The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-07-24

having tlla PROVISION broken down and
such debt as this saldled on her tax.
payersl | speak,nOt without some war.
rant on this subject, because the gentle.
man OF whom ] have spoken, and the
press in the interior of the State are open.
ly and publicly advocating this change in
the Constitution, Col Smith is commit,
ted for It In his Charleston speech. The
paper at Weston is committed for it, and
the politicians throughout the interior Of
the State are committed Tor it, Mr.,
Faulkner says he Is very much opposed
TO ii, Suppose he is, How will he help
himself when he gets into u Conventions
large majority OF whose members will
iavorit.
There Is another consideration ] want
TO call your attention to. There has been
since the organization of this State gov.
eminent struggle going on to assert the
taxing power Of the State over the rail
road property within the State, The
Constitution ofthe State has been held by
the Court Of Appeals of the State to make
railroad property taxable precisely in the
same manner rs all other property is tax.
able, and they have decided that the
Legislature has no power to exempt rail,
road property from taxation. That is a
settled proposition under the present Con
sLitution, II you got 4 Convention to.
gether to frame Il new Constitution, you
enlist the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Company in the northern end Of the State,
and tho Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad
Company in the southern end OF the
State, in favor OF such q modification of
the Constitution Us will permit the Legis.
laturG TO exempt railroad property from
taxation; and any man who knows any
thing about the composition Of the Legis.
laiure Of this State in times past knows
that with two such powerful corporations
eXerting their influence over such body
they are capable Of controlling II. The
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company has
in the State to-day more than SEQ, 10000
OF taxable property. The Chesapeake Il
Ohio ten years hence will have Ger.
talnly from $lO,OOOOOO to 100000. Ten
years hence the railroad property Of these
two corporations in the State will, beyond
all question, amount 70 $30,000,OO0 or
$40OOO,0OO, These two corporations will
own one.tOurth Of the taxable property of
the State. Now, do you intend TO put 1t
In the power Of the Legislature OF tho
State to be influenced and controlled by
these railroad corporations TO exempt
one.iourth OF the taxable property Of the
State from tho burdens Of taIatiOnG i
know very well plausible arguments are
used in favor Of tho exemption of rail.
road corporations from taxation, because,
il Is said, they build I'm the prosperity of
the State, enhance the value OF property,
and increase pOpulation, wealth and bust.
ness. Undoubledly thew do. Int has Il
never occurred 10 Won thai Il Il this very
increase of wsaith'nnd population that IN.
creases the expenscs Of government.
That Is what makes tho necessity for OK.
pense, That Il what constantly increases
expenses, II does not cost much TO
govern A tribe of Potowattamie Indians
and the reason Is they have nothing to be
Il Ia In civilized countries.
where a large amount of property Is &C.
Ihat needs and must have pro.
lection, Itis where all the arts OF ciylilza.
ton flourish, that government becomes OK.
pensiye. As YOUR business and popula.
ton increase, EXPENSE will increase and
Il Is one of the fundamental axloms of all
that the property Of the
State must defray the expenses OF the
State which protects II. +. r..
| submit to the taxpayers OF Ohio
county if they sec any occasion for run.
ming the risk Of hplng hurdened and bro.
ken down with IN amount of taxation
under which they cannot stand. lfthcre
WINS any pressing and overriding necessity
for this you might run some risks Tor ii
but what is 1t In the present Constitution
TINT so imperattvely demands mn amend.
ment that cannot be made In the mode
prescribed In the Constitution, Of passing
1t through the Legislature two sessions
and submitting It to tho people? had
supposed the object Of written Constitu.
tions was to protect minoritles and indi.
viduaIs and individual rights against the
fluctuations OF parties and the madness
and violence of party passion. There
must be some reslraints Pm legislative
power SO ~ 10 protect individuals ana
against lhe oppressW,ohs anu
ihlstulo OF r uohilhGnt anu cohtIoliiuE MA
Jotltits. lHHt u lhe Wlole ouJect Vi cUh'
sulu'Ions' lct now II Is proposed lhc
very trSt thng you slall 40 On Iae ascen,
achCygL 2 Lloiltlcal patrty " Eho SAte y 70
nrea ~, uoWn sne ggar ~, naIhsaI "
diV;GaIs oud ,m,n NJ, T THo i%oo or
y, "hu h''noiN.o' NV WS" vi