Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-01-19

perform ourselves. L or ledLneT, DOOlS, SHOeS,
&c. cloths and other domestic manufactures,
we are daily incurring immense debts to the
citizens of other States, and are now, in the
hour of our necessities, feeling the heavy hand
of the creditor laid on all our resources.
This ought not to be. 1t is unworthy the
great State of Pennsylvania to depend on the
manufactures of other states or of foreign coun-
tries, TO supply her citizens with those articles
for the various purposes life which they can
produce themselves as well, as cheaply, and as
abundant!y as any other people on the face of
the globe. Our valleys teeming with plenty,
our hills with exhaustless coal and iron Gespos-
its-our streams abounding with water power
for all purposes, unsurpassed by that in any
other country and our citizens stimulated by
enterprise and possessing means to render it
etfectual, should awaken in US that spirit of in
dependence which disdains to seek at the
hands of others that which it can furnish with
its own 1t is with no feeling of envy or of To-
cal jealousy of others, that bring this subject
to your notice but with an honest feeling Of
State pride, and generous emulation, which
should inspire us with determination not to
be indebted TO others for those solid and useful
means of promoting our prosperity and inde
pendence which nature has bounteously lavish
ed on our own citizens.
The duty of encouraging manufacturing es-
adjustments, to convert to useful purposes our
coal and iron, and indeed TO supply all our do
mestic wants, has become one of peculiarly inn
perative obligation. The commercial calamity
under which we are suffering, has been so much
heightened by the circumstances to which |
have just adverted, and the inability of our citi-
zens to perform all their contracts has been so
greatly exaggerated by the interested and mali
cous in other States, that self.respect as well
as public spirit calls upon us most emphatically
to turn kind and chershing eye TO their ad-
vancement. Every measure that can conduce
to this end, will meet my most hearty concur
renee. | think inquiries on this subject should
be instituted. We want facts as the basis of
legislative encouragement. Let them be dill
gently sought for, and when ascertaned, let
them be promptly applied to some useful pur-
pose. 1t is high time the Legislature of Penn
sylvania should remember that the interests of
Pennsylvania are confided to their especial
care. 1t is source of pride and qualification
to reflect. that but a small amount of the indebt-
edness to other States, which is now gripping
and annoying US, is for commodities disposed
Of to our own citizens. Nearly every dollar
of this domestic debt has been faithfully paid
The sum now due is for sales made to pur-
chasers in the west and south west, for whom
Pennsylvanians are in truth merely to be re-
garded as the guarantors. This circumstance
is entirely overlooked by our delraclors, who
are attempting 10 hold the citizens of Penn
sylyania 10 a rigid accountability, as if she
were the very pack-hOrSe of the Union TO
bear more than her share of all its burthens
and responsibilities This is unjust-we
owe il to ourselves 10 assume our true posi-
len.
Permit me, fellow citizens, in conclusion
% urge upon you thorough and searching
inquiry into all abuses of government and all
of the public money, which are
not clearly warranted by enlightened pru-
lence. Fhe condition of the public treasu-
~ demands this at your hands,-and the
people confidently trust. that those TO whom
hey have confded the guardianship Of their
will faithfully perform the duty
both of inquiring into, and correcting all the
evils they find to exist. 1t will afford me
great pleasure to cooperate with you in the |
Of this salutary work. We may
meet for a time with obstacles,-we will
doubtless encounter resistance on the part OF
those who are interested in perpetuating Ell
ther abuses or extravaganza; but ultimately,
we cannot fail TO triumph over all difficult
ties, and TO carry into effectual practical ope-
ration the great principles of economy and
only true and solid basis on
which those who administer the affairs fire
publican governments, can rest their claims
to popular confidence and support.
DAVID Il. PORTER.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
5ih January, 1912.