BY 6EO. W. BOWMAN
NEW SERIES.
Select jpoctfji.
The Crop of Acorns.
There came a man in days of old,
To litre a piece ot land lor gold,
And urged his suit in accents meek :
"One crop alone is all i seek ;
That harvest o'er, my claim 1 yield,
And to its lord resign the lield."
The owner some misgivings felt,
And coldly with the stranger dealt,
Itiit found his last objection fail,
And honied elocpience prevmi ;
s. ( > took the pro tie red price in hand,
And for one crop leased cut the land.
't he vvilev tenant sneered with pride,
And soweit the spor with aroma wide,
At fust like tiny shoots they grew.
And broad and wide their branches threw;
Hut long betore these oaks sublime,
A-piiing, reached their forest prune,
The cheated landlord mouldering lay
Forgotten with its kindred clay.
f)! ve whose vears unfolding fair,
Are fresh with youth and free from care,
Shou! ! vice or indolence desire
The garden of your souls to hire,
No parley hold—r> ject the suit,
Nor let one seed the sod pollute.
My child ! their firt approach beware ;
With firmness break the insidious snare,
Lest, a- the acorns grew and stiove
Into a sun-excluding grove.
Thy sins, a dark o'ershadow ing tree.
Shut out the light of heaven from thee.
s*oy. S'oSlocifs .oaesa*-;e.
R ail in U(irr;sbur<r, Jan. 7, 18.)7.
To it:- Ilor.ornble ihe Senators and .V;friers
of the. House of Representatives cj the
General Jjssembly:
Fellow-Citizfns : In obedience to the Con
stitution and laws of this Commonwealth, you
havt_asemblcd to discharge the important and
responsitde duties that devolve upon you. o
protect the right sand privileges of the people,
advance their interest.-, and promote the wel
fare and prosperity of the State, should he the
aim and end of all your legislation, jii toe
discharge of mv duties, it uti! be a pleasure to
co-operate with jou in the accomplishment o!
t hese o! jccts.
The past vear has been one of unusual pros- |
parity. The bounties of a kind Providence
have not been withheld bom our Common
wealth. A plenteous harvest lias rewarded the j
labor of the husbandman. Honorable nidus- j
fry, in ail its departments, has been encouraged. |
]\o financial emharrassin^rits- —no comniciciai
distress —no political or social evils, have inter-j
rupted the progress, or checked llie energies ol ;
*,iir people. The great interests <>i education, j
moialitv and religion, have been cherished and j
sustained. Health and peace, witu their atten- j
dant blessings, hate been ours. Io Hun "who|
rules the nations by His power, and from whom i
corneth down evuv good and perfect gib, ' are;
we indebted (or these mercies, anil to Hon I
should be given the homage of our devout grat- j
it ode and praise. J
The financial condition of the Commonwealth ;
is highly satisfactory. Evety demand upm the j
Treasury has ion promptly met and pa.d, with- j
out the aid of loans. Ine operations o( thisde- j
partment will be exhibited in detail in the rt- j
port of the State Treasurer. j
For the fiscal year ending November 30, j
1 Sbti, the receipts of the I reasury (including j
the balance in the Treasury on the first day ol
December, lSi)s,of $1,243,69/ o3) have been
$6,621,637 64. The total expenditures for
the same period, were $:>,377,!42 bal
ance in the Treasury, Dec. 1, 1b..6, sl,-44,-
79") 42. "
Excluding the balance in the Treasury on the
Ist of December, isfto, the receipts, from ai!
sources, were $5,378,240 33. The ordinary
expenditures lor the same period, were $4,1 .3,-
144 77, showing an excess of receipts over or
dinary expenditures of $ 1,26:),09n n6.
