New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-26
THE NRW.I.RsEY TOLL.

The only argument which, from the debate in
Congress, il would seem the advocates Of the
New-Jerey Monopolsts can bring to bear
against the adoption of the new postal route is
that the new route is mere Wall-street specu-
la,ion. If this were so, it is no reason why
Congress should not take the step now proposed
to rid, not New-Jersey only, but this whole
country, Of tyranny under which it has.
labored and groaned for the last thirty years.
II this Railroad Monopoly affected New-Jersey
alone, no one outside of the State would conf
plain. II the freemen Of New-Jersey choose To-
be niled by this despotic monopoly, the eiliHch'
Of other States, or Congress, have no figh' ~
question their taste, or interfere WIN theh
IL; r. -. .----syrtu,Iun guarantees To
each State a republican form OF government.
so long as Eew-Jersey keeps up the form, we do
not see how constitutional aid can be invoked
under this clause of the Constitution, although,
in point Of fact the Camden aud .rrnboy Com
pany may rule the State. Governors, Legis-
lators. and Judges, are, il is true, all made in
that State by the Railroad Kings. Tia; is well
understood in New-Jersey. But, while this
King names the men for Office, the forms of
Government appointment are maintained. The
Legislature, for forms sake, holds its annual
session. The State pays the members three
dollar day, and the Monopoly furnishes the
money by a SmaH tax on the ciHzens and mer- I
chandise of other States. The simple object of
the bill now before Congress is to relieve the |
commerce of other States from % taxation !
to support this imPeriHm in imperio which .
New-Jcrsey chooses TO tolerate and maintain for
her own particular ACKNOWLEDGEMENT A proyis-
ion of the Constitution Of tho United States
gives TO the General Government the power to
regulate commerce botpeR tic States. This
power Is, in express terms, conferred upon Cen
gress. If any State law nterleres with inter.
State commerce, 20 as TO cripple and embanass
it, and acts oppressively on other States, it is
the duty Of Congress to remove the obstacle in
some way. II is not interfering with any State
rights or State sovereignty, for Congress TO ex-
ercise the very powers conferred by the Consti-
tuition in order TO relieve New-York and Penn
sylyania with their sister States, North and
South from the operation of a commercial regu-
laton imposed by railroad corporation under
the alleged sanction Of State law. Can one
State impose n tax upon the commerce of'other
States That is the simple question involved.
No one will pretend that State can rightlul-
ly exercise such power. The hue-ond-cry
raised by the monopolsts about interfering with
State sovereignty is set up merely because Con-
gress Is called upon 10 relieve the othcr States
Of the Union from an unconstitutional tax i'm
posed by q New-Jersey railroad under pre-
tended contract with that State. The Monopoly
say that no man or beast, fuel or food. powder ,
or shot, or munitions Of war, can pass through 4
Ncw-Jersey except at their pleasure and by their
consent. Tho action proposed by Congress will
test this assumption Of power. Its object Is not
to deprive New-Jersey Of any Oh her rights. 1t
is only to maintain the constitutional rights Of
Others and to protect the citizens of other States
in the enjoyment of privileges which are assured
to them by the Constitution, and which no ,
can justly take from them. If re- /
dress cannot be had from the iniquitous burdens t
imposed upon commerce by the New-Jersey v
in the way proposed, then New
York, Pennsylvania, and other States, are rem !.
ediless, and the constitutional provision which v
takes from tho States and gives to Congress tho Il
power to regulate commerce Is dead letter. q
Now-Jeney and her monopolists have made 8
money enough out of this joint stock operation. =
The merchants Of New-York and Philadelphia
nave paid all the expenses of her State Govern il