as a discreditable attempt to tamper with
and give a political character to the judi
ciary, and has no parallel in the histor. ,
of our coon try, but in the memorable ap
pointments ktor,vti as 'the .midnittht judg
es,' made on the 3d of March 1801. The
object of the proceeding, undoubtedy,
was to prevent the clas,ffication of the as
sociate judges, which tint constitution con
templated, and if
: so, was a fraud rpan
the people of the commonwealth. I beg
leave to call the attention of the legisla
ture to the facts, and it their views shall
coincide with mine, I think sound policy
as well as sound morality, requires that a
supplement should be passed to the act
of 20th Jane, 1830, classifying the 891.a/-
date judges by which provision should be
made, that all associate judges, commis
sioned since the adoption of the constitu •
tion, on the 9th of October, 1838, should
only hold until the time when the com-1
missions of the persons in whose places,.
respectively, they were appointed, would
have expired. Everything lik manage
ment in the appointment ofjudges, tu pro
long their term-, contrary to the obvious
meanining and intentent of the cons•itu
tion, should be discountenanced, as cal
culated to undermind and shake public
confidence in the integrity of the judicia
ry.
Since the executive department of the
government has been committed to my
hands, all vacancies which have occurred
in the offices of associate judges, except I
during the recess of the senate, have been
filled by commissions to expire when
those of their predecessors would have ex
pired under the amended constitution.
This, 1 apprehend, is the precise meaning
and intent of ;the constitution, otherwise
the clarification directed by that instru
ment, could be broken up and dfeated, at
the will and the pleasure of the executive.
The only office remaining in Pennsy
I
vania, in which the tenure is limited by
good behavior alone, is that of notary pub
lie, authorized by the act of assembly,
passed sth March 1791. As all offices in
that tenure, provided for in the constitu
tion ot 1790, have been abolished by the
adoption of the amendments to that in
strument, a regard to consistency 'could
seem to require that there should he no
stationary office, of an unlimited duration
as to tenure. The number in each comi
ty, except . Philadelphia, being limited by
the provision of that act, to three and
some of the number being now superan
nuated, or otherwise incapable of dischai,
ging the duties ot the office, and *owns
and have sprung up, requlring fre.
quently the services of a notary public,
where appointments cannot be made with
out exceeding the number limited to the
county, leg islative action on the subject
appears to be necessary,
On the 16th day of June, 1836, an act
was passed, entitled an "Act to fix the
number of Senators and Representatives '
I nd form the State into Districts, in pur
suance of the provisions of the constitu
tion," which provided for the election of
thirty-three Senators in twenty-three dis
tricts, into which the act divided the
state. The whole number of taxables in
the state, as returned to the S;c:•etaty of
the Commonwealth, was 300,421—which '
fixing the Representatives at one hundred
and the Senators at thirty-three, would
entitle 3,094 taxable 4 to a Re! resentative
and 9,376 to a Senator. There have been
uniformly great complaints of the inequa
lity of representation under this law, both
as to Senators and Representatives, and
in regard to the latter, there was a posi
tive violation of the constitution of the
commonwealth. By the 4th section of
the Ist article of the constitution of 1790.
which remains unaltered, it is pros Wed
that the apportionment shall be made
"among the city of Philadelphia, and the
several counties, according to the number
of taxable inhabitants in each," and that
"eaoh countie shall have at least one rep
resentative, but no county hereafter erec
ted shall be entitled to a seperate repre
sentative, until a sufficient number of
taxable inhabitants shall be contained
within it, to entitle them to a seperate
representation, agreeably to the ratio
which shall then be established." Agre
ably to the return made, as aforesaid, the
number of taxable inhabitants were, in
the county of Bedford, 4,712—in Brad
ford, 4,721—in Columbia, 4.BlB—yet to
the first named county, having the small
est number of taxables, two members
were given, while to each of the last na
med counties, having a larger number ut
taxables, but one member is allowed; and
the same palpable and unwarrantable vi•
olations of the constitution characterize
many of the other apportionments made
by said act. Nor is this all—the county
ot was in existence, as a county,
when the constitution of 1790 was adop
ted, and was entitled to a rem esentative
in the legislature, which, by this act, was
not allowed to her; but she and Juniata
county, which bad formed part of her
territory, are coupled in a distircet with
the county of Union. 4t is therefore re
spectfully submitted, that a due regard
for the provisions of the constitution, and
the rights of the people, imperiously re
quire the enactment of a law for a new
Spportionment of the representatives and
senators, according to the number of taxa
ble inhabitants.
