BY MEYERS & MENGEL. |1 L E C T 11 1 e TELEGRAPH IN CHINA. THE EAST INDIA TELEGRAPH COMPANY'S OFFICE, Xos. 23 & 25 Nassau Street, NEW YORK. Organized under special charter from the State of New York. CAPITAL $5,000,000 50,000 SHARES, SIOO EACH. D I 11 E C T O R S. Ho*. ANDREW U. CVRTIN, Philadelphia. PAUL S. FORBES, of Russell k Co.. China. FRED. BUTTERFIELD, of F. Butterfield & C New York. ISAAC LIVERMORE, Treasurer Michigan Cen tral Railroad. Boston. ALEXANDER HOLLAND, Treasurer American Express Company. New York. Hon. JAMES NOXON, Syracuse, N. Y O. H. PALMER, Treasurer Western Union Tele graph Company, New York. FLETCHER WKSTR AV. of Westray, Uibbs A Hardcnstle. New York. NICHOLAS MICKLES, New York. () FFI CER S. A. (1. CURTIN, President. N. MICKLES, Vice President. GEORGE ELLIS (Cashier National Ban\ Com monwealth,) Treasurer. HON A K McCLURE, Philadelphia, Solicitor. The Chinese Government having (through the Hon. ADSOU Burlingame) conceded to this Com pany the privilege of connecting the great sea ports cf the Empire by submarine electric tele graph cable, we propose commencing operations in China, and laying down a line of nine hundred miles at once, between the following port t, viz Population. Canton 1.000,000 Macoa. 60.000 Hong-Kong 250.000 Swatow 200,000 Atnoy 250.000 Foo-Chow 1,250.000 Wan-Chu 300.000 Ningpo 400,000 Hang Chean 1.206.000 Shanghai 1,000,000 Total 5,910,000 These ports have a foreign commerce of $900,- 000,000, and an enormous domestic trade, besides which we haa-e the immense internal commerce of the Empire, radiating from those points, through its canals and navigable rivers. The cable being laid, this company proposes erecting land lines, ana establishing a speedy and trustworthy means of communication, which must c mtnand there, as everywhere else, the commu nications of the Government, of business, ami of social life especially in China. She has no postal system, and her only means now of coram uuicating information is by couriers on land, and by steam ers on water. The M r estern World knows that China is a very - large country, in the main densely peopled; but : few yet realize that she contaius more than a third of the human race. The latest returns made to her central authorities for taxing purposes by the local magistrate make her population Four hun dred and Fourteen millions, and this is more likely to be under than over the actual aggregate. Nearly all of these, who are over ten years old. not only can but do read and write. ller civili zation is peculiar, but her literature is as exten sive as that of Kurepe. China is a land of teach ers and traders; and the latter are exceedingly .juick to avail themselves of every proffered facili ty for procuring early information. It is observed in California that the Chinese make great use of ! the telegraph, vbough it there transmits messages in English alone To-day great numbers of fleet j steamers are owned by Chinese merchants, and ; used by them exclusively for tho transmission of j early intelligence If tbs telegraph we propose connecting all their great seaports, were now in j existence, it is believed that its business would pay the cost within the first two years of its sue- j e-sful operation, and would steadily increase ; thereafter. No enterprise commends itself as in a greater degree renumerati ve to capitalists, and to our ; while people. It is of vast national importanee ' siwtnercially, politically and evangelically. I e"~The stock of this Company has been un- j quaiifiadlj recommended to capitalists and busi ness men, as a desirable investment by editorial ;rtioles in the New York Herald, Tribune, .it r. C. M. Jackson, Philadelphia. Their introduction into this country from Ger many occurred in 1825. TIIEY CURED YOUR FATHERS AND MOTHERS, And will cure yon and your children. They are entirely different from -y t the many preparations now in the country cal I—l led Bitters or Tonics. They are no tavern-* *-preparation, or any tiling like one; but good, honest, reliable medi cines. They are The greatest known remedies for Liver Complaint, DYSPEPSIA, Nervous Debilitv, JAUNDICE, Diseases of the Kidneys, ERUPTIONS OF THE SKIN, and all Diseases arising from a Disordered Liver, stomach, or IMPURITY OF TIIE BLOOD. Constipation. Flatulence, Inward Piles, Fullnes of Blood to the Head, Acidity of the Stomach, Nausea, Heartburn, Disgust for Food, Full ness or Weight in the Stomach, Sour Eruc tations, Sii king or Fluttering at the Pit of the Stomach. Swimming of the Head, Hurried or Difficult Breathing, Fluttering at the ~ Heart, Choking or Suffocating Sersa I ft tions when in a Lying Posture. Dimness of V / Vision, Dots or Webs before the sight. Dull Pain in the Head, Defi ciency ot Perspiration, Yellowness ofthe Skin and Eyes, Pain in the Side, Back, Chest, Limbs, etc., Sudden Flushes of Heat, Burning in the Flesh, Constant Imagi nings of Evil and Great Depression of Spirits. All these indicate diseases of the Liver or Di gestive Organs, combined with impure blood. HOOFLAND'S GERMAN BITTERS is entirely vegetable and contains no liquor. It is a compound of Fluid Extracts. The Roots, Herbs, and Barks from which these extracts are made, are gathered in Germany. All the medi cinal virtueus are ex tracted from them by a scientific Chemist. ■ ft These extracts are then forwarded to this country to be used ex pressly ftr the manufacture of these Bitters. There is no alcoholic substance of any kind used in compounding the Bitters, hence it is the only Bitters that can be used in euses where alcoholic stimulants are not advisable. HOOFLAND'S GERMAN TONIC is a combination of all the ingredients of the Bit ters, with pt-RK Santa Cruz Rum, Orange, etc. It is used for the same diseases