Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-24

tue, and that zeal to promote Its ooJec's, winch
with him has never been known to aoate. II
is in fact the moral purity of MIR. Sergeant ms
unsuspected honesty of motive and purpose tnat
has tended IN no slight measure TO advance MN
TO the eminence on which he now STANDS LII oil
the bitterness Of party strife, we never remem-
Der to have heard one word of disrespect or re-
proach uttered against the favorte son OF fehh'
sylvsnia.
La 1915. Mr.. Sergeant was elected to Con.
gress, from the District composed OF the Cl'y anu
COUNTY of Philadelphia, and the County al Della
ware, in fireplace Of General Jonathan Williams
who had died after his election. He was elect.
ed to Congress until 1892 when in pursuance OF
his own wishes, he retired into private life
Such was Mr.. Sergeant'- popularity In his Dis
trict, and So sensibIy did his constituents appre-
ciate the services which he had it in his power to
render them. that in in 1920 his name was p'ac-
ed ON the tickets of both parties. and he was
elected by rather more than twelve thousand
votes.
Mr.. Sergeant's position in the House OF Re-
representatives. was always one of high distinction,
and py his active participation IN all TIE import
ant discussions which occupied that body while
he was a member. he acquired great influence
in it's deliberations. At the commencement Of the
session Of 1856, he was placed on the Judiciary
Committee, and two years after was appointed
its Chairman, in which capacity he continued Til
his resignation. During four years he was on
the Committee of Ways and Means, at the head
of which was the lamcnted Lowndes. On these
two Committees, Mr.. Sergeant rendered great
and most effective service. The narrative OF his
legislative career. 10 the history Of unremittng
exertion to sustain not only the general interest
of the nation, but the policy of his native state,
and from the beginning to the end he continued
the unwaverng advocate of all those measures
which Pennsylvania was especially interested IN
sustaining. The first speech made by Mr. Ser
seant on the floor of the House of Representa-
tyyes, was in support OF the Iaritf prlndpe. on
the proposition to reduce at once the war dutles'
| in which he sustained with much zeal and elo-
ouence the interests of the manufacturers, and
the protective policy. 1t was at this session that
the Tariff was first revised after the war, and It's
principles definitely recognized In the session
/ of 1878. on the bill to increase the duties on
iron manufactures. which may be regarded as
emphat,callv a Pennsylvania measure. Mr. Ser
seant spoke at great length and with remarkable
ability in support of it. In 1921. during the
discussion Of Mr.. Baldwin's Tariff Bill. Mr. Ser.
geant again advocated its principles, and tspe-
| cially defended the irnn duty.
The last Tariff Of 1923. was also sustained by
MI Sergeant, land though he in common with all
the friends of protection, saw in its details much
that was obnoxious and defective, yet as 1t In
! volyed the principle which they were pledged to
support, and affected benefcially what they con-
sidered the vital and essential interests OF the ma
ton, they sustained it resolutely, relying on tu-
ture and more dispassionate Legislation 10 rectl.
fy it's defects. Unlike many others ct the disiin'
suished advocates OF protection, to whom ex.
perence has shown the sound doctrine Of the
great American System, Mr.. Sergeant. it will
be seen FROM this imperfect sketch, has been
from FIRST to last its resolute and consistent
friend The combination OF his name with that
of the great father of that system.has always ap.
peared to US most happy. Henry Clay and John
Sergeant may be regarded as having been born
the friends of Internal Improvement and Domes-
tic Industry.
In the session of 1916, Mr.. Calhoun advocat-
ed the project of the Bank of the United States,
and reported bill establishing such an lnstitu-
ton, with capital Of thirty-fVe millions TO be
increased, if necessary, to fifty-one millions. To
the bill as reported. Mr.. Sergeant moved and
supported an amendment reducing the capital to
twenty millions, which he believed to be fully
adequate to the existing exisency. This
amendment did not prevail. What its effects
| would have been can of course ONLY be matter OF
conjecture, but it has been believed that had the
capital been reduced in accordance with the sug
gestion Of MIR. Sergeant, the disastrous scene OF
speculation which ensued. would not have occur
| red. and the Bank would have been saved from
the temporary reproach which was cast upon it.
From the period of its incorporation to the pres
ent time, Mr.. Sergeant has been the jealous
and efficient friend of the Bank, having occupied
many confidential posts under its direct ion, in
which he had been enabled not only to become
familiar with its operations, but to render it
great and highly estimated services. No one
knows better than he does the benefits such an
institution. administered as it has been with uni
form ability and integrity, can confer on our now
prosperous community.
The favorite measure OF Mr.. Sergeant's legs-
atve life was the establishment of an uniform sys-
ten of Bankruptcy, by which the rights and in
terests Of debtor aud creditor, should be alike
protected, and the community relieved from the
accumulated curses of local insolvent laws. in
whose train it may truly he said fraud. injustice
and rapacity walk hand in hand Notwilhstabd-