!".
M ESS AGE.
7u the Senate nnd limine of Rrprtstntativrt
of the Commonwealth of I'cTnttylianin.
Fellow CinxuNs: Having, in my former
mpwnsres, entered very fully into the financial
condition and ether general interests of tlio
tale, I deem it unnecessary to repeat the views
then submitted to Ihc Jx(,'iluinre, I.-tit simply
to refer to them, and say, that they remain in
fill respects substantial, y th Mine aa hen to
tore expressed. 1 shall proceed at nne to call
J our attention to those matt of public poli
ty, which teem ti require, in the pn-atest ric
tifoe, the at tent km of the Legislature. In
common with tmv cute in the union, and
with all parts of the commercial work), the
citi2t'iia of I'ennsylrania aro now undergoing
the severe ordeal of pecuniaiy embarrassment.
Business of all kinds is crippled and paralyiod ;
private and public entcrprize hat been a r reeled;
the timid alarmed, and even the boldest stop
pered at impending evils. Kut itia pome con
solation for us to reflect, that these difficulties
are the bitter fruits, so far as Pennsylvania is
concerned, of the rath and impolitic legislation
of a single year, and that uone of the responsi
bility rests upon t:8.
Ktf upwards of ten years Pennsylvania had
been gradually improving her condition, and
enjoying all the advantages that can arise from
h substantial currency, tnd the entire confi
dence of all parts of the world. At an unfortu
nate period, the bnnkinrr capital, which hud
been, during this flourishing season, about
twenty millions of dollars, was increased to
near sixty ; and, ad one of the most fatal con
sequences, many unwise and impolitic public
improvements undertaken, corporations creat
d tor purposes far beyond their means to ac
complish, -individuals contracted responsibili
ties and entered into speculations, which they
were totally nimble to bring to a successful
close; and finally to render the catastrophe
more destructive, the explosion of this enormous
bank bubble has crushed all these enterprizes,
public and private, and left in every quarter of
the fitate some inunnrncTit of llnsled hope and
public folly. It will require a little time to re
cover from the panic, and to estimate, with pre
cihion, the extent of the mischief. It will
probably be found far less than has teen gen
erally supposed. The vij:or nnd industry of
the community, sustained as they are by our
immense; naturnl resources, will soon over
come this temporary lepulse, and go on, aa if it
had never happened. ' Somo will bo unfortu
nately ruined, but the great mass of the com
munity w ill in the end be little nflected. That
portion of the community engaged jn agricultu
ral pursuits is comparatively free from debt
nnd einWrarsment, nnd possessed ot all the ben
efits that arise from favorable treasons and plen
tiful harvests.
I Cbn myself see no just ground for that de
spondency which seems to pervade, so gener
ally, tin? minds of the people. The injury to
our credit abroad, although productive of much
temporary inconvenience, will ultimately be
serviceable to the community. It will teach
us to rely on ourselves, to turn our attention to
the developement of our own resources, and to
I'btsin that, by our own labor, which we have
hitherto bought upon trust. Whatever may
be the fears of that portion of our community,
who are always predicting ruin, and bemoan
ing the effects of causes which they do not un
derctiml, time will soon prove, that the re
sources of Pennsylvania, her ability to meet
nil iter engagements, and the respect of her
citizens for tbe plighted faith of the state, have
not been in the slightest degree shaken, by any
of the misfortunes under which we. ore now
offering. In nearly all instances, these fears
will he found to have h.id their origin in the
c03kint;S of unprincipled demagogues w-lto
Te willing to undervalue her means, and the.
integrity of her citizens, if tley can thereby
promote their own selfish ends. If there be
any of our citizens who honestly believe, that
Pennsylvania will prove unable to perform all
her engagements, they will be found to be nei
ther very deep reasoners, nor very accurately
acquainted with the abundance and nature of,
lier resources. If there be any of her citizens,
whu think that she will prr.vc faithless and un
willing to discharge her obligations, we may
safely say, they know little of her true character,
and meet with no encouragement, or favor,
from any considerable portion of '.he communi
ty. To do what the agrees to do, and to pay
what she promises to pay, aro two of her dis
tinguishing characteristics ; and he who would
seek to induce her to forfeit either of them, will
find, that he gains neither confidence, nor re
spect, of her citiz ns Ly the attempt She may
be temporarily obliged to postpone the discharge
of her engagements until a more convenient
season; but to deny the obligation itself, or to
refuse to comply with it, would be a reproach
upon her integrity, which no public man dure
adviseor sanction.
