to
2 /1/1/7(f/it ss i/(gbt‘t/lx
oj_1)
13Y JAS, CLAIK,
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
the Scuola and house of Representatives of
the Contmontocalth of Pennsylvania :
Fer,y.ow Crrizexs performing the. re
sponsible ditties enjoined by the Constitution,
on the FlXecntive of the State, a sincere pleas
ure is felt in addressing at the commencement
of each session of the Legislature the immedi
ate representatives of the people. To pre4ent
to them in faithful candor the true position of
public affairs, to suggest remedies for known
wants, to aid in the enactment of such meas
ures as the interests, happiness and welfare of
the citizens seem to demand, is not the less
gratifying that it is made the duty of the Exec
utive department. The events of the past year,
will not fail to teach us the lesson of an over
ruling Providence and the gratitude we owe as
peeple for the blessings which, through else
wisdom of Almighty Goodness, have been
vouchsafed to' the nation. When the represen
tatives of the people last met, there existed be
tween our country and a neighboring republic,
a fierce and bitter war. The result, indeed,
was eoltleubtful, for, with a people justly cel
ebrated among nations, for their tineonquerable
bravery, unsurpassed skill in military nflhirs,
and their great superiority over their enemies
in physical and mental qualities, victory was
the necessary consequence ; yet the undecided
contest was a source of profound regret, for the
sacrifice of human life, and the expenditure of
public and private treasure necessary to the re;
establishment of ourown peaceful relations.
It • is therefore gratifying to know that the
woe tins fully terminated, and that Peace, the
rational desire of sill, sheds again its blessings
On every portion of our country. To the A
Mighty lather, who in mercy tinned the hearts
of the rulers of Loth countries, to lay asdi. the
sword, to cultivate the spirit of brotherly Mild
ness. anal to establish peaceful relations between
the citizens of their respective governments,
we owe the deepest and most fervent gratitude.
The alined:ince of our harvests ' the blessings
nt continued and :general health, and this pr,s
ervation or our civil and religious rights, as
guaranteed to us by the free institutions of our
enicitry while destitution, misery, rind convill
eed eoversto ants, and precarious civil and reli
ious ill‘titutions harass the people of other
louts, s4sold produce its our hearts .a fervent
acknowledgement of llis surrintentling kind
i:e+s and mercy.
In the luta contest with Mexico, this Cora
rimiwealth was called upon by the Notional
Government, to furnish a portion of the troops
deemed necessary by the constituted authorities
to carry the war to a successful issue. 14ith
this requisition it is scarcely necessary to, state ;
our Commonwealth complie,l w:th the alacrity
which has heretofore distinguished her a mong
lie sister republics. A large volunteer . force
was instantly placed nt the disposal of the Na
tional Government, and it is a matter of just
-pride to their fellow citizens, that in the dis
charge of every duty. these volunteers main
tained the honor of the State, and the renown
so' their country. The citizen soldier who for
tunately escaped death, has returned to his fam
ily and friends, after havingsearned for himself
and the State, a reputation for undaunted bra
very, for enduring and patient suffering, and
manly and heroic virtue, that the future annal
ist will delight to record.
It is due to these patriotic citizens, that this
commonwealth do some ;set as an acknowledge
+ meat of their past illustrious services. To the
sileinary of the dead who fell in the service of
their country, it is the duty of the State to erect
n suitable monliment, that their bravery and
virtue may be enduringly remembered, and
their heroic sacrifice emulated in other tunes,
should the honor and safety of the conntfy re
quire it from future generations.
Since the adjournment of the last Legislature
the Chief Executize Officer of the Common
wealth, the late Governor Shenk, has sunk be
neath the malady which then a filleted him. He
died on the 20th day of July, 1S is.
It will not be deemed improper in me, to say
0 few words in reference to the character of the
illustrious deceased.
The late Governor Shenk having spent a large
pertion of his life in the public service, rind
having mingled much wills Isis fellow citizens,
was well and extensively known throughout the
State, and it is with pleasure the circumstance
is recalled to my mind, that at pee period of his
life, I had the honor to enjoy his intimate per
sonal friendship.
