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PlttNTKD AND PUBLISHED BV ft WjtflK
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Volume VI. BLOOfflHSBITIIG, COLUMBIA COtTNW PA SATttttDA MAttCtt, 4 . fciiititt :4& ,
OFFICE OF THE, DEMOCRAT
Opposite St, Paul's Church, AlAtN'St
fhe COL UMBIA DEMOCRAT will bt
published every Saturday morning? at
TVO DOLLARS per annum payable
half yearly In advance, or Two Dollar
fifty Cents, if not paid within theyear
tfo subscription will be taken for a shorter
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tinuance permitted, until all arrearages
are discharged.
ADVERTISEMENTS not exceeding a
square will be conspicuously inserted at
One Dollar for the first three insertion,
and Twenty-five cents for every su&se.
quent nsertlon. $CPA liberal discount
made to those who advertise by the year,
LETTERS addressed on business, must
be post paid.
CANAL COMMISSIONER'S. BILL
Concluded,
Now sir, I think ihe canal commissioners
in the receipt of $4 per day, might have
done very well, without having brandy
and loaf sugar thrown in. I thing if the
people knew this, they would not blsme
me for voting with my whig friends. And
when we go home, and next fall submit
our ctaimi to the people those of us who
want to be re-elected, will say, it is truft
we voted with the whigs to put out un
worthy dignitaries, who, when they travel'
led did so in pleasure boats, the propurty
of Diddle and company, and drank o'.d
Congniac welt "seasoned with lemons and
loaf sugar! Sir. I would not'be afraid to
go before on that ground. The genilcmuti
who intend to vote against this bill will take
care to, defend themselves. Sir, I have,
learnt with satisfaction that there is an
independent public press in Harrisburg,
which is noi under the gag, and that certain
men are not be denounced. 1 have learned
this within a few days past, but where, or
how, I know not. Cut I know that Incen-"
xdiary articles which have been wirtlen
against me, have not found a place in its
columns, And I think, sir, the press
throughout the country will lake the same
view of the case, and if the people will on.
ly read the debates which have taken place
here during the last few days, I have no
fear for the result. Why.as these charges
are they not enough! I do not want to
bring the Canal Commissioners before this
bar, and go through all the forms of an
impeachment.. It would be waste of time.
The fmportance of the subject is too trifling
Now sir, I want to know whether they
been unworthy or not They made some
reforms, I grant, but they wete reforms
called for by the people. But there has
not been anything expended in repairs
"during the last season. When the Canal
Commissioners came into office the canals
were in good repairs. Aro they to claim
all the benefits of this.and say that because
they have made reforms in some respects
that they can bestow on their minions
more than S50.000 in a simile operation, in
one allotment, as were the case in the con
tract mado with Cameron and Wilson for
rarrving the passengers. The gentleman
from Northampton adverted to the lumber
cwied on the road without charge of toll
and if not tho property of one of the board,
it is conceded it belonged to his font
Sir, it Is only a circumstance that lumber
was put on the rail road at Philadelphia,
and taken up the countiy and put on ground
belonging to the commonwealth when the
gentleman from Delaware Mr. Brook
eaid that he had to pay some 40 cents per
thousand feet for wharfage. It is conclu.
sive enough that there is a great gain, tn
ccupy the state canals free, and not con-
no".ed with slight inconvenience ot paying
any thing for transportation! Sir, is the
jcomnionwcdlh of Pennsylvania to be the
pack hnrso for speculators? When her
treasury she has no treasury i drained
of the last red cent which is in the lowest
drawer of till in the iron chest gentleman
must look about and see how they are
voting with the people or with office
holders. 1 wish sentleman to understand
that they have a settlement to make, Let
the affidavit t Mu Mcltey Hold's be circular
ted through Loaenie, Wyoming and Col
umbia, and I Will venture to say thai there
will tint bi; found u man In either of 'those
counties will question hio veracity. Sup
pose I were a tamlidata for tho popular
suffrage, nml were to vote to keep a Mall
itt oflicr after an affidavit like this from
Mr, McReynolds, how could t explain.'
I have been in the habit now Bhd then, of
taking the mump in n political campaign!
but t must coulees I Wbuld bo cffeetually
stumped tn attempting tu explain away,
why t voted In lhi half to keep men in
office, surrounded by all thete charges?
