The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-16

NEW JERsRY-lTS FINANCES.-Ihe message
of Governor Stratton, of the State OF New Jer-
sey, has been furnished to the Legislature, and
discoses the fact that that State is not only out
of debt, but that its finances are in highly
prosperous condition. Now, this, at first sight,
may appear very fattering; and it would, no
doubt, reflect great credit on that State, if it
were not that a slight examination into the
manner in which that State collects its revenues,
discoses also, that it resorts to the meanest and
most contemplate species of black mail, which
it levies, not only its own citizens, but on the
people of every State in the Union, who happen
to travel through it, or whose goods or property
are transported across it.
We believe, in this respect, New Jersey stands
ignominiously prominent; for we have never
heard that any other State descended to such
petty and despicable means, which are unworthy
! the character of sovereign State of this great
republic, to swell its revenues. No wonder it is
| out of debts for we question If State that Is
mean enough to levy per capita tax on all who
travel on its railroads, and transit duty on all
merchandise transported across it, could sell a
State bond in any money market, here or abroad,
if the fact was known.
The amount of transit duties received by the
| State from the business done by the Camden and
Amboy, and Delaware and Raritan Canal Com
panies, Alone for the year past reaches the large
sum of 1882, 1921 20. This will give an idea of the
manner in which the State Of New Jersey raises
its revenues-a manner which is to be depre-
Gated by all honorable and high-minded men.
1t has no commerce, no shipping of its own, on
which it can levy duties; and hence it levies black
mail on the citizens and property of other States.
| e. -: I,N
Jersey, identically the same with that practsed
by the guerllas of Mexico at the present time,
or that adopted by the barons of the fortified
castles on the Rhine, and the black mailed
knights on the borders of Scotland, during the
barbarous ages, with this single exception-that
you have not to pay this black mail at the pis.
tolls mouth, under threat of having your brains
blown out The New Jersey black mail system
is an Improvement on the old system. Instead
of pistol being presented to your head, and a
portion of the contents of your purse being de-
manded, the Legislature passes law compelling
the railroad companies, canals, &C., to pay them
so much for every passenger they carry, end every
pound of goods they transport. They do not do
the dirty work themselves; but they compel
others to do it for them, while they receive the
black mail.
| 1t strikes us that, under to the tenth sec.
ton OF the first article of the constitution of the
United States, this despicable system of black
mail, practised by the State of New Jersey, is
in contravention of that instrument. We should
like to see the matter tested. 1t will be we'll,
however, for travellers to bear in mind, that
whenever they travel in New Jersey, they are
compelled to submit to paying black mail to
the State, for the purpose of adding to its
| revenue.