. . . i s. . .• . . . 4 • • - • I ' - . . • .--- -;',..- .4: '.• ' ' 4 .1. k* . , lie •it fe ~I i"..., ...Ay, 1 . , . \ • - ' .... - . , • r A , AV! - • ' , . • l' 1. ' ~ . ' • .•. . . . •C‘ jil."' C#Pl . . . 1". .', '' " I ' ' '. : '''' ' ''' .1 , .• , - • ... , i . „ .. . , I 11 V, IT!. I ‘ ~'. ' ...,,° .• n, , 4 , '' . I 'tilTfill.", _. ~,,,, ~. ~...• , , , ... ... , ..,,•,,,,,, ,•....„ ..t,,.....,, i. ._ .. , , 1 . . . . ~ . . , ...,, t • . , . . ~ A,dvl , L - '-r " ' . • ' '' ' - f;• - ;c 1 1 ,..7;1:•5. 4 (4 - ~,, . .. • i ••••' —'e -- .f , '',),, - Me; • , . 0.; '1 .. , , ‘ , VOL. t tiv tmorrattc eta, " 41 $ 4 151rffitti iltrettgera - AIINTIIII AND '.I.IMILISIIIM IN lIIILLICITNIT, *VERY' WEDNESDAY MORNING, Jrr- HENRY HAYS. Tintllo—sl,so In advance, or If paid within all twonthe. 112,06 will be charged on all subscrip tions runniiir to the end of the year, APViaTflabilliNTB and Iluslneal Notices insert , ed'ar the usual rates, and every deeeriptfon of a Crl3 PRINTINGF , EXEOUTaD In the neatest spanner, at the lowest pprima, sod with the utmost despatols— Havin g orehased a large oolleotion of type, we are pie - pared to satisfy the order', of our friends, at potumnits. GOVIGINOR'S ANNUAL ItESSAGI. To the Hon,_,etrable the Senator' (mil Members •of the Hisuse of Represestiotires of the (Jenaral ibsentbly • USNSLItarIUt : A. kind Proridence has greatly blessed our Committeeslth during the vast year. No foreign war. nq internal strife hare inter rupted qv destroyed the peaceful quiet or odr homes. All the great interests of the Eeople have been eminently prosperous.— The earth, in risk' abundance, hex .\ yielded - tier increase - to- supply bur 'wants, and re ward with her bounties the labor of the hus bandman. Labor, in every department of matailisituring and mechanical industry, has beim stimulated and encouraged. The rave \,,C4f disease and the horrors of the petal have been averted from us ; and Whilst the cry of human suffering, from other Mates, has been heard invoking our Sympathy and aid, we have been blessed with health and permitted to enjoy the com forts and happiness of social life. 'fit /Lim who hath bestowed these blessings upon us, Wind upon whose care we are constantly de pendent, should be ever paid the willing ho peso of our grateful hearts, .„ 4 The report of the State Treasurer %ill ex hibit to you, in detail, the operations of his department. The results are more matisfae letill *ad encouraging than were anticipated. The roeeipte at the Treasury for the fiscal theending Noveinlier 1855, including balance in the l'reasiiry on, the Ist day of December, 1854, ($1,2411,9.7'2) amount ed to 06,681,402 i 5. The total payments for the same perNxl were 55,385,105 52 : leaving a balance in the Treasury. on the :1(1(11 November, 1855, of $1,245,697.31. No lama, temporary or otherwise, Were negoti ated during the past fiscal year, as they ,were not required by the nililtd of the Tres miry. Tho receipts during the past year, from All'eources, (excluding the balance in the 'Treasury on the first day of December, 1854,) Wad $6,390,474.11. The ordinary expendi tures far the same period, Including the in rirt; the public debt, were $4,139,612.28, atlibitoesa of receipts over ordinsay mu of 01,250,961 83. extraordinary payments for the year were $1,246,11.0.24.1,,mqf0110n is, iii • T o the ,00mpletion of the itew Portage railroad over t the Allegheny inotantainh, $446,762 I'2 ; to $llO North lininclrilinel, Eil7 , 562.67 ; to. the ,Mlutabla railroad, to relay smith track, $1133,400.00; to the pa) went of domestic crediteirs, 61.629.85 : 'to are rode niption of i10an5,100.6,540.60, and t,, rclief notes can celled, 6260,598.00. The balance in the Treasury will ho re pared for the payment of the interest on the ALate debt falling dye in February next, and for .unpaid appropriations. The interest on thof undod debt.of the Commonwealth, which -strte due in February and August last, wait promptly paid : and it is gratifying to !Rate that the interest due in I.vbruary neat Will be aid with s.spial promptilesv. The