Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-05-11

responding increase in the counties of Cambria
and Clearfeld, which are to be alike benefited
Local enterprise has already commenced the
march of improvement and progress in this work;
plank roads are being constructed from different
points along the line of the railroad in the coun-
ty of Blair, extending into Clearfield and Cam
bria counties, to afford an outlet for the lumber
taken fom the forests of these regions, not now
accessible 10 streams of water. Parties owning
lands that abornd in coal and minerals, are in
readiness and waiting anxiousy to improve them;
but desire and demand to bc placed upon the
same platform of, and have equal rights with,
land owners in other sections of the State acces-
sibe to avenues to market where their products
| are to be taxed as on this road. This tax is
discrimination against own products, our in
ternal trade, operates unjustly and burdensome
on our own citizens, and is calculated to retard
the development and improvement Of the coun-
| try. The demand for bituminous coal, am in
| formed, in our own great metropolis, is supplied
to considerable extent from other States, and
| foreign countries. This state of facts ought not
to exist, when our hills are groaning under the
| burden OF this article concealed in their bosoms.
| 4 further injurious result to be apprehended
from the continuation Of this onerous tax on the
resources of the State is, that it will drive cap
tai without our borders to seek investment. Its
benefits in opening up and enriching the coun-
try, will be lost amongst US. 1t viii go where
yer it can be most usefully and profitably en-
ployed and where it is least liable tobe burthen-
ed and vast portions of our Stale, rich in mine
raj resources, will remain as they come from the
hands of the Creator, unimproved and undeyel-
oped
1t is certainly and Enthusiastically true, that
whatever tends TO local prosperity hnd improve
ment, tends also to increase the general wealth
of the State. Wisdom and sound policy would
therefore dictate that the State should encour-
age, foster and cherish by every means in its
power, whatever is calculated to produce these
results, and should remove every thing within
its scope of authority, calculated 10 retard, i'm
pede or totally defeat them. Had time here, /
might fortify and strengthen my argument, by
reference to the sections of the State, where i'm
provements have been made and the most bene-
fetal results have cnured to the country and
State, whore no such tax has been imposed. But
pass on.
The question then recur, shall We continue the
imposition of this tax, and thus interfere with
not only the local interests and prosperity of the
country, but also the general prosperity of the
State? Is it policy to tax lumber, so that its
manufacture is prohibited, and It is left unre-
claimed in the forest Is it policy to tax coal,
so that it Will be forever kept concealed in the
recesscs OF cur hills E. Is it wisdom is it just is
it right, to discriminate against citizens,
in favor Of citizens of other States and counties
If the positions that l have assumed heretofore
are correct and true, there be but one an
swer 10 the interrogatories, and that is an un-
hesitating
If they are well based the conclusion is ire
sistabIe, that the repeal of this tax coal and
lumber will instead of injuring, create q source
of income to the Golfers of the treasury, a reve-
nue. that will be permanent and fixed, and not
uncertain and variable, founded upon the wealth
and increase OF the country. 1t is also evident
that its continuancewi operate seriously against
the internal trade of the State, and the general
and local interests of the State. The repeal OF
the law so far as it relates to these articles OF
trade, is demanded. then, by the best interests
of the State, and by people who are unjustly
f burthened and whose prosperity Is injuriously
affected and % trushed OUT by its operation.