The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-01-27
Letter from Hon. Georse..M. Pcndlcton.
NINNfNNNII, JHHs U, IoTI.
Malcolm Hdv, Esq, Chairman Con,mi
tee, &c., Pitisburgh:


your letter of the 3lst ult., inviting me
"to be present ut the banquet to be Civ
on by the Young Mems jackson Asso-
ciation on the 9th of January, and for
that occasion and while In Pittsburg, TO
the guest Of. the Association"
/ beg that you will express to the
gentlemen of the Association my appre
citation of the honor they have done
me, and my very great regret that 1t
will not be in my power to be present
at their festival. The example of your
Association is worthy of all imitation.
We need not recur constantly to the
memories of the past in order that we
may properly appreciate and perform
the duti IS of the present; and of all
our anniversaries there is none whose
recolections are more beneiicent than
the Sth of January. 1t recalls not only
victory of arms, but also heroic per-
sonal character. The victory at New
Orleans illustrated the annals of our
country-the virtues of Andrew Jack
son illustrated the history of our race.
Firmness, honesty, independence,
love of liberty, an exalted patriotism,
an abiding trust in the integrity and
wisdom Of the people were his charac.
teristics and enabled him to appeal
with irresistible force to the people for
sympathy and support.
These recollections should be especi.
ally attractive to the people of Pennsyl-
vania, for to your State he was indebt.
cd for more hearty and unanimous
support than any other except Tennes-
see.
The condition Of the country, the ext
gencies and aimonitions of the times,
compel thoughtful men to examine
closely the conduct of public affairs,
and the character and policy of the
men entrusted with their management.
What interest in the country is con-
tent? From which one of them all is
there not well founded complaint?
The Commercial The shipping
swept from the ocean during the war,
has not been replaced, and the trade of
the country is carried under the flag of
beligerent nations rather than under
the neutral flag of the United States.
The manufacturing 1t is true that
the protective tariff policy has been so
organized in detail as to defeat the very
end which its friends profess to have in
view. The materials have been so
much enhanced in value to the manu-
facturer as to prevent the sale of the ar
ticle produced
Barter and Trade! Read the list of
failures in every paper, and see how fa-
tally the shrinking values are breaking
down the active busy men of this gen.
Grafton.
Agriculture {! What is the price of
corn and wheat tot day?
Industry! Men are idle wages have
been reduced, and the scanty store laid
by for sickness and old age is melting
away in the presence of inactive capi.
tai and unoccupied hands.
Taxation Reduced nominally.
somewhat, is more onerow- ,iidn ever.
nh, amount paid though not SO great
is more valuable and the exactions are
more grevious as they are spent in pay
ing premium on the bonds which by
law and in equity should be paid at par
and enormous amounts of capital are
unjustly exempted from taxation.
l know the tendency in all countries
is to attribute every depression of ev-
cry business interest to the government
and to look to the government for relief.
do not sympathize with that feeling.
The causes of disaster are generally to be
found in violation of the laws of trade
and disregard of the economy, and
the surest relief is generally to be found
is wise fore-thought and careful man
agement. Yet it is true that the
vast power conferred ON the Treasury
Department by legislation and by the
collection and disbursement of i'm.
mense sums of money, have made'ev-
cry interest in the country subservient
to its control, and now more than ever
before the government is responsible
for the prosperity of the country.
If ev er the industry of the country
had cause to complain of an admins
tration it is now. Capital has full pow
er and controls absolutely in financial
policy. BY rapid contraction of the
currency it has brought ruin and bank
ruptcy on thousands of the best men in
the land. Every farmer who aided to
put it in power voted to reduce the
price of his wheat, and corn, and pork
every mechanic to reduce his wages
and curtail his work every merchant
to diminish the value of his stock and
increase the burthen of his debts. These
results were all foretold. Men would
not believe. Now they see.
need scarcely remind you that one
party has for ten consecutive years had
possession of the government, and thus
developed its policy and character
Coming in on the assertion that he
would have no policy contrary to the
wish of Congress, the President of its
selection has beeu beyond all Others,
an active and persistent advocate of
his own measures, and has even ven
tured in formal State paper to stigma
tize as an act of folly an adherence to
its own views by the Senate of the
United States.
Pledged to reform, the supporters of
the administration do not hesitate to
charge on the President and his most
intimate associates, the most fagrant
corruption in his foreign policy, and
the pettiest malevolence in the appoint
ment and dismissal of the highest Off
GERS in the service of the government.
Invoking the confidence of all con.
tending elements, and allaying of all
passions by the aspiration ''let us have
peace" it has sent troops to New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware
to control ballot-boxes, and to Georgia
to intimidate the voters.
Avowing an honest disposition for
civil service reform, it has displaced