Year: 1861

Un the dCG Vi Guc CUiuIu IuutdIIOu VI IuC Cuu-
mage duties upon all the internal inn


provements of the State, delivered in


the Senate, Tuesday, Feb. 26.


The first section of the bill, entitled ian
Act for the com u utation Of tonnage du-
ties" having been read,


MR PENNY offered sn amendment pro-
yiding that the Governor might restore
the tax upon tonnage at any time that the
,inkipg fund might need the same to pay
a certsiu portion of the debt.


Mr.. MCLURE said The amendment
now before the Senate has already been
considered and rejected by the members
of this body in Committee of the Whole.
A pentIeu an so intelligent and SO fsmil-
lar with all the details of State policy can
scarcely have mistaken the manifest pur-
pose of the original section to afford the
State the ample.t protection. We do not
propose to surrender the right to tax the
Pennsylvania railroad in any legitimate
way. including a tax upon tonnage. The
bill expressly provides that the State nj ay
re impose this tax should any necessity
arise for it; but it does very properly pro-
hbit an adjust DETERMINATION against the
trade of any particular section OF the
Comuouwealth. There is no reason Why
the man who ships the products OF his in
dustry to or from Pitt-burg shall pay q
direct tax to the State for the privilege,
while the citizens of every other section
have their avenues OF transportation to
both our own and foreign cities free from
such restrictions There is no equality
iu such a system of taxation, and on 20
sound principles of State policy san it be
Justified. doubt not that the Senator
frou Allee heny fully comprebeuds and
appreciates this glariDg iDequslityi and
set. without proposing to make this tax
general. so that it night fall with exact
Justice upon ell our people, be earnestly
contends sor the taxatIon OF single route,
and that one of the great artery designed d
20 give fresh life and increased greatness
to our leading commercial cities.


The time may come when the State
must look for extraordinary revenue; and
this bill protects the interests OF the Com
nouwealth fully. Should such coutin
geocy arise, then let the whole tonnage of
the State pay tribute to the treasury; and
houeper at war with an enlightened COM
nercial policy, We will be at least just to
every portion of our people. But ,hould
that dark day daWO upon us, let none
other than the legitimate taxing power
perform this task | object to vestiDg
the xecu.ive With the dangerous author.
ity to impose taxes BY proclaim alton. 10
the Legislature, and to it alone, should
that delicate power be entrusted; and as
it has been wisely placed there, it must
not be disturbed. Our "broad acres
most familiar eXpression-are not 10
danger of onerous taxation as long as we
have prosperous corporate iOterests ever
adding to their owD wealth and to that ol
the State. A Legislature coming direct,
ly frou the people will exhaust all other
resources before increasing the burdens on
our agriculture. Let this tax be reiDsta.
ted, if ever, by the legitima ate taxing pow
er of the Coumonweslth; and for this We
propose to make q complete provision II
this bill.


While upon the floor will allude to an
other point. Iti- urged rersistently that We
are about to relieve great corporation
Such is not the purpose, nor will such be
the main result, of this bill. ask thai
these of my con-tituents and the consti u,
euts of other Senators who wish to expand
the dark cloud th at rises over themanu
factories Of Allegheny by pouring tbitbe'
the rich fruits of their capital and indus
try, shall not pay direct tax for thu
privilege of doing SO. Every ton OF iror
from nv immediate section of the State
that seeks a market 10 Pittsbarg mus
pay from eight cents to one dollar OF
direct aud arbitrary tax for the mere
right of transit over our own soil. The
railroad company Goes not pay it. L
falls directly upon the producers whose
misfortune it is to live 10 a particular rec
ton. while all others are entirely free
Itrestricts the CON merce of our own State
and cripples the energies of our own peo
pie. Ohio and other western States cal
pour into Pi:tsburg their miDeral wealtl
and produce, free from all such taxation
bat to be a citizen Of PeDnsylvaDis, ant
engaged in converting her ssst resources
exposes one to the Discrimination Of ou
Laws against cur own trade. That tb
Senator from Allegheny should sustain
policy SO fatal to the thrift of bis Owl
constituents, and SO oppressive upon eve
ry one who seeks market at his home
truly amazing. That be should stan'
upon the foor Of the Senate, speaking TO
the secoud city of the State, and deman
that all who would add to its wealth an
greatness by their trade. must pay di
rect tribute if they transport upon ou
own soil, while every other chsDne
is free, is strangely incompatible Wit