The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-05-25
TOthePeOpIe Of COiumbiaCOunty.
FELLOW CITIZENS.

eecntp8 wears. as your NeptbSen'aHNe w
The General Assembly Of this Common.
wealth. return agsin to take my place
a,nonga you. as one Of the private ciiizens
snd fas people Of Columbia County,
ah.at an, intention Of sgain being .
candidate Tor reelection.
70 say that feel grateful for the honors
and distinctions you have conferred upon
me by your free sufrrsges, would be but 3
feeble expression of my sense ol the obli
CATIONS that | am under TO you, tor your
triumphant suppor, Of me on the four dli
Jetenl occasions have been candidate for
the Legislature obligation now, and
always shall acknowledge, but | am afraid
never shall be able 10 repay
| cannot, my fellow cltizens, take leave
of YOU as your Representative, wl'hou, rem
dering you tue, ard somewhat detailed,
account of my stewardship; and desire
tina, YOU should all read this my address 10
YOU, and then form for yourselves, free
md unbiased Judgment OF my acts.
On account Of The agitation OF lornl, but
very importer, question in our county, my
situation as a representative, has been al
tended with rather uncommon trials and
difficulties through which, and in despite
of which, have endeavored from frat TO
last, 10 discharge my duty to you with hon
esty end fidelity. and whether | hs.e sue.
ceeded in doing so or not, mes, eheeriully
and with greal confidence, leave ior you 10
determine.
| was first elected BY you to the LePisla.
ture in lS40, and was al that time, as | al
wa,s have been since became citizen OF
Columbia counly,a resident Of Bloomsbury
Nv opinions and feelings were known then
as well az they are now, TO be IN favor oil
removal of The Seat Of Justice of our county
from Danyille TO that place, yet, confess,
tha, at ,ha, election, was not supported
and voted Cor as removal man particularly,
but as the regularly nominated can
ddate Of my party; hence, did NOT feel I!
incumbent on me under such circumstances
10 take part in bringing the question Of re
moval before the Legislature during that
session, especially as petitions were not
forwarded 10 me asking me to do so, but
conenied myself with discharging The or
binary duies OF Representative 10 the bes
Of nv ability, and as | thought TO the pro
motion Of the best interest Of my cOnstltn
-ents. Gu my rsinrn home, however, ard
before my re election, made no secre, ol
my determination that in case should be
ne elected, | would at the next session. In
iroluce, advocate and support a bill author
ising removal OF our seat Of justice With
kno Wedge of this fac, tie people renomi
mated and elected me. accordingly intro
duced removal bill into tie House OF Re
presenlaIyss in obedience 10 the require
inenis OF large number Of petitions, and to
what knew 10 be the interest and wishes
Of a large majority Of the people of the
/, county. THIS bill laid on file considera
AbIe length Of time; il was known 10 be there
land my intention TO call il up in due time
3also known, aud yet ! heard nothing from
YOU that was not calculated 10 strengthen
my cengicton that in doing wha, ! had
done. had fairly represented your wishes
Petitions in favor of the removal, from al
most all parts Of the county, came pouring
in upon the Legislature, ,lhe signers 10 which
amounted to 27s6, whilst The signatures to
the remons,rances against ,he Removal
numbered DO, hlde over 1900 Undel
these circu ur,,tances, my duty was plain
and nv course clear one could no
choose ou urge The passage Of the bill, ever
bed N, feelings aud disposition been averse
.iot As democratl was bound 10 obey in
struc,ipns, particularly such as these, com
ing as they did directly and Urques,ionably
from large majority Of my constituents -
The obedience yielded to thsm on this
occasion was not reluctantly done, | assure
you, my fellow cilizens;but with that pleas
ure every honest representative should fee
10 discharging his duty wiihfdeIity to those
whom he represents. On The l4lIl Of March
] called up mv bill, but notwithstanding the
.exerlion Of myself and friends, ills ,oppo
nenls proved TOO strong for US, and the bill
was lost on 2d reading, by vote of Yea.
80. Nays A9. The friends of removal in
The iiOuse,It is true, were a liule disappOin.
led at ibis vote, for knowing the sOundnes,
and Justice Of our cnuse, we had right, We
thought, to expect different result, bu
nothing dishearleaed, We determined "a
'eommence the battle anew, and to take our
-enemies on another laek and for the pur
pose 100 OF tes,iug(if they would permit us
the truth or lalsty Of the representation ol
those IN the DanViie interest, that major
ily Of the people were not in fsver Of re.
moval Of the seat Of justice, il was agreed
rihal another bill should be introduced simi.
Tar in~its provisions and details to the form
~ersexeepl tina; the question by this bill was
required 10 be submi,ted 10 he people for
their decision before the law could be cal
Tied into effect. An extra session had by
sthis lime been agreed uDOn, and il was