The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-03-17

Ell the party from principle, nave alreauy
detected the manoeuvering and deception oil
their leaders, and will return with the first
opportunity 10 the ranks of their old
friends.
We feel proud satisfaction, in being the
representatives Of the democracy at this time
for we have every assurance that this con-
vention shall not have been held in vain.
We have every assurance, that the patriot
ism, honesty, and virtue of the people viii
prevail, and will lead them in triumph. at
the next election, over an administration
called into existence by accident, composed
of factions of strangely discordant materials,
without one fixed political principle for its
guide. Joseph Ritner went into office by
minority yote-and at every successive an
nual election, a majority of the freemen of
Pennsylvania put their seal Of disapproba-
ton upon his administration, and elected to
every successive legislature, a majority of
representatives in opposition to it. Why
should they not, if they desire TO preserve
that liberty and equality, for which their
fathers fought and bled!
But short time previous to the election
of Joseph Ritner, the people had declared
with voice and energy not to be mistaken,
their uncompromising hostility to the bank
of the United States, and they believed that
its power to corrupt and endanger their lib
| critics was terminated. But scarcely had
the present Governor become warm in his
seat, until he affixed his signature to Il bill,
to continue this institution i'll this State,
with capital of $35, 100000, for the un-
precedented time of thirty years! Indeed, If
YOU look at almost every prominent act Of
the present State administration, and exam
inc some Of the laws that have received the
sanction OF the present executive, and under
which you must live, you will readily agree
that every effort should be made by all true
republicans : 10 redeem this great common
wealth from pollution.
In the assembly that was elected with
the present Governor, there was large
majority of his political friends-and ma
ranks. That the executive and legislative
branches Of the State government were for
that session placed in federal hands. You
have seen that legislature with the sanction
of the Governor, district the State in such a
manner as TO secure a misrepresentation OF
the sentiments of the majority; and enable
the minority to rule Inc majority, by appor-
tioning the representatives Of counties in
notorious opposition to the number Of taxa
BE inhabitants. Great inconvenience to the
people was created and representative duty
essened by the estaIl5shTt, election 'aI Of "
btiltt s,I laft l,ron f-,ne;1,, <,c a.
cracy OF Pennsylvania entirely unrepresen-
ted. For more than half century, the
election laws were uniform throughout the
State, and every citizen enjoyed the same
rights and privileges under them. On the
day of the election, the suffragcs of, peo-
| pie in the east, were regulated by the same
| laws as those Of the West-and the people
of the south of the State, on that day knew
that their brethren in the north, were as
free and equal as themselves. But it be-
came the business OF the present Governor
and his legislature to restrict the people
in one section of the State, in the exer-
else of their right of sIffrage---to ex-
cept the people of the city and county oI
Philadelphia, from the uniform provisions
of the constitution and tie general election
law and TO impose on them the odious duty
and disgrace of having their names register
ed for some days previous to the election
| Your internal Improvement system, the
pride and boas! OF every Pennsylvania
has, through the vacillating conduct Of the
present Governor, became involved in doub
and uncertainty. at one session he afiix
ed his signature TO bill connected with The
charter of the Bank of the United States
( appropriating a large amount of money tC
the general improvement system, and alst
to private companies. AT the next session
he put his veto upon similar bill, and al
legged, for one of his reasons, that private
companies were included And at the pres
sent session, he withheld his name from
bill, making immediate provision for ti
, prosecution of the work under contract, th,
, relief of contractors, and for repairs, ant
retained it in his possession until it becam
law. But he not only suffered this las
, bill to become a Law without his signature
} but retained it in his own possession, at tn
I going out of one year and the coming in O
f another, until he imagined that he had oh
5 tanned an advantage of the Legislature, il
: consequence of particular reference as {
5 time in the bill, and by this means, gave t
e the bill an effect and operation contrary +