r,v' hi--' ' MM bm ' tk&4 Sri m. mmmmr. I have sworu upon the Altar of God, eternal hostility to every form of Tyranny over the Mind of Man." Thomas Jefferson. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY II. WEBB. Volume IV. BkOOJffiSBURG, COLUMBIA COCTTI, PA. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1840, ftiimher S3. OFFICE OF THE DEMOOMT, OproaiTE St. Paul's Church, Main-st. The COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT will be published even Saturday morning, at TWO DOLLARS per annum, payable half yearly in advance, or Two Dollars Fifty Cents, if not paid within the year No subscription ivill betaken for a shorter period than six months ; nor any ui3Con tinuance permitted, until all arrearages are discharged. JID FHIt TISEMENTS not exceeding a square will be conspicuously inserted at One Dollar for the first three insertions, and Twcntti-five cents for cvcrii subse quent nserl'ion. JA liberal discount made to those who advertise by the year. LETTERS addressed on business, must be post paid. POMTIOAIi. PiTTSJjuno, 13th August, 1810. m i-v trrn iiiFn-ni rmtlir T T7TTV Ti JLU ilia XiAVtohlJiliMliJi, VAMU It. POUTER. Dcau Sin: The subscribers, your fel low citizens of the Democratic paity, cm brace tills oppurtunity of your arrival in Pittsburg, to express their satisfaction of the rourso of policy pursued since you as sumed the administration of the stito gov ernment, and to congratulate yen on the ex tension of thosr? great principles that dis tinguish thu Democracy of Pennsylvania. When you assumed the administration of tn nfTiirq nf tlin llninmrmivpnltli. uvorv I tiling tended o evince the utter insecurity which must result to a democracy whenev er a state is induced to place power in the Lhands of those unworthy to wield it. You, found the commonwealth brought Bto tho verge of ruin lfcr financial opcra- Ptions mismanaged through ignorance, and Iniisdirectcd through fraud the grossest vio Nation of the election franchise committed by tho party m power for the purpose of j retaining tho possession of the government Lin defiance of tho public will. The official authority vested in public servants for tho protection of the people converted into an P 1 .1 l 1 cngtno oi stupenuous miscmci, anu nppiieci members of tho Legislature, elected by largo majorities, of their seats to the in troduction of armed bands in the halls o lfffitilfitinn. fnr llui nni-nncnnr nrrwinpinrr lit- lAin ifflmt ifniiM nnn nplil t'l i-mr nnl hnnn luuuu iuu iiupuii-m tu pi'uuiui, ami in iiuu of subvertini' the pi-eat elements of the eon stitution itselt. You found, Sir, tho Treasury empty tho piiblw works in a state of nun and dil- 'nnit iti,in in nil I In t-illli Vln -itiarl Ihr liner and no nrovisior. made for rcscuinr the stale from the ruin of general bankruptcy You found the very sources of power cor ruptcd, and in hands of a feeble executive officer, surrounded by advisers who had be come the pandors of the banking institu lions of Iha commoni-eallli, anu who ex- haushed their energies in endeavoring to render the pcoplo of Pennsylvania the tribu lanes and ignoble slaves of an incorporated ond irresponsible moneyed power. Assuming tho administration under suc'i unauspicions circumstances, not oniy tnu cie mocracy ot Pennsylvania out mat 01 mo nation at large, looiccu Willi anxions sonci- oi vour cnaracier lor roues, hi wis wu t i . - r . . . n i t . - 1 1. : ... ore nappy 10 say, nicy were not disappoint nil Tho banking institutions have been biouuht to acknowledge tho supremacy o tho people; and tho timo hxed lor tho re aumpuon OI speciu iiuyuicuisiaiiiiougii mum romote than that recommended oy you anu desired by many oi your icuow citizens approximates to mat mcuiura, which m mu same time it will prevent any calamity 10 tbo public, will test the solvency ol ttio in Bttfutions themselves at a penou ai which If thev do not permanently resumo the dis charge of their obligations, they will sunt pupr nfrnin in rmn. The refusal to sanction tho incorporation ! of new banking institutions has satisfied tho people that the sentiments of tho democrat ic party in relation to these fearful engines of corruption arc duly appreciated by your Excellency, and will thoroughly imbuo the policy of your administration. The repairs ot tho public works tho ac tivity and intelligence of tho agents employ ed in conducting tho business upon them, the increasing revenue derived from them notwithstanding the embarrassments of trado the wisdom exhibited in tho extension of tho imptovements necessary to bring into full operation the works heretofore com menced; together with tho energy, with which thosu improvements have been pros ccuted, form an era in the history of the commonwealth, tho importanco of which is attributable to ypur foresight alone. But tho crowning act of vour administration, that in which your patriotism is equallod only by your appreciation of the public intclli gence, is your recommendation