Jfi3ER86NIAN REPUBLICAN,
JEFFERS ONIAN REPUBLICAN
troulbuixr, Pa. January 31, 1840.
Terms, 3,00 in advance,- $?.25, half yearly-; and $2,50 if not
paid bofoic the end of the year.
I'OR PRESIDENT;
Gea. William IFesiry Harrison,
OF OHIO.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT-;
-John Tyler,
OF VIRGINIA.
(Hp3 The date on our outer form should have
been Fn'ifoy, January 31, instead of Wednesday.
Alinon II. Reed, was on Tuesday of last week
elected State Treasurer, by the Legislature, in the
place of Daniel Sturgeon, Esq. elected U. S. Se
nator. Whig- Meeting in Northampton County. -A. Whig
county meeting was held at the Court House in
Easton on the 21st inst., of which Peter S. Mich
ler, Esq. was chairman, Henry Dcsh, Wru. Sher
lock, P. F. B. Schmid, A. B. Longshore and Sa
muel Russell were vice presidents, and John
Shouse and James A.-Gordon secretaries.
The .Easton Whig, says: "The assembly was
all that our most sanguine friends could have ex
pected or wished. Full representations were pre
sent from every part of tho County, and crowded
the Court House. Mr James Galloway, of Mer
cer county, Pa. addressed tho meeting in an elo
quent and masterly manner on the merits of the
Sub-treasur' scheme, and other financial experi-
lnents of the present administration, and Mr. G.
W. Yates, from the Committee on Resolutions,
prefaced their reading with some appropriate re
marks on the present condition of the country ,and
prospects of General Harrison. We do not re
member having ever teen present at a public mee
ting, where the object for which it was called was
entered .into in a more "spirited and animated man
ner. The name of General Harrison, whenever
it was mentioned, drew down immense applause,
and filled the audience with the most lively emo
tions. But one spirit seemed to animate the vast
concourse, and that was to do their utmost to make
Northampton tell in the cause of the old ' Hero of
the Thames.'"
The following among other resolutions, was pas
sed at the above meeting :
u Resolved, That J. Jenkins Ross bo the Elec
jtgrYor President and Vice President for this "0011
jjressional District, to be pledged to the support "of i
William Henry Harrison and John Tyler."
The Voice of Dauphin. A large and enthusi
astic Harrison meeting was held in the Court
House in Harrisburg on the 20th inst. The Tel
egraph in alluding to the meeting, says " This
sterling old county, in which General Harrison
was first nominated for President, is determined to
do her duty. Her sons came forth cn masse to the
meeting last night, and demonstrated the
siasm that is abroad
"We have never been present at a more grati
fying county meeting. - At an early hour the court
house was thronged, and when the transparency
representing Gen. Harrison's 'log cabin' on one
cide-nthe battle of the Thames on another the
flag ofthe Republic on a third and the motto of
"DEMOCRACY, REFORM, AND ONE PRES
IDENTIAL TERM," on the fourth, was intro
duced, and happily referred to by Mr. Fraley,who
was speaking at the time, the air became vocal
with the huzzas of the multitude.
"The gentlemen who addressed the meeting
were received with bursts of applause, to the equal
of which the walls of the couh house have never
echoed. They all seemed to be inspired with the
glorious subject, and ;not a word fell from their
lips but met a hearty response. When they had
concluded, the meeting by acclamation passed
them a vote of thanks. 4$
" The meeting was in session about three hours, i
the most lively interestJjeing kept up through the
entire period. Our friends abroad may set down
Dauphin at a handsome advance on her handsome
majority of I836.jjjP
The ForentTiner. The last Easton Whig has
the following: " Win. Irwin, Esq., Whig, has been
elected Mayor of Pittsburg" by upwards of 700 majority.-
Tho test was a political one, and the can:
didates were run as Harrison and Van Buren men;
t -1 .-11 . i- .
and xvaat maKes me victory sim greater, is inui
this Jgpe first time in four years that our political
frieiSt succeeded in electing their candidate for the
Mayoralty. The name of tho gallant Harrison was
irafefjameytal in achieving this result, and it is but
lliSarst of a long series of triumphs which will
sliortly restore Pennsylvania once more into hon
est hands."
