Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-01-22
Eor thc Nos.thern NLnndnrd.
at about the Mobile and Ohio

,.a E1itor What about the Mobile and Ohio
ii road and the branch to Columbus.
will won admit few crude notions on this subject
. W. columns of the Standard. The question sup
~ ns s is the general utility and the consequent ex-
P"ce We have all heard the saying that nothing
P.ses without profit. A tax without profit is gad-
~ and to prevent evil is better than to cure It, or
,o Il off once it is on; how often is it the case that
real evil fastened on people under the pretence
r rs being supposed good, untried
Icannot conceive any advantage resulting to us on
the East side of the Tombigbee river; nor to the peo
nile ON the West who adjacent and convenient to
its banks. Then we suppose it will be of no advan-
tage to about two thirds of this county Why then
should the many and the poor be taxed for the benefit
of the few and the richnO them that dance pay the
fiddler.
Wehave the river highway ready made to our hands
and will be equally accommodating, and more IN
durable, therefore continue old friend. But few
people will be unwse to lop off their right mana
to give importance to their left The hst steam
boat ever on the Tombigbee, SO say,
Flow on lovely stream, flow on sweet river,
Thy banks and stream will be dear to me ever.
There the steam boat must glide on thy highway
Never to be kicked off by a railway
Rail roads are for the purpose of inland transporta
ton ofmerchandise and passengers thus merchants and
peddlers will be more immediately accommodated, the
most of whom live in towns and villages and little or
no land to pay, and yet they will have the greatest
benefit and at any alarm, pack up and seek safe
refuge. The land-hoder cannot transport his land
but must stick to in war peace and bear the brun
In the above remarks make invdious insinuatons
against the honest merchant and fair dealer consid-
er them useful members of society, in that they
carry off the surplus Of produce and supply us with
what is wanting and necessary, so it is their look out
to seek the best transportation well the best
markets. 1t has been suggested by some of the most
experienced Engineers that many mistakes have been
made in consequence of too great haste in fixing
rout. Now suppose the rout of the main railway,
is % miles from Columbus (Our county town. and BY
which the fine river Tombigbee flows, branch rail
way to Columbus is what is wanting. What would
that rail tract cost some railways cost $4,000 per
mile and this for convenience and facility would re-
qure double tract, one to come and another to 90
which would make 80 miles, (S75O ,OOO) seven hundred
and fifty thousand dollars would suppose the county
would not be willing to pay that enormous sum, by
way of tax But say some let the county take stock,
the county should never get to stock-obbng nor be
entangled in any way in the rail road so would say
not the county, but companies and that voluntarily
The company then would see to its interest and
have control over its own destiny. Let the county
be exempt from taxation and speculation much as
possible. 1t cannot be made question among free
people to whom the right of taxing belongs although
the theory of taxation may not be fully perfected vet
voluntary contribution for the public good is gen.
erous tax that every citizen may impose himself.
The taxing power is in the State; every citizen should
pay his just quota of the expenditure of the Govern
ment, and what equivalent does he receive in return:
protection of fe liberty, property and characters or
der is heavens first law be kept and maintained
how can it be done without officers and officers must
be paid, "who goes warfare at his own charges
The State pays its officers by equazed tax and no
one should wish to claim exemption from just tax.
The Church pays her servants or Ministers by voun-
tary contribution. | should regret to see State and
Church amalgamated so l should also regret to see
the county chained to a railway car
A TAX PAYER.