The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-02-08

of diminution have gone on from year to
year, until we are now informed that they
are inadequate to its maintenance. Though
the construction of these railroads has de-
stroyed the canal as a productive work, yet
in the main result the State has been greatly
benefited, and can well afford, in the vast
gains she has made to her wealth and
power, to preserve the canal at considera-
BILE yeraly expense if it is found to be neces-
sary. If she had not allowed the construc-
ton of these roads, her canal would have
been productive beyond all original esti-
mates, but in the construction of the roads
her general prosperity has been promoted
beyond any thing that could have been ex-
pected from the influence of the canal alone.
Your memorialists submit and insist that
the State can not accept these great gains in
her general growth at the expense of thou
sands of her citizens, whose taxation has
contributed thousands to her treasury, and
who have predicated their calculations of
life and business upon the use of a canal
furnished by her with promise of perpetual
enjoyment, without dishonor to her charac-
ter. Your memorialists protest against
such violation of the most sacred princi-
pies of Justice This State can not suffer
of thousands of her citizens to be thus out
ragged without reaction which will be at
tended with relenting and regret.
Your memorialists pray your honorable
body to consider the present position or the
State with respect to public improvements.
Consider that the railroads which interseet
her territory in every quarter, have been
constructed in the last ten years at the cost
of many millions of dollars and without the
expenditure of dollar by the State. That
the introduction Of the millions of foreign
capital invested in them, has aroused the
elemental energies, and brought out the hid
den wealth of the State to marvellous ex-
tent and without one dollar of public cost.
| That all this capital and wealth is subject to
assessment and swell the general taxables OF
the State-that the railroad property, which
| generally has been and is dead loss to the
individuals who have invested in it, is taxed
by the State for the use of her general treas.
ury, and brings into it revenue of tens OIL
thousands of dollars-that while in this
State these works are made a burden to in.
dividuals and a relief to the public in Other
States it is the reverse. Other States as
sumo the general burden of public improve
ments, and have contracted debts amounting
to tens of millions for the construction o
railroads, which this State enjoys withou
public cost and as means of revenue to he
treasury.
Upon these considerations-bec tn
competition of our railroads has destroyed
the revenues of the canal, and because thes,
railroads are, by taxation upon their value
a source of revenue to the State, the Stat
herself is proftting by the destruction @
the canal; and the terrible ruin which sue
destruction will bring upon the fortunes G
many of yoar memorialists must rest as
blemish and stigma upon her name an
character unless averted by the timely &C
tion of your honorable body.
, Your memorialists submit that an en-
larged and patriotic sense of the dignity {
! the State, and of the general interests of be
} citizens as constituents of great and pow
J erful sovereignty, would forbid the degrad
, ing sacrifice of properly which has co:
3 and is really worth millions of dollars, an
; to future generations will be inestimabe i
, value, by reason of timid scruple to apprc
f pirate a few thousand dollars fer its tempo
t rary safety. Your memorialists believe tbs
2 the man who, as representative of the pee
3 pie, shall record his name for such sacr
flee, when the cool and truthful judgment
/ the coanfry has reelected upon the subjec
will not be able to justify himself to the 81
probation of his constituents.
By order of the Convention.
; NJ. W. FOSTER, Pres't.
z JOSEPH RIsTINE, Sec'y.