The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-03-15

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assessed; and If any still refuse to
govern their acts by the laws, of which
the Constitution is supreme, they
should not complain when they meet
the fate. Of other transgressors Of the
law.
And let none forget. that the law
requires the courts, the prosecuting
attorneys and grand juries to dill
gently prosecute all violations Of the
revenue laws Of the State; and how
can persons violating the plain letter
OF the supreme law as construed by
the supreme court, and with their
eyes open to- their duties and the
consequences Of its violation, hope to
escape?
A sale Of single gill of whiskey
in violation of the revenue laws Of
the State, is zcalously and diligently
searched out by the grand juries,
Prosecuting Attorneys and lovers OF
law generally and the offender indict-
ed, and put on trial or defaulted at
the same term of the court, because
the offense is violation Of the reUe
nue. laws Of the State. And why
shall not the Prosecuting Attorneys
and grand juries be equally diligent
in searching out and putting on trial
offenders OF the assessment laws also?
This latter violation as compared
with the former in amount or magni-
tude to the people Of the State is as
mountain is to mole hill; and yet
we are informed that Prosecuting
Attorneys who seem to love and gloat
in the prosecution Of the one, not
only connive at, but actually advise
tax payers to violate the other, and
thus incur those fearful forfeitures
and penalties, which they may be
compelled to prosecute. Let us hope
this information is not true.
Why should they do SOP Why
should one law, that has the sanction
of the Constitution. be more sacred
than another? Why should any
man, or set of men, object to pay
their proper proportion Of taxes
measured by the value of the property
they own?
Why shall one such law command
obidence. and the other not?
Why shall we not, each and all,
obey the law whether we like it or
not?
There is but one, 30 called law,
that is not entitled to obedience, and
that is an Act in plain conflict with
the Constitution; and that because
such Act is not law at all.
And why, let us ask, should one
kind or class of property he exempt
from taxation rather than another?
Why throw a burden ON one, that is
not put on the othcr2
Why shall the earnings or products
of my farm, or my mine, or salt well,
or oil WELL or factory be exempt from
taxation for one year and not for
another?
Or, why shall the last years earn
ings of all Of these be so exempt and
not the earnings of the poor mans
hands or labor for the same time9
Why not make the earnings OF every
one for the year ending on the first
day of January, and then on hand,
exempt, or else none?
Why shall not everything we all
have in the way Of property, not ex
empt by the Constitution, be taxed
according to it's value, and thus be
made to contribute its proper share
in supporting the Government?
But if you should differ with me in
this; and think that the law ought
to be, that part of the property of
the State should bear the whole bur
den, and the other go scott free; still,
in the name of law and order let us not
make criminals Of ourselves in our
haste to violate the law as it is; be-
cause we do not like the law; but rath-
er, let us, as good and law abiding
citizens, obey the law as it is until
changed by the proper authority, and
then obey it as so charged.
The best way often to get rid of an
obnoxious law is to enforce it.
A MoNoNa ALLAN.