In Pennsylvania it has often been a
source of complaint that Vie decisions of
our Supreme Court are not reporte,f by a
regularly appointed reporter. It may be
worthy of inquiry whether some provi-
Lim ought not to be made by law, for re•
gulating the manner of repot ting of those
decisions, by an officer who shall he re
sponsible to the commonwealth, for the
manner in which the work shall be per
formed
_ .
The number of cases taken up on writs
eiror, and by appeal front the inferior
,courts to the Supreme Court, has greatly
increased of late years. An inquiry into
the causes which have induced this in
crease, as well as what means had better
be adopted to enable tha coda in the last
rcsuit to de. ids tt ith due care arid delibe
ration, all the cases of swfli6ent hopor.
Lance to be brought before them, nay be
productive of much good to the adminis
tratien of justice. •
There are some parts of our adminis
tering jc,stice, whieh will perhaps require
legislative action, in order to correct iit ils
exisling in practice, and daily felt by sui
tors and others interested in their proceed
71'he present organiz4tton of the courts
in the city and county of
does not seem to answer the purpo,:e
tended. 'The vast increase of busme:s
thrown on the courts of civil jurisdiction
oy the act of 14th IS3 t, giving them
almo•t as unlimited equity powers as till.
!courts of chancery elsewhere possess, as ,
well as the increase growing out of the
augmented population and business of the
city and its adjoining districts have over•
loaded their dockets with causes, which
the judges by their utmost industry can•
not keep down. So nothing should be
done to prevent the delay now exptrie, , :-
ed by suitors in those courts, and what
the corrective should be, is submitted to
the legislature.
The court of criminal sessions of the
city and county of Philadeli.hia, also, re
quires
that legislative attention should be I
called to it. It possesses now, an enema. I
lous character, and only exercises a Nrt
of the criminal jurisdiction of that city
and county. The whole criminal juris
diction could, perhaps, be better vested in
the court of oyer and terminer and gener
al jail delivery, and court of quarter sex•
sions of the peace ; and a court of cit it
jurisdiction cleated for the purpose, eould
[exercise all the powers now exercised by
the court of common pleas, and perhaps
I dispose of part of the business which non•
accumulates in the district court. Such a
course, by a better distribution of the du.
ties of the court, would add nothing to
the present expenses, amid would p:obEhly
correct the evils and unnecessary expen
seenow incurred by a defective orgini
•r.ation and arrangement.
There is, however, another subject to
which I beg leavr especially to call your
attention. In certain counties in Penn
sylvania, attempts have been made to
tamper with the jury box, and give a po
litical aspect to the selection of persons
forjuroN. 'fills Is an evil which shotlitl
not for a moment be tolerated. The trial
by jury is one of the invaluable rights of
freemen, and the attempt to give a party
character to the selection ofjurors, unless,
promptlp checked, will ultimately destroy
all confidence in the tribunal. Let pro
vision be made by law to preclude the'
possibility of encroachment on thin wise
and venerable of all human and social in
stitutions, and protect this long-boasted
bulwark of liberty from prostitution to the
bAseet purposes. One of the causes spe
ciailly assigned for our " Declaration of
lndependenee," was the " depriving us of
the right ofltr:al by jury." Vain indeed
have been the efforts of the sages of the
Revolution to restore the invaluable right
if we silently look on and permit it thus
io be wrested from us. Every state in the
Union has emphatically engrafted on her
constitution "that the trial by jury shall
be preserved forever inviolate." No one
is safe in his life, his liberty, or his prop
erty in this state of things. I therefot e
respectfully recommend, that it be made
the duty of the judges of the courts of
common pleas, or some two of them, and
the sheriff, annually to select the jurors in
open court, and that the drawing of the
same teem time to time, shall be by them
also done in open court ; or that such
other provvion be made by law, as you in
your wisdom shall think best, to restore
public confidence to the exercise ut this
venerated and dearly cherished right, ued
to preserve the purity of the trial by jars .
from suspicion.
