IH N N N ri ifd Kn&'-ii T)i fu ife Vjtei i-inV4
j TO0 IIUTCIIIXSOX,
lubllslier.
I WOULD RATTIER BE RIGIIT TIIAN PRESIDENT. IIexry Clat.
VOLUME 2.
7 DIRECTORY.
yglPARSDKlP SESSIY FOB "THE ALLEGHAX1AX."
XlSTOF POST OFFICES.
nx.-ti. Post Masters. Districts.
j.an's Creek,
jethel Station,
Carrolltown, .
CiesJ Spriugs,
Cresson,
Sbeasburg.
fallen Timber,
GilUtzin,
Hemlock, .
Johnstown,
Ljretto,
Mineral Point,
ilanster,
Pershing,
piattsville,
Rascland,
S:. Augustine,
S;Ip Level,
Sonman,
Sammerhill,
Summit,
ffilaore,
Joseph Graham, Yoder.
Joseph S Mardis, Blacklick.
Benjamin Wirtner, Carroll.
Danl. Litzinger, Chest.
John J. Troxell, Washint'u.
Mrs. H. M'Cague, Ebensburg
Isaac Thompson, W lute
J. M. Christy,
Win. M'Gough,
II. A. Boggs,
Wm. Gwinn,
E. Wissinger,
A. Durbin,
Francis Clement
Andrew J. Ferral
G. W. Bowman,
Wm. Ryan, Sr.,
George Conrad,
B. M'Colgan,
Win. Murray,
Miss M. Gillespie
Andrew Beck,
Gallitzin.
Washt'n.
Johnst'wn.
Loretto.
Conem'gh.
Munster.
Conem'gh.
Susq'han.
"White.
Clearfield.
Richland.
"Washt'n.
Croyle.
Washt'n.
S'inmerhill.
churches, iixistkrs, &c.
Pretbyierian Rev. D. Harbison, Pastor.
Pitching every Sabbath morning at 10J
o'clock, and in the evening at 3 o'clock. Sab
bath School at 1 o'clock, A. M. Prayer meet
ing every Thursday evening at 6 o'clock.
Xdhodist Episcopal Church Rev. J. Shake,
Preacher in charg. Rev E. H. Baird, As
liiurit. Preaching every Sabbath, alternately
it 1'JJ o clocK in tue morning, or i m me
seeing. Sabbath School at y o'clock, A. M.
Prater meeting every Thursday evening at 7
'c!oek.
ir.A TnJrnfnttrnt REV. 1.1.. R. POWELL.
pa5:or .Preaching every Sabbath mortiingat
I) o'clock, and in tlie evening at t o ciock.
Sil,bith School at 1 o'clock, P. M. Prayer
meeting on the first Monday eveuing of each
aj:ith; and oa every Tuesday, Thursday
nl Friday evening, excepting the first week
in 'rh pi o nlli.
r Cihinis'ic Methodist Rev. Jons Williams,
Piitor. Preaching every Sabnath eveuing at
!ini C o'clock. Sabbath School at 10 o'clock,
i )I. Praver meeting every Friday evening
t; 7 o'clock. Society every Tuesday evening
it T o'clock.
b.t-ipUi Rsv.Wm.Llotd, Pastor Preach-i-.jeverv
Sabbath morning at 10 o'clock.
Pirtksl.tr Biptists Rev. David Jexkixs,
Pr.ir. Preaching every Sabbath evening at
J o'clock. Sabbath School at 1 o'clock, P.M.
Ci.'.Wie Rzv. M. J. Mitchell, Pastor
SrTice3 evry Sabbath morning at 10J o'clock
ui Teprs at 4 o'clock in tae evening.
EIJEVSI21KG MAILS.
MA1J S ARRIVE.
!is:?rn, dAilv, at 12 o'clock, A.
Wentrn, " at 12 '; A.
MAILS CLOSE.
B&!tern, daily, at 7 o'clock A.
TTeiTprn nl 7 " A.
M.
M.
M.
M.