However great her public debt may seem to
be, a tax of a few cents per ton upon her coal and
iron which are srntiereJ in ev ly hill and val
ley throughout lior borders, will at some future
day not only pay the interest on Iter public dhr,
but the piiiicipul also, rolubly within tlie lile
timo of many of those who are upon the stage
f public actum. The tax would be paid in a
measure by the consumers of these products in
ether states, and would be scarcely felt by her
own citizens, t'ot off as this country now is,
nd const continue t be, from tlio European
Mipply of coal and iron, on which it lias hither
to chiefly depended, the day rs not far distant,
vben Pennsylvania will supply more than three
fourths of the other tiates of this union with
coal, and a majoriiy ol them w illi iron,
a oosition from which no legislation and
This is
no hu-
man power can reo.ove her. Her geographi
cal position, and the fdvoruble relative locations
.fher coal and iron deposits, put Pennsylva
nia beyond the reach of all rivalry from any
quarter. She seems to have been destined, by
nature, to be the great work-simp uf'U.e Aus-n-rn
Union : and. if her citirus and per le-
. ,.. to themfthes, f.ivl wiil
riwumig ii o
void catering to the views
pnd iii'.. rests ot o-
thtf station , reyardlef snf bei-ran, nei '"iblic
dtbt will h render occasion Imt llulc inoonvc
nw,- mnA ilirv w',11 Kavc no cauce to r.irretl"
itii.
which have c.i.tr.butr-4 tn the developmeut i.f
I1 ..-. Mil I'M lll tl
'.l.; u r.ikl 111 lMl.ro;i,re 4if
.--.--
aanguine hp', orbluid coiifiwuiee, t.i .! l.-ar-iijtit.tl,
pru ticul fxperieiire, of the truth U'
w hith eve rv uiipiejudic4 d man moat ( eon m
r.d, who wi'l carefully investigate the f.clx
re!aiinto her condition.
At the e'.ote of the Us war, the pernniary
rn.l-arras.-ii.i i,t nnd -tlirfres prevailing our
country, were f;.r greater than tlwf are now
We tud iust emerired frun protracted. xp n
s ve,and'harrasing war. The national debt
wan nearlv one hundred ami thirty inilltons of
dolUrs; business of all kinds was brten up ;
confidence was entirely destroy ; all classes
of the common ty wtre in debt ; rair banks bro-keoai.dwcrt.-Jt",
pul!:c .fteJmf weakened
and shaken to a drsree infinitely beyond what 1
is now known; and, worse than all this, rank
ling pol.tical animosities against the thru admi
nistration of the general government had crca
led, or raised up, a powerful, unsciuptilous, and
violent party, under the plausible name of the
"Pence Parly" which threw in the way of the
administration every possible obstacle, in the
triumphant prosecution of ttmt war, or the cor
rection of the evils which it inevitably entai
led upon thocountry. But, notwithstanding all
these formidable discouragements, the good
sense, the enterprise and the patriotism of the
pHple, seconded those then entrusted with the
administration of the government, who perfor
med theirdnty with Human firmness and integ
rity. Taxes were recommended, levied, nnd
paid, to sustain the ctedil and honor of the go
vernment, confidence was restored, business
resumed its accustomed channels, and one of
the most flourishing reason in the history of
our country succeeded. The enormous debt
was, in the precis of time, pntirely extinguish
ed. Those who recommended 'he necessary
measures l" the attainment of this great end
have been rewarded w ith respect and gni' it udo.
The same honest and fearless discharge of du
ly, will be attended with the rnmc results now.
Our history has never yet recorded a ainirlo in
stance, in w hich a public man, who stood by the
honor of his country in critic. .1 emergencies,
was not fully sustained in his efforts by his fel
low citiieiis. He may he traduced and villi
fied, but a manly and faithful discharge of duty
outlives the ftlurtsof his traducers. The prnu
deit monument that a public man ran desire to
leave his children, is one inscribed ho know
his duty he dared perform it he never flin
ched from his post.
The whole amount of the present funded
debt of the state, exclusive of the deposit of
the surplus revenue, is fiH7,1:i7,7fc ill. This
debt is reimbursable as follows :
Hire follows a ntatemmt f ihc d.ffcicnt icrnd
when the debt becomes due, and the amount, and
showing for what purpose ihc debt was contract! d,
the piincipal item of whirli ia $30,533 620 15 for i
ranuls uud r-.ll ro. il. and $4,410,135 03 for inte
rest. The foregoing docs not include the amount due
to Domestic Creditors, entered on the b oks
of the Auditor (ieucrul, per resolution of the
7th April, IS 12.
These internal improvements, for the con
struction of which the principal amount of the
State rirbt has been incurred, consist of 7SIH1
miles of canals and railways completed, nnd
1-1(1 miles of canals in progress of construction
and m arly completed.
The finished works are the follow ing: miles
The Delaware canal, from Eratoti to tide
at Bristol, 59J
The main line of cnnal and railway from
Philadelphia to Pittsburg, 20o
Canal from Beaver, on the Ohio river, to
the mouth of the French creel; feeder,
rathe direction of Erie, C7J
Canal from Franklin on the Allegheny ri
ver to Conneaut lake, 4DJ
Canal, Susquehanna and North Branch
from Duncan's Island to Ickavvanna, 1111
CanaL, West Branch from Northumber
land to Ferrandsville, 73
Several side cuts and navigable feeder, 7
Total Canals and railways completed, 71)3
Canals-in progress and nearly completed: miles
North Branch extension, from Lackawan
na to New York line, 00
Erie extension from the mouth of the
French Creek Feeder to Erie harbor, 3rJ
ieoiiisco canal from Duncan's Island
to Wiconico creek, 12!
