Former act repealed. Act, when to take effect. Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That the act entitled, "An act for the better protection of the navigation of the Passaic river," passed March tenth, eighteen hundred and forty-two, be, and the same is hereby repealed. Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That this act shall go into operation immediately on the passage thereof. Passed February 24, 1843. Preamble. Directors authorized to borrow money. Restriction as to mortgaging. A further supplement to an act entitled, "An act to incorporate the Belvidere Delaware Bridge Company," passed the fifth day of March, eighteen hundred and thirty-two. WHEREAS a bridge was erected across the Delaware river, at Belvidere, in the county of Warren, under the act to which this is a further supplement, and immediately swept away by a high freshet; and whereas the company, at great cost and expense, have erected another, thereby incurring debts to a considerable amount, which are still unpaid: and it being doubtful whether, under the act to which this is a further supplement, the said bridge can be mortgaged to secure the payment of the said debts contracted as aforesaidtherefore, Sec. 1. BE IT ENACTED by the Council and General Assembly of this State, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the sume, That the president and directors of the Belvidere Delaware Bridge Company, or the persons acting as their successors in office, may, from time to time, borrow such sum or sums of money as may be necessary to pay off the debts, interest, and costs incurred by said president and directors, in building and rebuilding the same, and to mortgage the said bridge, with its appurtenances, for the repayment of the said sum or sums so borrowed, but for no other purpose. Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That this act shall not be construed so as to allow the said president and directors, or their successors in office, to mortgage the said bridge for any part of their own indebtedness to the said bridge for stock which they have not paid up to an equal amount with other stockholders. Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That this act shall not go in force Act, when to until the legislature of the state of Pennsylvania enact a similar take effect. law. Passed February 24, 1843. JOINT RESOLUTIONS. WHEREAS an untarnished reputation, based upon strict inte- Preamble. grity and a rigid adherence to good faith in all our public transactions, is not only of inestimable importance, but indispensably necessary to the well-being, prosperity, and happiness of our common country;-and whereas we have hitherto preserved inviolate our plighted faith, and cherished with enthusiasm our unblemished honour, regarding it as a precious heritage from noble sires, earned by the toil, purchased by the blood, and endeared to us by the sufferings of the patriots of the Revolution;-and whereas it is not only highly dishonourable, but directly conflicting with every principle of justice and morality, for any state, nation, or people to repudiate or disown obligations contracted in good faith and with mutual concurrence, because such contracting power is not legally responsible, or such obligation may not be legally enforced;-and whereas, in a portion of Union, doctrines have been promulgated tending to degrade the national honour, destroy the national credit, and debase the national character, unjustly involving in a common odium the other portions of this Union, and causing our hame to be a by-word and reproach throughout the civilized world; and whereas a belief extensively prevails that these odious doctrines meet with a silent assent, if not general approbation, throughout our confederation, thereby tar Our Resolutions re diation. nishing, by implication, our country's fair fame, and rendering it not only expedient, but highly necessary and proper, that the voice of the people, in their primary assemblies and in their legislative halls, should be universally, fully, and unequivocally expressed—therefore, 1. RESOLVED, by the Council and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That we heartily deprecate, indignantly repel, and utterly condemn the novel doctrine of repudiation lative to repu- of state debts, and desire now, and for all time, distinctly and unequivocally, to declare, that New Jersey not only disavows any and all participation in such sentiments, but will not suffer the moral sense of her people to be outraged by their avowal in any part of our Union, by any portion of its citizens, without an expression of her open, thorough, and decided condemnation. 2. Resolved, That we should be recreant to every virtuous principle and honest impulse, and faithless to all moral obligation, did we hesitate to take a firm and unwavering stand, and exert the utmost energies of our state and people in vindication of the probity and the untarnished reputation transmitted by our fathers; which form the ground-work of that just pride and veneration with which their honoured names are associated, and a broad basis of national integrity, which all should delight to emulate and defend. 