Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1867-01-23
FEW SERIES VOL. |. NO. 4S.

the human arm; that our vast deposits Of
iron ore should be made to take the form of
engines and other machinery, to be used as
substitutes to mere muscular force; and that
all our wonderful resources, material and
moral must and should be at once developed.
Such was the intent and meaning of the
brief resolution then and there adopted, to
be at the earliest practicable moment rati-
fed by Congress, as proved to be the case
when the Morrill, tariff, on the memorable
I'd of March, 1861, was made the law of the
land To that lay, aided as it was by the
admirable action of the Treasury in sup
plying the machinery of circulation, we
stand now indebted for the fact that we
have, in the short space of five years, pro-
duced more food, built more houses and
mills, opened more mines, constructed more
roads than ever before, and SO greatly added
to the wealth of the country, that the prop
erty of the loyal States would this day ex-
change for twice the quantity of gold than
could five years since have been obtained for
all the real and personal property, Southern
chattels excepted, of the whole of the
States and territories of which the Union
stands composed
If the principle of protection proved to bs
such a talisman in the time of war, shall We
reject it in time of peace? If an answer
were needed to this question, reference could
be had to the repeated concessions to this
principle by the recent free-traders of
the South. Scarcely one of the ambi-
tious men who led their unfortunate people
into rebellion but now freely admits that if
the South had manufactured their own fab
rics, on their own plantations, and cultivated
skilled labor in their great cities, they would
have been able to prolong their conflict with
the Government and now to enjoy substan-
tial, instead. of artificial prosperity. they
must invoke the very agencies they had so
long and so fatally disregarded. Words
need not be multiplied upon this important
theme, either to make my own position
stronger, or to impress upon the people the
value of adhering to a system which has
proved itself worthy of our continued sup
port, and of the imitation of its former op-
ponents
The exhibit of the finances Of the Com.
mouwealth, as presented in the late annual
message of my predecessor, and the report
Of the State Treasurer, is certainly very graf
flying and the hattering prospect of the
speedy extinguishment of the debt which
has been hanging, for SO many years, like a
dark cloud over the prospects of our State,
combined with the hope that reasonable
reduction will be made in our habitual an
nual expenditures, viii cheer the people on
ward in the pathway of duty
Among the most delicate and important
obligations required of those in official posi-
tons, is strict and faithful management of
the public revenues and expenditures Of the
Commonwealth. Taxation should be ap-
piled where its burdens may be least felt,
and where it is most just that it should be
borne. Every resource should be carefully
hus6anded, and the strictest economy prac-
tised, so that the credit of the State shall
be maintained on firm and enduring basis,
and the debt surely md steadily diminished,
until its final lextinguishment Unnecessary
delay in this would, in my opinion, be in
compatible with our true interests
That these expectations are capable of
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 the
prosperity of the State, so long as they
were managed by her agents, have been
sold; the tax on real estate has been abol-
ished, and considerable reductions have al
ready been made on the State debt.
This important branch Of the administra-
ton shall receive my constant and jealous
attention.
We are confessedly in transition state.
1t is marvellous how prejudice has persisted
in tbs furnace of war, and now, from the
very aches of old hatreds and old parties,
the truth rises purified and triumphant
The contest between the Executiveand Con-
gress twice elected by substantially the same
suffrages, contest so ANOMALOUS in our ex-
perience as not to have been anticipated by
the trainers of the National Constitut n,
has only served to develop the remarkable
energies Of our people, and to strengthen
them for future conflicts. That contest Is
virtually decided.
The victorious forces, physical and moral,
of the patriotic millions are simply pausing
before they perfect the work Of reconstruc-
ton Twenty-six states have not only been
saved from the confagration of war, but
have been crystalizcd in the saving. The
unrestored ten, still disafected and still def
ant seem to be providentially delaying their
return to the Union, so that when they re-
enter upon its obligations and It's blessings
they viii be the better able to fulfill the one