Laughter:
But sir. the 'Independent' prest may
clear the Miole matter up when It makes
lis appearances and let mc again repeal, the
Johnson men will bo denounced like the
rest of us, unless they come under Captain
Tyler, It is not tn order lo allude to any
thing conncclcd with (ho Senate Chamber,
but I have a gentleman In my eyejust now,
setting at the clerk desk. who must lake
care they do not sell htm. He wilt go to
bed one these nights a Johnson mat), ass he
is and Wake up nest morning a Cass ninn
(I.augfiter,)Vly sir, the party thnfdis
penses power can work miracles! Al
though I know my Mend too well lo sup
pose that he can operate upon by any
fear or favor, yel he may be captured in
some way or other. There are spotu in
the sun, and strange things will come lo
passl Dot there is one thing in tho case
thatrannotbe palliated and that is, why
did they not give the contract to George
Latiman? Let us have the reason. Thl
charge is brought home to the commission
ers) and as yet we have heard no justifies,
tion. There can he nonet I ask what
have gentlemen losay In defence of the
cunnl commissioners on this point! Here
stanns fir. i,auman Minnseir, mm ucuiiites
that lill bid never was withdrawn. Sir,
that shows a slate of facts thai cannot be
got over.
Sir, suppose a gentleman here desires a
re-election who goes against this bill, and
the charge is preferred against him for cov
ering up corruption by his vote. WhBt
argument can the nicest specimen of speci
al pleading put into his mouth? The man
who goes lo tho Supreme tribunal of the
people, cannot avail himself of the technical
niceties of the law. The truth would only
be a complete defence and if told; in my
opinion, could bo no defence at all. I can
fancy '.hat ihcro would be a mumbling
of the words persecution hardships it is
wrong to turn men out of office fcc. But
sir the reply would be wo elected you to
expose corruptions to carry out reform in
the government and to protect our rigls
and apply the monies rung from us in the
shape of taxes, for tho proper ptlrposes of
the government, and lo discountenance
public plunder. You were afraid to vote
for a measure lo sive lo us the election of
the public apents for fear of breaking up
the parly. Who that votes against this bill
ibis dav. can find n reason to answer the
voice of his constituents.
,
Tho penlleman from Crrwford, thinks
,o will
not be a candidate next fall I am sure 1
shall not be, unless the office holders At
tempt to break me down, as they did in
October last, and I may possibly under this
state of facts, show them they have 'waked
up the wrong passenger. They tried the
game once, let them do it again. We in
Luzerne can manage our own affair we
want no incendiaries in our canp from
abroad no spies on our posts.
But, sir. I advocate this question as a
great qucMioa of radical refoim, which has
been called for from day to day, by the
people of Tennsylvania. I do not stand
heie to pour out my griefs. This bill is
but the entering wedge. If the people
had taken the election of Canal Commis
sioner upon themselves years ago; ihey
now, Instead of bavins; a debt of 40 millions
'Mr. GIBONS, of Lehigh.
would riot haVe one of twenty. Anti sir.
aro w to go on from Veal: to year, squan.
tiering away millions and millions of dollars
and yet when It is proposed to brinir about
reforms it is objected to because ihe whigs
aro favor tbie to . What a shallow pre
text! How Vain lo raise the issuel It sinks
under the Weight of its own delusion Gen
tle inch may think as they please, who op
pose this measure but they will find that
they Will have a settlement lo make with
their Constituents, No, thiU the people
ofthts Commonwealth ere groaning under a
debtofiO millions, and not tho mean in
pay a fraction of the Interest, even-taXa-tion
laid on till ihe very substance of the
peoplo is consutm-d, and sltlt cover lip this
waste of money. Wh y not change the
system? Why hot elect men who have
the ability to act and the integrity and
honesty lo attempt, at least, lo promoto ihe
public welfare, In lieu of sqanderir.g tle
public tnottey on their favorites.
I believe, sir, I shall vole for the amend
ment of ihe gentleman fiom Bradford, and
then I shall vote for an amendment to give
the election to the legislature for the pres
ent until the people elect next fall. As to
the rcfoitns in the bill, what are they! I
stated the other day that the Clerk hire In
the canal commissioners room amounted lo
82. 700 a year. S4 a dav to each of iIirHi.
What hard working farmer is ihere that gels
84 a day? Why. elr, he may toil from
ihe rising of the sun to the going down of
of the same, and if he realiEes fifty centa.or
seventy fi.o cents, he is contep.f: and vet
that man's means, the labor of his hands is
devoted to clerk hire In the canal commiB
sinners office, in the employment of 2
clerks ot 84 a day when I have heard
good and responsible mtSIl say that ihey
would do the whole at 1000 a Vfiar.
Sir, when the last cent is wrung from
the people, are we to oppose reform, be
cause svmcrgviiiictux. ..
Persecution! What mechanic is there in
a workshop In my part of the country, or
in your's Mr. Speaker, (Mr. Hancock, was
in the chalr)who gets $4 a day by the sweat
of his brow, and the labor of honest industry.
