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

rick of keeping the hill hl the pocket until
yfes the first OF January, and then returned il
10 the legislature with the insolent message
that, although IN the proyiso referred To-,
both houses meant and intended the first
-J'ay of January, 1888, yet, inasmuch as the
bill did not become a law until after that
period, the words " first of January neat
must be taken as referring to the first day
Of January, 1889! That he had retained
sthe bill for the express purpose of produ-.
cling this result, and consequently the work
would be prosecuted for a full year
longer than was contemplated. Thus
stoopingtto the use Of most contemplate
-ouibble to defeat the declared will of the
peoples representatives, and imposing on
the state an additional amount of Debt,
which those representatives had decided it
was unnecessary to incur.
Of the inconsistent use of is|power over
legislative action, we design to say bu! a
few words. 1t will be sufficient, in connec-
tion with this subject, 10 remind you that
while'he has refused TO lend his sanction
TO the erection of some corporations, he
has assented to others of a similar charac-
ter. During single session, he approved
the charter Of the bank of the United States
with capital of $35, 700, and of the
Exchange Bank of Piltsburg with capital
sof $1,000, 0,000--then refused his assent to
a bill increasing the capital of the Girrard
Bank, and almost Immediately thereafter
agreed to an enlargement of the capitals of
the Farmers Bank of Berks county and the
Lumberman's Bank at Warren, and permit
ted acts authorizing the increase of the cap
itals of the Manufacturers and Merchants
Bank of the Northern Liberties, and the
Bank of Penn township to become laws by
retaining them in his possession for more
than ten days. These are sf few examples,
taken at random, to show that in the exer-
else of this highly responsible power, he has
been actuated by caprice and mere whim,
rather than guided by the suggestions of
wisdom.
That he is willing to stoop to the en-
ployment OF any means to promote his re-
election, his annual message to the legisla-
ture in 1897, and his s'pfoclamation" of the
tenth OF the present month, may well be CT
ted in proof. With full knowledge, and
not merely in expectation, that his recon-
mendations would be adopted by his
message he proposed to the legislature, al
terations in, and restrictions of, the Bank
ing system, SO radical in their character and
destructive in their tendency as to startle
even the widest and most unrehecting re-
formers, and compel his friends to confess
that ne was either grossly ignorant of the
subject of which he discoursed, or that the
recommendation was designed to operate on
certain supposed state of public feeling,
with the object of purchasing an eyanescent
popularity by the sacrifice OF sentiments he
was known to entertain.
OF the '.pr0cIamation" it is scarcely pos
sible to speak seriously, and were It not
that, as Pehlsylvanians, we feel humbled
and chagrined when we contemplate the ig-
noble position in which the Governor of
this great commonwealth has placed him
sell by this step, we would feel inclined to
dismiss the subject with but Jest upon the
little cunning which dictated the measure
and motive which led to its adoption. En-
tlrely quiescent under the measure of sus-
pension adopted by the banks, it was not
until after these institutions had, of them
seRes, resolved TO resume the payment of
specie, that Joseph Ritner suddenly discov-
cred that he is enjoned upon by the consti-
luton to take care that the laws are faith
fully executed. 1t was not until public
opinion had so operated on the banks as to
compel them TO name time when they
would redeem their notes that Joseph Rit-
ner, with mock gravity, well betting the
occasion, enjoins upon them to forbear from
the further infraction of the laws. Does
any one suppose he would have hazarded
this step had he not been previously inform
ed OF the determination of the banks Or,
is there man in the commonwealth, who
believes for moment, that If these corpo-
ratlons decline to pay specie after the 18th
of August, the Governor will venture 10
carry out the measures threatened in his
proclamation? In his message delivered
December 9th, 1887, he told US, "tte Banks
Of Pennsylvania are in a much soigader
condition than before tie suspension, and
The resumption Of specie payments so
Jar as depends on their situation and re-
roarces, nlay taSe place at ana fine" Il
was then. as it is now, the duty of the Gov
ernor OF Pennsylvania, to stake care that
the laws are faithfully executed" Accord
ing to his own showing, the plea of strong