There are many instances to %. . .. , , .•
laws rek tire to coll. tcral i0.t....
not been observed, and in N 0,,,.,, !. -
ment of considet able sums of stion, , v, ..
lully belonging to the state, is evati.,l, t t
is, therefore, I.:spectfully suggested, that
the registers of wills be enjoined by law,
to enquire of all executors and adminis
trators, on oath, at the time of granting.
letters, whether the estate of their tesuts
for or intestate, will be, in their opinion,
the subject of the laws relative to collate
ral inheritan c es, ttntl that the register give
notice of all such to the attorney general,
'or his deputy, whose duty it shall tie to
make a record thereof, and enforce the
collection from time to time, of the mon•
eye arising therekn.
The militia of the commonwealth are
enrolled as required by law, with the ex ,
ceptiun of some portions of the state, in
which difficulties exist in procuring offi
cers to pertorin that duty, The militia
system is a tax to a considerable amount
upon the state treasury, which might be
considerably lessened, if the adjutant gen
eral were charged with the duty of per-,
sonally superintending the system in its
details, and properly compensated there
for. Legislative action is requested to
this subject. The due enrollment,
caring and classification of the malitia,.
\boold be continued, and encouragement
held out to volunteers, and the days of
trainings might be advantageously
reduce to one in the year.
No:king has occurred, since the meet
ine• of the last legislature, to disturb or
affect the ielati.ins of . Pennsylvania, as a
member of the Union. The goternment
of the United States has been continued
!0 be adminsterd by the wise and distin
guished statesman at its head, with his ac
customed ability and fidelity. In the
hi•„ and responsible position which he iic
cup;es, he has folly Justified the best hopes
of our citizens, by whose flee suffrages
lie has been elevated to the station which
he so well fills.
By an act e n titled "an act relating to
the elections of this commonwealth, up-
Troved the 2d JJ ly last, no provision up
pears to have been made for the eleetion
of a senator to represent the state in the
,aerate of the U States, at any miler time
than the second Tuesday in January, next
preceding tie expiration of the constitt•
Tonal term of a senator, unless informed
by the governor that a vacancy exists.
I:,y reason of tt bleb, I have supposed it
proper to inform you that a vacancy ex
sts in the representation of this state in
,!he senate of the U. Sate?.
By the ~ terms of the loan negotiated
with the Girard Bank, on the 20dt March
last. for $ 1 > 280,009, the sum of 5331 ,000
for repairing the breach on the Juniata
iii
vi=iam of the canal, was to remain in the
Rank until drawn for, after the vouchers
af the disbursing officers should have
tech exatrdned and approved by a joint
committee of thrcc each
branch of the legislature, agreeably to
the provisions of the fact authorizing the
loan, The joint committee, having been
appointed at the lime, there was every
reason to believe the accounts small! soon
be adjusted and the money applied. I
therefore did not he.itated to embrace the
offir to take the I ,an with that condition
annexed, inasmuch as the commonwealth
was then much straitened in her fiscal
atrair., for want of the residue of the mo
ney, and no other offer being made. But
by the subsequent action of the legisla
ture, in the joint resolution missed at the
close of the session, and approved on the
2d of July last, so such of the act of the
act of the 9th January, inuthorizing this
loan, as requires those accounts to be set
fled by the joint committee, was repealed
and authority was given ; to the auditor
general to settle and adjust the mine, and
requirieng him to draw his warrant in fa
vor of the Bank of the United States.
and!the Harrisburg b ink 'tor such amounts
as lie shall find to have been fairly expen
ded in repairing said breach." —Such have
been the difficulties, however, tencoun
tered by that officer in attempting the set
dement of those accounts, that lie does
not feel himself warranted, by the terms
. :;: ' faVor cl
those banks, for any part of the morriv,
the facts and circumstances in relation to
o Inch, will be laid fully before you by
that officer.-1 respectfully ask the early
attention of the legislature to this sub.
ject, that the necessary provision be made
by law to wrest the further accumulation
of interest on money, that may eventual
ly be found payable to said banks.
