Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-07-17

urged the establishment of Sinking Fund
with an earnestness required by the impor-
lance of the end to be gained. The Legisla-
ture acknowledged the propriety of the rec
mmendatlon-passed a bill in accordance
with the suggestions, and the system is now
IN operation, fulfilling the expectations of the
: most sanguine of its friends, and presenting
to the people the hope that, under its action,
and the exercise of that economy which should
be the prime aim of all public servants, the
debt now upon them will eventually disap-
pear. At least one-half million of that debt
has been already paid, and this is but the be-
ginning of the end.
! In addition to this, works of great public
! Importance have been completed and i'm
proved-works which have made the remain
ing improvements more valuable, and to that
extent are increasing the revenues of the
State. The reduction of the debt half mil
! lion of dollars, and the completion of certain
of the public works, haze been effected with-
ont any increased taration upon the farmers
! of the Commonwealth.
| The North Branch Canal when in progress
/ of construction was abandoned by the State.
In 1S4S, when | entered Office, it was in an
entirely useless condition. A large amount
of money had been invested in the work.
That money was yielding less than nothing,
while the resources of that large portion of
the State were undeveloped and the lands
through which the unfinished canal had been
made were directly injured by its construc-
tlon Under these circumstances | recon-
mend that the work should be resumed
and the canal completed, but with0ut any
increase Of the State debt. The recon-
mendation was regarded-the work has been
resumed and now far advanced to completion.
Thus the large amounts the State formerly
invested will be made productve-the reve-
enues of the State will be increased, and an
other avenue will be opened by which the
long-neglected North may march to greatness.
One fact is proved by the official records
to which wish to call the especial attention
of this meeting and of the people of the State
generally. 1t is this: That during the time |
have been Executive of the State, less a.
mount of money has been collected from the
farmers and others Oloniag Real Estate than
during corresponding period under the
previous Administration. Notwithstanding
this fact, however, fiatter myself that much
has been done towards the Liberation Of the
State from her financial difficulties
More than twenty years nave been occu-
pied in the creation OF this public debt. It's
large amount precludes the hope Of a very
speedy liquidation. But we can hope that as
it was gradually increased so it will from this
/ time henceforth gradually diminish, and that
the hour will soon arrive when tie taxes
wrung from the earnings Of the people will
be applied, mot to the payment of debt crea-
ted by a preceding generation, but to the
education of the present coming generations
that the moment is not far distant when
the voluntary offerings of the people of this
great Commonwealth will be devoted to the
noble purpose of spreading the purifying,
healthful, enobling influences of Education.
Then, when every man within our broad lim-
its shall enjoy the opportunity of such men
tai training as the high duties of American
Freemen require, and when the public moral
ity are ever-prevalent characteristics Of our
people, viii Pennsylvania completely work out
her glorious destiny of elevating the charac-
ter, Strengthening the Government, and pu-
rifying the Legislation of America.
Our opponents apparently manifest an earn
est desire to escape those State issues which
appeal Immediately and personally to the in
terest Of every taxpayer of the Common
wealth. They constantly recur t. National
l have no wish to conceal my opinions.
/ With regard to the Union of the States,
my views are upon record. In my last an
nual message | remarked that s. it is the ba-
sis of constitutional right, the hulwark ofall
law and order;" that it is the perfect work
of diciplined intelligence and rational patri-
otism !; that it is "hallowed by the rich men,
cries of the past, and by the consciousness
! that its founders were the fathers of the Re-
public - and that it is the "outer and inner
wall which encircles and guards the temple
of our Independence" | never trust myself
to think of It's dissolution as even a probable
event, and with cheerfulness subscribe to the
correctness of Washington's doctrine that we
should "discuontendnce Whateuer may sug-
gest eUen q suspicion that ii can IN any eUent
be Abandoned" These are the views hold.
! have always maintained them. | shall al
ways maintain them and teach them as a
most valuable lesson at my own freside to
my own children
| On the question of slavery | have already
frequently expressed my opinions When
the National Constitution was formed, slave
ry was among us. That instrument contains
certain provisions relative to those held to
service or labor which no man dare disregard.
They should be carried out in good faith by
all good citizens. The adjustment measures
of the last Congress grew out of certain diff
culties connected with the acquisition of Ter
ritory from Mexico. Most of these laws are
irrepealabe The Texas boundary has been
settled, and the stipulated money has been
paid by the National Government. Calitor-
mia has been admitted. Territorial govern
! ernments have been established in Utah and
and New Mexico. The slave trade has been
abolished in the District ofColumbia These
questions are settled. Thefugitive slave law
alone is within reach ofamendment. While
/ it remains the law of the land it must and
will be enforced. Resistance to law has new
er been characteristic of the Whg party.
1 To say however, that the people shall re-
=