Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-05-15
RE SO N 8

or the Democratic Members, for their yoto
Ertract from The Journais Of Tie House Of Rep
resenfatiues, Tuesday, May A, ls4l.
Having voted in the affirmative on the final pas
sage of the act entitled ian act 10 provide revenue
to meet the demands on the Treasury, and for 9th.
purposes" we respectfully ask leave 10 enter on
the journals of the House the reasons for having SO
voted.
It has been our anxious desire throughout tho
session, to obtain the passage ofsuch b.: to meet
the public e1igencies, as would accord with tho
views Of our immediate constituents and carry out
the policy which has for many years been cohten-
dcd for by the party to which we beong.-The
Journals Of the House will bear evidence that such
has deem our course of conduct every bill which
has been presented this session TO provide the ways
and means to maintain the honor and credit of Penn
sylvana. But being in a minority. our views and
wishes have been frustrated by the power Of a ma-
jority, entertaining d1eren. opinions Of public pol
| icy from those which we have always cherished.
In this emergency no other alternative presen-
ted to us, than to pemt the legislature to adjourn
without the passage of any measure TO sustain the
plghted faith of the commonwealth, and to prevent
portion of hers citizens, to whom she is indebted
from being reduced TO a state Of beggary, or TO vote
for the bill which has just become law. In adop-
ting this latter alternative, we have not abandon"
ed any of the principles upon which we were cleo"
ted. We have been governed solely by our solemn
convictions of public duty. We have been willing
in patriotic spirit of Cancellation to make such
compromise with opponents on this floor
justified by the deplorable state of the public
| Treasury. The executive with whom it is our
pride to act had pointed out in his most excellent
veto message, the ground upon which he was will
ling to meet the majority of the legislature. But
that majority having the power in their own hands.
werc unwilling to relinquish it, and exhibited their
determination TO reject any modification Of tho bill
| which would give il even the colorng Of a COM
promise; and the evidence was clear to be resist
ed, that the question narrowed down either to
pass the bill for which we voted or to have tho
Treasury bankrupt, the credit of the state arnshed,
and large portion of our meritorious fcllow-citi.
zens, who had relied upon her solemn faith for the
liquidation of their demands to utter ruin. In this
a emergency, WilnOnt lle numerical strength 10 u
dapt the biilto views, or to the views Of those
whom more Immediately represent, we felt it to
be onr duty representatives Of people who have
felt proud of the character which they have hitherto
borne for private and public integrity, to make
temporary sacrifice of many Of our preconceived o
pnions. From the commencement Of the present ses
sion, we have been strenously opposing the objec
tonabe features of this bll--we have used all ou
energies to obtain one more in consonance with ou
own opinions-we have entreated the majority Il
meet us upon terms of fair compromise--but ou
opposition and entreaties have been of avail
Our opponents, knowing their strength, seemed de
,ermined TO exercise it. We thus, within a few
hours of the final adjournment, saw that the publ
credit of the state must be dlshonored-the publ
creditors, both foreign and domestic, deprived ofey
cry prospect of receiving their just Claims, unles
this Objectionable bill should become a law. Ur
der these circumstances the path of public duty
plain TO us. Sooner than see our Treasury banl
rupt-sooner than see the credit of our believe
Pennsylvania dishonered-sooner than witness th
utter ruin which would inevitably visit the fresid
, of so many Of our domestic creditors-sooncr iha
permit the war-won veterans of the revolution
beg their daily bread for the want of the pension
which had been granted them as small recompen
for their glorious deeds-sooner than our
lightened common school system crippled for Il
want of funds-sooner than hear the walings
the widows and orphans who look either 10 Il
justice or the bounty of the state for their sub,i
ence--sooner, in short, than behold the commo
wealth become by.word and reproach among
nations of the earth, reluctantly waived our
jections to the bill and voted for it. Having do
So we have to look TO the rectitude of our intention
to the immediate, nay, the permanent consequC
ces ofthe act and to the, as yet, unsrllied honor
Pennsylvania, as justification to those whom
: had the honor to represent.
H. B. WRIGHT,
JAMES l.. GILLIS,
JAMES GAMBLE,
; JOHN WEAVER,
JOHN MAY,
ALEX. HOLEMAN,
J. G. HORTON,
GEORGE BOAL,
JOSEPH DOUGLASS.
= ANDREW CORTHGHr
DANIEL SNYDER,
F. LUSK,
GAYLORD CHURCH,
Harrisburg, May 4, ls4L
Q lowA--T'his interesting young Territory is
| creas;pg in wealth nonulation snd iunotfonrn II,