Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-01-16

dark cloud over the prosl lects of our St.,
combined with the hope that 8 reasonsJI
reduction will be made In our habitusI
nual expenditures, will cheer the people :.
ward In the pathway of duty.
Among the most delicate and impor...
obligations required of those in official NJ.
tions, is strict and faithful managemen,ss -
the publc revenues and expenditures of Il.
Commonwealth. Taxation should he .-s :.
FLIED where Its burdens may be least ssp
and where it is most just that it shouldI,.
borne. Every resource should be careful,
husbanded, and the strictest economy n--:
be maintained on a firm and enduring b.Si
and tie debt surely and steadily diminjsbsS
until its final extinguishment. Unnecess,-,
delay in this would, in my opinion. be T.
compatible with our true interests.
That these expectations are capable or
speedy and certain consummation, has Al
ready been demonstrated The public i'm
provements, the cause of our heavy debt
which seemed TO be an incubus upon tLs
prosperity of the State, so long as tber
were managed by her agents, have be-n
sold; the tax on real estate has been abo.
ished, and considerable reductions b.vs
already been made on the State debt.
This important branch of the administrs.
tion shall receive my constant and zeam,
attention.
EXECUTION OF THE LAWS
The general and essential principles of Il,
and liberty, declared in the Constitution AZ
Pennsylvania, shall be watchfully guarded
1t will be my highest ambition TO admins.
| ter the government in the true spirit of ,hs,
instrument. Care shall be taken that the
laws be faithfully executed, and the decis
ions of the courts respected and enforced
if within their authorized jurisdiction In
fiuenced only by considerations for the pub.
lie welfare, 1t is my imperative duty to zee
that justice be impartially adminis.e-ed.
That merciful provision, the pardoHing posc.
er, conferred upon the Executive DOUBTLESS.
ly for correcting only the errors of criminal
Jurisprudence, and securing justice, shalpo,
be perverted to the indiscriminate protec
tion of those who may be justly sentenced
to bear penalties for infractions of the law.
made for the security and prott ction Of 80
ciety Those 'cruelly' or excessively"
punished or enormously convicted are =
lone entitled to its beneicent protection,aad
only such should expect its exercise in Their
behalf
Whenever the people deem it eypedirat
or necessary, from actual experience. to a.
ter the laws, or to amend the Consttu,ian,
it Is their uA,ioubted right u Do So acco,l.
ing to the mode prescribed within itself I
here repeat. what | have said elsewhere tia.
so long as the people feel that the power
| to alter or change the character OF the grA-
ernment abides in them, so long will li.r
| be impressed with a sense ofsecuriTy and Of
| dignity which must ever spring from i.le
consciousness that they hold within their
own hands remedy for every political evil,
| a corrective for every governmental abu,.
and usurpation.
THE NATIONAL s-rUATioS.
We are confessedly IN a transition state
1t Is marvellous how prejudice has perishA
in the furnace of war, aud how. from The
very ashes of old hatreds and Old partir.
the truth rises purified and triumpham
| The contest between the Executive anda
| Congress twice elected by substantially tie
same suffrages, contest so anomalous ia
our experience as not to have been antcipa
ted by the trainers Of the National Const.
tuition, has only served to de, ,elOp the II
markable energies OF our people, aud
strengthen them for future conflicts. Th.t
contest is virtually decided.
The victorious forces, physical and mOTal
of the patriotic millions, are simply pau.
ing before they perfect the work Of ie
| cOuStTuCllOu. INSNtA Clate> nave HH
only been saved from the cOnfiagrationd
war, but have been crystaliZed in the saT,
| ing. The unrestored ten, still diSaffec;ed
and still defiant, seem TO be ProvldentlaIy
delaying their return to the Union, 50 thai
when they re-enter upon It's obligations and
its blessings they will be the better abeto
fulfil the one and enjoy the other. Ihaf
condition is fearful warning to men and
na.ions, and especially TO ourselves
Until slavery fell We did not fully under
stand the value of Republican institutions
Accustomed to tolerate, and in many cass
to defend slavery, we did not feel thatIs
clio e proximity, so far from assisting, wa
gradually destroying our liberties and U
was only when rebellion tore away the nass
that we saw the hideous features of the mon-
ster that was eating out the vitals Of the he
public
If we are now astonished and shOckedf
the exhibition of cruelty and ingratItuds
among those who, having inaugurated ADD
/ prosecuted a causeless war against geDel
Gus government, and having been permtisa
to escape the punishment they deserve M
once more arrogantly clamOring TO assume
control of the deStinies OF this great natol
how much greater cause would we have na4
/ for surprise had slavery been permitted
increase and multiply?
Boast as We may Of our material and OI
moral victories, yet is it not true that lns'
is no such thing as a Republican govern
ment in the ten States that began and cal
ried on the war? There is not, today
despotic State in Europe where the rlgns
. of the individual man are so deiantly tIsJI
pied under foot, as in the sections WnEA
were supposed to have been brought II~
full submission to the government Of w
United States But the disease has 's
gested its Providential cure. ,.-
The abhorrent doctrine, that defeated As,
son shall not only be magnanimousy y,