preditof tke :,ittate way be regarded as firmly ystlibliShed, and with proper economy and a fateful and honett.management of her titian- Ata, an annual reduction of her th ht., to a oppsiderable extent, may be confidently ex pected. - There Is due by the Treasury to the Sink big Fend thd aura of 6335,011.39, to ho ap. phad to the redemption of the rtdlef notes pow in oircnintion, arid to the funded debt pf the Commonwealth. The greater part of the funded debt bears interest at the rate of Jimiper cent. per annum ; the balance hears a still less rate of interest. Put as the tem -missy loans, which by law are to be .first, paid out of the aVailableAkeans of the 'free. pury, bear interest at the rate of six 45.. r pent., it has been decrtued _advisable, an a matter ef economy, to apply the surplus revenues to the payment of theite loans. When these are liquidated, the amount duo and property applicable to the Smiling Fund will oli e l l 4 , and ;tl4 operations continued as klirect by law. thatwithstanding the nwenireit for the last four or_p.re years have Largely exceeded the ardiuntry espeniliturea of the government, yet In cionseiluence of flee large and insatia bk dementia upon the '1 reetoity for the com pletion of the North Itranch canal, the Yar dage ralkesad and Ober kindred improve- . oink, the public debt, instead of being ro 'duced, has 1101509 increased. This increase, with the antonnt and co:Wilton of the debt pt different period*, n be seen in the foliow ing statement*: Aroesertir of tks i funded and unfunded debt ef the Comm° wealth on the let day 'of December, 1851,a/spar rsport of the Atari - General. Weeded debt, viz 6 per amt. loans, $2.314.022 61 6 do 36.704.484 03 41 do 198 200 00 Total funded 'debt Unfunded debt, els': Bagel notes In circula tion. Interest eertifteetes out , onandlag, Do unolantert, poorest on outstaadlng •r unclaimed On fleatal, when run ea. Pacip•Sie C9'6411°11 . Remdebt, Poocobet j, 1854, 40.114.861 39 STATZ.IIIIOT sholoivig the indebtAindes of the Dornatonseealth gm the let day of December, 1854, as per AudetorGenerare report : Tended debt, vie: I pot ant loans 8532.104 96 . 6 do '? 39.064.609 07.. v dodo 100 033300 00'00.000 eta fondod , dobt, , $40.084.914 00 !Unfolded debt, vie: Rolle/ noted in °lron lolten, Intend oetilloatesont- 10, 84041 h1C _ 24,857 21 %De unclaimed, 4,448 98 bientaaan entalmeding and untalmed Cern& Wee, *Me funded, 4,870 07 • Domes croditora' de - tiflaatea, 2,707 61 Delano° of tamporary - lone eltAprikibrieltrAliio,lll4 , lo l 4oPcw• q- , Do May 9, '64, 450.436 ay Total unfunded debt sect tamperary loam' . 1.638,680 84 To these Arnold be added the fol. lowing relief notes, not included in the 'lend' notes In often's.. lion," els Relief notes made Or the Lam:meter Rank, not eherged on State Treasurer's books, 1125,000 00 Relief notes pat in dr culatton September. 1854,and not redeem ed Deacember 1, '54, 56 000 00 , .15 000 00 Total public 4.191;te0- 1, '54, - 41.11011699 74 Do do '6l, 40.114.226 99 Increase of debt in Utter yeah, $1.6114.3611 85 The funded and unfubded debt, including unpaid temporary load's on the tat day of December, 1855, tho close of the last fiscal year, as per report of the Auditor General and !State Trepsurer, was as follows: Funded debt, Ole per dent. loan, $5lO 164 93 5 do 38 903 445 54 41 do 4 do Total funded debt. ltidunded debt, vii: Relief notes in eireuls, lion, 258.773 00 Interest certifiestes outstanding29,ls7 LS Domestic ered ' itere, - • 1,1164. 90 - • -•- Bitterne of temporary loan of April 19, '63, 526000 00 Do May 9, 464, 310.000 00 Total unfunded debt - 1.160.194 20 Total debt Deo. I, '55. 