During our intimacy, it always gave him
great pleasure to aid and assist the piing and
inexperienced, to relieve the distressed, and to
impart to his fellow men, by words of kindness,
awl deeds of charity, as large a share of happi
ness as his condition would allow.
His intereostrse with ethers was courteous,
his friehdships were lasting, his attachments
strong and enduring, while Isis resentments for
injuries were transitory and made no permanent
impression in' his bosom. It may with truth he
said of Governor Steak. that he was a sincere
friend, a good neighbor, a pure Christian enders
honest man. Such was the reputation he sus
tained among, Isis fellow citizens when my inti
macy with hint, gave site a knowledge of his
character; and although a difference of political
views separated us for many years before his
death, Isis friends, at a later period of Isis, life,
have borne testimony that the same purity of
intention and desire of well doing remained
with him until the hour of Isis dissolution.
The Legislature is respectfully invited to
take such action in relation to the decease of
the first Chief Magistrate of the. Commonwealth,
whose death occurred during the period for
which he was elected, ns may be deemed most
appropriate to express its sympathy for the sor
row and bereavement of the surviving relatives,
and to testify its respect for the memory of the
virtues of the distinguished dead . :
Prior to the decease of Governor Shenk; on
the 9th day of July, 1818, as appears by the re
cords in the State Department, he resigned the
office of Governor of this Commonwealth, and
thereupon, under the provisions of the 11th sec
tion of the 2nd article of the Constitution,'
which declares, that " in case of the death or
resignation of the Governor, or of his removal
from office, the Speaker of the Senate shall ex
ercise the office of GOVernor, With another Gov
ernor shell be &Ay qualified," the duties of the
rverntive Department of the Government de
volved on me... le,
Oifl sal information of the act of resignation
iid Hot reach site until the 17th day of July,
The section of the constitution herein
rof+rred to also declared in reference to the
same subject, that " in such case another Gov
ernor shall be chosen at the next annual election
of Representatives, sinless such sleuth, resigna
tion or removal shall occur within three calen.
der months intmediately preceding such next
annual election : in which case a Governor
shall it, chosen at the second succeeding annual
election of RepresentaV.ves." By the alth
section of the act of the General Assemhly re
lating to the elections of this Commonwealth,
it is provided, that case - any vacancy shall
occur in the office of Governor of this Com
monwealth, more than three calender months
next preceding the Second TOAday in October
in any year, it shall be the duty of the Speaker
of the Senate or whoever-shall be in the exer
cise of the office of Governor, to issue his
' writs to the Sheriffs of the several cotinties, re
i qui:ing them to give the usual notice, that an
election to supply such vacancy will take place
on the second Tuesday in October next there
after, and' when such vacancy occurs within
three calender months before the second Tues
day in Oetober, it shall • be the duty -of the
Speaker of the Senate, or whoever shall be in
the exercise of the office of Governor to issue
his writs as aforesaid, reqniting notice of each
election on the second Tuesday,in October
nevi, after tile issuing•oT said writ, end in each
ease said writ shall issue, at least three cairn
der mouths before the election."
An examination of the venslitutional provis
ions; the set of Assembly; awl the eircum
stances of the resignation, will satisfy you,
that while the resignation occiwred more than
three calender months before the next annual
election. of Representatives, it took place at a
time rendering a compliance with the act of as
sembly in relation to the issuing of writs, ut
terly impossi Ile. In this view of the ease, it
might Lace been deemed a compl'ance with
duty, to have refittined frOlll all interference in
the matter, inasmuch as es - ...nns had put it out of
my power to comply with the terms of the act
of Assembly, iirectory of the ;node in which
the Constitutional
. provision on the subject
shonid be carried into effect.
Aft, a foil and carefid examination of the
whole matter, I believed it my duty to issue
the writs re tiring notice to lie given, that en
election woad be duly held on the second Tues
day of October then next ensuing, for the else.
lion of a Chief Magistrate of dik Common
wealth. It appeared to site. that in all eases of
doubt, there was no lifer place than submission
to the decision of the people, and that in the
construction of the laws, relating to the point
in question, if any doubt arose, the better
course in a republican government, was to re
fer to the citizen voter the right of selecting at
the earliest period Ilk presiding officer, rather
than assume a position which would continue
official station in myself, beyond the earliest
legal opportunity to surrender it into his hands.