Total canals in progress, lldj
The state has always met the payment of the
interests upon the public debt with punctuality,
until the semi-ntinual payment due on the 1st
of August last ; when, for want of adequate
provision for that purpose, certificates ol I lie a
mouut duo to each holder of the stock were is
sued, bearing an interest of six per cent, paya
ble in one year, agreeably to the Act passed
the 27lh day of July last. It now becomes the
imperative duty ot'the Legislature to make pro
vision, as well for its payment, as lor tlie pay
ment ofthe interest falling due on the first of
February and August next.
Until some mode cf raising the amount ne
cessury for the payment of this interest, less
burlhensome to the people, is devised, the tax
es imposed by cxif ting laws seem to be indis
pensable. It may be worthy the consideration
of the legislature, however, whether the pre
sent defective sj stem of making assessments,
and reaching the object of taxation, does not
rrqmre revision. It is believed, if such re
vision be judiciously made, that no increase of
the taxes now authorized would be necessary,
to produce an adequate amount from tliHt source
to cover the pressing demands made upon ttie
Treasury.
You will observe by a report accompanying
tins message, that in pursuance of the Act ol
AssemMv, passed Kir that purpose on tht 27th
day of July last, pnesn's were invited fur the
sale of the public improvements of tlie Com
mojiwealih. No bid tor the same, that ran
possibly be accepted, was received. This
measure was suggested in my last annual me
sape, believing that, in our present einherrasHod
condition, it was an experiment, which misfit
be productive ot relicti worth trying. It has
be u tried, and has utterly failed. The truth
is, the leinoont of nior.ey m'Cessary for the pur
chase of any considerable portkin of our improve-
merits, is fur greater than any citisena of our
I country are shie to raise lor that purpose.
i here they to he sohl nt all, lliey would ne
j cesjnrily, eithrr directly or indirectly, fall in
1 to the funds of foreign capitalists. The peo
j pie must, in a great im-aMire, lose the control
I over their management, and I hey would ne
! cossaiily become private monopolies. This
' would seem to be a nn-usure, as dangerous to
: (he ou! tie interert, as it would be humiliating
, to the public pr,..e.
'1 he n venues upon our public works have
in liiiiiimslicd in ii 1 1 v pronrti n to the extent
of the i inhsirissmer.ts w hit h have been throw n
, in fh1
wi V of t-aiie. Jiw in ne wen ry reier
I ..' to tl,e 1.ept .f the CanaK onirn le.ners.
V.,:ill 'Will NM'lllT I'D V i.w wz e.i, .iiai not-
- , , - . . ,
u I !-!. ii'inm me scarcoy mm iieiireriainni ii
im n y, the impaired rondit on ofcredit,and the
, fMunVu rates of cxchanpes.ttie receipta fnun
ol:i fi r toe fica year, enJwif the JKHh N
vi ml., r, lj-42, amounted to JS20.4C9 42
Thf i riK'tiililures, for all purposes,
tortlw-n n-s months cnnimene
iiijr on the t March and nduig
ami Nov , 1",42, amouul to S'JO.040 70
Lenv'r.g an excess of receipts f T
theyiar, ccr the expense of
nie mouths of
530.452 72
notwithstanding tbe cccrrasc in
tid.'s been, VjC, 0 01
liu ill! -j-.;
The receipt! and expenditures on the main
lines have been as follows:
Toll r.-reived in All expense
1842.
$rM,4d 6o
195.766 IS
lli ?r.9 40
854 IV) 42
ml liihililica
for B months.
Columbia Railroad
Ea-t rn V Jumn a
1iv sions
Allegheny Poilage
Kmlroed
WaottTn Division
(132.499 45
45,072 12
06 S?8 63
26 080 00
7ti2.949 49 f J0U.180 20
Leavinp an excess of tolls over expenditures
of $402,700 2, on the above usually denomi
nated the main tine from I hilodelphia to Pitts
burg. On the Delaware Division and other branch
es ot the cunalf, the excess of tolls over ex
penditures, during the same period, has been
SG7.G63 41. It is worthy too of remark that
the expenses for repairs alone for the nine
months Ims been only f 104.526 B0.
This exhibit cannot fail to inspire im with
increased confidence in the ultimate value and
usefulness of our public wcrks, stiengthened
as it is by thefict, that thor has boen a falling
off in the canal tolls of New York, for thn fiscal
yearendingKOth Novemkr $23 1.331 9.
