Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-10-05
The Sale of the Main Line Of our Public Works


We refer readers to an able article on our
first page, on the subject OF the sale of the Main
Line of our Public Works. We hope every one
Will read il and If any have heretofore had any
doubts, VIC think they will see the impolicy OF
such measure. A canal, it is well known, be
comes more and more permanent and less liable
TO get ont of repair, as it becomes older In this
respect it is Just the reverse of Railroad
Besides, if we could sell the Main Line, it would
not pay ono half of the public debt, and as it
pays the interest OF a great portion Of one half
already, there would be but little present gain,
while, by the sale, we would deprive ourselves
OF the prospect of permanent fund that must
at future day, be sufficient 10 pay ohthe whole
debt aud yield a handsome revenue for other
purposes We cannot believe that the people
are 81 blind as 10 give mp an inheritance SO use
iul and valuable To the State and To themselves
These works if sold. are to go in the hands of a
company ofstock holders with certain privileges
This company, with It's swarms of collectors
uvcGscers, lahorcrs &c., would, in many places
b" able TO ovcrawr and control elections in coun-
tics where the vote is nearly balanced The in
llucncc of such a corporation would be immea-
surably greater. and ten times more dangerous
than L. :. Pank. We would rather see five
1. : Banks ~ our md>t, than such powerful
and overshadowug corporation But more than
all this, they ASK Us Ia sell the Main Line, the
only profitable portion of our public works
which now pays about seven per cent, for the
purpose OF paying off a five per ct debt, by which
we would loose two per ct per annum The re-
uaindcr of the works which are uuproftable,
aud some of them hill of expense We are TO
keep on hand and also keep in repair, without
any hopes prospects of getting rid of them, al
any price. That Is, they willing 10 take the
cream of our improvements, upon which they ex-
pccl To grow sleek and lat, and leave us the skim
milk, in addition 10 debt of twenty millions,
with no resources but taxation for payment
Co. Az IMroGTANr ApMISSIoN-Damicl Web
strr, inhS speech AT the great whig gathering at
Philadelphia, on Tuesday last. admitted that the
election of Henry Clay depended IN great mca-
sure upon the vote OF Pennsylvania. The fol-
lowing are the words OF his speech, reported by
/ the Public Ledger
The question is therefore an important one,
7 and II l., III great measure, for YOU 10 say
/ whether James X. Polk shall be President OF
/ the United States Without the vote ot Penn
/ syyanla, 1t Is certain that he will not be cleo
ted. Cheer, aud crIes oI Hell not get IT.
! GIVE me your assurance said Mr.. " ebster, that
he shall nO have your vote, and VIII give YOU
my assurance he VIII not be President. Great
/ cheerng.')
Mr.. Webster has shown less tact by this all
mission than we had expected Great mel how
ever, will occasionally make great blunders
CJy- Henry Clay has written another explana-
tory letter 10 the National lntellgencer, on Tex
as. He says
II wish now distinctly 10 say that there is not
a feeling, sentiment, an opinion expressed IN
my Raleigh letter TO which do not adhere.
| am decidedly opposed TO the immediate annexa-
ton of Texas 10 the United States. ! think II
wouldb dishonorabe mi ght involve them in war,
! would be dangerous Ia the integrity and harmo
NY of the Union, and II all these objections were
removed, could not be effected according to any
information possess, upon Just and admissible
conditions