The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-09-25
A Picture Faithfully Drawn and
EEUe 10 the Life.

Hen. c. r. BuckaIew, the talented Senator
from Columbia county, in speech made at
Bloomsbury, on the 1lth of August last, when
referring to the arrogant pretensions of Gov
Johnston and his friends in the claim set up by
them that his Excellency had projected and
matured Sinking Fund peculiarly his own,
and that lie is paying off the State debt most
clearly exposes the fallacy He strips the Gov
ernor of his borrowed plumage, and with a half
prophetic vision exposes the pomp and parade
which would accompany the Governors first
proclamation Oh this subject That part rela-
ting to the '.large type" and ''great seal" have
actually come to pass The proclamation which
was required by law as an official duty, is para
/ ded in all the Nhig organs under the extended
| wings of the American eagle, in glowing capi-
tails, with hands pointing TO its head, as if the
whole public debt has become extnguished
/ through the great financial skill of Wm. F.
| Johnston alone, and that nothing now remained
| but to read the Governors proclamation of has
! great and marvellous achievements. Fancy
| yourself out of debt with no taxes TO pay.
Eat, drink and be happy as long as the delusion
! lasts. But we set out TO give an extract from
the Senator'S able speech, to which we will now
introduce the reader:-
Why then does the 4th section Of the act of
1849 which have just read, provide that
port shall be made by the Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund at an unusual time instead Of the
usual time in January? Why on the first Of
| September, during the fiscal year of the State,
and not at its close? Why is this report to be
made every third year and the first report ex-
actly on the lst September, 1881? Tie pur-
! pose aras to re-eLect Wm. f. Johnston. Recolect,
the act was passed 10th April, 1S49, and that
these reports spoken of in the 4th section, were
| to be made at the end of every third year. But
! three years from the passage of the act would
| extend to the 10th of April, 1852, six months
J after the Governors election this fall; in con-
sideration of which circumstance, doubtless, the
| time of making the report was pulled backward
and fixed on the first of September.
How beautifully the matter was arranged to
! effect the purpose intended; and how clearly
! may this fourth section enlghten to the
| intention and purpose entertained in 1919. The
main object Was not to befriend the people of
Pennsylvania in tie payment Of their debt, but
| to re-elect TN ARMSTRONG county lawyer-the
! father of relief notes and the friend of the
| aboiitionists-to the Office of Governor You
will observe that this triennial report is TO be
made not to the Legislature, where such reports
! appropriately belong, but to the GOrernOr; that
! up to the time Of such report the debt paid off
| is considered Jlapdid and draws interest; that
| upon receiving the report the GOrerRor is to
order the cancellation or destruction OF the Ger
tihcates of dedt, so that the actual eXtinguish-
ment of debt shall appear as his act; and that
thereupon jLSst lCeehs before the election, he
! shall issue a flaming proclamation to the people
| announcing the payment OF so much OF the
public debit And then are to be told that
| Gov. Johnston and his wonderful Sinking Fund
| have done the whole business! And that the
| financial abilities of the Executive are at least
equal to those of Alexander Hamilton and VIM.
Pitt Do you not perceive that in pursuance
of the intention in view the Governor struck
! the key note of the music in his speech at Ian
caster, and has been followed by his file leaders
all over the State in p@an of praise to the
Sinking Fund? 1t was desirable to direct the
public mind beforehand in such manner as TO
give a full and salutary effect to the September
proclamation! That wonderful document gen
tlemen, is soon coming, in all the beauty of
large type and under the great seal of the Com
monwealth. 1t will become us to peruse 1t with
thankfulness and gratitude, and to recollect that
il is the production of sublime parsonage who
has borrowed project from his competitor and
prepared it for elcctioneering purposes