The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-04-04
the Commonwealth that mip BIT arise from

the Commonwealth that mig BIT arise from
he anticipated competition Of the roae
With the business of the 10 ain line Of tbs
public improvements. This tax is noI
impo-ed upon the Con upany. bot upon tbs
tonnage. and is paid by the owners OF The
freisht transported oser the road, the
company acting as agents in its collection
and payment to the State. 1t is virtually
a tax upon the trade aud commerce Of
the Commonwealth, and upon the con-
merce of other States whose productions
seek an Eastern market over this road;
and thus, by increasing the rate of char
ges and the cost Of transportation. the
produce of the West is forced upon the
competing railroads of other States, and
to other markets than our own. The me-
cessity that required this tax. as regards
the Commonwealth and her Improve
ments. has ceased. It's continuance can
only be justified as revenue measure =
1t should be the policy OF the State to in
vite the transmission of the products OF
other States through ber territory, to her
own markets, and therefore, the proprie
ty of relieving the trsde and business OF
the Com nmopwealth and country FROM this
tax upon it is respectfully submitted for
your consideration.
Thus did be redeem his pligbted faith
to the purchaser of the Main Line. True,
be was in advance OF the sentiment of the
State. or rather, be arose above the pre-
JUDGES of large portion OF the people;
but because be proposed an enlightened
and just policy, was it said that he was
the creature of q corporation. or a tool OF
the lobbyi l regret that the Senator
from Northumberland has not profted by
the precepts of one who. in all kindness
permit me to say, was competent to ad-
wise him-competent also to teach him
that men are not to be arrsigned as faith
less to the State because they choose to
advance while he prefers to stand still -
Gov. Pollock did not adopt bis views
hastily. He did SO after mature deliber-
alton, and bis faith to the purchaser Of
the public works was but the of-priDg OF
a settled conviction that it was an uDe.
quail and oDerous restriction upon our own
people; that it was tax upon our oED
commerce, and a Discrimination in favor
of rival States and rival cities; and be
asked that Pennsylvania should cease to
paralyze berself-sbo ould withhold ber
strong arm from suicidal blows upon her
own industry.
Equally fallacious is the assumption Of
the Senator from NorthuDt terland, that
the coupaDy is to pocket the accrued tax.
1t has been collected wrongfully, and al
ter the State had enacted its repeal
The company haze litigated it. and it Is
still in litigation; and as to the tax on
tbrou. b freight, | think it clearly uncon
stitutional. The company does not pro-
pose to put it into its own Golfers. The
bill before US appropriate it to the com
pletion of certain railroads leading to the
main line of the road, and | think very
properly 1t proposes to refund it TO the
very people who have paid it, BY opening
new ohsDDels for the Development Mt Of their
wealth. This money has been taken frou
them unjustly. after the faith OF the State
was virtually given that it should cease
and it can be returned to them in no way
so equally and ju-tly as by opening ave
nues of transportation, which enhance The
general prosperity of the whole conmuui
ty.
Sir. as I have before said, in the course
Of the debate this evening, there are no
five Senators on thi, floor who pretend t.
justify tax upon tonnage. put th'
question directly to the senior Senator
from Allegheny. Mr.. Penny,) whether j
is not an unwise and illberal policy. anC
be has not veDtured to answer. Indeed
this pain point, the very heart of the is
sue, has been studIou-ly eVaded BY th
Senators who resist the repeal. The.
threaten us with depleted treasury ant
increased taxes, evidently unnindful o
the fact that since the sale of the Mai
Line iD 1857 we have had no reveDu
whatever from this tax-for its payDen
has been resisted on legal grounds ant
vet We have never before in the same tim
nalQ Udit 50 uCu Vi thO O'"tO NNOOs oo'
our State taxes have been reduced to tvs
and half mills.
The sale of the main line was resiste'
by tie same arguments We have hear
to night. Impending ruin was picture'
with all the zeal of the Senator fror
Northumberland; but what does the histo
ry OF your year teacbl The man Do'
who should propose to restore the lm
prove e ents to the State. and have Ca
nal Board, with its horde of plundercr
running riot on them. would be REGARDED
as insane. The name of Gov. Poloc
will be cberi,b bed by our taxpayers as on
OF the States nohest benefasto tors for dis
posins of those works. and when the fu
faith of that measure shall reach fruitlot
by removing the unjust restrictions upo
our commerce and our industry. Penn
sylyania will stand forth among the State
Of the Confederaey With her mighty enel
eies uusbackled. second to none in great
ness, and surprising all in internal wealt
and substantial prosperity.
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