Reminiscences kor the Coalition. We find
in the Madisanian the following, among other re
rninisccces, pf the cordial relations which former
ly subsisted between Calhoun & Co. aid tho
kitchen'-cabint. As they seam disposed to forget,
the public is inclined to remember : .
-When Mr. iCalhuun came to the assistance of
Mr. V,an;Bureh on. aecouutof his proposed finan
cial policy, ht- foresaw and declared that he was
coming to a jjarty " to jphnm hfJiQd nn reason to
confide, 1 .
What 103 ibeeii Ids rt4alicn to Mr. Teuton io
4t
fore imaer whom he now would "be obliged to act
s second part 1
1I1C jrjuut! ui a,iu.iv." "
vnpaks of an "encounter
r" between Mr, Benton
and Mr. Calhoun. .
"Mr. Benton lashed him (Mr. CalhOun);with
such severity, that although he provokerTthe con-
J- I
would not -condescend to nq-
tice him further,
Ho was then tola in theIacoVof
the Senate, that he (Mr. Calhoun) wasjlike a
whipp'd cock, with dropp'd wing, escaping from
the pit, in which he challenged a.comDSt'by his
crowing." J9
In describing the inauguratioioTy reside n t Van
Buren, the Globe, after havingJmentiOned the fact,
that Messrs. Clay and Webster were present, 'and
performed their duties as Senators,1 spoke thus of
the absence and disgustrjfMr. Calhoun :
'There was but ojia, however, reprobate spirit,
that could not bedr to look upon the bright and au-
spicious day; and it was a pleasure to all that the
face of Catalihe was not seen on the occasion !
The place which he occupied when General Jack
son came into office was filled by the kind and
brave Col. Johnson, etc.
And what thought Mr. Pickens about these times:
'Sir,' said Mr. Pickena, 1 sycophancy and ser
vility have taken the place of all heroic and manly
virtues. The rooks, together with obscene birds,
have perched themselves in the high places of the
land, and tee sit here beneath surrounded daily with
their Jilth and corruption.''
'The gentleman,' (Mr. Cambreleng) said Mr.
Pickens, 1 had said tins nation had been converted
into a great gambling house. He asked who had
hrought it to this condition ? The partv now in
POWER A VILER, A MOKE DEGRADED, A MORE COR
RUPT set of WRETCHES never lived. The
contempt of pledges, man-worshipping, office
seeking, etc. had wrought a distinct change in the
principles of this gentleman.'
The $2000 Fees. Some of tho Philadelphia
euuors seem nui io unuersmnu uiu uuusiion ot mu
s u r n . . u- u .i j .i :
fees erven by Gov. Porter to his brother and the
. i i r t. I
Attorney General for brincrinsr the cases of Ouster
against Darlington and Collins before the Supreme
Court. They do not seem to know that these ca
ses were instituted as party measures, and for nar-
I tv purposes only. Nor do they appear to be ac-
quainted with one of the important provisions of
law, that no money shall be drawn from the State
Treasury by warrant of the Governor, without au
thority of LAW and that in the case referred to
the TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS paid these
men by his warrant wa3 taken from the Treasury
WITHOUT AUTHORITY OF LAW.
Now if Gov. Porter can take two thousand dol-
lars from the Treasury contrary to law. he rnn
...i-ontw o, ;I ,,n t
within his j ower. He can Swartwout at pleasure,
with the whole treasury in his pocket. The taking
of this two thousand was robbing, and nothing
less. It was as clearly a wrong and outrage as
burglary itself. The Governor and his br.oth.er,
and the Attorney General know this, yet they
would not wait lor their lees until the Legislature
not obtain one hundred, where they took thousands
Harrisburg Daily Telegraph.
The Spirit of the West. Gen". Harrison.
