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9 iii
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
lIKAD JANUARY 7, 18G3.
To the Senate awl House of llepresentativee oj the
Commmicealth of :
GiiNTLRMiiX —Notwithstanding the pressure
of public calamity which has weighed heavily
on ilw country during the past year, it has pleas
ed Divine Providence not only to enable the
people of Pennsylvania to perform in lull all
their duties to our common government, but to
give to this Commonwealth domestic peace,
plenty .and prosperity.
The balance in Treasury Nov. _ _
3(1, 1801, was $1,551,005 72
lteoeipts during fiscal year end
ing Nov. 80, 1801, 5,211,747 G3
Total into Treasury for liscal ——■■—
year ending Nov. 30, 1861, $O, <03,353 35
Total payments, 4,500,500 25
Leaving balance in Treasury -
Nov. 30, 1802, #2,172,841 10
Deduct balance of unexpend
ed military loan, 195,570 27
From the tables exhibited it will appear that
the receipts from ordinary sources of revenue
for the year 1802, are in excuss of the receipts
of the year 1801, $1,030,17b 82, [the excess
of interest paid in 1862 over that in 1801 be
ing $U4,01)5 37;] and that the ordinary ex
penditures for 1802 were $115,317 10 less than
the year previous.
The healthy condition of the revenues, and
the excess of the receipts over the expenditures
.secured by the rigid economy which has been
practiced (especially considering the necessary
increase of taxation by the National Govern
ment,) seem to invite the attention of the Leg
islature to a revision of the revenue laws, with
a view to lightening the burthens of the people.
In this connection it is proper to invite your at
tention to the justice and expediency of restrict
ing the rate of local taxation, now, in 3ome
parts of the State, oppressive.
Amount of public debt of
Pennsylvania, as it stood on the
Ist day of December, 1861, $40,580,000 08
Additional amount received
at the State Treasury during the
fiscal year ending Nov. 30,
1802, on Military Loan, au
thorized per act of May 15,
1801, $387,850 00
$40,908,51 G 08
Deduct a-meunt redeemed at
the State Treasury during the
fiscal year ending Nov. 30,
1802, 8 520,302 20
Public debt Dec. 1, 1802, $10,448,213 82
Towards the extinguishment of the public
debt, the Sinking Fund holds securities amount
ing to $10,781,00®, as follows:
lionds of Sunbury and Erie
Railroad Company, S 3,500,000
lionds of Pennsylvania Kail
road Company, 7,000,000
lionds of Wyoming Canal
Company, 281,000
$10,781,000
Should there lie no extraordinary demand on
•the Treasury, there can he appropriated from
the large balance now on hand anil the increas
ing revenues, at least a million and a half of
dollars during the coming year towards the pay
ment of the pubiicv debt.
The operations of the Sinking Fund during
the last year have been, as shown by my Proc
lamation of Bili of September last as follows:
Amount, of debt of Common
wealth reduced $202,801 07
As follows, viz:
State loans $201,178 74
Interest certificates, 370 41
Domestic Creditor's
certificates 61 52
Kelief notes cancelled 11 88
5262,801 07
It will be observed that the fiscal year ends
on the 30th of November, and the Sinking Fund
year on the Ist Monday of September. This
is the reason for the apparent deficiency in the
amount of debt paid as stated in the Treasu
rer's Report and by the Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund.
Under the Act of 11th of April, 1802,1 ap
pointed Wm. McClelland, R. I>. McCoinbsand
51. Russell Thayer, Esquires, as Revenue Com
missioners, who have printed a report, and will
no doubt submit the result of their labors to
the Legislature, to which I invite attention.
1 refer to the reports of the State Treasurer
•and Auditor General for the details of the fi
nancial affairs of the Commonwealth. There
ports of the Surveyor General, Superintendent
of Common Schools, and State Librarian will
exhibit the state of the departments under their
care.