as the Bitters, in case where some pure alcoholic stimulus is required. Y'ou will bear in mind that these remedies arc en tirely different from any others advertised for the cure of the diseases named, these being scientific preparations of medicinal extracts, while the oth ers are mere decoctions of rum in some form. The TONIC is decidedly one of the most pleasant and agreeable remedies ever offered to the public. Its tasio is exquisite. It is a pleasure to take it, while its life-giving, exhilarating, and medicinal quali ties have caused-it to be known as the greatest of all tonics. DEBILITY. There is no medicine equal to Hoofland's Ger man Bitters or Tonic v >n cases of Debility. They impart a tone |s and vigor to the whole system, strengthen J- the appetite, cause an enjoyment of the food, enable the stomach to di gest it, purify the blood, give a good, sound, healthy complexion, eradicate the yellow tinge from the eye, impart a bloom to the cheeks, and change the patient from a short-breathed, emaci ated, weak, and nervous invalid, to a full-faced, stout, and vigorous person. • Weak and Delicate Children are made strong by using the Bitters or Tonic. In fact, they are Family Medicines. They can be administered with perfect safety to a child three months old, the most delieate female, or a man of ninety. These remedies are the best Blood Purifiers ever known and will eure all diseases resulting from bad blood. Keep your blood pure; keep your Liver in order > keep your digestive organs in a sound, I healthy condition by the use of these reine J.-2 dies, and no diseases will ever assail you. The best men in theeountry recommend them. If years of honest reputation go for anything, you must try these preparations. FROM HON. GEO. W. WOODWARD, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylva nia. PHIL.ADSI.PHIA, March 16, 1867- X find that "Hoofland's German Bitters" is not an intoxicating beverage, but is a good tonic, use ful in disorders of the digestive organs, and of great benefit in cases of debility and want of ner vous action in the system. Yours Truly, GEO. W. WOODWARD. FROM HON JAMES TAOMPSON. Judgo of the .Supreme Conrt of Pennsylvania. PBILAOKLI'HIA. April 28, 1366 I consider • Hoofland s German Bitters" a valua ble medicine in case , of attacks of Indiges tion or Dyspepsia I A can certify this from my experience of it. 2. It. Yours, with respeet, JAMES THOMPSON. FROM REV. JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D. D., Pastor of the Tenth Baptist Church, Philadelphia. DR. JACKSON—DEAR SIR:—I have been fre quently requested to connect my nauic with rec ommendations of different hinds of medicines, but regarding the piactiee as out of my appropriate sphere, I have in all cases declined , but with a clear proof in various instances, and particularly in my own family, of the usefulness of Or. Hoof land's German Bitters, I depart for once from my usual course, to express my full conviction that for general debility of the S3'gtem, and es pecially for Liver Com y plaint, it is a safe and valuable prepara [V: tion. In some cases it may fail ; bnt usual ll ly, I doubt not, it will be ve.-y beneficial to those who puffer from the above causes. Yours, very respectfully, J. H. KENNARD, Eigth, below Coates Street. CAUTION. lloofland's German Remedies arc counterfeited. The Genuine have the signature of C. M. JACK SON on the front of the outside wrapper of each bottle, and the name of the article blown in each bottle. All others are counterfeit. Price of the Hitters, $1 per bottle; < )r, a half dozen for >•". Price df the Tonic, $1 50 per bottle; Or, a half dozen for $7 50. The tonic is put up in quart bottles. Recollect that it is Dr. Hoofland's German Remedies that are so universally used and so highly recommended ; w v and do not allow the Druggist to induce I lyou to take anything else that he may say-M. 'is just as good, be cause he makes a larger profit on it These Reme dies will be sent by cxpressto any locality upon application to the PRINCIPAL OFFICE, At the German Medicine Store. No. 631 AIICJI STREET, Philadelphia. CI I AS. 31. EVANS, PROPRIETOR. Formerly C. M JACKSON & Co. These Remedies arc for sale by Druggists, Store keepers and Medicine Dealers everywhere. Do not forget to ex amine the article o u tup lit order to get the genuine. inay2V'6Sjrl GOVERN O It'S n ESS A(i E. To (Jte Senate and House of Representa tive a of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl vania : GENTLEMEN: —For the harmony and general relations of comity and friendship existing between Pennsyl vania and all the other States and Ter ritories of the National Union ; for tho present prosperous, condition of the Oomnionwealth; for the glad signs of coming political tranquility ; and for the success which attends the progress of our free institutions, we owe a heavy debt of gratitude to Divine Providence. In view of the favorable circumstan : ces under which you are now assem bled, it becomes my province and du ty, as it is my pleasure, to offer you my hearty congratulations, and to tender you a cordial welcome to the Legisla tive Halls of the State. This, indeed, affords me a higher gratification because I participate with your constituents in the confidence manifested by them in selecting you to represent their indi vidual interests as well as those of the Commonwealth. On your wisdom, in tegrity, judgment and discretion, all will undoubtedly rely for the correct determination of every question affect ing the largest interests and gravest responsibilities, and for a continuance, and even an increase, of that prosperi ty which has hitherto been so signally enjoyed. i t is not without u consciousness of the great responsibility resting upon me that I undertake the performance j of a constitutional duty, requiring that the Governor "shall from time to time | give to the General Assembly infor ; mation of the state of the Cornmon ' wealth, and recommend to their con sideration such measures as he shall judge expedient." In conformity with this requirement your attention will be called only to such matters of public interest as'in my judgment de serve careful consideration and action on your part during the present ses sion. FINANCES. The following is a carefully prepared statement of the financial condition of the State for the fiscal year ending November 80, 1808: The reports of the Auditor General and State Treasurer show that the balance in the Treasury, Novem ber 30, 1867. was $1,661,836 46 Ordinary receipts during the fiscal ▼ear ending November 30. 