Judging from the tone of the public journals from
tho West, and especially from Ohio, Tennessee,
Indiana and Illinois, the enthusiasm among the
people of that section of the countiy in behalf of
General Harrison, is without precedent in our po
litical history. His nomination seems to have cal
led forth a degree of excitement, that tire most san
guine of his friends could not have anticipated.
nthu-iTjmS) we find, that in Kentucky, the flag of Har
rison and 1 yler is streaming like the tram of a
blazing star, from the mast head of every Whig '
t i T n, .1 1 i j 1 !
j ournai. 111 x einitbsuo, uiey nave aireauy agreea
upon three Whig Conventions one for the Eas
tern, one for Western, and one for the Middle Dis
trict. The lion of freedom, says Prentice, is sha
king the dew drops from his mane. In Indiana,
on The 25th ult. an immense meeting was held, at
which the people assembled on the battle ground
of Tippecanoe, and determined to rally as one
man, for the glorious old hero of that well fought
field. In Tennessee, also, the feeling is equally
confident. We have before us in the Nashville
Whi; of the 6th, an account of the trreatest public
meeting ever held on any occasion in that city. For
twelve hours, says the Whig, the large county court
room of the State House rung with the plaudits of i
the people, and the eloquence of their distinguish- J
ed lavontes on the occasion ol receiving and res
ponding to the nomination of WILLIAM HENRY
HARRISON, for the Presidency. We do not re
collect on any former occasion to have witnessed
the presence of so man' of our country friends, the
hearty farmers of Old Davidson, who, notwith
standing the inclemency of the day, had determin
ed to hear what could be said in favor of the cho
sen leader of the creat Whir host. The mechanic.
mercantile, and professional classes of the city,
were also represented in respectable force, while 1
our Jriends in the Legislature contributed not only 1
to swell the number present, but to add largely to
the interest and enthusiasm of the occasion. In
sljort it was literally a day of rejoicing, and its pro
ceedings will long be remembered among the first
joyous fruits of the People's Nomination.
Judging from these signs of the times, these un
erring evidences of public opinion, the Opposition
of thd West will walk over the course in triumph.
Harrisin will not only carry his old States, but by
majorities greatly increased. The poople are everv
where up and in motion, and the good cause ap
pears to gather strength with each .hour.
Philadelphia Inq.
Tun Harrison FircSpreadinb-Tiie whole west
in Motion. Nothing could exceed the burst of'ncrsori" as the case ma v bo."
enthusiasm with which the nominations have been I These provisions arc intended to secure fair so
received and responded to in tho great west. Eve- i lections, bv eiviii" each nartv. in districts whero
ry paper from that flourishing part cf the Republic !
corner to us lanen witn evidences ot the spirit
wined animates the people. The name of HAR
RISON seems to possess an extraordinary and al
most talismanic influence over the hearts of wes
tern democracy. The ' log cabin1 men know and
revere the ' log cab! .i' candidate. They know that
when lhe vast territory Cf Indiana, Illinois, Michi
gan, and much of Ohio, could boast nothing supe
rior in the wav of buildings. to tho 'log cabins' of
me cany seiners, me prowess ?nu sagacity ot
K.icse cabins from the torch of tho savage, and their
" " , m. . wtullklVl
j u -M-un Hum mo ar.iupjig bviukuj, anu aitcrwarus, j
on the f.oci ofCoagrcyj, it .vahc voice -cf liar-jity
rison that secured the rights of the 'log cabin' set-
tiers The hardy ana ciuvuiruuasmw Ui t,i,,wuu
and toil in tlie wefet remember the man who lor
,j,;r crnn.V lft hk home in the oast at an early
are, and volunteered to share their privations and
toils, lien. Harrison iws uuc wuwmj
of the main pilladof tho whole western country.
In the eloquent 'language of Col. Richard M,
JohesoN, " the history of me west w cy ,jui
forty years he has ken identified with Us interests
its verils and its hopes:' Such was tho language
Col. Johnson ten years ago. It is now fatty years
since Gen. Harrison volunteered in defence of the
western sottlers. He h'as ever since been identi
fied with their every interest and every hope. It
is not then strange that they should love and re
vere him; but it would be strange indeed if they
could prove ungrateful. Harrisburg Daily Tel.