In. pursuance of the provisions of the
act of July 2d 1839, relating to the claims
of the commonwaalth against the estate
of John Nicholson, and Peter Bayton, a
commissioner was appointed to perform
the duties therein required.
From the nature and extent of the in
vestigation, and the limited tune alloWed
to make report, it was impossible for the
commissioner to examine into and ascer
tain the various complicated and impor
taut matters enjoined on him, within the
persed allotoed. By refterence to his re
port, which will be laid before you, it will
be laid before you, it will be seen that
the outstanding claims of creditors (oth..
er than Snate) against the estate of John
Nicholson, amount to upwards of thirteen
millions of dollars, including inter st till
e
thist of April 1839; that - the balance
clue the commonwealth on the same day
was 5278,179 57, and that the estate of
Peter Bay atm* tin that day owed the com
mon., ealt 2,38,913 95.
By the Bth section to the act above
mentioned, all former laws in relation to
!he wit:, of the lands of Nicholson and
tt ayi iii m are ti , pendeil; hence it may be
••,-I'.. of consideration whether some
egad legislation should nut be had,
. pia parties concerned from their
loni;urr:,ssinetit. •The great length of
One which has elapsed since those debts
Here contracted; 'the fact lhat many of
he lands hare been held for a nuntler of
years by actual settlers, and a large por
tion of the residue sold for taxes; the im
mense sum of outstanding debt apinst
John Nicholson, as well 'eas the claims of
his heirs, all urge the neeessity of a spee
dy settlement, as the titles to immen.,e
bodies of land, in various parts the state,
depend upon the adjustment of the con
dieting claims of creditors, heirs and land
holders.
I would therefore respectfully recom•
mend the tlassage of a law authorizing the
commissioner, under such restraints as
may be deemed advisable, to compromise.
adjust and settle the claim of the com
monwealth, with actual settlers, and oth
ers, claiming ititle to the lands, on which
the state has a lien, in such manner, us.
not to preduice or affect the rights of oth
ers.
It is highly important to the common
wealth, that the debt and uncertainty in
which the title of these lauds is at pres
eat involved, should be removed without
'farther delay. I have accordingly deem
ed proper to call your attention to the sub
ject; in anticipation of the commissioner's
final report.
By ltd. act 91 the 29th of March, 1836
a geological survey of the state was au.'
thorizcd, and the sum of $0,400, was an
nually appropriated for that object, lot
five years—A supplement to this act was
passed on the 5219 t March, 1837, author
izing an increase in the corps, and aps
pruoriating the further sum at $,3,600,
per annum, to the appropriation made by
the art Cot 1830—and by an additional
act passed 13th April 1833 the further
' min of $3,000 per annum was added to
the appropriatiou fur this object, 'in or•
der to comelete the geological and min
eralogical survey of the state more rapid
ly." In pursuance of these acts, the
state geoligist, with the assistants, author
izeded by the acts stated, has been etiga
g,ed in the mineralogical and geological
survey of the State, and considet able pie
gress bas been made in the work, which is
is hoped may be completed within the
time contemplated by law. The reports
already made by that officer, with that
which he will present at the present ses
i siun, exhibits the amount of the work
done, arid, to some extent develope the
mineral treasures of this commoowealth,
which have become sources of immense
stealth and trade.
The coal and iron of Pennsylvania, are
more valuable, as sources of wealth and
employment, than mines of the precious
metals arc in countries where they are
found. They furnish investments for
large amounts of capital—give constant
employment to numerous operatives; and
tinder ordinary circumstances, with pru
dint managi:ment, yield a certain and re
gular profit to all engaged in tile . business.
They pay a large propation of the tolls
upon our public improvements, and con
stitute the most important share of freight
for those engaged in transportation upon
our canals and railroads, as well as for
nuniernus vessels engaged in the coasting
trade. The value of coal and iron must
necessarily be much en l anced by the res
cent successful application of anthracite
coal as fuel fur smelting iron ore, which
will in all probability introduce a new era
in the iron business in our commonwealth.
