Norwich bulletin., 1916-11-25
WHEN NORWICH FOUGHT HIGH TAXES
praying for a just and equitable sys- tenn of taxation and representation.

praying for just and equitable sys- tenn of taxation and representation.
 An extract from this memorial reads as follows:
 The poH-tax xcur memorialists portable burden on the poor, while a great part of the growing estate of the rich IS by law exempt from saxa- ton. The present mode of represen- tation is also objected to by your memorialists. They believe all who conversation, ought toahave a voice in all public communities, where their monies and properties are disposed of for public use"
 It is not surprising, are told. that the subject of taxation should community which was annually pay ing d., 9 d, and 12 d. on the pound for the use of the army.
 At one time, in Connecticut, when the currency was at par, d rate of even 14 d. was necessary to meet the exigencies of the treasury. The town afterwards presented an- other petition to the Assembly, the substance of which was that every kind of property. and that only. should be the object of taxation. This gen. eral principle, they said, was in their view the only equitable one. Committees were sent to neighbor- ing towns to get their minds on the subject, and they at length resolved
 to publish at the expense of the town, the prevalent views of the citizens on taxation, in the form of a letter to the freeHen of the State, copy of which was to be sent to every town. In this letter the deficiencies of the
 existing system were ably pointed out By the present system, six of the poorest swine a year old are rated equal to 2 100 in cash at interest, and thirty such swine equal to house al Z 1000. The ,neanest horse, over 30 years old, is on a par with the best in | is rated no higher than the poorest that is arable in the State.
 Industry, which ought to be en- couraged. is doubly taxed, and that l in very capriclous and vague man. ner."
 The objections against the poll tax were thus set forth:
 That it is a personal tax and ought to be paid in personal service, that is | in. defending the community; that it is ! a double tax, the poor man paying fol | his poll, which is the substitute fol
 his labor, and for the avails of his l i1oOI oioOy lli1l IL 1S lihiJOtlllC, df | tending to prevent early marriages I which promote industry, frugality ana
 every social virtue
 l The committee upon this nnemor;a comprised some of the choice spirit. of Norwich--Miss Caulkins tells us i Benj jamin Huntington, pr. TheophilI.
 land, Jonathan Huntington and Ma l thaniel Niles.
 1 The document has many stront points but it is not known just whIcI one of the committee wrote it. i Again, three years later, in 1781, tn, | town made another effort to obtain ] its favorfte measurable abrogatiol | of the poll-tax and the extension 0 i the right of suffrage. The instructions l to the towns representatives includ
 ed the following:
 The polls to be struck out of tn 1 tax list, or rated low.
 That all who pay taxes be allowet 1 to vote, if of good moral character l That debates i.: the House be open
 That absentees be fined.
 1 That 2 regular constitution b l : Tn October, 17SO, a convention wa
 held at Hartford to consider wha 1 measures should pc taken in regard t, 1 trade and currency.
 The delegates from Norwich wer 1 Daniel Rodman and Samuel Saffol l the committee to draft their instruc tions. Elisha Lathror. Christophe Lefhngweil, and Aarcn Cleveland, tn
 last-named grandfather of Presiden Grover Cleveland.
 They were directed to urge the loan ing of money to Congress to defra
 public expenses and to prevent tn | further emission of paper money.
 In town meeting, June 24th. 17so: Voted, that a committee of fit Il able, judicious men, be appointed t engage fifty bodied, effective mer required of this town to fill up ou complement of the Continental Arm for three years. or during the war each member of the committee to pro cure one soldier. and pay him twent silver dollars bounty, over and abov
 the bounty given by the State, an
 pay him the sane annually, as Ion
 as he continues in the service; aIs
 40 S. per month in silver money, o
 Indian corn :it 3 S. per bushe1. fires
 pork at 3 d. per pound, and wheat 8 6 S. per bushei."
 The committee was not able t carry this vote into effect; the term C !, enlistment was too long; nor were tn
 men raised until by a later vote th
 term of service vas restricted to si months. In July of the same yea upon a requisition of the Governo t+twenty-seven more men were enliste , for six months, and TO them the sam i bounty and pay were given. II THE DICTAGRAPH | Sw