The extraordinary payments for the same
■year, were $ 1 ,263.99 < 4*n, as follows, o the
completion of the Portage Railroad, and for the
payment of debts previously contracted on that
work, $1 SI .494 il : to the North Branch Ex
tension. $122,723 52 ; to r lay the south track
of the Columbia railroad, £267,000 00; for
motive power in 1855, $118,049 42; to en
large the Delaware division of the Pennsylva
nia"*canal, 1854—'55, $1 3,960j for general re-
pairs in 1853- 54-'55, $63,965 11; todomes
4ic creditors, slol 63; to old claims on lot
main line, examined by the commissioners, and
paid under the act or May-'2, 1856, $ I 3d,-
512 C 9 : to the redemption of loans, $327,-
N'J J. 47 ; and reliel notes cancelled, $38,-
217 00.
T"b** th<* funded t \vhith I* II
due in February and August last, was then paid,
and that which becomes due in I-ebruary next,
will be paid with equal promptness, out of a
vailable means now in the treasury. . ihe
punctuality with which the interes' on the pub
lic debt has been paid, and the ability of the
Treasury to meet ail legitimate demands upon
it, have inspired public confidence in our secu
rities, and contributed largely to establish and
maintain the credit of the Commonwealth.
The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund re
port the sum of $722,'+32 93 as due by the
Treasury to that fund. This amount vvi.l be
applied to the redemption of relief notes now
in circulation, and to the payment of the limn
ed debt. Heretofore the available means in the
Treasury have been applied to some extent in
payment of outstanding temporary loans, hich
bear an annual interest of six per centum; it
being deemed advisable as a matter of economy
to pay these loans, rather than the funded debt,
which bears a much less rate of interest. It is
expected that the balance of the temporary
loan will be paid before the close of the current
year, and the operation of the sinking fund re
sumed and continued as directed by law.
The funded and unfunded debt of the State,
including temporary leans on the Ist day of l)e- !
cemeber, 1855, as per reports of the Auditor j!
General and State Treasurer, was as follows, i
viz:
FUNDED Dil'tT.
6 per cent, loan $510,154 03
r> do. do. 35,00a, no ni i
l do. do. 388,200 00 ;
t do. do. 100,000 00 ,
Total funded debt $33,907,700 07 (
UNFUNDED DUET. |
Relief notes in circulation $258,773 00
Interest certificates <
outstanding 29,157 25
Home-tic creditors 1,304 00
Balance of temporary loan,
April 18, 1853 525,000 00
Balance of temporary loan,
" May 9, 1854 340,000 00
Total unfunded debt $1,1(50,194 25 i
Total debt, December I, 1855 $41,007,994 22
The funded and unfunded debt at the elo-o ot the j
last fiscal year, December 1, i BSO, was us follows,
VIZ:
(> per cent loan $511,781 00
5 do do 38.806.99t.r0
Mido do 398.200 00
; 4 do do 100,000 00
Total funded debt 839,5C0,9.0 o'l
UNFUNDED DEI.T, VIZ:
: Relief notes in circulation $220,556 00
Interest certificates
! outstanding 24,691 57
! Intere-t certificates lin
j claimed 4.4 18 -8
i Domestic creditors l,ihl 00
I Balance of temporary loan,
Apti! 10. 1853, 400,000 00
Balance of temporary loan,
j May 9, 1851, ' 184.000 00
i Total unfunded debt S ! 1.859 ,5
j To'al debt Dec. i, 1556 90, ,'>1,835 2o
Total debt Dec. 1, 1853 $11,007,994 22
Do do 1836 40,701,835 25
Decrease 366,1. '8 97 .
It thus appears that florin;: the past fiscal
year the sum of three hundred and sixty-six J
thousand one hundred and fifty-eight dollars j
and ninety-seven cents has been paid in liquida-
tion of tlit* public debt. 1 his, taken in con- ;
motion with thf fact, that during the year end
ing V.vemh r 30, 1555, six hundred and thir
ty thousand six hundred and one dollars and
two cents were paid nri the same account, ex
hibits the gratifying fact, that the process of re
ducing the public debt has commenced : and,
unless'checked by reckless mismanagement and
extravagant expenditure, must continue until
the people and the Common wealth are relieved
from the debt and taxation with which they aie
! burdened. In addition to tins reduction of the
j public debt, large appropriations and pat merits i
| were made for the completion of the Portage ;
j Railroad, and tor debts previously contracted on i
! that work ; for old and unsettled claims recent
ly adjusted by the commissioners appointed un-
tier the act of last Session: tor re-laving the}
smith track of the Columbia railroad : !<r enlar- I
•jjing the Delaware division oi the canal, ami tor .
i other purposes, rhese extraordinary demanns
I upon the Tn-asury have ceased, or soon wid
cease, with the necessity that created tijem .
and thus leave a still larger portion of the rev
enues to be applied in payment ot the public
debt.
