Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-01-07
M E S S A G. F..
70 The Senate and House Of Representatives.
cfhe Commonwealth Of PENNSYLVANIA.

FELLOW CITIZENS :-1Iavinr. in my former
messages, entered very fully into the financial
condition and ether general interests Of the
state deem 1t unnecessary to repeat the views
,hen submitted to the Legislature, but simply
to refer to them, and say, that they remain in
oil respects substantially the same as hereto
fore expressed. 4 shall proceed at once TO call
your attention to those matters OF public poll
cy, which seem to require, in the greatest de-
gree, the attention of the Iegislature.--In
common with every state IN the union, and
with all parts Of the commercial world, the
citizens of Pennsy ylrania are now undergoing
the severe ordeal of pecuniaiy embarrassment.
Business of all kinds is crippled and paralyzed;
private and public enterprise has been arrested;
The tinid alarmed, and even the boldest stag
gered at impending evils. But il is some con-
ISOLATION for US TO reflect, that these difficulties
are the bitter fruits, far as PENNSYLVANIA is
concerned. of the rash and impolitic legislation
Of a single year, and that none of the responsi.
bllry rests upon rs.
Fox upwards Of ten years Pennsylvania had
been gradually improving her condition, and
enjoying all the advantages that can arise from
substantial currency, and the entire conf
derce Of all parts Of the world. At an unfortu-
nate period, the banking capital, which had
been, during this hourishing season, about
twenty millions of dolars, was increased to
near sixty; and, al one OF the most fatal con-
sequences, many unwise and mpolitic public
Improvements undertaken, en,--corporatons Great
ed tor purposes far beyond their means to ac-
cunp'sh,-indIvidua contracted responsible
ties and entered into speculations, which they
were totally unable to bring to a successful
close and finally 10 render the catastrophe
more destructive, the explosion ofthis enormous
bank bubble has crushed all these enterprises,
public and private, and left in every quarter Of
the state some monument Of blasted hope and
public folly. 1t viii req,irc a little time to re-
cover from the panic, and 10 estimate, with pre-
cison, the extent of the mischief 1t will
probably be found far less than has been gen.
orally supposed. The vigor and industry Of
the community, sustained as they are by our
immense natural resources, will soon over
come this temporary iepulse, and 90 on, as if 1t
bad never happened. Some will be unfortu-
Eately ruined, but the great mass OF the com
inunitg will in the end be little affected. That
portion Of the community engaged in agricutu-
raj pursuits is comparatively free from debt
and embarrassment, and possessed OF az the ben
ehts that arise from favorable seasons and plen-
tful harvests.
can myself see no just ground for that de-
spondency which seems 10 pc-vade, so gener-
ally. the minds Of the people. The injury to
onr credit abroad, although productive OF much
servlceable to the community. 1t will teach
Us to rely on ourselves, to turn onr attention to
the developement Of our own resources, and TO
obtain that, by our own labor, which we have
hitherto bought upon trust Whatever may
be the fears of that portion Of our community,
who are always predicting ruin, and bemoan-
ing the effects of causes which they do not un-
derstand, time will soon prove, that the re-
sources of Pennsylvania her ability to meet
All her engagements, and the respect OF her
citizens for the plighted faith of the state, have
not been in the slightest degree shaken, by any
ct the mlsortunes under which We are now
suffering. In nearly all instances, these fears
will be found to have had their origin in the
crookings of unprincipled demagogues, vino
are willing TO undervaae her means, and the
integrity of her citizens, If they can thereby
promote their own selfish ends. Ii there be
any of our cItzens, who honestly believe, that
Pennsylvania will prove unable to perform all
her engagements, they will be found TO be nei-
iher very deep reasoners, nor very accurately
acquainted with the abundance and nature of
her resources. If there be any Of her citizens,
who think that she will prove ta:thless aud un-
willing TO discharge her obligations, we may
safely say, they know little ofhCr true character,
and meet with no encouragement, or favor,
from any considerable portion of ;he communi-
what she promises to pay, are two Of her dis
tinguishmg characteristics and he who would
seek to induce her 10 forfeit either of them, will
find, that he gains neither confidence, nor re-
spect, of her citizens by the attempt. She may
be Temporarily obliged To postpone the discharge
of her engagements until more convenient
season but to deny the obligation itself OF to
refuse TO comply with it, would be reproach
upon her integrity, Which no public man dare
advise or sanction.
However great her public debt may seem to
be, a tax ofa few cents per ton upon her coal and
iron which are scattered III every hall and val
ley throug bout her borders viii at sOme future
day not only pay the interest on ter public debt,
but the principal also, Prob,bly wilhin the lite
time ofmany of those who are upon the siege
of public actien. The tax would be paid III a
measure by the consumers ofthese products in
other states, and wurld be scarcely felt by her
own citizens. Cat off a. THIS country now is,
and must continue 10 be, from the European
supply Of coal and iron, on Which Il has hIther'
10 chiefly depended, the day Is no' far distant
when Pennsylvania will supply more than three
fourths ofthe other states Of tins union witt
coal, and ma iorly OI them with iron. This II
position from which no legislation and no I'M
man power can renoYe her, Her geography
cal position, and the favorable relative locations
ofhcr coal and iron deposits, put Pcnnsylva
MA beyond the reach Of all rivalry from am
ouarter.-She seems to have been destined, b,
nature, to be the grea, work shop ofIke Apcrl
can Union and. if her citizens and hcr ie
pislsture are true to themselves, cnd "ill a
void catering to the We've and interests OF q
ther section, regardless Of heg0Tn, hei publH
deb, will hereafter occasion hat iitie incnnVe
n;anra and thpy " III fa,r no cause TO rFgTe