3. Resolved, That public credit is one of the vital principles and a main-spring of national prosperity, and indissolubly associated, as it is, with an unimpeachable character for strict honesty, must be greatly impaired, if not utterly destroyed, by any disregard of this indispensable requisite in the formation of national, as well as of individual good character. 4. Resolved, That the same laws of retributive justice govern nations as individuals, and that no country or people can swerve with impunity from the straight-forward path of uprightness and integrity; when the quick sense of honour becomes blunted, and the shame of merited reproach is unfelt or unheeded, the public morals will deteriorate, and public virtue decline, and, in their downward, course, bear with them national respectability and national worth, and, finally, whelm the work and pride of ages in irretrievable ruin. 5. Resolved, That it is our earnest hope and belief that the doctrine of repudiation has obtained but a partial foothold on the soil of our Union, and a limited portion of its citizens for advocates and defenders; and we are proud to assert, that the mass of our people are, and ever have been, firm in their adherence to all the maxims of probity, unwavering in their acknowledgment of all the exactions of good faith, honourable in the discharge of all the obligations which mutual contracts impose, or the conventional usages of society imply, and proudly sensitive to the aspersion of national disgrace. 6. Resolved, That considerations, above and distinct from party, reaching far beyond our day and generation, and intimately affecting, as we sacredly believe, the future character, varied interests, and permanent prosperity of our beloved country, solemnly impel us to speak fearlessly and unhesitatingly on this subject; and, in a spirit of patriotism, which should look beyond state limits, we beseech our fellow citizens, throughout the length and breadth of this Union, to join with us in reprobating all violations of good faith, and in vindicating the honour and reputation of our common country. 7. Resolved, That the governor of this state be requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions, certified under the great seal of the state, to the governor of each of the several states of the Union, with a request that he will cause the same to be laid before the legislature thereof. Passed February 17, 1843. row money. RESOLVED, by the Council and General Assembly of this State, That the treasurer be, and he is hereby authorized to Treasurer auborrow from time to time, for the use of the state, such sum thorized to bor or sums of money as may be necessary to meet the expenses authorized by law, not to exceed the sum of thirty thousand dollars, and at a rate of interest not to exceed the rate of six per cent. per annum. Passed February 22, 1843. WHEREAS Joseph Cunningham, late postmaster of the city of Trenton, has presented false accounts to the treasurer of this state, for the postage of the members of the legislature, during the years 1837, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42, and has, from time to time, received out of the treasury various sums of ૧ Preambles ral and treasur er authorized to take mea money, under colour of such accounts, to which he was not, upon any legal or honest principle, entitled-therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council and General Assembly of this State, That the attorney general and treasurer be, and Attorney gene they are hereby authorized and empowered to take such measures as may, in their discretion, be deemed necessary and proper, to recover from the said Joseph Cunningham, all such recovery of mo- sums of money as he may have received out of the treasury of this state, under colour of said accounts, and to which he is not rightfully entitled. sures for the ney. Passed February 23, 1843. Preamble. WHEREAS a considerable amount of money is yearly drawn from the state treasury to pay the brigade inspectors of the different counties, where no trainings or other military ser vices are rendered-therefore, RESOLVED, by the Council and General Assembly of this State, That from and after the passage of this joint resolution, that no money shall be paid to the brigade inspector of any county in this state, except in such counties as all trainings ceive pay in cer- are regularly held, agreeably to the requisitions of the laws now in existence. Brigade inspec tors not to re tain cases. Passed February 24, 1843. BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council and General Assembly of this State, That the treasurer be, and he is hereby directed not to pay out of the treasury any moneys appropriated by the act Treasurer not entitled, "An act to defray incidental expenses," passed Fe to pay certain incidental charges. bruary twenty-third, eighteen hundred and forty-three, where the services or articles in the said act specified, have been paid for under or by virtue of any special act or resolution, or under or by virtue of any other authority whatever. Passed February 24, 1843. 3 |