Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-04-14
The County. Loan.
BaIsroL. April Sth, 1854.

adENTLEMEA. An HumDie tHulfIuidi
seeks permission to express, if consisterR
with your position as Editors and pub
llshers of public Journal, what he feels
tobe an honest conviction, and fair state
ment of some of the many questions in
yolyed in the event of Loan of the Cred
it of the citizens of Kenosha County to
aid in constructing the Kenosha and Be
lott Railroad, or any other enterprise.
having for its object the pecuniary ag-
grandisement of private individuals, or
Corporations. He Graves pardon, for
thus intruding himself upon the attention
of your readers and asks an honest inyes-
tigation before preciptate measures are
adopted to enforce the late Law, obtain
ed in reference to this Loan.
If the position claimed by the County
Towns is founded in justice, then the
friends of the Law should at once desist
from any further attempt to perpetrate
an injustice. IL appears evident to your
correspondent that in this as in all great
questions of public interest, first princi-
pies should be settled, before any advance
is made as to the means to be used. or
the end to be secured.
For the purpose of aiding US to cor
rect conclusion, in the premises, let us
see some of the plain provisions of the
Organic Law of the State, which must be
trampled under foot. before this Loan can
be secured The question is not wheth-
er the County, and City, which should
be one in interest, need the Road to adj
vance their prosperity, but rather, how
shall means be raised? If right and the
Constitution are to suffer, it would be
much better to have no Road. We oc-
casionally hear it said. Rather than not
have the Road. will 20 for the Loan"
This is an unjust position: To say that |
will contend for and do wrong to accom-
modate my interest, is saying that my
whole moral nature must stand in abey
ancc to my selfshness. This doctrine
extended, would abrogate all correct gov
eminent, and introduce anarchy and con-
fusion. See Article ], Section %, of the
Constitution. The blessings of free
Government can only be maintained by
firm adherancc to Justice. moderation,
temperance, frugaIity and virtue, and by
frequent occurrence to fundamental prin-
ciples." Now. can this Loan of one hun
drcd thousand dollars or more. be forced
upon the farmer minority of this Coun-
ty, in spite of their repeated remonstran-
ccs. and maintain this section of the Con
stitution? Is not Justice made to weep
over proposition to take the product of
AS industry. without his consent, and give
it to b., who is already his superior, in
point of wealth? Again, is it Justice for
the citizens of Kcnosha County, to be
compelled by the City to involve them
selves for an internal improvement that
is TO benefit (if at all). the inhabitants of
Walworth. or Rock, when those two
Counties being more able. utterly refuse
to loan their credit for one dime! Sup
pose that three boys had each a penny,
and two being the more powerful, should.
by superior force, compel the third to sur
render to them his treasure; would not
Justice in this case demand redress and
virtue blush at the cffrontery, and employ
means to punish the roSucs?
we are tGll that Public Instruction Is
sustained on the same principle. But
mo one can fail to observe the difference.
We consent t. tax for Popular Educa
tion. on the ground that rice may be di-
minished, and rights the better fortified
defended and enforced. while no cXclu
sive privileges or chartered immunitics
are created but all may. if they will, have
access to the blessings Of Education.
Not thus in the case of Rail Roads.
They are projected and CARRIED forward
by certain individuals possessing powers
and privileges not guaranteed to the rest
of the community. These corporations
are made so by Lur with exclusive grants.
They have a twofold advantage. that of
the indiridudI, and corporation, and they
usually exercise this advantage to benefit
themselves. And if the community gen
orally should collatcrally derive benefit
from their existence. it is in spite of their
efforts, for they usually ruin one class of
individuals, and Towns, to make room
for others which they not unfreQuently
control.
We are repeatedly told that Railroads
enhance the, value of land, and thereby
benefit the Farmer. This, we admit may
in some instances, be the case But what
signifies the value of the land, when the
Loan created TO make the Road immedi
ately appropriates the purchase money?
Again, if il can he shown. as we verify
believe il can, that Railroads are public
blessing, then let them be made, by the
State when all could contribute to their
erection. and share their profits. But
this our constitution has prohibited. and
left this matter entirely TO individuals.
1t is further provided. Article Sec.
lS G. our Constitution, That the rule of
taxation shall be 'myorm. Now can that
rule of taxatiop be uniform which requires