to resort to taxation for the purpose of discharging the public debt and maintaining inviolate the plighted faith of the commonwealth. In urging this measure, you proved that you were not unworthy 0 the party that brought you into office that you fully un derslood the ability of the people to com piehcnd its necessity, and the public virtue that was willing to submit to taxation fo tho purpose of rescuing the drowning hon or? of the state, and rendering the faith of tho commonwealth as imperishable as he democracy is patriotic. By this one act her sinking energies have been restored her credit sustained, and her ability to con tinuc her improvements rendered certain.' The recommendations so ardently urged by you for tho restrictions of -the banking institutions, will wo trust, be-duly.anprecia ted and promptly acted on by future Lcgis lature. Whilst tho acts of your administration havo so eminently tended to rescue us from iinponliner calumity, they havo had the ef feet also of increasing our numbers of con firming the faith of tho democratic party giving us assuranco of success in the great national conflict about to taRo place with the bitter and vindicative enemies of tho peo pics rights. Your policy, Sir, as it insures democratic success in our local elections, s it creates tho highest confidenco in the choice of electors favorable to the claims or that eminent and patriotic statesman, Martin Van Buren. As you have succeeded m important measures of state policy, wc may be per mitted to congratulato you and tho public upon the ultimato success cf that great de tnocratic measure, tho Sub-Treasury sys tern a mcasuro sanctioned by repeated manifestations of public will, and tcrminat ing tho hopes of our opponents, of ever a gain imposing upon tho country the curse of a national Bank. A measure that may bo deemed a now Magna charla of tho in dependent and industrious citizens, and an utter prostration of the designs of thos who heretofore, fed and fatloncd upon pub lie calamity and an irredeemable currency a measure that addresses itself to tho " so ber second thought of the people" of this union, and which will insure to is author signal triumph at the coming Presidentia contest. The above suggestions are in unison with the sentiments of tho great mass of you democratic fellow citizens of Pittsburg and which as a committee acting under their ap pointmcnt, wo have been instructed to sub mit to you. And wo have been furthor requested to invite you to a public entertainment to given in testimony of their respect and per sonal esteem; and of their confidence in you as the chief executive of this common wealth. With sentiments of high regard Wo remain your Excellency's, Friends and fellow citizens. Charles Shaler, Win. Wilkins, It. C. Grier, Thos. Scott, Jas. Gray, (4th st.) Benj. Patton, jr. Wm, Porter, G. W. Jackson, Rody Patterson, David Lynch, Jas.rA. Gibson, Thos. Flood, Jas Patterson, J. W. Burbiidgo, John B. Gurthrie, T. B. Dallas, P. Mulvany, O. P. Blair, It. A. Bailsman, John Anderson. Carnahan, Wm. Kerr, B. C. Townscnd, Dennis Leonard, (. It. Whito, P. McXcnna, James S. Craft, GOVERNOR PORTER'S RErLY. llAUiusuuita, tilth August, 1810. GnNTiEriiiiN : Previously to my departuro from Pitts burg, I had the honor to receive yours of tho 13lh insi,, inviting Tne on behalf of the great mass of my democratic fellow- citizens of Pittsburgh and vicinity, to par take of a public entertainment to bo given in testimony of their respect and personal esteem, and of their confidenco in 1110 as tho-Chief Magistrate of -the common wealth." I regret that prior engagements and absence from the scat of Government for a considerable period procludcd thu poss ibility of my remaining longer in Pittsburg, I have been indeed so pressed for timo that I have not had an opportunity of auknowl edging the receipt of your letter, until my arrival at this place. 1 beg you to accept my sincere thanks for this manifestation 0 approbation on the part of my democratic fellow citizens of Pittsburg and its vicinity and to assure those whom you represent how gratifying to my feelings, is their fa- vorablu opinion of my public conduct. You have not overrated, gentlemen, th difficulties with which I have had to contend I took occasion, in a late letter to my dem ocratic Iricnds of Philadelphia to refer to thew,, md I cannqt foibcar now to repeat , that those difficulties called on mo for the exercise of all the ability and all tho firm iicss with which it has pleased God to en dow me. Surrounded on all sides with embarrassments, I was constrained by cir cumstances to adopt that course which seem ed to be beset with the least; and I am so ry to say, during the darkest period of those embarrasmcnts, there seemed to be a want of cordial support, and manly assumption of responsibility on the part of tho co-or dinatc branches of the Government, whom as well as to myself, tho people had entrusted tho management of their public af fairs. Every rational man knows that you can not elect, or change governments in a day, Mistake and abuses of half a century in ta ing root, cannot be extirpated at a singl blow; and when intimately blended with our business and public interests as thu banking institutions of this Commonwealth havo been, tho evil must bo examined and corrected with great caution and skill. Rem edies are often suggested, that a first glance appear sound and complete, but upon a more thorough consideration, are quito as bad as the evils they are designed to cure. When men aro responsible to the public for all the results of measures that thoy recom mend er approve, it is doubly incumbent on them not to bo misled by hasty counsel, or lalso appearances. 