JThe Mails from Butler Jndiana.Strongs
toa. Ac, arrive on Thursday of each week,
t 5 o'clock, P. M.
Lsare Ebensburg on Friday of each week,
t S P. M.
C.The Mails fromewman's Mills, Car
roiitovfn, 4c, arrive on Monday, Wedncsd;ry
i'l Friday of each week, at 3 o'clock, P. M.
Leave Ebensburg on Tuesdays, Thursdays
Saturdays, at 7 o clock, A. M.
Vh. Post Office open on Sundays from 9
to lu o'clock, A. M.
R AIL.KO VI SCHEDULE.
WILMORE STATION,
it Express Train leaves at 9.37 A. M
" Fsit Line "
" Mail Train, "
10.09 P. M
3.1 CP. M.
8.10 P. M.
A. M.
10.01 A. M.
F.ist Line,
" Mail Train,
it
it
COUXTY OFFICERS.
Julgts of the Courts. President, lion. Geo.
Wor, Huntingdon ; Associates, GeorgeW.
lej, Richard Jones, Jr.
Frotiionotary. Joseph M'Donald.
Z'it:r and Recorder. Edward F. Lytic
S'itrif. Robert P. Linton.
frp'ity SfnrijjF. William Linton.
bt'.rict At'.orri'i. Philip S. Noon.
County Commissioners. Abel Lloyd, D. T.
'-rrm, Jamps Cooper.
Cl'rk lo Commissioners. Robert A. M'Coy
Tmaturer. John A. Blair.
Poor Jfuse Directors. David O'Harro,
"chael M'Guire, Jacob Homer.
Jl'jiise Treasurer. George C. K. Zahm.
f i'jr lijnse Steward. James J. Kaylor.
X'reahlile Appraiser. II. C. Dcvine.
Ulitors. Henry Hawk, John F. Stull.
,Jtr. S. Rhey.
County Surveyor. E. A. Vickroy.
Coroner. James S. Todd.
-?t-intendent of J Cummon Schools. T. A.
Jire.
ERE.SI5tTllG ISOIS. OFFICERS.
Alices of the Peace. David H. Roberts,
or, Kinkead.
Rr9tts. Andrew Lewis.
r"a Ctunri.WiliiamKittell. William K.
r3, Charles Owens, J. C. Noon, Edward
"oemaker.
Utrkto Council. T. D. Litzinger.
rou3h Treasurer. George Gurley.
Jyh Master. William Davis.
School Directors. Edward Glass, William
J"1: Reese S. Llovd, John J. Lloyd, Morris
' trans, Thomas J. Davis.
iftnmrer of School Board Evan Morgan.
George Gurley.
Ulhttor.Gcor Gurkv.
j.tur Richard T. Davis." -of
Election. Isaac Evans.
"Putrs.Juh S. Rher. Johi J. Evons.
A-iEflnAsiA)lixri0 in advance.
EBENSBURG, PA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1801.
THE COMMERCIAL, MANUFAC
TURING AND MINING INTER
ESTS OF PENNSYLVANIA
IIOW CAN TREY BE PROMO
TED?
HOW CAN TnE IXTERF.STS OF PENNSYLVA
NIA BE PROMOTED ?
The most serious and interesting topics,
concerning both the honor and interests
of the Commonwealth, are those which
relate to commercial communication, the
development of our vast natural resources,
and our traffic, domestic and foreign.
3'i.It is proposed in this paper to present
to the people of Pennsylvania a plan for
the removal of the existing obstructions to
the further development of their resour
ces, and the opening of the incalculable
but still hidden treasure of the State..
We ask for it the dispassionate exami
nation if all men whose sober sense can
truly test the questions presented ; and its
adoption or rejection according to its ab
solute merits, apart from prejudice, passion
or party
It is believed that an arrangement can
be made fur developing our resources, and
thus increasing the values of vast portions
of the Commonwealth, by which our en
tire State debt will be speedily extin
guished, without resorting to increased
taxation of any kind, and all the internal
improvements of Pennsylvania be placed
upon an equality, without restrictions to
prevent them from moving the property
of our people at minimum rates.
