The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-08-11

any portion of theirburdens.
At the expiration of Governor VOLTS
term, the debt due from the State amounted
to$24 ,955,435 Sc. On the sixth of De-
cember, 1897, according to the report ofthe
State Treasurer, the debt had increased to
$2S, ,05S, ,l39 so inclusive of the receipt of
the surplus revenue, making an increase in
the first two years of Governor Ritner's adj
ministraton Of SO, ,lO2, ,7O3 90. If to this
we. add the excess Of the appropriations for
the current year, now the probable balance
in the Treasury at the end of the year, say
$l l,205,059 3S, we have an augmentation of
the State debt amounting TO 81 1907 ,763 "a,
contracted during the not yet three years of
the present administration and this, too,
without corresponding beneft-for it is
notorious that not a single additional mile
of canal or rail- road has been put in opera
tion during the existence Of that administla-
ton.
In considering the character of David r.
I Porter, it will not be necessary TO detain
you long Plain in his manners, sound in
his opinions, and directin the expression of
them, he requires ne labored eulogy to
hold up for admiration his virtues, or to
gloss over and conceal his faults.
Consistent, at all times, in his public acts,
and aiming only at the best interests of
those he represented, his course has been
open and direct, and exhibiting nothing of
the tortuous and perplexing mazes which
mark the career Of his competitor. 1t re-
quires not tedious investigation to explore,
or elaborate argument TO justify
/ In this character he is presented to you.
A plain citizen unsurrounded by the attri-
butes Of power, and unassisted by the se-
ductions attendant on the possession of pat
ronage-whose chief boast is that he has
honestly discharged his duty in all the situ-
ations he has been called to fill-he stands
before you inviting the strictest scrutiny
Of his public and private life, and desiring
TO be estimated by the result Of that scrutiny
with an understanding cultivated by stu
dy, and judgment enlightened by expert
ence, he possesses mind capable Of COM
pretending the great interests of his native
State, and heart TO prompt him to labor
for the advancement of its prosperity.
Iuheriting from revolutionary sire, a
fervent admiration of Democratic princi-
pies, he has never, nay, not for moment,
wavered in their support or falteIed in their
promotion.
AT the darkest and most discouraging
period of our political history, when the
name Of democratic was a 'hissing and re-
proach in the land,' he was found breastng
the storm that sought to overwhelm popu-
lar rights and destroy popular institutions.
Ii his career as politician has been ad-
mirable, his conduct, as man, has been
noble!
In early life, made bankrupt in fortune
by the failure of others to redeem their
pledges, he sunk not, as ain ordinary man
would, under the pressure of misfortune.
Struggling with adversely, he devoted his
days and nights to the severest toll, until
energy, industry, and talent triumphing
over the disheartening difficulties by which
he was surrounded, he was at last able to
fulfil the determination which constituted
the chief incentive of his exertion-lhe hon
orable discharge Of all just claims upon,
him.
In connection with this subject, it may be
justly observed that perhaps no man was
ever more fortunate in his enemies than
Gen. Porter. But for the malignity which
melted them to asperse has private reputa-
ton, no room would have been afforded for
the gratifying testimonials furnished by his
friends. and neighbors-comprising men of
all parties-to his high standing for worth,
integrity and pure morality. But for THEIR
ISLANDERS, the world would have never
heard OF the moral courage which sugges-
ted and the perseverance which affected his
liberation from the heavy weight which
bore him down, and threatened his destruc-
ton.
In the broad circle Of human events.
what spectacle is more heart stirring than
that exhibited by an honest and honorable
man, bravely battling against adverse for
tune, not for himself alone, but for the bene-
fit OF others, and buoyed up by the irrepres-
sible energies of his nature, at last rising
superior to and couquering the disasters
which would else have crushed him? Da-
yld X, Porter owes thanks to his foes for
having placed him before his countrymen in
thisimposiAg atlitude-an attitude, in coun-
try where every man is the artifcer of his
own fortune and the creator of his own fame,
that must attract respect and elicit unquali-
fed approval.
S,Ieh - H. ..,.t.1