-American 9® Uoluiitcfr.
MJOHNB BRATTON.
VOL. 38.
tDomtcal.
REMARKS OF MR. BONHAM,
On the Finances of the ‘ Commonwealth , delivered be
fore the “ Bigler Club ” of Carlisle, Augutl 30M,
1651.
Mr. PnEgIDKNT AND O&NTLBMBN— At this Crisis of
tho Gubernatorial canvass in this State, the financial
policy of .the Commonwealth under the present and
previous administrations is becoming a prominent
topic of agitation. Independent of those questions
of national policy, which aro of primary Importance,
(but which I do not propose to discuss on tho present
occasion,) it is almost the only one at issue between
the two parties. 1 propose to submit to-your con
bidorolion a few plain facts oh this subject, believing
(hat they aro a full vindication of tho policy.of tho
Democratic parly in their administration of tho
financial affairs of tho Commonwealth’; and’ an cm*
photic rebuke to pretensions that have been recently
advanced by tho present Executive of the State,
which, to say tho least, ore neither modest nor be
coming in a public officer, and which aro contrary
to tho truth of history.
Before I proceed to tho discussion, I take thie-oo*
casion to refer to a' matter personal, to myself, and I
which is indirectly connected with tho subject under I
consideration. - |
Tho editor of tho Carlisle Herald has been good,
humorediy u keeping before the people, h my vote on i
tho appropriation bill last winter, in which provis.
ions woromade fur two loans—one of 9250,000 for
avoiding the inclined planes on tho Allegheny Por«
(ago Railroad—and the other.of 908,000 fur ienprov.
ing the curves on tho Columbia Railway.
The sinccrily of those who find-fault with tho
Democratic members of tho House of Representatives
fur voting for these two appropriations, may be.judg
od of from tho fact that tho. Whjgs of the two. Houses
voted for a loan of $1,000,000 tinder circumstances
which 1 shall detail, and yet no word of. censure is
uttered against them.
It is welt recollected that Gov. Johnston was the
father of the “ Relief Law,” as it was commonly!
called, which was passed -the 4th May, 1841, autho
rizing an issue of 93,000,000 of government scrip,
directly in tho face of tbo.TOlh section of tho Ist
Article of tho Constitution of tho United States,
which ho was sworn'then and is sworn now to sup
port, which expressly declares that “ no State shall
coin money or emit bills of credit.” .These relief
notes had been partially .cancelled by Governor
Shank's administration, and it was his ardent desire
that they should bo entirely destroyed, as soon as the
resources of tho treasury wouldadmil of that good
work being accomplished. It has, however, been
the policy of Gov. Johnston's administration to keep
alive this unconstitutional issue of paper; and accor
dingly an act was passed on tho 10th April, 1840,
authorizing new .issues to be made of those relief
notes iii the place of the old ones, at an expense to
tho Commonwealth 0f910,940 OU, 09 appears by (ho
report of the Auditor General for the year 1850, page
57. The cancelling of these notes has been suspsn
ded, and it was tho desire of this administration, that
another large omission of this government scrip
bhould bo made. .
Accordingly, when tho appropriation bill passed ,
the House of Representatives and went over to Clio ,
Senate, Mr. Konigrnachcr, a Senator from Lancaster, |
and. a personal and political friend of tho present
Governor, roso in his place, and moved to strike out ,
thO ssblion.boforo referred to. and insert in lien there* (
.i)T«'lioMWn’'tiulhoTlKlnge roUef Iniin of 81,000,000 ,
appropriating 8400,000 to the'North Branch Cahali <
8900,000 to avoiding Iho mountain planes, and ,
$300,000 to straightening Iho curves on tho Colum. ,
bis railway. Thus was a loan of ono million of ]
dollars proposed, a loan, too, in tho most objections* ,
ble farm, that of an issue of small notes in uncon. ,
stitutional government scrip. Hero wds a proposition t
to increase tho Stale debt, not 83*18,000, but $1,000,* (
000, and every Whig member of Iho Senate voted ,
for it; and it passed that body, and the appropriation j
bill camo back to tho House ofßoprosontalives with ,
this unsightly fungus hanging upon it. So anxious ,
was tho Governor to forco this obnoxious measure ,
through, (hat his particular friends, both in and out |
of tho House, threatened that ho would veto tho bill ;
if that provision was stricken out# Tho democratic ,
members wore firm. Tho House refused to concur j
in the amendment of the Senate, and a committee of ,
conference followed. That committee consisted of .
the following members: Messrs. Rhey (Armstrong,) ,
Brindlo (Lycoming,) and myself, democrats, and ,
Messrs. Hart (City,) arid Linton (Cambria,) Whigs, |
appointed on tho part of tho House—Messrs. ICon* (
ighmachor Brooks (Chester,) Myers ,
(Clarion,) Packer (Lycoming.) and Ives (Potter, &o.) t
appointed on the part of tho Senate. It is not too t
much to say, that by tho firmness of the House com* ,
rniltoe, the relief note project, the relief loan of 81,* |
000,QUO was defeated. It was the settled dotormi*
nation of the democratic members of tlio House cbm.
milteo to suffer the appropriation bill to fall, and
adjourn without passing ono, rather than yield to
tins ill advised scheme. The bill did fall, but not so
near the end of tho session as to prevent another
being passed in its place.
I have now a word to say on the merits of tho op*
propriations made by tho Honso bill, and for which
the democratic members of that body sro oiraignod
on the charge of voting to increase tho Slate,debt.
Those appropriations can bo successfully defended
bn tho strictest principles of economy and sound
slate policy, It was not a new and untried oxpori.
moot, but had been tried with tho happiest results in ,
tho appropriation before mado (o avoid tho inclined
piano on the Columbia road, at tho Sohuylkill, by tho
38th section of the not of 10ih April, 18*19, which
authorized a loan of $400,000 for lligt purpose. Tho
saving ofmoliva power, and the ftxponscs of keeping 1
tho plane in repair much more than pays the interest '
of tho loan, and will soon realize the amount of tho
principal—to say nothing of tho groat convenience 1
to tho public. Forwarding men can now mako n
return trip to Columbia, tho same day, from tho oity,
which formerly took tho best of two days, going and
coming, thus largely increasing the tolls on the road.