We tind that in the present position of
affairs, it is impossible to carry a pound of
freight from the East to the West or the
West to the East, at the actual cost of
transportation ; but that the- Common
wealth, having taxed the Pennsylvania
railroad company, not only on its proper
ty, but on its business" the company makes
that business pay this tix, so that, in fact,
Pennsylvania levies tribute on her own
citizens for the privilege of using their
own road.
Let us enquire then
HOW AND V.IIY THE TONNAGE TAX YTAS
LAID.
The Atlantic slope of the United States
is separated from the valley of the Miss
issippi by the Apalachian Mountains, a
natural boundary better defined than those
which divide some of the independent na
tions of jlurope. Two generations ago,
some wise men thought that a substantial
union between these several parts could
not long be continued, and in others, am
bitious projects were based oa the suppo
sed discordant interests of the East and
West. In fact, they presented marked
contrasts in the most material particulars
climate, soil, productions, channels of
communication, origin of the inhabitants,
customs, manners, language, laws.
Mr. Jefferson s iar-reaenmg wisdom,
removed, by the purchase of Louisiana,
the chief source" oi jjoliticul discordance ;
but the barriers erected by nature still
remained.
Speedy settlement of the West would
probably have been fatal to the unity of
the lvepublic. l ortunately, the unfitness
of tliH French and Spaniards for rapid col
onizing of the country, combined with
minor causes, delayed the improvement of
the lands drained by the Mississippi and
its tributaries, until time had developed a
surplus population in the East, which
souiiht the rich alluvial and - lime-stone
soils of the West, and infused its own
restless and resistless energy into the
slumbering - eolouists whom thev found
scattered on the margins of the streams.
These emigrants carried also to their new
homes iccollcctions of those which they
had left, and all the wholesome prejudices
of their early training. The ties of birth
and breeding, undivested by change of
residence, impelled them to desire, to con
trive, and finally to accomplish, means of
communication easier, cneaper, and speed
ier than the pack horse, slowly and pain
fully toiling ten to twenty miles a day over
the rude paths which were called a2eofd
ing to their width, trails or roads.
So, also, with land owners and explorers.
They saw the boundless treasures of the
virgin soil, anticipated the time when this
profuse bounty of Providence would be
come available tor man, and predicted the
mighty empire now millions oa millious
aud still but infancy destined to supplant
the ferocious savage aud the contented
Frenchman.
iut all knew and said that there must
be roaJs across the mountains. The high
ways of a country are sure tests of its civ
ilization, and measure it3 progress as a
thermometer indicates temperature. The
history of the roads across the Alleghenies
is the history of the prosperity of the
people. In the great and beneficent work
of opening these means of intercourse,
States and citizens cordially concurred.
No shortsighted selfishness threw obstruc
tion in the way. Douiitics were offered.
Taxcs . were aot dreamed of. lie who
could have been bold enough to propose
levying a duty on freight would have been
scouted as a public enemy. The policy of
Pennsylvania especially, indicated the
wisdom of her founders. In the first
quarter of the present century, she sub
scribed vast sums of money to turnpikes
leading to the West. Iler Franklins,
Morris, Clymers, M'Keans all the fath
ers of her freedom, founders of her great
ness had passed away before the modern
contrivance of taxing civilization by a
tonnage duty was ventured on.
The differences between the savage and
the citizen arise from, or tend towards,
separation of individuals. The former
lives by himself and for himself. Sole
despot of his solitary family, he knows no
community of interest or action, except as
sometimes impelled by hunger in the chase
or by passion in war. His wants are few.
because his knowledge is limited. lie
needs, for his frequent travel, only the
sun, the stars, the course of streams, to
guide his steps. Heads and intercourse
are inconsistent with his wild indepen
dence. Improving on the slow process of
tax'atiou as means of impairing euieacy, he
would at once destroy what he disapproves,
and Danish roatmakers as intolerable nui
sances.
