Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-03-16

any other reason, reconcllcd the people
to the disposal of their property, with all
the attending circumstances, of suspicious,
corrupt and fraudulent legislation. Now,
sir, does this Legislature, so strongly Re-
publican in character, the representatives
Of party who were SO ciamorous for this
principle, and so loud in their denuncia-
tions against the populations and cheats
which they charged against the system,
intend to launch into the very same chan
mel Do they not know that the soyer-
eign people have already pronounced
against such policy? Are they deter
mined, nolenS polcnS, that they will run
the hazard of the die? 1 profess no pro
phetc wisdom, Mr. Speaker, but l will
risk my reputation in pronouncing that
the party passing this measure will be
denounced by the people, and will be
hurled from their present high places -
This, bill, sir, has cngrafted upon it this
very feature. 1t is cunningly prepared
know. BY extending aid to the building
up Of these different railroads, running
through different counties and cnlisting
the sympathy and cooperation of men,
bers interested in various counties, with
plea of cnriching their own particular
sections and developing their resourcos.-
| say, sir, it was well conceived and cum
ningly prepared and more successful
project could not have been framed. But,
sir, depend upon it, it will not answer or
satisfy the people at large. No member is
iustiiablc in robbing the State Treasury
for the special benefit of his county treas
ury, No member will be sustained, who
sacrifices great principle at tho shrine of
mere personal or local ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Principlc-honcst principle alono-will
sustain '~-" in thn end. Another rca,
son, sir, why l object to this bin Is pSs
The terms of sale under which the Penn
sylyania Railroad company bought the
public works, expressly provided for the
payment OF this tonnage tax. They were
offered to the company on two conditions
viz; That if they would agree to pay
nine millions of dollars, they should, il
that case, be exempted from the tonnage
tax forever. Or if they preferred TO pay
the tax, and the minimum Of seven million,
five hundred thousand dollars, at whicl
they could be purchased, that then and in
that case, the State would transfer and
assign all of this portion of her works
over 10 them and their successors forever
They chose the latter proposition--thcy
cnercd into the contract, with a full and
explicit understanding. And now, sir, in
few short years, the bargain hardly
consummated, before this company, come;
back and asks an abrogation of the mos
important provision of the contract, whicl
was Of their own choosing, and Of thoil
! own making, I for one, sir, will no
consent to any such procoa ding or abroga
ton.
Another reason, sir, why I object tc
this bill. The rcyouue, arising from thi.
source, amounting to some 5000, 90;
yearly, aids very materially towards tho
liquidation Of the State debt and tn,
diminuton of taxes, and if il is cut off OF
abolished, must necessarily be supplied
from some other reliable source. Tn,
debt, incurred by the State, amounting /,
about forty millions Of dollars, was in
great degree contracted for the building o
these very improvements and works whicl
are now consigned to this opulont railroad
company, They are now rcaping all tn
benefits and income arising from them
They are valuable, and at the price the,
contracted to pay Tor them, they are yer,
profitable. Now, sir, cut off the revenue
arising from this source, and asI, gentle
men, where is the deficiency to be supple,
from, Why, sir, the answer is plain; tn
| people must be taXed-thcy nut bear tn
burthcn, There IS no alternative, Yo,
connct disguise the fact, Is there not
point Mr., Speaker, where, in imposin
these burthonsomo and increased taxations
that rorbcaranco will cease to be n virtue
Viii the people forever submit? Rcpudia
ton, sir, is distastcful to the Amcrica
citizens; but, sir, if there is anything tina
will drive them to it, it is this very thin
of squondering their treasure, cutting o.
their resources, and piling, on, heap upo
heap; burthcnsomo and unjust taxation.
For these reasons, sir and others, whic
l could urge, if space permitted, | am CT
posed to this bill. I look upon it as
most nrrnrious nrnirct n most iniouitOr