The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-01-25

the independence ofeath department. be pre-.
served, without doing so a! the expense Of
the public interests, and thus alone can the
responsibility of each TO the people, be rig
idly enforced, without casting portion of
il on the other shall never shun any re-
sponsibility, whatever, that justly devoves
upon me, but do .HoL desire to be placed
in situation, as public officer, where
must approve or dlsapproye of particular
measures, not on the ground Of their inirin-
sic merits or dement's but because, by the
action of a coordinate branch of the gov
ernment, have been precluded from frse
and unleuered course of conduct This
certainly does not accord with the true spir-
1t Of our government.
Keeping in view these various circum-
stances aud interests, the question is presen-
ted to the consideration Of The legislature,
how is the money to be procured, TO pay
the interest on the state debt; 10 meet the
several loans falling due; and to defray the
necessary expenditures Of the common
wealth However formidable the difficult
ties we must encounter, there is no avenue
of escape from these responsibilities left
open to us. We must meet them without
shrinking or postponenent. The sum Of
So, ,O0o, 600, must be obtained for the ensu-
ing year, and perhaps an equal amount for
the year following. By the sale of the stock
held by the commonwealth, to the Bank Of
Pennsylvania, Philadel phia Bank, and Far
msr's and Mechanics Bank, the sum of two
millions, one hundred and eighty thousand
! l. k, ro,l;,ol L,,t
It will require time to carry this operation
into effect. The sum Of 5000, 900 must be
had or or before the first day of next month,
and the balance during the remainder Of the
year. Nothing can be expected from other
sources--even new loans would, perhaps,
fail to answer the purpose in the present
eXgency. What then remains 10 be done
NV own deliberate opinion is, that resort
to taxation, provided that it shall be so regu-
lated as to bear with as little hardship as
possible on the people, is the only possible
remedy to eXirlcate the commonwealth from
tho embarTassments by which we find her
surrounded.
In oatlng to the legislature the general
resources of the commonwealth, feel it to
be my duty TO lefer TO you, without recon-
mendng it, to another remedy, which may
put the evil day off for time, should the
| legislature think proper TO adopt it. By
the act Incorporating The Bank of the Uni
ted States, that institution is bound to loan
to the commonwealth, at four per cent. in
teresl. six millions Of dollars whenever re-
ouicea bv law. 1t will be for the legis!a-
ture, after examining into its conducL and
condition, if taxation be deemed impoltlc,
to determine whether this sum shall be cal
led for from that bank-and if so, TO apIro-
pirate the same specifically, TO the payment
| OF the interest on the state debt, and TO the
completion Of the main lines Of canal un-
der contract, and in a state of iorwardness
and to other purposes whatever. In eX-
pressing my own opinion in favor Of re-
sort to taxation, do it with no inconsida-
bic degree of reluctance; but it must be OBJ
vious to every citizen Of the commonwealth,
that his house, his farm, and his property
are all pledged, beyond possibility of release
TO the ultimate payment Of the state debt,
and the interest thereon aCGruing, agreeabiy
to the stipulation with the loan holders -
Nor is this the worst view OF our situation.
The state has been actually compounding
for years past, from million 10 q million
and half Of interest annually; and the ques.
ton is now submitted whether we are thus
to continue adding half yearly, this enor.
nous amount Of interest to the principal oI
cur state debt, and continue in the pusillani
nous course Of policy, from year to year
of shutiling of the evil day, and en!ailing
this rightfui legacy 10 pOsterity. II is re-
pIoach on the people of Pennsylvania to
suppose they can longer be kept in the dark
in regard to the situation in which we fin,
them.
All they want to know, to ensure a ready
compliance with the Indispensable call up
on their patriotism, is 10 know the necessi
Of the measure. The experience Of more
!, than half century, iortifes me in the be
lief, that the good sense Of the people o
,his great commonwealth, is rarely appealed
to in vain. III assuming the responsible,
| of recommending this measure, am fully
sensible Of what is 10 be encountered, am
aware Of the consequences that arc TO fol
= low; and if in this expression of the hon
} est convictions of my own mind, and tn
. fearless discharge Of the duties incumben
! I L., o,,tt foilp pu,