It is propel here oK in explanation tostit
one fict worthy of ron-ideration. At the com
mencement ef my odniinistration there was a
debt due fbr ordinary repairs pieviously done,
independrnt of the debtj due on the IVaver ili-
vision, of $ol0,57-l
Fir the repairs of the Huntingdon
county breach 28O.CKJ0
Tor repairs indispensable to open
ing uud the successful pronecu
tion ol the navigation, &c , a
her report of engineers cspcciul
ly detailed for that servico 1,070,092
Amounting to the sum of $'J,307,503
Which has hoi n haniring, likean incubus ou the
whole system, and has contributed much to em
barrass us operations, and to nurulvzu the most
laudable exertions of those en ti listed with the
conducting of them. In one progress of time,
too, tlie greater poition of the perishable male
rials, in the con-truction of our public wo ks,
because fo far decayed and dilapidated, as to
require, in most iu.-taucesa partial, and in ma
ny instances an entire renewul, during the first
three years of my atliuiiiist Jation. I.arge a
moiiiits were necessarily expended in making
these repairs, so large indeed, that public con
fidence was veiy considerably shaken in the
usefulness and value of the system itself.
Those who -.lid not reflect on the circumstances
to which I have just adverted, supposed this ex
traordinary outlay for repairs must be annually
repeated. Put the work being done, the ex
penses lor thai purpose for a number of years to
come wi'l be greatly diminished.
While speiiking upon this subject, I may call
your attention lo a considerable item of expen
diture, w hu h may be, w ith jtii-tice, hereafter
w holiy cut off. A very considerable sum is
annually paid for repairing and rebuiling the
various bridges for public and private conveni
ence, across the canals and railways. This
burden has been thereloie sustained by the
state, but considering the great increase in val
ue of the private property, through which the
improvements pass, and that a considerable
(Kirtion ofthe people of the commonwealth de
rive no immediate benefit from theoutlav tor
that purpose, it would seem lo lie just ami pro
per, that the rebuilding and repairing of tlie
private bridges should hereafter be done by the
owners of tlie property, and the public ones by
the townships or counties, in which they are
situated.
Since my last annual message, in w hich I
took occasion to refer to the combination.) of
private compumes and individuals, to monopo
lize and reap nearly all the advantages from
thn trausjiortation on our internal improve
ment, there fins been a trial and conviction of
several persons, on the clearest proof, oi"a must
flagrant conspiracy to render this monopolizing
eon. burnt on still more triumphant over the laws.
This conviction will have the salutury tenden
cy to arrest hereafter any such illegal attempts.
It is now to be hoped, that by the removal of
these ob-tacles in the way of fair hldivi.lual
competition, our public improvements will be
open, as they were intended to be, to the tree
and equal enjoyment of all.
Several recommendations, or what were
deemed essential reforms, in the management
of our internal improvements, made either by
the executive or canal commissioners, have
been hitherto baffled and defeated, by combina
tions of interest, w hich it is not ea-y to com
prehend. 1 do not deem it necessary to speci
fy pnrticulnriy all these suggestions, Lut will
reter you to my lust annual message, and tbe
last and present reort ot tbe Canal Commis
sioners, in which they are contained. I trust
that whatever may have lieen the doubt here
tofore on the subject, if any there was, the jus
tice and the propriety of making them are now
beyond question. During the hist year, as well
as former years, the canal commissioners have
tHn assidiously laboring to correct the most
glaring of the errors and abuses which had
crept into the management of our public im
provements. TI.ey have done much, but much,
remains to be luincuUd, witliout tlie power to
ri move it.
Nothing has been done under the arts of As
sembly passed at the last session, for the corpo
ration of companies to complete the unfinished
linrsofour improvements. If any more effec
tual mode for the accomplishment of this object
can be devised, it will afford me a preat pleas
ure toco-operate with you in carrying it into
execution.
Tlie resolut ion of the Cleneral Assembly of
the 7th of April last, "relative to the payment
of interest to domestic creditors," provided '.hat
such ot the creditors ol the Commonwealth as
do not chooe to receive certificates of slock,
shall be entitled to a credit for the amount of
their rlaim cm tlie books of the Auditor Gener
al, and shall receive interest at six per cent, on
rn. lances due for work done prior tn tbe 4ih of
May. Ir ll, interest to be allowed from that
I'utc, and on balances i!ii' for wotk dune since
the 4lh of May, 1?41, interest tube allowed
from the ptssnge of the act. And the first
section of tlie act of the 27th of July last, after
making certain specific appropriations, directs
whatever balance may ro in the T rearury on
th first day o' August, November and Februa
ry then next, after payins current demands on
ti e Treasury, to I divided pro rata among the
domes! c creditors having claims for work done
prior to the 4ih May, 1841, er for repairs, in-.
on finished lines of canal and rail-road, previous
to the first day of April, 1S42, In pursuance
of the forecoinsr arts, rlaims amounting in the
airgfcgatc to $1,191.71(1 Z3 were entered on
the to. ks of the Auditor General at the close
of the financial yeir, of which sum $T07,4ol 7S
w as lor wora dvrve prior, ar.r; o.ia 45 r
TTt t!"- -rr.sr qnent lo the ;,n T
On the first day .f .nng.Jt the Treasury would
not admits dividend therefore the first and
only instalment, twenty per cent, was paid by
th first of November, together with all inter
est, to G200,58943.