The organic law required the election and the
Legislativz enactment should be so construed
as not to contravene the Constitutional provis
ion. Ilad the terms of the constitution and
laws clearly given n different position to the
question. - however unpleasant the task of per
forming the ditties of the office without the en
dorsement.of the people's will, they would have
been thithfully executed. .
In assuming as Speaker of the Senate, the ex
ercise of Executive functions, although not
deeming it absolutely necessary, prudence sug
gested the propriety of being sworn to a faith
ful discharge of the Executive" duties, and an
oath to that effect was administered to me by
the honorable the Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives,
A law remaring in all cases of death or res
ignation of the Governor, or of his removal
from ; that writs to the Sheriff's of the
different counties shall be issued as soon as the'
Speaker of tha Senate shall be officially inform
ed of such death, resignation or removal, and
requiring, further, that the officer assuming Ex
ecutive functions should be sworn in the same
manner and to the same effect as in ease of a
Chief Magistrate inducted into office, determi
niug also the person authorized to administer
the oath, would obviate future doubts, and the
same is respectfully recommended to. the Leg
islature,
It is worthy. the attention of the Legislature
and the people, that no provision exists in the
Constitution in the contingency of the death, or
inability to serve of the. Speaker of the Senate
after the death, resignation, or removal of the
Governor, for the selection of a presiding mag
istrate. Such an event happening, the govern
ment. would be left without a constitutional
officer to carry on its operations. An
,omission.
of such importance should be supplied at the
earliest possible period.
Resolutions expressive of the profound sor
row of the Legislature, for the death of that il
lustrious patriot and sage, John Quincy Adams,
and of condolence for the fondly in their be
reavement, were passed by that body at its last
session; and the Executive was directed to
transmit the :ante to the widow and family of
the deceased. The letter of the late Executive
in the p,rformance of that duty, and,the reply
of the venerable survivor, are herewith trans
mitted.
The attention of the Legislature having been
called to the neglected and suffering condition
of the insane poor of the State, an act was pass
ed on the 1 ith day of April, 1814, providing
for the establishment of an asylum for this un
to-Hinge class of our indigent population, to be
located within ten miles of the seat of govern
ment. The commissioners named in this act,
with funds contributed for the purpose by hu
mane and benevolent citizens of Harrisburg,
aided by n liberal appropriation made from the
treasury of Dauphin County, purchased a farm
of about one hundred and thirty acres, eligibly
situated within a mile and a half of the State
Capitol. In January 1810, these commission
ers made a report to the Legislature, in which
they stated, that on a critical examination of
the aforesaid act, such defects were apparent,
that theyclid net conceive themselves justified
in proceeding with the building, or in making
any expenditure of the snm appropriated by the
State, towards its erection, until some modifica
tion should be made in the law under which
they were acting. To remedy these defects a
supplementary act was passed, on the 11th clay
of April, 1848, upon which the commissioners
forthwith adopted Measures for the commence
ment of the work. A plan for the proposed
building was adopted, and a contract was made
with an experienced architect and builder for
its construction. A considerable portion of the
materials, as I am informed, has been provided;
the excavation of the cellars and foundation has
been made; the laying of the stone masonry
commenced, and the hydraulic apparatus for
raising water to the building nearly completed.
Of the appropriation made on account of this
building, n warrant has been daawn for $5,000,
of which only $2,72U 03 has been expended.—
it is hoped and believed that the work will be
i forwarded with as much despatch as is consist-
H UNTINGDON, PA., T ICI SDA Y, JANUARY
cat with prudence and a proper regard for the
comforts and restoration of the afflicted insane
poor.
