The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-25

.;Jsrrs 4 leaf II moi Of profitable service to the
wealth, OF the earnest desire had e 70 'es
,fy my gratitude and my devotion 70 the best
~ chose whose generous confidence had sent me here
Ii The pursuit OF this object endeavofed TO Keep my
eve steadily fixed upon that great lie-giying and HE
sustaining principle which Is so strongly announces
in that glorious declaration which adorns your wais
that Government was established among men iof tue
benefit Of the governed, and IL have departed IN
single instance from that polar star which has been
fixed in our political rmament for the purpose OF az
rectng the OF the Representative, have the
consolation OF rejecting that the departure was nseh
sibIe 10 me- had however higher duties and broader
OBLIGATIONS than those which referred exclusively TO
the people from whom came u was Pcnnsylsanian
by birth well educaiion-pIoud Of the ancient
Commonwealth in which my destiny had been cast,
and welded TO her interests by ties strong as those
which connect 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 Juds-
ment of the man. Ii / had no other merit was at
ali events PennsyIvanian and felt that owed an
allegiance the great State Of which had been con-
stitutcd one of the Representatives in this body And
worthy indeed she then and does she still continue
10 be Of the highest attachment OF all her sons
Rich in resources which place her in the front rank
Of this glorious sisterhood Of Commonwealth, en-
dowed by bountful Creator with inc hausble stores
OF mineral wealth. possessing fertility OF soil, and
beautiful variety OF scenery, such as might well en-
chant the imagination and captiyate the heart, and
distinguished above all by teeming population Of
hardy, industrious, moral and in very high degree
intellectual citizens she may we'll regarded by them
as an object less of pride than Of affection. To
promote her interests, and advance her prosperity
then, was one Of the motives nearest to my heart
when took my seat in this General Assembly eight
yeats ago, II has since constituted Of my pures
sources Of delight throughout the whole period ofmy
service as public man.
What was the condition of the Common wealth at
the period to which refer 2 Much, il 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 by achievements
stupcndeous that all the monuments-all that has
been recorded of ancient times would dwindle into
insignfcance IN the comparison $50 stupendous in
deed, that If by some great calamity our very name
had been blotted from the historic page the hosophc
inquirer in after times would have found in Very
ruins the evidences that here mighty people
lived and hourished! Something, however, and that
something Of great value, yet remained TO be
plished tor the interests of this great State. With
all her physical resources and developments, she lack
ed system, broad and generous system for the in
tellectual improvement OF her people. While every
thing had been done to unlock the rich Of
her varegated surface, the enlightened hand of egsla
ton had not yet struck that rock from which the sweet
waters OF knowledge have since abundantly flowed
When entered this Hall my first and most anxious
desire to supply this defect by giving to the people
of this Commonwealth system which should shed
the light of moral and intellectual Improvement
the Of heaven filings her broad radiance alike
the humbes and the exalted of her citizens and
IT Is one OF the proudest of my recollections that
had the homer 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 in our present glorious
ediice OF popular education. II has been my fortune
both to witness and assist the growth of that edifce
1t is now far advanced towards completion, and
trust will go on from perfection to perfection until we
shall be able to say, that however much may have
done to develop the physical Of this State
have done still more for the improvement of those
higher faculties which distinguish from all that is
below him in the order of existence and exat him into
nearer communion with that Being in whose image
he created. But while thus regardul of the in
tellectual 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 representative Of district which had
shared but in very limited degree in the bene-
fits conferred by our great system of Internal Improve
mens, did not withhold my hand from its support
and rejoice 10 say that dunng the period 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 of the conditions of oure
political well moral, and If have committed
errors, is to be remembered in that they
are inseparable from an experiment novel and so
magnificent as that in which have so boldly en-
barked.
wards me shall be forever grateful can point
evidence of my labors here great public work now
passing through the beautiful valley in which they are
located and alording an outlet to lis varied produc
ons while IT has opened TO the eye of the tourist
new source of delight in the unrvalled charms of its
rich and yariegated scenery.
In the onward progress of the system which
have been commenting, there have been from time to
Tune difficulties to encounter, and preiudces to
come which scarcely be appreciated by those who
have made their appearance in these Halls within the
last few years. They have been happily surmountcd
as they appeared, but there is one among them of
curious character, and strkingIy illustrative when
compared with the present times Of the rapid progress
of public opinion and public improvement during the
last lew years that cannot forbear to give il place
in the remarks which am now making Ii was the
famous struggle between the horse and the locomotive
between the application of animal and mechanical
power on the Rail Roads of this Commonwealth. 1t
may seem strange to those who in the daily habit
of Witnessing the arrival and departure from depos
of that wonderful monument of human ingenuity.
the locomotive enginethat the question of its intro
ducton upon our roads was one which shook these
Halls only few short years ago, and was decided
but by a single vote. | remember the contest well,
although do not gentleman around
who was present then. And / remember, too, that
the casting vote given by myself Who will
doubt now the pIopriety of the decision Who will
not wonder that it should ever have been question
There was one other great measure to which will
call your attention. Ii measure of relief At
early period of the Commonwealth, its Legislature,
influenced by what might have been then considered
enlightened view of the question, governed per-
haps by narrow of State policy in order to
force the payment fthe purchase money still remain
ing due upon the lands within its boundaries had
CURED that the debts thus incurred should be
pounded at usurious rate of interest BY this pro-
of accumulation those debts had increased such
fearful extent that in Districts not unfortunately
blessed with the fertility which distinguishes our val
ley we were about to expel, by this memorable mea-
of legislation, honest, industrious, patriotic
inf, AZ.
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 a contest
of some years enlightened spirit of legislation