The New York herald., 1879-07-30
AN INCOME TAX.
BROOKLYN, July 20. 1879.

BROOKLYN, July %. 1879.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Allow to observe. in regard to the imposition
OF income tax. that although it has been boldly
and repeatedly characterized by certain city jour-
nal-which pretends to be of the champions OF
tho working classes-as which is only justiiab
in time Of odious. unjust and imposed by
any civilized nation in time of peacc-it Is. never
theless. u well known fact. of which that journal
could be informed by any intelligent Englishman.
that it is which has, for the last sixty seventy
years. both in peace and war. been imposed by Eng
land well by most of the other civilized nations
OF Europe. Instead of being considered odious
unjust it is for tho following reasons. regarded by
j. s. Ml-one of the most eminent aud
impartial English authors on political economy-as
well other writers. of the fairest most
equitable OF all taxcs;-"first because il falls
those who best able bear and. secondly be.
cause those should contribute the most to the sup
port of the government who receive the ben
eit from it the protection of their property"
The imposition OF this would enable the govern
ment to take of many taxes which press
heavily on the poor such as the taxes tea.
Coffee molasses. tobacco. &c. 1t is sad " think
that while the aristocratic governments of Europe
deal lightly with the working classes in their sys-
TENS taxation and draw chiefly the Of
the rich. in our boasted democratic Republic tho
laws framed that while by tar the greater por
ton OF the taxes out oil the pockets OF tho
workingmen. comparatively little is drawn from tho
rich.
With regard to the constitutionality or income
tax although the journal alluded to would evidently
wish to create the impression the minds of its
uniformed readers that Congress has not the
sttutional right to lay any such yet, 1t knew
better. II took care not To expressly 1t, how
insists that our previous income tax violated
clause D. section 4, article l. which says:"No capt.
tatiou other direct shall be laid, unless
proportion to tho census, Ac. On this point ii may
he observed that the time of the adoption of the
m lll Ina finn hDfh hnff IN
its commerce very different from what IT is at
present. Then the settled portions were confined To
comparatively narrow strip along the Atlanuc sea-
board and the commerce ot the country nearly
equally divided among the cities of Boston, New
York. Philadelphia, Baltimore Norfolk, Charleston
and savannah. Now on the contrary the city OF New
York monopolizes two-thirds OF the commerce
OF the nation, and her merchant princes, who
from all the States OF the Union. besides
Europe. derive their princely incomes not from
the trade OF New York and the neighboring states
only, but from the trade of the whole country
North, South. East aud West. Under these altered
circumstances, 1t is evident that admitting the
income tax to fall under the head of "captation or
other direct taxes, 1t would at present be unjust
toward all the rest of the country for the rich capi
talists of New York to evade through this clause.
the pay ncnt of their just share OF the public dcDt
as il would be for the rich capitalists of London to
insist that no greater amount of income tax should
| be raised from London than from equal number
of people in the rural districts of England IL Will
be well. however, to remember that, il necessary.
the people can call in tho aid of power superior
either the Supreme Court or the consttution--aye.
AS much superior the Creator is to the crcaturt
namely, their sovereign will and pleasure; and
surely. IL they did right to make-as they have al
struincnt in the interests of four vo mill ons of
the colored race, they cannot go wrong to alter
repeal single clause in tho interests of over forty
millions, white aud coloreL. H. wv.