Year: 1861

somewhat in advance Of the multitude, and
men who act up to the exiyencies of the times
must be in advance of the many. While hold


ing my present legislative position, when ques-
tions of general State interest are before us,my
first inquiry shall be are they right, just, equit-
able If satisfied they are shall sustain them
and then ifin turn am sustained by those who
sent me here, it will be matter of satisfac-
tion; if am not | shall fall back upon an in
ward consciousness of having done right, and
patiently wait the growth of more expanded
ideas in the public mind.


Legislators should have the forecaste of
Bacon. During his life he was charged with
may misdeeds and Pope wrote of him with a
pen dipped in the gall of bitterness, "Wisest,
greatest, meanest OF mankind"


Yet, sir, when the great philosopher laid
down to die, and looked for the last time upon
the sun in the heavens, he put this clause in
his will: "My estate | leave to my friends, my
reputation 20 postperity, after some time shall
be over and past" It is our duty to act not
only with reference to the prejudices Of the
present, but with equal regard for the second
sober thought of the future. But this is Suffi-
cient upon this topic. Allow me a word upon
another general idea. The development of each
individual section CT the State conduces to the
prosperity cf each other section, aud to the
greatness of the Commonwealth at large
And hence we should help each other by our
votes and influence in all audable efforts to Sc
cure development and improvements. But a
few years since, the people Of my district awoke
to the fact that though possessing as good a
country as G God ever bathed in the sunshine Of
noon day, yet they were blocIaded, hemmed


in, shat back from the maritime world, haV-
ing no outlet, no commercial thoroughfare by
which they could reach a general market
The consequences of this they felt to be Grip
pling and injurious. They appealed to the Leg
islatRre time and again for appropriations to
the North Branch canal, these appeals were
resisted by some but favored by more, aud we
thought those who resisted them narrow mind
ed and Liberal This is the point l wish to
be observed; the very men who listened to our
appeals and voted US appropriations are the
men who are now here in the Legislature and
oat Of it. from Eiie and all along the line of
this prOspecteG read, praying and mploring US
to treat them with Ike kindness and consider
alton. say to these men as | see them crowd


ing these halls with anxious countenanceS, l
say to them now and publicly gentlemen, We
thank you for your assistance in the hour of our
extremity, and in the name OF tbe ninth Sem
atorial district, | take the responsibility of re-
ciprocating your friendship and public spirit.
He that would have friends must show himself
friendy-you have showed yourselves friendly
and you shall not lack helping hand. You
ask not for appropriations, but for the leg
islati7e permit to raise your own funds and
construct your own road-securing to your
selves all its multiplied facilities and advant-
ages at home and abroad; and so far as my
vote is concerned, yosr prayer shall be answ-
cred. | have heard some illusions made to
the lobby. While | hold no intercourse with
certain portion of the lobby, | still claim it
to be the right Of the people to come to their
own Legislature and fully and freely declare
their wishes and wants, and it is my duty ever
to make them welcome, listen to their state
ments and aid them n securing their desired
objects.


| now pass from these general remarks, Mr.
Speaker and come to the bill itself The ply
sica condition of the road is this las miles
ll3 miles graded and ready for the superstruc-
ture, and 81 niles ungraded. Financially it
stands as follows Upon that part of the road
lying between Sunbury and Wiamsport there
is an original mortgage of one million Of dol
lars. By the act of last session there is an
other lien of six hundred thousand dollars
which takes precedence of the State in case
Of judicial sale OF the road by the Common
wealth Here, then, are 81 600, 900 ahead OF
the State, saying nothing about the claims OF
involved contractors amounting to several
hundred thousand dollars more Behind these
is the claim of the State for three and half
millions The road is unfinished, and large
portion Of it entirely imperative. The COM
pany cannot raise funds to complete it, they
cannot pay the State either the principal or in
terest of their Indebtedness, while their road
remains in its present condition ; they cannot
do it, sir, while grass grows or steam is gene
rated from water You know it, sir, and ev-
cry man on this floor must know it, for the cir
cumstanceS of the case demonstrate the fact.
If the State take no steps to force payment
she will get nothing, for the company hayo
nothing to pay if she crowds the road 70
pnblic sale she cannot bid it in, for she has
not the prior lienS-the Constitution forbids
her running in deb!. and furthermore. no one
would advise that the State should again be
entangled in the management of the public
works. for her past experience is both bitter
and satisfactory. ln case of a sale, then some
other party must bid on the road, and we are
all satisfied that it could not possibly sell for
more than the prior lien of 81 600, 900, and
that leaves the claim of the State efectuaHy
and cleanig iciped onH The argument then Is
this do nothing and yoG get nothing-sell the
road and yon get nothing.


The road lies in the meantime unfinished, and
that section of the State utterly undeveloped,
and the people groaning and signing and pray
ing for access to the world around them by
the completion Of the road This is our sitn.
alton. Now, will you do anything or not p