The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-01-13

tnat oi Cnlef Magistrate of the Com
monwealth. lie was over sixty.three
years OF age ut the time of his d,ath,
anu mas lett behind him an untarnishcd
fame.
Hon. WILLIAM w. WATT. late a
member of the Senate, departed his
life on the 18th of November last. lie
had served four successive years rs a
member OF the House of Representa-
lives, and was in the first year of his
Senat0rial term at the time of his death.
He was well.known and highly respect
ed, unassuIning In his manners, kind
and courteous in his department, and
In the discharge of his obligations,
whether of public or a private nature,
he won the esteem of those who knew
him.
The Legislature will, trust, not fail
to take suitable notice of the demise of
these two distinguished citizens, who,
during their lifetime, were so promi-
nent In rendering services for the pub.
lie welfare.
PARDoNs.
Accompanying this communicat ion
Will be found the report of pardons
granted during the past year. Com
pared with the increase of crime, and
tho great number of prisoners In the
Nceht Joiio ohh ptutC tIt
number is less than that of former years.
In exercising clemency toward persons
convicted of crime, l have strictly en-
deavored, under all circumstances, to
observe that caution and discretion con-
templated in the Constitution, and to
impartlally administer that merciful
prerogative and extend its beneficent
protection only for the correction of the
errors OF criminal Jurisprudence, the re.
lei OF those who may have been "cru-
ely" or excessively" punished, and
Those around whom cluster mitigations
and ameliorating circumstances.
The number of applications for par
don during the past year was twelve
hundred and forty, of which sixty.two,
or Mve per cent, were granted.
The Communication of sentences for
good behavior in prison, in accordance
with the law of 1869, has effected favor.
able results in the conduct of prisoners
ana their keepers find 1t great auxili
airy In maintaining wholesome prison
discipline. Its beneficial effect will
doubtless be manifest in the conduct OF
those who are released from prison be
cause OF Its reformatory influences, and
IL Is believed that fewer convicts dis
charged under it will return to criminal
pursuits than under the old system.
GENERAL REMARKS.
The cheerful aspect of national affairs
is II subject for congratulation. A pru.
dent and patriotic administration has
given to the country the substantial
fruition of the victories obtained IN The
late struggle for freedom and the Re-
public The discovered States have
been restored to the Union; peace reigns
triumphant through all our dominiOns;
hp of innal ara,lif ia acf hlichnI hnx,nnI
the possibility of successful assault, and
returning prosperity abOunds in every
State and department of the grovern-
ment
The doctrine of free trade, so bene.
fetal TO foreign interests and so inimical
to American industry, if carried out to
its legitimate results, would soon cause
American labor to be absolutely i'm
poverished, reduce the free and happy
millions of toilers to the degraded CON
dition of the down-trodden population
of Europe, and capital would no longer
seek enterprises thus rendered unremu-
nerative. Protection to our products
and manufactures, when rightly viewed,
is protection to labor against competi.
tion from abroad. Labor in the United
States commands higher wages than in
any other country. Consequently our
working men are the more elevated
Labor is the foundation of individual
aud national wealth, and those nations
that have most thoroughly protected it
from foreign competition have been
most prosperous. During the late war
the talismanic influences of protection
:" our home industries, and upon the
labor and capital invested, were obvious
in developing and raising them from
their paralized condition to the sub
stantial prosperity which has since per-
vaded the country. And, now, when it
has been so transcendently demonstra-
ted, that we are not only able to defend
ourselves, but what is equally impor-
tant, "to depend upon and live upon
our own resources;" and when the ad-
vocates of free trade are endeavoring to
persuade us to adopt the absurd theory,
that "tariffs hinder the development of
industry and the growth of wealth !"
why should not the wisdom of the gov
ernment make available the teachings
of experience, and at once legislate for
the good of the people? Why should 1t
not protect American labor, maintain
its compensation, give the producer
home market, and develop the unboun-
ded resources of the country. The duty
~ tea, coffee and tropical productions,
all inquisitorial and other taxation
Under the revenue laws, except upon
luxuries, whisky and other liquors, and
tobacco, should be repealed. Fortu-
nately in Pennsylvania there is but
little, if any, difference of opinion on
the subject of reasonable protective
policy. You cannot legslate upon this
subject, but you can, and you should,
instruct your Senators, and request your
Representatives in Congress, to use their
best eXertions to preserve us from the
baneful influences of free trade, to which
the emissaries of Great Britain, are now
with syren songs, so anXiOusly and in
dustriously endeavoring to lure us to
destruction.
After satisfactory adjustment of
duties on foreign productions, so as to
prevent the possibility of undue compe-
tition from abroad, and thorough re-
vision and modification of our system
of internal taxation, limit may safely
be placed to the annual reduction of the
National debt, say to fifty million dol
lars, except when great prosperity
should make the treasury over pie
thoric, and the occasional uneXpended
balances might be used in the purchase
of additional bonds.
The introduction of "Chinese CoOlie,"
or contract labor" is one of the great
est evils that can befal the toiling mill
ions of our country. Their presence is
not only ueRrdulnS Dol iupoNerisnluS
and paralyZing to our patriotic and in
telligent workingmen. 1t is new
species of slavery, equal in all its inju-
rious tendencies to that, the extinguish-
ment of which cost the nation such i'm
mense treasures, and so many thousands
of valuable lives. 1t should not be tole-
rated for single moment, as its results
will virtually be to debase and force
our workinginen into unnatural rivalry
with the dregs of the Chinese popula-
tion. Restrictive laws against the inn
portation of this kind of labor, such as
would stay its further progress, should
be enacted without any unnecessary
delay.
The claims against Great Britain for
depredations upon the commerce of our
citizens, by the piratical steamship Ala
bana, and other vessels, and the dis
puted rights of our fishermen in the
eastern waters are vet unsettled. The