This is the absolute reitrn'of io;-
norance and selfishness
When the ring of the wood-chopper's
axe resounds through the forest, the first
blow has been struck for intelligence aud
intercourse, The work proceeds, houses
and barns appear, fields and pastures teem
with grain and cattle, school and churches
are built, towns and cities spring up.
During all of this, another process has
been going on, at once dependent upon
and aiding the progress of man from his
lowest to his highest condition creation
of means of intercourse building bridges,
making roads, &c.
Without these facilities there cannot be
ready communications, which are essential
to social combination, without which, con
centration of effort is impossible.-. Ail re
fiuenjent results from this union of many,
in their several parts, for the comfort and
convenience of all.
As earl v as 1784, General Washing
ton wrote to G overnor Harrison, in antic
ipation of the trade of the West and the
competition for it: "A people who are
possessed of a spirit of coiiiruercc,' who see
and will pursue their advantage?, may
achieve almost anything. In -the mean
time, under the uncertainty of these un
dertakings, thev are smoothing the roads
and paving the way for the trade of the
western world. That New York will do
the same, no person who knows the tem
per, -genius, and policy of these people
can harbor the smallest doubt. Common
policy, there fore, points clearly and strongly
to the propriety oj our enjoying all the ad
vantages which nature and our local situation
afford usy and clearly evinces that unless
this spirit could be totally eradicated in
other States as well as this, and every man
be made to become either a cultivator of
the land or a manufacturer of such articles
as are prompted by necessity, such stimu
lus should be employed as will force this
spirit, by showing to our countrymen the
superior advantages we possess beyond
others, and the importance of being upon
an equal footing with our neighbors.''
Time developed' this predicted rivalry
of our' northern neighbors. The comple
tion of the Erie Canal gave New York
such supremacy, that Pennsylvania was
compelled, in self-defence, to enter, on a
largo scale, upon the construction of ca
nals, and subsequently of railroads. Thus
our State debt expanded to forty millions.
Our canals, free, from taxation, lost for
the Statu, mauy millions of money while
competing with those of New York for the
commerce of the West; as is evident from
the fact that the State debt continually in
creased, while the very year afUr the Min
Line was sold, it began to decrease. jJ-The
disadvantage of political management was
common to both States; and as our of.icera
were not less honest and competent, than
theirs, the loss on canals i 4 vbe imputed
to their peculiar coustructlbiT and disaU-,
vantage of management, notwithstanding
the rates then charged were higher than
those now charged on competing lines.
But the policy which projected and execu
ted these works was sound. Public credit
partially developed the powers of the com
monwealth, an i secured her position as a
trading and manufacturing community.
To accomplish this gigantic result, private
capital was then incompetent. The evil
of the State entering upon commercial
enterprise was tolerated, rather than incur
the impending and greater evil of los of
commercial equality or ascendency.
The acts for a canal destroyed the value
of stock, in competing turnpike lines, and
the Commonwealth lost large amounts
which had been thus invested.- - . ; ; f
As turnpikes were partially supplanted I
by canals, after a while canala were still
more injuriously affected by railroads.
The Erie and New York Central and
the Baltimore and Ohio railroads were be
gun, and again the alternative was presen
ted to Pennsylvania of surrendering her
material prosperity, or of constructing a
railroad, competent to meet the ardent
rivalry of New York on -thjnorth, and
Maryland on the south.
By this time, from causes over which
we throw the charity of silence, our people
were heartily sick of all public works of
improvement by the- Commonwealth. To
pass a bill through the Legislature for
making a railroad by the State from Phil
adelphia was impossible. The extremity
was admitted to be embarrassing some
considered it desperate.
For extrication from this difficulty we
arc indebted chiefly to the mingled pride
and patriotism of many citizens in various,
parts of the State, of almost every condi
tion of life, and to the prudent counsels of
the city and districts of Philadelphia, and
the county of Allegheny. These persons
and corporations subscribed enough to
commence, and by the subsequent aid of
loans, to complete the Pennsylvania Kail
road. The charter contained a clause taxing
all freight carried over the road; and this,
notwithstanding the Pennsylvania canals
had always been operated at a sacrifice of
money, was the charter, which, curried
away by instant desire and expecting
speedy relict from the Legislature, was
accepted by the projector of the enter
prise. This tax, modified by subsequent
legislation, is now three mills per ton per
mile.
