Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-01-16
Vol. n--NO. XVIII.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
10 me Senate and House Of Representatives. Of The
Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania.
COnchhd.

{ CCOncilded. }
II IL computed that the tax which will bc render
cd available under The act of the tn June 1910.
entitled "An act 10 create additional revenue to be
applied towards the payment or interest, aud the \
extinsuishment of the debts of the Common
wealth. will amount to abou, 100000. The sun,
which will hc raised under this Act together with
The other resources of the Commonwealth will most
probably hquda'c the Interest account, withou, fur
'h'r re'orl to loans for that purpose. This act is
10 continue in force five ycais and provides such
rule FIR the samcnt Of taxes as to fall with
gentle weight on those who are lutte are TO bear
any addition To their expenses. The articles taxed
are those purely Of luxury such as gold watches,
plea ure carriages, household furniture exceeding
III value three hundred dollars, together with bond4
bills, and notes of solvent obligors bank stock or
stock in other corporations, yielding dividends of at
least one per cent salaries Of public officers and re-
al estate. Although this act undoubtedly operates
with con iicrabIe hardship upon those who fall
% WYNN sG GSn ncGad q 10 vcy little convcn,nce for in
m, ST Instances they do not bel,ng to the poorer
olassCs, on whom ,axation ally falls with the
most peculiar severity.
To impose taxes on any class Of our fellow cili-
zcns Is not very agreeable, nor avcry popular task
but when, in this case, the honor, aud the fidelity
of Pcnmsy lvania must le sacrificed or a tax Of this
kind be endured there are few, very few men in the
/ Commonwealth worthy to be ranked among her free,
inldgcnt aud upight citizens, who Will shrink
] 4 -F.l. a.. -. a, :.
known that those who recommended, and who sane
toned the bill impo ing the tax, no moro re-
sponsbie for the necessity that compelled resort to
it, than any of those who 10 pay it, tic folly
and Injustice Of those who would cond,m are
rendered still more conspicuous. found the debt
upon which this interest TO be paid in existence,
when assumed the functions of the Executive,
aud found nothing pay it with. The Treasury
was exhausted, and means left 10 meet this re-
sponsiby bu, further loans, sale Of the improve
menis or taxation. The first two imprac,icl-
bic, and was driven by stern necessity to the adop
ton OF the latter alternative saw but one pa before
me open to pursuit, and that was the path Of duty
recommended taxation that recommendation wa,
adopted by the Legislature, aud it is a source o
proud eradication to me, when consider that the
penrlc of Penn,y ,yvania, almost to a man, SO far a.
| have been informed, with irmncss and patriot
ism worthy OF themselves, have yielded 10 this
siy w,aou, a murmur fcpining. feel fully con
,inced, that at the expiration OF The five years a
flrthest. with reasonable degree Of prudence, an,
with strict economy in the management of our al
renewal OF this law wholly unnecessary.
any difference of opinion exists, to the ne
ccssy of this tax, let these questions be answerc
by those olrcling Does not Pennsylvania ow
this debt! Is she not morally and legally bound T.
pay it and It's interest. as it falls due Can the
point out any other mode by which this can be done
You, however, have come directly from the pee
pie, and are supposed best to know their opinion
on this well all other su jccs; and if you di
fer in opinion with me on this important suhjcc
ana think the tax ought moi to have been laid, it
. your duty to repeal the law instantly No part
, the tax has yet been collected. Seeing no 9th,
, mode of extricatns the Commonwealth from Ii
-, difficulties in which found 1t, my views and opir
ions remain unchanged. Yet ii the immediate II
prcscut@tives Of the people think proper TO rePe;
-, the law and substitute any other mode less ot
-, ectiouabc, which will promptly meet the oxgenc,
y, be II So; the responsibility rests with them.
can never consent, by word or decd, to count
nance the idea that The faith Of the State can be vi
lated by a failure TO meet her engagements. Ii the
he any in our county who would be willing,
hcy able, to abogate the contracts OF the Con
-, monwcalth, and be i4thcss to her creditors,
=, their doctrine be distinctly avowed and TIE ssI
-, fairly made up before the people. The inteIigen
and integrity ofour citizens would speedily convin
the world, that they feel the necessity in repu
:, lican government Of maintaining, unsullied, pub
faith aud national honor
The deficiency in the funds Sc, apart Tor the pa
ment Of tie interest on the public debt falling d
on the lst of february next, must be promptly pr
yiLcd for BY the act OF tho eleventh June La
the Governor is authorized to procure it on loa
and for that purpose proposals have been invite
whether the money can be procured know no
and in case il cannot, see no other mode Left
or avoid the dshonor of the state credit, but the 50
n OF "A sufficient amount of the stock owned by I
Stale, in one or the other, OF all of the banks
-, which she IS Interested. The State owns the Il
lowing amount of stock III each OF the banks nam,
VIZ: Bank OF Pcnnsy lNdnia .. 50 shares; Phllad
he phia Bauk 5233 shares Farmers aud Mechsnv
un Bank 1908 shares. The stock would most prol
10, biy command ready sale aud DO m 81 aI1Ieei'
hop, 'hsluot l,y viii Pc lc-' heiuge 'h'- POSI-