41.067.994 72 Do ae 'dated, Deo 1,'54, 41.698,595 72 Do do do 41 057.994 72 Deurenno during the lineal yeer, Thin statement exhibits the gratifying fact that during the fiscal year ending No vember 30, 1855, the indebtedness of the Commonwealth has been reduced 11630,601. ' 02. During the same period large appro priations and payinents were made fbr the completion of the new Portage railroad, re laying the track of the Columbia railroad, and for Other purposes. These demands up on the Treasury were, without the aid of loans. prbmptly paid. Refusing to undertake any new schemes of internal improvement, limiting all appropri- • ations to the nettial demands of the occasion, practicing strict economy in all' departments of the government, and holding the receiving and ilitlmrsingligents of the Commodwealth to a gid accountability, o ill greatly reduce the xpenditures, and, under ordinary dr comai mires, leave an annual surplus of the revenues to br applied to the redemption of the public+ debt. The estimated receipts and expenditures for the current 'fiscal year will be presented to you in the report of the State Treasurer, The receipts from the usual sources of reve nue, above the ordinary expenditures, may exceed the sum of one million and a half of dollars. These estimates may approximate the true result, but oauxiot -be veiled upon, with certainty. fly the thirty-eighth section of the act of the 16th of April, 1815, entitled " An Act to provide for the ordinary expenses of govern ment, the repair of the canals and railroads of the, state, nod other claims upon the Commonwealth," the Covernor was author ized to rause certificates of State stock to be issued to all persons or bodies corporate hold ing rertifientes for the pay mint of int erest on the funded debt of the State, which fell due on the Ist day of Atignst, 18.12. the Ist days of Fein oars and August, 1813, and the Ist days of l'ebruari% and August, 180, in an amount equal to the amount of certificates so held, upon their delivering up said certifi cates to the Auditor Ceneral. In pursuance of the authority thus given, certificates of State stock to the amount of four millions one hundred and the thousand one hundred and fifty dollars and to enty cents, bearing interest it the i ate of the per cent. per an num, payable semi-annually, on the Ist days of February and August in each year, and redeemable on or after the Ist day of Au gust, 11455, were issued, The minimum pe riod fixed by law for the redemption of these certificates, expired on the lot day of All good, last. No provision has been made for their renew al or redemption, Although by the terms of the act author izing these certificates of Stati; stock, as also by the conditions of the certilleateii issued iu pursuance thereof, the tone of payment, af ter the expiration of the minimum period, is optional with the debtor —the Common wealth—yet a due regard to the credit of the State requires that provision should be made for then renewal or redemption. To nideelp theme certificates a i an would become ne aessary, and as a loan cannot be effected, in the present financial condition of the coun, try, on terms more flivorithle to the State, than those en which these certificates were issued, I would recommend that authority he given to issue the bonds of the Common wealth in renewal of said certificates, bear ing interelit at the rate of five per cent. per annum, payable sere-annually, and redeem &Mena or after the expiration of twenty years ; and that the bonds be issued with contains or certificates of interest attached, in +intim equal in ainomit to the semi-annual interest thereon, payable on the first days of February and August in caulks's' every year, at such places as may be designated. This change in the form and character of the cer tificates, it is believed, will be so advanta geous to the holders, without increasing the liabilities of the Commonwealth, as to in duce a willing and prompt exchange, at a premium, fbr the bonds proposed to be is sued. - • The Condition of the public works, their geAeral operation, and the receipts and ex penditures for the past fiscal year will be presented to you in the report of the Canal 1945 nKl.klaionets. Tbouggtrogate receipts at the Treasury froth the Oldie works, for the year ending November 30, 1855, were $1,942,3711.71. The aggregate expenditures, including ordi nary and extraordinary payments for •the same petiOd, amounted to 81,838 ) 791.18, showing an excess of