The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-07-05

The Silent Man" whose silence is of
kind that is much more eloquent than the words
to which he has lately been giving utterance.
pocketed his pride and often expressed contempt
for the President. and Joined the ihrOng of cour-
tiers which passed into the parlors Of his Long
Branch hotel, on the occasion of recent recep-
ton. The Great Growler bowed low, with bated
breath and hat in hand before the Chief Magis-
irate. and amer lew words of whispered COLO
guy, Withdrew to his carriage
Mr. Thomas Barco, Tax Assessor for Marion
county, publishes card in the last issue of the
Ocala Banner, explaining the matter of un equal
taxation complained OF by Mr. W. H. Williamson
in a previous issue, as follows: Mr.. Williamson
returned D acres of land which, with improve
ments, he ruturned at $315. /, AS Assessor, re-
duced the assessment to $225, upon which las
appears by the tax booksl the tax was only f3.4
and not $12 60, as stated by him in his card. His
neighbOr,' To whom he refers, has % acres OF
land assessed at 81 $50, upon which the tax was
3l7 80 The balance of Mr. Williamson's taxes
was upon his personal property, which, with the
cost of advertising on account OF his failure to
paw his taxes made up the amount of which he
complains. If these facts sufficient TO war
rant him in deserving the Democracy, let the
public decide" OF course the FLORIDIANs re-
marks on the subject were based upon the sup
posed correctness OF Mr.. Williamson's statement;
but the above does not weaken their force. The
evil of defective assessments exists to degree
almost beyond belief, and is one that must neces-
sarily occupy large share of public attention
until it is properly and permanently corrected.
No event of modern times could have ex
cited a more profound sensation than the attempt
t0murder the chief magistrate of the republic, full
particulars Of which are printed elsewhere. As
the Philadelphia Times says, had the assassna-
ton deed been done in a tempest of revolution,
there might have been something 10 plead in ex
tenuaiiOn Of the crime, but the animating pur-
pose and circumstances which pTecipltated 1t
are if possible, more terrible to contemplate
than murder itself That assassination should
become the weapon of an infiamed faction, and
that trembling political criminals should murder
the President of the greatest Republic of the
earth, with boast of crime, mingled with the
groans of the murdered ruler, make the bitterest
cup ever presented TO the lips of our free people,
and its consequences are beyond the power OF
man to measure. If one so beloved and respect
ed as James A. Garfield can be murdered under
the very shadow of the capital, when peace and
plenty abound throughout the land; when the
passions of sectional strife have been settled
when the waves of party conflict have been
Gained; when only murmur OF spoilsmen
could be heard in discord with general tranquil
ity, then, indeed, is the gloom that imperls the
nation impenetrabe."
In the face of such an occurrence party rivalry
stands abashed. The whole country joins in de-
testing the crime and in sympathy for the vic
tim. The latest intelligence indicates improve
ment in the condition of the President though
il is evident that his survival is a matter OF
dOubt