Tho oast ofavoiding tho Schuylkill jdana maybe
elated as follows, taken from tho official records:—
The amount expended under tho act referred to, for
tlio fiscal year ending tho 3Ulh Nov. 1849, according
to tho report of the Auditor Gonorat, was 823,000
for tho yoar ending 30lh N0v.,1850, 8280,440 02-
total, $309,440 02. Tho old road oust of tho piano
was sold to Iho Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
Company, by tho Conal Commissioners, in ncoor.
dance with tho 39th section of tho oct of lOlh May,
1850, os appears by thoir report for tho fiscal yoar
ending 30th Nov. 1850, (jingo, 9) for tho gum of
8243,200. They say olso thaT they have Tossrved
property on thot portion of tlio road sold, which,
when disposed of, will probably swell tho amount
received for the road cast of tho inclined piano to
$350,000. , .
By tho 441 h section of tho appropriation bill of last
winter, the Canal Commissioners aro authorized to
eel! that part of the rood from tho foot of tho plane
westward to tho point of intersection with tlio road
constructed to avoid said plono. I understand from
reliable oulhority that they have sold that portion o
the road also, to tho Philadelphia and Reading rail
road company for tho sum of 8100,000—whloh» ad
ded to the 8250,000 already named, makes 8050,000
for tho old road alone.
If wo add to the $309,446 09, tho cost of the road
to avoid tho plane, tho sum of 840,180 00 oppropri.
nlcd by the 40th section of tho last appropriation
blllj.for that portion of the West Philadelphia Rail*
road occupied and now used by the Commonwealth,
Wo have tho whole oust of tho road and damages, so
far as ascertained, at tho sum of 8349,020 03—loss
only by $373 98 than tho amount received and lobe
received for tho old road. , ~,,,
The annual expense of keeping up tlio Suhaylklll
plane was slated by tho Canal Commissioners in their
report for the fiscal yoar ending 30lh Nov. 1848, to
ba equal to tho interest at' six per cent, of a Capital
«f not loss than s4fio,ooo-or $27,000. They stated
also that at that period there was a lose to each
burthen train in the time necessary to make a trip, t
of from 25 to 30 per cent., in consequence of tho
dolay-oaused bypassing up and*down the piano—
thus adding much to (ho cost of transportation.
There wore many notwithstanding who violently
opposed tho appropriation and loan to avoid this
plane, on the ground (hat it would Increase,tho Stale
I dobl. . So far, however, from that being th*o case, wo
I find it is an annual saving of the amount required to
( keep the plane in repair, of probably 930,000, to say
nothing of the increased revenue of $50,000 more,
which U will now. yield by reason of the increased
capacity of the road for business. This was not an
appropriation for tho Gettysburg Railroad, tho Sin
nemo honing extension, the Wiscopiscb feeder, and
other similar projects, which wore iho coup d'etat
of Joseph Ritnor's.administration, upon which mil
lions of money wore absolutely lost, as much so as
ifit had been sunk in tho depths of the sea, but a
maltor-of slatosmanUko policy and sound economy;
Now tho proposed loans to avoid tho planes on tho
Portage Railway, and to. improve tho curves on tho’
Columbia road, would have been equally, as sound
policy on the part of the Commonwealth.
' Tho expense of keeping up those planes has been
immense, annually as much as thd revenue derived
from tho State improvements on tho whole mountain
section from Holliduysburg (0 Johnstown, paying
| nothing whatever upon tho cost of construction.
I For the fiscal year ending 30lh Nov. 1848, as. op- .
I pears by tho report of the Canal Commissioners, tho
I receipts an tho Portage road were $241,817 45,and the 1
!expenses for-roelivo power, i&o„ worp $247,844 17,
bringing tho State in debt 96,02(5 72 on that portion
of tho improvements.
Far tho fiscal yoar ending 30lh Nov. 1640, as op- 1
pears by the same authority, the receipts on (hat road 1
wore 9220,466 56, and tho expenses $222,663 11,
being $2,106 55 more’than the receipts.
For tho year ending 30th Nov. 1850, (he receipts 1
were 9219,203 73, and tho ordinary expenses wore
$212,879 77, being $6,323 96 in favor of the Com
muhwoallh. Rut by referring to the report of the
Auditor General for tho same period, tho fiscal year
ending 30lh Nov. 1850, wo find tho ordinary and
extraordinary expenditures amount to the sum of
$332,529 32, bringing tho state in debt by that im
provement during tho year tho round sum of $113,-
325 59.
The tables of receipts and expenditures aro made
up by tho Canal Commissioners from tho actual d*
mount of lolls received during tho year, and the.en
tire cost of motive power, repairs, oxpoascs of cob
lection, &.o. Tho exhibits of the accounting depart
ments, the Treasury and Auditor General's office,
aro made up from settlements to the close of tlio
fiscal yoar, which explain any apparent discrepancy
between them. It sometimes happens that tlio ac
counts of ono year aro finally audited and settled in
thonoxt. ilonoo by the Auditor General’s report
for tho yoar 1848, the expenses on tho porlago road
wore $213,173 11, being $34,07.1 00 less than the
receipts—and for the year 1849, (hoy were by tho
same report 8202,542 14, being 820,120 96 loss Ilian
tho receipts, whilo. for. tho fiscal year 1850,.by the
report of tho same department the expenses'of (hut
road pro 8113,325 59, greater than the receipts.
Enough, however, is thus soon from thoso statistics
(o show that this part of our public improvements, us
it stands, is a constant drain upon tho treasury of
more than the.interest of the cost of its construction,
which was $1,828,461 35, and (hat something should
bo done to remedy the evil.
