Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-02-18
rRor The 1nteIri..ne.r.1

MEssEGs. EDIToEs-In McAakin's Model Amer
Jean Courier Of the 1lth inst is an item concerl-
ing the Pennsylvania Public Works, which reads
as follows: 'FTbe whole receipts from oDr Stale
Public Works, during the last fiscal year, we've
one million eight hundred and ninety-three thou
Band, two hundred and seyenty-one dollars and
fourteen cents, while the expenses reached two
million seven hundred and eighty thousand eight
bundled and fifty dollars and seventy nine cents;
excess Of expenditures over receipts, eight hun
dred aud eighty-seven thousand, five hundred and
eIghiy.nine dollars and seyenty-iye cents" This
looks alittle like verifying the truths of Macau-
lays remarks contained in my former communica-
ton. begin to believe with Jean Baptist Say,
that governments are always delrauded in their
dealings with individuals. What would be said
OF great millionaire, mighty capitalist, Whose
works presented such balance sheet as the Pub
lie Works Of Pennsylvania How long would he
be permitted 10 walk without the aid Of straght-
jacket. and the superintendent of a Lunatic ASy
luu,1 What If the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad pre-
Nented such balance sbeet1 But il is said that
capitalists will not invest in public works so 10
improve the county fast enough. Perhaps not
while the government is in the field, sS their rival,
with It's reckless wastefulness, its utter contempt
of all system, OF all economy, of all frugality,
heightened and improved by the specializing and
peculating prop-nsihes of its plundering agents
and servants. But il government could be re-
- strained from intermeddling, capitalists would
soon cznstruct all really useful public improve
ments. If a line of proposed public improvement
isIenIIy called for by the wants OF commerce. cap
ttslisIs will be found ready and willing TO con-
kttuct II, and if it IS likely to be mere barren,
windy speculation, ought the taxpayers to be sub
iected to the Ioss7
The State OF Ohio has hada an experience of these
matters very similar to that of Pennsylvania. She
also adopted the system first introduced into New
York, by Dewitt Clinton.
; The men, who in the Ohio Legislature, ten
years ago, attacked this system, were in their turn
assaulted by storm ofpublic calumny, fescer than
ever howled round the ears Of any except the early
opponents of the African slave trade. Yet seven
years afterwards the Ohio Constitutional Conyen-
lion put an efectual stop 10 the effects Of the
Buckeye government in that direction. Dewitt
: Clinton and his doctrines were at enormous
discountin that body. So that Ohio has nothing
but her old sins of which 10 repent. "Experience
teaches" But man, unfortunately will seldom
consent TO Learn from the experience of others
They must sin and suffer for themselves. And the
Virginia tax payers will soon be bowed TO the
earth by burtien Too intolernbIe 10 be borne,
preventing the accumulation OF wealth and the
highest education of children. And her soil will
soon be ovetrun by an army OF office holders con-
nected with the Public Works, preaching aud
practising POLITICAL PRIEsr CRAFT as ocious as
any named in history. To right minded, gener-
Gus man the pecuniary considerations seem utterly
insignificant, when compared with the degrada-
ton, the prostratiun of public morals. which al
ways and everywhere attend these government
iobbings and speculations. "a TAXPAYER.
February 10. 1854.