Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-07-19

ed, when public station is sought with a
groanng avidty, and, when obtained is too
often prostituted TO selfish and corrupt pur-
poses, there is some reason 10 regard ''ihe
private station as the post of honor" after
some experience in both, can safely say,
that for substantial comfort aud enjoyment,
as well as scope for enterprise, and for all
the kindlier better feelings and affections Of
the heart no situation in life, and especially,
in this free, happy, law governed land, can
be compared to that Of an Independent pr-
vate citizen, occupying as do, such posi-.
ton, and coming here, as a private citizen,
! 10 take an humble share with the rest in the
festivities of the day, did not feel entitled
TO the friendly notice with which ! have
been favored. Whether the sentiment just
offered carries a correct expression of the
public Judgment on my humble judicial ca
reer, is no, for me TO decide. But whether,
or not, ! carry within my own breast a con-
! seriousness, which no public expression, fa-
vorable or adverse, can hiqhen or improve.
! For many years, during which exercised a
! greater amount Of judicial power than per-
! hapa any one man in the commonwealth,
whatever may have been my defects, trust
| can safely say that oppressed no man
| that no innocent man was ever through my
insrrumentality, orto my kno Wedge, subject
| ed to the penalties of the law-that the
| powers of my Office were never made sub
! servicnt 10 schemes of personal aggrandze-
meut or political ambliOn--that the ship Of
/ justice was never stirred out of her proper
! course in order that her sails might catch
/ the popular brccGes. A Judge VINO would
| undertake to satisfy the demands of sectaran
ZEAL Of popular clamor, or ont of door iuflu-
enccs of any sort rather than the stern de-
mands Of justice and the law-who in race
| for popularity would forget the end and aim
of his high office, which is mainly TO do JUS
| tice between man and man, according TO es-
| tablished law, who wonld defe and pollnte
! his ermine by the slime OF sordid personal
or political ambi,ion--wond Justly deserve,
and would most assnrcdlv bring down on
! himself crushing might of infamy; so that
90 where he might he could never afterwards
hold up his head amongst honest, independ-
ent, intelligent men. | trust we have no
such Judges now and that VIC are not likely
to have. At the same time, il is well enough
tor the people, in view of great and ap-
preaching event in the judicial history Of our
State, to ponder on the subject and that is
my apology for saying as much as ] have
said by way Of answer to the immediate pnr-
port Of the toast. But gladly escape 10
other topics more agreeable both to you and
myself.
There is something exceedingly moral in
the circumstances under which we meet
here this day. am informed, end if had
not been informed, cou'd no, have believed
that the spot on which we stand, was, abou
one ycar ago the centre OF mild, uncul,iva
ted, uninhabied region. lis lofty mountains
its deep gorges its inaccessible forests, it.
eternal barriers against in the shape
Of culture, and Improvement. An adven
turons angler, like myself may have found
his way here, once in a while, 10 catch tron
in these mountain streams: But he woul,
take good care TO bring with him his grub
his skillet, his knapsack and above all hi
long boots for a sojoum amongst the rocki
and ratlesnakes. For the country fnruishe,
neither meat, nor drink, nor dry lodgings
except what nature, the forest aud the streams
supplied The admirers of natural scenery
no doubt saw something very peculiar an,
very interesting in the size and shape, an,
relative position of these mountains.
In the constitution of man, the hest quail
ties of the heart, and the noblest faculties 0
, the mind, are sometimes concealed under
ragged and forbidd:ng exterior. Thes
mountains conceal, under a most rugged sur
face, vast treasures of mineral wealth. ~
louchstone Of individual enterprise las bee
) applied Behold the results. They Gil tn
5 mind Of stranger with wcGder and amaze
mcnt Within that short space Of one yea
4 a furnishing .own has already sprung int
existence, a,ready numbering some 500 soul.
These coal veins of unsurpassed lhickne.
2 aud exreni, are already giving up their Ion
= locked up treasures, substantial rail rOa
from this point to the Snsquchanna, a di.
tance .! some l3 miles, is rapidly progressin
towards completion, and will soon he
-. readiness TO transport this Hitherto conceale,
+, or a, least neglected treasure, TO The marke
a of the sea board and lie Interior. In III
large crowd Of people assembled here, even
: trade, occupation, profession, aud pursuit
! life are represented, 1t is very evident the
+ is employment now for o;her people, besid'
/, the hunter and the angler good roads ha,
If superceeGed the old indian paths, and hon
IS market is furnished for tie prodnce Of Il
e neighboring vallies such are the resul
e where tie magic power of individual ente
d prise is brought to bear upon the donna
e and imperishable wealth of the mountain
4 I .l,l