Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-01-12


General within the present month, and will be
laid before you as soon as received
The duty of the county Commissioners to
make returns of the assessments, &c. TO the Au-
ditor General, imposed by law, seems not to he
designated and enforced with sufficient preci-
sion and certainty. To secure its faithful per-
formance, recommend a revision of the law.
During the existing state Of things, the con-
tinuance of taxes assessed, for the payment of
this interest, or at eat of taxes of kind for
this purpose, appears to be indispensable. If
the distribution Of the objects of taxation, or the
mode Of leyying and collecting the tax be un-
fair, or onerous, undoubtedly the evil should be
promptly corrected.
have heretofore declared my determination
TO do all that belongs to this department to meet
faithfully the engagements Of the State, and to
maintain unSullied, the credit and fidelity of the
Commonwealth. My sentiments in relation to
these matters have undergone no change, and |
am pleased to find that on this subject, there is
no diversity of opinion among the great mass Of
the citizens of the State All agree that, when
ever the constituted authorities the Common
wealth, have entered into engagements con-
formally to the constitution and laws, whether
these engagements have been characterized by
due prudence and proper regard 10 the inter-
eStS olIhe public, or not, the honor OF the State
the permanence of our republican institutions
and a sacred regard TO the sanctity Of public
engagements, require that the resources of the
Commonwealth, and the energies of her citizens,
be put in requisition. to meet her public en-
gagements promptly, puctuaily, and Unhesita-
tingly. 1t is, therefore, respectfully and earn
estly urged upon the Legislature, to take the
necessary steps, at the earliest possible day. to
ensure this desirable result.
As the most efficient means that have occur
red to my mind | would suggest the following
cCrrSa Lott ature certain from the
financial departments, both the ordinary reven-
ue. and the amount necessary TO be raised. an
nually, for the payment of the interest on the
State debt, and the ordinary expenses Of gov
ernment Let provision also be made 10 cover
all possible contingencies and losses on collec-
ton. Add to this a sum, though ever so small,
for a sinking fund, TO be applied annually to the
extnguishment of the principal Of the public
debt and apportion it among the several cOun-
ties of the Commonwealth designating the
amount TO be paid by each, by an uniform ap-
portionment according to the triennial, or last
assessments, with such corrections and equaliza-
ton as shall be found necessary, and on the
same objects now taxable, or any others that the
Legislature may think preferable Let adequate
and certain penalties be imposed on each coun-
ty- commissioner for emitting to have the dupli-
Gates issued in time, and on each assessor for
the non performance of his duties, and allow the
right, if its full quota be paid into the Treasury,
on or before the day required by law 1t is be-
leved that committee of the Legislature would
be as competent board as could be raised, to
apportion the quota of the several counties, as
above mentioned, aided, as they will be, By the
late assessments and census. The establish
ment of this system by law, would place the
fund TO meet the interest on the public debt, on
a permanent foundation, and silence forever all
roiri}t P;
to raise on this subject.
But it is not only to the loan holders of the
Commonwealth, that she ought to be just III the
meeting of her engagements. a regard to econ
omy, as well as Justice, to the man who labor
upon the repairs of our canals and rail roads,
requires that they should be punctually paid
The laborer is worthy Of his hire, and IS rs mer-
itorious a creditor as the Commonwealth has,
and it is absolutely disreputable that he should
be dependant on the borrowing of money for
his pay, and be unable, at times, for months to-
gether, tc procure as much for his labor as will
buy him loaf Of bread. 1t is respectfully sug-
gesed, that when abundant means from taxa
ton are provided 10 meet the interest Of the
State debt, that the tolls on our public works
shall be first applied TO their repairs, SO that
we may know, at glance, to what the nett
revenue, if any, arising from them, respectively
amounts.
IL - not 10 NC GicSOtSSt llldt We dtS e'ttP4r
in debt and that the times call for an uhquall
ing fearlessness in our public functionaries, 10
meet the emergency, and to provide the means
for our extrication. The people are already
burdened with taxation, and those berdens can
not be. diminished, if we expect to pay cur
debts The conduct and motives of those who
make provision to pay them, may be misrepre
sented, and for a time misunderstood Preju-
Dice from the sordid feelings Of interest may
be invoked, and demagogues and unPrnciped
politicians viii, doubtless attempt to use il, TO
answer their own purposes. But the response
bility is one which every honest pnblic func-
tonary must meet fairly and frankly, and in so
doing he will be eventually sustained by the
people at large, who never deliberately err,
and who always will reward, with their conf
denoe, an honest and fearless devotion TO their
true interests, even though it may, at first, have
met with temporary disapprobation
The means TO pay off the loan under the act
Of 4th May, 184l,-to pay the foregoing credi-
tors of the State, and the interest on the public
debt,-fnust be provided before the Legislature
adioutns Sound policy, nay common honesty
demands this much at your hands, and | am
persuaded no member Of the Legislature will
shrink from duty cnjoned by such considera.