The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-12-16

WAsh BOlAObb odlGbN llA du early udlG lOI lll6
resumption ofspeciepayments. The sound
ness of her Banks and of her general cur
rencyr will, necessarily place Pennsylvania
foremost in the attempt to accomplish what
ever is in the power of State Legislation on
the subject
But there, is one, view of the subject
Which presents the strongest reason for the
earliest possible resumption. The gener-
al circulation of irIedeemable promises to
pay, by and through all portions of society,
is not merely disease ofthe currency. 1t
Is social evil-a great moral taint-which
1 If long uncorected, will undoubtedly have
the most deleterious influence on our char
acter and happiness as a people.-Penn-
sylvania has heretofore been characterized
by steady good faith and adherence to prin-
ciple. 1t behooves her public agents now
to guard this brightest jewel in her casket,
by restoring its usual unsullied purity to her
public character. This can ouly be done
by adding actual performance to the private
promises of her citizens.
The only branch Of the subject vet re-
manning untouched is the flood of small
notes, which has so suddenly and general
ly covered the State. The odious name
by which they have been branded-the at
tempt made by each political party to stig-
matize its opponent with the blame oftheir
origin, and the ntter dislike with which
they have been received by the public GEN
orally, though great proportion of them
proceed from sources of unquestioned SOL
vency, from additional strong proofs of the
unsuitableness of small notes of all kinds to
our wants and circumstances. No legisla-
ton is required to rid us of those that now
infest the State. They are every one of
them clearly in violation of the act of AS
sembly of 18th April 1888 on the subject,
and will~disappear as soon as the imprison-
ed coin of the country resumes its usual
office. Then without regard to the time OF
redemption set forth on the face of them,
be it one, two or ten years, with or with
out interest, the holders will either demand
instant payment or sue for and recover the
penalty of five dollars, and interest inflicted
on their issue by the existing laws.
But, after all, the thorough and perma
nent remedy for the whole evil must come
from Washington. Until Congress shal
devise and adopt some means which will
again give us a currency equal over the
whole, and to the wants of tie whole u
MON; and until the national governmen
shall consent to allow the people to Judge
of its suitableness to their own wants, there
can be no general and permanent conf
dence in the currency--no fixed value fo
property-no enlarged spirit in commerce
and trade-and consequently little encoura
cement to laudable enterprise or improve
ment of any kind.
Having thus fully declared my view OF
this exciting subject, shall proceed to thu
other matters which require notice. In thu
annual Message to the Legislature at tht
commencement of the last session, occasion
was taken to declare at legth my views ol
all subjects of importance, III the hope tina
future communication might be here by ren
dered more prief, Permit ME now respect
fully to refer you to that document for m,
opinions on the matters therein embraced
except so far as some of them may be NOR
at large explained in this message.
/ must, however, again urge upon tn
Legislature the necessity of law to proh
dit the administration of all xtra-iudici;
oaths.
The financial condition of the Common
wealth is, at present, most cheering. B
reference to the Auditor Generals Repoi
it will appear that the amount of actual rC
sceipts into the Treasury during the fsci
year just closed, including three dividend
of the national surplus revenue, and the ba
ance on hand at the commencement of til
year, was, S6,394 $1,000: and that the c1
penditure during the same PERIOD includin
all the expenses of Education and Intern
Improvements, was $4,I73,94O 26, lcavin
an unexpended balance in the Treasury q
the 1st November, 1896, Of 1920, 1851
The following estimate of the operation
of the Treasury, during the present yea
is partly based on the calculations of I'll
State Treasurer , and partly on similar o.
rerations during the past year.
Here follows statement, in which h
ExcelleDey estimates tire receipts for 49,
at So, ,4Ol 200, and the expenditures at 81
592,l2 10, to which surplus must be a
ded S2,22O,l35 "A, the amount remainiI
in the treasury, and the excess will be S2
1870 81.
In addition to the above named receip
into her Treasury, the State should, in ia