Should the experiment become generally
successful, of which little doubt is enter
tained, it-will save us the necessity of im
porting large amounts of iron for railroads
as well as other purposes, which Penn
sylvania, in that event, would be able to
furnish in abundance, not only for her
own use, and that of her citizens, but for
a large portion of her sister states. Pcs-
sessing as Pennsylvania does, the grea:
bulk of the iron ore, and anthracite coal
formation of this country, in alternate
strata in the same territory, and situated
in a qaai'ttr of the Union peculiarly ac
cessable by means of her geographical pa
. til!tm canals and railroads, she must
enjoy al moat exclusively, the great reve-'
one that will arise from 'this source. A
large portion of our public debt abroad,
which would have been obtained in this
country, if it had been possible to procure
it here. It is confidently behaved, that
the coal and irun fields of this common
wealth, will hereafter furnish a cheap and
adequate supply, and it so, there is every
reason to think, that the numerous rail
roads, in nearly all of the states of the
Union, that have either suspended or
contemplated, will in a few years go into
operation. The business on our public
improvements an well as the permanent
mass of the wealth of the people of this
State, must thus be immeasurably in
creased.
Much of the time and attention of the
legislature is annually occupied in the con
sideration of private matters, and the in
terests of the commonwealth are some
times sacrificed to the importunities of in
dividuals. This has been peculiarly so in
cases where the canal commissioners, as
well as the board of appraisers, have pas
sed upon the claims of individvals fur
al
leged fiatnages, by reason of the construc
tion of public works, as well as where the
canal commissioners and engineers have
estimated the amount of work done by
contractors. Upon these, as weil as upon
all other subjects, steadiness of legisla
tion is very desirable, and general rules
and general systems should be made to
yield, unless under very peculiar circum
stances indeed, to the exparte statements
or representations of interested individu
als. There is necessarily much evil, and
great want of security in much special le.
gislation. Tae increased population and
business of the commonwealth, at the late
period in the winter at which the legisla
ture assembles, will, it is hoped, lead to
the adoption of such general rules on the
subject, as will save the legislature from
being continually occupied with minor
matters.
The expenditures of the administration
of the government of the state have been muchincreased of late yeors, and in no
department so muck as that of the legis,
lative. While the increase of business
and population furnish a suflicient reason
for a gradual and corresponding addition
to the expenses of the executive, judiciary
and treasury depaitments; it is hard to
account for the expenses of the legislature
which has advanced since November,
1335, in a ratio unparallelled in the history
of ;he government. It will be found upon
ieference to the reports of the treasurer
and auditor general, that the expenses of
this department, fur a number of years
hprior to November, 1835, were shout one
undred thousand dollars, and are now
upwards of one hundred and sixty times
and dollars annually. The public good
requires a rigid system of retrenchment
and reform, which, while it will allow to
faithful public servants an adequate coin
pensation for the time and talents devoted'
to the public, will lop offall wzateful and'
'unnecessary expenditures in every des
pertinent. 1 throw out these suggestions
from no wish to dictate to the legislature,
but in a sincere desire to have all alleged
:tenses investigated in •a spirit of candor
and patriotic devotion to the public good
with a view to correction, wherever coffee
tion shall be found necessary.
On a candid review of the entire condi
tion of this commonwealth, although we
find her laboring under the pre: sure of an
enormous state debt, heightened by all
the incidental embarrassments arising
from the payment of the interest upon it
and tae monetary derangements attending
it, that have shaktin the credit of this
stale, and of the sister states, to its loons
deOeh, yet there is nu cause for despon
dency or fear. Prudence, diacrec tion
.
and economy, en the part of her kg] l'e
ture, her executive, and her citizens, will
in a few years replace her on the solid
!Outing of pecuniary independence. The
industry and energp of her people reaping
wealth from the rich fields of agriculture,l i
disemboweling it from her hills and moue
tains, and transportingit to market on her
railroads and canals, cannot be shackled
with any pecuniary responsibilities that
can, fur any considerable period, mar her'
prosperity or retard her march onward to
greatness. We have fallen, it is true, on
one of these ten - Tory reverses, that come
upon all !When; in the progress of ad
vancement, when delusive systems of pub
lic prosperity explode tinder the test of
their suundnese, and from the consequen
ces they produce, leave men in wonder
that they lasted so long. It requires,
however, but the exercise of a reasonable
degree of wisdom, firmness and honesty,
in the present crisis, to rescue the affairs
rf the commonwealth from the difficulties
by which they are at present beset, how
ever formidabie these untoward circum
stances Have made them appear. Let all
who Wok upon her with a jealous or a
friendly eye be told that her ability is am-.
