The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-09

light houses and greatly assisted TO defray the expenses
OF the State and the city governments
THIS is what Baltimore has actually contributed to the
common fund for the promotion OF the common COOL
and the general welfare. And what has she received
| hold in my hand statement from the Treasury De-
Partment which shows that IN 81 years. 300 nave
been expended by the United States upon the harbor OF
| Baltimore Not thousand year for port from winch
nearly ftysix millions OF dollars have been received!
And now let us examine the justice and the equality OF
the general system OF internal improvements sought 10 De
established IN the midst OF this war And let us Judge OF
H. not by what its enemies proPhesy as tSely 10 gow
out of it. by the promises which its ndscree friends
make Tor let Judge it by the past The past may
| be known-the future cannot be-
Under the revenue system, eight hundred and ninety
millions OF dollars have been collected by the United
States; Of this sum. e,s37soi So lnearly Sioooooool
have been expended by government IN the prosecution OF
works OF internal Improvement II Baltimore had re-
ceved its pro share of the money expended on I'M
provemens estimating according to what that port con
rbuted TO the treasury, compared with sister ports,
less than sixteenth part of the ten millions OF dol
lars would have been expended at Baltimore
Now, sur instead of having S625,00O expended In our
city, have had but $550Oo IT, therefore, we are to
prosecute general system OF internal improvements, the
old plan OF expanding moneys will not suit Baltimore
however well It may work elsewhere For OF the $lO
100000, it contributed $625000, and obtained $4,000
It would be infinitely better for us TO make our own I'M
provemen,s; though can easily understand why persons
living distant portions of the republic paying little or
nothing and receiving moneys collected from the pockets
of my constituents, should entertain different OPINION
and that interest to pay 1925 900 in order
to obtain S55oOo Pay twelve dollars order to receive
one back!
Maryland surrendered to the United States the right
impose taxes upon the 1ourshng commerce OF Bati
more, in ORDER among other things o insure domestic
tranquility and provide for the common defence"
against foreign aggression These duties have been
satisfactorily perfomed-at least to extent great
as reasonably be expected from government
intrusted with duties so difficult and extensive Our
flag has been noby upheld in the face OF all nations I'M
der all the varied circumstances that have arisen in
eventfu age of the world. Our domestic quiet has been
perfectly insured, and the general welfare Substantially
been effected more by admirable system OF urspu-
dence than by the power of arms and the latter rather
by abstanng from the imposition OF burdens upon capi-
tai and industry than by acts OF municence 10 ndlvd-
uals and classes.
We have, then, hut little or nothing OF which Justly to
complain but much TO ncte our pride and heighen our
satisfaction, when contemplate the glorious achieve
ments OF government. The industrial pursuits, com
pared with those of other nations, are nconsIderably
burdened; is lightly restricted and our agri-
culture is in far favorable condition than that OF
any other nation. 4.l
If it is the constitutional duty of Congress to improve
the harbors of the several cities OF the United States
Them that case Maryland has Just cause OF complaint
for elect of duty all must perceive 80 deeply iet
the necessity of improvements in Baltimore haroor
early as l7s3-before the formation Of the federal
stituon-the general assembly OF the State OF Maryland
passed act authorizing the levying OF tonnage duty
upon all vessels entering the port OF Baltimore for the
press purpose of making such improvements. This act
was renewed in l7SS, and IN l79l was formally sane
tened by C@ngress-an act that conferred upon Mary
powers
In 1889 the constitution adopted That instru-
ment transferred the power of collecting revenue from
commerce from the individual States TO the United States
The general government, being unable or unwilling to
improve the harbor OF Baltimore, in 1901 returned to the
State OF Maryland for four years, so much oil the ceded
power to allow said State to collect money enough
from the of Baltimore to put and to keep the
harbor thereof condition better calculated tor the &C
commodation of shipping The act of 1871 was to re-
however in 1896 and again from time to time until si3
when the provisions OF the same act were extended until
| 1850!
1t is thus seen that the harbor of Baltimore has been
maintained in condition for business by tax upon the
commerce of that city. This the before this
government created 1t has been the ever since
Baltimore has been taxed since l7s3 and is now taxed
for the improvement of the harbor in which our ships
sheltered. For upwards of sixty years this whole
expense has been borne by Baltimoreunless, indeed,
except the 900 donated by the United Sates-a
sum TOO small to form exception in labor and cost so
large TO preserve our harbor we have WITH the consent
Congress improve harbor at the expense OF the
nat ona treasury but its to an act allowing us
to tax ourselves has never been withheld ITS na
the act OF 1871 again expires do not fear that Congress
will refuse to renew It,
AS Baltimore has thus been compelled by the neglect
of Congress, improve its harhor, Tor the uniner
rupted, consecutive period OF sixty years, IS right
just. to introduce system by which Baltimore
will be conpeied through all future years. to submit to
additional taxaon that the avas thereof may be applied
to improve rival harbos in any or IN all parts OF the
United States 2
! Maryland and Baltimore deeply in debt They are
struggling to raise honestly pay those debts and
WILL with great efforts, succeed In many OF the States
citizens feel aggreved because they called upon to
pay tax of twenty-five to thirty cents upon hundred
dollars worth of property. Baltimore will be taxed this
year, by late paper one hundred and nifty cents
upon each one hundred dollars!
! When the people OF Maryland struggling under a
heavy load of debt and taxes, and also making siren
uous efforts construct commercial avenue from the
great valley of the Ohio to the shores of the Chesapeake
bay cost of startling magnitude, considered in
nexion with their present obligations should be recreant
10 my trust were to sit idly by and the weight
recklessly increased am compelled by every sense OF
duty, resoutey oppose all schemes that look TO Dor.
rowing money and increasing taxes for making internal
improvements in the several States by the general gov
eminent for Maryland desires increase of taxes or
of debt carry out system of improvements BY the
United States The wses inancers the most sagaclous
statesmen living, cannot sit down and draught an in
terna Improvement bill that the majority OF the people OF
Maryland would for it, to carry out its provisions,
increased debt and taxation would be necessary This is
my opinion. ! may be wrong IT is true but thlnk
there not much for doubt upon this subject
Look the injustice of the schemes proposed Tor our
sanction Baltimore pays into the treasury hfty live
millions in little than fifty five years. in fifty
years ST. Louis has contributed probably the one-ha
OF one million. Estimates from the department show
that expenditure OF or two hundred thou-
sand dollars is necessary the Improvement OF ST. Louis
harbor pay this cost from the United States treasury.
and Judging by the past the people of Baltimore will pay
500, and more, where the people OF St LOUIS pay one
dollar for the Improvement OF St LOUIS harbor! ana
does St Louis need this grauity from the people OF Bal
tmore Not at all far otherwise ST. LOUIS has more
than fifty thousand people, great wealth, comparative
oil frnr, lahf md an