第 11 节
作者:
两块 更新:2021-02-21 10:51 字数:9322
most; that is; that by how much the poorer they are; by so much the harder are they taxed。 6。 The Conveniencies are; first; that it may be suddenly collected; and with small charge: Secondly;that the number of the people being alwayes know; it may be sufficiently computed what the same will amount unto。 Thirdly; It seems to be a spur unto all men; to set their Children to some profitable employment upon their very first capacity; out of the proceed whereof; to pay each childe his own Poll…money。 7。 The next Poll…money is upon every head; but distinguished by Titles of meer Honour; without any kinde of Office or Faculty; as; Dukes; Marquesses; Earls; Viscounts; Barons; Baronets; Knights; and Esquires; viz。 the eldest Sons of Knights in perpetuum; and Gentlement if they write themselves so。 This way is much more equal then the other; forasmuch as those who are Titled; are for the most part rich proportionably; or if they were not; yet men so dignified shall command a preheminence and place; even although they do not or cannot buy it of the vulgar by their Expence: my meaning hereby is; that a Title may possibly save a man as much as his Poll…money may exceed the Plebeian Level by reason of such title。 8。 Moreover; good and multiform Accompts being kept of the People; this Tax may be also easily speedily and inexpensively collected; and also being capable of being computed aforehand; may be fitted and seized according to the needs of the Prince。 9。 As for Offices; they are indeed Dignities for the most part; but paid for by the trouble of administring them; as for example; to be an Alderman suppose of London; is indeed an honour; yet many pay five hundred pounds to be excused from receiving it。 Nevertheless it may not be improper to tax Offices sought; or such as are accepted; although they might be refused: And on the other side no Titulado should be forced to pay Poll…money according to his Title; if he be contented to lay it down; and never resume it more。 10。 The Titles of Faculties and Callings ought to be no Qualification in a Poll…money; because they do not necessarily nor probably inferr ability to pay; but carry with them vaste inequalities。 But therefore if a man by his Licence to practise get much; it may be presumed he will spend accordingly; in which net the way of Excize will certainly take him; as it will the Officers aforementioned。 11。 Harth…money seems to be a Poll…money; but is not; being rather a way of Accumulative Excize; of which hereafter。
Chapter 8。
Of Lotteries。
Men that accept Titles may foresee; that they may be taxed by them as aforesaid; (although it be unlikely (one House of Parliament being all Tituladoes; and the greatest part of the other being such also) that any such way of Leavy should pass) and therefore they do as it were a priori consent unto the Tax in their own Individuals。 2。 Now inthe way of Lottery men do also tax themselves in the general; though out of hopes of Advantage in particular: A Lottery therefore is properly a Tax upon unfortunate self…conceited fools; men that have good opinion of their own luckiness; or that have believed some Fortune…teller or Astrologer; who had promised them great success about the time and place of the Lottery; lying Southwest perhaps from the place where the destiny was read。 3。 Now because the world abounds with this kinde of fools; it is not fit that every man that will may cheat every man that would be cheated; but it is rather ordained; that the Sovereign should have the Guardianship of these fools; or that some Favourite should beg the Sovereigns right of taking advantage of such mens folly; even as in the case of Lunaticks and Idiots。 4。 Wherefore a Lottery is not tollerated without authority; assigning the proportion in which the people shall pay for their errours; and taking care that they be not so much and so often couzened; as they themselves would be。 5。 This way of Lottery is used but for small Leavies; and rather uon privato…publick accompts; (then for maintaining Armies or Equipping Fleets;) such as are Aque…Ducts; Bridges; and perhaps Highwayes; etc。 Wherefore we shall say no more of it upon this occasion。
Chapter 9
Of Benevolence。
