Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-01-06


responsibility of recommending this measure.
am fully sensible of what is To he cnCohntrrad,
and aware of thn consequences that are TO follow
and if, in this expression of the honest convc-
tions Of my own mind, and the fearless discharge
OF the duties incumbent me, shall not be
home out by my fellow citizen | shall at least
have the consolation TO know. that | have done
that which conscicntiously believe to be right
and which think will bear the reflection of after
| years. The time for evasion is gone the pub
| lie mind has been too long fed with miserable eX
! padients The time for action is at hand. Our
country expects every man 10 do his duty, and
lac that has not nerve enough for the crisis, should
give place TO those better fitted for the emergen-
| cy. Neither the present Legislature, nor myself,
! had anything TO do with contracting this debt
il is fixed on us by those who have gone be
fore Us aud the same rule of prudence and
sound policy. that would govern the conduct of a
private individual holds equally good in the case
OF the Commonwealth under this state of things.
The private inditidua would tax his industry of
the debt, and the interest upon it. that was con-
suning the arals of his industry and his sub
! stancc--so, also il seems to me- should the re-
representatives. of a wise and judicious people.
Taxation would pay the nterest--it would e.
ventually constitute sinking fund TO pay off the
principal of Che State debt. and should be contu-
ucd till the income of the public improvements
would render longer taxation unnecessary. The
crisis demands the exercise of the most iar-rea-
ching Sagacity-thc calnest judgment and the
most fearless patriotism, l am sure the Legis-
laturc viii meet il in the right spirit, TO disarm
II OF its rerlls. Coming, as you do, from all
quarters of the State and possessing a more init
mate knowledge of the circumstances and wants
OF the people than | can. most cheeriully sur
render this important subject to you, satisfied
that prudence and Justice will direct your action
| upon IL
! / used strong terms in speaking TO The Le-
| glsiature on this subject at that iimc, because
| it was an honr of darkness uncertainty and a.
| arm. The explosion of the Banks, the paraly-
| Sis Of business cnerc les uf the country. and the
murmurlngs of those whose ambition seeks no
! higher aim than that Of finding fault, were all
calculated to deter even honest men from faith
| fully performing their duty. So far as was
concerned was resolved that both my opini-
ons, and my course, should be openly avowed
and clearly understood -Four years have now
! elapsed time has been given tu the excited to
! become calm, To the tmid TO become se1t-pos-
sessed, and for iuc,Gus partzans To see the err
ror of their way. ] look back with pleasure on
my course, because. as had no doubt from the
beginning, ] have been triumphantly sustained
| by the honest yComanry of Pennsylvania They
have borne, without repinng, every burihen
| that was nee essary 10 maintain the honor Of the
State, and they are ready TO endure yet greater
sacrifices, if they be necessary, for the same
! cause.
1t has Of late been fashionable, in certain
quarters, to denouncc Pennsylvania, and cite
her, as an example in point, to sanction the re-
proach which has been attempted 10 BE- cast up.
on the American people, of seeking to carry in
to practical operation the scheme of rcpudiating
their public debts. Those who have circulated
and believed this calumny, betrayed degree
of ignorance, both Of the character of the pco.
pie. and of the course of her legislation, which
is truly surprising. On every occasion, the H.
ability of the State has been frankly avowed
both by the Executive and Legislative Depart
ments; and although the recommendations u
the Executive, 20 make provision for the pay
mcnt OF her interest, have not been adopted I,
the fullest extent yet the Legislature has pas
sed laws imposing tax, amounting the last veal
to lttie hess than million ofdolars. and thi
has been acceeded TO by the people, without
nrarnur from any source entitled to moment
consideration, The failure to pay the interes
has not resulted from want of disposition I,
do so on the part of the citizens of Pcnnsylva
MIA, but from the general disasters which hive
overwhelmed and crippled Eer, in common will
almost every other government IN the com
mercial world We are reganing cur cncrgie
and recovering from the embarrassmen's by
which we have unfortunately been surrounded
A very few years will enable us to retrieve al
that we have lost, and to wipe from our escut
cheon e<ery blot with which unexpected mis-
fortune has furnished it. Whatever the inter
ested or evil disposed may have asserted to th'
contrary, there is not an honest citizen of Penn
sylvanla who does not feel the proud consc lous
ness that her faith and integrity can be held u
TO the world unsullied.
The valuation of the real and perronai pro
pcrty owned by the citizens ofthc State, ascer
tanned by reference to the valuation rs take
for county purposes, amounts 10 about four hun
dred and sixty millions fdollars. The averag
Of the rate of this valuation is, no doubt, cons
dcrably below the acieai value OF the propcrt
of the State.
Among the receipts of the Treasury during th
last year. there were from tolls, exclusive {
r Motive Power, $755, 155 3
/ Anc,un duties, 5066l 7
Tax on collateral inhcritauccs. 22,331 q
Dividends on Bridge, Turnpike
I aud Navigation Stocks, I9l6l .
: Eacheats, l,0l0 4
4 Ss57,325 G
: To which add the State Tax re-
ceived, 553,0ll 3
, Sl1ll oo6 :