A careful examination of the financial con
dition of the Commonwealth her sources of
revenue and the probable future expenditures,
lias inspired the hope that the time is imt far
distant when the public debt will be fully pain,
and this without increasing the subjects ot la
tioof taxation. It has already been shown that
the revenues of the past year exceeded the or
dinary expenditures $1,266,095 56 cents. The
estimated receipts and expenditures for the cur
rent venr, which will he presented to you in
the report of the State Treasurer, show that
the e.\css of receipts, over ordinary expendi-
lures, n.av reach ihe sum of $! ,500,1/OJ.
These estimates, although approximations, will
not he far from the true result. Allowing, then,
$M)0,000 for annual extraordinary expendi
tures— and under a wise system of economy in
no probable contingency tan they exceed that
sum —we will have at hast 1,000,000 to he
appropriated annually for the payment ol the
public debt. With the rapid development of
the wealth and resources o! the Commonwealth
the increase of population—of the value of
real estate, and of the amount arid value of
property of every description, the revenues
must and will continue to increase. This natu
ral and necessary increase of revenue will sup
ply every deficiency and every demand upon
the Treasury that falls within the range ol
probability. It. then, the sum of one million
of dollars be appropriated annually in liquida
tion of this debt, and the accruing interest on
the sums paid be applied in the manner of a
! sinking fund, the entire indebtedness of the
| Commonwealth will be extinguished in less
; than twenty-three years. If these premises- are
I correct—and their correctness can only be im
i paired by unwise legislation, or the imprudent
; management ol our finances —the truth of the
| proposition is susceptible of the dearest demon
, straiion. Assuming the public debt on the first
day of December, 1856, to be, in round num
bers, forty millions five hundred thousand ciol
j lars, and that at the end of each fiscal year one
i million dollars, with the accruing interests on
former payments, will he paid, unerring calcu
lation will determine the result to tie as before
| indicated. Thus, before the expiration of the
' year 1879, Pennsylvania may stand released
i from the oppression of her public debt, and her
people he released from a taxation imposed to
| meet its accruing interest, and to maintain the
: faith and credit of the Commonwealth. These
FRIDAY MORNING, BEDFOBD, PA. JAN. 16, 1857.
views are not Utopian. By practising strict e- j
conomy in all departments of the government —
avoiding extravagant expenditure—refusing to
take any new schemes of internal improve
ment, and holding a rigid accountability the re
ceiving and disbursing agents of the State,
their realization may be anticipated with con
fidence.
I must again call the attention of the Legis
lature to the subject referred to in my last an
nual message, iri the following terms :
"Rv the fhirtv-eigth -ection of the act of the
16th of April, 1845, entitled 'An Act to p:o
--vicle for the ordinary expenses oil Government,
the repair of canals arid railroads of the State,
and other claims upon the Commonwealth,
the Governor was authorized to cause certifi
cates of State slock to be issued to all persons or
bodies corporate holding certificates for the pay
ment of interest on the funded debt of the
State, which fell due on the first day of Au
gust, ]s J-2, tile first days of February and Au
gust, 1813. and. the first days of February and
August, 1844, in an amount equal to the a
mount of certificates so held, upon their deliv
ering up saiil certificates to the Auditor Gene
ral. In pursuance of the authority thus given,
certificates of State stock to the amount of $4,-
; 1 Of), 150 '2O, bearing interest at the rate ot :>
! per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually,
ion the first days of February and August in
| each year, and redeemable on or after the first
i dav of August, 1855, were issued. The mini
! mum period fixed lv law for Ihe redemption of
1 these certificates, expiod on the first day > f
I August, 1855. No provision has been made
i lor their renewal °r redemption.