By the act of the nth of May, 1811, entitled
An act to provide revenue to meet the de:l
mends on the treasury, and for other putpbses,"
ecrtain banks were authorized to subscribe for
a loan to the commonwealth, to an amount equal
to a fixed per centage therein stated, on their
respective capitals; the amount of such loan to
he .placed in the treasury foe the use thereof, in
notes of said banks of the denomination of - one,
two, and five dollars. By the terms of the laW,
the loan was redeemable at any time within five
years, and was peremptory that it should be
paid. and the notes authorized to be issued,
withdrawn from circulation on or before the
dth day of May, 1816. The'act also provided,
that the banks Issuing said notes should , receive
them at * r value in payment of debts due these
institutions. It was thought, that by making
their redemption dependant on the faith of the
State, as well as on that of the banks by which
they were issued, a safe and reliable currency
would be constituted, while the State would be
largely benefitted by a loan at one, instead of
live and six per cent., as on previous occasions.
The notes thus issued, were substantially the
1 creatures of the banks. They constituted a
loan to the Commonwealth, were required to be
I paid into the treasury in the manner prescribed
in the law, and were redeemable at their par
! vale, at the counters of the banks ; and the 61'-
1 emostance of the faith of the State in addition
! to that of the banks, being pledged for their re
' demption, could not raise a rational doubt of
their constitutionality. How far a subsequent
aet, passed the :11st day of May, 18 Id, by re
lieving the banks from all responsibility touch
ing their redemption and payment, thereby ma
lting them an issue on the part of the Common
wealth, redeemable at the treasury alone, con
travened the Constitution of the United States.,
it is not necessary now to decide.,
Under the provisions of the original
act of the 4th of May, 1841, the amount 1
of notes issued was two millions two
hundred and twenty thousand two hun
dred ned sixty-five dollars, which was
speciallA 7propriated to the support of
the government during the year, the
payment of debts, and other special put ,
poses therein mentioned. Within two
years thereafter, the sum of one hun
dred and thirty-five thousands two hun
dred and fourteen dollars of said issue
was funded by the banks and converted
into permanent loans at five per cent.—
By a resolution of the 6th of February,
1843, and the act of the Bth of April of
the same year, six hundred and eighty
two thousand, eighty-seven dollars were
cancelled and destroyed. The net of
May 31st 1844, is as follows. "That
the State Treasurer be, and he is here
by authorized and directed, on the last
days of J une, September and December
in the year one thousand eight hundred
and forty-four, to cancel and deliver to
the Auditor General, for destruction,
fifty thousand dollars; and on the last
day of March, June, September and De
cember in every year thereafter, fifty
thousand . dollars of the notes issued by
the banks of this Commonwealth in
pursuance of the act of the 4th of May
one thousand eight hundred and forty
one, that may then be in the Treasury
—and if said notes shall be depreciated,
then of the most deprcciated,—and con
tinue so to do, until the whole amount
of the notes legally issued, by the banks
as aforesaid, shall have been cancelled
and destroyed ; and the amount deposit
ed to the credit of the-Commonwealth,
in Banks or Savings Institutions, or re
ceived by collectors on the railroads and
canals, or by the Treasurer of the City
and County of Philadelphia, shall be
deemed as money in the Tueasury, and
subject to the cancellation. as aforesaid ;
and it shall be the" duty of the Auditor
General to keep and publish quarterly,
in at least one newspaper at Harrisburg,
a record of the note's 'so cancelled and
destroyed , designating the Bank of
Banks that orginally issued the same,
in order, that the one per eonturn inter
.. . .
est thereon, may cease; provided, that
it shall be the duty of the State Treasu
rer to retain the several atnoiints re
spectively, out of the receipts of the
quarter, so as effectually to secure the
cancellation of the amounts herein be
fore provided ; and-the sum of one hun
dred and sixty thousand dollars is here
by appropriated for the payment of do
mestic creditors' certificates issued by
the Auditor General: provided, that
there is sufficient money iu the Treasu
ry after paying the other appropriations
in this act."
It was doubtless, the intention of the
legislature, that the sum of fifty thou
sand dollars should be destroyed quar
terly. Under this act, the sum of one
hundred thousand dollars was cancelled
in 1844 ; the further sum of eighty-five
thousand dollars in 1845,—the further
sum of one hundred and seventy-six
thousand three hundred dollars in 1846,
—one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars in 1847, and one hundred and eigh
ty-nine thousand in 184&
The following tabular statement, will
exhibit with more clearness, the whole
subject in relation the issue and cancel
lation of these notes.