In accordance with the Act of 10th Febru
ary, 1802, the quota of this State of the direct
tax of the United States, amounting to $ 1,0T0,-
719 33, was on tho 14th June, 1802, paid to
the United States, partly by a relinquishment
of a portion of the sums claimed by this State
from the Government and partly in cash, after
deducting tho 15 per cent, allowed by the act
of Congress for prompt payment. Pennsylva
nia thus paid her quota of the direct tax before
any other State. There is still duo to the State,
principally for advances since made for trans
portation and equipments of volunteers, about
$BOO,OOO.
Gil the 20th of February last, I issued my
warrant authorizing the State Treasurer to de"-
liver to the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Co.
1000 of the bonds deposited with the State in
conformity witli the Act of May 7, 1801. On
tlie 29th of November I issued a similar war
rant. Both warrants were granted after receiv
ing ro|x>rts from John A.Wright, Esq., the com
missioner appointed for the purpose, that the
YOLtJJfIE 58.
NEW SERIES.
proceeds of (lie bonds previously issued had
been appropriated in accordance with the pro
visions of the law. The company hi- now re
ceived three of the live millions of bonds de
posited in the State Treasury. With the pro
ceeds of the bonds issued, 52 miles of road have
been completed, making with what had former
ly been finished, a total of 199 miles, leaving
89 miles unfinished, of which nearly all i> gra
ded and ready for the, iron. The bonds still in
the Treasury will yield an amount ample to
complete the road, and thus open impor
tant route of trade and commerce. The devel
opment of the vast mineral and othctfrcsources
of our north-western counties hy this means,
will undoubtedly in a few years vendor valuable
the securities of the Sunbury and Erie Railroad
Company, now forming part of the Sinking
Fuiui of the Commonwealth. 4
The interest on the State debt was paid in
August lasl in specie or its equivalent, in com
fortuity with the existing law, at the cost of
$1 16,031 22 for the difference b tween specie
mid paper currency, of which the banks under
the provisions of the Act ot 11th April. 1812,
have already refunded to tho State $140,7u0 50.
Tliis burden on the banks has bgeom i heav
ier than in my judgment ought to be borne by
aay special interest.
Unless tho Legislature should otherwise pro
vide it will be the duty ot the Stat'.', Treasurer
to pay the interest in like manncy which will
fall due hereafter. We should all ba careful
not to violate the faith or impair the credit of
the Commonwealth. The serious and early con
sideration of tho Legislature is invited to tho
whole subject.
In my opinion there are already more incor
porated banks in the Commonwealth than are
at present required for the public convenience,
and I therefore recommend that no more shall
be incorporated.
On the 7th of July last, a call was made by
the President for 300,000 volunteers. This
State had already suppliedmcarly 110,000 men,
yet her people promptly bestirred themselves to
respond to this new requirement. Although it
was believed that no bounties would be neces
sary to induce the men ot Pennsylvania to ou
ter the service of their country on such an oc
casion, yet as some of the neighboring States
offered large bounties, it was thought not right
to expose our citizens to the temptation thus af
forded to them to enlist in regiments of other
States. There being no appropriation for the
payment of bounties, 1, of course, could not di
rect them to be paid out of the treasury, and it
was evident that to call the Legislature togeth
er and wait for tho negotiation of any loan
which might lie authorized for the purpose,
would be attended by injurious delay. Under
these circumstances I confidently appealed by
proclamation to a people who have never fal
tered in (lie performance of any duty of patri
otism, calling on tlicm to raise in their several
counties, the sums necessary to insure their pro
portion of the quota of the State. This appeal
was effectually answered. Public meetings wore
held, and liberal amounts subscribed by individ
uals. In the city of Philadelphia, besides a very
large fund thus raised, tho municipal authori
ties contributed heavily from their common
treasury, and in several counties the county
commissioners, generally under the guarantee of
a few of their eminent citizens, devoted county
funds to the same purpose- I recommend that
these proceedings be legalized, and submit to the
wisdom of the Legislature the question of what
legislation would be just and proper on the whole
subject that (he burden of this patriotic, effort
inpv fall equally on all classes of people through
out the Niate. .
The result of this manifestation of public
spirit was that 38 new regimonts and three un
attached companies of infantry wore raised; 4
other regiments, which, previous to this call,
had boon authorized by the War Department to
he raised are still in progress of organization.