"Although bv the terms ot Ihe act authori
j zing these certificates of Slate stock, as a' o hv
ike conditions of the certificates issued in pur
j stiatice thereof, the time of payment, after the
• expiration of the minimum period, is cptiona!
! with tlie debtor, the CninitiOnvealtl), yet a line
I regard tor the credit of the State requires that
provision should be made tor their renewal or
redemption. To redeem these certificates, a
'loan would become necessary, and as a fail
( an not he effected, in the pres< fit financial c r
dition of the country, on terms more lavora! N
to the State than those on which these certifi
i rates w ere issued, i would recommend that an
| thorits he given to issue the bonds of the o>nq
| inonvvealtii in renewal of said certificates, heart
I ing interest at the rate of five per cent, per am
! num, payable semi-annually, and redeemable or 1
lor alter the expiration of twenty yea;?; and
i that the bonds be issued with coupons or cerlifi J
rates of interest attached in sums equal ift r.-
mount to the semi-annual interest 1 hereon, pay
j able on th<- first days of February and Angus)
in each and every year, at such piac as rnaji
Ihe designated. This change in 'he form aim
: chararter of the Certificates, it wjst
be so advantageous 10 trie noioet?, uwlnout ips
creasing the liabilities of tlm Commonwealth,
as to induce a willing and prompt exchange
1 at a premium for the Lends proposed to be is
sued." . . .i;
i The report of the Canal Commissioners wt
|be laid before vou, and will exhibit in deta
i the condition of the public works—their gem
! ral opera!i -n, and the receipts and expending
of the past fi-r a! year.
The total rem ipts at the Treasury, from t
l public works, for the year ending November 3
! 16:56, were §2,006,015 66, being an incresj
! over the revenues of the previous v< ar,
i $62,638 95. Of this sum §1,013,589
were canal and bridge toils, and §992,+26 •,
toil- of the Columbia and Portage Railroads.
I The aggregate hx peru!itures lor the same yr
j were §1,9+3,896 S2, being an increase ov
| these of the previous year, of $105,100 (,
tlm revenues exceeding the expenditures OI
, | §62,1 I s " Hi.
The increase of the revenues from tin
, j works would be encouraging, were it nit
- | the fact that the expenditure* were increa.
ij | n {.{in greater proportion —the expenditur
■ t ordina v and extraordinary, exhausting aim
> i the entire revenue from this source. ine s
- teni must be defective, or more care and eco
i mv should be exercised in its management.
: The receipts at the Treasury from the se-
ral divisions wcie as follows, viz :
Main Line
Susouehanna, North Branch anil
VVe>t Branch 428.620
Delaware
Total receipts $2,060,01-1
The extraordinary payments during the y
amounted to SH!IS.S92-"l6 : ordinary expes.
tores, §1,135,00+ 00; ret revenue, (ex
ding extraordinary payments and lor u.cf
pujwer) §S7 i ,011 00.
On the main line the tolls received nte
Treasury from the Columbia road, were §:>
676 50; expenditures, $528,08+ 86; toljt
Eastern division of ('ana', from Columhifi
the Junction, §119,718 36: expenditf,
§53.0 IS 50; receipts from the Jnncti<j>
Pittsburg, including the Portage rail-road §,
77S 00; ordinary expenditures §30+,702.
Tlm total receipt's on the main line weij,
229.272 86 aggregate expenditures, (exl
mg $267,000 00 paid for re-laying the h
track of the Columbia railroad, anil $1:B9
+2 fur motive power in 1855, and after Dd
-1 ber Ist, 1856,) were §885,835 65, beinn
ex-c-ss of revenue over ordinary expenditipf
§3+3,+37 21. „ ,
j Although tlm receipts from the Delawai
vi<ion are less than those ol tlie
! vet the general result of its operations isjs
i factory, The net revenue at the Treasons
i $264,095 +O. Its management-has been 9-
' acteriz*'d by a degree ol economy too *f>
! practiced on some of the lint sol our imm
inent.*. ...