It was said that the tonnage tax was
imposed to protect the cana's, and, indeed,
as the original tax was only to be levied
from the 10th day of March, to the 1st day
of December, that is, while the canals were
open; but tonnage was free of duty all the
rest of the year, that is, while the canals
were closed j it is plain that this was the
ostensible reason for laying this tax, and
it is equally clear that as the canals, so far
as any interest of the State is concerned,
are now, since their sale, never open, that
the sole reason for the law has ceased.
But it could only effect this by increasing
the expense of transportation by railroad
to a rate exceeding, that on the canals;
thus defeating the very object for which
the jailroad was made. The laws of trade
are absolute and selfish. No man would
use either the canals or railroad, unless it
was his interest, and, if legislative incum
brance compelled charges greater than
those on other available lines, those lines
would alone be employed. These who
had no alternative our own people on the
line of transport would be comjtelljd cus
tomers, but merchants and others from the
West, who had u choice, would go where
they were best, and most cheaply served.
The necessities of the Commonwealth,
protection of property, her dignity, suprem
acy, legislation, could not move the trader
who had an eye single to his owu service,
and cared no more for one transporter than
another negro porter or sovereign State
he considered them alike as common cai
e,
car
riers.
But we need not pursue this topic, for
all argument drawn from the canals euded
when they were sold.
The reasoning then, if sound before,
had, logically, a reverse application. If
the object of the tax on the railroad was
to protect the canals, when the canals no
longer needed protection, the tax should
cease, because the reason for its imposi
tion had ceased. Especially Ls this view
sonnd in this case, inasmuch as the rail
road company having purchased the canals
they could not need protection against
themselves, and the canals and railroads
having now a common owner, a tax on
one was a tax on both, and thus, what
was pretended to have been orgiually im
posed as a virtual premium to the canal,
became ultimately an actual burthen to
it.
The Legislature which - directed the
aalo of the maiu line of the public works,
recognized .this view by providing, that
if. the PcnnsylViXJua llailroad Company
becasie' ;theparcly,srs, they should, un
dar certain coutingneies,. be forever dis
chargedand freed frrra the tonnage ta5:
and all other taxes, wifh certain specified
exceptions. The Supreme Court held
that this was too broads inasmuch as it
ainountedto alienation of State soycreign
ty, and was void as a contract to' bind fu
ture legislatures. But the 'legislative
declaration of public policy j and of what
justice to the company demanded, was
complete, and thus the. --company purchas
ed the canals and cojiti'ectinjj railroads.
An implied moral obligation therefore
rests on thci legislature to carry out to the
exteut of their power, the intentions of
their predecessors of 1857, by repealing
this tonnage tax,"-and .the more so, inas
much as while the' main line, under State
management, never yielded a dollar of net
revenue they now produce since, and by
reason of their sale an .annual revenue of
8375,000, so that the Pennsylvania Kail
road so far from injuring the State works
was the sole means of giving them any
value whatever as a source of prof
it. Few laws, however, affecting large in
terests are passed except from different
and often discordant motives. This case
illustrates this truth. For, while protec
tion of the canal was the ostensible, and
with some the real motive, for imposing
tax"on the railroad freight, it was but the
specious seduction of a false pretence, the
result chiefly of hostility to Ponusjdvania
interests. It will be recollected that du
ring the session of 184G the legislature
was distracted by the attempt to procure
for the Baltimore and Ohio llailroad,
part of which was then in operation and
the rest in process of construction, the
right of wa-, through the south-western
section of Pennsylvania, for a branch of
that road from Cumberland to 2'ittsburg.