On special requisitions from the War Depart
ment there have been raised and are now in ser
vice five additional regiments, and three compa
nies of cavalry, two batteries of heavy artillery,
and one battery of light artillery. A battalion
of heavy artillery is being raised by M:ij. Jos.
Roberts, I". S. A., with my assent, also under
special authority of tho War Department.
Early in September last the rebel army cross
ed the Potomac into Maryland, with the design
of invading this State. On the 4-th of that
month J. called upon the people by proclamation
to organize into companies and hold themselves
in readiness to lie ordered into actual service for
the defence of the State. And on tho 11 th of
that month, under authority of the President, I
issued orders for CO,00(1 volunteer militia, to
rendezvous at 1 Inrrisburg, for the defence of
the State. This call was promptly responded to,
and a large force was sent forward to the Cum
berland Valley and its vicinity. The first part
of this force, consisting of one regiment and 8
companies of infantry, moved from Ilarrisburg
on the night of tho 12th of September, and
were, followed by other regiments as rapidly as
they could he organized and transportation pro
vided- 'The command of the whole force was
taken hv Brig. Gen. John P. Reynolds, who
left his corps in the army of the Potomac at
my urgent request, and hurried to the defence
of his native State, for which he is entitled to
tho thanks of the Commonwealth. 1 <l,OOO of
tho volunteer militia were pushed forward to
Ilagerstown and Boonsboro', in tho State of
Maryland; 10,000 were posted in the vicinity
of Greencastlo and Chnmbersburg; and about
25,000 were at Ilarrisburg, on their way to
Harrisburg, or in readiness and waiting for
transportation to proceed thither. One regi
ment, at tho request of Gen. Ilallcck, was sent
to protect Dupont's powder mills, in the State
of Delaware. On the 24th September the vol
unteer militia were discharged by me from ser
vice, having by their spirited demonstration
greatly aided in preventing the intended inva
sion of this State by the rebels, and in compel
ling their sudden evacuation of the portion of
Freedom of Thought and Opinion.
JIEDFORD, PA ..FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 16,18(53.
Mnryland which they had polluted. For these
services, the thanks of the Governor of Alary- [
land and of the Commander of tlw Army of j
the Potoiuao were rendered to our patriotic f
troops through me. Measures have been taken J
to procure th • payment in full of these troops,
and of tho expenses attending their services, by i
the United States, in uccor lance with tho terms •
of the call by the President. A large portion :
of tho amount has already been paid. Having >
accompanied this force to Ilagorstowii, I am j
enabled to speak of the courage, fidelity an 1
cheerfulness with which the men suffered uiiac-j
customed privations and bore the fire of the j
rebel force, performing with alacrity all theser-J
vice that was required of them.
On tlioith of August last, si draft of 300,000 !
militia, to sene for nine months, was ordered
bv the President under the act of Congress of i
17th .'illy, 1802, and regulations were made by
hi:: authority in pursuance of that act, under
which regulations the enrolment and draft were i
, conducted in this State, our militia laws being
i found to be defective. Several counties and
' districts having already supplied by volunteers J
their proportion of the quota of the-:State, were ;
j exempted from the. draft, and time was given to '•
: enable others to raise the required lr.imlwr of ;
[ m;u bv voluntary enlistments. The draft was 1
' " ~j"vo"llv proceeded with throughout the State
!on the 16th of October 'vst, and the dratted
I man wcre c!ir?etcd to lie placed in the several •
! camp of rendezvous t| • rc-q-^
j lations, where they were organized and electa!
; their officers, and have since gone forward to
the army in the field. The draft was eminently
' successful, and when the men had been marched
! to tho rendezvous, my agency in the matter
■ ceased, and all authority and control over the j
: men devolved on the United States officers. 1
| cannot but commend the people of Pennsyiva
j nia for their cheerful obedience to the require- .
1 meats of theGoveriimont on this occasion. All
! the expenses of the draft arc, of course, to be
j paid by the U. States, and 1 loam that officers ;
j are now ia the State charged with the settle- '
j merits and payments.