This is tho more important at this crisis of our
affairs than over, from the fact that a rival improve
ment, the groat Central Railroad, is'now steadily
pushing ‘ across tho Allegheny*, and bnJng bulll
without planes, will take tlio trade and travel entirely
off the State road at that point; end not only so', but
seriously injure tho Pennsylvania Canal. It is well
known that tho Central road diverges from (ho lino
of canal at Petersburg on the Juniata, about forty
miles, below Hotlidaysburg, and follows up tho Lilllu
Juniata to Ailona, some seven or eight miles from
tho former place, end from thence will cross the
mountains some distance from tho Porlago road. It
is not to bo supposed that a road with planes,
and (heir attendant hindcranccs and expense, can
compote with a road without thorn. Tho transpor
tation and-travel would naturally therefore lake the
Central Railroad route, and passing from Johnstown
down to Petersburg by tho way of Ailona, across tho
mountains, would leave some forty miles of tho oanal,
from llollidaysburg to Petersburg, and Iho Pottage
road thirty-six and sevon.lcnlh miles in length, com
paratively unoccupied, (o (ho serious detriment of
tho revenues of tho Commonwealth. Besides, if a
transhipment did not tako plaoo at Ilollidaysbuig
before reaching Petersburg, oven of heavy articles,
they would most likely continue on (ho Cuhlrarfoad
to its point of intersection with the Harrisburg, M(.
Joy ond Lancaster road, or tho Columbia road, and
thus cripple tho revenues of the Commonwealth on
tho whole lino of canal from llollidaysburg to Co
luinbia.
1 consider, therefore,an avoidance ofllio pianos on
the Portage road as vital to tho interests of the Com
monwealth, and 1 shall sustain that measure as long,
as 1 have the honor to represent, in part, the people
of this county at the seal of government.
■ Out its construction would bo an.immodiatosaving
to the Commonwealth of some ninety thousand dol
lars annually in actual outlay, enough to pay the
Interest on a debt of $1,500,000, so can bo satisfac
torily proved, not to mention tho accessions of reven
ue in retaining and largely Increasing tho travel and
transportation upon tho Stale improvements. It is
said by experienced engineers that with the neces
sary Biddings, five times the tonnago could bo passed
over a single tradk without planes, that is now passed
over tho present road, and with loss confusion.
Besides the great rival for the trade and travel of
the West within our own borders, tho Central Kailr
road, wo have also tho Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
on tho South, and tho New York and Erie road on
tho North, both penetrating tho heart of a most ex.
tensive and.fertile region, that has. heretofore boon
principally tributary to our own improvements.
Ifuny other considerations wore necessary to move
tho Legislature in this matter, there is an additional
fact entitled to groat weight, whioh is, that tho Por
tage road is now in suoli a state of dilapidation and
decay, as.to require to be newly laid within lees than
two years, at a cost of perhaps $300,000, nearly one
half of what would bp necessary to avoid tho pianos
onlirbly.
An bxerlion, therefore, would soem to bo absolutely
necessary to maintain the revenues and credit of tho
Commonwealth. Tho only remaining question is to
ascertain whether (he avoidance of those planes Is
practicable, and within tho moans of tho treasury.
-In addition to the statistics 1 havo already fur
nished as to tho expenses of tho Portage road, I would
refer to tho estimated coat for motive power, trucks,
cars, running 6xponso* t &0., and for repairs on (his
road for tho present'year, ending 30t)i Nov. 1851,
made by tho present able. Superintendent of (hat dl
vision‘.of our improvements, William S. Campbell,
Esq. This estimate is for motive power, &0., $229,.
GOG 28—for repairs, $63.825 00—total, $286,431.28
—which Is probably rather below than above what
will bo the actual outlay.
By tho report or Robert Faricn, Eaq., the engineer
appointed in purananoo oflbo act of 10th May, 1650,
to make a aurvoy of a rout to avoid tho Inollned
I’ianoa on llio Altogliony Portage Railroad, aubmiltod
to tho Board of Canal Commlasionora, January aOlh,
1851, ahd oommunloatod by thorn to llio Ilouao of
Roproaonlolivoa, February 7th, 1851, ho alaloa that
tho road oan bo mado with a ainglo trvok.nl a ma*. 1
iniotn grade of olxty (bol, for $1,125,000—at a inax
llnum grade ofaovonly.nvo fool, for •1,015,000-al
aTxlmum grade ofoighly.riva fool fee 9027.500-.
nt a maximum grado of nmoly-fivo foot, for 880.»,.
83 Tho OBliinnlo for exponaoa and ropuira on llio Por
tage road 08 wo Imvo boforo atalod, lor llio yoar end
ing 3011. Nov., 1851. ia 9281,,1.11. Jho coat «""•
otniotinn of llio road nt a grade of alxty foo l
91,125,000, tbo interval on tho coat, at aix por coni.,
would bo 907,600. Tbo oaponaoauf motive power,
oara, Iruoka, ropuira of road, Jko, aa oaloulalod Irmrt
tho gamu uxpemoi on llio Columbia rood, would bo
* OUR COUNTRY—WAT I TALWAYS D* RlbjlT— BUT OIITOH WRONG ,OUR COUNTRY "
CARLISLE, FA-, THURSDAY* SEPTEMBER 11, 1851.
'Bl36.62s—making (ho interest bn (ho cost of con-
Btruolion, and (ho expenses of (ho road at $204,125
boinjfah annual saving of $82,306. By (ho same
calculation wo find that on a road, with thi grade of ,
seven ty-fivofocl, tho annual saving would UosBB,ssB
—on that of a grade, of oighty-fivo foot, it would
bo s93,6B9—arid on that of a grade of ninety fita
feet, it would bo $94,875. . . •
The value, of the old materials on iho old rpaq la,
estimated by Mr. Farios to bo
$16,000 —total . s264,6so—which deducted Tram the
lowest estimate of the cost of the road, $395,884,
would leave for tlio actual cost of thoaiiw roiilo •
s63l,lB4—the interest of which would bo only 837,.
871.04. . The annual saving as 1 have shown in tho
actual expenses of the two roads is nearly 8100,000,
sufficient to pay the interest and in a short iitno
liquidate tho principal. But. the great gain to the
commonwealth, would be tho incroused'rovonuo such
an improvement would bring upon the .whole lino of
our public works, from Philadelphia 1 to Pittsburg,
amounting, perhaps, to nearly one half a million of
dollars annually. ,1 venture tho assertion that, (bps
increased'revenue would pay fur lho.whbJ<Umpfov«£
raent in less than three years, -
Tho sumo beneficial effects will onsue’ffpm thp
proposed improvement of (ho curves on (ho Columbia
rail road. The capacity for business of that road
will bo thus vastly increased, and produce a largo
accession to the revenues of (ho commonwealth.
