Page:Observations on the present financial embarassments.djvu/12

8 been in the habit of employing? To apply this more immediately to the case of the repeal of assessed taxes; the individuals who now pay them would derive benefit; the tradesmen and labourers they give employment to, in consequence of their having more disposable income, would reap advantage, but precisely to the extent of this advantage would be the diminution of income expended by the Government. Take the instance of a palace; suppose, for argument's sake, that so much of the assessed taxes was to be appropriated to the specific object of building this palace; suppose, again, the workmen stopped, and this amount of taxes taken off. What would be the consequence of this? Individuals might employ so many more builders, about their private houses; but to the same extent that there was an increased demand for labour on the part of individuals, would there be a diminished one on the part of Government.

Suppose, again, these taxes went to pay so many clerks or secretaries in public offices; what would happen then, if you remitted these taxes? Why, A. would keep an extra horse—buy, perhaps, an additional coat—regale his friends at a greater expense—and be a much smarter and merrier fellow than he was before. But his unfortunate neighbour B., having lost "the sweets of office," must curtail his establishment, and live upon humbler fare; part with servants, and reduce his expenditure.