The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-03-22
SPEECH OF HON. 6. R. BUCKALEW,
SENATE, MARCH 6, 1855.

DELIf EhED I'm ! IL fENISoILfANl
~ SENATE, MARCH 8, 1855
Upon the joint Resolution Proposing Amend
msnfs to the Constitution. s
Ma. Sp EAKER Objection has been made
TO the language in which the proposition
before US are expressed. The objection i
we'll taken, but il is not an important or con
trolling one, and should not effect the actor
of The Senate. The resolution does contain
wha, is essential TO accomplish the objects
intended, and can be supported without re.
proach, although its phraseology be shown
TO be unpublished, ungrammaticsi and innac'
curate. It cannot be amended, and INNS
be adopted OF defeated as il stands; and
certainly question of mere style sinks into
ins,gnifcaace in presence Of the large sub.
jscts presented by the resolution. OF those
subjects intend to speak, and shall disn:iss
at once and finally matters of verbal crit.
| cism.
This resolution contemplates two amend.
ments of the Constitution; ibe first 10 pre-.
vent the creation Of a State debt, the othel
10 prohibit what ase known as municipal
| subscriptions. In short, it is proposed 10 es-
tablish effective constitutions! barriers against
public indebtedness.
| Sir, our financial experience in this State
goes for something. Adversely teaches VIE
dom, when argument is unheard or disre.
garded The evils of State deb, were fore.
told, without effect, at the several periods
when our present burthens were contracted.
| The vices and dangers of county and other
| municipal Indebtedness have been, more re-
! Gently, urged upon unmoved majorities in
the Legislature. But the people have felt
| the evils of your policy, and see distinctly
the dangers attending it's continuance. 5e-
lieve they will gladly adopt these amend.
| ments if submitted, and regard them as val.
liable securities against legislative weakness,
corruption and folly.
The Slate debt is over forty millions of
dollals, upon which the sinking fund makes
but slight impression. Divided equally, ii is
twenty dollars TO every inhabitant. Dpon il
we pay two millions yearly as interest. Our
annual appropriation bills are four or five
millions. In prosperous times We are cramp.
ed in our finances. and are, in order 10 avoid
pew loans, anticipating the revenue of fu-
| ture years. II would be difficult 10 weather,
with untouched honor, serious financial
crisis, although possessed of great resources
/ and wealth. These -are khown facts, ard
they speak an emphatic condemnation OF
our past policy.
Sir, il is difficult 10 resist appropriations in
The Legislature. Sectional and individual
interests, we'll represented and ably urged,
bear down public considerations and secure
the sanction of majorties. If defeated, they
return with increased energy and appetite TO
assault the treasury, and too often succeed.
Take the case of claim bills, Many of these,
rejected after full examination, upon being
again introduced are carried. In some in
stances two or three decisions against q
claim are overruled upon third OF fourth
trial Time, which weakens or destroys the
force Of pecuniary demand in the courts,
appear here to coafer strength and contribute
| to success.
The right to impose taxes, is one of the
most searching and fearful powers of gov
eminent. Standing upon grounds ofpeoessi-
ty, its rightfnl exercise is unquestioned and
unopposed: and the citizen contributes from
h,s earnings TO the public service, without
reluctance or regret. But when the objects
of outlay which call the power into action
are unwise and proaigate, the time for COM
plant has come; and popular securities are
demandable upon every ground of sxpedi-
ency and justice. II is idle TO condemn the
past, withou, view to amendment When
taxes, hardly earned by many who pay
them, ate swallowed up in Gettysburg rail.
roads and Erie exten,ions, protection for the
future becomes the dictate of prudence and
sense. The citizen may justly grudge the
taxes applied to unproduclive improvements.
to stale claims, and 10 interest upon debts
improviden,ly contracted, and owes 1t to
himself and TO the cause of good government
10 seek securities sgainst further imposi-
,ions.
| Can il be denied that in this State, soms
security is required against the contracting
of public debts! Have our public men
changed, ard become altogether wise, inde-
pendent and disinterested ? Have local in.
terests cultivated the virtue of moderation
and become jealous guardians of the public
credi. and honorl Is the race of expectanl
contractors and jobbers less greedy or less
influential than formerly. Win candidates
for office never tender appropriations from
| the Treasury as the price Of popular support
And, are we certain that no movement will
ever be made TO cast upon the State The in.
debiednsss Of counties and other municipaii.
ties, contracted for purposes Of public i'm.
provementl
II, then, security against new debt or an
increased debt be necessary, where shall
| that security be foundl AS things stand,
certainly not in lhe courts, for Judicial res.
train. can only bs invoked in rare and ex-
ceplional cases. Nor can we depend on the
Executive. The Veto, invaluable as it is,
has its limit of usefulness Upon question
of expediencY it will not be frequently 10.
tefposed, nor can we insure the character Of
| f,,tu,o Evecutivas Tn whose hands the now-