The Llano colonist. [volume] (Llano, Calif.) 191?-1937, 1922-05-13
THE DEsP0TIsM OF TAxATIoN


A friend in New York City sent me
a booklet on Taxation and requested
me TO make some remarks concerning
It IN the Colonist. The manuscript was
written about 1873 BY VIVA. B. Scott
Of New York. and discussed among a
group Of prominent citizens, namely
Samuel Iilden. governor of New York
and democratic presidential candidate
in 1876, Peter Cooper. Horace Gree
ley( democratic presidential candidate
in 1872, George Opdyke, Charles Mo-
ram, Simon Stern. VIM. B. Scott and
others. We quote from the booklet as
follows
Iii considering the question Of tax
alton, | wish to do SO with special re-
ference to the assumption Of govern
ments, that they are entitled to what
ever they may want, of the-results Of
each persona toll without his voluntary
consent.
THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENT Of
freedom is CONSENT. If a govern
ment can deny my consent, when my
property is demanded. it can deny my
neighbours consent and the consent of
every other person. Government, act
ing under this assumed authority. are
DESPOILERS; and citizens are only
so in name. anil subjects in reality;
Governments are masters the people
Tare SLAVES. Chattle slavery consists
only in the master assuming the author
ity to dispose of the person Of the
slave without his voluntary consent
IF | take property from my neigh
Dor, Of sound mind, without his con
sent or contract, it is theft or robbery;
if my neighbor takes property from
another, without his consent, it is theft
or robbery; no person in community
has a right to take property from am
other without his consent; therefore.
in accordance with well-settled max
i'm Of laws that, neither an individual.
nor a community, can delegate a pow
er. either to a representative, or an att
torney, to do an act, THAT NO ONE
IN THE COMMUNITY HAS A RIGHT
TO DO, on his individual capacity, no
representative BODY, therefore, can
have delegated to it. a power to, pass.
an act, requiring the payment Of a tax,
unless the payment be made in accord
ance with a VOLUNTARY contract or
consent. "
The foregoing is the meat in the Co
kermit" or argument This would
show that the us. Government, state
and local, is. in every sense of the
word. despotism, dispute it who will.
The people of the United States will
have long road to go before they
can enjoy the benefits Of really and
truly FREE political institutions. Be
fore they will ever get them, they will
have to thoroughly analyze the present
tyrannical impositions of every kind
get a complete understanding of the
various underhanded ways in which
they are deIuded, misIed, deceived and
desDoiled before they can come to an
understanding with one another and
an administration of public af-
fairs that will be in consequence with
every principle of human freedom, Sc
curity, welfare, and prosperity.
The most valuable asset of a coun-
try is its producing laboring population.
All the supplies and enjoyments that
falIgo the share of one and all are de-
rived from the industry of the work
ers; can there be greater crime than
to fIout these benefactors of mankind
as government officials and plutocratic
monopolists are doing at the present
timep If people would do just lit
tie simple. plain, rational thinking con-
corning themselves and how pleasant
equitable and peaceful relations with
their felIowman might be inaugurated,
and maintained, no camou-
fIaged despotism would last very long.
~ n r. III