The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-27

evidence least mol OF pfOntuDit srifSo W tne
Commonwealth of the earnest desire had felt 10 es
fy my gratitude and my devotion 10 the best interests
Of those whose generous confidence had sent me here
In the pursuit Of this object endeavoed TO Keep my
eye steadily fixed upon that great lfegiying and ME-
sustaining principle which is strongly announced
In that glorious declaration which adorns your walls
that Government was established among men for the
benefit of she governed and If have departed IN a
single instance from that polar star which mas been
fixed in political armament for the purpose Oh a.
reciing the Of the Representative, have the
consolation of rejecting that the departure was nsen
sibe to me- | had however higher duties and broader
oblga ti1ns than those which referred exclusively 70
the people from whom lcame. was Pennsylvania
by birth well education proud of the ancient
Commonwealth in which my destiny had been cast
and welded her interests by ties strong those
which the child with the mother by whom he
has been borne. The early instincts of the child had
been approved and strengthened by the ripper Judg-
ment OF the man III had no other merit was at
all events PennsyvaDian, and felt that ] owed an
allegiance to the great State Of which had been
stiluted of the Representatives in this body And
worthy indeed was she then and does she still continue
TO be Of the highest attachment Of all her sons.
Rich in resources which place her In the front rank
Of this glorious siserhood of Commonwealihs en-
dowed by bountiful Creator with inc hausble stores
of mineral wealth possessing fertility OF soil, and
beautiful variety of scenery such as might well en-
chant the imag lnaon and captivate the heart, and
distinguished above all by teemng population of
hardy, industrious moral and in very high degree
intellectual citizens, she may well be regarded by them
as an object less of pride than of affection. To
promote her interests, and advance her prosperity
then, one OF the motives nearest TO my heart
when took my seat in this General Assembly eight
years ago has since constituted of my puTest
sources of delight throughout the whole period of my
service public man.
What was the condition of the Commonwealth at
the period to hch l refer Much, it is true, had
then been done TO advance her great interests but
much yet remained to do Her physical energies had
been cultivated to large extent, her onward pro-
gress had already been distinguished by achievements
so stupendeous that all the monuments--a that has
been recorded of ancient times would dwndle into
insign6cance the comparison ESQ stupendous in
deed, that if by great calamity our very name
had been bloed from the historic page, the phosophc
inquirer in after times would have found in very
ruins the evidences that here mighty people once
lived and hourshedi Something, however, and that
something of great value yet remained to be accom-
plished for the interests of this great State With
all her physical and Developments she lack
ed system, broad and generous system for the in
tellectua improvement OF her people. While every
hLg had been done to unlock the rich treasures of
her varegated surface, the enlightened hand fegisla
lion had not yet struck that rock from which the sweet
waters of knowledge have since obundantly flowed.
When entered this Hall, my first and most anxious
desire supply this defect by giving the people
of this Commonwealth system which should shed
the light of moral and intellectual Improvement as
the Of heaven filings her broad radiance alike over
the humblest and the most exalted OF her citizens and
1t is one OF The proudest of my recollections, that
had the honor TO occupy an humble but secondary
position in the great work which was commenced in
the Legislature of Pennsylvania, by distinguished
Senator from the County of Philadelphia, (lhe Hon.
Samuel Breck) who is entitled TO the high distinction
of having laid the first stone in present glorious
edifce OF popular education. 1t has been my fortune
both to witness and assist the growth of that edifce
Ii is far advanced towards completion, and
trust will go from perfection perfection until we
shall be able to say, that however much may have
done to develop the physical resources of this State
have done still more for the Improvement of those
higher faculties which distinguish from all that is
below him the order Of existence and exat him
a nearer communion with that Being in whose image
he created. But, while thus regardul of the In
teectual and moral wants of our citizens may
fdently say that not Indifferent to the further
improvement of the physical condition Of the State
Although the Representatives of district which had
shared but in very limited degree in the bene-
fits conferred by great system of Internal Improve
ments, did not withhold my hand from its support
and lrejoce to say that during the peIiod of my
nexion with this Senate, have rendered some as
sistance pushing forward that system towards its
completion. That we have committed occasional
error, every candid man among must acknowledge.
That however is of the conditions of ourexstence
political well moral, and if have committed
errors it is to be remembered in that they
inseparabIe from an experiment so novel and so
magnificent that in which we have so boldly en-
barked
To my own constituents, for whose attachment to-
wards me shall be forever grateful can point as an
evidence OF my labors here to great public work now
passing through the beautiful valley in which they are
located, and afording outlet to its varied produc
TONS while it has opened to the eye of the tourist
new of delight in the unrvalled charms of its
rich and varegated scenery.
In the onward progress of the system on which
have been commenting there have been from time to
time difficulties to encounter, and prejudicesto
come which can scarcely be appreciated by those who
have made their appearance in these Halls within the
last few years They have been happily surmounted
they appeared, but there is among them Of so
curious character and strkingl y illustrative, when
compared with the present times of the rapid progress
ofpubc opinion and public improvement during the
last few years that cannot forbear to give it a place
in the remarks which am making II was the
famous struggle between the horse and the locomotive
between the application of animal and mechanical
power the Rail Roads of this Commonwealth. 1t
may seem strange to those who in the daily habit
of witnessing the arrival and departure from depots
of that wonderful monument of human ingenuity
the locomotive engnethat the question of its intro
duction upon roads one which shook these
Halls only few short years ago. and was decided
but by single vote. remember the contest well,
although ] do not see gentleman around now
who present then And | remember, too that
the casting vote given by myself Who will
doubt now the pToprety of The decision? Who will
not wonder that should have been question
There other great measure to which will
call your attention. IL measure of relief At
early period of the Commonwealth its Legislature,
influenced by what might have been then considered
an enlightened view of the question, governed per-
haps Ivy of State policy order to
force the payment ofthe purchase money still remain
ing due upon the lands within its boundaries had
quired that the debts thus incurred should be com
pounded at usurious rate ofinterest BY this pro-
of accumulation those debts had increased such
fearful extent that in Districts unfortunately
blessed with the fertility which distinguishes val
ley we were about to expel by this memorable mea-
sure of legislation, honest industrious, patriotic
population, infinitely valuable TO the State than
the whole amount of the debt with which they were
oppressed. In the struggle with that system it was
my pleasure to have borne part and after contest
of years enlightened spirit Of legislation
discovering the advantages of retaining population
which was invited by the more liberal policy of the
General Government to seek home in the fair
forests and fat praires of the boundess West prevail
ed IN the councils Of this State The effect Of their