Taxation. As the commonwealth is so deeply
involved ih debt that even the Governor recom
mends a dUect tax on the people ; it becomes the
'duty ol every citizen, as wcu lor ins own sum: as
for his posterity, to watch men in power, whose
economy or cxtravagancemay either lessen or add
to the burden ol our debt. ve are airuauy uong
ed to give annually to the tax-gatherer no trilling
portion of ourpropcrty for the support of Govern
ment, and all must submit to the necessary evil ;
but it should be remembered that there is a contin
ual and natural tendency to increase public expen
ditures by those who reap the benefit at the peo
pebple's expense, and if that tendency is not check
ed byHhe tax-payers, it will never be arrested by
the tax-receivers. Economy is a cant word with
a party that has in its grip the purse strings of the
Commonwealth. Let the waste of public money
be ever so ereat. economy will always be preached
to the suffering tax-payeYby those who receive the
benefit of tho people's money. Actions, however,
speak louder than words, and sometimes a great
deal more unpleasantly; lot us apply the test of
truth to Governor Porter, and the party that sup
ports him. The Governor's message is filled with
protestations of economy, yet the expenses of his
Administration give the lie to the message, by
reaching nearly half a million of dollarsinone year.
Was it economy to raise the salaries of Judges,
Commissioners and Auditors ? Was it economy
to give $20,000 per annum to a Bank, when the
Bank did not, nor could hot, demand it, and when
taxation must pay for it ? Is it economy to m-
.i i - .,i-r.
crease the number of officers on our public works,
, , n . .u. ' .i
the Governor to give to his brother and the Attor
ney General 2000 out of the Treasury for arguing
a few hours before the Supreme Court Let the
facts as brought befoie the. Legislature, speak.
Judges Darlington and Collins, appointed by Rit
ner, were to be removed after Porter came into
oflic. By whom ? The party. For what? To
make room for men who were to be appointed by
David R. Porter. The Governor's brother andthe
Attorney General, argued the case before the Su
preme Court. The Judges were removed. The
Governor did bestow the vacant Judgahips upon his
yorues. ine pariy n power guinea a victory,
r rtn 1 !.
and the spoils were divided among the victors.
Was not this enouirh 1 No. The Governor's
boasted economy led him to put his hand into the
public purse, and take out $2000 for his brother
James and the Attorney General, without consult
ing the Representatives of the people. This piece
of economy is now before the Legislature for their
consideration. Thus we see that after salaries
, jjia Vfl.bflf r. , r aiaft-iwiM5oalA-innro-rtn mown a
money given away unnecessarily, and the public
made to pay for partizan services, we are insulted
by having economy talked to us by the offenders.
We need reform we want economy; but unless
referm and economy are practiced by those who
feed at the public crib, we can never get the bene
fit of either. It does the victim no good to tell him
how much he suffers, for he already knows it, and
it aggravates the wrong when the lesson comes
from the wrong-doer, unaccompanied by any effort
to relieve. Ducks County Intel.
The Spring Elections. IrsPKCTORS & Jupgus
of Ei ections. By the general election law it is
provided in section 52d, that the electioi. for con
stables, &c. shall be held " on the third Friuay
of March of every year, except in the counties of
15radlord, busqucjianna, rotter, M lvean, Ulcar
field, Lycoming, Wayne, and Pike, the township
elections of which shall be held on the third Fri
day of February of every year." By the same act
it is provided in section 3d, that " the qualified
citizens of the several wards, districts and town
ships, shall meet in every year at the time and
place of holding the election for Constable for such
ward, district or township, and then and there
elect two Inspectors and one Judge of elections.'"
The 4th section of the law points out the mode
of choosing the two inspectors and one judge.
" Each of the qualified citizens shall vote for one
person as judge, and also for one peison as inspec
tor of elections, anJ the person having the greatest
number of votes for judge, shall be publicly decla
red judge ; and the two persons having the great
est number of votes for inspectors, shall in like
manner, be declared to be elected inspectors."
The'Sth' section provides that these elections i
"shall be opened between the hours of eight and j
ten o'clock in the forenoon, by a public proclama
tion theieof, made by the olficers appointed to hold
the same, and kept open until seven o'clock, ex-
cept in tho city and county of Philadelphia, where
it shall be kept open until eight o'clock in the af-
tniiAAn "
In the 10th sectipnof the act it is provided that
tho inspectors and judges of the general election
in Octb'Jflf last, shjill hold the said township elec
tions on the third Friday of March next.
