The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-05-18

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to its present enormous amount. lnauen-
ced, ,however,by unfortunate causes & coun-
ellis, the legislation of the state, has recent
ly tended to distract the attention, and di-
vide the means of the public by the prose-
cution of various undertakings, unconnec-
ted with the main lines, and in many in
stances, wholly for the benefit Of private
companies; thus placing the public means
under their unlimited control, when the
faith of the commonwealth was already
| pledged, to apply its resources TO the COM
pletion of its own works, and to the pay
ment of its own liabilities. 1t is manifest
at glance, that just SO far as the original
system has been departed from, so far has
the system itself been retarded, and the
public money been squandered upon unpro-
ductve objects. l do not mean TO say, these
objects may not have been of great value TO
particular sections, and particular individ-
uals, but the public at large, had not the
same interest in them, nor could their com
mencement, or even completion, materially
contribute to the prosecution of the main
design. rank them accordingly, among
that class of secondary improvements which
should not be undertaken by the common
wealth, while others of much greater i'm
porlance, remain unfinished and unprolita-
Bile,
1t has only been within the few;last years,
that this infraction of the internal improve
ment system has been carried to the great
est extent. The drains upon the treasury
of the commonwealth, through thousand
~. c,;ttoraJ JOyr,, hnr
resources, crippled her energies and invol'-
ed her in the most ineXtricable difficulties.
TO person not intimately acquainted with
the facts, it would be question not easily
to solve, from an examination Of the recent
appropriation bills, whether the main lines
of our Improvements were prosecuted on
account of their own intrinsic importance,
or merely as pretexts for layishing upon
numberless other subordinate objects, mil
lions of dollars of the money of the peo-
pie. In some instances, as in that of the
bill under consideration, the appropriations
to secondary objects have been made first,
while the appropriations to the main lines
have thus far failed entirely. 1t will be but
one step further in the departure fIom the
original system, to drop the main lines alto
gether and hencelorth disperse the treasure
of the commonwealth, among incorporated
companies local prejudices, local interests,
and expert bargaining to secure in the gen.
eral scramble, the largest share Of the pub
lie money.
1t is far from my intention 10 attribute to
any Of these motives, or to the influence Of
any Of these causes, the formation Of the
present bill | am speaking Of the direct
tendency of this cource Of legislation Ito
" iIdJ COHseq qu1nceS IL must inevitably lUSrd
not TO what result it has already reached in
its progressive influence on the Legislation
Of the commonwealth.
Unless radical change of my opinion
should take place i can never yield my
sanction to the predominacy of this inno-
vation on our internal improvement system.
| conceive it to be at open variance with iu-
dicious economy, sound policy and enlight-
ened legislation.
Thus viewing it, should be recreant to
my duty, were | to sanction this bill. No
man can be more reluctant than am TO ex-
ert the veto power. shall never do ii on
light or trivial occasions; still less shall
claim to set up my opinion in opposition to
that Of the two houses of assembly; but
when the completion of the main lines of
improvement and the interest of the people
are all involved in a measure. | cannot
hesitate in the adoption of my course.
1t is highly desirable, no doubt, to those
concerned, that the debts OF all turnpike
companies, and in fact all other companies
in the commonwealth, should be paid, But
the question is at this time, shall we bor-
row money to pay them, when it requires
the Joint exerIion Of eyerp branch of the
government to sustain its credit which has
been already stretched to its utmost limit to
satisfy existing liabilities, and to defray the
expenses incident to the management of the
public affairs. cannot believe the people
OF Pennsylvania are prepared to answer
this question in the affirmative. If | have
miscOnceiyed my duty, or misunderstood
the public sentiment, it is a gratifying con-
sideration that an ample remedy is provided
| by the constitution. Claiming only the
merit of rectitnde of intention, cheerlully
commit this bill to the action of the legis
lature, and to the final judgement of the
people satisfied that on this as on all other
subjects they are the best Judges of their
own interests, and of the fidelity of their
public servants.