 30 on the $1,000
in l,7s.
Having admitted The naked fact that there
had been some Increase in the county levy,
IIefr ft 10 the reading public to say whether
mi. increase was enormous" within the
meaning Of that word as used by Mr.. Hal
bert; for if his letter published in the
CLARION did not mean that the county
taxes had been run up enormously and
unnecessarily. then il meant nothing and was
simply silly. But it did mean that, and in
stead of being simply silly, was either
written in a spirit of censure, or in ignO-
rance of the facts OF the case.
Mr.. Ualbert says that the ''actual increase
was the 'graUamen OF his charge" l deny
il. and say further that graUdmen or sub
stance of his charge was unnecessary tacatiOn
To prove that | am right on this point, and
that he is wrong, offer the letter referred
to by him as evidence.
In proof OF his ignorance of the matters
about which he writes, mark the use he
makes of an extract from the letter of Mr..
John Shelton. Here is the extract: THE
whole expenses Of the courts, pay Of jurors,
and of witnesses in State cases, and eX-
penses of jais of every kind, all of
which are heavy items, were until lately
paid by the State, but are now paid by the
respective counties" Here's what Mr..
HaIb,rt says ofthe information it contained !:
Il venture 90 say that it was news to him.
as it worth while to make an argument to
show that the State may easily reduce its
own expenditures by packing off on the
counties the whole expenses of courts, '
etc. etc.
TofuIly understand the merits 20 Of this
little piece OF augmentation, it must be
borne in mind that the object of Mr.. Hal
berL's first letter was to draw an unfavora-
Die comparison between Democratic and
Radical taxation; and that from the publ
cations which his charge of unnecessary
taxation elected, he ascertained for the
first time perhaps that the State taxes had
been greatly reduced by the Democratic
legislature, to-wit: from 50 % on the $1,000
in 1879, TO So so on the $1,000 in 1878. Now
it is. that with a display of ignoranc e
which is amazing in an occasional (?) cor
respondent he implicitly attributes that
Radical scheme: IAN ACT to reduce the
expenses OF the Judiciary Department o f
the STATE acts of 1875, p. 400, which was
coucocted to suit the purposes of the can
we admit Mr. Hatbert's sincerity, what
will be said of his intelligence; if we admit
his Intelligence what can be said for his
sincerity
/ have before me a copy of the Kinds
County Gazette of the 18th inst, containing
a column and a half from Mr. Halbert on
this same subject, and / call attention TO the
TACT that he persists in having his Impressions
about tax matters (they are nothing but
impressionS) controlled by certain tax re-
ceipJs in his possession. Notwithstanding he
has been furnished with the official figures,
and has been warned against accepting as
deinItjve, the inform alton which tax re
celpt may import. He is thereby led into
an error which Is readily detected. lie says
IN his Gazette letter: ''The receipts tor
IS'5-I6-1 a snow a gradual increase in the
amount OF county taxes; so that the taxes
OF 1877 exceed those OF 1876, and those OF
1876 those of 1873. This is no
accidental error" The truth is that the
county taxes of 1876 did not exceed those
oil 1919, no matter what his receipts show ;
and the aggregate sta tie and county taxes
Tor 1876 was less than the aggregate State
ahd county taxes for 1875, to the extent OF
Is % or 81 90. "There are none so bllnd.
etc. In the same letter he again accounts
ior the increase of county taxes and the de-
crease of State taxes under Democratic
rule, in part from the fact that certain eX-
penSes which are legitimate charges against
the State have, in fact, been imposed on the
county" This RelcS which he obtained from
MT shelton, was, doubtless, a sweet morsel
TO him, controlled as he was by the belief
that iJ was a Democratic trick; but how
will it be when he receives the further news
tlat &c was Il Radical trick? Mr.. HalDert,
like many who Scribble for newspapers, Is
unfortunate in not having definite intorma-
ton on the subjects about which he writes
Ills ignorance about tax matters was Ia
menlable in the extreme, The discussion
Which he provoked has proven beneficial to
MIN, and | trust TO others. He, of all who
nave been inflicted with it, shouid not COM
pialn. And yet he does complain on the
assumption that | have obtruded myself
into a private correspondence" Its much
easier 10 make this charge than to make 1t
apparent.
Mr.. Halbert is mistaken if he thinks that
l seek controversy with him. l might
not shun one if [ could afford to pay the
publishers. That Mr.. Halbert is more ex-
perenced in discussion, more fluent, more
graceful, and more elegant in his diction, not
10 mention his quotations. L yield. He is
admitted Co be the correspondent par excel
renee of Kinds and adjoining counties. But
ne can't successfully meet and overcome
iacts with we'll rounded periods. he might
nave written about the peach and cotton
crop Tor every paper from New orleans 60
Memphis, and | should not have troubled
MN by reading or commenting on his pro-
auctions; but he has made what 1 consider
grave charge against the party in power
IN this State and county, party which has
freed the State from more evils than will be
again presented for the consuming wrath
OF any other party of Reform.
What have written is intended more for
me public, the great apd good public, than
for Mr.. Halbert. In truth it matters not
seriously to me, whether he ever sees It or
not 1t he does see it, it will be for him what
my other letter was-simply unanswerable
know that he is plumed Tor war of words
ne has experience in that line. What tbs
aforesaid public wants is fewer words anc
more facts and ideas.
Do you, Messrs. Editors, think it quite
consistent that person who is addicted e
abandoning his patronymic in his puhlst
spondence, should wish to deny me the
same poor privilege? Tt may be that If ]
could legitimateIY display the bird-like mi
tials-JaY-JaY-I would prefer to do so