Notwithstanding Vhe very satisfactory results
which have grown out ofthe broad and liberal
construction given by the Auditor General, to
the resolution ofthe 7th of April, there yet re
mains a very deserving class of creditors, who
have received none of its benefits, nor was it at
all practicable to bring them within it provis
ions. The poor laborers scattered along the
improvements, who with their own bands do
the work necessary to keep them in navicable
condition, should b.? objects of the first care of
tne trovernment. in this instance they were
entirely overlooked, the appropriation for re
pairs being inadequate. Frum the character
of their claims their comparatively trifling a
mount, and their number, it was found inexpe
dient to enter them on the books of the Auditor
General. If they had beentntered.it would
in many cases have cost the w hole sum due to
procure the dividend from the Treasury and.
indeed, it would be a mockery for the govern
ments inste.ul of payment, to offer poor laborers
a pro rota divident on a claim of a few dollars.
It is ardently hoped that this worthy and in
niort cases suffering class ol domestic creditors,
will reeeivo the imii.cdiute attention ofthe le
gislature. It has happened in relation to the banking
sy.-temof this Commonwealth, as bason many
occasions horetofore been the case w.th the in
stitutions founded on unsound principles, that
with all its power, and with all its hold on pub
lic confidence and support, it has fallen by the
weight of its own imperfections. If any legis
lative action can restore public confidence in
the bank?, or render them ofmore service to the
community, it will become your duty to furnish
11. 1 lie mode and detail of the aid to be ren
dered, 1 leave in the hands of the representa
tives of the people. But the public certainly
expect, that you will not adjourn until you
have made ample provis on for withdrawing
from rliculation the notes issued by the banks
in pursuance of the act of 4th May, li ll ; and
it will afli rd me great pleasure to co-operate
with you in nny measure that may be deemed
most advisable for the accomplishing of Ibis ob
ject. At the smnc time, I will take occasion
to suggest one source, from which the means
may be readily obtained to extinguish a large
port ;on r if these isfiirs. I refer to the sale of
the Bank, Bridge, and other stocks, in which
the Slate is interested. I think an amount
might be realized, in ibis way, sufficient to an
swer the purpose, if provisions be inad' by law
thn t the proceeds of the sale be exclusively ap
plied to that objret.
The present condition of the Bank of Penn
sylvania rrnnires the most careful con-idera-tion
of the legislature. The State has a deep
interest in the proper management of that in
st'tntion, and equally so in winding it up, if
thot be deemed a polite measure. Several acts
w ere passed during the last session in relation
to it ; but owing to some defeat they did not
answer tne purpose designed, line sugges
tion 1 wdl make on the subject, anil that is, in
no contingency should the control ofthe bank
be placed exclusively in the hands of the pri
vate stockholders, ltthe State and the stock
holders be put on the snme footing each ha
ving respectively, the share of control equal to
the amount of stock held. No just complaint
can then be made, and the interests of all par
ties w ill be properly guarded. This much at
least, the public has o right to expect.
The pasige of a law providing for the e
leclion of members ol Congress will be one of
the subjects demanding your early attention.
The apportionment of members of the Iwo
Houses of ihc General Assembly is also a mat
ter in which the pcuplo are deeply interested,
and which will, of course, claim your most
careful consideration. Tlie basis of an appor
tionment bill on this subject, should be cquali
tv, fairness, and justice to all sections ofthe
State. In no other manner can thn various
interests be faithfully represented. The funda
mental principles ofa republican government,
nnd our own Constitution, guarantee these
rights to every county in tlie State. The
apportionment b II passed on the 10th June,
1.10, will not, I conceive, be regarded as a
precedent, or an example, hut as a beacon, to
be shunned by every legislator who understands
and is honestly desirous of carrying into execu
tion the injunctions of the Constitution. No
i xtraneous considerations can justify a depart
ure from it, and on all occasions when a depart
ure has been attempted, it has recoiled with
ten fold force ou the heads of those by w hom it
was made.
I have repeatedly called the attention of the
legislature lo the subject of selecting jurors in
the several counties in the State. 1 cannot
forbear to urge it again upon yon, and lo add,
Hint theie is one grievance very much com
plained of in those counties, where it exists,
under the law, that is, that w here separate
win els are kept for the purpose of drawing
jurors for different courts, there is much com
plaint as to the manner of selecting the names
put into these different wheels. It has been
sne-gested that if one wheel only provided, out
ofwhichall the panels of jurors for all the
courts were drawn, this objection would be in
a great measure obviated. 1 will merely fur
ther remark, that the system of drawing jurors
would ne very greatly perfected, it tlie selec
tion iinJ drawing of the same were to be done
by tbe commissioners and sheriff in open court,
under the supervision of one or more of thu
judges. Recent experience calls aloud for
the protection ol the jury box from even the
possibility of suspicion.
My views have been so fully expressed in
former messages, in favor ot tho support of a
liberal and enlightened svstem of education by
common schools, that I need scarcely repeat
tliem. 1 will content myself by reiterating.
that a sound education, based upon proper moral
and religious training, is the best legacy a
parent can bequeath to his child, and the best
provision a patriot can make to secure the per
manence and purity of our republican institu
tions. I reTer you to the very full and elaborate
report ofthe Superintendent, for the condition
and details of our common schools, academics,
female srannarics and colleges.
