Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-04-18
Gen. Marbles Reply.
MILL GROVE, March %. 1874


Gen,lemen:-.-You letter of the 9th instant,
was not received until yesterday, and reply
at The first moment of leisure
agree with you, that first in interest and mag
nitude among The questions of state policy, is that
of State credit; the comfort of many of our peo-
pie, as we'll as the honor of the State, and the
very principle Of republicanism, arc directly
involved in it. am led to believe that the
" ant of good faith exhibited by some of the
States, has seriously retarded the progress of
liberal principles abroad, and given their ene-
mics an argument against republican govern
meni ITSELF
Entertaining these sentiments, will cheer
fully concur, whether in public or private life,
in any measure which will tend to do Justice 10
the public creditor and restore the furnished
honor Of our good old Commonwealth. In this
respect do no, profess 10 be singular. My
business and associations through life have
been principally with The farming and labor
ing classes, and think understand their pc.
cullar views and interests. therefore speak
from experience, when | say that no class Of
citizens will contribute more fully, according TO
their means, 10 The public revenue, or will en-
dure more than they TO sustain The honor Of
in some portion of the interior The taxes have
been collected less promptly Than in others,
that there is wan, of disposition TO pay
There is a real distress and scarcity of money
in some of the agricultural districts of the State,
which none can appreciate exceP. those who
have Witnessed and experienced them. have,
therefore, al no time, lost confidence in the ul-
innate redemption of the Stale credit. Tha,
this may be done speedily, all righ, minded
persons will earnestly desire. No man can
long remain in position which his conscience
does no, approve, wilhou, having his moral sense
blunied, and his self rsspec, lessened; and the
consequence in this case will not be differen,
because The faith and obligation broken are
those of the State.
| cannot doubt that the collection of taxes
sufficient 10 pay the interest The State debt
would impose great and real distress on the
people. To make them as light as possible,
the most rigid economy in the administration of
the Stale Government should be enforced. not
in name, simply, but in fact. The example Of
our sister Slate of Ohio should be followed. in
The reduction of all salaries 10 the loves, prac-
iicable and JUS, standard. Neither The char
acier nor interest of the State will suffer- when
salaries shall be reduced so low, hat when the
public servant shall retire from Office, he will
have accumulated ltile more than The honor
conferred by the confidence and favor of his
country. am we'll satisfied that while hun
dreds may have been lost by exiravagani sal
aries, thousands have been squandered by ia
voriiism in jobs and contracts No doubt. in
The nature of things. much difficulty will be
found in arranging an equitable and fair disiri-
button Of HE burdens among all classes Of The
people, and all sections of The State. BuI,
though difficult, il is mol impossible; and when
once done, cannot doubt lha, it will be cheer
fully acqniesced in.
BAT in these difficulties there is one source
OF relief, to whirh cannoi discover why all
true Pennsylvanians should not resort prompt
| ly and zealously. Why when the State is
overwhelmed with debt, and the people COM
PEELED 10 choose between severe taxation of dis
honor on one side, and The acceptance of a
! large fund justly due from the General Gov
ernmen', on the other, any one should prefer
,he first, is 10 me subject of surprise and re-
greet The application Of the proceeds Of the
sales Of The public lands to The General Gov
eminent lessons the amount 10 be collected by
duties on foreign goods, and thus affords an ex-
cuse for reducing or repeating the fauf. Bui
il is not a fair application Of the funi: il is MOI
a Pennsylvania argument or measure. Penn
sylvania should cling to the distribution act as