Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-08-12
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINGTON. N. c.. FRIDAY. AUGUST IL, 1859.

hSP Spending is one thing and paying is another
1t sounds mighty fine to talk Of iberality and in
ternal improvements and the progress of the age
and the Development of resources" and so FORTH
and perhaps it ne but it ought to be forgotten
that internal improvements cost money, that this
money must be paid by the people of the State in the
shape of taxes and that it is both irrational and unjust
we had almost said dishonesto hope to escape the
necessary and due consequence of expenditure If we
incur burdens is in the hope of reapng beneftset
us take the evil with the good.
However, experience has shown that there is way
by which be reached easily as by raising the
cry of taxation and it not unequenty happens that the
parties really responsible are enabled to shk the poti
cal consequences of their own acts and to make capital
by charging upon their opponents, fault the legis
lation rendered necessary by their own doings
1t is seldom indeed that the set of men contract
the debt and impose the taxes necessary to meet it. If
such were the case would be much better and much
farer 1t nice fun for some aspiring politician to vote
money for public works and claim credit therefor know
ing that the taxation won't come for some time and
then somebody else will have to make arrangements for
footing the bill and ten chances to but the liberal
member, the great friend of internal improvements will
be among the first to raise the cutlery of oppressive tax
raise the money to pay debts he helped to incur
The present state of things in North Carolina forms
no bad illustration of these remarks Any time for years
people have been beseging the General Assembly for
State aid to Railroads. Rivers Plank Roads Turnpikes
Canals etc. and as each of money voted each
item of debt was authorized to be contracted for the
purpose of aiding these works. the shout Of roicngs
went up and the sound of praise heard aduatng the
hoo oJ
for To great extent party lines sunk and some
of the foremost of both parties were found foremost
in the advocacy of internal improvements meaning IN
plain terms, giving State money for such works The
longest stride was made in the Legislature of 49,
when the parties so nearly balanced that neither
feared to incur the exclusive responsibility since must
necessarily be divided Since that from time to time
money has been voted for different purposes, among
others the construction of the Western North Carolina
Railroad the Atlantic Railroad the Cape Fear Deep
River Navigation etc. The bills by which the monies
for such purposes appropriated passed by votes far
less Of a political than sectional character. In
the meantime however, the Democratic strength
had gone on increasing until the control Of public
affairs in North Carolina had passed almost excu-
sivey into the hands of that party, while at the
same time the pressure of the debts authorized years be-
fore had begun to be felt and it became necessary to
make provision to pay the interest accrung upon the
bonds of the State, well to meet the bonds them
Selves they maured This duty necessarily devoIved
upon the party in power 1t could not be shrked >
we trust will be long, indeed before any party having
control of public affairs in North Carolina will shrink
from any responsibility that due regard for the honor
and credit of the State may render necessary.
However, the Opposition have now found it conven-
lent to hold the Democratic party responsible for the in
in the public taxes although every intelligent man
must know that the last General Assembly Of North
Carolina had more responsibility for such increase
than we who said at home Every intelligent man must
know that the demand for certain amount OF revenue
arose out Of and was the result of the legislation of
former General Assemblies.
This sort of temporary reaction that we are having
now in North Carolina, to have been expected. 1t
arises from fault in the last legislature the Dem
ocratic party 1t springs from the nature of things
When money has been expended and debt incurred the
party in power when payday comes must expect to
have to stand up against the unpopularty of imposing
taxes to meet the liabilities of the State Further, when
the matter has been pushed far enough the party in
power must learn to say to applicants for additional
State aid thus making enemies in both ways.
But this state of things only be temporary. The
people will get to understand the bearings of the ques
tion and act accordingly.
In good TRUTH no Legislature ought to incur debt
without imposing tax sufficient to pay the interest and
in due time extngush the principal 1t is wrong to
saddle other people with the consequences of our acts
SaWehave heard talk of things being brought in "two
ships" but happened to the thing literally oc-
before this week in the of the steam engine
for printing Office, which is its way from Boston
1t took two steamships to bring it from New York to
Portsmouth, Va part coming by steamship James
town, and the other part by steamship Roanoke
We appreciated the magnitude of our operations
and preparations before finding out that it took two big
ships to carry part of our machinery That engine
must be monstrous affair, to be sure.
The Difference.