The Lincoln County herald., 1872-03-21

gin. do not. TIE guide I profess to
follow 10 the lamp Of experience. Whso
the thirty ssveu millions which W have
appropriated for the construction Of rail.
roads 10 thsstass we're sought TO be given,
ws we're told that our taxes would not be
increased, because the enhanced value Of
the lasd through which those. rosds
would run, and the bouudless riches
brought BY untold thousands who would
rush to our state, would 40 augment our
taxable wealth that no increase of taxes
would be required to meet our financial
necessities. The result | have shown,
aod you oil know.
A comparison has been instituted be-
tween the states Of Ohio and Kentucky.
The former cheokered all over with her
miles Of road, dotted with cities and vii.
lagos and teeming with an overAowing
population. The latter with few rail
roads, fewer large cities and less dense
population. Are the people Of the latter
state less happy and contented, have they
fewer of the comforts of life, and are
they less satisfied with their state? 1
think not, and venture to affirm that
the lands of equal richness and fertility
in Kentucky are worth IS much money
taking into consideration the value Of
the improvements, % those in Ohio
Gentlemen make the assertion that even
If every dollar originally invested in rail
roads 10 the state Is lost TO the govern.
ment, We have made the best possible use
we could have made Of the money.
What . terrible misfortune it was for
our state that such sage counsels had not
guided our delegates when our present
constitution was framed, that they might
have seen it in the same light, and Got
have inserted in that instrument clause
of prohibition against lending giving
would suit our r,odern Solons best-tbe
aid Of the state to railroads. Aud If they
are correct, Why does not some one Of
them rise to the sublime height Of offer
ing an amendment to blot ont that ini
quitous section? Sir, I can toll you
why they do not do it, The people
would see the true object, and kill the
bantling before it ever breathed. The
disguise would be too thin; the pene
tratipg public eye would look through
it and strip it from tho backs of it's
authors.
MIR. Speaker, VIC are looked to by our
constituents for some relief from their
already intclerable burdens of taxation.
They ask us for bread shall We give
them a stone2 The Democrats Of the
house camo with promises Of retrench-
ment and reform, but not single measure
have wo passed looking in that direction
except the revenue bill, and perhaps the
road and school law, which are now in
the senate, with the chances of their
ever becoming laws extremely problemat-
ical. With this bill are others now be-
fore US to increase our Indebtedness many
thousands of dollars beyond the ordinary
and necessary expenditure. aud all with
fair prospects Of being passed.
A word 10 regard to the report of the
majority of the committee in charge Of
this bill. Tho prosperity Of Great Brit.
ain, her high position among the nations
Of the world in the 6ne arts, in literature,
in manufactures, aud 10 commerce, are
pointed to with commendable pride, and
We are Invited to emulate her example
DO they tell us how long that great
nation was in arriving at this eminence ?
DO they tell rs what proportion Of her
great achievements were accomplished BY
rsilroads. and what subsidies were granted
to them? No, sir, they do not aud l
would in al candor ask those gentlemen
If, according to the age Of the two nations,
the United States have not advanced with
more rapid strides 10 all those several
than Great Britain has ever
done The answer 10 so plsin that be
who runs may read. - atr
They tell 10 that the state has been q
clear gamer in the establishment of rail.
roads 10 this state. many millions of dol.
lars over and above the amount given in
their construction, and argue a. If the
roads belonged to the state, when 10 fact
and 10 truth, the state no more owns the
railroads than it does the steamboats, that
ply our rivers, the foundries, the machine
shops, the factories, the hotels, or even
The houses that adorn our cities and
lowns-all Of which are as much bsne.
factors Of the people as the railroads, aud
lre necessary auxiliaries in our march of
prosperity. The same argument that
would demand q subsidy for the railroads
would apply with equal force to all other
works and structures that give employ.
nent to labor and afford market for our
produce. Will they tell US, sir, that we
ire bound to make appropriations of the
peoples money for all the works of public
'dvautaee and utility? they do, then
o carry their logic to its legitimate con
'lus,on, . demand is made upon us to fur.
,ish subsidies for building steam boats,
ounderies, factories. store houses, hotels,
nd everything else that will bring immi
Irstion TO our state, enhance ito tsxsbis
Vealth, furnish employs meDt for our pso
lie aud msrkst for their products.