This, and the project of our own road,
were rivals in the legislature, and extra
ordinary as it may seem, the same Senate
and I louse of Kepresentatives which char
tered the Pennsylvania Company also
gave full corporate rights to the Maryland
Compauy in our territory, and imposed
a tax on the freight business of the for
mer of five mills per ton per mile.
On the 21st of April 1840, when the
Baltimore act was approved, Ilarrisburg
resounded with the boisterous aclamations
of the Marylanders, who, aided by the
mistaken views of some of our own citi
izen?, had laid this great Commonwealth
at tho feet of a comparatively feeble pow
er. It was exultiugly proclaimed that
now our western fields, mines, forests riv
ers aud the lakes were all a commercial
part of Maryland, and that the products
and people of that region were tributary
to the growing greatness of a rival, supe
rior in enterprise and energy. They for
got an element of Pennsylvania character
never obtrusive, but never wanting when
demanded; solid, steady streugth of will,'
which, once aroused, moves with sileut
effectiveness: sometimes slow', but alwavs
sure to accomplish its work. This leean
r "'"?-
is accompanied by that liberality whichJ
is willing to give to all our people aud all
our people and ah our neighbors every
reasonable facility-not- inconsistent with
tne commercial equality which political
justice demands. Fair play for all par
ties is the old fashioned Pennsylvania
doctrine ; almost unimpaired save by the
burthens on the business of the Pennsyl
vania llailroad. " ' '
The obstructions placed on our-'own
Company failed of at least one of their
objects. The stock was subscribed and
the road was built, through the heart of
Pennsylvania, notwithstanding this com
bined opposition.
HOW THE TONNAGE TAX OPERATES.
- After much difficulty had been success
fully encountered, thanks to the energy of
our people, the liberality of our capitalists
and the wisdom of ma.iy corporate bodies,
and especially of the City of Philadelphia
and the county of Allegheny, the road
was built and the effec t of the tax on ton
nage became manifest.
So far as diminution of the revenue of
th.e State, from her improvements, was
concerned, all apprehension of injury
proved to have been unfounded, for while
the canals were always a cause of loss, the
revenue from the Columbia Kailroad, the
only portion of the public works which
ever paid, was largely increased by the
construction of the Pennsylvania llailroad,
insomuch that the Canal C jmmissioners
admitted the fact in their annual report of
1 852, and Governor Bigler declared in his
message to the legislature in 185o, "The
net profits of the Columbia llailroad for
1S52 have nearly doubled the amount of
the net revenues from the other branches
of the public works."
On the other hand it was found that the
tax operated so as to impair the power of
the Pennsylvania road fully and fairly to
compete with her rivals, the Baltimore
and Ohio and the New York Central and
Erie lloads ; neither of which were li:.b!e
to any such burthen, and it was found, !
also, to act as a partial and unjust tax oa
domestic transporters.
On some articles it operated as a prohi-
bition, except under special circumstance,
The legislature exempted coal aud lumber
in 1S55, but it still remains a prohibition
or obstruction on all other article f lr;:i-
fie, especially on our peculiar products,
flour, grain, catth; and minerals. All the
reasons for this it is impos-dble to detail,
but one, aud the chief, certainly was a
natural relucfance in the legislature to
pun, Miia ufj mougut curiam aim
upparem revenues, ana the imiuihty in
many to extend their rucnfid horizon far
u i ii. . c n i -V " i
A. . . 1 ,1 t t .
taiougu iu bee me jauuey nica preierreu
j - - - , j--.-
a present gsin, to the greater good of the
I.
ccvpiopment ot the resources of the. Com-
NUMBER 27
monwealth, and consequently enhanced
value of property and increased prosperity
of the people.
WHAT IS THE TRUE TOLICY OF THE STATE
IN REGARD TO TnE TAX ?.
This question is easily answered if jus
tice toj.aH her citizens, and the security
of their interests be admitted to bo the
very objects for which government is con
stituted. ITS INJUSTICE.