However important this division nravu o
the trade and business of that portion *
State, its proposed enlargement should be
undertaken, unless demanded by rea??t
j over- ruling necessity. Ibe experience >e
1 past, as connected w'ith the Allegheny age
railroad, and the North Branch exon,
Frcedom of and Cpi^oa^
j shaild warn us against undertaking, without
greit caution, any new measure of improve
mejt, which may drain the treasury, without
airing materially, if at all, the public interests.
It icpt in good order by etlicient and timely re
nai's, its capacity will be fully equal to all the
demands of its trade and business.
rhe Portage railroad is not fully completed.
A small additional appropriation may yet be
required to complete, tor the fourth time, this
road. It is anxiously hoped that this unpro*
dutlive improvement may soon cease its cor
rucrant demands upon the Treasury. Every
voir's experience more clearly reveals the
impolicy of the State in undertaking this
vv/irk.
It gives me no ordinary pleasure to inform
iyou that the North Branch extension of the
(Pennsylvania canal has been so far completed
4hat boats freighted with coal and other products
were successfully passed through its entire
length from Pittston to the Junction canal.—
This work was commenced in 1836—suspend
ed in 184-I—resumed in 1849, and finished in
1856 ; although its completion w as officially an
nounced in 1853. It extends from Pittst< n to
be New York State line, a distance of a' art
'4 miles, follow ing the valley of the Susque
lanna to Alliens, and thence along the Che
. tnung river to the State line, where it joins t! <•
'Junction canal," and is connected with the
Ww York improvements.
The importance and value of this improve
i Tienl cannot easily be over-estimated. Passing
I ftrougli one of Ihe richest mineral and agricul
■ cial portions of the State, it ojfers to the irn
nense and valuable products of that iigiona
• afe and cheap transit to the markets of New
■ York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. In the
- cnmpMi-,n of this canal the difficulties to be
em. rcome, and the labor to he peril rrned, w ere
I gr< at. Both these, to a great extent, have been
eaccotnplished under the superintendence of
t Wm. R. Maffet, Esq., to whom this work was
r assigned.
a This canal although completed, ar.il h< fore
:i the close of navigation, used for th<- purpose o<
• transportation, is not perfect. Sinks in the
< bottom, from the nature of the formation and
s 'ils through which it passes, slides from the
hills, and breaches may occur, but these, after a
■ few years of well applied labor, will be di
b nfitiished, and Lv vigilance and care entirely
* prevented.
i 1 This improvement, although subject to the
<l.rivalry of romp'ting railroads, if kept in good
i-tcondition, under proper management, will re
-ceive its full share of coal and other tonnage.—
-It is anticipated thai (lie revenues, tor the cttr
-Lrent year, will equal, if not exceed the expen
ditures; and increasing with the facilities at
jrded, and the rapid development of trade,
v. bill, instead of its heretofore unceasing de
- "poll I lie Tirajni V, Idle- I'M leilrnc. ill
revenue over anv other canal in the Common
wealth.
In relation to the propriety anil policy of the
saie ol the main line of our public improve
ments, my opinion has not changed. Every
consideration of public policy, of present and fu
ture interest, requires tlie separation of the
State fiomfhe management and control of these
works. The expenditures on that portion of
the line, bet ween the Junction and Pitlsburg,
laigely exceeding the revenues, the excess
averaging annually not !es than §150.000:
and causes are in constant operation that will
Mi'! more increase this defirency. This con
tinual drain upon the Treasury, to sustain a
woik, so unproductive, sli iiiid at once he check
ed. A sale of the main line, for a fair consid
eration, arid upon terms just and iibetn! to the
purchasers, is the proper remedy. Such sale,
on term* amply protective ol the rights and in
ter* sis of the people, can, by proper legislation,
be effected. In connection with the payment
oi tlm public debt, this question becomes deeply
important. The sal- would constitute anew
era in the financial histotv of the State, ami as
sure a still more speedy reduction ol the public
debt, than that to which reference has been
made. The subject i<<arnestly commended to
your favorable consideraton.
