The Van Buren press., 1860-04-27
State Aid, Land Mortgages and
Special Tax.


After the fifty cent subscription plan let
us consider the plan of State aid. No one,
of course, denies the practicability of this,
and we are informed that the candidate for
Governor is opposed tn State all. We hope
this is not the case. We believe he is op-
posed to the 35th Parallel route, but he has
a right to prefer which road no chooses, but
his opposition to State aid to railroads
should not be so easily disposed Of We
should make the principle of State aid a
plank in the platform of next election for
members to the Legislature, and if the Leg
islature are all right, they can pass bill,
roiens, rolens, Mr.. Governor. We must
have State aid but let us put our road in
a PROPER condition, first, then we can de-
mand with good countenance.
Land mortgages, another plan, is a good
one, but not polite. The policy of the
people should be to keep the land free from
any such incumbrance. Let their enhanced
value he for the benefit of the State through
her people. The levying of a railroad tax
is plan not much spoken of, yet one which
would greatly benefit tho people. The
taxes in this State amount to almost moth
ing. yet demagogues cry out for reduced tax
alton. Men of large estates who pay the
|greatest 4moalt Of taxes. mover erumble,
but the demagoguc and shallow pate who is
probably returned delinquent, with only a
poll-tax to pay, will raise great cry be-
cause Of the enormous taxes the dear peo-
pie are compelled to pay. Now, our taxes
are about one strM Of one per cent, and that
makes a revenue larger than the purposes
of government demand, and this fact is
used to prove the position taken by the po-
litical tricksters, that the tares should be
reduced. 1t never occurs 70 them that we
have State debt to pay that we are t..
poorest State in the Union in poir.. Of i'm
provement, the new State e. Kansas no
excepted. BehiEd in everything, schools
railroads, public works, public buildings
agriculture, mining, the arts behind il
ALL yet they can see no wsy of disposins
OF this surplus than by reducing taxation
SO that we may rot have this surplus ant
may Keep Opposition tail of the States. ;
IEere never was RoEIan Catholic country
more shamefully priest-ridden than Arkan
sas has been politician-ridden. If the peo
pie Of this State would obstinately refus,
to vote for any man. let him be whomsoev
or he may, who declares himself candidate
they would bestow untold blessings OIL
themselves AMI their State. If they woul,
only reflect that, whenever man, who is
candidate for an Office, declares himself ,
great friend of the dear people, that he is il
favor of this thing and the other thing, i
is all gammoa, done fo- the purpose of gain
ing favor with the people. What cares al
office seeker for the interests of the State
Not fig; if they are only elected, ant
have their lazincss supported by the people
it is allthey want. Let politics slide, then
ard let us look soberly at the special ia,
plan. Suppose You add one-quarter of ON
per cent upon the present rate of taxation
it would make a large surplus in the treas
ury, which would be basis upon which /,
issue bonds, for the purpose of aiding il
building the road now in contemplation
In ten years we would hardly know Arkan
sas. She would have grown all out of ou
knowledge. The farmers would be rich
II
the mechanics thriving, everybody busy
and making money. Fine schools, anc
other public buildings, general intelligcnc,
pcrvading the people, and then our Stat,
would be where she deserves to be-amons
the first. +.