Including tho three months volunteers, Penn- 1
| sylvania luts furnished to the General Govern -
! ment more than 200,000 men since tho break-;
| ing out of the rebellion, besides some 30,00!);
i who were in service, or actually ready for is, 1
as volunteer militia under the call of 11 tb Sept. !
last, making in the whole more than 250,000 j
men.
In October last, a body of rebel cavalry with j
a battery of artillery, suddenly crossed the Po-'
tomac and made their way as far as Chamber#-''
burg, plundering what they found of Supplies '
useful to them and committing other depreda-)
tions. They went out of the State by crossing !
' the South Mountain, and thus reaching tho Po- j
tomac below Harper's Ferry. Tho troops in !
tho field were, not prepared tit the moment to I
punish this attempt on her soil, and it is to be .
much regretted that efficient measures could not j
have been taken by the array to capture the ;
rebels on their return to the Potomac. linme- j
diatcly after I received notice that this force !
j hud crossed tho line of the State, I called into !
j service the Anderson Cavalry, then encamped i
j at Carlisle, and two companies of Regulars at!
j the Barracks at that place. These troops were !
j pushed forward in the direction of Cbambers
| burg and South Mountain The cavalry at i
i Camp Curtin, consisting of one. full and two im- I
| perfect regiments, were armed as infantry, and
I together with two companies of infantry and a
j battcry r of volunteer light artillery of Hurris
j burg were hold in readiness to go forward, when
I Ala jot' General Wool arrived and assumed the
command of all tho forces, lie had prnvious
j ly ordered part of his command from Baltimore
and marched the troops to Gettysburg.
The rebels marched with so much celerity !
that I hey did not encounter any of the forces ,
of General Wool, and escaped from tho State. <
I recommend that application be made to Con
gress for an appropriation to compensate our
citizens for the. damages which they sufterodby
the raid.
On the two emergencies to which I have re- ,
fcrred, I acknowledged valuable counsol and :
assistance from Brigadier G vi iral Andrew l'or- j
I tor, of the United States Army, who thus testi
fied his affect ion for his native State, and zeal
in her service when threatened. And on the !
same occasions,l am indebted to Colonel Th'otn- |
as A. Scott, Col. John A. Wright, and Colon- j
el J. B. Parker, members of my Staff, who ;
catnc promptly on my summons and served witli
their accustomed zeal and fidelity, without pc- J
eaniary compensation.
The militia law of this State is greatly defoe- j
tive, and I earnestly rCccomiuend the appoint- i
ment of a tiomuussion to prepare and submit
an efficient system, to he reported before the
adjournment of the Legislature, so tiiat notion |
may be lmd on the subject at tho present sission.
In the hurry of ordinary business the Legisla- ,
ture might not be able to give the necessary j
attention to the preparation of a proper lueas- i
ore, and events which have already occurred j
prove the necessity of soruo effectual Legislation j
on the subject, so that our people may be adc- j
qaately protected.
The State is in possession of the following j
Ordnance, Arms and Ammunition :
03 pieces of artillery, ol which 22 need re-1
pairs. 2 bnt.eriesof now cannon, consisting of |
12Grifliu rifled cannon, 0 pounders, 2 caissons j
and battery wagons, presented to the State by |
the Committee of Safety of Philadelphia, in j
September last.
20,492 muskets and rifles, of which 11,014 j
are ready for issue, 4,4G1) in the hands of ino- j
chanics for repairs, and the balance, having ; i
been used by the militia called out in Septem
ber last, require cleaning.
P2,497 setts infantry accoutrements com
plete.
1,298 swords and sabres, 081 pistols 1,938 1
rounds artillery ammunition.
I,s22,OOOroundsammunition for small arms. :
The following arms, accoutrements anil atn - i
munition hive been furnished according to law
to the border counties, and to volunteer organi
zations formed under tho Militia Act of 1358:
5,810 muskets and rifles with aecoutrornonts
complete, were issued to and are now in pnsscs
j sion of border counties.
4,958 muskets and rifles, and 3,041 setts of
a \:outremonts issued to and now in possession
: of organized companies. Also 80,000 rounds
of ammunition issued to border couuties and or
| gauized companies.