States, equally with individuals, are
bound by the moral code; neither can vi
olate it with impunity. The greatest
glory of government is to do justice to
all men of thft world, because truth, and
justice reigned supreme in all their acts:
Ou this soil, cousecrated by Penn to vir
tue, it is needles to demonstrate tha,t jus
tice is the infallible test of interest. Our
early prosperity proved that in nations,
as in individuals, honesty is the best pol
icy. Justice supposes equaltty before the
hw ; uniform protection of. the citizen by
the StSle, uniform contributions by the
citizen to the State, perfect impartiality
ou the one side and cheerful obedience
on the other side. The duties protec
tion, impartiality, contribution, obedieuce
arc reciprocal, each the consideration of
another, all constituting a harmonious
whole.
If therefore, the tonnage tax is nnrqvat,
it is unjust. If it is unjust, the State, by
continuing it, violates its duty, bv disre
garding the fundamental basis of all legit
imate legislation.
There are many railroads, canals, turn
pikes, plank roads and common roads in
Pennsylvania. Ou no one of them, with
one exception, save that from Pittsbur- to
Philadelphia, is any special tax imposed.
Many of them have been the recipients of
the bounty of the State; none but those
mentioned have burthens imposed upon
it.- m
. Whether the tonnage duty falls on the
producer, the consumer or the transporter,
it is aduty paid only on this single line.
As it is paid by no other line, this mad.
j-which is taxed, is not on an equality with
those other lines which are not taxpd. T.
j is the special and single instance of depar-
iuoiuiih; ui ucpax-
ture from a general and wholesome policy
Lit is the laying of a burthen, grievous to
be torne by our citizens who pay it, be
causa exceptional, discriminative and ad
verse.
verse. . '
If it came out of the Treasury of Out
Company, it miiiht be asked whetbf-r rh
rState should depend for revenue upon a
corporai-iou created lor other purposes ;
whether the State should impose a virtual
penalty for the doing of that, to promote
the common prosperity, which she herself
was unable or unwilling to do, though its
necessity was admitted ; whether it would -be
fair to take from the stockholders of
the Company, who have already lost, at
the present market value of the shares,
over-twenty per cent, of their cash invest
ments, other sums, involving further loss?
If the tax is paid by the 'consumer, an
inquiry arises whether it is the interest of
the people to pay what is, in effect, ancx
ci. e duty on the products of the soil, the
mines, the manufactures, on what they
cat, wear and use.
If the jrroducer is the victim, he may
complain that what makes the public
wealth, should be selected for invidious
discrimination: that he, on whom rests
the feeding and clothing of others, should
pay for the privilege of performing these
essential functions. w
How can Pennsylvania ask for protec
tion of her industry, by a discriminating,
foreign tariff, wheu 8ho imposes special
domestic taxes on transporters, farmers,
manufacturers, miners, producers, consu
mers, carriers of almost every class, who .
use the chief channel of communication
traversing her territory from the east to t
the west ? Let her do justice to her own
citizens before she ask3 for favors from
others.
Let us briefly consider the position of
each of these three classes.
AS TO THE COMPANY.
What is this Corporation '!
Jt is not an in. aginary myth, or meta--
piivsical abstraction, or fabulous mnnsipr.
but an association, bound together bv law.
fr a vast ami l encficient public object.-
'! lf i ifM -i t.re nr.- i .-...., 1
j thousand people of Philadelphia, the citi-.
zens of the Comity of Allegheny, iusuw
j ranee compauies, mutual benefit societies,
j chui chisemct.rits a harit-cle institutions .
j thousands ofour fellow-citizens, merchants,,
i' manufacturers, farmers, laborers, women
j tnd children, widows and orphans,
' But the Company is not the chief sub-.
: joct of injury, Jbr it has, measurably, the
; power oi eii-proiection. It can put up
its local rates to the full legal limit,,
and thus altogether avoid the loss of the
tax, by placing it all on its local customers,
j tai . v w 4i v o iV'L el 4 tUAlUUlrl cj
j in the shape of increased charges for tran-
potation.- If this has. n:t becu done it.
, t
-v. . ..'-
.i