The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-08-23
INDUSTRIAL SITUATION OF
MISSISSIPPI.
THE CAUSES OF DISTRESS AND
THE REMEDIES.
BYA MISSISSIPPI TAE-PA YER.

If TAxATIoN-wHAT IT rs, AND HOW IT MAY DE
l. REDUCED.
d We have been SO long in condition unfa
vorable to the study and practice of the fun
i damental principles in which our govern
I ment rests, that we have well nigh ceased to
o recur to them. In the late war everything
, was subordinated (and rightfully) to the
gaining of our independence. When it
ended we found ourselves in the condition
of resisting by other means than armies,
the acts and tendencies of government
which, in its treatment of the vanquished,
ignored and overthrow principles and max
inns which we had been taught to believe
were essential to free government. We
have thus become familiarized with govern
mental action as the result of the wishes
and aims of the persons in power, rather
than of consideration of the good of the
people and a desire to conform to COM
stitutional limitations. 1t has come about
that we have begun to consider that the
intangible and invisible entity called the
government, possessed, per Sc, powers and
and rights, distinct from its obligations to
the people; and that the persons entrusted
with governmental authority have privileges
which the people dare not question. A
recurrence to some fundamental principles,
which though once trite are in danger of
being forgotten, may not, therefore, be
wholly unnecessary.
| According to the American theory, gov
| ernment is n mere instrument or agency of
the people, ordained by them for their own |
happiness, and subject to be changed or
altered at their will; and the off oers-all of
them, from the highest to the lowest, State
and Federal-are the mere servants of the
people, their masters They are selected,
or supposed to be selected, not for their
own good, but for the good of the people.
Their service is in all respects public SER
vice, not for their benefit, but for the COM
mon veal.
Taxation is not right of the govern
ment, considered as an entity, distinct from
the people, but the means which the people
have ordained for supplying the money
necessary to have public work and service
done as they shall ordain is necessary to be
performed. 1t is the price paid by the
la fnr tha off lal hu q
government. In free country this price
is supposed to be, and theoretically is, fixed
by the people. 1t is in the nature of a
debt due by each citizen for benefits receiv- ,
ed. 1t has none of the elements of bounty, :
gift or generosity The people themselves, i
unless with entire unanimity, have no right r
to grant bounties or make gifts out Of the
common treasury. If this were allowable, +
the minority however large, or even the t
actual majority, whore, as is too common, u
their representatives are derelict in their a
duty, would be forced to give up their sub c.
stance to objects or subjects which they c
did not approve. Debt is an obligation to Ia
be enforced against the unwilling; bounty D
md generosity must pr roceed from the pri~ 81
7ate means alone fresIy bestowed of them el
Ohio aoould be bounteous and generous. b.
Besides the want Of tight to take money by et
axation from the people for objects merely in
If generosity, it is always an injustice; SO
ince, in every instance, large number of D,
he taxpayers thus forced to contribute,
more need the bounty than the public fa- m
orite who is the recipient of it.
From these self-evident truths, it is i'm
ossible to mistake the objects of taxation /.
nd from them we can learn its extent. In :,
Mississippi, we have no system of internal A.,
improvements carried on by the State for ~, ~
le public good. This can only be done - -
Y rich and prosperous people; and we
re poor and in debt. The whole expense an
f the government, State, county and mus ~
icipal, is the payment of services of gov -
agents whom we employ; and W
ne payment of contractors who do certain
ublic work, There is no other purpose OF
lxation in the State, except the taking care 'o'
( the poor, blind, insane and deaf and u
umb. assume that the teachers in the an
ublic schools are governmental agents. 0o'
l ought to mention also, that there is 0oi
rye number of governmental agents, as WI
leriffs, clerks, constables, etc., who, though !"
ot paid out of the public treasury, are inS
ill paid by taxation in the shape of fees sec
larged against the individuals who by law Ing
e forced to employ their services. These Ing
es are, in strict sense, taxes - they are DO
,t levied generally, but they are enforced 4
,ntributions made on all citizens employ be
g the services of public officers and at no
me time or other, every citizen is COM to
sled to employ them. These fees are all cep
red by law-not a matter of contract be- low
,een the officer and the citizen-and they pun
g also the means which the State uses for sho
wing that class of her necessary officers. any
II is fair to assume that twO-thirds of the
ntributions levied on the people in the and
~ direct taxation and the individual tax est
ion in the way of fees, are consumed In Sta
e payment of public officers. Can this vidl
m be reduced7 rule
The compensation Of the ofaCer paid BY yOI