1,755 muskets and 895 setts of accoutre
j me'nts, were 'issued to Colonels Brown and
; Giant::'-< regiments on going into tho service.
32 pieces of artillery, issued to First Penn*
1 svlvunia Artillery. Col. Charles T. Campbell,
! commanding on going into tho service.
528 sabres, 4,05 ft pistols and 528 setts of ac
coutrement'-, issbed to organized cavalry com
panies.
Showing an aggregate of 107 pieces of artil
lery.
39,015 muskets and rifles, 1,749 pistols, 1,-
820 sabres.
22,203 setts infantry nceoutrementSi 523
j setts cavalry accoutrements, 1,0 03,928 rounds
of ammunition.
In addition to the above, the following mili
tary property of the city of Philadelphia i# re
ported by the "Ilome Guard of the city of
Philadelphia," to bo in its possession, viz :
7 20-pounder Parrot rifled guns, 2 10-poun
der Prussian rifled guns, 1 10-poundcr Engli.h
' rifled vi, ?* eassions for 20-pi under Parrot
rifled gnus. _ _ I
2 caissons fur 10-poundcr Frusiiaaiifledgons
with tools and stores.
1 12-pounder rifled howitzer Dahlgreen.
1 12-pounder rifled howitzer, 7501b#. Dahl
green.
2 fiel.l carriages for ditto.
2 small howitzer guns, 12-pounders, with
carriages, tools and stores.
1 12-pottnder rifled howitzer, Dahlgreen.
2 field carriages for ditto.
1 12-pounder smooth bore, 1 50 lbs. Dalil
! green.
2 field carriages for ditto.
2 small 12-pounders howitzers, with carriages,
; tools and stores.
195 saddles. 127 saddles,with traces, breast,
j strap, &c. GO saddles, incomplete,
2,29(5 muskets and rifles. 200 pistols and
; 121 holsters. 1,997 rounds of shot an l shell.
G72, 884 rounds musket and rifle cartridges.
The foregoing does not include the arms and
! equipments that have boon issued to the several
- regiments of tho Home Guard, and which are
j in their possession.
' For the details of military operations and of
| statistics, I refer you to the Reports of the Ad
i jutmit General, Quartermaster General, Com
j missarv General, and the Chief of Transporta
i tion, which accompany this message.
' In regard to the election of officers in the
| Reserve Corps and the recruitment ol the reg
■ imonts of tlmt corps awl of our other gallant
I regiments of volunteers, I proposeto send aspe
eial message in ti few days, as 1 desire to treat t
these subjects somewhat at large, and to submit |
i to the Legislature some documents relating to
! them.
By the thirteenth section of the act of A lav
1 15th, 1801, i was authorized to draw my war-
I rants on the treasury for a sum not exceeding
i twenty thousand dollars for compensation to
. such persons as might be required to serve the
country in a military opacity. At the date of
my last annual message, I had drawn from the
: treasury eight thousand five hundred dollars,
and had paid out- up to trie Ist of December,
1801, six thousand four hundred dollars, when
my account was settled. Since that time I
have drawn two thousand dollars from the trcas
i urv, part of which with the balance in my hands,
| has been expanded in the payment of member*
of my personal staif in service when I required
assistance, and in procuring information, and
to persons employed when the state was threat
ened with invasion in September, 1802, and du
ring the raid in October last.
' An account of these expenditures will be
found on file in the office of tho Auditor Gen
eral.
Under the net of 20tii April, 1858. it is my
intention to take early measures l'or the sale ol
I the powder magazine in the city of i'hiludel
jiliiu Tho powder magazine at 11 arrisburg is |
not judiciously located. A State powder mag- j
| azine ought, in my judgment, to be erected on a j
i suitable site in the vicinity of this place, and i j
I recommend tho attention of the Legislature to
! the subject.
