Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

Land Tax!

MR. SHIRLEY,

That the general government had constitutional authority to impose upon the people the immense burden of taxes, under which we are now tottering, is not denied. But on this account the government is not the less reprehensible. They declare a war without adequate cause, and then resort to means to carry it on, which were intended to be used in cases, wherein the U. States should be clearly in the right.

The present batch of Internal Taxes therefore, in the abstract, are without doubt, laid by competent authority; but the cause of them, this ruinous war, without justification or object.

This being the case, what is the duty of the opponents of the war, in regard to the collection and payment of the taxes, and particularly the Land Tax?

We answer, pay them—as soon as may be after the bills are presented for payment. We say this to the opponents of the war, not doubting, but its advocates will readily pay without such advice: and be willing and anxious to pay even more than their proportion.

But with regard to the assessment & collection of the tax, no opponent of this unhallowed war, certainly no federalist will afford the least aid. How would such conduct in federalists be viewed, but as a direct approbation of the war?

No federalist, it is confidently predicted, will consent to be an assessor, whether principal or assistant, in apportioning the land tax. This burden is imposed by the war-men; its assessment and collection are not without their difficulties. These difficulties are caused by democrats, and by democrats let them be solved. Let come what may, it is repeated no federalist will lend any aid, directly or indirectly in accomplishing the ruinous schemes of southern nabobs. These men take from us our commerce, our fisheries, and then saddle us with every description of internal taxes—"Our sugar is taken from us, yet our price of brick is doubled." We do not say, don't pay the taxes; but we do say, to federalists, do not assist in the collection of them if they do, will it not be said by the war advocates, that the federalists have no belief in their own professions? that, while they profess to abominate the war, they are aiding and abetting in obtaining means for carrying it on? And will the reply be that "they may as well do it as a democrat," mend the matter? Nay, will it not make their case worse? inasmuch as it will prove that they prefer a petty emolument to the laudable example of discouraging and discountenancing this execrable war; a war which they know and declare to be unjust—that for thirty pieces of silver they will barter their principles? No man of patriotic views, of federal principles, in fact, no honest man will countenance by official interference, the collection of this tax, which is literally the price of blood. If every federalist, who may have the offer of the office of assistant assessor, or of sub collector of this tax, will pause and reflect but one moment, ere he answers in the affirmative, it is verily believed, that such answer will never be given.

A COUNTRYMAN.