The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-02-28
But the Pennsylvania Railroad wa

compelled to go into the race weighted
with the tonnage tax Is it surprising
that New York still holds so large por-
ton of the trade OF the West! The truth
is, that Pennsylvania legislation against
Pennsylvania interests has measurably
neutralized our geographical advantages
Of shorter distance and milder climate
Has not the time at length arrived, when
injurious discrimination, under the name
of tonnage tax, shall cease, and our citi-
zens shall have a fair and equal chance to
avail themselves OF their position, enterprise
and industry?
Repeated unsuccessful efforts have been
made to impose, or rather re-impose, the
tonnage tax on New York roads. The
strong sense Of selfinterest IN the masses
Of her people, especially the mercantile,
manufacturing and producing classes, has
always successfully resisted these attempts
II New York, like Pennsylvania, tcemed
with mineral treasures, how much strong
cr would be their interest in freedom OF
traffic with what hearty union Of resolu-
tion would they resist any effort, from any
quarter, to impede the progress Of i'm
proVement, by which the treasures hid IN
the bowels OF the earth are brought to
light tor the use Of man and the aggran-
dizement Of the State. Yet this view, 50
/ plain elsewhere, is subject OF doubt and
dissent among us although, as Pcnnsyl-
vanians, We all have an interest, direct or
indirect, in what so deeply concerns our
| common prosperity.
The whole subject was fully discussed
at the last session Of the Legislature OF
/ New Y York. On the enc side. it was con
tended that the competition between the
| Central Railroad and the State Canals
justified, and the condition OF the public
finances. demanded, the rc-impositlon OF
the tax-neither of which arguments ap-
ply in Pennsylvania-but it was said, In
reply:
That it should be the wish and effort
Of enlightened statesmanship to force
through our State aud into It's metropolis
these streams Of Western merchandise,
and to aid our channels of communication
in diycrtiug ii from rival lines b. ios-
tering legislature, instead OF SO GRIPPING
our own roads rs to drive this trade away
from US /; for it is as absurd to suppose that
the human heart can carry on Us pulsa-
tious, sending blood through al It's chan
nels to the eAtreml5jes, as that the mrts
Of the State can reu.ain wealthy or retain
their influence and prestige, when these
channels of trade are straugulated or dried
up"
And again:
"Thc hailways Of this State are subject
ed to powerful competition, both within
the State with the canals and each other,
and without from lines having different
interests, and terminating sometimes at
the same and sometimes at different points.
In their ability to sustain themselves
against such competition, their stockhold-
eIs, creditors and the public ut large have
a common, although not an equal interest.
In their successful resistance OF ;tll attempts
10 divert business to routes outside Of the
State, aud thus TO a6gidge our trade and
dcprociate cur property in value, the peo-
pie OF the State and City Of New orll
have deep and permanent interest. But,
beyond and above all this, we oppose, upon
the bfoadest principles, all restrictions up
oa trade, holding that the interests OF the
public are best subseryed by allowing the
carrying-trade to take care Of itself, and
property to seek It's own channel for reach
ing 4 market
For these, and kindred reasons, ampli-
fed in various modes, subjected to all pos
sible tests, after hearing full evidence and
elaborate argument, the Legislature Of
New York refused to impose the tonnage
tax-refiised to allow their Railroads TO
be trammeled IN their operations, rs are
those Of Pennsylvania. They assert their
commercial supremacy, and they maintain
it by liberatins transportation from I'll ar
tifcial burthens. The lesson taught by
Washington, in 1871, Of taking counsel
from our Northern rivals, commends itself,
with the additional weight Of experience,
to the Pennsyivanians OF 1861.
coNsEQU
But, even If New Y ork and Maryland
combined in subjeetins their railroads to
a hostile tax, il would not cure the evil to
Pennsylvania. For this, u universal con-
spiracy Of extortion on all roads is at
once necessary and impossble,- e,-impossi-
bic, because to be of eqaally effective re-
preston of energy and industry, it would
require combination of all the St,ites with
which 1ur Railroads communicates For
instance: all the lines leading from the
Seaboayd to the Ohio and Mississippi val
leys communicate with roads running thro'
the Western States; each one Of which
may, by local burthens on their own roads,
whether unirorm or various, levy virtual
tax on the trunk lines with which they
connect, by imposing tax on the freight