! In September last, two batteries of rifled can
j non were presented to the commonwealth by a
i committee of citizens of Philadelphia, through
S. V. Merrick. Esq., which are now in Arsenal
jin that city. I recommend that provision be
i made fbr procuring carriages, caissons mid oth
.rr equipments for them. Thelilieral donors are
j entitled to tho tlianksof tho Commonwealth for
; their patriotic gift.
j Under the joint resolutions of 28th of Fcb
! maw, 1862, measures were promptly taken for
; tho relief of our sick and wounded men in the
j field.
i The wounded at Winchester, Ntrashurg, Front
Royal, Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, and those
in the corps of Major General Banks were duly
attended on the field or in the vicinity by Sur
geon General Smith and a corps of surgeons
under his direction, and were brought into this
State. Tho same system would have been con
tinued, but in June last, I received a lctterfroin
the Surgeon General of tho United States, rep
resenting tlmt it was found inconvenient to the
service, iuhl must create difficulties In the regu
lar identification of the Soldiers for pay and
pensions.
In oomplinneo with his views, I was reluc
tantly obliged to discontinue the system, but I
have not censed to urge on tho War Department
tho propriety of sending our sick and wounded
men into tho State, where they enn be nursed
and eared for by their friends, and have to say-
WHOLE KHJifIREK, 80S
that at length such an arrangeme nt was made
with the authorities tit Washington, which it
was hopfed would bo effective, but there has been
such tardiness in putting it into practical oper
ation, that I recommend the Legislature to in
vito the attention of the War Department to
the subject. Our suffering men have a right to
the sympathy and aid of their State, to be so
rendered as not to injure the service. If the
bringing them home to be attended could produce
oven inconvenience to that, 1 would not urge it.
But it is cruel to leave thoin to the cure ami (I
regret to say it) frequently to tho neglect, or
worse, of strange officials, at points in the im
mediate vicinity of ail the abundant comforts
which tho solicitude of their iarniliesinid friend
would rejoice to provide for them.
In addition to the expenses of attending and
bringing home our sick and wounded us above
stated, I have expended loss titan yiOCO in the
transportation of friends of sick, killed, or
wounded volunteers, and other persons sen' hv
me for their euro to the several bitttfe-fields and
hospitals, and in bringing home fbr interment
the bodies of those slain. The whole expense
incurred under the joint resolution waSfive. thou
sand one hundred and nineteen dollars and cigb-
ty-lhrce cents, the details of which will be found
in the report of the Surgeuu General and of the
Chief of Transportation.
I have uniformly, when applied to, allowed
the expense of transportation of one person to
the lield to bring home the body of his friend
or relation, and the expense of his return with
lie; tody. The cost of this has not exceeded
6000, whit'h is included in the sunt of less than
$2,000, above stated.
In this connection I must speak with applause
of the active benevolence of our citizens, who
have without compensation devoted their time
and care to their suffering fellow citizens, disa
bled by the casualties of war. Not only have
litany gone to the lield, to administer their kind
oflices, but in every part of the Commonwealth
thousands have applied their minds and exer
tions to the same end; ami especially have the
women of Pennsylvania, obeying their true
womanly instincts, shown flint they are worthy
to be the mothers, wives and sister! of the brave
men, wham tiicy have stimulated to their duty,
am! soothed an. 1 nursed in the sufferings that
have ensued tiie performance of ft.
The city of Pliikulelphia having patriotical
ly offered to the United States, league Island
as a donation for a Navy Yard, Congress direct
ed a commission lo report upon the availability
of that site and also of New London. To the
general astonishment, a majority of the eommifl
tiiun have reported in favor of New London,
but the minority has presented a report, which
is fortified by the approval of the Secretary of
the Navv, showing so conclusively the superior
ity of League Island that it is scarcely possible
that Congress should hesitate to select that lo
cation. To establish a Navy Yard for the con
struction of iron clad vessels at a point remote
from all necessary supplies, situated on salt wa
ter, and accessible by more than one route toa
ny enemy, who may have a momentary superi
ority at sea, would appear to be inconsistent
with the wisdom of Congress, especially when
a site is offered convenient to iron, coal and oth
er necessary supplies, situated on fresh water
with a sufficient depth for the draught of large
vc_': ••!.<, and sate liom hostile attack by its posi
tion.