plc to meet all her engagements; that the
determination of her citizens to do so,
corresponds with her ability, and that
happen what may, the integrity and fideli
ty of the people of Pennsylvania, are pled
ged to make good her contracts with those
whose money has constructed her stupen
public improvements, and that the pledge
so made shall be scrupulously redeemed.
I cannot close this communication,
without expressing the full reliance which
I place in the wisdom and intelligence of
the legislature—and the greatest pleasure
which it will afford me, to be able to ap
prove and execute those enactments which
you will Hint it necessary to make for ad
vancing the interests and prosperity of
our free, beloved and patriotic common
wealth.
D. R. PORTER
!lan i3burg, January 8, 1840.
EXECUTOR'S S.t LE
F7fli t E subscriber offers for sale a tract
• igt
of land in Young township. Indi
ana county, containing about
240 ACRES,
anti the usual allowance, about from 70 to
80 of which are cleared; 20 acres in mead
ow, the whole in good repair. On the
premises are a large number of apple and
peach trees, a large and commodious house!
and barn, several never failing !springs,'
and a good saw mill seat. This tri.ct °I
land lies upon the waiu road from Indiana
to Saltsburg; about 10 mile, front the for
mar place, and 8 miles from the latttr,
and about 7 from Blairsville. Churches,
ichoul houses, and mills convenient. The
above tract of land, if not sold sooner, at
private sale, will be offered at public sale
on the premires. on Wednesday the 4th
day of March next.
Persons wishing to view the premises
may cull on the subscriber, or J. Foster
adjoiding the property.'
JOHN LE AHD.
Executor of the estate of Um. Lead Esq
deceased.
Jan 2a, 1840.
Jacob Shively's Estate,
I A LL persons indebted by bond or note
•L's• or otherwise, for articles purchased
by them at the sale of the personal prop
erty of Jacob Shively late of West town
ship in the County of Huntingdon dec'd,
will please t i take notice that the •endue
notes, are now due, and all persons in
debted by bond note, or book account to
said Estate in any manner, will please
come forward and settle the respeetive
demands against them on or before the 12
day of February next, after which time
no longer indulgence can be given.
BEM. 111 W BAKER,
JAIHLS 'SHIVELY.
Administrators
Jan 29,1840—St—p.
JUNIATA BRIDGE NOTICE.
The stock holders in the Juniata Bridge
Company, are notified that the annuel
lectioa will tio held at the house of Chris
tian Couts, in the borbugh of Huntingdon
on Tuesday the 11th day ofJanuary next
for the purpose of electing
- -
1 President, 6 Managers and
Treasurer and Secretary,
to conduct the allitirs of the said Compa
ny for the ensuing year.
DORLAND, Secy.
Huntingdon, Dec, 25, 1.859.
BLANES OP EVERY DESCRIP
TION FOIL SJILE AT THIS
OFPICE.
CEZDAT ME 11TYNG
OF TILE PEOPLE.
At a meeting hell at the Court boost
in the borough of II untitip dna, pusuant
to public nonce, friendly to the election of
Wx. H. HARRISON, as President of the
United States, and J ow.; TKLEtt as Vice
President.
Whereupon MILES GREEN, Egg
was appointed president, and
CIIRISTDPLIER \YItTIN,
JOHN SHANNON,
JOHN Auniusur, Esq.,
CORNELaUS CRUM ' Esq.,
JAMES STEWART, EN.,
WILLIAM HRAN, Ezq.,
WILLIAM IVlonnxtr, Esq.,
ABRAHAM Lo:: - 1.
Vic. , Presidents.