A revision of ihe Militia Fystrm is here recom
mrndrd, and alo a revision of the art lo abolish
imprisonment for debt. An alluaion ia alao made
to thn power of AlJemwc and Justices of th Praos
in criminal raws.
The tendency of public opinion, for a number of
years past, haa gradually been In wenken and relai
the rierulinn of Ihe crmina! laws. Thl mnrbid
feeling haa ctrn reached iur.tra, and other function-
rii a aiitf ne.'d in 1 1 mi a.lmf nM'rtlmn nf riimll.-1
just c, o ht it U wot an ui.i'ual apfclne' 'M
rot&rla and ijlie rr.nvi.-l Alt' .l" i
i cnnvu.i ae n,rnce on lha clear
est lennv r fr,m;,,4 ou dav. and reentn
m. inl hi J . d"o the eiff o(ie ll.e oeit. These
apea1. rtiu eostainid aMies themselves with
gieat funs j tbe magistrate nliucd with tbe
power of nirdomnit offender, and it is not to be
disf uised, that unless aoma check be put upon it,
it will, In the end, lead to great injustice and shone.
These remarks are made, not so much with a view
to Invite immediate legislation on the sulject, aa
io innuenre and temper the action ot Ihe fecial i- :
lure on sut.ji cts connected with ihe criminal juria
prudence of Ihe Bute.
It baa been s ated that certain loan comnmian.
innuranre Companies, and other similar corporation
wnion nave sUung into existence within lha last
ten years, t fleeted their organiration, and obtained
Iheir charters, without conforming strictly lo the
requisitions of lha law, or after having; obtained
their charters, perpetrated ace, whereby they woulJ
t forfeited; and hive, through sundry devices,
procured the paa igs of laws, d. signed, without
hav;ng the object expressed, to aereen them fiom
the penalty which fliey had incurred, and to sanc
tify the illi'g iliiy and corruption in which they ori
ginated. tSuch legia'ation as this is thtulitleea at
war wi'h the public inter, at and pulilic safety, and I
respectfully recommend to Ihe legin'aiure, t.i en
quite into the auhject. and if any such Ism s have
been smuggled ihrough, in which the r al obj-cl
" not iiiinjf, ate.l, 10 iepe.il the aitne at onre, and
tn le-eve lLooe corporations in precisely tbo aame si
tuation, in which their n acta placed them, at the
time ih- y wi re prrjietrated.
Ailrliii .iial chancery powers have !reii vete,l in
some of ihe courts of the Commonwealth, t-'thoul
nimble provision having b.'en made for the rxi
rution of lhe-e powers. 'Hie hciufita t lie derive !
from lhi tno.litic .ttou of our jurisp'ud. n. e will in
a (ireai measure I h.st, unlr ih ae defects .ire
supplied. Among other provisions authority s'lotiM
be uiveri for the appointment of maa er in chance
ry, ami auditors, and the r funct one defined.
'I he legislature having omi'ted to appoint an
nget.t ir, receive from the g neial g'lviTnnvi.t the
divi.knd of tbia State from Ihe proceeds of thee ilea
of lie public lan.le, I appointed Job Minn, Esq.,
Mtate I reaaurer, tiy virtue of the authority iv
me by an act of lov greas, who baa rtCiived it, a-
mounting to f (10.31:1 27.
The eiplor .tiona connected e.'ith the fSeolojical
purvey having been brought lo a auceaalul lermi
nation, it ia neresniv th it mea u'ea be now aduut
rd I v the legislature fir enit.odying and puhbahing
ihe resul's without dt l.iy. Aa tbe state h is expen
ded s considerable sum in lbs examination of her
u.inetal rc-ources as it ia known that tbo final re
I'lut ami mapa of the state Gcolegiitt will contain
much valuable informaiion ofa n .lute lo invite and
direct tbe iuvi atuirnt of cupital neceaairy for the
dev. lopeiuent of .ur umur a eil mineral wealth ;
and 9 li e opentea of ariongiug and publishing tlie
deti.i'a pr. cuied, will bear Ix.t a small proportion to
thut alreai'y incurred in Collecting them, considern
tionn of a. uud economy and the pubi c good irqiiue.
tin t the prop. i steps I e t .ken for jfft ding our ci
tizens the benefits of this auivey as ao.in as practi
cable. Iiy applying the ba'ance of tbe appr pri.i
Pons for the incidental ixpcnscg of tl e au v. y, t' e
l.eob gist has I ecu enibled to make coiiider.iMc
progreaa towanla conflicting the mapa, ami diw
ings. and orioua other portions of the work ; but
murh d lay haa arisen from the legislature hiving
omi led at its Let sen-ion, lo make provision for the
furiiihhmg and engraving nf the mapa, for Ihe r -
rep'ien of ihe fr-tnte ("at.ini t, and for the punting
of tbe final report, in Conformity lo the aujge-lioiM
in the last annual report of the Gevlogiat, to wl.ic'.i
you are respectfully referred.