Captain Henry E. Wrigley, of tiie citv of
Philadelphia, at my request, and without com
pensation, has made a report lo in 1 on the ile
ienccs of the Delaware, which 1 herewith trans
mit lav information.
la July last, I received, at Pittsburg, hv tel
egraph, an oiler from the Pennsylvania Kail
road Company, of a donation of fifty thousand
dollars to as-ist in paying bounties to volunteers.
I declined this oiler, because I had no authori
ty lo accept it it on behalf of the public, and
was unwilling to undertake the disbursement of
tho fund in my private capacity. 1 have since
received a letter on the subject Irom tho comp
any suggesting oilier modes of disposing of the
money, a copy of which is annexed to this iocs-
sage.
If the Legislature should accept the donation,
I recommend that it lie applied towards the e
rc.ctiou of an asylum l'or our disabled soldiers,
and that tho trustees appointed to superintend
the erection and management of theossyluin be
authorized to accept such further contribution*
as our citizens may otter. In a well managed
establishment of that kind, it is probable that
tin: pensions to lie allowed by the Government
to the men, will enable them to support them
selves with comfort. By an act of Congress
passed on the second day of July, 18(52, lands
wore granted to the several States for tho en
dowment, support and maintenance by each
State, of at least one College for teaching such
branches of learning as are related to agricult
ure and the mechanic arts without excluding
other scientific and classical studies, and inclu
ding military tactics.
I recommend that proper provisions bo made
by tho Legislature lor having the lands thus
granted to this State selected, and the title made
to the State, and that Congress be requested
to allow tho lands in the construction and suu
port of such an asylum as I have abovo sug
gested.
Tho details of the operations of tho common
school system, during the school year that ter
minated on tho first Monday in Juno, 18(12,
ininifest scarcely any evil effects from the troub
led state of the country. Absence of the usu
al degree of progress in the various departments
is the only result observable. To have held its
own, however, during the severe ordeal to which
in common with all our great social interests
and enterprises, it. has been subjected, is the
strongest proof of its inherent vigoi-, and of tin:
hold it possesses upon the affections as well
ivs the judgment of the people of the State.
It Ims come to my knowledge that in somo
parts of tho State a system exists of paying tho
wages of workmen and laborers not in money
Rates of
One Square, three wecksor lege 41 3s'
One Square, each additional insertion lest
than three mouths 9S
3 MONTHS, t MONTHS. 1 MA*
One square • $3 00 *4 00 $6 00
Two squares 4 00 5 00 9 00
Three squares 500 700 12 00
\ Column 600 900 15 0 o
{. Column 800 13 00 20 00
J Column 13 00 18 00 30 00
One Column ...... 18 00 30 00 CO 00
Administrators' and Executors' notices $3.50, Au
ditors' notices $1.50, if under 10 lines. $2.00 if
more than a squar* and lesa than 20 lines. Ketrays,
$1.25, if but one head is advertised, 25 cents for
every additional head.
The spare orrupied by ten lines ef this size of
type rounts one square. All fractions of a square
under five lines will be measured as a half square:
and all over five linearis a tall square. All legal,
advertisements will be charged to the person hand
ing them in.
VOL. G. NO 24
I but i:i orders on store keepers for merchandise
J aiul other articles. This system, by preventing
all competition, leaves the men to the uncon
trolled discretion of the store keepers. It is a
sysi m most unwise and unjust, and it affects
classes of useful citizens. who, as they live by
the proceeds of their daily labor, have not ade
quate means to resist if. I have no doubt that
most of the difficulties which occasionally occur
between employers and their work men arc duo
to the prevalence of this system. That every
innn. for a fair day's labor, should receive a fail
day's wage, is but the dictate of common hon
eslyt and while it would lie most unwise for
the State to interfere at all with the rate of wa
ve--, it is in my judgment incumbent on her to
protect her laboring population by requiring
! that whatever may be the warns stipulated, they
shall lie so paid that the recipient may purchase
nt'ccs-aries for himself and his family, where
they can lie had best and cheapest. Ido most
earnestly recommend this Subject to the Legis
lature for prompt and effectual action.
i believe that the several charitable institu
tions to which the Legislature has been accus
tomed lo grant aid, have bf/.u well manageddu
ring the part year.