Original am't of relief notes
issued,
Amount funded,
Cancelled in 18.13 by virtue of
the resolution of Feb. 6, and
Act of April 6th 1813,
Cancelled in 181 I, under the act of
May 31, 1 811,
Cancelled in 1815, under net of
1911,
Cancelled in 1810 under do
Cancelled in 1817, rimier- do
Cancelled in 1818 under do
Leaving apparently in circula
tion on the Slut of Dee, IRIS,
Tho first failure to comply with
the Act a Assembly requiring the
cancellation of these notes, was pri ,
or. to, or on the MA Dec. 1814
The amount directed to
be cancelled in ISt.l
and. 1815, and which
was not done, was
The amount of failure to
cancel ISIS was
The amount of failure to
cancel in ISI7 was 50,000
The amount of failure to
I cancel in 1818 waA 11,000
Ft; 1,00
It is worthy of remark, that had the
cancellation of these notes been made,
as required by law, less than hallo mil
lion of the original issue, would now be
in existence, a largeportion of which
has doubtless, been mislaid and lost.—
it will be perceived also, that the act
requires the destruction of the most de
preciated. In using this term, the le- I
gisiature must have intended those most
defaced. The laws on the subject of
these notes, having pledged the faith of
the state for their redemption, it is not
readily seen how they could become de
preciated in value, while on the other
! hand, many of them had become dela
' cm!, torn mid unfit for use. At the pas
sago of the act of May 31st, 1844, about
fourteen hundred thousand dollars of
this issue, were in circulation, and as it
required time cancellation and destruc
tion of two hundred thousand dollars
per annum only, it prolonged the per
riod of their circulation to seven years,
i when by the original act of May 4th,
1841, but two yearS remained of time pe
riod of their duration. To the act of
May list, 1844, is attributable, there.
fore, the continuence in cistalation of
these notes, after they hadobecome torn,
defaced and unfit for use. The original
act, had'it not been counteracted by
'subsequent legislation, provided the
necessary means for the redemption of
these notes, through the banks, on or
before the 4th day of May, 1846, and
the failure to destroy them, as required
by the act of 31st of May, 1814, clearly
demonstrates that the treasury has not
been, since then, in n condition to repay
the loan, or redeem the notes. Hence
they have continued in circulati. n, have
been paid into your public offices, and
again paid out of the treasury, until
they are wholly unfit as a currency for
the citizens. The amount now in circu
lotion, is presumed to be about six hun
dred thousand dollars. It is respectful
ly suggested, that the worst of these
I notes, as they are paid into the treasury,
should be retained, and in their stead,
nn equal amount of new :notes, of time
same denominations, under on arrange
ment with any of time banks of this
Commonwealth, be put into circulation
for a period of time, so long only, as
may be required by time quarterly des
truction of fifty thousand dollars to ab
sorb thowbole amount of the issue. A
measure'of this ohn'ractor would relieve
!the currency of those unfit for use, and
have the effect in a short time, of put
ting the whole issue out of circulation.
1 would earnestly press upon the legis
lature the passage of such laws, as would
prohibit in their mutilated and defaced
condition, their payment from the trea
sury. Should it be deemed a more de
sirable course, to rid the currency of thB
entire issue by a loan, it might be a fair
condition of the renewal Of the' charter
of any bank, at the present session, that
it make a loan at a low rate of interest
to the government, to be used in redeem.
ing and cancelling the whole, or. such
part as might be deemed advisaltie.
Any arrangement on the subject you
may devise, to relieve the people of this
currency, shall receive my cordial ap
probation.
The payment of the interest on the
public debt in a sound convertible cur
rency, is of great moment to the credit
of the State. This demand on the trea
sury has heretofore, to a large extent,
been met by payments in depreciated
paper, by which the helms of State
bonds have suffered pecuniary loss.
An evil of this nature, demands a
speedy and effectual remedy. The re
lief notes originally intended to be tern-.
porary in their existence and local in
their circulation, should not be forced
from their legitimate purpose or paid I
from the treasury in discharge of the in
terest of the public debt.