The duties of thd inspectors and judges so to be
chosen arc defined in the Gth section. "The judges
of the elections, within the limits of their respec
tive wards, districts or townships, shall have pow
er and are hereby required to decide on the quali
fications of any per&on to vote at any election when
ever the inspectors thereof shall disagree upon tho
right of such person to vole, but not otherwise,
and the inspectors thereof shall upon such decis
ion, forthwith receive or reject tho vote of such
parties are nearly balanced, one inspector of the
election : and the ludare is a mere nonentity until
the inspectors disagree as to the qualifications of
the voters, but in sjich case' his decision is final.
In districts which ne party has two votes to tho
other party's one, if the tickets arfrproperly divi
ded, the Strong party may sccurcflBjHtliCaj.in
spectors, and the judge also. BiictIIIquIcI bo
contrary to the spin't of the law, and (rod ground
ior ins presumption mat me party maKiug sucu un
effort must have i bad purpose m view. It was
la, that the
H1U llI.UtltlV?il VJ1 lilW .IKlilLUtO Ui HIV
party having the majority in a district should have
tne juage ai
and one 6( thc.insncctors.nnd the minor-
the inspector; jwre than this.no. honest, party
r0(' wish' tYvhhtnin. Tifiiir tTir ivndrr ivi!! unr
. . .,, . r . ,isjiuii v.w.w uiouiu.itiuu, man nave
coive that the great contest will in-most case be ol!r State RWsenlatives, resort .u a tfv Pr?
for the judges as they are to determine the lcgali- Thw ,,rop,sllion C!lnih)l bu k m ,
tv of votes when tne inspectors (belonging, it is , f . n i meuars. i
presumed, to both panics.) disagree. k,l T Vall,0"I! aUd 0nie Ulliar are lor S-
J The 4th section provides that the " elections fori the Umds ihe nea States. Let South Car
electors of President and Vice President ol the U. i 0,',ia d so if she pleaso ; as for Pennsylvania,
States shall be held and conducted by the inspec-! she will never consent to it. And mark what 1
tors and judges" elected in March to hold the gen-' say : jQj3!!' Congress should adjourn without
i 1 ,u r ,V, , . wf uu 'selling apart enough of the lands to vamthc, tats
hela on " the first v ednesday 1:1 December 111 the 1 ,,,, ,..,, ,,,.. . ,. . c t?.K- V
vc-ir 1840 " i A tll0se mcmocrs so Jar negmt tneir du
We have gone into this detail to show the friends ! t0, the Jtates' U 'r. 5e re'd by the
of HARRISON the importance of the coming 'ProPle: riie Publ"c nimd is awaKSV this in
spring election, which will take the place ot the I Resting quostion, and will ha.vefe definite ac
exciting 4 inspector's eloction' heretofore held ex-1 "on upon it. To equalize the benefits of tho
ccpt last autumn. A great deal depends on the ! law on all tho States. Jt is intends! m t!,-.
choice of honest and honorable judges and inspec-1 States not in debt afshare equal to tho Slates
tors ; men who will do their duty regardless of; that are involved inj&eht.
puny jctuiig u.iu. jiuriy interest.
- ' Harrisburg Daily Tel.
A Speck of War.-Judging from remarks made
by xMr. Buchanan, in the V. S. Senate, we are
likely to have some further agitation in relation to
the North East Baundary Question. As somewhat
connected with this subject, we give tho following
from the Montreal Herald. Inquirer.
" In the Quebec Mercury of Thursday last, we
fmri ti. ru..,: . " 1 ; j i tt-
uiiu Mic juuuvvui" 1I1UIIIUIU1IUUIU issuuu oy JUS
.Excellency Sir John Harvey, the Lieutenant Go
vernor of the Province of New Brunswick. We
do not know the motives which have induced his
excellency to issue it, but it may possibly be in con
sequence of information he has received from the
Imperial Government, that, in the event of Mr.
Feathcrstonhaughand Mudg's report of their sur
vey of the disputed territory agreeing with the po
sition already maintained "by Great Britain, the
whole energies of the empire will be called into
action to enforce our possession of it, even at the
cost of a war with the United States. Although
these gentlemen have not allowed the particulars
of their report to transpire, it is more than proba-
oie mat us aeians are in tne possession ol sir J.
Harvey, and that they are in our favor. In case
of a general war, the recommendations of Sir
John are extremely judicious, and we understand
they were acted upon with the most beneficial re
sults during the war of 1812 and the subsequent
years."
MEMORANDUM.
