The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-04-04
sTRoUDsBURG, MONROE COUNTY, PA. ApR1L4 1861

bis widespread and just reputation for
liberal and enlightened views. The
principle cannot be justified save as an
extreme measure for revenue; and il the
revenue were a necessity. it should be
collected With some degree of equality
from all. A single branch of INDUSTRY
conducted by few men. in county near
to this capital. pays over S25. 900 annu-
ally of this tax. aud for what, For the
right to carry the fruits of their enerey
to the city of Pittsburg, there to compete
With the energy of other States who reach
the mar ket without such imposition. l. this
equality in taxationl Is it just! Is it
a wise policy fer PeDnsylvaDia to pursue
towards her own enterprisei We have
vast natural advantages. We have a
population eminent for its industry and
thrift-a people who have made the State
mighty in defiance of her liberal laws; but
/ submit whether the day has not coue
when they shall be permitted to develop
the resources of the State without being
crippled BY the strong arm of the Gov
ernment. Do you want revenuef If 70.
should it be imposed upon ell branches of
our industry. or should it fall with une-
quail and crushing barshuess upon those
who develop your fair fields and exhaust
less mines! This is the true position;
and regret to see the distinguished Sen
ator from Allegheny SO far forget the in
terests of his own city and State as to de-
mand that a tax shall be imposed upoh
our internal CON nerce-upon that which
bas reared his city into greatness, and
made his State an empire within herself
when in all the world besides has been a.
baudoued
New York once taxed her com meree
and made it pay tribute to the State for
the privilege of enhancing the greatness
of the Commonwealth. She said by her
ststutes-there are vastcorporations; they
have abundant mean-; our people must
employ them. and they shall. therefore,
enrich the Treasury. But when Penn
sylvania opened great trunk line. pier
cling the teeuing bounty of the West,
and appeared as a competitor in the prai.
rie narts of commerce, proposing to bring
its golden fruits to a rival State, and her
seaport city. New Yotk did not hesitate
as to her policy. Her Legislature did
not tire nble lest some narrow prejudice
should overthrow a small man here and
there. Whenever our iron horse shriek-
ed his wild song over the Alleghenies,
New York treated it as a question of State
interest; aud although her Erie canal
runs parallel with her railroads, the tax
upon tonnage was promptly and urcon-
ditionaIly repealed She declared at once
that her internal commerce should be
tree; and thus our natural advantages in
distance we're destroyed, and fair eompe.
ttiou upon the part of Pennsylvania rem.
dered impossible. Was New York right
Look at her com merce to-day, and then
glance at ours. The one advances with
the rapid progress of the country. the
other languishes in the midst of growing
greatness and multiplying wealth. And
wbyi Pennsyl'ania. always her own
most dangerous foe, turns upon her
own energies With suicidal hands by i'm
posing unjust Determinations upon her
people while New York invites the wealth
of the continent to ber citizens by gen
erous policy. New York could afford to
tax her own commerce while she enjoyed
a monopoly in the means of transit; but
in 1851. when Pennsylvania, BY through
line unsurpassed by any other in the u
piou, reached out for the wealth OF the
West. the Empire State unsbackled her
energies, and until now We have bad an
unequal struggle because OF our own H.
liberslity.
We ask to day that it shall be stricken
of upon terms amply protecting the rev.
enue of the State, and making positive
provision for the speedy payment of our
crushing debt; aud we are answered that
we are legislatins for corporation -
When great States are struggling for the
commerce of q continent. and millions
have been invested by our Own people to
make Pennsylvania second to no other
State in progressive prosperity Instead Of
granting equality With rivals to our enter
prise, Senators stand upon political oil
other petty prejucices, and insist that We
must not cease to tax this corporation
Such an argument, il it may be SO digni
fed, il unworthy of representative of az
enlightened people. The railrosd nevel
paid this tax out of its treasury. 1t il
paid by every man who transports bar
rel of -four, a sack of corn. bushel o.
wheat, or ton OF iron, or any other OF the
products Of our Industry, and it is nothing
more or less than a direct trit ute deman.
ded BY q State from its own citizens fol
the right to reach a home market. W.
propose, not that the railroad shall be re
lieyed from it, but that our producer
sbsll cease to pay it until it may beco mt
necessary, if ever, to impose it equal,
upon all. We require by this bill the
the railroad company shall reduce ihei
rates, from the present tariff. exactly th'
amount of this tax; and whatever mny b
the mutations of trade, they can neve
advance their charges. Who shall prof
Al ~os1rnad tho mo-