And yet, you see here dally, a slrippiing
who is running to and fro, and taking com.
mand of a 'presidential cn"ass receiving
from the public treasury 84 a day, and pro
bably does not work four hours a day
Now; sir I want to give my opinions and
let the people know that we arc in earnest
in our efforts to bring about a radical re
form in the government. 1 do not expect
lo convince gentlemen and bring them into
my measures. But I wish to place myself
right before the people; and when the ih
dependent Tyler press is estibiished here
lo denounce members who dare do their
duty, that the people m3y know why ihey
are denounced! And (he gentleman frnm
Northamplon proposes lo cut down the
sum of $2,300 lo $1,000, and that sir, Is
$800 to much. The canal comm Issinneri
receive $4 a day! I said when the House
had indulged me before, that some of those
canal commissioners wete, to my certain
knowledge, a good portion of their time
at home. Did their pay stop? No sir'-
Why, eet 84 a day for attending to their
private affairs? And yet any man who
getfl up in his place, and kicks and shackles
from his feet, is to be denounced and vili
fied.
Mr.- LOWRY explained I wish to
know: Mr Spearker, whether the amend
ment, the gentlemen advocates, cuts of i
single dollar.
Mr. WRIGHT . I am talking of the bill
the whole bill, and nolliine else. I was
talking on the score of expenditure. Now
when 1 took the floor the other dy on this
subject.my daily pay wis referred to.which
is guaranteed to me by the laws of the
Commonwealth. It was said that I received
$4 a day, and I was asked why I did not
divide it with the starving, squallid children
that are running about the streets and cry
ing for bread. I would do it as cheerfully
am il,n wiit)mnti IVfim nrflwfnrfll nml if thfl
House chooses to redu co my wigss lo
dollar a day, X trust have ;p4rioiibm
enough hot lo mtirmut at it. But when you
reduce my pay. I hope It Will attord a
Hllle teller about QrHwford, (a laugh) attd
about the regiom all along to the lakes. Sir
t will Vote for the gentlertianla amendment,
and I will also Vote for the amendment bf
the gehtlertian frdm the coUnlyv to reduce
our pay to One dollar pet day, for a good
Spanish dollar is Worth something hoto-a-days,
I Will go for the gentleman's reform
Sir, I regard tho Measure before the HoUse,
as the stepping stone which lfeatlb to the
great temple o T lefufrn, .and I do not be
lieve the gentleman from Crawford weuld
ever have tailed up his bill for the rbtidc
lion or daily pay, but to defeat tho ptssage
of this bill. Members of this House gel no
pay but when in the service of the stale.
Mr. LOWRY ! He cannot get off in ihit
wajr,
Mr. WtitGHt: The gentlertian from
Ltifterne will vote for one dollar, or fifty
cents a day if necessary, because these'ate
the times When we must look about end sec
where we can abridge our expfehoes. And,
sir, I cale not whether it touches William
Ovcrfield, Levi Ucyholdst of any body
else. I care not Where the pruning knife
strikes. I go for a change in managing ihe
public works; and t aay that it is high it ill c
we had it. Why, at this time, with our
resources we are prostrated, ihe credit 'of
the State is gone; our foreign stUtlk holders
do not get their interest, and tle very men
who laid the rails on your rail roadu, and
excavated your canals, do not receive any
thing, cilhtr interest or principal. .And
str, I say, if ever there Was a time when
reform was required, it is now, I would
begin wt'.h that room up there pointing to
the ceillHjfJ wheie the Cass handbills were
put up by the clerks and hangers on, who,
receive $2,700 a year out of oUt .impoVer
ished treasury.. Bv doing this,' we should
oatv uiuuaautl ur uuiiu.i.- .r-.. - r
pie, some sf which it seemed, Was expend,
ed in travelling excursions, and drinking
brandy, sweetened with loaf sugar? There,
sir, I would go and I would make their
knees tremble and their heads swim on this
subject, I would make litem feel the hand
of power, were it in my grasp. That is
ihe snot to commence the work. Three
commissioners, at $4 00 a day 3C5 days
(Snndays too) if my addition Is correct, Is
$4,380, Two clerks at a salary of $2,700
How many messengers how much post-
gc? Not less sir, that $8,000 is wasted
nd consumed in that office, in a single
. ... .... !,
year. IjOOK at it, you iarmcrs anu paru
working mechanics, who pay ihe taxes to
support and maintain them 1 And lo cor
reel these abuses is whig doctrine, say Ihe
nentlemen ! Be it so ! Such whi? doc-
trine as this I support, and am not to be.
