Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-01-23


bodies of the same class and general charac
ter. The tax laws relating to them are il
some confusion, and consequently taxes paio
by them unequal, while some wholly escape
any share Of the public burdens. ln brief
our system of interpretations has become sc
vast, diversified and difficult Of comprehen
! sion, that no reasonable industry can master
the whole subject, and understand precisely
where we are and whittier we are drifting
A thorough revision of laws on this subject
and the establishment Of general, uniform,
! regulations for each class of corporate bodies
with the avoidance, as far as possible, OF spo-
cal provisions for particular corporations, are
reforms imperiously demanded by the public
| interests in which shall heartily cooperate.
| have no hostility to express against incor.
porations for proper objects beyond The pow
er Of individual means and skill; nor gener-
ally against legislative facilities for the ap-
plication Of labor and capital to the creation
of wealth, where individual unprompted ac-
tion will not go. But no one can assert that
we have limited ourselves to such policy,
nor that our laws on this subject have been
careful, consistent aud just.
But Notwithstanding all topics Of regret or
criticism in our public career, land which
should bear their proper fruit in amendment
and reform, we may welibe proud ofthis Penn
sylyania OF ours-.ot her people her Institutions
and her laws. She has become great, pros
porous and powerful ranking among the FIRST
Of the States and her condition at home and
her character abroad bear testimony to her
merits, and promise to her distinguished fu-
ture. Besides her agricultural resources,
which are great and first in Importance she is
capable of producing in untold quantities
those two articles Of prime necessity and uni
L., 4 Il ;,,t Sf
widespread financial calamity, when specu-
lation and extravaganza have done their
worst to cripple the operations ofcaptnl, and
stay the hand Of labor in its useful toll, the
leading interests of our State nny be counted
among the first 20 revive and to furnish
strong and reliable basis for the resumption
Of activity in all the channels Of employment
and in all the operations of trade. That gov
rnment would be unwise and blind which would
administer The public affairs Of this State,
otherwise than in spiri: OF kindness and
protection TO these great and capital inter
ests
From the earliest period Of our history, it
has been the policy OF Pennsylvania to edu'
cate ali her citizens and at this tins our IN
stitutons oflearning and educational facilities
are equal TO those Of any other country. Our
Common School system is justly distinguish
ed as one of the most practical and efficient
in the Union. Let US then cherish this tradi
tonal policy, coming down to us from the
the fathers Of the Commonwealth and by
every means in our power foster aud strength
en- the measures now successfully producing
the results so ardently desired by the patriot
ic men who have gone before us.
While our domestic affairs and policy nat
uraly will occupy most Of the attention Of
our Government and our people, it is not to
be forgotten that Pennsylvania bears very
interesting relations to the other States Of
the contederacy, and LOOKS with an anxious
eye to the proceedings and policy Of the Cen
eral Government. 1t is both our duty and
our interest to cultivate the most friendly re-
latious with our sister States. and to trown
upon ell attempts to SOW among them feelings
of alienation. We should exert our whole
influence to keep the government of the Union
in its true position, US the common agent Of
the states and the people, exercising high
powers, ia trust for their advantage aud well
lare, and deriving all its powers from the
written constitution which called it into be-
ing. AT this time We have strong reason to
confde in that Government as we know that
its administration is in safe, patriotic hands;
and that it may be trusted TO deal justly with
all sections OF the country.
| subOrlnatlon--an utter disregard and
contempt Of just and lawial authoyity-hes
heretofore produced difficulties in the Terri
tories of Kansas and Utah, and in the case Of
the latter has now precipitnted state Of
armed hostility between the inhabitants and
the General Government In the former,
the peaceful American remedy for the redress
Of political grievances, real or imaginary
the ballot .boX-has been for long time ab.
joured by a considerable portion OF tie popu-
lation, and astruEgie between legal authority
aud unlawful and Irregular combinations con-
tiDupd down to the present period Mean
time, contributions Of money and aid from the
States have kept up excitement and turbu-
lence in the Territory, and enabled designing
men there to iuGame passions, which other.
wise would long since have subsided. The
Judgment and opinion of the country cannot
he tro strongly consolidated in favor Of the
laws, and against all who rise up to oppose
them by authorized means. Nor can the
excuse for resistance to the Territorial laws,
and for failing to perform the duties oicitiZen-
ship under them, that wrongs and frauds We're
perpetrated at elections, be admitted as Il
justification. Where elections are SO lre-
Queut ard the right Of suffrage so liberal, as
in this country, it is peculiarly the duty Of Il
good citizen TO obey existing authorities and
thti tbl CllOudUic laws hubhlliS l!ldl tue
former can be changed, and the latter modified
or repealed, within very brief period. And
as 10 disputed elections, they must be decided
by the proper legal authority and not by in.
dyidual citizens, or irregular se!fconstitutel
assemblagcs.
lnsu6ordination TO necessary and rightrul
authority, nstigated and encouraged by un-
worthy men in the organized States, who de-
sired that discord should continue, and were
willing to contribute to that object, is the
prolific fountain from which the troubles in
Kansas have heretofore proceeded. 1t was
natural, perhaps inevitable, that this conduct
! 10y party in the territory should provoke an
| opposite party to many unjustiiable acts
| ard to much imprudent and unreasonable
/ conduct. Thus eXtscmes act and react upon
/ each other, and when the laws are defined
and individual action let loose, wrong, out
rage and violence are necessary results.
The last phase Of the Kansas question
which is upon the constitution framed by &
| Territorial Convention, is peculiarly for the
/ Judgment Of Congress, to which the power ol
admitting new States is conided by the con
sttution of the Union. The representatives
of the people and Of the States in Congress,
assembled, will meet that question under al
the responsibilities which they owe to thei
constituents, and which are imposed uPol
them by their oaths Of Office; and with ful
Information upon matters Of fact impOrtan