receipts, over al) ex of $103,585.53. of $103,585.53. Tfirdittrattrdinary . payments for the same yearaexcluding 51.3,100.00 prtidkrye-lay mg tho south track - of the Golumbia.radtoad,- and P 3,000.00 for - re-building the Freeport aqueduct) were $.690,427.78. The ordinary expedditures were $1,148,363.40. ,_ Aggregate receipts, as above Stated, - - - - $1,94;376.71 ,-- 660.163 00 180,381 82 4.448-88 9.752 91 92,932 74 .897.528 85 Ordinariexpendatures,asabove • ••• atikked, - - - - 1,148,30.40 404 361- 00 Net revenues for the fiscal year 794,013.13 This balance exhibits a small increase in the natoriveimos, as and with the not revenues of NH notwithstanding the withdrawal Of the transportation lines from the main line Of the canal, the aggregate rev i;s7iiinkfts. yow,...hasek. exoesid.ed the rove ea p r NO4 by Mrs than twenty-three the and dollars . Fro th tho abundant crops of e past year, the iinproved condition of the monetary affairs of the country and the' general revival of business,.p. large otercaao in the revenues for the current year hoar t) confidently expected. ..,. _ The sum of 1161,125.25, has been paid into the Treasury by the Pennsylvania rail road company and other railroad coinpanies, as the tax on tonnage passing over their roads. This amount largely exceeds the sunk paid by the same companies in 1854. The Delaware division exhibits a satisfac tory result. Tho total receipts were 8392,- 873.42 ; expenditures. 860,007.86 , showing a net revenue of $332,575.56. If, all our lines of improvement exhibited a similar ba lance sheet, the people would luivq less cause of complaint and more confidence in the general operffon of the system. There has been 11. large increase in tho bu siness and tonnage of the Columbia railroad, and a'corresponding increase in the receipts therefrola. The Operations of this road for the pest year have been highly satiSfactory..,' lbe operations of that part of the Main lino from the Junction to Pittsburg, including the Portage railroad, do not present so fa vorable a reault. The receipts have greatly diminislitsi t and were not sufficient to meet the ordinary expenditures. The revenues from the main line do not renal the receipts of the previous years. The causes of this reduction are apparent, and some of them have been referred to and enumerated. It is but just to add that the expenditures on this lino have been moth diminished by the avoidance of some of the inclined planes on the Portage railroad. MB.'l 00 00 100.000 00 Eh 907 800 47 I.:regret to inform you that the railroad to avoid the Inclined planes on•the Allegheny mountain, has not been completed as was confidently anticipated. Tho delay in the completion of this work hasUecasioned much inconvenience to the business of the main line and a lois folleb "terfeAnetruf - ttre monwealtk. The expenditures have largely exceeded the original estimate% for its con strimtion; and although the moth of $277,- 730.00 wax...appropriated at the last sessitin of the Legislature for the completion of this work—a sum covering tlitr`eitarnlate• of 'the exigifteer—yet after the expenditure of the whole amount thus appropriated, the road is unfinished ; and to complete it, and pay the debts contracted, the further sum of $177,- 573.0 b: as now estimated by the engineer, will lie required. Either die estimates have been very carelessly made, or large s u ms of money uselessly and extravagantly expended in the prosecution of this improvement. As aiding the business of the main line, re ducing still further its expenditures and re lieving the Treasury from these constant de mands, the annommcfnent of its early com pletion will be hailed with pleasure by every citizen. $B3O 801 02 Although the completion of the North Branch canal, befell , the close of navigation, was certahalli-expaugaxlpt Ltia_expeetatio4 lab not been realized. TWelferte of the present Superintendent, Mr. MalUt, during the past year, to complete and put in suc cessful operation this canal, deserve the highest commendation. Everything that skill, energy and_ industry