Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-24
NUMBER 81

ton, has already been demonstrated.
I The public improvements, the cause
Of our heavy debt, which seemed to
be an incubus upon the prosperity Of
the State, so long as they were man
aged by her agents, have been sold /;
the tax Oh real estate has been abol-
ished, and considerable reductions
have already been made on the State
debt.
This important branch of the adj
ministration sh III receive my con-
slant and Jealous attention.
EXECUTION OF THE LAWS.
The general and essential princi-
plies of law and liberty, declared in
the Constitution Of Pennsylvania,
shall be watchfulIy guarded. 1t will
be my highest ambition to administer
the government in the true spirit of
that instrument. Care shall be tax.
en- "that the laws faithfully execut-
ed" and the decisions of the courts
respected and enforced if within their
authorized jurisdiction Influenced
only by considerations for the public
welfare, it is my imperative duty to
see that justice be impartially admin
istered. That merciful provision, the
pardoning po1oer, conferred upon the
Executive doubtlessly for correcting
only the errors Of criminal jurispru-
dence, and securing justice, shall not
he perverted to the indiscriminate
protection of those who may be Just
ly sentenced to bear penalties for in
fractions Of the laws made for the Sc
curity and protection Of society
Those cruelty or excessively
punished, or enormously convicted are
alone entitled to its benefcent pro-
lection, and only such should expect
its exercise in their behalf
Whenever the people deem it ex-
pedient or neces ssary, from actual ex-
perience, to alter the laws, or to amend
the Constitution, it is their undoubt-
ed right to do so, according to the
mode prescribed within itself. | here
repeat, what | have said elsewhere,
that $50 long as the people feel that
the power to alter or change the
character Of the government abides in
them, so long will they be impressed
with sense Of security and of dig
nifty which must ever spring from
the consciousness that they hold with
in their own hands a remedy for eve
~ political evil, a corrective for eve
ry governmental abuse and usurpa-
ton
THE NATIONAL SITUATION.
We are confessedly in a transition
state. 1t is marvellous how prejudice
has perished in the furnace Of war,
and how, from the very ashes of old
hatreds and old parties, the truth ris-
es purified and triumphant. The con-
test between the Executive and a
Congress twice elected by substan-
tally the same sufrages, a contest
SO anomalous in our experience as
not to have been anticipated by the
trainers of the National Constitution,
has only served to develop the re.
markable energies Of our people, and
to strengthen them for future con-
flicts That contest is virtually de-
cided.
The victorious forces, physical and
moral, of the patriotic millions, are
simply pausing before they perfect
the work Of reconstruction. Twenty
six States have not only been saved
from the conhagration of war, but
have been crystalized in the saving.
The unrestored ten, still disaffected
ard still defiant, seem to be Provi-
dentially delaying their return to the
Union, SO that when they re-enter
upon its obligations and its blessings
they will be the better able to fulfil
the one and enjoy the other Their
condition is a fearful warning t1 men
and nations and especially t, our
selves.
Until slavery fell we did not fully
understand the value OF Republican
Institutions Accustomed 10 toler-
ate, and in many cases to defend
slavery, we did not feel that its close
proximity, so far from assisting, was
gradually destroying our liberties :
and it was only when rebellion tore
away the mask, that we saw the hid
cons features of the monster that was
eating out the vitalS OF the Republic.
. II We are now astonished and
shocked at the exhibition Of cruelty
and ingratitude among those who,
having inaugurated and prosecuted
a causeless war against a generous
government, and having been permit
ted 10 escape the punishment they
deserve, are once more arragantly
clamoring to assume control Of the
deStinieS OF this great nation. how
much greater cause would VIC have
had tOr surprise lad slavery been
permitted 20 increase aud multiply
Boast Us We may Of our material
and our moral victories, yet is II not
true that there is no such thing as a
Republican government in the ten
States that began and carried on tie
war: There is not, to-day, d despot-
ic State in Europe where the rights
Of the Individual man are so deflntly
trampled under foot. "a in the sec
tiuns which were Supposed to have
been brought into full submission to
the government Of the [ nited States.
But the disease has suggested its
Providential cure.
The abhorrent doctrine, that defeat
ed treason shall not only be magnan
imously pardoued, but introduced TO
yet stronger privileges, because Of
its guilty failure, seems t. have been
insisted upon, as if to strengthen ;he
better and the contrasting doctrine,
that a nation. having cDDuuereI its