This improvement is the more necessary' from the
Central road acting.as q Teodor to this State work,
which will tax its utmost capacity, by the increased
travel and transportation thus thrown upon it.
■Notwithstanding nil the clamor of the Whig press,
cs of the Stale about the Democrats desiring to in
crease tho State debt, wo thus find tho action pf tho
Democratic members of tho Legislature sustained;
by facts and figures—while nothing whatever is
said by these unscrupulous prints againsl Govornor
Johnston and the. Whig members of tho Senate and
House of Representatives, for endeavoring to force
upon the people of the' State a relitf loan, In the
shape of an unconstitutional Issue of “ bills of cred
it,** of ONR MILLION Of DOLLARS. TIIO justice of tllO
policy of the Democratic members is fully vindica
tod by the rosullof tho $lOO,OOO loan and approprta
lion for avoiding tho Schuylkill plane. Everybody
now admits the sound policy of that measure, And
by looking nt tho appropriation bill of last session,
of 15th April, 1851, you will find in (ho 48lh section
an absolute appropriation'b£.sl7S,ooo for the com- i
pletion of. tlio North Branch ,oanol, and $175,000
also to avoid tho plamfcv.oh tho Allegheny Portage
railway—and any money in
the treasury, to bu equally divided between those two
improvements. So hero yon havp'lwd absolute ap
propriations of $350,000, binding tbo)Stqto to that
amount of indebtedness, but moans at
tho time the appropriations are made fdi\ thoir- liqui
dation. 1 hold that it is-lho duty of any* legislative
body wbon it contracts debts, to provide the same
time for tho moans of payment. It loads to-cauUon
on the part of tho’representative, and holds ‘him to
a strict accounlobilUy. Had that policy been* pur.
sued in Pennsylvania, her public debt would at tins
hour bo less than $20,000,000. When appropria
tions of tho people's money are made, lot tho moans
of payment bo immediately provided, either by nu
king a loan or by increased -taxation, and
the people will know what their representatives
are doing, ond I venture to say that under such
a system tho representative will not bo likdly to
volo for a foolish appropriation. Tho policy of
Iho Whig : parly.-in'this B|atq seems, boon
to make extravagant appropriations but'to provide
ntfnioaiid of pay montT" Tl/al' Wss tllo"l\ltncr-ancr
Srovoos -policy. They contracted any nm’bunl of
debt, but because no loans wore made by. them to
moot it, they scorned to think it was no debt at all,
although the faith and honor of the commonwealth
woro pledged fur its payment. That also appears to
bo tho Johnston policy. Ho was witling to expend
a million of dollars in tlio shape of “ relief notes"
if no bonds wore issued by tho commonwealth for
its redemption. It was then, according to this now
Tangled policy, no incrcaso of tho Stale debt.
But besides tho absolute appropriation of $350,000
by tho 48(h section of tlio uol just referred to, for
(ho Forlogo railway, and tho North Brunch canal,
there is also by the 551 h section of the same act a
loan of $98,000 at tho rate of six per cent, author*
iaod, reimbursable after (ho first day of December
next, which loan is to bo immediately applied -to
improving (ho curves on tho Columbia rail road.
So hero are ihieo appropriations made of $148,000
in tho aggregate, two of them without loan and one
with, which wore supported by the Whigs and ap*
proved by tho Governor, about which their presses
and orators are dumb—while the vote of the Demo*
crallo members for an appropriation of $350,000 to
avoid tlio planes,on the I’ortago road;and $98,000
to straighten tho curves on tho Columbia railway,
amounting in all to only 8348,000, being $lOO,OOO
less than is contained in the bill approved by their
own Governor—that vole, I say, is to bo hold up as
an unpardonable sin, and tho name of my humblo
self in glaring capitals.
1 voted against tho appropriation bill, which final
ly became a law, because it appropriated more
money than (ho first bill, and appropriated it to the
wrong places, and finally because it was shaped to
avoid responsibility, and run tho Stale in debt with
out the people knowing it, .
. . But, gentlemen, perhaps I have detained you too
long in reference to a matter which was perfectly
plain, (to those who have the documents to which to
refer;) without explanation. My apology is, .that
I desire to pUco In tho hands of tho Democracy of
Cumberland “ the facts and figures,’* in reference
to the policy of tho Domuoratio, parly in iho last
Legislature, so that each man fur himself can con
found (he sophistical declarations of our Whig
friends—who oro very opt to got over wise on tho
finances of the Stuto on tho eve of an election, aiid
who, wo must all acknowledge, are sometimes a
little unscrupulous as to tho means employed when
a political object is to bo attained.
I como now to speak of tho
State Debt,
no far as it has been attempted to bo mado a political
weapon la tills campaign, Our opponents are on*,
lous to throw the blame upon tho Democratic parly
of creating that debt, and U is asserted in high
quarters that the Whigs have no part nor lot in tho
matter. It is oven asseverated by no loss a person,
ogolhon Governor Johnston, that tho administration
of .Joseph Uitnor. an administration notoriously
prodigal and profligate, did not increase the State
debt one dollar. Governor Johnston himself is the
witness in this ease, and if wo discredit his evidence
in a matter in which ho has taken upon hhnsoif to
testify, we will satisfy tho public that he is unworthy
of belief in all things else. The. Governor'has re*
oonlly boon making speeches In the western part of
this Stale, and a reliable correspondent of tho Penn
eylvanian, in a loiter dated at Mercer describes a
spoeoii made by hie Excellency at that place.—
Among other topics ho dosoanted largely upon tho
State debt, and according to this correspondent "Ho
undertook to show that the Stale debt hod not been
increased under Rllnor*# administration} that when
Porter oamo Into oflloo in 1839 the Slate debt was
only •05,000,000, and that when Sliunk died in
■lB4B, it was about $41,000,000, and said with great
emphasis that during those two administrations, not
a'singlo mile of oanal or .railroad had either been
fiut under contract or finished, and that ho defied
lie opponents to show that a single feet of the pub
Hu works woro any nearer completion at the end
limn they were at the beginning of this period, nut
withstanding the enormous increase of near Iwo
millions annually to the Statu debt. What the Dent*
oorats had dene with all this money, and the revenue
during tills time, was nut for him to say, but the
people might judge for themselves.”
