Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-04-05
Pennsylvania Legislature,
REMARKS OF
VIZ. Tate, Of Columbia

ME. lSee, Oh SOGHssAUSa,
Delivered IN The House IF RepreS' ntatiucS,
on tie l3m Of March, 1862, on tie r.
peat OF bill, entitie "An Act for tue
Communication Of I5naage DutieS."
Mr.. TATE rose and said:
Mr.. SPEAKER, when I took my seat
upon this floor, in the halls Of legislation,
over two months since, it was not for the
purpose OF consuming precious time in the
discussion Of every subject that might come
before the House, but with the dotormi-
nation Of attending to the wants Of my
constituents, and carefully guarding the
interests of the Commonwealth. Gentle
man here will bear me honorable tostimo-
ny, that in the discharge of my official
duties as a member Of this House, have
at least endeavored to attend closely to
the public business, and have avoided all
I encroachment upon their patience in speech
making. Looking to the paramount obli-
CATION Of treating my fellow members with
courtesy and respcct,a consideration which
has, and l hcpe ever will, largely infu-
ence my actions, l have been content to
leave the public discussion mainly for ADLER
hands and more experienced legislators.
The subject matter now under discuss
ion is one which deeply interests every cit
i2en of this great Commonwealth. 1t is
the question of the rights of the people
against the wrongs of legislation, 1 refer
to the onormity of the act Of the last Leg.
islature in the passage of the bill, entitled
can act for the commutaton of tonnage
duties"
Sir, by the passage Of that act, it ap
pears that, in financial view of the sub
, ject, sat one fell swoop" the sum of eigh
,, hundred and fifty thousand dollars was ex
tractod from the Golfers Of the Common
wealth, and logislated into the pocket
of the great corporation known as tht
: Pennsylvania railroad company. Ant
that was only the initiative in the gigantic
) swindlo upon the tax payers of Pennsyl
. vania, over light thousand dollars Of which
$ sum is paid annually by Columbia county
Millions upon millions more of the people I
6 money now and hereafter, will be diverted
: from its legitimate channel, and, as Sc
d quence, be applied in aid of this soulles
. corporation for the oppression of our suff
n cring fellow citizens.
f Mr.. Speaker, I am here to defend, t.
n the best of my poor ability, the interest
= : of the honest people of the country
o Amongst those, 1 am happy to class m.
I. immediate constituents, the people Of Co
j. rumbia and Montour. And my colleague
Mr.. Tuition, has the ability, and | doub
f not will promptly yindicate the honor G
: the people Of Wyoming and Sullivan,
Sir, shall not stop here to argue th
& constitutionalty of the repeal of an admit
edIy unjust and injurious act Of legislation
:. Viewing it from the nd-point of com
!. mon sense, and acting in accordance wit
the unmistakeable tone Of public opinion
{. at hcmo and abroad am at loss
!, conceive how any gentleman here can 70
9 moment hesitate giving this act, which
G intended to repeal the act of last session
his unconditional support Legal gentle
ir men here who have labored so assiduousl
to clog its passage, by constitutional tech
nicalities, with an ingenuity deserving
bettor cause, had better, in the judgmer
of charity, divost it Of its vorbiage, an
, cease the attempt to further thwart publ
10 sentiment and defeat common Justice
u Early in the session, my estimable fricn
IN from Philadelphia, (Mr. Donnis) inquire
$. who demanded the repeal of this bill
ce Where was the expression of the people c
IS, the subject? and what was the evidence
50 their desires for the repeal ! He Gddo