Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-02-05

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senate.
Remarks Of Mr.. EGcLEsrov on The presentation 0
the petition OF suadry citizens OF Switzerland
county, relating TO reputation.
MR. PRESIDENT: The petitions presented bj
me come from IA very respectable portion of m,
Constiluen,s, and 40 they mark out n coarse OF con
duct for mo-, 1t is but proper that l should make
known what my action on those Subjects will be
lam IN The first place, Instructed TO vote for a re
peal Of the state Board of EquaiIzation; for ,he
reason that my constituents conceive that the lie
gtsIatrre have no right to delegate to any boar
the authority TO cquaitZe lhe assessments Of prop.
crty in the different counties OF the STATE. They
contend that this is IN part delegatIng the nut hor
iy 10 say how much taxes shall be paid by The
people. In my Judgment, sir, they could, wlih e
qual propriory, say that The legislature had no
right to appoint, assessors and appraisers of prop,
crty in tho several counties nf the State, for II IS
manifest that The amount Of tax paid depends up
on the valuation of those officers. The business
Of tho board Of equalization, IS simply, to see thai
Tie reiatne valuations of the several counties arc
Correctly made. With this view OF the case, and
knowing that tho old board Of equalization was
unpopular, | voted 10 repeal II, and to re-organlZe
Il nD. board consisting OF Committees IRON the
two branches Of the presen, General Assembly.
The old board 10 repealed, and The legislature have
refused To re-orgnnIza new ouc. In this matter,
MT i FcsIueIIt, tho WISHES ~ my constituents nave
been gratiicd, and the effect will be, that next
year they Wall enjoy the privilege Of paying dou-
BILE the tax of the citizens Of the county Of Clark,
IL proportion TO the weaith of the two Counties
and nearly four times as much as some other
counties Of the State. Bat they certainly have
the rIEh: to do so rather than have this arisfocrat-
ic board Of equalization. Ia this matter, sir, as
IN nII Others, when my personal integrity is no,
nskcd 10 be racrliiced, | shall do their will. They
may pay, If they please, ten times rs much 10.
ward. ihs support Of tho government as their
ncighbers. God forbid that / shnnld DENY them
the giorions privilege OF paying taxes. ch The
Of re-nsganIZtng a new board during the
ureseat session nav mouth is sealed. Bat, sir, |
am also requested TO vote against the aPpropiia-
lion of any Of the funds Of the State towards the
r,ymeni os the State debt. They say that
must no, touch our school fnnde, surplus revenue,
nor oar distribution share Of the proceeds arising
from the Gales of the Pablo lands; nor any other
fund otherwise appropriated, 70 pay the State
debt. They also request shat no taxes should be
laid fer that purpose. understand rom these IN
s'ructIons that my constituents are wholly oppos-
cd to the payIneu, Of any part Of the State debt.
We have received millions of other peoples
money aud sQuandcred 1t. We have millions on
hand vested "a bank stock and loaned out OF mort
cages. We have pubic works yielding US tolls
and one uobio work nearly completed, which prom.
ises 10 bo profitable. And yet, SIR, my constltu-
outs tell me that any approprIation OF these funds
now made, is a more laudable one than the pay
ment Of our Just debts. Sir, arc we not 10 reiurn
tho monies on hand? are We 10 bold on 10 the
money borrowed from them and refuse to pay il?
Sir, If these be really the wishes Of roy c%onstitu-
cnis, The relationship existing between us must
cease. They may command me 10 do almost any
thing and | will obey them. But when | am ask
ed to commit an act appro tching so nearly 10 lar
ceny ! cannot, will not, obey them. They may
have my office, bu, not my services in this mat
Cor rboy ,c,A -, II ,tt.r III pN-alyay that hn- {
cause some of This money was laid oui among
thom and they disapproved The loan, that there
fore they are not bound 10 pay tho debt As
well might the left hand attempt TO escape from
the consequences OF the net Of the right, as for
one county TO attempt 10 deny a debt contracted
by the legislature OF the State. Sir. | have ever
held but one opinion on this subject. The deb, Of
my country is my debt. share IN her blessings,
and II IS my pride and pleasure 10 share IN her
mistortunes and ca'amltIes. Sir, l have, up TO
this .iIne, served NY constituents as they desired.
l voted against the contracting OF any part of his
public debt. | have always opposed the system OF
informal Improvements. At this session | have
labored 10 reduce the expenses OF the government
and for more than a month have been engaged in
a latorious effort 10 drag 10 light the unfaI'htul
public servants who have been fntienIug on the
public plumber, and Ist at the close of nv labors
which have not been wholly unsuccessful, | am
met by a mand1te from my constituents TO COM
mt: an set OF daTnIng InLnv. Sir. | lonk upon
II as a requests 10 resIgn-and shall cheerfulIy com
ply. am no seeker of popularity further than a
desire. which I hope | shall always cherish. To
gam the esteem of good men by a conscientious
discharge of ms duty. Bat. | can't make myself
popular by denying the just debts of my country.
When | do 50, may my name become a kissing, n
scott, a BY word. among all people, and AL ever
lasting reproach 10 my children.
House of Representatives.
Remarks Of Mr.. FouLKE m the amendment o. M.