The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-06-27

with reservation ofthe United States rights
for her State bonds, to cancel some millions
of these bonds; or if she preferred TO retain
it in her own possession, its rents and tolls
would probably pay the interest on a very
considerable portion of her present debt
That Indiana has struggled earnestly, and
with some effect, to work through that debt,
and is therefore not unworthy the aid which
may thus be incidentally afforded her, the
following brief details, supplied from her Oh
fficial records, may PROVE.
Eight years ago, at lhe commencement OF
her internal improvement system, the State.
tax levied on her citizens was five cents on
every hundred dollars of property. 1t was
gradually increased, first 10 fifteen cents,
then 10 thirty, and one year (lS4l) to forty
cents-and that on the full actual value, moi
on a nominal appraisement; the poll tax re-
naming, however, at fifty cents, except in
1871, when it was raised to seventy-five
cents.
By this increase of taxes, there has been
raised in Indiana, by direct taxation, for
State purposes alone, in the last years,
upwards of sixteen hundred thousand dol
lars.
But the present annual expenses of the
State Government ofIndiana are, by the es-
innate other auditor, about seventy SIX thous-
and dollars. They have, heretofore, been
somewhat higher. Putting them at an aver
age of eighty thousand dollars a year, they
would amount in the seven years to five
hundred and sixty thousand dollars or about
one third ofthe amount which IN that period
has been raised by direct taxation alone,
leaving two-thirds, or upwards of one mil
lion of dollars, 10 be applied to the extin-
guishment of her public debt from this single
source of direct taxation, and without reck-
oning bank dividends, sales of public lands
&c. Tits true that this amount has chiefly
been applied to liquidate the domestic deb
Of the State, and that during a portion ofthe
time the interest on Indiana's foreign deb
has remained unpaid. This has happened
naturally, almost necessarily y, as a result oil
the extreme pressure of the times, causing
the State to pass a law by which her scrip
the evidence of her domestic debt, should
be received in payment of taxas and othel
State dues. If this be cast up TO Indiana a:
a reproach, it may be asked, in reply, wheth
er there be any example on record of a ma
ton preferring her foreign 10 her domestic
debt; and whether England herself, il be
: debt, instead ofbeing, as nineteen-tweEtieth
of it is, IA domestic debt, were a foreign, woult
+ pay the interest on that enormou sum, ever
for a single year.@AS State which for sever
years, including a disasterous period of ih'
e commercial history of the country, has per
c ICouoraA IN n DOlrinr 0nt "a ouor, throa 1nl
: lars which she raised by taxing her citizens
two towards the liquidation of her debt, ap
o pears TO the undersigned 10 have lone wha
could reasonable be expected of her in tn
r premises. OF the annual revenue Of Grea
n Britain, there is applied little more than one
half, instead oftwo-thitds, annually, toward
e her enormous debt; while nearly one-half j
expended in current expenses other govern
ment.
d But the considerations which chiefly re
e gard the General Government, and 10 which
therefore, the undersigned have chiefly ha'
reference, are the nature Of the grant asked
and the consideration TO be obtained for i
Spectators, prompted by motives of sell
< interest, frequently give way alternate loI
of a town, when Of small value and Of du.
sale to those who will improve then
/ and they usually reap full return for the al
a parent sacrifice, by the increased value {
IL those that remain. The cases are somewh;
al similar, with this additional fact in favor
Il the grant under consideration-that, in ma
n ing il, the General Government purchase
IL with the lands granted, the remainir
i'd two-ih:rds of great thoroughfare, of whit
but one-ihird may be considered as belon
ing TO her at present.
We In view of these considerations, the m
1t nority of your committee recommend Il
of passage, without amendment, of the Sena
nd bill No. l19: can act 10 grant certain Ian
es 10 the State of Indiana, the better TO enab
I'm the said State 10 extend and complete Il
W Wabash and Erie canal from Terre Haur
of TO the Ohio River"
tie ROBERT DALE OWEN,
; DAVID L. SEYMOUR.
III WASHINGTON, JUNE 8, 1914.
GnT TAATEN y noT