The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1843-01-14

,ous to the first day of April, lS42. Ir
pursuance Of the foregoing acts, claims
amounting in the aggregate to $I, ,l91 !,
~ 10 23were entered on the books o
s1the Auditor General at the close Of the
financial year, of which sum $597 ,46i
7s was for work done prior, al nd $594, ).
24S 45 for work done subsequent to
''ethe 4th Of May, 1s4l. On the first
day Of August The Treasury would not
admit ofa NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the first
and only instalment, twenty per, cent.
was paid on the first of November, to-
gether with all interest then due,
which amounted, dividend and dinterest
to S209, $50 43. II n. s. e's,5ss
Notwithstanding thevery satisfacto-
ry results which have grown out of the
broad and liberal construction given
by the Auditor General, to the resolu-
ton of the 9TH April, there yet remains
a very deserving class of creditors,
who have received none of its benefits,
nor was it at all practicable to bring
them within its provisions. The poor
'slaborers scattered along the improve
ments, who with their own hands do
the work necessary too keep them in
nayigable condition, should be the OBJ
jects of the first care of the govern
ment. In this instance they were en-
tirely overlooked, the appropriation
for repairs being inadequate. From
the character of their claims-their
comparatively triding amount, and
their number, it was found inexpedient
to enter them on the books of the Au-
ditor General, Ifthey had been en-
tered. it would in many cases have cost
the whole sum due to procure the div
idend from the Treasnry-and, indeed,
itwould be mockery for the goyern-
ment, instead OF payment, to offer poor
laborers pro rata dividend on claim
Of few dollars. It is ardently hoped
that this worthy and in most cases suf.l
fering class Of domestic creditors will
receive the immediate attention Of the
legislature.
1t has happened in relation to the
: banking system of this Commonwealth,
,sas has on many occasions heretofore
been the case with the institutions
founded on unsound principles, that
with all its power, and with all its bold
on public confidence and support, it
has fallen by the weight ofits own i'm
Perfections, Hany legislative action
can restore public confidence in the /
banks, or render them Of more service
to the community, ii will become your
duty to furnish it. The, mode. al and de. /
tail Of the aid to be rendered. leave
in the hands Of the representatives Of
the people. But the public certainly I
expect, that you will not adjourn until !
you have made ample provision for !
withdrawing from circulation the notes
issued BY the banks in pursuance of
the act Of 4th May. ls4i; and it will
aficrd me great pleasure to cooperate
with you in any measure that may be
deemed most advisable forsthe accom-.
plishment Of this object. Al the same
time, l will take occasion to suggest
one source, from which the means
may be readily obtained to extinguish
q large portion ofthese issues. refer
tothe sale Of the Bank, Bridge and
other stocks in which the State is in
terested. / think an amount might be
realized, in this way, sufficient to an.
swer the purpose; if provision be made
by law that the proceeds of the sale
be exclusively applied to the object
The present condition of the Bank
OF Pennsylvania requires the most care.
fui consideration Of the legislature.
The State has a deep interest in the
proper management of that Institution.
and equally 50 in winding it up, if that
be deemed polite measure. Several
acts were passed during the last session
in relation to it; but owing to some de.
feet they did not answer the purpose
designed. Some remedy should be at
once provided. One suggestion will
make on the subject, and that is, that
IN no contingency should the control Of
the bank be placed exclusively in the
hands of the private stockholders. Let
the State, and the stockholders be put
ION the same footing--each having, re.
|spectively, the share of control equal
| ITO the. amount of stock heId NJ ;,.4