Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-10-01
TO THE FREEHoLDERS or THE
COMMONW EALTH OF PENNSYL-
FANiA.


Two weeks from to-day it will be your
privilege. in common with your fellow-citi-
zens, to elect a Governor for this great Com
monwealth, and whatever may be your pref
erence you have but two persons to select
from, the Hon. Jno. w Geary and the Hon.
AeaPacker, representing respectively the
Republican and Democratic parties Person
ally there can be no possible objection to
either Of these gentlemen, and hence it is for
you 70 decide whether you will entrust the
government Of the State to the Republican
or the Democratic party, and as you decide
this question you win cast your votes for
one Of these gentlemen Under these cir
eumstances it becomes our duty to examine
the record of each during the time they have
had control Of the State government. [
shall not enter into an investigation Of their
actions in relation to the many great nation
al questions that have agitated the public
mind for the last twenty five years, but the
more domestic one-How have they man
aged our own household?
On the 3Oth of November, IS42, the debt
of the Commonwealth had reached the sum
of $3T, 937, 1924, and from this time until
January, 1861, the Democratic party had al
most uninterrupted control of the State gov
ernment- twice only were they defeated in
the election for Governor, and during the
whole period they had majority in one or
the other branches of the State government,
and no measure could pass that did not at
least meet their approval. They levied tax
es on personal property, permitting nothing
to escape from the toilet to the stable. They
placed taxes on our corporations, discrimi-
mating against those built BY our own citi.
zens and for the purpose of developing our
vast mineral and agricultural resources, and
upon you, the free holders Of this Common
wealth, they levied taxes on your house
holds wholly unnecessary, and only to be
squandered among their parasites The sin
gle item Of taxes on your real estate during
this period amounted to the enormous sum
of tloeatg .Jfre millions of dollars, not one
dollar of which would have been needed had
they properly husbanded their other re-
sources. What did they do with this p
build railroads and canals-no they were al
ready completed on the contrary, they per.
mitted our State works to 60 to destruction.
so much so that when put up for sale, they
were disposed of at one-t third their original
cost, and were by no means cheap at that.
Did they pay off the Indebtedness of the
State? not a dollar; for on the first of
January, 1861, when the Republican party
came in power they found the debt of the
State S57, 969, $3.50 Thirty-two thousand
dollars IN excess of what it was eighteen
years before. The truth is these vast sums
were squandered for the purpose of retain.
ing power, and not until after an indignant
constituency had hurled them from mower
did We ever hear of Democrat advocating
an economical State administration-but let
US pass to the other side.
The Republican party came fully into
power in January, 1851, with a State debt
hanging over US Of S37, ,969, ,S47, so, and ere
three months had elapsed they were com
PEELED to borrow $4,000 600 for the purpose
OF arming and equipping our quota to aid in
crushing the shareholders rebellion.
Since the Inauguration of Governor Cur.
tin nine years have nearly expired, and
these have been nine years of Republican
rula-true at times the Democratic party
have bad control of one or more branches
OF the State government, but have never
held sufficient power to enable them 70
dictate the policy of the State. What has
been the result? The State debt on the
5oth Of November, ls6s, less funds in bank
to pay overdue loans not then presented,
was $32, ,293, ,25.
The State Treasurer is now proposing to
pay off one million Isl ,0OO, ,96D dollars of
the debt due July !. 1870. which will be
done as soon as presented, and for all prae-
tical purposes can be considered paid, which
leaves us with a debt of $Sl, 795, ,293. 90. or
Sc, Ia. .554. 2l less than when the Ranub.