I am desirous of impressing upon the inhabitants
of the frontier districts of this Province, that in the
event of hostilities with the United States, the
most prudent course to be pursued (on either side,
for the measure to be effectual must be reciprocal,)
i.i ; 1... . . . t.
would in "my opinion, be that of a strict neutrality,
be advanced by &ny display of hostile feelings to'-
wards each other they mfght, it is true, mutually
subject eacn other to constant alarms, great calam-
itles, suffering and distress but their utmost ef-
forts must be as a drop of water in tre determina
tion of the great national questions at issue, which
must be decided elsewhere by the naval and mili
tary resources of the great powers engaged in the
conflict. And the inhabitants of this Province
repose with confidence upon the protection of the
parent State, which is alike able and willing to
throw her powerful shield over all who have a just
claim to her protection and defence.
Intelligencer a paper not likely to be carried a
way by excitement, or to attach undue impoitance
to language made use of in debate :
" We confess ourselves startled at the serious
character of the remarks made in the Senate, by
Mr. Buchanan and others upon the Maine Bound
ary question. Mr. Buchanan is the Chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Relations ; and to whatever
iuiio iium null) uibibiuic, uu uju auujui ui uiiui;
ralntmno mil Mi .AUDonfn .'s I'notl,, 1W.
fMio rm rw. .u ..k: . r .1
are pained to learn from his lips, that serious diffi
culties are apprehended with the British Govern
ment before the controversy concerning the Bound
ary is brought to a close. We are, Ave repeat, sor
ry to hear it, having confidence in the honorable
Senator that ho would not say so if he did not think
so.
"We had hoped, nay, we still hope bellerihings.
We cannot bring ourselves to believe that the dis
pute upon this point can be carried to extremities
between two nations having the good feeling to-
ward each other which the people and Governments
of Great Britain andthe United States now really
have.
" Enough was said in the brief debate, by every
gentleman who took part in it, to wake up public
attention, which, in this part of the country at least,
has been profoundly asleep, in reference to this
whole matter, ever since the effect of the agree
ment between Mr. Foisyth and Mr. Fox was as
certained to bo to prevent any bloodshed, for the
time, between the borderers.
l he loiiowing is the remark ot Air. Uuchananm
alluded to by the National Intelligencer.
it t . ni,.;,-n i :
difficulties with the British authorities before the
close of this controversy. My earnest desire is, !
therefore, that our proceedings may be marked j
with such justice, moderalion and firmness as to
justify us in the eyes ef all mankind. A contest
must be avoided; if this be possible consistently
with the national honor; and then, if it should be
forced upon us, we shal' be a united People."
FROM ILVRRISBURG.
Correspondence of the Philadelphia Inquirer,
i:xtuact of a lkttur, dated
Harrisburg, January 21, 1840.
LIQUIDATION OF THE STATE DEBT.
In a former loiter I gave certain reasons for
paying the8State Debts out of the Public Lands.
Since that time, I have hrid further conversa
tion on the subject with some of the best men
in the country, and I find that it grows every
day more popular. J o such as have consider
ed the magnitude of the Public Domain held by
the United States in trust for the States, no
new arguments need bo offered to convince
them of the propriety of paying the debts with
a portion of the lands. The amount of public
lands is something like one thousand millions of
acres. Now if Congress should set apart 200,
000,000 of acres, there would still remain 800,
000,000, at $1,25 per acre, worth ono thousand
millions of dollars, and tin's after paying all the
debts of the States and Territories. Can any
one doubt, therefore, the propriety of giving a
slice of the lands to put the States all out of
debt, Surely Pennsylvania will sanction such
a measure. As shehas a vested interest in
these lands, would she not rather see her Con-
UUiUC13 State improvements, executed at immense cost,
with the war, if we should unhappily be compelled , . ,1 sntnr. T 1
tn nnrrirm in n0 ;ni Kit tw,Ic!i.i ! bY the States. In peace, the general govern-
- ' irri.ninn i'j"r& I'nr r1...ir ,. ...1. .:. A .
One of the besfsmen in the United States
said on one occasion, that at the time the public
lands were ceded to the United States for tin
benefit of all the Slates, they were not worth 20
millions of dollars ; nay, not even that amount.
