Alexandria Gazette

The Legislature of South Carolina assembled at Columbia on the last Monday in November. Gov. Noble, in his Message, expresses a decided preference of a direct system of taxation, over the indirect system which now prevails, by duties on imports. In one respect, as we remarked on a former occasion, it would be preferable, but we doubt whether the people would sit so easy under it—since one cent paid directly into the palms of the tax-gatherer, would be deemed more oppressive than a dollar paid in the shape of duties; simply because in the one case the tax payer is cognizant of the fact, and in the other he knows nothing about it. We have high authority for saying that "he who is robbed, not knowing it, is not robbed at all;" and it is certain that "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."—Lynch. Virginia.