Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-04-28
SunburY & Erie Bill.

corrupt effort has been made with the late
Legislature, in favor of the completion
Of the Sunbury and Erie swindle by which
the sums they honestly owe the State should
be released, donated or so postponed as to
be useless at present, and lost to the State
eventually. We are glad to know that
this most iniquitous operation was opposed
throughout by the great body of the demo-
Gratis in the House, and carried through
under the pressure of the previous question,
by large republican vote.
We shall not stop to enter into discus
sion of this bill or of its special provisions,
but we think we can give to our readers
about as correct view of it, by copying
out of the Lsgistatirc Record, portion of
the debate on the final passage OF the bill,
as by entering into critical examination
of its monstrosties.
1t will be observed that the Democrats
put their objections to the bill upon high
constitutional grounds, and they are well
stated by Mr.. Beardsleo; and we call spe-
cial attention to the remarks of the repub.
lican members who opposed the bill, not by
any means forgetting what Mr.. Collins
says. DIR. Settler is so well known that
nothing need be said in illustration of his
impudent remark and Mr.. Hofus it will
be seen glorics in that the republican par
ty is about to pass the bill. Theirs be the
honor, theirs also the cxecrations of the
honest Taxpayers of the commonwealth,
who next fall will hurl those reckless and
unprincipled scoundrels from place and
power.
Mr.. WILSON, Rep, I say that this is
a gift to the contractors and nothing else,
because it is impossible for the Common.
wealth to claim her rights on her mort
gage unless she gives six hundred thousand
dollars to the contractors, and the poor
laboring man cannot wait till the lst of
May, 1861, for bis wages. The proceeds !
OF the sale Of the canals should have gone |
into the sinking fund, whereas 5000 900 is
now preferred as gift to the contractors.
| am entirely opposed to the bill.
Mr.. BEARDSLEE, Dem. Mr.. Speak
er, l would not now give my reasons for
voting against this bill, had not its friends
prevented ME and others from discussing
its merits by calling the previous question.
| confnc my objections briefly to three
points, viz:
First, consider that the amendment
just reported by the Conference Committee,
to give the claims of contractors
not exceeding six hundred thousand dol
lars IL preference to the bonds Of the Com
is a violation of the 9th section
of article 9th of the constitution, which
reads as follows:
The credit ofthc Commonwealth shall
not in any manner or event be pledged or
oaned to any individual, company, corpo- i
'atlon or association"
Hecond, These preferred claims of con.
ractors are intended to take from the Com
six hundred thousand dollars at
east, and / contend that this bill, which
gives this pretcranco to the benefit Of the
company, is lending it the credA Of the
State to that amount.
Ih'rd, That the third section in the bill
an alliance with other rail
oads in this State, with view of riding
he Legislature in other times, with more
iecidcd hand than this Sunbury company
las done at this session. | must therefore
'ote against it now as voted before il was
10 amended. Il
Mr.. COLLINS, Rep. have always
believed that the Democratic party was
'orrupt, but here is House thirds of
which is composed of Republicans, Amcri
ans and the Peoples party, willing to lend
to tloh from the Commonwealth
'6OO,OOO and to place it in the hands of ,
oleless corporation. If the People party
which l represent, rises no higher than
his, cease to act with such party. |
-otc "nay.'
Mr.. CUSTER, Dem. l vote nay for
he same reasons as given by the gentle I
nan from Wayne. (Mr BEARDsLEE.)
Mr. HOFIUS, Rep. | joined the Re- ,
ublicans because thought they composed
whole-souled party, and seeing that they
ontorm to my idea | vote AYE"
Mr.. JACKSON, Dem. vote "nay," ,
ecause in SO doing | believe that / am
rotecting the interests of the Common
'ealth, and because know that l am rep
csenting the almost unanimous opinion of L
~ constituents.
MIR. KENEAGY, Rep. vote "aye," t
nd will give my reasons when 60 home ;,
fter the next session.
Mr.. KINNEY, Rep. l vote may be- o
ause my own Judgment cannot be adverse a
! influenced 5
Mr. SELTZER, Rep, l vote "ayc," c
ecausc it is nobody else's business.
Mr.. PRESLEY, Rep. This is unu-
lal legislation. If We appropriate 5000. u
90 to the Smbury and Erie company, tt
ny should We not do the same for the il
onnellsyille, the IIempfeld, the Alleghe- n
y Valley and the North Western rail. a
Dads? Because they art all of Importance y
the State, Believing too, that no man d
presenting the feelings of majority of "