Our population, cultivation and emigration fro-n
the old States have given -them an enhanced
value To these may be added the new valuo
which the great steam powers of Evans and
Fulton have given to the lands on the western
waters. But, there is-still a stronger argument
whythe States should have at least 200,000,-
000 of the public lands distributed among them.
1 refer to the great and expensive improvements
of the respective States. Of what value would
the great body of western lands be now, if it
were not for the immense State improvements
of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio ? Tho
lands in the west would not be worth a tithe of
what they now are, if it were not for the great
Slate expenditures. Why then, I ask, should,
not a portion of those lands, made valuable by
the money of the States, be set apart to pay tho
State debts. It is too plain a proposition to bo
resisted. Congress will do it ; and ithis Con
gress should not pass the law, a new represen
tation fresh from the ranks of the people will
do it. The people " know where the land lies,"
and have resolved to have a share of it.
But let us consider it in a national point of
view. The general government could not, to
morrow, m the event of a war on our Canadian
frontier, reach that region with anything like
t reasonable expedition, if it were not for tho
j men uses lhe Slate improvements for her mail,,
nd in war the President will have to transport
me arms 01 me nation upon tne otate canals
and roads. The enemy might overrun some of
our most exposed points if the State improve
ments did not exist. The great debt of the Iato
war, was nearly all the result of the heavy ex
penses of transportation. I think, .therefore, as
a matter of sheer justice, that the United States
should pass a law to relieve the States. The
old Congress assumed the.debts of the thirteen
States, when they had no valuable lands to pay
tliftm- Cnncrrf5 rrrnntlv nssmmpd thf debt of
tribution act was an apportioning of the monayV
resulting from the sale of the public lands.. .
And all that is required now is, that a portion
equal to the State debts should be set apart as
a sinking fund. The lands need not be sold
on the instant. They will be resen'edlfor a
' v-"'v-"
convenient season, liy this arrangement, tho
, , , q
1 Old OtateS Will
start fair, unencumbered and-
free from an onerous burthen of taxation ; ;aritC
the gentlemen who have this subject in their,
hands for adjustment, will find, if they do noiS
accede to this proposition, that they will bo
swept from the stations they now occupy, L
confess I should want no better lever to unset!
I them in oppressed and encumbered Pcnrisylva-
111a, uiau a voie against tne payment 01 neruout
out of the public lands, that in part belong jot
her, and which her costly improvements havenv?
creased m value equal to the amount ot
equal
of her debt. For I repeat it, if the State im
provements of Pennsylvania and New Yoric
were not in existence, tho great Western do
main would bc,'comparatively, but of little value;.
This then can be readily understood. It re
quires no deep thinking or laborious investiga
tion to understand it. The dullest man in thy.,
commonwealth can comprehend. To all who
go against it, we say beware, for you will iuosi.
certainly be called to a strict account at the-
orreat mceun? oi tne neonic at tne nous.
It is a flimsy device to try, as some have-
done, to draw a line of distinction between, tho
United States Government and the States. Tho
same people compose both forms of
rovern-
ments. I he people of the States know, tints
the U. S. mail and the Ik S. .arms must ho
transported on the roads and lands paid, for out
of the pockets of the people of tho States ; and.
as the government of the United States use
them in thoir greatest need, they ought to pay
for them, particularly when the public land
held by the United States belong to the States,,
are sufficient to cficct it, ami yet lcavo one
thousand millions of dollars for posterity. 'Rio
State works aro intended for posterity, and a.
part of tho cost should bo paid out of the land
iuiul, or, as' some call it, posterity fund
Again. If the United States. Government
had constructed the present improved line of
mail travel and military transportation through
out tho Union, the States would be free from
debt JJjmark that. Thero is scarcely a
moment of lime throughout the whole year in
which the United States Government is not in
some part of the Union using the State improve
ments, built at State cost and by Stato enter
prise. Why then should she not reach out her
arm and relieve tho States. Look at the in
crease of postage, resulting from State inyrove
mcnts and Stale cost and should wo be em
broiled in war with England, how many mil
lions of dollars would bo saved to tho United
States in transportation on the State Improve
ments. Mr. Editor, I could oxtend this letter
to a still greater length, but&forbcar ; only ad
ding this.romark, Jp The people will pay their