1808 5,216,049 55 Depreciated funds in tho Treas ury, unavailable 41,032 00 Total in Treasury for fiscal year ending Nov 30, 1863 $9,918,913 01 Payments, viz : | Ordinary expenses during the fiscal year ending November 30, 1868 $2,154,506 09 Loans Ac., redeemed -1,417,463 6i Other payments 12,800 00 Interest on loans 1,979,690 91 Depreciated funds, unavailable 41,032 00 8 905,492 61 Balance in Treasury, Nov. 30, 1868 $1,013,415 37 Sinking fund. By an act approved April 10. 1608, , the transactions of the Commissioners ; of the Sinking Fund were ordered to ho thereafter reported annually to the 30th day of November. Their last re j port, therefore, includes a period of one i year and three months. The following is the "recapitula tion" of the operations of the sinking fund, from September 3, 1867, to Xo vember 30, 1868: Balance in fund, September 3 1867 sl, 737 912 41 Receipts in fund from September 3, 1867, to November 30, 1863 3,418,992 31 5.136,904 72 Paid interest $1,808,005 34 Premiums paid as equivalent fur coin 49 98 Loans redeemed 2,414,816 61 4,222,87' 96 j Balance in fund Nov. 30, 1358 $931,032 76 By the sixth section of (he act of sJay 16, 1861, a special tax of one-half mill on the dollar was especially set apart j for the payment of the interest and re demption of the loan created by an act i of May 18, 1861, entitled "An Act to create a loan and provide for arming j the State." Balance on hand September 3, 1867 $319,933 17 ' The receipts from said tax and tax on gross receipts from September 3, 1867, to November 30, 1868, amount to 423,979 20 j Total 743.912 37 Interest paid in January and July, 1863 169,245 00 ! Balrnce in fund November 30, 1868 $574,667 37 Condition of Ilalances. Balance in sinking fund Nov. 30, 1887 $934,032 76 Balance in sinking fund Nov. 30, 1363 574,697 37 $1,508,700 13 Deduct balance in Treasury, Nov. 30. 1863 1,013,415 37 | Balance in favor of sinking-fund $495,284 76 j Reduction of the Slate Debt. By the report of the Commissioners; of the Sinking Fund for the year end- j ing September 6, 1867, the "loans re- j deemed" amounted to $1,791,569 50, j and by their report from September 3, j 1867, to November 30, 186s, the "loans i redeemed" amounted to $2,414,816 64, j making a total reduction of the State debt, in two years and three months, , of four million two hundred and nine thousand three hundred and eighty-six ; dollars and fourteen cents. The assets remaining in the Sinking ; Fund are as follow, viz:—Bonds of the | Pennsylvania Railroad Company, six ; million, four hundred thousand dollars, and bonds of tho Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Company, three million, five hundred thousand dollars. These are non-interest hearing bonds and will not mature for many years. I, there fore, recommend to the consideration of the Legislature the propriety of the passage of a law, authorizing the Com- i missiouers of the Sinking Fund to soil ; these bonds at public sale to the high est bidder, and direct the proceeds to j he applied to the liquidation of the | State debt. l'ublic debt outatanding December I. 1867, $37,704,409 77 j Deduct amount redeemed at State Treasury during fi-cal year end- • ing November 30,1363. viz, 5 per cent loans, $4,354,253 61 j 41 percent, loans 63,000 Oil I Relief notes cancelled 210 00 j 4,417,463 64 j Public debt December 1, 1363, $33,236,946 13 j Statement showing the condition of ; the indebtedness of the Common wealtii on the first day of December, 1868. Funded debt, viz . 6 per cent, loans, $25,311,180 00 5 percent, loans, 7,749,771 56 41 percent, loans, 112,000 00 Total funded, $33,172,951 56 Unfounded debt, viz : Relief notes in circulation, $96,415 00 Interest certificates outstanding 13,086 52 Interest certificates unclaimed 4,448 33 Domestic creditors'certificates 44 67 Total unfunded, 113,994 57 j Total funded and unfunded, $33,236,946 13 j Which is the amount of the State debt as before | stated. During the last eighteen years there ! has been carried upon the accounts of j the Auditor General and State Treasu rer, and in their several public state ments, "depreciated funds unavaila ble" to the amount of forty-one thous and and thirty-two dollars. I recom mend the appointment of a joint coin- BEDFORD, PA, FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 15, 18G9. niittee, by the Legislature, whose duty it shall ho to examine the said depreci ated and unavailable fundsand dispose of them to the best advantage of the Treasury ; or, if found to he worthless, to cancel and destroy them, so that the accounting officers may be relieved from the necessity and responsibility of annually accounting for them. The large cash balance remaining in the Treasury on the 30th of November, 1867, lias been used for the payment of the twenty-three million loan and for , the liquidation of outstanding claims against the State. The investment of the funds, in