No great inconvenience could be felt
in withholding an amount so small as
their present circulation, from such ap
plication- To secure an object so desir
able, the revenue of the State should
$2,220,265,00
135,214,00
02 08 7 , 00
C
, 0
0, 1849:
be collected in such funds only as ad- 1 ,
witted of ready convertibility : in:to ape
-
did without loss to the treasury. The
relief notes, as Well as the notes of all
specie paying Banks of this Common
wealth, should bd received in payment
of public dues while other paper money,
under par, at the place designated for
the payment of interest on the public
debt, should be
,refused, unless, upon
lidtice to that effect of ihe State Trea
surer, arrangements by the Bunke-issu
ing the same were made to redeem it at
such point ns he might designate. The
State Treasurer should be authorized to
I require of those specie paying Banks;
I whose notes might be under par at the
place of paying the interest, to make
arrangements to redeem their notes at
par, atthc point designated, and on their
failure to • comply, to demand specie
funds at their counters. It is belieVed
that an arrangement of the kind suggei
ted, would materially aid in rendering
the notes of all the solvent Banks in the
Commonwealth of equal value in all
parts of the State; would increase their
general circulation among the cttizens
and tend to exclude the depreciated pa
per of foreign institutions. A measure
valuable for these purposes, which would
I give increased worth to our stocks and
enable the State more faithfully to com
ply with her contracts, is worthy the
serious consideration of the Legisla
ture.
100,000,00
85,000,00
176,300,00
150,000,0 D
180,000,00
$1,517,661,00
702,661,00
$103,000
23,700
S'2 19,700,00
Intimately connected with the subject
of our public debt, are the assessment
and collection of the taxes. The laws
on this important branch of the revenue,
require to be remodelled and arranged
in such form as to insure equality and
uniformity in the several counties of the
State. The manncr of adjusting and
equalizing the valuation of property for
taxation is aconcern of deep interest to
the people, and should as far at pesaible
be left in the hands of their immediate
representatives. Assessors, it is sugges
ted, should be required in the exercise
of their duties, to make return in a full
and accurate statement of tlid Carious
products of Farms and ./Manufactories,
of the kind, nature and amount of the
supposed annual value of the produc
tive industry ofeach district; of :he
amount and nature of the local and gen
eral trade and business, with the man
ner and cost of reaching the nearest
point to the district. Should an annual
statement of this nature be deemed too
expensive for practical utility, a trienial
return might answer the purposes in
tended. Returns of a nature so gener
al, of the resources and active industry
of the State, while it would afford val
uable information to the public officer,
would place before him, such facts as
, would enable him to detect gross errors
in the uniformity of the assessments,
and would leave in the hands of the WE
' cer elected by the people, the duty of
valuing and taxing their property, in
stead of casting a labor so important into
the care of irresponsible boards.
The importance of legislative action
on the subject is enhanced by the fact,
that an examination of the ordinary rev
enues and expenditures for the last few
years, furnishes evidence that the ne
cessities of the treasury require inereas ,
ed resources. A statement from the
auditing department is as follows:
"ORDINARRY REVENUE AND EXEPNIMTERES OF
THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA ROE
THE PERIOD HEREIN STATED.
r , i mttrloc , ll7.lm:mmx,
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g ig"`"" 4l
i 2 ELOViiilaki
1, op;m0-4;.......-.
,796"'"FS".7gEr '^ip s"
'ci -
i V tig ms m"g m
5' ;.1 :•1 " !t,' 4'Y F,
ok.
`1 3 'EB 5 sii 57
I% F
ET 117
. :
";
•, , Z 1 1,-- ,
tl tv,
"Expenses of the public works con
sidered as ordinary, notwithstanding
Much of the amount is really extraor
dinary 1 but as an offset to this, the fax
on real and personal estate, received
during each year, is more than the as
sessment of a year, the excess being
front outstanding taxes of previous
ycars."
C.: Ca
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'CM .C.l'
''.''' 4
tt '6,3
VOL, XIV, NO, 1.