drivop from my position! Your indepen
dent Tyler press can't do it; and 1 will go
before the people and tell them why I voted
to put these men out. And let men get on
the stump and talk of being persecuted, if
they please, may I be permitted to make
the replication. How many thousand poor
and unfortunate men are persecuted daily,
and did the information erer reach the
capitol ? did their prayers, I repeat, ever
reach the capllol ? No, sit, there is an
abundance of poveily and affliction staring
us in the face and persecution too. But
you hear nothing about it. Sir, touch your
public functionaries only, and what do you
hear! Official patronage fills men's mouths
with arguments that you are violating your
oath that you are violating tho constitution
and that you are putting the political barque
upon the ocean without compass, without
rudder, and without sail. These party
pleas do not touch me, and while I am a
member of this House; I will preserve my
ir.depeedence. Sir.I do not say that others
do not act with Independence let the vote
on this bill .tell. But, sir; I speak of what
I do know with regard to charges and I
speak in my place this day, the opinions
and views of those who sent me here, and I
ean show my credentials Sir look at the
a' lU'ri on that dik llurt art my insuo
dons. Now, sir, there is no departure frorn
principle in putting one democrat out an A
another Iri his place wbo is qialjied totf'A
thb duties of a tanst commissioner !' if
there ls,t hope to be infdrmod wht-Vein.and
how) But because wo propose to elect
these mert tiUrselves, it it said vo attack thti,
administration We are opposing the ufc
ministration 5ir, should, think the Go
ve'rnoi; foould rfegaVd U as a high favor to
have t)e power oi" appointing the canal
cornrhisslonel-s disctihnfecled from his duiies
for it is a drag oti 3'tiy adrhMnVsiralion.
Let Ihe people--the io'relgnfe" tir ihe Btate
have the ebntfol of it, ot their, representa
tives. Talk; about bargain and 6alo, ami
the legislature nor having thb p'oWr1 bf 're
moval. How bati they be removed under
the present, lawt They may commit tho
greatest fraud, and there It no power that
can teach them. But.in this bill we provide
for it. 1 am, slf, not generally1 in favor of
trying experiments; but, in regard to litis "t
must cay that I aril in favor,o( It. Wby.hf
you permit things to go on in this 'way if
you permit millions upon millions to' tie
squandered how long will it be before thil
Commonwealth Is in lUeeame condition as
ancient Rome, when the Pretoriali guards'
put her up for sale in tho public market
place? Sir, the Same state oT things' ii
advancing gradually into-our stale 'as enter
od the gates of iniperul Rome?' When out
credit Is gone our people impoverished $
our treasury empty the public confidence
quailing Under new levies and new Impost
lions, can we expect sir, that an imiig'rjanf
and insulted constituency will always (ert
dure it, To bdlicVo it,, gives thai in ,td Tall
past experience, t Bayt sir, there' is a
mighty bhange coming over the, p'eojiie arid1
whbn vbil lied them rising up m jlie jtiajea,
ty of their ettenglh.and demanding rjJtreii'cu.
ment and reform at bur hands) men herB
must notuJer.mjfl6y-jj Yfifift tjr'
cumstance or influence that may be tirdbgji"i
to ben upon them. But let tlib" legislating
this the popular branch, composed as it'
is of thb representatives bf the peoplejmake1
the tftdve and they will be. mds nobly sus
tained. My Word for it tir,- Ihe cry of
persecution Will not find a resting place.
beyo.id these wallsi
And when sir,mcn talk against reriioVing
the Canal Commissioners, and proclaim1'
"Oh the party will be destroyed," I heed
it not, for I am of the opinion that the only
way to save the parly is, to purge it of its'
impurity locutoffihe excrescences, and,
you will give it renewed, strength and re
newed vigor. What sir, do you think of
the bill under consideration.
Mr. HANCOCK, Who occupied" ,ihe'
Chair temporarily, instantly replied :"t
think its a good one." Laughter,2
Mr. WRIGHT: 1 agree with you ill
opinion, sir; and I apprehend that you cu
tertain the same view in regatd to the a
mendment, that I do myself, Let tiij adopl
it, and then add another section, which f
understand Ihe gentleman from the county
(Mr. Roumfort) hag ready to offer, and wo
will have dono the state sumc service ! But
sir, let mc say to you, and lo the represen
tatives in this House, that if you kill this
bill, ihrt there will be an end lo reform, s
Why, it will be said did you not make it a
question of reform to remove the canal com
misiioncrj, on the charge of not having ihd
public confidence, and of squandering Ihd
public money t And did you not dfcbalo
the subject fur five days, end then votb the'
bill down 1'' Why occupy more bf tho
time of this House ill retailor! id feformf
l'or myself, I confess that I have occupied
more time than 1 intended to do, atld yell
have not said one half that I intended to say
when t arose: but I have not talked it id
entertain this House, nor do I tiippose tlul
I have edified it. Bull have made ten.erkli
in order that the people might kndwr nty
sentiments and opinions upon this important
subject; And why, Sir; I ask, do 1 tuppmi
tho passage of this bill! Became it n
i great question of natiotul reformi ami A
- 1 though I admit tU yKJ'a priiicipl, hi