The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-07-14
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.

If there is any one subject upon
which the next Congress, as we'll as the
National Administration, need entertain
no doubt, it is the prevailing sentiment
of opposition to the revival, in any
shape, of the system of Railroad or
other subsidies by the General Govern
ment. The timely and seasonable reso-
luton recently adopted by the lower
branch of the New Hampshire legisla-
ture is cordially endorsed in every sec
ton of the country, except that to be
Immediately benefited by the projected
schemes. The New Hampshire protest
"that the National Government should
mot undertake any new obligation, or
"lend its credit for the furtherance of
amy speculative schemes under the
"guise of internal improvements that
may be for the advantage of any par
"ticular locality or corporation" should
be followed by equally pronounced ex-
prcssions Of general disapproval of
every contemplated raid upon the public
treasury, either for developing the re-
sources of the South or any other par
ticular section of the national territory.
The fact is incontrovertiblc that very
large proportion of the people Of the
South have adopted the idea, and advo-
cate it, as the principal feature of the
Southern Democratic policy, that the
National Government should pledge its
credit for the realization of the various
schemes of internal improvement, by
which the Southern States, impover-
ished by their own acts Of folly, shall,
in respect to railroads and canals,
levees, and ship channels, and all other
aids and accessories to commercial
prosperity and development, be put
upon level with the West and North
The prosperity and wealth, purely the
result of individual sagacity and enter
prise, so eminently shared by the people
of those sections, the South vainly
imagines due them from the national
treasury. This idea is conveyed in, this
meaning underlies the oft-repeated
political dogma of the Southern leaders
that the South "necds to be revived
Southern journals, secular and partisan,
confess the common purpose OF shaping
"our public policy to the end that all
possible aid be had from the General
Government" Commenting upon this
predominant idea of the South, lead
ing daily pertinently remarks that "the
abstract proposition which might per-
"chance bear fruit at some distant dav
1T is urgent and practical, and it must
abe frustrated, if at all, by such an
expression of public opinion as shall
"make it impossible for Northern Re-
representatives. to comply with the
"Southern demands. There will be no
lack of temptations to the adoption OF
"another course Southern Reprcsen-
''tatives who come to Washington with
"their minds made up to seek subsidies
" before all other things will be in a
"mood for bargaining and coaescing
"with a view to the attainment of re-
"ciprocal advantages. The give-and-
take policy will have strong charms
for them. They may be induced to
accord votes Of political character
:" in return for votes securing to them
material gains Business and politics
"may for the time be interchangeable,
land sinister agencies will be at hand
"to profit by the opportunity. The
"Texas Pacific Railroad, though nomi-
nally Southern enterprise, has so
"close connection with certain North
"ern schemes and interests that the
movement in its behalf cannot be too
" carefully watched. Let there be any
sign of public Indifference, and the
"peril incident to its passage through
Congress will be great indeed. Cues
" tionable influences are even now at
"work in its favor, and only determined
manifestations of disapproval in the
" Northern States can render them
nugatory.'