The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-05-01
Inconsistency.

vania Rail Road Company. Regarding
1t ut the outset, no doubt, as ''soulless
corporation lie has long and persistent
y opposed it in everything; his opposi-
ton has deSencrated into hatred and
his hatred has become chronic With
his reason and judgment thus blinded and
warped, t is not strange that be cannot
do that institution even common justice;
nor is it to be wondered at that he habit
ually misconstrues and impugns the mo-
tives of others who would treat it simply
IS they would al similar bodies polite.
If otir neighbor would display only half
as much zeal and acrimony in opposition
to Rebels and Rebellion as he exhibits
towards the Pennsylvania Rail Road Com
pany, it would be equally opportune, and
perhaps do him quite as much credit.
In one of series of characteristic arti-
cies, our neighbor has recently alluded
TO the defeat of the bill before the last
Legislature, restoring the Tonnage. Tax
on the Pennsylvania Rail Roade We
wish briefly 10 notice his position in this
regard, and point out his inconsistencies,
and in what we have to say we shall not
set ourself up as the advocate Of that
Company, but simply as the defender of
the Republican Party, He speaks in
glowing terms of the amount Of revenue
which the restoration of the Tax would
have Welded, and charges the last Gre
publican Senate" with defeating the meas
ure which the Democratic House had
passed for that purpose.
Now mark the fellows inconsistency.
When the House bill, re-imposing the
Tonnage Tax, came before the "Republi-
can Senate" it was there amended by the
adoption of the following section
.'T'hat on and after the first day of July,
1862 there shall he levied upon all the tom
mage of this Commonwealth, whether passing
through or transported to any part of the
State, p cents per ton upon all the products
of mines, forests, and farms, and five cents
per ton upon all merchandise and the rail-
road canal. and slackwater navigation com
panies, upon which such tonnage shall be first
received shall collect, fer the use of the Com
nonwealth, all such duties as hereinfore di-
rected AID pay the same quarterly to the
State Treasurer; and the revenue derived
from tonnage duties shall be applied eXclu-
sireiy 10 the payment of any debt or debts
now contracted, or hereafter TO be contracted
by this State fer its own defence, or to sIs-
tain the National Government IN prosecuting
the war 20 maintain the unity OF the repablIc,
un:if such debt shall be cancelled and so
much of the act approved 9Th of May, 1851,
al Tor
properfv of this State of one-half mill on the
dollar. be aud the same is hereby repealed.
A further amendment was made reqnl-
ring the Attorney General tc institute pro-
ceedings TO test the Constitutionality oi
the Communication Act in relation to the
$3.50 900 of accrued tax, to be distributed
among certain lateral Railroads and il
case The liability of the Company should
be judicialy determined, then to collect
and receive the same ont of the bonds o.
said lateral Roads, given as security tt
the Pennsylvania Rail Road Company
and nlace the same III the sinking funC
for the cxtinguishment Of the public
deb,
1t will thus be seen that. the effect @
this Senate amendment was TO make th'
bill general in It's application. The objee
was. not to single ont particular Compa
nv, apd MAKE it the subject Of taxation
az the 'sDemocratic House" had done
bnt to tax alike oil Railroad and Trars
portation Conpanics-a measure whicl
would have raised revenue amounting t.
ocsr q n,ilion al e}oRays oanuaHY, anl
which. by the tegTns Of the amendment
was to be applied to the payment Of th'
very matter about which oar neieEhor ex
presses so much soi.citude, namely, tin
IFur deLt Further than this, II the leg
islature of 1861 wronsfully appropriate
t:.e 1884, 9,000of accrued tax, as our neigh
bof alleges, then the Senate a'nendmen
,.r,n.oSed the only fair and feasible pia'
of testing that question, ana Of Ultimate
Is SECURING the repayment OF thGt san
:.lo tie ooiiers Of the State.
rhn, amended By the '.iiepuelica
senate." the I'll was promptly retnrhe
.ai]s I!o;sss And 9Est i"'ioa c.'i tn