Oppreaaed, aa ll.e alum ia, ly peruniiey em' ar-ra-ni
nts, at tbe p.eseni lime, it behove us In ie
trench all expenditures ofthe pul.be m iiev, and to
(Mia'd the interest of our constiuienta with the same
fukbty and care that we would i lert in guar.ling
our own. Among other important expenditures,
those incident lo the legislature e in lo have been,
for the last twenty yeaia. greatly on the increase.
While the expense. of ihe other .lepattmenU have
l een almost atationaiy, those of the I. gis'ature h ive
been conidera! ly more than doubbd. No s.. l a
factory reason can I shown for this nd it rails
aloud for inquiry and redress. The public pr n'
ing ia one of the I .rjeM items in th a exie:idilu e,
ami has incieaaed in a ratio that defies rt aa m .ble
explnnaiioii. It demon. la a remedy. I can we none
better lh.ui to provide for appointing a public prin
ter to execute all tbe puHic printing at fixed and
reasonable, prices. Tlie work can then be done
Willi er. at. r fact iiy ami .conoinv. su..i policy
strong y recommends Una measure, ami tne exam
ple of oilier alnlea fu lv ocuoua iL I repecttully
commend it to your alien ion.
'1'lils is the first occasion on which I have had
tbe honor to aJJre-a a majority of both house of
ihegemrul asaeml-lv, belonging lo I lie same politi
oil relaiioi.ship with my-elf; and I cinnot f.rliear
lo expr.sa Ihe gratiucaiion I feel at the proaic.l ol
a h .rmonioua and coufi.lct.lial umTeislan ling I e-
iw.en Ihe several leg'slihva deparmcuts ot Ihe go
vernment. I trust we shall rerollerl. inn! me gr. ut
distinctive charaeteri-tics of Ihe party to which we
are attached, have ever been magnanimity ami jus
tice o our opponents. Let us not forgel that mi.
norim a have riuhta aa well aa mnjorftua; and that
whatever may have heen the examples act us l.y
olheia, it ia the part nf thoa- who are g. nuine belie
vers .n the piiiii'i lea of democracy, 'lo do u toothers
aa tliey would tlial oilier ihou:d do Unto them.'
You will a'low me, in concilia on, lo submit to
you, in a spiiii of inu-l frankne-a and re.pert, ihe
piopntty ef s prompt and enei.tic ucapiictl ol Hi
public bui-ii.rfx, and an adjournment al the rarl est
day practicable. 11 ut few leading measures nf pub
lic importance will come Iwfore you, ami those are
nol ot a nature lo l essentially benefitted by a pro
tract, d d. lay. The people will certainly be willing
lo forego at" the present session, moat, if nol all of
those uiiva'e mailers, which usually occupy so Urge
a share of ll.e time and attention of ihe legisl .lure.
We h.vo hail a surfeit of jumbled private legisla
tion. I.el those pleasures, in which the pub'ic at
large reallv haa an interest.be adopted; and ih
wotk for which you have assembled is done. Lei
he re-t be postponed until the condition of the
Treasury juft.fiea ihe Continuance of ihe . gislature
for private use ; the present i not ihat lime.
To whatever depiriment of the government we
belong, we should n member, that our fT.ns to re
form abuses and to retrench expense', will avail but
lillle, if we do not nctu-e ourselves the principles
we lay down for ih guidance of otheis. Tbis is
the only mode in which we can prove our own sin
cerity, and satisfy the people that wa aie truly in
earuist. Lei ns art upon ihia policy, and I trust
the piesent scss on will furnish an rumple worthy
the imitaiion of future legislatures, ll will atTud
uie Rr.at pleaU' lo join with you in a'l efforts to
render ii I'eservii g of that proud and honoiable dis
tinction. A firm and manly txeil on. on our part,
lo do much, and to do it well, in a short time, wi:
both promote the public welfare, and secure lha
public spptol alion. No stronger incentive to du
ly ran possibly he afforded to hone.-t and intelligent
servants of the people.
DAVID R. PORTER.
Ei"ctivi Cutvtar.a,
Jlarritbutg, January 4, 1843. J
As I'm a a ru. woara tTiiiso. Mr, Bra.
ham, sn optician at Bath, exhibits in h'm th 'p an
ordinary looking silk umbre la, con aii'lng a teles,
scoj, a rnarro-coi-v, a ihem'.meler, a e J(npasa, anJ
a son-dial, all a-tully pac',,,, twty ia t j,and!..
A Dues Lawiib. A gentleman) ef color was
recently called lo the bar of the Middle TrmpV,
London. His lather is ene of the Senators of Jama
ica, and possessed of a very large foitunr, the bulk
of which be enlaiKJ on bis son.
THE AMERICAN.
Saturday, Jan. 7, 1843.
CXj We have just reeeivej sixty teams of print'
ing paper, similar in size and quality to the sheet
upon which this is printeJ. Also 3G reams of su
per Royal 21 by S8 inches, which will be solJ at
coat and carriage, for cash.
fXj We lay b fore our read, ra, to day, the Oo
vernor's Nfea'aije. We have no room for com
ments this week.
