The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-07-07
POLITICAL.
GOV. RITNER THE ENEMY OF
THE POOR,

A We opened the journal Of House Of Rep
Teseniatives, and found with surprise the
Z following vote of Gov. Ritner against pro-
1 Viding for the poor. By referring 10 the pa
per of the day, on the same side in politics
as the Governor, we find the annexed
speech of his excelency on this resolution.
We invite the attention Of all the citizens Of
the state to this vote and this speech of the
Governor, and if the legislative proceedings
of the republican governments in the world,
from the beginning, be ransacked, we do not
believe that parallel to ii can be produced.
So cold blooded, unfeeling and uhcharitabe
speech as this, is disgrace to civilized
man.
What because some poor man might be
dishonest, are the families of all to be de-
prived OF their only COW, if a rich, hard
grinding creditor chooses to do it? How
often in the poverty, sickness and misfor-
tune of their parents has friendless family
of children been compelled to rely solely
on the milk of their COW for support! And
in this age of benevolence and civilization,
is this last stay of the tender years of the
child, and the wornout years of the parents
and grand parents, to be taken away, and
all Of them TO be made dependent on the
2 cold charity Of the world, or the legal mer.
cies Of the poor house for relief, because
Gov. Rltner thinks the man who sells COW,
may happen not to get his pay?
Gov. Ritner says in his speech that he
never sued poor man-that he is the
friend of the poor. He should have stated
that he had never sued, because he neuer
trusted poor man to a dollars aDoYIh IN
has Life; and from such friends as he is, the
prayer of every poor man should be, "good
Lord deliver u.s."
Fortunately for the poor of Pennsylva-
MIA Joseph Rimer's policy did not prevail.
Their COW, their two hogs and six sheep,
with feed. from the first of November ill
the last day of May, are preserved to them
against the execution of such shaving mi.
sers as Ritner, and the statute book Of the
state is not disgraced by such barbarous leg.
islation as he and his eight c0mpeers woult
have introduced. He was not satisfied will
the present law, exempting a poor man:
COW from levy and sale; he would fain have
repealed it, and prevented the least amend
ment of the law for the comfort OF tht
poor! Is this the republicanism of "FAR
hER Ritner, the popular Governor" of III,
Keystone state! We can now understand
why his party abuses Gen. Porter for beins
once poor man. ltwas a grievous sin il
the eyes of farmer Ritner in 1925 to b
poor; he would have sold the poor man
last cow--sent his wife and children int
the streets to beg, and locked him up in
prison; and it is entirely consistent and nat
ural that Gen. Porter be calumniated by tn
party that sustains this liberal farmer Gov
ernor, because he has risen to the position
he occupies as his antagonist candidate, fron
the humble condition of poor man.
Let the people of this great state read tn
following facts, and whether they be poo
or rich, support Joseph Ritner if they can
Poor men will condemn him for his MIC
gardy injustice TO them; and rich men be
cause they will be unwilling and ashame
TO ayow such sentiments as he sadvance, i
this enlightened age. Let such as he is, o
and preach his aristocracy to the despol
of the old world-it is no place for them i
the new.
Extract from the Journal of the House G
Representatives, for Tuesday, Feb. IL
ls24-page 659.
A motion was made by Mr.. gle an
Mr.. Cummings, which read as follows
"Resolsed, That committee be appoin,
ed to examine the several acts passed lo
the comfort Of the poor and report thei
opinion TO this house, wethet any furlhe
relief ought to be given to them, which wi
accord with the true character of the peopl
of Pennsylvania in the support OF the poo
among them"
The following extract from the debal
upon the above resolution, is taken frol
the Pennsylvania IntelIigencer of July q
le24--a paper Of The same politics, an
friendly to Mr.. Ritner at that time.
"Mr. Casseit asked 10 know the obje,
ei the motion, more specifically than wa
b set forth in the resolution"