American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-02
rFor the American Republican ]

[For the American Republican,
The excitement in our city relative to the
Stamp Tax is calculated to GO US great injury
in more respects than one, and if we attempt
to resist its payment fear that not only the
character but also the credit of our merchants
must suffer (and with them the whole commu-
nitv) to more than the whole amount OF the
tax to be collected.
We are all bound by the acts of our Legs-
ature and being bound we must act according
". We require Just now that the credit of our
State should stand high, TO enable the Railroad
Company to 90 on in prosecuting her route to
the Ohio, and refusal to pay our taxes and
meet the interest on our State bonds, will eft
iectualiy prevent the Railroad Company from
using those in her possession to any advantage
for at least ten years to come. If, therefore,
we would see our road recommended, let us
pay the tax cheeriully.
If the acts of the Baltimoreans in ure the
State stock, will they not also affect the Gre
dit of the city stock? and the result OF that
would be to impede in some measure the pro-
perty of the city: besides, there is not parti-
Gle Of doubt in my mind that if we repudate
TO the extent of refusing to pay tho tax, the
merchants will lose their credit abroad, and
with it their profits and commissions; for the
man who finds an excuse for avoiding one debt,
will soon be satisfied to avoid another.
assert, without fear of a successful contra
dicton, that a failure to pay the tax will entail
irrepayable mpedments to the success OF our
Railroad, and lasting loss and injury to our
merchants and citizens generally As Balti-
moreans, then, we are bound to foster our Rail-
road as our only hepo, and shall we not give
the sprat to catch the mackereR shall we not
look beyond to-day? and finally, shall we not
act in good faith, by fulfilling our promises
made by our delegates? Heretofore our city
has not suffered from the taintng ofrepudlaton
in the State, because we were thought to man
ready always to come to the rescue; let US
prove our good morale and our merit Of the
character heretofore enjoyed, by submission to
the claims of the laws of our State, and paying
the tax. Religion, morality and common
decent honesty demand it of us.
We are very much afraid that the compile
ton of the Canal will niure our cty's trade.
1t may do so, but at the same time we can do
something towards assisting the Railroad to
compete with the Canal. feel satisfied that
were the same amount of interest excited in
our city in favor of the necessity of aiding the
road, as there is in opposition TO the Stamp
Tax, we might hit on some plan to aid us
greatly.
Experienoe has shewn that there is less dam
Ger from the locomotive in its passage through
the city than from horse car. The former
can be stopped inSar,ter by shifting the cam
rod, and the last can only be arrested gradual
Ia by friction on the wheels locomotive
carries train with her, and whatever danger
there may be from that train, as 1t passes at
once, SO the danger is only once encountered;
whereas when horses are attached, 1t Is neces-
sary to separate the cars, thus making, as IL
WERE several trains, and multiplying the risk
proportionately. So, you perceive that the
number of trains beng Increased, and When
divided thus each train being more diihcult OF
management than the entire train with the To-
connective at its head, think we may safely
conclude, that in case where train OF cars
are passed through the city by steam, the dan
ger therefrom is vastly increased by their being
divided and drawn by horses The first can
only cause injury by downright negligence, as
the engineer can at will reverse the whole
power of his engine in half turn Of one OF her
driving wheels, and bring her to stand still.
The latter does cause injury, notwithstanding
care, as its momentum cannot be checked IN
Stanter, for first the horses must be stopped, and
then the lever applied, and car is sure to 60
forty or fifty feet under such circumstances, and
in many instances damage must ensue. The
experiment has been made by the Philadelphia
Company for more than two years, and during
that time no accident has happened or COM
plant been made.
Well, what of all this? Why, the Railroad
Co. charges the Coal Co, ten cents per ton for
CARRYING so, 900 tons per annum through the
city, and think that if our Councils would
permit their locomotives to do the work, the
Company would be remunerated sufficiently
with half the amount This would give help
to the Railroad in competing with the Canal
of $500 on the $4,000 tons. Now Fell's
Point is nearer than Canton by mile and up
wards. In Boston, the citizens gave wharf
for the Cunard Boats, at a very great COST and
secured them to themselves. What have they
gained by it? Their increased business has sat
is6ed her merchants that it was capital put at
a very good interest.
There are whars on Fell's Point sufficient
in point of size and depth of water to do all
the coal business mentioned above, and $4,000
would purchase one. Give it to the Coal Co.
so long as they will bring their business to our
city. This will induce them to give some pre-
ference to the Railroad over the Canal, and |
think it will save one cent per ton of the above
five cents, on account Of the saving in distance