The subject of banks and hanking capital in
its relations to the currency the general in
terests of tiade and commerce and tlm industri
al pursuits of the citizen, deserve your careful
attention. My views expressed in a former
communication remain unchanged. The incor
poration of new, or the re-charter of old and
solvent banks, when actually necessary, ami de
manded bv the wants oi legitimate trade in the
community where located, should be favored;
under no other circumstances should either be
permitted. In tlie creation of banks, the inter
ests o! the State and the people should he con
sulted, and a just discrimination as to number,
locality, and the demands of trade be exer
cise d.
Tile rapid increase of population, the impor
tance and value of our home and foreign com
merce, the constant development of the materi
al wraith of the State, tlie Atent of our manu
facturing. mechanical ami agi icullural industry,
the fact that the State is flooded by a deprecia
ted currency introduced by private bankers and
brokers, might justify, under the restrictions and
limitations indicated, a judicious increase of
banking capital within our Commonwealth.—
This, whilst it would aid the opeiations oi trade,
aril supply the real business wants of the peo
ple, would, at the same time, remedy, to some
extmt, the evils ola depreciated foreign and
illegal currency.
By the art approved the 6lh day of Novem
ber last, tlie thirtieth section of the act of 1850,
regulating banks, will be, after the first day of
Julv next, extended to all incorporeal saving
lund, trust and insurance-com pan Br. That
section declares "that it stiffcl not beVawfal for
any of tlie said banks to issue or pay *>ut anv
banknotes other than those issued by inself,
payanle on demand in gold or silver ; notes of
specie paying banks of this State which are ta
ken on deposit or in payment of debts, at par,
at the counter of the bank where paid out ; or '
notes of banks issued under the authority of the
act of the Ith ot May, 1811, at the option of
the person receiving the same."
These enactments were intended to protect
the community against the evils of a deprecia
ted currency, and prevent its introduction lrom
other States. However well intended they
will fail to secure these objects, unless made to
embrace private bankers and other of that class,
whose profits are largely dependent upon the.
introduction into the State of such a currency.
In many instances the notes of our own banks
are collected by private bankers and brokers,
and uilil these, or with the specie withdrawn
from the banks issuing them, they purchase de
preciated and foreign bank paper which is paid
out of the State, at less than the usual rale of
interest', arid their notes, often of a hss denomi
nation than 5, and always at a discount brought
into the State and put into circulation in the
manner indicated, and this, too, under an a
greement with the bank making the loan, that
the notes thus paid out shall be kept in circula
tion. The effect of this system of private bank
ing lias been to limit the circulation of the par
paper of our own banks, and substitute in its
place a foreign, depreciated, and often aw orth
ies currency. Injustice to the bank, trust
and insurance comjanies, paying a heavy an
nua! tax to the Commonwealth for their privi
leges, and for the protection ot the people n
gainst these evils, either the provisions of the
thirtieth section ot Ihe act of 1850 should be re
pealed, or further extended so as to embrace
private individuals and associations, who may
inonop: lise and control, to the detriment of the
public, this traffic in depreciated l ank paper,
without restraint and without taxation.
The report of the Superintendent of Common
Schools, will exhibit to you the number and
conditi n of the sch- als—the number ot teach
ers and scholars, and the general operations ot
the system during the past \>ar. To the val
uable statistical information of the report, and
the useful suggestions for the improvement ot
the system, 1 invite your early and intelligent
consideration.
