Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-02-20

ties the right Of leaning credit, in this
way, to railroad companies involves The
same principles Of granting, to school
districts the right to tax themselves TO
build school houses. Not at all. The
education Of the youth is public econo-
lny--ls net only the legitimate right but
an important duty of government. It's
we'll settled policy that il is cheaper
and better TO educate the youth than to
govern them without it, and hence the
| right Of the Legislature to another tax
Tor that purpose. The State cannot so
into internal Improvement nor create
State debt only in certain way. How
then, Tor sectional schisms OF internal
improvement, can she authorize her
parts, by taxation 10 contract debts which
as whole, she cannot constita,ionallv
create? Bat the friends of the doctrine
of loaning credit, urge that the authors
ty thus 10 loan implies no authority to
impose lax that tax to meet the
possible contingencies OF such a loan,
must be subject Of future legislation;
1 that the loan Of credit is extended upon
the suPposifion that the Bond bill be re-
deemed and the hypoihecated faith re-
leased without a resort TO taxation, and
that aphen application Is naqde 10 tie is-
gisfatlon for The RICK! 10 ta1, That then it
will be time to question the right Of The
/ legislature to act in the promises.
Now Mr.. Editor, what do you think
of this construction Of The powers of
our legislature ? It has power to an-
thorize the loaning Of credit without
| knowing whether it has power to au-
thorise the redemption OF that credit
Indeed some OF the advocates of this
legislation declare that the legislature
has no right to authorize a tax for the
redemption of pledged credit in this
way, and that such laws loaning credit
cannot bind the minority--that the mi
nority, or any part of it, has remedy
at law and can sue out an Injunction
and arrest collection And vet they
vote for these Bills-virtually enacting
a necessity for appeal to common law
principals against the statute thus en-
acted !! But the assumption upon which
/ this Lex islation is based-that the bond
ed faith will be redeemed without resort
10 taxation, is an assumption which has
brought many mor,gaged value under
the hammer and it may bring the legis-
iature 10 consider its right TO authorize
the implied taxation. In such an event,
what will be the result should that right
be recognized? It will make an end to
all private control of private property,
and the rights and franchises heretofore
held inseparable from it will merge into
common stock. Ii the right to tax how
ever, should not be recognized, public
faith viii become bye-word, the public
creditor dupe and he individual spur
sun Vi ndPPifless VIII Ue Swallowed up
in the "Democratic doctrine" that the
majority must govern in all things.
Now Mr.. Editor, we in the western
part Of the State have not had this poll
cy fastened upon Us, and | make these
suggestions not more TO expose the
boandless assumption Of legislative pow
er IN such enactments. then to draw the
public mind into the investigation. The
time may come with us when public
sentiment may find it necessary to make
itself felt upon this subject.
Yours, Y.