Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-11-05
net,er from ,,,e state treasurer.

The following letter from the State Treasurer
TO Mr.. Hinckley, concerning the Lax formerly
paid on passengers, has been made public:-
OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF THE STATE OF
DELAWARE, DOVER, Oct. 2Sth, 1868.
Isaac H,acliey, Esq, President Philadelphia, Wiz
n,agton and Baliimo,e Railroad Con,pany'
Sir: have received your communication da-
ted the LIST instant notifying me that the corpo-
ration of which you are President had, oy their
Board OF Directors, resolved "to cease collect
ing the Delaware State tax Of ten eeuts per pas
scnger, on and after November LIST, 1868, except
ing from those passengers transported from one
station to another In the State OF Delaware, only
Had your letter reached me through the mails,
its reception would have been promptly acknoW-
ledged but Its delivery by an agent OF your own
selection rendered, in my Judgment, an answer
unnecessary. l do not now conceive That eltner
courtesy 10 you or any duty imposed by the rela-
tion sustained to the State as It's treasurer,
renders il incumbent on me to reply 70 commu-
nication which am justified in believing, from
its subsequent publication In the popers oi @ the
| State (noi by my ac), was intended more ior inc
| public eve than for my own Information. WINE
| no duty imposes the obligation to reply to your
| letter. / may be pardoned for expressing my sur
prise and regret ut the threatened resistahce, ~
your company to The Just authoriiy o. the S.a.ei
| which has generously fostered all the railroau
companies within her limits. am aware oil Inc
existence of no law of this State, imposing M TAX
| upon any passenger, or requiring the corporation
| you represent or any ether railroad company, 10
|
The law of 1864, to which you a'lude, and
against which your proposed resistance IL " III "
| made, imposes n tax on your company, ana ~,
other rniroad companies within tue State, anu
measures the tax to be paid by the NUMBER OIL
/ passengers carried
graeluns task" of collecting any portion oil TINS
tax from any passenger, nor subjects you to thc
unpleasant criticism and severe censure oil the
entire travelling community; such sonwrings, T,s @
l ;rtt,, arfc ctouo spIf-mn0Spd.
of which you complain, is your share OF the pnp-
lie burdens, as apportioned to you BY the legis.
laive power OF the State, and eau be iightened or
which imposed it, 1t will certainly not be pre-
tended that the share of the public burthen nm
posed upon your company is either exoroitant OF
unjust, and the determination oi your conpa;ryy ;ry
to disregard the law imposing It, maniless spiiit
of inexcsabie insubo dinauon to The rightfui au-
thority of the State. . A.. Al, :,
In view of the injury which may result TO tne
, | financial credit of the State Of Delaware shall
regret If Your company shall carry into enect
your resolve to set at defiance the legislative pow
er of the State; and refuse obedience to her laws,
| by withholding from the treasury inc taxes laia
by law upon your property. But If you are pre-
pared to risk the forfeiture oil your company
charter, and subject yourselves to the other pen
aiies incident to violation OF the laws OF w, sne
State then in such event. the proper officers, VIII,
in the course of their duty see that these laws are
! duly enforced the credit of the State protected
from assault and the power of the State fniiy
s ylndleateu. >.
: Ii is my official duty to receive all money made
c payable to me by the laws Of the State and tq
Communicates all defaults to the proper officers
: cannot be relieved from this duty by any con,
@ struction your company. or their legal connsel
!, NAV sec t to put upon the Statutes OF the statt
tending to render them nugatory, nor can allow
If any effect upon my action to be caused by YOU
r elaborate argument and unjustifabe imputation
Of bad faith against the Legislature of 1854, charg
Ia ing them-as you do-with violation OF tn
n. states contracts, nor the counter assurances Q
people of this State, with which you somewha
We oddly, couple such charges. Due consideration
an will doubtless be given to both by the Legisatur
SO at Its next session ,,
~ Your letter has been widely published-not
Of repeat by my act-and regret to observe tht
vour hint contained In II of "leaving the questio
ma }or the present betueen the people of Dear an
RS. their legislature has been duly caught az py
r. partizan press, and made theme OF party pont,'
nd In the midst OF an exciting canvass. 4,
Ell Whilst our present laws are unrepeaieo py u
Legislature shall consider them bindiag on
,d- persons and properly within their Jurisdiction
-cb Your obedient servant:
,rd NN VIM. J. CLARKE.
N Treasurer Of the State Of Delaware