Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Editorial
July 28, 1821
Winchester Republican
Winchester, Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial defends Martinsburg corporation's tax on butchers against their market boycott, asserting officials act for public good and critiquing the proverb 'Easier coaxed than driven' for legislators.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
"EASIER COAXED THAN DRIVEN."
The corporation of Martinsburg has lately passed a law taxing the butchers. On the market day last week, the latter refrained from vending, and not a mouthful of provision was sold. A writer in the Gazette of that place asserts that the tax was exorbitant, and that "the butchers were compelled to abandon the market-house." We know nothing about the law. But we always suppose in such cases that corporations are right; for it is absurd to believe that individuals selected from ourselves to regulate our town affairs--men, too, selected for their understanding, their influence, and their patriotism--would jeopardize their fame by acts of oppression towards any particular class, or make any regulations in which the general good was not a paramount object. Men often give themselves fantastic airs; and if they are not checked, their vanity soon prompts them to tread down all before them. "Easier coaxed than driven!" The proverb may do in the domestic scenes of private life: but 'tis a very unfit one for legislators.
The corporation of Martinsburg has lately passed a law taxing the butchers. On the market day last week, the latter refrained from vending, and not a mouthful of provision was sold. A writer in the Gazette of that place asserts that the tax was exorbitant, and that "the butchers were compelled to abandon the market-house." We know nothing about the law. But we always suppose in such cases that corporations are right; for it is absurd to believe that individuals selected from ourselves to regulate our town affairs--men, too, selected for their understanding, their influence, and their patriotism--would jeopardize their fame by acts of oppression towards any particular class, or make any regulations in which the general good was not a paramount object. Men often give themselves fantastic airs; and if they are not checked, their vanity soon prompts them to tread down all before them. "Easier coaxed than driven!" The proverb may do in the domestic scenes of private life: but 'tis a very unfit one for legislators.
What sub-type of article is it?
Taxation
What keywords are associated?
Butcher Tax
Martinsburg Corporation
Market Boycott
Local Regulation
What entities or persons were involved?
Corporation Of Martinsburg
Butchers
Gazette Writer
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Defense Of Martinsburg Corporation's Butcher Tax
Stance / Tone
Supportive Of Corporation, Critical Of Butchers' Protest
Key Figures
Corporation Of Martinsburg
Butchers
Gazette Writer
Key Arguments
Corporations Are Presumed Right In Regulations
Officials Selected For Understanding And Patriotism Act For General Good
Butchers' Boycott Response Is Inappropriate
Proverb 'Easier Coaxed Than Driven' Unfit For Legislators