The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-02-21

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others, he ought not to pay more for it
We know that what the citizen gives the
State is for the protection the State gives
the citizen. This being the real object
for which the governments was formed,
the moment our rulers 90 beyond this.
thew practically depart from their legiti-
mate functions, and do great injustice to
their constituents.
The States of Maryland and New York.
so far from laying any taxes on their roads,
do all they can to aid them, and there is
no tonnage ia 1Awhatever; on the contrary,
they have given them millions of dollars.
OF course, if the Pennsylvania Railroad
charged the foreign freight with the tax,
and compelled its payment by increasing,
the rates for transport, they could not
expect to get any of it, because strangers,
independent in their selection OF routes,
aud governed only by their own interests,
would not willingly pay this road more
than they could get their business done
for on the other and rival roads competl
ton compels the Pennsylvania Railroad
either to abandon the through business or
to DO it as cheaply as roads WHICH are not
taxed. They have done SO, and thus,
and thus only, retained Pennsylvania
fair share OF the foreign trade. In adopt
ing the course they acted under the emi-
nent counsel, who have given opinions
that the tax is unconstitutional. If the
foreign freight cannot be made to bay the
tax. it continues at least on the domestic
traffic, which thus suffers serious embar-
rassment, created by our own law.
The situation OF farmers is especially
hard. They are taxed for the privilege
Of taking to market and selling the results
OF their toll, their wheat, oats, corn, rye,
hogs, horses, aud cattle. Having sold
them and put the money in their pockets
they either buy molasses, sugar, coffee,
tea, cloth, muslin, hardware, &c, aud pay
another duty to take them home, or they
bring their money home and buy these
articles from the country storekeeper, who
of course charges them, besides ordinary
profit, with the tax which has been al
ready paid on the goods, IN addition to
the actual cost Of transportation, aud has
enhanced their nominal, though not their
real value to the precise extent of this
extra expense. Thus tax is paid both
ways. 1t is not simply duty of three
mills per mile. but u duty each way OF
this amount ia fact, the State by this
operation forbids the farmer TO realize the
results of his labor, unless on payment to
her Of two ingeniously contrived extOr-
tiOns.
What is true in respect to the farming
interest, is equally true in regard to all
the interests within the sphere OF the NAL
ign influence of this tax.
The same rigid rule applies to all the
mining manufacturing and industrial class
es, and all groan alike under this common
oppression. There is community of suf-
fering, and there should be unity of effort
for relief.
WHAT Is THE TRUE INTEREST oF THE
STATE?
Having thus proved the inequality of
this tax, and considered its effect on trans
pOrters, consumers and producers, we re-
cur to the general question, already partially
answered-What is the true interest Of
Pennsylvania ?
Ne reasonable man will deny that the
public burthens ought to Dear Just pro-
portion to the means of those on whom
they are imposed. Income taxes should
be graduated by wealth taxes on property
should be regulated by its value. To
charge land in Elk County, worth only
one dollar per acre, the same tax as land
in Philadel phia County, worth one thoas-
and dollars an acre, would be universally
admitted injustice 1t would be confsca-
ton Of the former and immunity to the
latter. TO compel him who has an income
Of one hundred dollars, to pay as much as
one having an income OF fone hundred thous-
and dollars, would be revolving to the sense
of right.
To the extent to which it operates, this
very thing is done by the tonnage tax
for there is no discrimination arising from
difference of value. a ton of silver and
ton of iron pay the same duty 1t Is
either too little for the former or too much
for the latter. AS the most useful COM
modities are most bulky and weighty, and
articles of luxury are generally the least
so, this tax is effective chiefly on the nee
essaries of life, and, by consequence, it
is most oppressive to those least able to
bear it.
1t is impolitic, therefore, not only in
itself, but because of its adverse operation
on the traffic, and the citizens least com
petent 10 endure its pressure. Directed
mainly against our domestic products, it
is not, nor could it have been, designed
by its secret contrivers or innocent sup
porters to be fair measure, either Of rev
enue protection. Nothing but the eXpla-