Now this is pretty hold, and 1 would
to doubt whether the Governor had boon eorreolly*
reported wore it nut for, the fact that we have tho
reperluf .ii speech delivered by. him no late us (he
liQtli of lids month, |u the city Alleghany, 'published
iu it Whig paper, und which report wo tire boon! to
believe authentic, in which his Excellency makes
the same statement in substance that I have already
spoken of, In this latter speech ho is reported as
saying: .
” Tho system of internal improvement left a debt
hanging over us of about 840,000,000. When Gov.
Ritnor closed his administration, (he public dobl
was rising $25,000,000, When I came into office
it 'had accumulated- to forty millions and a half,
through the instrumentality of our opponents while
in- power, who had misapplied'tho-public funds.
Tho time was approaching when you would be
forded (0 repudiate your publio debt, of bear 0 bur*
•don which would be intolerable, unless some remedy
wds applied. :Tho-debt was increasing and would
have swelled to subh an.amount as would bavo ren
dered its liquidation' an utterly hopeless (ask. 1
lookedibpon it as important that something should
bo devised to relievo the people from the increasing
burden, which not only effected the wealthier class,
but another class of tho community—citizens who
had children-to educate, and who. wore .interested
; in>a"syhtom of publio schools.' More' than half a
jniLhjn uf.lho publio dobt has ’boon paid since ho
whohoVtaddressos you has boon in publio ofijop.”
Now this Is boIU indee.d.- He says the debt had
accumulated from something over ’ twenty-five mil
lionw of.dollars, to forty millions and a half, "through
the instrumentality of our opponents (the Democrats)
uhilc inpower,who Had misapplied the public funds"
Doi4-as?cr(ion, indeed, unless sustained by proof to
mpko-gbbd so hazardous a position. -
Well,then, gentlemen, wo must goto “tho law
andHhcfioslimuny,” and ace who is right and who
is wrong; in this controversy. • I intend to make no
assordon that cannot bo sustained by official re
cords. ;
Whoit Hlia Federal and-Anti-masonic party-got
into power* in-1835, by tho election of Joseph Rit
por, the State debt, as shown by tbo report of (ho
State Treasurer, of 4th December, 1835, amounted
to $34,995,435 56. Tho amount required to finish
all the linqs of improvement then under contract, as
shown by'(ho report of tho Canal Comimssioncrs,
was 8167,930 46, as appears, by (ho journal of tho
Houso.of Representatives for 1835-36, vpl, 3, page
148. - So that tho Slate debt at that period after the
completion of tbo linos of. improvement then, under
contract was only $25,162,465 03. {
Within two months after the inauguration of
Governor Ritncr, when the same parly had a major.
Jty -*awb<£b .branches of (ho Legislature, tlio act
chartering (ho United States Bank was passed, by
tho provisions of which act tho following now linos
of improvement woro put under sbntract. See Pam.
Laws 1835-36, pugo 365 ; the Erio Extension, at
an estimated cost of 83,384,835, 22; North Branch
Extension $3,553,600 86; Sinhcmchoning Exion
sion $1,389,199; 15; Gettysburg Railroad $2,550,-
000 OCt;AViscohisco Canal $416,316 51; Allegheny
Feeder $£51,603 00—amounting, in all for work
qontraftlWto bo done on these sovcralimprovcmonls
to $t 13)55,554 74. Towards Iho payment of (huso
controls there was appropriated, in Governor mi
nor's term tho sum of $1,940,000 leaving six now
lines of improvements under contract and a debt
virtually contracted thereon when Governor Fortcr
coino iutp t otUco, of $10,015,554 74.
It is welt.recollected that when tho United Slates
Bank was chartered by Governor miner's udminis*
stratiou, (hot-lliuro was a lax of ono‘mill on tlio
dollar upon the. valuation of certain properly by tho
act.uf.2slh March, 1831, which was as well a
source flf.fovonuo os a salutary chock upon extrava
gant logr*ialioift il “Tho act chartering tho-Bank"
was patted iho 18U» FobruaryJlßJG, aqd was onli
tlod u A,t-» act to repeal tho State tax bn‘ real , and
'pTiffiuf audio continue und Cklcntf'iho
improvemodts or l/»o State by railroads and canals,
ond to oftartcr a Slato Bank, to bo called ‘tho Uni
ted States Bank.”
By the charter of (he United States Bank and
other bunking institutions, there was paid to tho
Stalo during this administration for bank bonuses
llio suni of $3,236,977 67. There was also receiv
ed during his term of office from tho general gov
ernment, on account of surplus .revenue divided
among tho States, (and which by the terms of the
act of Congress granting it, may bo recalled at
any time) tho sum of $2,667,514 78—making in
tiio nggreato received from these sources during
Gov. Ritnor’s administration, the sum of $6,101,-
19215.
In view of these largo receipts into the treasury,
and tho.chango introduced by him In the financial
policy uf tho State, he says, in his last annual
message dated 27th December, 1838,.with some
complacency—“ The State tax which was then
in existence,*’ (refuting to the comrooncemept of
his administration) without hope of termination,
has coksed to be collected, and nothing btil tho
utmost profusion can make it again necessary.**
And yet we find in this same message, an im*
plied admission that his administration had been
conducted in such an extravagant and lawless
manner that ho despairs of tho credit of the Com*
monwcalit), and doubts whether she will be able
to moot her engagements. He says— u Thus has
it come to pass thkt notwithstanding a succession
of circumstances the most fortunate, and of receipts
(ho most ample and most unexpected!, the Com*
rhohwealtU is left without means to'conlinuo her
own works and redeem her own faith. The con*
tractors—her citizens—and the public generally,
are, I fear, about to'ppssess good causes of com
plaint that she has entered upon undertakings that
she cannot accomplish $ or ns the only alternative,
the moans to complete and render productive the
projects of private speculation, which have already
proved so burdonSomo to the Treasury, and so
insatiable in their demands, must continue to bo
granted without regard to consequences.** As the
Canal Commissioners wore then dependent on
the will of tho executive for their tenure of office,
|t is difllcult to conceive to whom he referred,
when ho speaks of (> tho projects of private specu
lation which had become 11 so insatiable in their
demands,** unless this wne Intended ns a delicate
hint to the High Priest of Anti-masonry, who was
one of his Canal Commissioners, and had much
to do and say throughout his entire administration.
