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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