Fn-m a small and comparatively unimpor
tant incident of the State Department, the care
and management of the public schools of the
Commonwealth, with their s ver.teen hundred
districts, ten thousand directors, twelve thou
sand teachers, and ovt-rfive hundred thousand
scholar.-, have become the most important and
laborious branch of that Department. The in
creased ai d increasing business of the system
lias been met by a correspondent increase of
zeal, labor and efficiency in the officers to whom
tlie law has committed its general direction ant:
supervision. Thev should be sustained by wise
and generous legislation. The magnitude and
importance of the system, in its political, social
and moral relations to the present ar.d future of
ifur people, require that this should be done.—
The guaidianship of the mind of the State
should occupy a distinct and prominent place
among the noble institutions of the Common
wealth. It should receive the efficient aid and
encouragement of the government, and be sus
tained by a virtuous and intelligent people. If
the revenue and treasures of the State—her
public improvements—her lands and their titles,
require and deserve the marked and distinctive
care of the government, how much more should
iser mental anil intellectual treasures, richer
than gold—the social and moral improvement of
her people, more valuable than canals and rail
roads—the titles ol her youth to the boundless
fields of knowledge, higher than any of earth
or aught growing out of its ownership, claim an
t> C I 7
honorable position, rnd receive a care and aid
commer.su rate with their greater value and
usefulness.
Tlie county superintendent}*, wherever it has
been committed to faithful and efficient men,
has fully vindicated the wisdom and policy of
that nnasure. It is slowly but surely remov
ing the prejudices and gaining tlie confidence of
the people. Whatever defects time and expe
rience may develope, in this or any other
branch of the system, should be promptly cor
rected. But until tlie necessity for change is
establish'd, the system, in its union and integii
tv, should be maintained: and if changed, chan
ged onlv to render more certain the accomplish
ment of its noble purposes and objects.
A sufficient number of competent and well
trained teachers is the great want of the system.
In its structure and organization it is as perfect
if not more so than any of the systems of our
sister states. But the teacher is w anted to give
it proper vitality and efficiency: to develope its
true force and value; to secure the great object
of it? creation, the thorough education of the
youth of the commonwealth. How can this
want be supplied? How are teachers to he
trained and provided to meet this educational
demand ? Must we he dependant upon the
training schools of other States ? Must our sys
tem be jeoparded, and its success perilled, by
waiting the slow and unaided efibrts of volun
tary associations to furnish the much needed
teacher? Voluntary association of common
school teachers have accomplished much in their
disinterested and noble efforts to remedy this
defect. They are worthy the highest commen
dation—thev deserve every encouragement.—
They can and will do n.ore ; but unaided they
cannot accomplish the object desired. The
Legislature must provide the remedy—they can
supply the deficiency. It should be done
promptly and effectually. No subject of great
er interest can occupy your attention as legis
lators—no one appeals more earnestly to duty
and patriotism.
In a former communication to the Legislature
the t of State Normal schools, for
the education of teachers, was urged as indis
pensably necessary to the perfection of the sys
tem. VV^t h full confidence in their utility and
necessity, I agaip recommend them. These
institutions, with*their proper professors, and
appliances, supported by the State, would meet
the wants and elevate the character ol our com
mon schools.
Teachers'lnstitutes, as auxiliary to Normal
TERMS, S2 PER YEAR.
VOL XXV. NO. 20.
Schools, when in operation, and supplying
their place til] established, should bp aided by
the State. One such institute in each county,
meeting annually, under the fostertog care ot
the government, would be productive of most
beneficial results. Whilst it would improve
teachers and prepare their, for their important
and responsible duties, it would elevate and dig
nify a profession long neglected and underval
ued by those most deeply interested in their
honorable labors. These measures, as also an
addition to the annua! State appropriation for
common schools, in an amount only limited by
the necessities of the Treasury, would give en
ergy to the system, increase its efficiency, and
thus promote the true interests of the people
and the Commonwealth.
Our educational, charitable and reformatory
institutions have strong claims upon the bounty
of the people, and I cordially commend them
to your care and liberality.
The State Lunatic Asylum at Harrisbiirg, and
the Western Pennsylvania hospital for the in
sane, and other kindred purposes at Pittsburgh,
are noble charities, and deserve the aid and en
couragement of the State. The annual reports
of these institutions will be laid before you,
and will exhibit in detail their operations dur
ing tbe past year.
