Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-07-28

ted as leaders. ne hat nad gone lOrtIi---tne
sill, er veil had been ralsed---ihe false prophets
were exposed, and their curses were mingled
with the desperation of their fall! We learned
the important secret, vitality important in Re-
public, that the people must think and act for
themseves---do their own voting and never
submit to be led by men who are ambitious of
pre-eminence, and have their own plans of az
grandiZement TO subserve.
We have carried this acquired experience
into close examination which we have nst-
tuted in reference TO our position in State poll
tics. Here TOO, we find that the Democracy
have been deserted by their leaders; that we
have been deceived by empty professions, while
all the measures, acts and tendencies OF DAVID
R. Porter. his friends and advisers have been
decidedly ant-democratic. We find, 200, that
it has become necessary for the people 10 ell
feet radical change of men and measures, TO
prevent Pennsylvania from becoming lrretrIev-
ably involved in debt; her citizens from being
subjected to more onerous imposltions OF taxes,
and her resources from being lavished on the
friends of Gov. Porter and the relatives and
dependents of the Canal Commissioners.
Neither do we make the allegation against
David R. Porter, that his principles are anti
democratic, without being prepared TO fortliy
our position by incontrovertlble proof, drawn
from his Executive course and now part OF the
history of our State One of the fundamental
principles of democracy is, that the people are
fitted for self government, and that all power
belongs to them and must necessarily flow from
them, and any attempt however remote, TO OBJ
struct the stream or control the source must in
volve departure from the principle. How
then are we to reconcile Gov Porter's profess
sion of democracy, with the ultra federal veto
of one Bill giving the election of Canal Com
missioners to the immediate representatives Of
the people in the General Assembly, or with
holding his assent from another, which places
the choice directly and annually in the hands of
the people themselves? Does not the refusal
to approve such bill, argue that Gov. Porter
is opposed 10 delegating power TO It's legitimate
popular source; and is not the effort to cursaiI
the action of the people, through the ballot box
es, one of the most federal characteristics, with
which political party can be imbued?
! For similar reasons, which involve a disre-
spect of the people, through their representa-
tives, we condemn most empha,ically Govern
or Porter's course in relation TO the recent
warrant drawn by him in favor of deputy
Prosecuting Attorney, the payment OF which
was promptly and correctly refused by the
State Treasurer Some two years past, Gov.
Porter drew his warrant on Mr. Sturgeon then
State Treasurer, i'll favor of Ovid F. Johnson
and James NJ. Porter for $4,000; this having
been done without authority Of law. As the
amount was paid, and the action was decidedly
| H. tho lth the
| last Legislature passed law authorlslng sui
to be brought for the recovery of this money
Gov Porter has not yet given his signature tc
that bill, but on the contrary has insulted the
people, outraged the confidence reposed in him
by the people, and in the very face of the con
demnation expressed in relation to his course
by the peoples representatives, has again dared
to draw another warrant of precisely slmllal
tenor 10 the one for the recovery of the amoun
! of which, suit was directed to be brought BY
the last session. Is this democracy? To ar
+ ray the Executive power against the will OF th'
people, is an inroad on our republican rights i'
which true democracy cannot submit. Ih'
people must be respected-their mandate, rlgh
or wrong, must be obeyed--for if wrong the.
alone are the sufferers, and experience tina
best OF SC0OOlS, VIII SOOH SCI tlleHI llSil'
h But we have other grounds of opposition t
the Administration of Gov. Porter which IN
yolve such palpable departures from the splrl
: of our Constitution and laws, that we should IN
, deed be regardless of the preservation OF gu
rights as citizens and the welfare OF the State
could we for a moment countenance them. l h
fact is notorious, that system OF tavorlusm ha
, been introduced by the Canal Commissioners
: in the allotment of public contracts, by whlc
| the State has been heavy sufferer, not onl
= paving more for work than good and respons
5 bic bidders were willing TO contract Tor; but,
entrusting unskillfu workmen with lmportaI
: sections, even at these outrageous prices, tn
. construction has been so faulty, as to stand
y need of continual repair, and the entire revenu
. must be consumed TO keep them in order. NJ
: only does Gov. Porter stand responsible Tor IN
misconduct of these officers of his creation, b'
: he must be considered partcpator IN the
e crimnality, because he is unwilling TO allo
b the people to control the election OF the Can
d Commissioners and institute direct respons
e bility between the taxpayers and those wi
4