Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-08-17

emily paper issues the fatal step was arrested
by the veto power, and eleven banks were re-
jected at one time. When, again, it was at
tempted to give the Pennsylvania railroad
company entire control of the termini of the
state works at West Philadelphia, the measure
was promptly arrested by veto; and recent
ly, when it was proposed by the general as
sembly, to relieve this same corporation and
the PENNSYLVANIA and Ohio railroad company
from the penalties imposed by, and incurred,
the law against the circulation offoreign small
notes, thereby establishing a most dangerous
and prejudical precedent in legislation, the evil
was averted by the same means.
The policy indicated by Gov. Bigler in his
first message, after his induction into office,
contained many wise suggestions and amongst
these was the cancellation of the six per cent
bonds of the commonwealth then outstanding
! by the creation of five per cent bonds. This
measure was adopted and a large sum ofmoney
saved annually to the treasury The policy
of cash payments and short settlements on the
public works, suggested in the same document
had it been fully carried into effect by law,
could not have failed to exercise most heal
thy influence upon that branch of the public
service.
His predecessor, William f. Johnston, was
the author of the relief currency. Under the
I
been adopted to withdraw from circulation
and cancel this noXious medium Very soon
after the wings came into power under Gov
Johnston, this process of cancellation, so wise
" began, was arrested, and provisions made
to continue this deprecated and unconstitutio-
nal currency in circulation, by paying the
banks a large compensation, from time to
time, for re-issuing the defaced notes. Amongst
| the first measures of the present administra-
ton. was to make provision for the final with
drawal and extinction of this currency, and
the work ofcancellation is again in operation.
In this single item of state policy, fellow
citizens, we have a very striking Illustration
of the difference between federal and demo-
cratic measures. 1t is for you to determine
which are right, and the best adopted to pro-
meUo the prosperity of the state.
But in nothing has Governor Bigler rem
dered more important service to the people,
than by his constant and untiring efforts to
! break down the pernicious system of omnibus
and special legislation This was among his
earliest recommendations, and in the session
of 1888, few general laws were adopted on
the report and recommendation of commits
sioners appointed by him for that purpose un-
der act of the legislature, and much good
was thus effected.
In the Governors message of 1854, how
ever, he placed the axe at the root of this tree
of evil, this spreading upas, by declaring most
emphatically, that he should no longer parti-
cipate in that offensive system of legislation
and that the whole power of the execu iv3 de-
partment should be welded against it. This
sentiment received the universal appreciation
of all parties The general assemb bly, acted on
the suggestion, and the people are presented
with the laws of 1854, each separate from the
other and standing ON its own merits This
has never occurred before, since the organi-
zation of the government. Had the present
administration no other claim. this alone should
command the favorable judgement of the
people.
The policy of the administration is now well
defined on all subjects, and its continuance
cannot fail to promote the substantial welfare
of the people AT the time of its induction into
power a number of improvements were in
process of construction, which have cost a
much larger sum than had been anticipated,
and this circumstance, it is true, has to some
extent embarrassed the policy of the admin
stration But it must be remembered, that
these schemes were not commenced at the in
stance of Gov Bigler. They had been under
taken before he came into office and the wise
policy seemed to be to conduct them to an
early completion. Indeed, 1t has been decar-
ed as a fixed policy the administration that
no new schemes of Improvement shall be COM
menced.
Nor has the honor and dignity of the state
peen permitted TO suffer in any insta zee. When
the executive of neighboring state refused to
surrender fugitive from justice, against
whom true bill of indictment for kidnapping
had been found in the county of Chester, the
right and dignity of the commonwealth was
vindicated in paper of surprising power and
| ability Long after its author shall have re-
! tired from public life-yes, after his head
! shall be pillowed beneath the sods Of the val
! ley, this document viii be referred to in the
| archives of Pennsylvania, model for other
! executives, and continue to excite the pride
and admiration of her people
When again at a subsequent period, an eXi-
gency arose at the city and county of Erie,
! involving, to no inconsiderable extent, the
honor and dignity of the State, he was not
found wanting, but came up fully to public
expeetation.-H energy and frmness, in
this crisis, commanded the respect of all
When told, as he was frequently that the
measures he deemed expedient to adopt would
prejudice his political prospects IN this or that
locality his uniform reply was-''lt mattered
not, he had the honor of the state to protect
and it should be done at all hazards.
Fellow-citizens shall an officer thus honest,
devoted, prudent and able, be, discarded, or
stricken down for light and imaginary causes!
Shall policy in state affairs so wise, be aban-
doned to give place place to federal rule? We
hope not and we would be doing injustice tc
the people to even entertain the thought for
moment. We believe you will retain Gov
n 4 I