one of the modes recom mended in my last annual message, has therefore, in a great measure been rendered unnecessary for the present. But in the event of large accumula tions of money hereafter, the recom mendations therein given are respect fully referred to, and renewed. When ever there may be surplus funds in the Treasury, they can, with safety and benefit to the State, he employed in the purchase of its outstanding * bonds, and in saving the interest on them which would accumulate prior to their maturity. I regret to state that the last Legis lature, although fully forewarned in regard to the insecurity and want of proper and sufficient guards for the safe keeping of the money of the Com monwealth, failed to determine upon any mode by which the Treasury may be effectually guarded against the pos sibility of loss. The present Legisla ture has it in its power to secure for itself no ordinary honor, by the enact ment of such a law, strong ami efficient for the purpose indicated, and the en joyment not only of the approbation, but the permanent gratitude of every citizen. Notwithstanding the satisfactory re duction of the public indebtedness, as shown in the forgoing statements, an immense State debt is still upon us, requiring nearly two million of dollars to be collected to pay the interest ac cruing upon it annually. Its extin guishment at the earliest practicable period, not inconsistent with other public interests, is of the highest im portance to every tax-payer. I cannot, therefore, too strongly urge the strict est economy in respect to every expen diture and the utmost retrenchment in every department. Retrenchment is emphatically de manded by the people, in legislative expenditures, as well as in every other branch of the government. Their eyes are open to investigate every transac tion, and by their ballots they arc ready to strike down those who will not lake effective action in favor of positive and radical reform. The mon ey paid into the Treasury is the pro perly of the people, every one of whom has a just right to hold his representa tives to a strict accountability for every dollar that may be appropriated or ex pended. I here renew the remarks made last year on the subject of "annua! appro priations," to which you are respect lull referred. For four successive years the general appropriation bills have been signed on the eleventh day of April, being about the time .of ad journment. The Governor has been forced either to sign the hills without proper investigator), not withstanding any objections he may have; suspend the means to defray the operations of tho government for the ensuing year; or call an extra session of the Legisla ture. I repeat that "it is earnestly de sired that the appropriation bill betak en up, discussed and passed at a suffi ciently early period during the session to enable it to receive that thorough examination which its importance de mands." Education.—Common Schools. The annual report of the Superinten dent of Common Schools exhibits the condition of that department in a highly satisfactory manner. Within the State there are 1,918 school dis tricts; 13,766 schools; 2,382 graded schools; 11,698 school directors; 73 county, city and borough superinten dents; 16,771 teachers; and 890, 515 pu pils. The cost of tuition for the year was $3,273,269 43; of building, purchas ing and renting school houses, $1,991,- 152 55; of contingencies, $854,253 21. These three items, with expenditures for all other purposes connected there with. amount to the aggregate sum of $6,290,537 96. These facts are exhibited with great satisfaction, as they show the average annual cost fur the tuition of each pu pil to he about seven dollars aud sev enty-four and a half cents. The aver age amount paid to each teacher is ü bout $195 174 per annum. This, in my opinion, is too small a salary to secure tbe services of competent teachers; aud I am fully justified in urging the ne cessity of increased compensation. It is hut just, and it will have an eleva ting tendency not only upon the teach ers hut the manner in which their du ties are performed- * Your attention is called to the fact that, notwithstanding the ample pro vision now made by law for the edu cation of ail persons between the ages of six and twenty-one years, large numbers of children, principally in our cities, do not attend any kind of school. Over twenty thousand of this class are found in Philadelphia, and the num ber iu the State is estimated to be not less than seventy-five thousand. These children grow up in ignorance, fre quently without employment, and many of them contract habits of vice, which eventually cause them to be committed to houses of refuge, county prisons or penitentiaries. Humanity and sound public policy demand that something be done to remedy this growing evil, and also that of the ne glected condition of considerable num bers of children in the alms and poor houses in many of the counties. Four Normal Schools are now recog nized as State institutions, The num ber ofstudents attending them during the past year was 2,115, of whom eighty graduated. Two additional Normal Schools will probably go into operation during this year, one loeatedat Blooms brug, Columbia county, and the other at California, Washington county.