The Wyoming Canal is still in the hands of
the recover. Certain creditors of the company
having instituted proceedings in the Supreme
Court for selling the cnnnl under the mortgage,
the Attorney General lms intervened in the suit
to oppose the making of a decree of sale. No
decree has been made, and the proceedings are
yet pending. Meanwhile, it being alleged that
the subscribers and stockholders hare paid up
but a small part of tho nominal capital of the
company, an information has l>een filed in the
Supreme Court by the Attorney General, to
compel them to pay up the capital, or such
charges, and assessments as may be necessary
to extinguish the debt due to the Commonwealth.
This proceeding is also pending. It is under
stood that the gross receipts of the canal du
ring tho li t season liavo been about one
hundred nud thirty thousand dollars and the
annual interest on the mortgage bonds of the
company a little over fifty-one thousand dol
lars.
In pursuance of tho joint resolution passed
11 tli April, the Attorney General has in
stituted proceedings on the proper cashier's bonds,
to recover the money due to the Commonwealth
by the Hank of Commerce nt Erie, and I have
employed John 11. Walker, Esq., as special
counsel for the Commonwealth, in the prosecu
tion of the officers of the Hank in the Court of
Quarter Sessions of Erie county.
In accordance with the provisions .of tho Act
of Gth May, 18G2, an information inequity
was filed by the Attorney General against the
Delaware and Hudson Canal Company and tho
Pennsylvania Coal Company. Tho case was
argued before the Supremo Court at Sunbury,
in October last.
Hy an Act passed 011 tho Kith day of May,
18(11, a company was incorporated by the name
of the Navy yard, Hroad Street and Fairmount
railway company. It being alleged (hat the
company, instead of making a railway on tho
route and in tho tqanner prescribed by its char
ter, is constructing a railroad of a different
character by a route, extending from the i'hila
d vphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad de
pot to the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad
depot, both within the city of Philadelphia, the
Attorney General has proceeded against the
company by quo warranto for the violation of
its charter, and has also filed an information for
the purpose of restraining tho company from
pro . ding in the construction of their road.—
Hot!! these proceedings arc now pending.
By (lie act of 2:) th March, 1813, it was pro
vided that citizens absent from home in actual
military service, might exerciso their right of
suffrages as if tliuy wore present at tho usual
places of election. That act was substantially
re-enacted in the general election law passed
on the "id of July, 18.')!), The Supremo Court
has recently decided that by reason of a phrase
in the constitutional amendments of 1838, this
provision lms become unconstitutional. Penn
sylvania has sent to the service about two hun
dred thousand citizens, who, hy 1 his decision,
are disfranchised. This seems to he hard meas
ure—that men who testily their devotion to tho
country by going to the Held should thereby lose
the most inestimable right of a citizen. Ircc
ominend that the necessary steps he forthwith
commenced to amend the constitution, so as to
give the right of suffrage to the citizens who
are thus excluded.
1 cannot clone this message without speaking
I of the unbroken loyalty and spirit of tlio free
-1 men of Pennsylvania. They feel that on tho
| preservation of the Union and the suppression
I of. tho most causeless and wicked rebellion
I which history records, depend the honor, tho
interests and tho wholo future welfare of tho
Commonwealth. They will never tolcrnto
schemes for destroying the Government of tho
United States, or of forming separate Confod
cracees, or any other schemes for creating gen
eral confusion and ruin, and aiding and com
forting the traitors who are in arms against
their country.
This State litis furnished tnoro men for tho
defence of our institutions, and has lost moro
by the casualties of war, than any other State.
She ha- given her blood and treasure froely,
nnd is ready to give as much more of both as
may be needful. Ilcr people intend by tho
blessing of God, this rebellion shall Ixs suppres
sed, and will not lio turned from their settled
purpose by the wiles "f maskod enemies or tho
vacillations of feeble friends. On the contra
ry, tlioy will, (as is their right,) insist that com
petent Integrity. Earnestness, Intellect aul Vigor
shall Ixi employed in tho public servico, to pre
serve (he Government, and to maintain tho u
nity of the country.
A. G. CURTINV
EXECUTIVE DEPAKTMRNT, )
.Tan. 7, 1888. )'