The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1870-11-11

crs, does not the school law do the same
thing! Are there not hundreds OF men,
IN every county in the State, taxed for
school purposes who never derived q
lfarthing's worth Of benefit from the
public schools? ? And yet these schools
are acknowledged public benefits. and a
blessing TO every community. And so
also are railroads. OF what Advantage is
iit TO man if he owns hundreds Of acres
OF rich lands, that produce thousands of
bushels of grain, II he have no means Of
transporting that grain TO the markets
of the country where il il in demand 10
feed the people and subserve the pur-
poses OF commerce. To all intents and
purposes his harvest bounties are useless
To him, they are of no Advantage to the
community, they cut no figure whatever
in the political economy or public bcne-
fees OF the country, and might as well
never have been grown. The public
schools are reared by general tax 10
feed the minds of the people. Railroads
are an equal benefit, for they stimulate
that production that goes 10 feed the
mouths of the people. Both, then. are
Igreat.public benefits, each in its separate
sphere. And the railroad law of Indi-
ana il based on the identical principle of
lequity upon which the school law rests
the principle of the public good-wc
might say the Democratic principle OF
of the greatest good 10 the greatest num-
her. The tax il levies is a voluntary
one levied by the people upon them
selves for the general welfare and adj
vantage.
Under this law Southern Indiana has
lentercd upon new career of prosperity.
Her vast fields ofminerals are beginning
to be developed for a network of rail-
lroads j. projected over and through
them that will furnish speedy transpor-
tion 10 the markets of our country for
Their products. And the development
OF these products will 20 to swell the
lwcalth OF the communities, counties,
States. and snation. Ii will vastly in
crease the revenues &c our municipali-
tics, counties and States and in this will
prove public benefaction and most
important adjunct in supplying the
means 10 carry on our local and State
and National Governments. Herein are
some Of the strongest arguments III ia
vor of the law. Already, under its oie-
raticns, the southern portion OF Indiana
begins to move forward with giant
strides Emigration is now pouring III
upon Us. The lands that have 30 long
lain idle are being purchased and put
lunder cultivation. The coal measures
are being surveyed and the mines open
led. Iron furnaces are springing up and
1 the rich ores of Southern Indiana arc
lsupplying them with metal. Finish til,
Il. mn.
der our railroad law, and this section o.
the State will soon stand side by side u
population and wealth and general pros
lperity with the central and northern sec
ltions, that have their railroad system
Inearly perfected aud finished.
The question Of tic consiitutionality
OF the railroad law is now before III,
ISuprcme Court Of Indiana. We have
the strongest faith that the Court will sus
tain the law, through taial of its merit
has been postponed until the new Judges
'ltake the bench. We believe, however
Ithat there il no necessity for any immc
'Idiatc action BY the Court. Many Of the
,lrailroad companies organized III South
lcrn Indiana under the law, are now
'Ipushing the work on their roads with
lgreat vicor. aided by the municipal and
,Icounty subscriptions they have received
4 A decision against the law now, there
rlfore. would stop all further operations
ON these roads, and work great hard
ships upon the people, and involve man.
individuals, towns. townships, and coun
'Iiies in great loss, such loss as would
lbring about the greatest financial dis
lfrcss. particularly in Southern Indiana
where so many roads are now being
,lconstructed under the law. Two years
thence an adverse decision on the law by
1.-THE Supreme Court would work but lit
tile harm. for by that time the roads now
lin progress would bc completed, anC
most Of the tax levied TO aid in building
them would bc paid. But we apprehent
Ino such unfortunate and unwisc decision
from the Supreme Court Of Indiana
1.-THE law was prepared by gentlemen o
lcminent legal ability, distinguished con
lstitutional lawyers, with an eye single
Ito covering every real or implied consti
Itutional objection. II is onco Of the mos
carefully framed and bcstlaws an indiana
: 'ILegislature ever passed; and under IL
-Iadventages. and through item, Indians
Twill. in the ex, decade take rank among
1.-THE first States in the Union in popula
ltion, manufactures, and general pros
rerity.
: LITTLE boy having broken his rock
ing-horsc the day il was bought, M
,, mamma began 10 scold, when he silenc
llul -. ~. ,.,,,,;,.i,,ur. sNbat IL tlf