— The value of these institutions to the common school system cannot be esti mated. Our schools arecornparatively worthless without qualified teachers, and such teachers can moat easily he ob tained from tho Normal institutes, where the art of teaching is made a specialty. A meeting of the presidents and oth er authorities ofa number of our prin cipal colleges was held in llarrisburg last winter, the object of which was to bring about a closer union of all oar educational institutions, and connect by a bond of sympathy, if not of or ganic structure, the common schools, high schools, academies and colleges. The establishment of such an educa tional department seems to be desir able. There is no subject more worthy the deliberations of the Legislature than the promotion of the welfare of our common schools. They immediately underlie the characteristic features of our social system ; they are fountains of that wide-spread intelligence, which like a perennial vitality, prevades the nation, and are nurseriesof that inquir ing spirit to which we are indebted for the purity and preservation of our free institutions. In a republican govern ment education is a sure basis of pow er and public prosperity. By it the people are taught to discern and esti mate the value of their own rights ; to distinguish between oppression and the exercise of lawful authority; to discriminate between liberty and licen tiousness; to preserve an inviolable respect for the laws, and exorcise "eter nal vigilance" against any encroach ments upon them. It is admitted that a thoroughly educated people alone can be permanently free. By educa tional culture patriotism is expanded, and the principles, manners and senti ments of the whole people are assimi lated. Many of the sources of jealousy and prejudice are diminished, social harmony largely increased, and the structure of our free and happy'system of government cemented, strengthen ed and adorned. Soldiers' Orphans' Schools. In his report, the Superintendent of Soldiers' Orphans' Schools, exhib its the total expenditure for their sup port from December J, 1867 t May 31, 1668, to he $236,970 26; total number of pupils in the schools 3,431; average cost per pupil $6!) 061 for six months ; and the average weekly expenses per pupil $2 654. The fiscal year of these schools, like thatofthecominon schools, terminates by law on the last day of May of each year. The present report of the Superintendent, therefore em braces only six months, and reports will be made up to 31st of May, annually, hereafter. The Special appropriation of Febuary 2-5, 1868, made in accord ance with an estimate of the Superin tendent, presented in my last annual message, exceeded the actual expenses $6,004 74. Notwithstanding every possible effort has been, and will continue to be made, to economize in the expenses of the pre sent year, and to keep them as far as possible within the appropriation made by the last Legislature, it will readily be observed that there will be a deficit for the year ending May 31, 1669, the amount of which will be carefully as certained aud presented to the Legisla ture prior to the close of the present session. The schools are all in good condition and improving, and their usefulness is daily becoming more manifest. They are among the most philanthropic in stitutions of the age, and reflect high honor on the patriotism of the Legis lature by which they have been so lib erally endowed and upon our people by whom they are sustained. The children who are the recipients of their benefits are the offspring of brave men who voluntarily endangered their lives in the cause of their country in the most trying hour of its existence, and who, glowing with patriotic ardor, fought as bravely and heroically as the noblest men in the world's history. Thousands of them who left their homes in the bloom of health and with the brightest hopes of manhood, now sleep in death, leaving the widows and little ones to the care of the country in whose service they fell, and which promised them its protection. Their children are the wards of this great Commonwealth ; and too much praise cannot he awarded its people for the munificent and tender manner in which they have thus far, through their representatives, discharge I the sacred and delicate trust. Agricultural College. Before the General Govern ment ap propriated public lands to the several j States for the purpose of agricultural j and military education and the me chanic arts, and prior to the time when Pennsylvania endowed the Agricultu ral College with her share of these lands it was dependent wholly upon in dividual influence, without any other means for its support than its own earnings. History proves that semi naries of learning cannot be efficiently sustained by their own internal resour ces. The education of youth in the higher branches of knowledge seems to require the aid of philanthropic con tributions. This institution had not these benefits to any adequate extent, and though the board of trustees l>e stovved upon it the most anxious care, their zeal and labor, combined with those of its friends, were not equal to a contest with the want of means.— Hence the school did not command the confluence of farmers who were able to educate their sons, and who could not forget that the character of the college attached to the character of its gradu ates ; and that its failure would outer into the estimate which the world would place upon the education it be stowed. This feature has now been re moved. The people, through their Legislature, have endowed this institu tion with the interest upon a fund of $318,500 00, (invested in the United States and Pennsylvania State six per cent bonds) payable to it semi-annual ly. Last year this interest amounted to $25,462 78. The residue "of the fund, $43,886 50, has been appropriated, un der the law by tho board of trustees, to tho purchase of three model and expe rimental farms ; one at the college, in Centre county, for SB,OOO 00, one in Chester county for $17,750 00, and one in Indiana county for $18,136 50. The board has also recently re-organized the faculty and roruodled the course of studios, so as