The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-04-04

whether it is not fatal discrimination a.
gainst bis own city, and an onerous bur
den upon every citizen of Pennsylvania
who looks to bis home for marketl
call upon him to answer whether it is not
shackling our vast interests, and binding
the energies of our people, who must pay
this taxi Look at Pennsylvania On
the north are two great trunk lines OF
railroad traversing the Empire state from
her commercial emporium westward, tap
ping the rich treasures of the Lakes, and
connecting also with perfect net work
of railroads. all Of which come laden with
the offerings of thousand channels Of in.
dustry. These lines are all free from
commercial restrictions of every kind;
and the giant freight route has received
literally of the bounty of the Empire
State to construct it. New York gave
four millions to complete the Erie Rail
road, and it has repaid that bounty
by pouring almost counties wealth into
the lap of her commerce; by rearing
cities and villages and golden fields where
there was but an unbroken wilderness be-
fore. and By adding two hundred millions
to the taxable property OF the State.
Turn further North. and you will find
that while the boasted liberal government
OF the world has been qubbling with cor
poratn enterprise, Eng Gland has stretched
out her strong arm. and is now a most
dangerous competitor for the commerce
of the West She has constructed trunk
line from Montreal along the St. Law
renee, tapping all the Lakes, and run
ming into Detroit and Chicago, the heart
of Western wealth, and she will there give
you bill of lading clear through to Liv-
erpool. She can take the produce of the
West to Montreal, thence to Portland.
and thence to Europe, almost if not quite
for the same cost that our direct routes
can carry it. Whyl Because when
England saw New York taxing her COR
porate wealth. and Pennsylvania taxing
both associated wealth and tonnage, she
constructed tee Canada line without i'm
posing a tax of any kind, not even upon
real estate, rolling stock, bonds or any
thing else. Turn South of US, and the
Baltimore and Ohio winds its tortuous
path over the Blue Ridge and Alleghenies,
and returns to the third commercial city
of the Union laden with the produce Of
the West. No illiberal State enactment
demands that it must pay tribute to the
treasury of Maryland for every ton of
goods it can bring within the State. or that
every citizen of Maryland who develops
q field or a mine, OF rears factory. shall
pay taxes to the State for the privilege Of
going to a home market. In the centre
OF these competing routes stands Penn.
sylVania In agricultural wealth second
to none of her rival States. and greatly
SURPRISING them in the richness and boun-
ty OF her mioerals-with vast natural ad-
vantages in distance in competing for the
commerce of the West. and with the Sec
ond city of the Union reared on our At.
lantic coast, We interpose illiheral legisla-
ton and declare that the advantages be-
slowed Oh US by ben fcent Creator shall
be more than wasted by an unequal tax
upon the thrift of our own people. We
adhere to this policy agaiD-t the judgme ut
Of the civilized world, against all the in
terests of indu-trial progress and against
all the lights of experience and reason
Why does not England impose tax up
on her tonnage in Canada! Why does
New York gather millions from her two
great trunk lines BY similar taxi Why
does not Maryland enrich her treasury 10
the same wayl Simply because it would
be paralyzing their own energies. wasting
their respective commercial advantages,
aud unequally taxing their own produ-
GERS.
Certainly the time has come when
Pennsylvania should take broad and lib.
eral views of this question. If it we're an
issue affeoting only the railroad corpora
ton, proposing to relieve it and transfer
the burdens to the people.I should &c
hand in band with the Senator from ALE
gbeny; [ should resist the mea-ure with
all the energy and feeble power possess
But when this tax is thrown, with glarine
inequality, upon our own citizens. Grip
pling our own energies, and waking every
evidence Of thrift pay tribute as it passes
from our mines and fields and factorie.
to our emporium of trade, | say it il
wrong. fatally wrong. to our people and
ty our commerce. Such is the deliberate
i Judgment of an overwhelming majority o.
this Senate, and | know that uany admi
the wisdom of the policy who bow before
narrow prejudices. and will record thel
.otes against it. 1t is not for me t.
question the propriety of thus discbarginl
the solemn duty of a legislator; but 70
myself, knowing that the measure is il
accordance with the progress OF the age
Just, and even liberal to the State. aDe
Iinauguratiug the freedom of our ioterna
com merce, and the equality of taxation
I hesitate not to vindicate it, feeling full.
assured tb at it will stand the test OF tine
Il is a MEASURE that will be CON nendet
BY the intelligent judgment OF all partle
aud ell sections, when the prejudices o
the day. with the men who bowed to them
shall have passed into forgetfulness.-