The raising of Money by Benevolence; seems to be no force upon any man; nor to take from any man but what himself knows he can spare; nevertheless there is more in it; for to be but brow…beaten by a Prince or Grandee; proves often as heavy as to be distained upon for an Assessment or Subsidy; and the danger of being misrepresented by linsy pick…thanks and Informers as disaffected to the Cause for which the Leavy is made; is more frequent then the payment of any summe in a due proportion with all other men (which I have said is no impoverishment) can possibly be hurtful。 The benefits of this way are these; viz。 That forasmuch as it sometimes falls out (as in the late Differences with the Scots; annis 1638 and 1639 when the Church Dignitaries were most concerned) that the cause of the Expence concerns some men more than others; that then an Imposition shoudl not pass upon all for the sakes of a part; Sometimes it happens; that one sort of men have received greater and fersher favours then another; as upon the late Restoration of his Majesty Anno 1660 those who needed an Act of Indempnity did: And sometimes it is visible; that some men have had better times of gain and advantages then others; as the Clergy most eminently have had since his Majesties said Restoration。 In all these Cases; the proposal of a Benevolence may be offered; although in no cases it be without its inconveniencies; the which are principally these。 1。 The abovementioned Brow…beating and distaste given; if a man have not contributed as largely as envious observers think he should have done。 2。 A Benevolence in many cases may divide a whole Nation into parties; or at least make the strength of Parties too well known to such as need not know it: and withall it may (on the contrary and upon design) disguize the same; and elude the measures which the Governours thought to have taken by such an exploratory artifice。 3。 Some men may have particular reasons to contribute large; viz。 complacency with; and hopes of being repaired by the favour of some Grandee; who favours the business; and the very same may make to the prejudice of others。 4。 Men of sinking Estates; (who nevertheless love to live high; and appear splendid; and such who make themselves friends; (by their hospitality paid for; in effect by others) enough to be protected; even from Justice) do often upon this occasion of Benevolence set extravagant Examples unto others; who have laboured hardly for what they have; those not caring what they pay; because it encreaseth their credit; to borrow the more; so as at length the whole burthen of such Bankrupts Benevolence; lights upon the frugal Patriots; by whom the Publique Weal subsists。
Chapter 10
Of Penalties。
The usual Penalties are Death; Mutilations; Imprisonment; Publick disgrace; Corporal transient pains; and great Tortures; besides the Pecuniary Mulcts。 Of which last we shall most insist; speaking of the others but in order to examine whether they may not be comuted for these。 2。 There be some certain Crimes; for which the Law of God appoints death; and these must be punished with it; unless we say that those were but the Civil Laws of the Jewish Commonwealth; although given by God himself; of which opinion certainly most modern States are; in as much as they punish not Adulteries; etc。 with death; as among the Jewes; and yet punish small Thefts with Death instead of multiple reparation。 3。 Upon this supposition we shall venture to offer; whether the reason of simple Death be not to punish incorrigle Committers of great faults? 4。 Of publick Death with Torments; to affright men from Treasons; which cause the deaths and miseries of many thousand innocent and useful people? 5。 Of Death secretly executed; to punish secret and unknown Crimes; such as Publick Executions would teach to the World? Or else to suffocate betimes some dangerous Novelties in Religion which the patient suffering of the worst man would much spread and encourage。 6。 Mutilations suppose of Ears; Nose; etc。 are used for perpetual disgrace; as standing in the Pillory is for temporary and tansient; whichand such other punishments have (by the way) made some corrigible offenders; to become desperate and incurable。 7。 Mutilations of parts of Fingers; are proper to disable such as have abused their dextrous use of them; by Pocket…picking; Counterfeiting of Seals and Writings; etc。 Mutilations of other parts; may serve to punish and prevent Adulteries; Rapes; Incests; etc。 And the smaller Corporal pains; serve to punish those; who can pay no pecuinary mulcts。 8。 Imprisonment seems rather to be the punishments of suspected then guilty persons; and such as by their carriage give the Magistrate occasion to think; either they have done some smaller particular Crime; as Thefts; etc。 or that they would commit greater; as Treasons and Seditions。 But where Imprisonment is not a securing men untill their Trialls; but a sentence after Triall; it seems to me proper o