Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-09-11

(Whig though hatlegislature was;) but on
calm reconsideration OF that point, il was
deemed fatal to the road, and was aban-
doned. Even after this, the sentiment of
the House was so unanimous in favor of
the charter, that a division was not de-
manded upon its passage. (2) We cannot
conceive the slightest ground on which TO
raise party question. Be the charter too
liberal, if you please, or be it wrong: the
error is to mutually shared by all parties.
A word as to exemption from taxation
We hold to the doctrine of equality in tax.
alton, whether of individuals or corpora.
tions, as strongly as does the Age. That
Is the true rule: but the legislature saw fit
TO make this an exception to the general
rule, believing it to be for the public in.
terest to do so, precisely on the same
ground that other exemptions are con-
stantly made. This exemption has heen
held out as an inducement for capitalists,
out Of The State to send their money here.
here to expend it, end in fact 90 into
our list for taxation-and he to build
road which all regrrd as highly advanta-
geous to the Stately Granting that the
State erred when it offered this induce
ment, - will it do to break faith with
those who have accepted of the States
invitations Would an honest, honorable
high-minded man so do by another? This
would look little too much lie ksvinding
like obtaining money on false pretences.
1t may do for the Age, perhaps, but we
doubt not would be scorned by every
honest man of every party. Time will
show whether the exemption was unwise;
and whether so or not, we have no fear Of
collision between the Central road and
the State, so long as both are disposed to
consult their own interests and do right"
Waterman.
U True, but what did Mr. Peck, of
Montpelier, Cor he was the gentlemen who
introduced the bill, say about the thing,
as soon as he understood in That
he took it on The representation Of 9TH
ers and that those who asked him to intro
duce it, concealed from him that il
contained clause that they knew he
could not and would not sanction. Mr.
Peck, as was well known at the time ex-
pressed deep indignation against those
who had cheated him, and brought about
the introduction of the bill by democrat
for the purpose of giving the Waterman
the opportunity which it now improves, of
asserting that the bill was introduced by
member of the democratic party.
(2) Very likely, We have not yet been
able TO find the first member of '43 who
will own that he knew there was any such
feature in the bill! But, it will not do to
pretend that the House were unanimous
in favor Of that charter. The members ev-
erywhere, with one accord, agree THAI
they kneO nothing 5any such feature as
the one under discussion! and yet the
Waterman, under such circumstances,
claims that the bill passed unanimously
Every body knows that the democrats on
the spot, denied any sympathy with
the principles Of the charter and that the
six democratic members of the Legislature
who voted for it, in its first stages, were
read out Of the party IN less than twelve
hours after they had been bought by fed
eralism.
(3) All that follows is mere old federal
twa,tle-too silly and too old for this day
Of our Lord. Suppose the Legislature in
1913 had for the sake Of encouraging the
raising Of cattle, passed law that there
nigh, be million head kept in the State
and exempt from taxation and by this time
the people found the cattle-raisers in the
adjoining states had driven cattle to the
amount of half million into the State,
that they were protected here by our laws
and were exempt from taxation. Now,
what will they dol "Grant that tn
State erred when it offered this induce
ment-will il do to break faith with those
who have accepted of the States invita-.
tion',-to keep the cattle on our hills free
from taxation? 1t would be horrible real
Iy horrible for the people TO say in 1915 to
the Legislature of l843 Eve created you
we sent you to Montpelier to make good
and wholesome laws ftr US, and we agreed
to support them if IN our judgment they
were equitable aud just; but we find you
enacted one law that is selfish, wicked,
wrong: that bears uneoually upon US and