The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-02-21
NUMBER 81.

N'tiuc oi property ana increased prosperity
OF the people.
WHAT is THE TRUE POLICY OF THE STATE
IN REGARD TO THE TAX?
This question is easily answered if JUS
tice tosall her citizens, and the security
of their interests be admitted to be the
very objects for which government is CON
stituted.
ITS INJUSTICE.
States, equally with individuals, are
Bound by the moral code; neither can vi
olate it with impunity. The greatest
glory of government is to do JUSTICE to
ali men Of the world, because truth. and
justice relgned supreme In all their acts.
On this soil, consecrated by Penn to viz
tue, 1t is needles to demonstrate that JUS
tIce is the infallible test of interest. Our
early prosperity proved that in nations,
as IN individuals, honesty is the best pol
icy.
Justice supposes EQUALITY before the
law uniform protection of the citizen by
the State, uniform contributions by the
citizen to the State. perfect impartiality
on the one side and cheerful obedience
on the other side. The duties-protec-
ton, Impartiality, contribution. obedience
are reciprocal, each the consideration of
another, all constituting a harmonious
whole.
i, therefore, the tonnqge ta.r as unequal,
Il as unjust. If it is unjust, the State. by
continuing it, violates its duty, by disre-
gardIng the fundamental basis of all leyit-
innate legislation.
There are many railroads, canals, turn
pixies, plank roads and common roads in
Pennsylvania. On no one of them. with
one exception, save that from Pittsb1rg to
Philadelphia, is any special tax imposed.
Many Of them have been the recipients of
the bounty of the State; none but those
mentioned have burthens imposed upon
Whether the tonnage duty falls on the
producer, the consumer or the transporter.
1t IS duty paid only on this single line
As 1t is paid by no other line, this road,
which Is taxed, is not on an equality with
those other lines which are not taxed. 1t
Is the special and single instance of depar-
ture from a general and wholesome policy.
1t Is the laying of burthen, grievous 60
be borne by cur citizens who pay it, be-
cause exceptional, discrininatiye and ad-
verse
If it came out Of the Treasury of tie
Company, it might be asked whether the
State should depend for revenue upon a
corporation created for other purposes
whether the State should impose virtual
penalty for the doing of that, to promote
the common prosperity, which she herself
was unable or unwilling to do, though its
necessity was admitted whether it would
be fair to take from the stockholders of
the Company, who have already lost, at
the present market value Of the shares.
overtwenty per cent. of their cash invest
ments, other sums, involving further loss2
If the tax is paid by the consumer, an
inquiry arises whether it is the interest of
the people to pay what is, in effect an er-
case duty on the products of the soil, the
mines, the manufactures, on what they
eat, wear and use
If the producer is the victim, he NAV
complain that what makes the public
wealth, should be selected for invidious
discrimination: that he, on whom rests
the feeding and clothing of others, should
pay Tor the privilege of performing these
essential functions.
How can Pennsylvania ask for protec-
tion OF her industry, by discriminating
foreign tariff, when she imposes special
domestic taxes on transporters, farmers,
manufacturers, miners, producers, consu-
mers, carriers Of almost every class, who
use the chief channel of communication
traversing her territory from the east to /,
the west? Let her do justice TO her own
citizens before she asks for favors from
others.
Let us briefly consider the position of
each of these three classes
AS TO THE COMPANY
What is this Corporation
1t is not an imaginary myth or meta
physical abstraction, or fabulous monster.
but anassociation, bound together by law,
Tor vast and benefcient public object
The associators are the seven hundred
thousand people of Philadelphia, the citi-
zens Of the County OF Allegheny, insus
rance companies, mutual benefit societies,
churches, cemeteries cLaritacIe institutions
thousands ofour fellow-citi1ens, merchants,
manufacturers, farmers, laborers, women
and children, widows and orphans
But the Company is not the chief sub.
ject OF injury, for it has, measura5ly, the
power of elfprotection. 1t can put up
its local rates to the fall legal limit,
and thus altogether avoid the loss of the
tax, by placing il dH on It's local customers,
in the shape OF increased CHARGES for trans