The House of Refuge in Philadelphia, and
the Western House of Refuge near Pittsburgh,
are institutions of great excellence, and their
results clearly establish the wisdom of the policy
that founded and sustains them. They ought
not to he neglected: n >r should the aid of the
Commonwealth be withheld from them.
The "Blind" and tiie "Deaf and Dumb Asv
lumns" at Philadelphia, and "the Pennsylvania
Training School for idiotic and feeble minded
children," are institutions that appeal, in silence
and sorrow, to the best and purest feelings of
the heart, and ask your sympathy and aid.—
They should receive a generous share of the
benefactions of the State.
Apiculture, in its varied departments, is the
great interest of the Commonwealth. It is the
basis alike of financial and commercial success,
and of State and national prosperity. An in
terest so important should be fostered by the
State, and honored bv all classes of society.—
To its promotion and success all should cheer
fully contribute. In a former communication
I recommended the establishment ol an Agri
cultural bureau, in connection with some one
of the State Departments, to give efficiency to
the collection and diffusion of useful know ledge
on this subject, and to encourage scientific and
practical agriculture. Science, with wondrous
energy, has aided the husbandman in his honor
able vocation, and proffers still more help.—
The State should nerve his arm and cheer hiin
onward in this, the first and noblest pursuit of
man. This subject, in connection with an ap
propriation to the "Farmers High School of
Pennsylvania"—an institution destined to be
an honor to the Commonwealth—is recom
mended to your favorable consideration.
The "Polytchnic College of Pennsylvania,"
established by the enterprise and liberality of
some of the patriotic citizens of Philadelphia, as
a school of the applied sciences, deserves honor
aide mention, and should receive the confidence
and patronage of the public. In the teachings
of this institution, literature, science, and art,
in happy union, meet to prepare our young
men for the practical business of life, for min
ing, mechanical and civil engineering, and for
promoting intelligently and efficiently the
great interests of manufacturing and agricultural
industry.
The laws on the statute book regulating
manufacturing and improvement companies,
require revision. They are unnecessarily strin
gent in many oftheir provisions, and thus de
feat the object of their enactment.
They drive capital from the State, instead of
inviting its investment here: and instead of
encouraging individual and associated enter
prise and energy in the development of our
immense natural resources, they bind and crush
both by sevefa- restrictions, unwise limitations
and personaHiabililies. The subject deserves
cart ful attention and liberal legislation.
T have 'so frequently expressed my views in
relation to local, special and '•omnibus" legis
lation, that their reiteration now becomes un
necessary. Legislation, so far as practicable,
should be genera! and uniform. Local and spe
cial legislation, when the object desired can be
secured by geneial laws, or by the action of the
courts, should be avoided. "Omnibus legisla
tion" cannot, under any circumstances, be jus
tified or approved. Too much legislation is an
evil that prevails extensively in legislative halls.
Its avoidance would not be injurious to public
or private interests.
The practice of delaying the passage of the
general appropriation bill until the last days of
the session, and incorporating in it provisions
incompatible with its general character, and
obnoxious, when standing alone, to insurmoun
table objections, is highly censurable and should
be discontinued. The attempt thus made to
force, by a species of legislative legerdemain, the
passage of objectionable measures through the
Legislature, and compel their sanction by the
Executive, lias been too often successful. The
practice cannot be too strongly condemned, it
cannot receive my sanction.
The mifitia law of the State is imperfect in
many of its provisions, and should be revised.—
The powers and duties of the Commander-in-
Chief should be more clearly defined; as also of
the other offices connected with the military
organization of the Commonwealth. This is
necessary to prevent a conflict of jurisdiction
with other departments of the government, and
to give greater efficiency to our military system.
Volunteer companies should be encouraged :
our entire military system should be remodeled,
and made to occupy that honorable position
which from its importance atld necessity it de
serves.
Near the close of the last session of the Leg
islature, I transmitted to that body an ordinance
passed by the Select and Common Councils of