G. Pl. Smith,
J. Hoffman.
SerretaricA
On motion, the foam% persons Were
appointed to draft a prearAle and resolu•
Irons, expressing the of the meet
jing;
A. WBened:t (Mari. 4 Green
J. A. M'Cohan
J. Blair Esq
P. llewit
T. Reed
J. Potts
Liel Smith
Elias W. Biker
m. Reed E,q.
0. Thompion
John Crum
Thu, Cromwt.ll,,
JoLa W. Stewart
Jacm!!Cresswell
Joh!i Rameangh
Wm. Icon jr.
Michael Br.eck
C. E, Kinkead
A. Uru wu
Jacob Shelenburge
Samuel DUan
J. Dysart
George Dawn
S. W. Stonberaker.
Alam Hall
Jno:l3.ltidille
E Hoover
Solomon Sham()
Andrew Allison
111 o: orison Burge
Robert Stitt
Joseph Smith
J. 11. Dorsey
John R. Patton
Win. Foster
David,M'Nurtrie
Samuel AlTheran
Dr. Chas. Coryell
John Nl'Pheran
John Roycr
David Caldwell
Jaines My - ton
James Ilainpson
James Entriken
John Lutz
Daniel Teague
Amon Chileott
Capt. John Long,
James Morrow.
Which committee reported the follow
ing :preamble and resolutions, by A. W.
Ilemdiet, chairman of said committee,
and agreed to by the meeting.
In a R. pablie, the people holdthe des
tinies of their nation, in their on n hands.
If they fail in the duty they owe them
selves, all their visions of national prosper
rty and respect, vanish; and the humblest
instrument of their creation, becomesithe.
parasite of power, and themselves the vic
tims of oppression. The people of this
country, have borne, patiently, the wrongs
of their rulers, for years. The same par.
ty have held the reins of government, in
lour state and nation, with but one brief
interval; and each succeeding year, has
seen the people sulTering under some new
l experinient—their public earner plunder
ed by some new arid more hungry horde of
'political rats.
The treasure of the nation which is
wrung in taxation from the people, is now
used to pay the partisan for his deeds of
corruption and iniquity; and the most ser
vile followers of party are the sanctioned
plunderers of the people. These truths
'are mitten upon every page of the past
history of our country, since the coin
inencement of that administration, the
history of which, is broken promises—vi
olated faith—an abused and plundered
people. The 1011 , , -er in its footsteps,
with more mini: , nd less honesty than
his ..illustrious pi. cessor," has scatter
ed with a far more hand, the wealth
of the nation, amt,),.: iii; panders and par
asites, in order to secure the power—the
patronage—and tha prospect of plunder,
which, with arrogant insolence, is called
guarding the l'inorals and interests of the
people. The people have borne these
wrongs, until forbearance has ceased to be
a virtue. As the guardians of their own
weal, they feel e•illed upon, to declare
their determina riot, to submit no longer to
a government ot party, instead of a gov
ernment of the poople. Need we point to
the Swartwou •rr,t the Price's to con
vince the peopitr. 'h..• rho officer makes the
people's money the. : leans of his wealth—
need we look at U. officers in our own
state to show as t! the commission of
the Executive., is nastpnrt to the pee-.
ple's crib with a re, -,Glen-he, to riot, de
solate and plunti mid the treasure of
the people,—ln ,lesire to take care
of their count' y-, y take especial care
to take care !tit :' nselves. Does any
one doubt , in seek in the polio
ces of foreign TY, rchs—or in the Re
public of Texas the birds of passage
who have flown I om their country and
justice, to squander their gains of guilt
—Let them look in our state for the hordes
of defaulters who have robbed the people;
and still are the favorites ef'party. Even
the poor Red man of the west, can tell
his tale of to oe—do you doubt?—The
robbed h innebagos, will point to natives
of our own State as the guilty plunderers
upon the passport from the government.
• The time was when a commission to do
the people's will, was not an unlimited
and uncontrolled right to squander their
money, to enrich the officer and his pars
ty. It' the people desire to see their coup
try shrine again in its pristine beauty and
strength, they must selec• as their sers
wants tried and faithful patriots—such
us have withstood the temptatations which
power and circumstances have thrown in
their path—who have handled their mop.
ey, with their hands unpolluted--who
love their country for their country's
sake, and such a man is now presented to