Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-04-03
Public Works


cohnrmed the confident announcement which
We made two years ago ThesslRsson Of
Ieo'-3S marked the crisis of the strHg.
gle for and against the system Of State
improvements. That struggle was severe
one, and resulted in the final triumph of
liberal policy. So decisive was the re.
suit that both political parties were obliged,
during the ensuing subernatoria canvass, to
pledge their candidates openly and unreserved-
ly to the policy Of liberal governmental en-
eouragement to public works During the pre-
Sent session, the old opponents Of this policy
have presented no organized opposition to the
syStem Of appropriation. Some Of these have
even come forward and voted liberal appropria-
tons to the most important works. The most
efiectual instance oi triumph NSas the passage
of the James River ard kanawha bill, and the
only instance IN which a serious check has been
given t" the great acknowledged policy of the
State, has been the temporary failure to obtain
the requisite appropriation TO the North and
South rail road
The latter is easily accounted ior. It is cou-
paratively a uew measure, and the members Of
the Legislature have not had opportunity to be-
Come so intimately acquainted, as they should
be, with the extraordinary merits which re-
commend its adoption. 1t has received, how
ever, especially from the leaders Of the Internal
Improvement policy, support which we have
never yet known to be accorded to such ,nea-
sure during the session Of its first introduction
! in the Legislature.
The great truth now made manifest is, that
u large majority Of our Legislators are deter
miuc'l 10 continue aLiberal system of State ap-
preparation 20 meritoriouS lines of internal com-
! merce, and in this policy they are we'll sus-
tained by their respective constituencies. The
people, as we'll us their representatives, are
awake TO the fact that the only means by which
to secure our commercial independence is by
opening to our own people the Speedest and
most convenient means OF communication with
their own markets.
There still exists however, i gigantic obsta-
Gle to an efficient system of State Improve
ment-one which our legislators have full
power to rcmore, yet which has been pract-
cally ignored, during the present no less than
during previous Sessions, 10y manly Of their
number. The progress of our public works
must remain impedcd, and their great object
obStructed, so long rs the credit Of the State is
degraded and its commerce suppressed by q
vicious system oi tinance and taxation, which,
; to great extent, prevents the application OF
appropriations, and adds large per centum to
appropriations when applied, and dwaris the
commerce which those appropriations are in.
tended to encourage
The expedietS by which these distractions
can be removed arc of the simplest and most
! obvious character Repeal the odious law by
which the commissioners Of the Sinking Fund
are sent into the market TO shave the State :
own paper. Let al! future payment Of inter
eS; on State bonds lie made at the States own
counter, at Richmond, instead Of at the foreign
clearing house established at New York. Do
away with the system CT virtual Reputation
Of our moncyed obligations, by repeating the
TAX on State credit, which not only keeps olr
bonds below par but costs the State yearly
sum ten-inli the paitry revenue derived
from the shaving process. Abolish the
scarcely less vdiuliS tax on private credit,
which grndS out q few paltry thousands
per annum from the pockets Of distressed
debtors, and oilers preteXt and bonus to
slIsvcrs and usurers. Repeal, 10, the in
come tax which lays Il burden and disability
on labor, industry and capacity. Thoroughly
rcfortn the present oppressive system of taxes
imposed On merchants licenses. Tax each mer-
chants capit"j only, not his sales; and let the
tax on mercantile capital he no heavier than
the tax on other capital In word. remove
all taxation now imposed on credit and labor,
and let the tax on capital and the poll tax, be
the only taxes imposed and, in the spirit Of
the Constitution, let taxation be equal and
uniform
Let the internal improvement men come be-
fore the next Legislature with such schedule
IF financial and revenue referm. Let them
fight the b;Hte OH this ground before they de-
mand an appropriation Then State credit
will spiing to life once more Then appropria-
tions will be cashed in full and Immediately,
without delay or discount Then our COM
nerce and manufactures will advance with un-
fettered llmLs-no longer the feeble depen-
dents on State s,lfftrance-but the active cola
borers Of State encouragement to orr public
works.