WITH THAT IN GREAT BRITAIN. 253 



the taxation in this country is so much lighter than it 

 is in the State of New York, that, were we taxed in 

 equal proportion, we should have an annual surplus of 

 0^20,000, 000 sterling, equal one-fourth part of our 

 whole taxation. 



It may he said, that property in the United States, 

 when valued for the purposes of taxation, is always 

 under-estimated. But the same is true also among our 

 selves in almost all cases, so that no very large error in 

 our result would arise from a fair allowance on this 

 account. 



Among our burdens in Great Britain, I have taken no 

 notice of tithes ; because I must express my belief that, 

 in proportion to their property, the people in this State 

 incur yearly a voluntary expenditure for the support of 

 their clergy, and for the building and upholding of their 

 churches, equal among them to the united fixed tithes 

 of the established and voluntary contributions of the 

 dissenting churches among us. There is no lack of 

 support to religious teachers, as a body, however much 

 individuals may occasionally be under-paid. 



But we cannot, in fairness, leave the question here. 

 The contrast between the two countries is brought out 

 more strongly, I believe, by following up this question, 

 than by any other single comparison that can be insti 

 tuted. 



The people in the State of New York, as I have shown 

 above, pay per head only one-third of the taxes they pay 

 per head in Great Britain. 



The property in the State of New York pays upwards 

 of one-fourth more * than it does in Great Britain. 



In the United States, the taxes are lighter on the 



* Our imperial taxes, which, exclusive of the customs-duties, amount 

 to 30,000,000. This sum, with our local taxes, taken at 10,000,000, 

 make altogether 40,000,000 ; while a property-tax of four-fifths of a 

 per cent, such as is paid in New York, would raise, we have supposed, 

 50,000,000. 