Had ho selected more trustworthy officers, perhaps
those •*demands** of privnlo speculation, would
have been less “ insatiable.** Bo that as it may,
ho admits that tho treasury is bankrupt; and un
able to redeem its plighted faith when he is about
to. lay down the reine of government. ■
And v when Governor Porler, was inducted Into
office,'lho Stale debt, and debts duo, amounted.to
tho enormous sum of $39,789,754 22, ns appears
by tho Senate Journal of 1838-39, vol. 1, page
303—in detail os follows: Debts contracted' for
public Improvements, 923,229,003 23; loans not
relating to canals and railroads, $1,080,000; loans
for Eastern Penitentiary, by act of 21st March,
1831,9120,000; loan for Union Canal Company,
9200,000; temporary loan by aot of 10th June
1836, $200,900; temporary loan by aot of 14th
April 1838,9800,000; debts due on appropriations
to miscellaneous objects, 91,645,729 86; debts
due by appropriations to internal improvements,
$532,057 01; debt due the United States on Ac
count of conditional loan of surplus revenue, 93,-
867,514 76. Amount of public debts, 930,174,-
304 97. To which may be added the follow
ing debts then due, and the amount necessary to
put tho improvements in navigable order, for which
no provision had boon made. (.Sue appropriations
madupPutn. laws.of 1838-30;) Interest on public
debt,duo lot February, 1839,9603,550; debts duo
for repairing Huntingdon breach,93Bo,ooo; debts
duo for repairs on improvements, $145,000; debts
dun fur damages on improvements, 9100,000;
dchla duo contractors on the Frio extension, North
Branch, West Branch, Allegheny Feodor, and
Wlaooplsoo oanal, 9320,000; amount drawn from
the Irensury by the,canal officers, appointed under
Hov. Ullnor’a udminislraiftm,'mil uf upptupriu*|
tioao made after Governor Porter came into office, |
$163,812 $5;. amount stated in report of Gov. Ril
ner’s Canal Commissioners “ as necessary for the
permanent-repair of the. public improvements,
s749,3B7making a grand total of the State debt,
and debts dud. at the close of Gov. Rimer’s ad
ministration of $32,789,764 22—being an actual
increase of the public debt of the commonwealth
during the three years of his administration, al
though no permanent loan was negotiated during
that period, of $7,627,889 20—and an actual ex
penditure of $10,864,266 89, counting.the amount
received from the salo of bank charters, and being
ah actual outlay of better than three millions of
dollars per year .over and above the ordinary re
ceipts of the government. :
Some debts were contracted during the interreg
num of. the Buckshot War, which are not taken
into account in tho foregoing, estimate. The ex
penses of that treasonable conspiracy alone, a
gainst the rights and sovereignly of- the people,
amounted to the sum of $147,000. Tho amount
of the whole public debt therefore, which was
contracted prior to the day of Governor Porter’s
inauguration, on the 15(h of January 1839, as es
timated from the official records, was $34,-
141,663 80. On this subject Governor Porter in
his first annual message says—‘‘This aggreate
State debt (with the exception of $lBO,OOO appro
priated, at (he last session of the Legislature to the
survey of. a railway from Harrisburg to Pittsburg
—to stock in tho Franklin railroad, and to stock
in the Penn’a. and Ohio .canal) was contracted
.prior to the 15th January, 1839, the day. of my
inauguration. It is true that, tlio sum of $6,521,-
000 . was authorized to be borrowed since that
period; but the whole of this largo amount (with
the above exception,) was appropriated to the
payment of debts and liabilities duo and falling
due in the year 1839, for the payment of which no
provision had been made when 1 entered upon the
duties of my office.”
But tho idea appears to have entered Governor
Johnston’s head, and to be prevalent among,the
especial friends of his administration, that no con
tract or appropriation made by the State, is a debt
upon the commonwealth, unless it is funded or in
the shape of a permanent loan. Thus they have
not only the temerity to assert that Governor Rit
ner’s administration did not increase (he public
debt, but that the debt was increased during the
administration of Francis R. Shunk. . Nothing
but the grossest ignorance or a reckless disregard
of truth could prompt such an assertion. It is true
that a portion of tho public debt has been funded
during Gov. Shank’s administration. It is well
known that the State failed to pay the interest on
her public debt which fell due Ist August 1812,
Ist Fob. and Aug. 1843, and the Ist Feb. and Aug.
1844, and that certificates of tho amount of interest
duo woro issued to bach holder of the State loan,
bearing six per cent interest. These certificates
wore not redeemed, and.as they formed no part of
tho funded debt of the Statn, on act was passed
by the Legislature bn tho ICih April 1845, provi
ding , for funding (hem at five per cent per annum.
Tho amount of certificates issued for interest on
loans, and for guarantied interest due Bald Eagle
and Spring Crock Navigation Company, and the
Danville' and Pottsvillo Railroad Company, was
$4,508,83101, as por Auditor General’s report for
1850, page 428. During tho year 1815, $1,784,•
731C8.wcr« faildod; Jft/1848 there,vivfhtunded
to (ho amount 0f53,010,04-i 37. In 1647, the sum
of $349,838 99. In 184$; (he sum 0f5133 ) !66 9(. |
In 1819, tho sum of $45,616 Cl, as will be seen by
tho reports of tho Auditor General for those years.
There Is still a considerable amount of these cer
tificates not yot funded. Now any one can per
ceive that tlio funding of those certificates is noth
ing morothan changing tho form of (he indebted
ness and not creating the indebtedness itself—and
yot to such sophistry and chicanery are the ad
herents of this administration driven. .