On Tuesday last, on motion of Mr. Pollock,
Wm. I.. Dewirt was admitted to practice as an
Attorney in the eevrr..l e .uris of the county.
On thn .fame day, on motion of Mr. Miller,
Charles M. Bruner was admitted to practice aa an
Alfirney in the s. ver.il courts of ibis county. We
cordially welcome our young fneuds into the ranks
nf the profession, sn I wish them success in their
new anJ arduous undt rtak nrj.
The legislature was convened at Harriburg
on Tuesday last. II. 3. Wri,;h', Esq., of Luzerne,
wa elect, d Speaker of the House, and Mr. Crispin,
of Philadelphia, Seker ofthe Senate.
Litlcll'i Musrum of Foreign Literature
This exclieiit publication, afier the lapse of six
months, during which ti ne it had heen suspended
on account of sums leg il proceedings, h .s again
mide il appe ar inoe. The proprietor of the Mu
seom have in ido an agreement w.ih the proprietor
of the American Ec'rc ic, a work similar to that nf
the Museum, by which these two valuable publi
rations will be here .fer is-u.d under tbe title of
the Awsricak Eclectic ivu Mcsel-k or For.
now LtranaTrsa." We cinsnfely recommend
his work, as vastly superior to all lha light Iraah
with which the Press is teeming in the shspe of
"Companion. Mag .lines and Worlds of Fashion,"
and from the perusal of which readers would derive
profi: as well as pleasure.
The County Muling of Monday and Tuesday
last.
We regret that circumstances prevent us from
laving I elore nur rcadeis tlie pr cted ngs of
iho meeting for the purpose if appointing a
de ejate to the 8 h of January Convention. We
w ere not present at ihe commencement of the pro
ceedings on Monday last. Tin re was considera
ble difficulty ic del rmining w briber Genllammond
or M jor Wm. L. Dcwart, ws the choice of the
meeting. The panics then formed a line in the
street for ihe purpose of ascertaining the strength
of each. Tbe friends of Major Dewart Insisted
that he had the rmj.uity, and lha friends of Gen.
Hammond also claimed it. We did not count,
but from he apprarinre of the lir es were inclined
lo believe the majority w as in favor of Mr. Dewart.
Tbe meiling went into the court house sgain,
when on motion it waa agreed to ailjnurn till next
day, (Tuesday.) at one o'clock. We were not
present on that d iv , but are informed that not more
than twenty were present, anJ that the meeting
was ended by appointing Gen. Hammond, before
the people had tunc, lo assemble. Tbe friende of
Mr. D. wart immediately assembleJ and hud him
apKincd a delegate, who c rtainly bad a large
majority in hi favor on that day. After ihe
meeting, we deaucd to get the proceedings to pub
li.h. We wcro nferred to Judge Montgomery,
who waa then on the bench in cour'. He refused
to let u have them, stating he wished to copy
ihem. We slated that we would return them in
the evening in time for him, as he could not copy
thorn wh le in court, lla veiy deliberately placed
his arms over the desk, in the drawer of which the
precious d'lcument were deposi ed and seemingly
guarded them wilh as much care to presei ve ibsin
from the vulgar g.izeof the multitude, as ever Joe
Smith did hi celebrated "golden plates."
One of Gen. H unmond's friends, however, offered
to lei ua have tbem if we would guwentee that they
would be published auiiie aa they were adopied.
W should, of course, have published them as d p
ted, if we published them at all, and made our com
ments in our editorial columns. An editor, who
had any regard for bis character, would not think of
adopting any other course. We, therefore, r fu-e 1
to give the guarantee which was exacted from ua,
aimply because wa happened la be in favor of Ma
jor Pewart, We ha I no motive to mutilate or al
ter the pr. "ceding, nor ia there a sing'e reason to
suppose we had. We were then, and are now, en
tirely ignorant of the nature of the rraolutions or
pr ice, dinj as drawn out. We offered to publish
the proceedings as a mattir of course, and had wa
dissented from ihem we should have stated ao in a
separate article. Had cur advice been taken,
which waa to send both, and which we understand
had been agreed upon, there would have been no.
difficulty. We took but lillle interest in the pro.
creiinga of the meeting, and cared tut liule, so far
aa we are co icerned, about their pubr.;,'0n. The
del. gates wi I both be at Hamburg, and will, no
doubi. b th he admits ,0 ,ak KgU in ,he c
veution wiihou'. iny difficulty.
A ca vivos. -The Journal of Commer-e says
thrre is still another "last survivor" of ihe gillant
crew of Paul Jones Mr, George Raymond, now
j living at Brooklyn, al the age of 8, who was sail-
ing f, ,slcr under Cap. Jones through all his ad
venture. He is, however, very probably soon to
go lha way of his chivalrous comrades.
Refunding. The South Caioltna legislature
lately passed a irsolution r. funding to the heirs of
Dr, Thomas Cooper tbe fine imposed en him in
Pennsylvania, foi a liWI on Pse.i.l.tit J hn Adams.
New Hirnpshire has not al (dished lbs punish
ment of lcathj at hs erroneously been slated.