The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22
34ulitiral,
Address of the Republican State
Committee.


Committee.
The extreme length of this document
renders its admission in our columns en-
tire very inconvenient at present, but we
herewith give the most important portions
of, it comprising more than half of the ad.
dress. The entire address is able and
statesmanlike, and we regret that we can
not publish it entire- Ed. JOURNAL
To the People Of Pennsylvania:
The State Committee appointed by the
Convention of Delegates representing the
Peoples Party of this Commonwealth
which met at Harrisburg on the 9th day
of June last, make this respectful address
to you on the condition of the public af-
fairs of the country, and the questions
which invite your deliberate consideration
in view Of the approaching annual cleo
ton. The ballot box is the instrument
through which the People exercise their
sovereignty over the governments of the
State and Union; and every recurrence
OF an opportunity for them to 'mploy this
power, and discharge the correlatiye duty
which it involves, is an occasion which
calls them to careful examination of the
course Of conduct of those to wh0m they
have deputed official functions. and to a
determination respecting the principles
aud measures which should be recognized
and adopted iu the administration of their
republican institutions. These reposc for
their safety on the vigilant ,pervision of
the people for whose benefit, aud by whose
authority they have been established; and
unless the popular masses exercise over
them constant watch and care, they are
liable to be perverted in the hands of self
seeking and unfaithful agents, to the base
uses of private advantage or merely par
tisan, and even corrupt designs. Protec-
tion is the great purpose for which gov
ernments are instituted. When men re-
sign part of their natural liberty, and
enter into political compact, it is that
ttUr Nay ELL .L~ -;e,l.4- D--l
privileges which belong to them, as MEM
bers of the State. 1t becomes, therefore,
the first duty of those who are charged
with the administration of government,
to guard the rights, protect the interests,
aud promote tue welfare of the great body
of citizens.
Happily relieved by the achievements of
our ancestors from the oppression of
crowned monarchs protesting to rule by
divine right, and from the imposition OF
privileged classes, the peop,e of this coun'
try, occupying a position of equality be-
fore the law, have the right to require
that the government Of their own institu.
tion shall be administered with a single
reference to their advantage aud benefit
The first settlers of America, for the most
part exiles from their respective countries
who sought all asylum in this, then west
ern wilderness, in order that they might
enjoy the civil and religious liberties
which were denied them at home-pool
in circumstances, and strong only in theil
devotion to the fundamental rights of hu
manity, which were afterwards SO glori
ous,y vindicated amid the tolls and suf
feriugs, and on the battle fields of the rev
olutiou, founded here a civilized and chris
tian state, in the midst of hostile savages
and subdued the forest and waste place
to cultivation, by the strong arm of man
ual labor; and the industry of free met
then was, and always has continued to b.
the great primary interest of the peopl
of this country-the basis of its prosper
ity, and the only firm column Oh whlcl
our popular institutions rest for support
1t is this which has not only filed the fer
tile vailies, crowned the verdant hills
and adorned the rugged slopes of fores
covered mountains with the happy home
of rapidly increasing population b,t
spreading over prairies, crossing the ma
jestic rivers, and scaliug the SUBMITS o
heights and peaks clothed in perpetua
snow, has extended the boundaries of tn
Republic to the margin of the great Pa
CHIC Ocean, and established there com