As a distinct and positive answer to the charge
of an increase of tho State debt under the last
Democratic administration, 1 read to you (ho fol
lowing statement of the entire amount of that debt
for (ho years mentioned, as appears by tho annual
report of the Auditor General.
Pads Total Dbbt.
46 ltd Dec. 1811, $10,835,013 60
49 Ist Deo. 1845. 40,986,393 23
85 let Deo. 1846, . 40,789,577 00
85 Ist Dec. 1847,. 40,628,949 51
94 Ist Deo. 1848, 40,474,736 93
100 Ist Deo. 1849, 40,397,673 92
135 Ist Dec. 1850, 40,316,363 44
Now from the gradual increase of tliOjValuo of real
and personal estate, subject to taxation, ond the in
crease.arising from new' objects of taxation (about
which wo hour so much) thoro has nut boon a pro 4
porlionato reduction of tbo Statu debt since tbo inau
guration of Gov. Johnston—although tho Governor
repeatedly boasts of having paid off more than a half
a million of dollars of that debt. Tho statistics.}
have read to you (and (hoy nre authentic) prove
directly tho reverse. They show that during the
first year of Gov. Shank's administration, that debt
was reduced $196,816 22—(ho second year, sl6li
-627 49—and the third year, $154,213 58. While
durinp.tho first year of Gov. Johnson's administration
tho debt was reduced only $77,063 01, arid the second
year only $61,311 48. These are facta and figures
which cannot Ho. They present tho whole truth of
tho case ond are irrefragable.,
Lot mo now, gontlomon, refer to one other branch
of this, perhaps to you uninteresting subject, which
has boon much discussed during this, canvass by the
present Governor and bis friends,
Tlio Sinking Fund.
Governor Johnston has riot only charged tho worst
portions of our public debt upon democratic adminis
rations, but claims especial credit for having largely
reduced It during his term of office by moans of the
financial policy, uf which ho avows the exclusive pa
ternity.
In order that you may properly understand (his
subject, H will bo nooessary for me to give you a
condensed history of our tox laws from tho lime our
debt has arrived at its present enormousbulk, and
the moans devised from lime to lima to procure Its
gradual liquidation. Nearly all the laws for
purpose ofr&ising revenue, were passed before Gov.
Johnston was elected to his present ofllce.
In addition to tho laws then already in force,'so
far back as tho 11th June, 1840, an aot was pasted
“To create additional revenue to be applied towards
tho payment ofintorust and the extinguishment of
the debts of tho Commonwealth.* 1 Pamphlet Laws,
1640, pago 612.
The Ist section of (he aot imposed one half mill
tax on evory dividend or profit of one per oonh on bank ;
stock In addition to any taxes, rates or levies now <
imposed by law, and one half mill for every additi- >
onal one per cent, dividend or profit.
The second section imposed an additional mill for
every dollar of (be actual value of all real and per
sonal property, persons, trades, occupations and pro. <
fesalons, (hen taxable by existing laws for oounty
rates—also upon all mortgages, monies at interest, i
debts due ftom solvent debtors, by promlsory note, i
penal or single bill, bonds, judgments, and all stocks I
held by citizens of this Commonwealth In any other i
State, ono half mill on every dollar of tho value i
thereof, on which ono per cent, dividend may ao
oruo, and un additional ope half mill on every dollar
uf tho valuu thereof for ovary additional one per ounl.
por annuni—rulao upon household furniture, exceeding
$3OO, five mills upon ovory dollar—also upon plea
sure carriages olio pur cent, on ovory dollar of the
value thereof—upon gold lever or other watnhos of
equal value, nno dollar cnoh—upon every other do*
Hnripllon of gold watches, and idlvor lever watches,
and other silver watches uf equal value, seventy five
looiils—upon every Other description of watches of
I the value uf s2oand upwardn,'fifty coilla each—upon
I all salaries and emoluments of office, created or lu-ld
AT 12 0 0 PER ':V“
by virtue of any law of (his Commonwealth, one par ,'
coni, upon every dollar of the value thereof. V ' .
The Bth section provides for the. amount thus 00l- .
looted to be paid into the treasury of the Common
wcallh.ond to*'bo vested in the Commissioners of the,
internal improvement fund; end so mooli ae is re*
quirod, to be applied to the payment of the interest,
and the.romainder< to the debts dr liabilities charge
ble to that fund.
By on act passed on the 3d May, 1841, commonly
colled the “relief law,” entitled an act, “to provide'
revenue to meet the demands on the treasury and for'
other purposes”—it is provided by the 9th sectlonf.
that a tax drone per cent.on persons, trades, ocoupa-,
lions and professions, shall be imposed on every dollar,
of the value thereof above S2OU, in Hon of. the one,
mill tax of the 11th Juno, 1840, end in lieuof.tho
tax of one per dent, upon salaries imposed, by lhy<
act, a lax of two por cent, was assessed on .every'
dollar, of the value thereof above $2OO, to be paid ab(f
applied as provided by the act of lllh June, 1840.—'.
Pamphlet Laws, 1841,page 310.
By the 7th section of the act cf 27th July, 1849 s
entitled an act “ to provide for ordinary expenses of
the government, payment of the interest upon thrf.
State debt, and for other purposes,” an additional tax
Was imposed upon all real and personal estate, now
made taxable for State purposes, of one mill upon
every dollar of value. Pamphlet Laws, page 444.
By a supplement to the act of lllh June, 1840,
passdd 31st March, 1843, joint stock associations,
upon which dividends arc .declared or made, were
subjected to the provisions of that act. Pamphlet.
Laws, 1843, page 121; - " ;
By & resolution of the 19(h April, 1843, the collect
tors of county and State taxes bro required,upon tbn
settlement of their books, to make an oath or .affirm'
malion,.lhat they hove made a true and juslratarit
of all monies by them collected, whether taxes upon
real or personal properly, or persons, la order to se
cure a more efficient execution of the revenue laws..
Pamphlet Laws, 1843, page 394. ' .
By thu 32d section of (hoVct of 29lh'April, 1644,
entitled an act “ To reduce the State debt, end to
incorporate the Pennsylvania. Conal and Railroad.