1 hey aro sworn to xoeigh things tuell, and to act according to the dictates of their best judgment.perfectly (earless of all that human power can do a gainst them. Impressed with this, as the paramount obligation of my official duly, I have both done and refrained from dining various things on which a diversity of sen timent provailed, among my political friends and supporters; and frankly and fully sub mitting my reasons to my fellow citizens, have relied on their candor and senso of justice, to vindicate my course. My confi denco in my follow citizens has been moio than realized. They have appreciated the obstacles in my way, and havo in ado am ple allowance for the peculiar circumstances in which tho people of the commonwealth and its Executive havo been placed. I am suro there is but little real difierenco of opin ion among tho various members of the de mocratic parly on the gioat subjects of pub lie policy that have occupied the attention of tho people for soveral years past. Thero may be differences of opinion, it is true, as to details, but, upon the essential principles nvolvcd, we all think very much alike. How idle and unreasonable would it bo then to ask of our neighbor, to agiee with us im plicitly, in all the minute details of a system when we see alike in relation to every fun- amcntal principle of which it consisted ? And how absurd and unjust would it be, to mpugn his motives and denounce his con duct, because he could not recognize in our pinion the only infallable standard of per fection I Were this otherwise, it would be induced a social tyranny of tho most grind 11 a and insupportable kind. It would des troy at once that freedom of opinion which is not only tho .glory of our lepubjican in stitutions, but tho very life and soul of their existence. God forbid that the day should ever arrive in this country, when tho most exalted individual in power may say to the humblest. "1 am the standard of infallibil- ty agree with mo in all things, or be bran ded as a recreant and a knave stand off from the alter of patriotism I am holier than thou." I freely concede to every man the right (0 form such opinions upon public men, as ho sees fit, and to act upon the best dictates of his judgment in supporting them 1 claim as reciprocal rigut the same pnvi lege and shall exercise it, as I have hither to done, and I shall continue to rely on the intelligence and integrity of my fellow citi zens to sustain inc. I know that a public officer, who can bare his veiy heart to the public sciuiiuy, with a consciousness of rectitude of intention, has nothing" to appre hend from the people. That scrutiny I cheerfully invite it cannot bo instituted too often, or to rigidly applied to tho conduct of public functionaries. . I hope gentlemen, not ',0 be mistinder stood. These remarks aic not designed t? be applicable to any particular class of in dividuals, if in fact any can bo found, who might feel disposed to appropriate them to themselves. They aro made for the sole purpose of explaining my own views of the courso it becomes me to pursue under such circumstances as have been indicated, and I havo not yet seen any just cause to depart from them, on any occasion. You have been pleased to rofer with ap probation, to my recommendation ot a tax for the support of the credit and tho honor of tho Commonwealth, as well as for the completion of the unfinished works of im provement. It alTotds me pleasure to re ceive such testimonials of commendation from those who among other3 arc to bear tue ouriucn 01 tins imposition. 