Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-08-08
e. The fathers Of the coun

uy sven tnOuknt " WiSe, III iotuiiuS VIC CWDeu'
tuition, to restrict their origin to the House OF
Now, the representatives oe
the people are saved all the trodble Of reflect.
ing upon the difficult subject Of revenue. Tho
Secretary Of the Treasury, like the first Lara
ofthe Treasury in England, makes bill. anl
hands it to the chairman Of the Committee on
Finsnce in the House. Cabinet ministers bring
oil their influence to bear, and, by the aid of The
privious question, force The bill through.
It'is sent to the Senate, and some mysterious
influence there frevents the bill from being re-
teffed, and taking the ordinary course Of 81
measures of this kind. We are told that thi,
interests of the democratic party require i,s
immediate passage. Honorable Senators admit
that Il is not h good bill, but they cannot ga
against the party. Such subservience to minis
tefs would do credit to British House Of Lords,
but ID, in my opinion, in bad keeping in an A.
merican Senate. I hm proud TO call myselfa
democrat. | am the son of democrat re-
present State whose democracy no one viii
doubt and. for one, must object to this mode
Of fixing principles on the party. was taught
in early lite to believe that tho democratic par
ty was the friend Of the poor-of the laboring
Glasses; that i,s principles were calculated to
elevate Che masses; but the principles Of this
southern democracy would rob the poor man
Of bis labor, and make him dependent on the
capitalists Of England for his scanty subsistence.
Such was not the doctrine of such democrats
as Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, or Jackson, as
have fully ,bowo.
| Ithas been said that the tariff of 1912 is de-
fec.fse in many Of its details. 1t may be; but
if so. why do not gentlemen point out these
defects and suggested remedies, without entire
iy destroying the principles upon which it is
based? That law found the country in state
of unparalleled distress. Never, in time of
profound peace. was there such ruin and distnay
pervading the whole country. Not individuals
merely, moi communi,iea only, but whole States
were involved in the general bankruptcy even
the general government itself was without creA
dit. ard without the means Of carrying on its
ordinary functions. From the time the COM
promise act, whose principles are now a.tempt-
ed to be re!enacted, began to take effect, tho
credit Of the country began to sink Time ons
ly added to these difficulties instead Of felieva
ing them. until. at the end Of Mr. Van Bu.en's
administration, the government was many mil
lions in debt In vain did her fiscal officers
try to replensh the exhausted treasury. Her
creditors received in many instances only "pro-
mises to pay;" and no one had courage enough
to invest in her loans even AZ \ discount.
TIE memorable rout Of the democratic party
in le4O, and the overthrow Of MIR. Van Buren's
administration. was the consequence Of this
stste Of things.
The indisidaa, cases Of distress which per.
vudet the country f,r period preceding the law
1542 were absolutely heart.rcnding. Rich
men not only lost their fortunes. but poor men
lost their means Of living. Our furnaces and
our iorges and our workshops were emptied !;
Q our merchants were ruined. and our farmers.
our substantial yeomanry, many of them with
. abundance Of products, for want Of a market,
: found themselves in The hands of the sheriff
Not section Of the whole country but afforded
i abundant evidence Of the truth of this melan-
It choly picture. You know, Mr.. President. that
' this il no fancy sketch. The dockets of your
courts and the streets OF your own city, and all
J. the business avenues OF that noble commercial
y mart. could be appealed TO for it's truth. re-.
s. member. and you doubtless know, that III the OF
ganiza,ion offs new court in that city there were
s. over FIVE hundred applicants for the pluce OF
e ,ip-stave. Healthy. vigorous men sought this
station, to get bread for their families, A pro
II minent democrat of Pennsy ylrana, alluding tc
f. the subject, uses the following language, which
D. fully corro6ord,es oil have said
Is AN will recollect the condition Of our coun
m try in 1910 and Al. The political campaign
s. and the causes which controlled it mus, be fresl
d. in remembrance. Such wac the condition o
the produttise classes. that al able Statesman
b. thoGgh aided BY al the patronage Of The hatoua
Or end sios OF the state governments, and sustain
of ed BY ii active and powerful party, which ha'
r. never been beaten. was hurled from the fresi
d. dental chsii By an overwhelming tortent How
ot did this hsppen' Il was no philosophical ab
he sttsc,ion that occupied the public mird Tn
people OF the United States are essentially
~ practical mat,er-of-fact people. The free trad
ws system had been gradually working since 1873;
os. and was teing felt in oil its charms at the tin,
'o' Of that election; 1 deep gloom pervaded OF
us land il was visible 10 every countenance, and
ss single idea controlled and determined the even
Our condition can't be worse-let US have
m. chan0eS WA m tho lins of aveyv one NJ