to adapt them to the wants of the agricultural community. This new order of things goes into op peration at the commencement of the next session and it is earnestly hoped will be a success. There is no profess ion, trade or calling in life, where the value of knowledge and the lights of sci ence, and the practical application of both, are so potent for profitable re sults as in their adaptation to agricul tural pursuits. And in this truly prac tical age il is well worthy of the con sideration of parent-, whether they should not avail themselves of the ben efits of this institution, now so gener ously endowed by the State. Military. From tho report of tho Adjutant General you will learn the condition of the Military Department. The in activity in military affairs after the cessation of hostilities and upon the re turn to peace, lias in a great measure been dispelled and an active martial spirit now prevails throughout the State; more particularly in Philadel phia, where hyu special legislative en actment, the minimum number of men required to form a company has been reduced, and a brigade fund is raised by a tax upon those who are not mem bers of a military organization, but liable to the perlqrqaanoe of military duty. 1 recommend the passage of a similar law for the whole State. For the sake of preserving the great inter ests Involved, which include the lives, property and happiness of our people, this is presented to you as an impor tant subject for your deliberation. Every possible encouragement of vol unteers has been afforded,.and notwith standing thedifficulties indicated it has resulted as follows: In 1866 there were eight volunteer companies in the State; in 1867, thirty eight; and in 1868, sev enty-seven, and a number of others in preparation for organization. By a reduction of the number for a ompany from that now required to an aggregate of fifty officers and men, ; j companies would soon be numbered by the hundred, any of which could easi ly he recruited to the maximum number jif required for active service. The ; State that always maintains tho high- I est degree of preparation, accomplish es most and suffers least in the conflict of arms; and by being in readiness it of j ten prevents improper encroachments upon her rights. The Adjutant General presents a full and detailed statement of the disburse ments iu his department during the year ending November 39, 1868, with J an estimate for the neessary appropria tions for the current year, and also for such amounts as have been discover ed to be due from the transportation : department, contracted during the war. Stale Agency. The existence of the Military State | Agency at Washington terminated on ! the 31st day of July last, at which time the appropriation for the payment of its expenses was exhausted. Much 1 benefit resulted to many of the sol diers of our State, and their represen tatives, from this office, in which their just dues from the United States Government were collected and trans mitted to them free of charge.— : In August, after the agency ceased to exist, there stili remained a considera j hie number of unsettled claims, and as no one knew more about their condi tion, or could possibly obtain an earlier settlement of them than the late agent, j Col. Cook, I permitted him. upon his j own offer, to close up the business of ■ the office, and to transact any other business fur the soldiers of Pennsylva nia at one half the fees that are charged by any other private agency iu Wash ington City. This arrangement has | thus far been carried out, arid 1 am pleased to add, with very general sat j isfaction. All the books and papers of : the agency will he transferred to the | office of the Adjutant General. Registry Law. At the last session of the Legislature an aet was passed known as the "Registry Law," the intention of which was to pro tect the bullot-bcx against corruption aud fraudulent voting, to which it has for many ; years been di-graeefully exposed. This law seems To hare beeu so defective in tome of I its provisions as to have received the con demnation of a majority of tlje B'upreme | Court, by which it was pronounced "ineon gruous and unconstitutional." At the elec tion immediately after this decision, it is alleged that frauds were perpetrated, sur passing in magnitude, perhaps, any that have been consummated heretofore in the | history of the Commonwealth. These frauds have demonstrated the necessity of the passage of some law, or laws that will ; accomplish the desired object, v.ithout be j ing subject to the exceptionalle features pointed out by the learned gentlemen who pronounced the opinion of the* Supreme | Bench. Therein no subject of such vital impor : tance to the whole country as the sanctity of the ballot-box, and the protection of all ! citizens in their right to the elective frau : chiae. This right is our proudest boast. It endows the American citizen with a hee doui and a power not possessed by the sub ject of any other government. It makes him the peer of his fellow man, whatever ; may be his rank, station, or position in life. To be deprived of it by any means whatever, bis boasted freedom becomes a sham —his : especial and exalted prerogative a mockery and a farce. What avails it to the citizen I that he is entitled to a rote, if that vote is to be nullified by fraud? Such guards, then, should be thrown around the polls as will effectually, if possible, preserve there from the taint of a single illegal vote. Not ] only should false voting he severely punish j ed, but false swearing to obtain a vote, be visited with the pains and penalties of l'Cr j jury and with perpetual disfranchisement. The people must be perfectly free to reg ulate their public business