Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-12-06
From the South Caolinian.
State aid,

tne titile Vi tue .alIto"Sn"5 SSeS'o" VI oua
Legislature.
It is subject the practical Operation Of
which is attended with some difficulties, and
therefore it has been rather avoided by our
legislators heretofore. But the time has
come rhen IL should be met and finally DIS
posed of. The policy Of the State should
he clearly defined and settled in regard to
it. Indeed, it would seem as it the approach
ing Legislature will be compelled to that
task, as it will probably be pressed upon
their attention in such manner as not to
be STAYED off any longer.
:" There are some things in which it appears
-manifestIy the duty Of the State to aid its
citizens. cren individuality For instance,
in the establishment of houses, and masking
other provision for the maintenance of the
poor; asyIuuis for the insane, blind, deaf
and dumb; schools and colleges for the
diffusion Of knowledge amongst all classes.
Then, again, the State is justified in aid
ing the more fortunate and less dependant
classes of her citizens in more general u1ay
In clearing out rivers and harbors; by erect
ing forts, arsenaIs, military schools, &c, &C.,
for the common protection and defence. On
the propriety Of the State aiding these and
similar objects of private and public benefit,
there is little, if any, division of sentiment
But in regard to those enterprises, though
of IA public nature, where the benefits inure
to individuals or associations directly, whilst
the community at large enjoys only an inci-
dental advantage, as for instance railroads,
canals, turnpikes, &C., the propriety Of
State aid has been seriously questioned.
The State has, however, already extended
aid to several such enterprises, aud conse.
ouently others will feel justified in applying
to it for like assistance hereafter, aud no
doubt several will do so at the coming ses
sion of the Legislature. That body will
then have either to comply with the requests
Of these new applicants or reject them
The State will have either to stop all such
appropriations or 60 forward.
If she goes forward in the unmethodica
manner she has done heretofore, she may
involve her finances in great difficulty, un-
less she should discriminate between the
applicants for her aid, and that would be
odious, Leading to sectional jealousies and
suspicious of favori,ism. But if she stops,
she cannot stand still, but must retrograde.
What, then, should be done9 | would
say let the State ego farward." Let her
aid all those enterprises of public charac-
ter the tendency and effects of which are to
afford employment to her laboring classes;
TO difuse information Of a practical nature
amongst her citizens, and vastly to advance
the agricultural, mechanical, and CONNER.
cial interests, whilst at the same time pro.
noting the welfare OF the whole people, and
the dis snty and stability Of the State.
There are three modes in which this aid
could be extended First by donation, sec.
ondly by loan, aud thirdly by cooperation.
The first two modes are so Objectionable
that shall not discuss them; but, it is
thought the third, as shall attempt to state
it. would not be offensive to the most scru.
pulous. By cooperation it is meant that
the State should become a partner or CO.
stockholder in such enterprises-rail:oads
especially-as they are at present OF great
est general utility, but upon such conditions
as shall be safe to her, aud yet advantageous
TO them. Such conditions as these: First,
let the State subscribe for q certain proper.
ton (say two-ffths) of the stock estimated
as necessary to the comp pletiou of any road
within her borders, to be paid whenever the
individual subscribers have actually paid up
or put upon the work the other three 6fths.
Secondly, let the States stock be pre-.
ferred or, in other words, let the road
guaranty an interest of per cent per an.
mum, TO be paid to the State from the nett
profits for term Of (say ten) years. "a,
In the third and last place, let the indi
vidual stock be held liable for the payments
of such dividend, and the State be author
lied to sell the same whenever her dividends
are not regularly paid up.
Some OF the advantages Of this plan
would be, that no parties would ask aid OF
the State who were not willing to risk their
oaca money in the success of their favorite
enterprise, and also to lose il, if need be,
in saving the State harmless.
Again, the State would then have fixed
rule to govern her action in regard to all
future applications for aid "a rule safe f
her, and with which the people Of no section
could quarrel, as is 1corking for or against
them uould depend entirely upon their orn
pUOttC spar u uhU WSi'"'sS""oo " "O'P "S'"s
Selrcs.
Again: 1t would encourage and foster
many public Improvements which otherwise
would not be undertaken; for public spirited
individuals would then feel that they might
expect not only the assistance, but also the
countenance and faUor Of the State, which
is a great matter in efforts of that kind
The State would thus assist her people in
the march of public improvement, and at
the same time increase her own sources of
revenue-thercby raising herself to higher
position of prosperity and independence. .
Aud lastly, by settling a vexed and vexa-
tious question, it would enable progressive
and liberal minded members of the Legisla-
ture to lend their influence to these great,
and now almost Indispensable, public works
without the apprehension Of being met and
beaten at the next election by carping and
..,rrow minded demagogues. The aid thus
recommended and for which the might vote,
could not be charged upon them as "a gift
of the peoples money to company OF
reckless adventures" nor would it be" "a
loan Of the peoples money to an insolvent
corporation that could never pay it back
again. but it would be simply a safe IN
rcstment Of part of the States revenue,
which would return her good interest as
long as she might choose to continue it,
and for which she could realize par raluc