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

If re ason can be rendered. confess should be please
to hear it, But there overwhelming reasons WHY
Baltimore should not be taxed for the benefit OF Buffalo
and to these wouli briefly possible, call the attention
oil every member OF this House
In the first place, Buffalo able TO improve its own
harbor, without calling Tor he p from towns and cities
similarly situated Ii the people OF Buffalo are able to
suitably improve their harbor the righuness of calling
upon men who have interest in TO assist in derayng
the expense is not self evident In the next place, u
buffalo insists upon having assistance whether is need
cd that assistance should be given by the State of
New York Lastly, i il is said that others besides the
cizens OF Buffalo and the State OF New York IN
ieresei the reply is at hand-tdT those tOho beeciaf
| IN interested. ...
1t is false in fact it is false in theory that persons liv
ing upon the waters OF the Aroosook pecunarly in
teresed IN the mpro vement OF the roads, bridges, and
fences TO be found in Oregon Nebraska and Minnesota
and that therefore they should be taxed an their prop
erty be sold TO pay those taxes enable government 10
improve those aro and utterly unknown roads bridges
ana fences To tax the jewellers upon the grassy plains
OF the Ozark mountains, or among the brakes Of
Mississippi, TO obtain money with which improve
Buffalo harbor is TO commit outrage for which no
Justification can be found either in the books or in the
human heart.
Let Buffalo harbor like that of Baltimore be improved
by laying small duty upon the tonnage that it. Let
the burden be borne BY those who to be benefited
The burdens should be placed upon the shoulders OF
those who obtain the benefits flowing from them. The
wagon that does not use the turnpike is free from toll
for the road is sustained by tolls collected from teams
which travel omit So, also, let harbos be improved by
moneys collected from those who do and from those
who do not, use them And say this the
y because my constituents have always pacsed what
| now preach They have improved their own harbor
and IN their name protest galnst being compelled by
law to improve the harbors of their neighbors also
Would not such compusion be manifest injustice
But, it may be said, Buffalo harbor is not improved
the lake will pass by Buffalo, go through Lake
Ontario, and into the ST. Lawrence, and passing over the
railroad which the Vermoners are building, go to Bos
ton, instead of passing through the Erie canal on way
to the city OF New York This is possible fact,
less the harbor is enlarged improved and rendered
and easy OF access as we have made Baltimore har
h>r nnl, ,,ln f1o md
greatly enlarged and improved it is probg6te that a
large amount OF the lake trade will pass by Buffalo, and go
to Boston by the more northern route This is reason
why the people of Buffalo should initiate Baltimore; but
is not reason why the people of the United States
should nterfere.the reverse rather For, why should
all the people of the United States be taxed to enable
New York thoroughly to estop the ''men OF Boston"
from diverting its trade TO themselves If the trade of
New York is in danger of being diminished by the enter
prise of Boson-it its canal revenues danger of be-
ing diminished from the same CAUSE can occasion
for New York to employ its and its capital effect
improvements that will avert the danger with which their
trade and commerce menaced; but | can discover
nothing that will justify Congress to tax my constituents
to raise means with which to assist New York to
teract the subtle movements OF their enerprisng
neighbors Ii help were to be needed but once
might consider the distress OF New ork friends but
what guaranty have that they will be in any better
condition to repe future than present ncuIsoas upon
lake commerce directly IN sight of their shores, it will
prove to be impossible to keep the Yankees away from
it. as it was to keep the Huns and Gohs out Of Italy,
the Tartars out OF Chna 1t moral and hysical i'm
possibility and am opposed to all attempts of the kind
let the Workers and the Yankees Greek Geek) set
meantime, wisely allowing them both to construct their
own roads, their harbors and their own canals,
without the slightest interference.
Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York engaged in the
construction of commercial to the west. New
York has completed most of hers the others have not
New FORK has immense revenues, and is free from
barrassment: pennsylvania and Maryland deeply
in debt, and heavily taxed: their railroads the
OHIO are only in progress, and by no means COM
pleted Inc port OF the one Is maintained at ITS own
| or governmental attention. Under such circum-
stances what could be unjust to those two States
than for the United States borrow money improve
the harbor at the termination of the principal New York
commercial avenue to increase its already greatly dis
tended revenue, and then call upon Maryland and
Pennsylvania to help pay both the principal and the in
terest OF the expenditure for the benefit of New York
New York has fairly obainad the lead of her compet-
tors her capital population and revenues are larger
ana her public works are brought nearly to per-
lection. Her competitors stranng every nerveare
plng up debts, and submitting to taxation to frghtfu
extent that they may not be totally and forever dis
anced IN the struggle to gain the of the west
lhis House sees the struggle; it perceives that New
York obtaining the advantage in the gigantic struggle
but fails not to note that neither Boston, Philade pha
nor Baltimore is disposed to yield handsbreadh,
abate single effort; the contrary they full
OF hope as they are of determination. Who permit me
to ask, witnessing this struggle this noble courage this
generous hope, will some forward AMI say to these
dent and worthy spirits "Take upon your aching shout
iers this additional burden for the benefit Of your
Mr., Chairman, pray this House not to ask the people
OF Baltimore, who are already grie vously taxed, con
tribute OF their means for tine Improvement OF harbors
For sixty-hve years they have maintained their har
bor Cannot their neghbors consent to initiate our ex
ample, until we have finished public works, and so
Tar paid off our obligations to be able reduce our
taxes to rate nearly corresponding with other
States! If st. Louis, and Buffalo, and other applicants
for bounty poor in debt, and laboring under
heavy burden OF taxaton and in danger of losing their
trade and commerce Through the efforts of highly
favored competitors if they situated in States that
were deeply in debt, and known to be FESTIVE under
which TO draw for assistance than the charity of Con-
gress confess my compassion would be strongly moved
and should be grevousy tempted 10 do my constituents
the injustice OF forgetting their interests long enough
vote small donation to these humble and needy de-
pendants upon the charity of the general government
But such their condition they rich flourish
| ing and independent. May not hope that they will
hereafter the attitude of mendicans or
the unseemy character of sturdy beggars at the gates of
an overdrawn treasury May not hope that hence
forth, shall cease to be annoyed by their mporunae
honest pride with which each of these wealthy and
thriving cities will their harbors streets and other
public works to be improved upon the Baltimore pan-at
the soe expense of those persons for whose sole benefit
they are made!
think Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, that it is wrong to
borrow money IN tune of war, to improve some thirty or
forty of our numerous harbors, negecng all the rest
i think it wrong, there no war, to borrow
money upon the credit of ports improved at their own
EXPENSE to expend upon ports of equal wealth. but Of less
independence OF character and of less public spirit
And, sir; If the at end-lf the government
was free from debt, and the people free from taxatonif
,t.oA.,u -.