in their own way. and when the voice ofthe majority is fairly and clearly expressed all should bow to it as to the voice of God. They are the sov ereign rulers, and their will must be the law i ofthe land. Corruption of suffrage in are publican government i> the deadliest crime that can be perpetrated; is asassination of the sovereignty of tho people, and will be followed by a despotism, the motive power of which will be money ami perjury. And if this privilege be tampered with, sooner or later the sure and indignant popular con demnation will he rendered anl condign : punishment administered. All good citi- j zons, >• whatever political opinion, should lend their aid for the accomplishment of any ' and every measure that may tend to secure j to each voter, not only his right to the eleo- j five franchise, but the assurance that his! vote will not be rendered valueless by ille- ; galiiy, corruption of baud. Every proper facility for the naturaliza : tion of citizens of foreign birth should be j afforded; but the Legislature, in its combin- j cd wisdom, can surely enact some mode to I prevent the possibility of a single vote being ; east, upon spurious naturalization papers, j and thus fully secure the. purity of the elec- j five franchise. Revision of the Civil (hide. The c >mmissioners appointed to codify j the statute laws of the State have diligent j ly prosecuted the work assigned them, and ! wi h every prospect that it will be fully com pleted within the time prescribed by tbe legislative resolutions of April 8, 1868; and ; in further compliance with them, they will 1 cause to he laid before each branch of the General Assembly, at its present session, various titles of bills, with brief abstracts of the several sections of each, which have been matured. Insurance Department, Among the subjects of importance to the j citizens of Pennsylvania is the establishment . of an Insurance Department, Such de- ; partments are in successful operation in j several neighboring Sta'es, by means of j which the interests ol insurers are guarded ■ and promoted. So careful a supervision is had over the transactions of iti-uranee com j panics that frauds are rendered almost im- j possible, and spurious companies can have no existence. The result of the protection thus afforded, is, that whilst foreign com panies. thus protected, d > immense business in this Hta'e, so little oonSdence is had in those of Pennsylvania that their business is almost entirely confined within the State limits; and lately some of them have with drawn their agencies from other States, be cause no risks will he taken, in consequence ■ ofthe inadequacy of the laws to afford pro tection to insurers. To this dofeot, more over, may be attributed the operations of j the number of worthless companies which , have suddenly sprung up, without any solid j basis, and as suddenly expired, to the in- \ jury of all whose confidence they obtained, > and to the dishonor of the Commonwealth. ; Whilst Pennsylvania insurance companies j transact little bu-iness outside of the State. I it is alleged that foreign life insurance o-un- j panies alone paid taxes last year on three ■ million eight hundred thousand dollars of j premiums received in Pennsylvania, a great ; proportion of whioh would be confined to j this State if the same protecion was given I by law to its citizens as is afforded by other j Stales. The report of the Insurance De- j part meat of New York, published in 1867, shows that the companies which were doing ! business in 1866, in Pennsylvania, aud also j in New York, had risks in force for more j than five thousand million of dollars; and it is believed that the ri-ks in Pennsylvania I companies, which, for want of a proper In surance Department, can not be obtained, ! would sw.-ll the amount to over six thou san 1 million. In v wof these facts, and of the costly expeii n e ofthe people who have beenim- I VOL 64.—WHOLE No. 5,474. pos"d upon and defrauded by unsub-tantial and ephemeral companies, 1 repeat the recommendation made to the Legislature at its la-t session, that an Insurance Depart ment be established. and a superintendent , appointed bv law, who shall have super vision and control over all insurance com panies allowed to transact business within j the .State, and - annually publish, under oath, I lull reports of their transactions. The com munity is deeply interested in this matter, and demands the protection which can thus only be afforded. Sew Hospital for the Insane. j The commissioners appointed by an ac j of the last session "to establish an addition a! State Hospital for the Insane," have I notified me that they will present a report j of their proceedings sometime during the present month, which will be communicated when received. Damages by Hauls, In accordance with an act of the last ; aession, providing for an investigation anil adjudication of the claims of citizens - of ; several counties "whose property was de • stroved, damaged or appropriated for the j public service, and in the common defence in the war to suppress the rebellion " a ! commission of three competent gentlemen ! was appointed, who have performed the | allotted duties, and will soon make a full re ! port of their transactions. Paris Exposition. I have rec ived through the Secretary of I State of the Uuited States, a bronze medal and diploma from the Imperial Commis.