DAVID HENSHAW'S ADDRESS. 227 



seem not more certain that the earth supplies the clouds with 

 rain, however imperceptible the evaporation, than that the main- 

 tenance of the whole social fabric, in all its forms and branches, 

 is derived from the earnings of the wealth-producing classes, 

 however hidden and imperceptible the channels through which 

 the supply flows. The wealth-producing classes, hence, have 

 vital interests at stake in our social organization, and particu- 

 larly ought they to scrutinize those systems which draw their 

 support silently and secretly, by insidious and indirect taxa- 

 tion, from the earnings of labor. 



The sums required for the support of our municipal corpora- 

 tions, our towns and counties, are raised directly from the people; 

 the amount is distinctly stated ; and when it is paid, we see 

 and know how, when, and for what purpose, it has been expend- 

 ed. Indeed, we know beforehand, and before we authorize the 

 amount to be levied, the purpose for which it is wanted. But 

 the latent drains upon the earnings of labor are more copious 

 than by direct taxation, while we remain ignorant of the exact 

 amount, and are uninformed how the money is expended. 



Among the objects especially deserving an examination, as 

 bearing heavily upon the wealth-producing classes, and perhaps 

 in all their consequences, immediate and remote, the most im- 

 portant, are, the various charitable endowed institutions, em- 

 bracing the colleges and higher incorporated seminaries, the 

 churches, and the larger hospitals. 



Basing our institutions, in theory at least, upon the idea that 

 all men naturally possess equal rights, our laws are supposed to 

 be framed to secure, so far as their influence extends, equal enjoy- 

 ments to all. In the spirit of this policy, the law prohibits the 

 perpetual and unlimited accumulation of property in families by 

 entailment. The law of primogeniture has been abrogated, and 

 estates, on the decease of the owner, where persons inherit, are di- 

 vided, and seek their level in the general mass of property. This 

 precaution has been considered necessary to maintain the desired 

 equality of possession and enjoyment, so far as individuals and 

 families are concerned, though families die ofT, and races become 

 extinct. While we have thus guarded against accumulation of 

 property in this manner, the law has created artificial existences, 



