Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-02

Nh emOrial from the Legislature OF In
diana tn the General Assembly of
New York in Reference rOIhe Trans
pOrtatiOn of Produce and 5Ierchan-
disc from and to thc SeabOard.
Mr. HARVEY, Representative from Montgomery
county, proposed the following memorial to the
Legislature of New York in reference to the
cheapening of the transportation of produce and
merchandise from aud to the seaboard, which Is
now before the House for consideration:
To the Sendte and assembly of the .State of Neto
York:
The General Assembly of the State of Indiana
beg leave to memOralize your honorable body in
reference to the transiis OF produce ami merclan-
disc going from and coming to our State by way
of thoroughfares in your State, in carving on
our trade with the Atlantic seaboard. We take
the greater freedom in approaching you upon a
subject somewhat delicate in its nature, from the
known liberaity which the State of New York
has always shown in her legislation which mi hl
affect her sister States, and also from the very
generous and satisfactory manner in which His
Exceency the Governor of your State has
thought fit TO speak of the patriotism, wealth and
requirements OF the Western States, in his recent
message to your honorable body.
Within our own boundaries have no harbors
and seapoIts crowded with merchantmen ready to
relieve us from the drudgery and expense of
long line OF travel and transportation Our mer-
chants are cut off from he rich resources of tor
eigm trade: nor are our revenues increased by
taxes upon the wealth always flowing from it,
Owing to that fact, with others, our citizens own
scarcely any stock in any corporation outside of
own limits, and therefore can have no con-
troll over those agencies upon which We have now
solely to depend for the conveyance of our pro-
duce to market.
Since the breaking out of the rebellion things
that before were only Inconvenience have now
become peculiar hardships Our great natural
channel of commerce has become staenant by
blockade States within easy distance. with
which VIC once carried on a lucrative traffic. are
now in arms against rs, and, from border po-
sitiOn, we have TO defend our soil from their in
cursions. We manufacture but little OF what the
Government requires, and what produce it buys
OF us is scarcely more than the soldiers which we
have furnished would have consumed had they
remained ut home Thus il occurs that for all
OF our supplies. we have but the one Market and
one direction OF II oroughfares which we must
patrunze, and these thorougnfares pass through
your State.
This, in one sense, should be no matter of
complaint upon our part We certainly feel un-
der deep obligations TO the State and people of
New York for their liberality, foresight and en-
terprise in taking the risk of investing 50 much
capital in those great channels of cOmmnnca-
ton She is certainly entitled to the profits on
the trade she has eniced to her marts, and ample
pay for the Labor in transmitting it there; but
what suggestions we have To make is founded
upon the comfy that exists between US as States;
and our people and yours merchants and Gus
TONERS; and we only ask such legislation as you
my deem compatible with the interest of the
State and people, and as will not infringe upon
the obligations already entered INTO with those
corporations.
We presume that, in a normal condition of af-
fairs, such rs existed before the breaking out of
the war, that the business done upon the rail
roads and canal passing through your State, at
the rates then charged, was fairly remur aratve,
they were enabled to add great improy ement
to their works, paw comfortable salaries to their
officers and good wages to their emyloyees aud
e,ve a liberal surplus for dividends and interest
on the capital invested.
We further perceive that large increase of
business, probably fifty per cent. more than they
ever enjoyed before. would have enabled them to
have diminished their rates, and still have re
tanned largely increased revenue sufficient to
have satisfied the demands OF ordinary invested
capital, especially VIII that increase OF business
was caused by the msf0rtunes of their customers,
without whose patronage their works would be OF
very diminished value But we find. contrary to
such well founded Prescriptions, there has been
an increase of rates upon Ireights amounting to
over forty per cent. swelling their profits
enormous degree; increasing the value OF their
security. enhancing the revenues OF their State,
aid distributing the drppings of sudden increased
wealth into every avenue where its influence ex
tends. We reflect, too, that where this assess
ment falls upon property going from or coming
to our State, it is just that much money lost to