1 leu con scious of the poril I encountered in . making this recommendation to the legislature, but in fact tlieri was no otlior available alterna tive. Tho debt was already incurred the improvements finished or undertaken wc were but indiiectly responsible for provid ing for the necessity which wo had not produced, and it was simply a question of, whether the plighted faith of the State should be redeemed or violated. As a man of honor, as tho Excculivo of a high-minded and honorable people, I could not hesitate. I cheerfully suggested a measure, in the burdion of which, with my fellow-citizens, I was to take asharo, I regretted as sin cerely as any one, its necessity, but regret however grest, could not justify a failure to perform my official duty. You havo been pleased also to refer with approbation to my recommendations for tho reform of the Hanking System; to my op position to tho increase of tho number of banks; and to the cortainty now afforded, that tho banks of tho commonwealth will resume specie payments on tho day fixed by tho resolution, or "sink never to rise a gain." 1 deeply regrot that tho commendations which I mado to the legislature in my an nual message at the opening of the last ses sion, for the reformation of our vicious system of banking, weto not adopted. Had they been, I beltevo much good would have resulted to tho public, but as it is, I can do no more than to renew them, as I shall do, and urge them upon tho attention of tho next legislature. My views on the subject of increasing tho present number of banks, aro fully set forth in my veto of " tho Lan caster Loan Company Bank." I believo they havo bten very generally approved by my fellow-citizens; and I will here take oc casion to say, that as the banking capital of this commonwealth had been increased a- bout 8-10,000,000 within three years im mediately before my induction into office, I cannot perceive tho slightest necessity for any furihor augmentation. While I contin ue to bo entrusted willi the cxeculivo func tions, shcdl not yield my assent to any increase of our banking capital,bui on tho contrary, if any change on this subject bo made, I think it should bo to reduce tho overgrown, amount already existing. So far as relates to tho resumption of spe cie payments, I havo already in tho letter above referred to addressed to my demo cratic friends of Philadelphia, stated that tho period fixed invito resolutions as they fi nally passed, was moro remote 'than I thought expedient; but ns tho tine, (provi ded it was reasonable,) was not a matter of principle, and as I considered some definite and speedy legislation indispensifele, I sane-1 tioned tho resolutions Had I defeated tho adoption of those resolutions, I appchended tho banks would bo too potent to allow ot! tho passage of others, moro reasonable, if indeed any others, could have been passed. I signed them as the least of two evils. This is not tho first law I have sanctioned for the same reasons, and no man in his senses can expect the cxeculivo branch of the government, which merely approves of what is done by its two co-ordinates, to havo every measure precisely its own wayi I havo exercised the veto power without hes itation whenever considered a question of principle, or of vital public policy concern'. ed,b tit not in cases of less import. As I considered the suspension of specio payments extended to a longer timo than was necessary, I shall not sanction any fur ther extension. If tho banks cannot meet their engagements on the 15th of January next, it will be a serious misfortune, but it is one, in tho production of which I have had no share, and for the consequences of which I shall feel no official responsibility. The banks themselves must answer for iho result ; for it must bo perfectly obvious to the world, that any bauk which cannot then resume, with such notice and indul gence, will never bo able to resume at all. Yon have also been pleased to notico in connection with my name, that of our dis- tinguished President, and likewise that great measure of his administration tho In dependent Treasury. My favorable opinj ion both of him and of tho Independent Treasury Bill was fully and frankly ex pressed in my Inaugural address and my late annual message to tho legislature. It wa3 mado up on reflection, and has been strengthened by the occurrences almost dai ly taking place. I may further' add.that aa the Independent Treasury is now the law of the land, and in full operation, lime will soon demonstrate its salutary tendencies, and I have no doubt, piovo that its friends havo not been mistaken in their anticipations of benefits to arise from it. The banks had by their own act of sus pension in 1837, shown their incapacity to perform the functions of fiscal agents of the Government. With $15,000,000 in their vaults, of tho public moneys, the go vernment was compelled to borrow funds to carry on its operationsi With what justice therefore.can thoy or their friends complain of the government, (having already suffered so deeply by their delinquency,) for at tempting to provido a safer and better me thod of keeping and disbursing the money belonging to tho people ? I have thus, gentlemen, hastily( but with candor expressed my views on several of tho leading topics embraced in your letter of invitation. Whatever may be the opin ion of some others, as to tho right of tho people to ask of candidates for high office and of persons occupying official stations. what are their views, on great subjects of policy affecting the prospects and interests of tho public, and aa to the duty of such
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