The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-07-22
CONVENTIONAL
ADDRESS
'Ofthe Committee appointed by the Fourth of July
Anti-Bank Convention
TO THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

impends over our country will justify this
address to your calm judgment and 'tnligh-
tened patriotism, and secure for it, we trust,
"a careful and dispassionate consideration.
1t is less the duty, than it is the natural
disposition ofintelligent and rejecting men,
ton all occasions of doubt and difficulties to
weigh well every source from whence light
to direct their course, or relief TO mitigate
the evils, they suffer can be eXpe cted. We
shall make no apology nor invoke your at
tention further, than to appeal at once to your
Intelligent understanding, and ask you to sit
down with us, and reaseh together upon
the high duties which fall to the lot of every
one of us to discharge. If we would, we
cannot evade or escape from the fulflment
of that obligation which rests on every re-
sponsible citizen, when extraordinary perils,
either from within, or without, threaten to
PROSTATE the prosperity of the country and
with it, all that belongs to individual happi-
ness and rational glory.
The OCCASION is too solemn and momen-
tous for political Influence, or partizan riv-
airy, TO bias any mans action. Nothing
but the. .purest love of country, shoGld dictate
the line of policy 10 be adopted, and in this
address, if we are guided by any other spirit
than this, discard its suggestions and its ar
guments with contempt Drawn from a.
mong the great mass of people at this season
of general engagement and industry, by the
paramount duty of devotion to the public in
terest, the individual members ofthis conven-
ton, cannot but feel that they have as deep
stake in the favourable issue of the pre-
sent deranged and distracted condition of
our monetary affairs, as any whom they
address.
1t would be idle, therefore, if not crimi-
nal, for us to aim at any other object, in our
proceedings, than the public good, in which
is involved the rights, interests and welfare
of all.
True we may not be exempt from mis-
take in opinion, but the associated wisdom
and experience of body of your fellow cit
fzens, respectable, we hope, boih III num-
Der and in standing, will be worthy of some
regard.
Our sentiments are offered to you as The
fruit of much reflection, and attentive OBJ
Servation on the existing state Of things.
The first consideration that must present it.
self to every mans mind, is what is our
present condition. The second, what pro-
duced it; and third, how is it to be remed-
ed. TO these three propositions, your at
tention is earnestly invited. ...
/. The present condition of the United
States, in reference to the currency, and all
branches of business that are Intimately
connected with, and depending upon it, is
written in characters too plain and vivid to
need much illustration from us.
In Pennsylvania especially it is deeply
engraved on every foot of our soil.
If we turn to the deserted streets Of OUT
cities, it is proclaimed in language not to
be misunderstood.
Ii we traverse our canals and rairoad; we
find the "panic," prophecy fulfilled, they
are indeed ga barren waste" and bear the
indubitable marks of premature desertion
and decay. Nearly one half the cars and
boats, are withdrawn from operation, and
what remain have little to do. The officers
are almost sinecures. Their pay; ahd the
interest on the debt, contracted in the con-
struction of our canals and rail roads, re-
main the same as i'll seasons of prosperity,
while the revenue derived from them, is
lamentably deficient. Unless this down
ward course be speedily arrested, the State
Of Pennsylvan iais on the high way to bank
AuptOy anu rum
If we survey the smaller towns, and the
country at large, what do we behold but bu-
siness interrupted, merchants and mechan-
les idle, all the necessaries of life exhorbi-
stantly high, the means to purchase them
sraitened. Creditors pressing their de-
mands, and debtors unable to pay. The
banks closed, the specie in their vaults,
shut up from the public, their notes not
conyertable into gold and silver, the laws of
the state shamefully violated, and immense
issues of unldigfm paper money rushing
into circulation in all quarters Of the state,
to the Punishment, and exclusion of the
specie, with which, one year ago, the coun-
Try abounded more plentfully than at any
former period, in the History of our repu6-
lie. Brokers, shavers and spectators, the
lll-omened birds of prey that swarm round
the PROSTATE carcase of the public currency;
.are. increasing, and thriving on the wants
and mislortunes of the community. The
notes of the eastern banks, at a high dis
Count in the western part of the state, and