Company,” all species of real and personal property
then taxable by existing laws;.are declared subject to .
taxation for all State and county purposes. Pamphlet
Laws, 1844, page 497, &c. . ■
By the 33d section of this act, the capital stock of
all banks, institutions and companies incorporated
by or under any law of this Common wealth,yn which
a dividend or profit of six per cent, or more is declare
ed, shall be taxed at the rale of one half mill on each/
one per cent, of such dividend or profit, and the tax
shall bo assecsod.and paid as provided In (he act of
11 th June, 1840; ond all banks, institutions or .com
panies ‘which shall fail to make or declare any divi
dend or profit, or shall make or declare a dividend
or profit of loss than six por cent., shall be taxed
three mills on every dollar ol the actual value of the
stock, estimated and appraised by their officers os.
(herein provided. • .
The 34th section imposes the same tax on carria
ges as was imposed by the act of lllh June, 1840,,
viz: one per cent on every dollar of (hie value thereof
and the same tax on watches as imposed by that hot),
and the ssmo'tax upon all salaries and emoluments
uf office above $2OO, as was imposed by tbo act of
3d May, 1841, viz: two por cent.; and the same tax
upon trades, occupations and professions whose taluer
is abovo 8200, as was imposed by this latter net, Via:'
one por cent.; ond upon alt other property heretofore
made taxable for State purposes, or that Is eo made
by the 32d section of this act before referred to, three
mills on every dollar of the value thereof. This tql
f repealed all laws heretofore Drfssod forTeVying.taxes
for Stale purposes; hut by thp 6th section of thd.'aet;
of 16th April, 1845, tbo repealing clause is construed
to repeal only tho laws relating to (ho subjects'of
taxation mentioned in said 341 h section.
Tito 3Gtli flection of this act authorized tho appoints,
monl or a Board of Revenue Commissioners, for tbtf.
purpose of equalizing the assessments and taxes for
tho me of the Commonwealth in tho different coun
ties. - f •
Formerly tho taxes had been assessed very une
qually, some counties paying for Slate purposes let*
than they received for school purposes out-of the.
treasury. Its workings have largely increased the
revenue, and equalized tho burlhona upon the .differ-#
ont portions of tho Commonwealth.
By on net of IGlh April, 1645, (Pam. Laws, page
532) entitled an act “ To increaao tho revenues and
diminish the legislative expenses of the Common*
wealth, M several now sources ofrevenue were devised:
1. Taxes on private acts-of'legislation, at follows:
on bank charters;.iron, coal and manufacturing com*
panics; canal, railroad and insurance companies;
now counties; renewing or extending charters by
courts; divorces; relating to private estates or cor
porations; changing names*
2* On licenses,.and public amusements.
3. A taxon tho public loans and slocks Issued by the
Commonwealth, at (lie rate of ono half mill on each
and every dollar of tho par value thereof, on which
one per cent, per annum of interest shall accrue to
the holder, and an additional one half mill on every
dollar of the par value, for every additional one per
cent, per annum of interest.
On the 22d April, 1646, a very Important sot waa
passed, entitled an act l4 To provide for the reduction
of (ho public debt.” . Pamphlet Laws, page 486.
By (ho Ist section of this act, a tax of three milla
on each dollar is assessed upon all stages, omnibuses*
hacks, cabs and other vehicles; also upon all annul*
tics over $2OO, except those granted by this Common*
wealth or (ho United Stales, and upon, all property;
real or persona), not then.taxed under existing*
laws, hold, owned, Used or invested, by any person*
company, or corporation, in trust for the use,benefit*
or advantage of any other person, companyor cor
poration, excepting only such property as shall beso>
hold for religious purposes.
Tho Bth suction imposes a tax upon all loans snd<
Slate slocks, tho inlorcsl of which is guaranteed by
the Slate, of ono half mill on each dollar of the par
, value on one per cent, per annum of Interest, whleb.
• shall or may bo paid .by the Commonwealth, and one
■ half mill for every additional.one per cent, eo paid..
> Tho 12lb section authorizes the appointment of
- Appraisers of mercantile taxes.throughout (be differ*,
ont counties of the Commonwealth, boingsupplemaa*
(ary to (ho sot ofjfith April. 1845, authorizing such
appraisers to be appointed for the counties of Phlla-.
dolphia and Allegheny.
Tho I4(h section Increases (ho collateral Inheri
tance tar, from two and a half per cent, (as it exit
led under tho provisions of the Ist section of the tel
of 7tli April, 1826, entitled 44 An act relating to>
collateral inheritances,*') to five per cant.
Now (he importance of this section may beCstl*.
mated from tho fact that under its provisions, (hb
amount of collateral inheritance (ax paid intotfab- .
sinking fund in the years 1649 and 1650, was by (lie
Auditor General’s reports $282,507 46. The wholb
amount paid into the sinking ftmd during tboAO
years, as appears by (he same authority, wae $424,-
832 75, leaving only $142,935 87 as paid from alb
other soureea-oSo that two-thirds of the whole .
amount paid (hat fund in 1849 and 1650 vu do*
rived from thla collateral inheritance tax,, wlilelt
was devised by Governor Shank’s administration,
long before Wm. F. Johnston wse Governor of this
commonwealth.
On the 16th March, 1847, an act wai pined, an*
thorielng the State Treasurer, Auditor General, and
the Secretary of the commonwealth* to prepare 4
bill, revising the revenue laws of the Stale, with
auoh alterations and additions thereto aa they may
deem advisable, end report the tame to (he next
Legislature within lon dsya sftor it ahall convene.
Pom. Laws 1847, pago 404.
This uut shows an anxious desire on the .pail of
Guvurnor BhunU'e administration to liquidate the
Stale dobl and maintain tho credit of the common*
wealth.
~ Under the salutary laws onuolod on the soWedl c*
tho rovonnos of (lie commuiiwoaltli, which x,!»•*•*
thus dcmulliod, (lio Stnlo was enabled during Ihd
v.iar ISIS to pay llio inlcra.l on 111" P«W »••
U fell-duo; nnd to iiiont »ll olhor Irw!, '
Stalu willloul l.i.rralvliir" , i l hi ‘ “PP a,r * f a
lVon<imiil <m Stl fag':} . 1
k 0.14.: ' ;