-ion j ers for the best specimens of Pennsylvania anthracite coal exhibited at the Paris Er | position in 1867. These tributes to an im portant branch of the internal resources of Pennsylvania have been assigned a place among other valuable relict in the Kx | ecutive Chamber, State Coat of Arms. Diiigent hut unsuccessful search has been | repeatedly made for the coat of ariut of the j State, and for the authority under which j the present design was established, It icems that for years past no trace of either | the original authority or design could any ' where he found, and it is recommended that j the Legislature take the necessary steps to j supply the omission, by such means as they j in their wisd on shall determine. State Beneficiaries, A number of benevolent, charitable and other similar institutions anuually receive I appropriations from the State for their sup ■ port . These appropriations, in most, if not | in all cases, appear to have been adequate ; for the purposes to which it was intended ; they should be applied, and are as liberal as can reasonably he expected in the present : condition o 1 the Treasury of the State. The Susquehanna fisheries ' A preliminary report on the Susquehanna | fisheries has been submitted by Cot. James Worrall, Civil Engineer, Commissioner un ; der the act of the Legislature in reference thereto. There are some tacts which should | be embodied in the report, hut which can | not be ascertained until early in January. Permission has therefore been granted to the Commissioner, at his request, to post pone the submission of his regular report until the earliest day practicable during the | present month. Cattle Disease. The prevalence of contagious or epidemic I diseases among cattle and other animals has for some years past been a prolific soutce of anxiety and alarm among the producers and consumer* of meats in many of the States. It was therefore deemed important to call a I convention of competent persons to take ! into consideration the means best calculated to remedy this great and growing evil. This convention, composed of three com mission ! crs each from the fourteen States represen ted, appointed in accordance wiili an agree \ ment by the several Governors, assembled at } Springfield, Illinois, on the first of Decern - , her iast, and an account of their transactions is herewith presented. Without legislative authority, but believ ! ing my action would he sanctioned by the people's representatives, 1 appointed Dr. Hiram Corson and Messrs. E. C. Humes I and A. Boyd Hamilton, commissioners to represent Pennsylvania in that convention. These gentleman freely gave their time and experience, and also incurred a pecuniary expense of about three hundred dollars, to defray Jjwhieh I recommend that an appro priation he made. Statistics. In view of the vast amount and great variety of the products of the State, a desk for tlie collection of statistics, relative to ex ports and imports, agriculture, manufactures coal, iron, oil, lumber, fcc.. might, with propriety and profit he established. This comd be accomplished by the employment of a competent clerk, under the supervision of one of the present heads of department, whose duty should be to collect and publish such facts as might tend to stimulate and increase our productive energies, instil new life and vigor into our manufacturing inter ests, and lead to more accurate knowledge of all our internal resources and the proper methods for their development. There is abundant space in the Capitol buildings to be appropr iatcd as a receptacle for hooks, papers, miiicafcgical and geological speci mens, and other articles that might be con tributed appropriate to such a department and which in a few years would form an in valuable collection. Under legislative direc tion, the good results would be almost in calculable, and are required by the progres sive spirit of' the age in which we live. Resolutions of the Vermont legislature. Your attention is called to the accompa nying joint resolutions, passed at the last session of the Vermont Legislature, bearing a just tribute to the late Hon. Thaddeus Stevens. Joint resolutions from the same hod)' are also sent you, which 1 regard as worthy of your consideration, relative to the act of Congress "to establish and protect National Cemeteries," and recommending ll to the Legislature of the State of Penn sylvania the passage of an act empowering the board of commissioners having charge of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Get tysburg, to transfer all the right, title, in terest and care of said Soldiers' National Cemetery to the General Government, upon the completion of the same." In Memoriam. It has been the misfortune of the State during the past year to lose by death two of her representatives in the Congress of the nation, lion. Thaddeus Stevens, of the Ninth, arid Hon. Darwin A. Finnev, of the Twentieth Di.-triet. Both were natives of Vermont, hut in early life selected Pennsyl vania for their home, and identified them selves with lic-r interests, which they were chosen to guard in the Legislature; and the people of the Commonwealth will long re member with gratitude their faithful and efficient services. The first went down to his grave after a long life of public Useful ness and in w< 11 matured honors; the other in the prime of manhood, which gave prom ise of'a scarcely less brilliant career. Pardons. The list of pardons issued during the past year will he found among the papers to which your attention is called. The princi pal reasons upon which they were based, and the names of some of the prominent Petitioners, are given in every case. That a few of these pardons may have been un worthily granted, through misrepresenta tions of relatives, friends, sympathizing neighbors and other interested parties, there is no doubt, Hut in the majority of instances it is certain that the facts not only justified but demanded Executive clemency. The whole number of applications for pardons during the year has been sixteen [Continued on Fourth J page.}