Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-12-29

i.f.t- r-.-' For the wheeling Intelligeneer
MEssRs. EpIToRs:-In your paper of the 23d
inst, is the following language. '"Fhere hns OF
late been manifested most alarming tendency to
run ad fnfinitum the credit OF the city. Members
of thu council seem often to act as though they
were the representatives of their own wards alone,
rather than OF the city at large, and regard but
little the general current Of expenditure provided
only that in the onslaught upon the treasury their
wards come in for the lions share of the SPOIL"
&C., &c.
Read these and the two following sentences with
sight change Of phtaseology and it will be seen
that they contain valuable truths. "Fhere has OF
late been manifested most alarming tendency to
run nd infnitum the credit of the State. Mem
bers Of The Assembly seem often to act as though
they were the representatives Of their own e0u"-
ties alone rather than of the State at large, and
regard hut little the general current oil expenditure,
provded only that the onslaught upon the treasu-
~ their counties in for the lions share OF the
spoil. II member from one county proposes
turnpike in his county, member from another pro-
poses railroad in his, and SO itgoes until the little
SNOWFALL, which some prudent member thought
would Just touch the treasury, reaches it having
attained the seize, dimensions, aud power OF an
avalanche. These bills then log-roll through,
State bonds issue, pay day is STAYED off, and who
SIS 10 provide the ways and means to meet it, II
profuson chaEacteEises the conduct Of Legislators,
what may be expected Of the icbbers, speculators
and peculatorS, no execute contract to execute
government works. Thomas Darlington Macauley,
V who speaks from the experience of the British
empire, says that "half million subscribed by
Individuals, will be more Efficient in constructing
a canal OF railroad, than five millions granted
by act Of parliament quote from memory my
copy Of his works is now unfortunately lost: but
lei the those, who doubt my substantial accuracy,
turn 10 the Edinburgh Review, and glance into
his review of Southeys' colloquies Society, and
they IS i'll see whether misrtpIesent him. This
intellectual giant is too cautious TO make such an
assertion in the face Of the whole civilized world
II not well sustained by fact.
Jean Baptste Say, in his immortal work, uses
the following language: ga government must act
by deputy, by the intermediate agency of a set Of
people whose interes is in direct opposition to its
own; and they will Of course attend to their own
IN preference. Ifit be so circumstanced as TO be
Invariably cheated in its bargains, there is need
to multiply the sppurtenances of fraud, by enga-
ging itself in production and adventure; that is 10
say, embarking in concerns that must infinitely
multiply the occasions of bargaining with individu-
als.' Political Economy, Sixth Edition, page 20l.
But it will be said, care not internal improve
nents matter ofthe first necessity Must we not
have canals, railroads, and other channels of COM
merciai inteTcourse9 Yes, certainly, unless we
would return to barbarism. But why substitute
governmental remissness and negligence and the
rapacty, proAgacy of public agents, for Individual
and social energy, sagacityla land economy Why
butthen the tax payer when the whole thing could
-be.dape, and better done, without molestiug hint
OF course 1 now allude t. the great channels OF
commerce, there may be other worksof public
nature which individuals and associations have
no inducements TO undertake.
rs4IlE Most Respectfully, &c,
A TAX PAYER.
P. s. Governor johnson in his late message
1nsnifests great zeal against the trnds between
Norfolk and New York and the other Northern CT
ties, and refers to the General Assembly the case
OF Establishing line of steamers to carry on d-
rect trade with Europe. beseech the little Colo
mel to reflect for moment, what sickly trade
that must be, which requires State treasury for
It's support.