The balance in the treaSurrezi De.
cember, 1811; 'Ras $663,851 88
Balinee in the treasury, December
Ist, 1818; was
Deficit, in bakinces fi treasury in
4 years, • $86,561 49 -
nea the law of May 31st, 1811,
been complied with by the can
cellation of the relief iSsner', tft
additional charge would have
,amen made on the treasury of $249,700 00 '
Mk, II added to the abate deficit
make 336,261 49
Deduct excess of apparent revenue, 87,319 30
Real deficit under existing laws, $218,912 19
in four years, exclusive of extraordinary ex
penditures.
•
The - operation . of InWs off the part of
the national goVerniNene, framed With
view to the assessment of duties and : col
lection of revenue, is a subject seriously'
affecting the finances of the Common
wealth. Nb' slate in the Union depends..
in a greater degree for the advantaggi o
Wholesome enterprse, and the safe em
ploYrffent of capital, on the stability and
agency of laws affording. reasonakte
protection to domestic industry. Our
mountains, filled with rich .. deposites of
iron and coal, invite the manufacturer
to employ his skill and capital in these
commodities, and when they are in de
mand, the whole productive business of
the state prospers. No interest feels the
pressure of foreign competition more
keenly, none requires more certainly the
fostering care orgovernment, none
spreads to a larger extent the active in' , "
dustry of all classes of citizens, than the
peculiar matufactuing establishments
of our own state. The system established
by the act of Congress of 1846 is framed
for the purpose of revenue, and discrimi
nntes ngainst rather than for protection-
The effeet of such laws would necis
sarily be, if contifiud, to strike down' the
manufacturer,-and to depress every in
terest which directly or incidentally
leans on him for support.
Of the interests favorably affected by
the establishMent of manufactories f
none deserve more especial notice, (half'
the laboring and producing classes. -
These compose the great mass of our
population, and in all reepealii differ rad
ically from the same classes in othe
countries. Here they are a part orthe
government itself, and as such, are ire.'
quently required, in the exercise of the
Elective franchise, to decide questions
the most momentous, affecting, Oen,-
the stability and duration of our free
institutions. In the formation of the
governments under which they lirie;•
they were a component of the Sorer- -
eignty which had wrested from a foreign
power the independence of the Country,
and took with others an equal part in
the difficult questions involved. To'
enable them to discharge in a proper'
manner the duties they owe to the Coun
try, to others and themselves, a portion
of their time should be given to the ex
amination and consideration of pub i
questions. By the reward of their -
bor, they should be enabled to elevie
ssY
their condition in society, to command
for themselves and families, not Merely' .
the necessaries, but the comforts and'
even the luxuries of life, to give to their
children the benefits of reasonable edu-'
cation, and to ensure a competence when•
age had disqualified them for active era:
ploytnent. The price of laboV is teen':
lated by its demand, and the value of the
article it produces. When the demand
for labor is small, and the produce of
that labor low in price, the reward of
industry is comparatively reduced; when
the demand for labor is increased, it
rises in value, and receives an adequate
reward. Hence, whrttevei increase!
profitable labor, is substantially, 6end
cial to the working classes,. Mid affords
them the means of comfort; the' delights
of rational enjoyment, and the opportu
nity of exalting their condition and per;
forming with safety to the country the'
duties of eitize - ns: ,
The Manufadiurer, if he be sustained
in his enterprise, produces this result,
by opening to the laborer a new source
of employment. It is frequently urged,
that the system of protection to domes
tic industry is of more interest to the'
manufacturer than to the laborer, as it
enables him to dispose of his fabrics
for a higher price, and to realize a bet
ter profit on his capital; but is not the'
capital of the laborer also involved in
the fabric, and does he not receive a
reward in proportion to the value of the
articlel
Let it be remembrcd, also ' that' his
daily bread—the wants of fii'sfirmily,—
the education of his children ; all depend
upon the success of the establishment
at which he is emplop ; and the objec- -
tion can have but little weight. It is
also urged, that a reduction' of nominal
Values to a specie standard, would pro
duce a result, requiring for domestic la
bor, no protection on the part of govern
ment. A doctrine of this nature is rad
ically wrong, and at variance with the
principleson which our free government
is founded. Bring down the standard.
577,596 31