could accomplish has been done. The labor to be perfornied 714 grkat, and rendered more difficult and perplexi4 by the impel feet and fraudulent construction of the old work and some tier hens of the new. The large quantity of rocks, trees, stumps and roots placed in the bottom of the canal, and the defective mate rial used In the tniliankments, sufferat the seater to escape &Waist RA rapidly as ad mitted, and rendered a reconstruction of the work, in many places, indispensably neces sary. Its successful completion, it is hoped, will soon Is! announced. It will appear by the report of the Com mittee of Ways and Means made do the House of Representatives M 15.19, that the entire amount necessary to complete and put in operation the unfinished portions.of this canal was estimattd at the sum" of $1,100,037.00. The amount actually ex pended on the work since that period, as ap pears ftem tho reports of the Superintendent, Engineer and Canal ComnussiOners, 81,857, :177.52, being an excess of expend!. tures over the original estimates of 8751,- 340.52 ; and the canal not yet in operation. With such facts before us—such evidence of mismanagement and reckless expenditure as Use history of this canal shows, it is not platter of gm-prise that the Commonwealth and people are burdened with debt and tax• ation. In pursuance of the act of the htli of May last, providing for the sale of the main line of the public works, after giving the notice required by law. I caused the same to be exposed to public sale, the Merchants, Exchange, in the city of Philadelphia. No oilers were made and consequently the works remain unsold. Sealed proposals fop the "sale or lease of the main line," were sub sequently invited, as directed by the seven teenth section euf the Said act, and the pro• pow& received arc herewith submitted to the Legislature for their action and final dis position. Having en a former occasion presented my VloWs (/ the propriety and policy of a sale of this branch ranch of out public Improvements, a repetition of the sentiment/3 then expressed becomes unnecennary. In relation to thin subject My opinion has not changed. (In the contrary the experience of the past, and a careful examination of the question in its economical and political relations, have strengthed and omadinceed•it. That the State should, long since, lase been separated from - the management and control of these works, the history of their Construction and man agement clearly dembnstrates. Public po licy and public sentiment demand this sepa ration; and every consideration of prenent, .aril future interest requires their sale. The late financial embaransments of the country —the imperfect character of some of the provisaMs of the bill authorizing the sale, together with the adverse Influence of rival ;interests, defeated the recent attempt to sell. These , slifpculties have been, or can be, re moved ands dale ,yet: efibeted on terns amply protective of the rights and interests of the people, and st the same time just end liberal to t h e purchasers., To reduce the State debt and relieve dm people from taxation, aro objects worthy the earnest and anxious consideration of the Legislature. To accomplish these ohjeets speedily mad certainly, it sale of the whole or'part of our public improvements becomes important and necessary. The revenues of the State, under the present system of man agement of-the public works, are hut little more than sufficient . to pay the interest of her debt, ind the ordinary expenses of the government. A sale of these works, for a fair consideration, and upon terms just and BELLEFONTE, PA., VVEDX I gSDAY, JANITARY / 9, 1556. liberal, would constitute a beginning in the process of liquidation that would free our Lc' minanswealth from .iltAlPaind. bur people from consequent 'taxation. In every mea sure calculated to prOduce these desirable results, I will cheerfully cooperate with the Legislature. The currenek of the State, in its; relation to banking institutions, and thew increase, is a subject that demands careful and intelli gent.cenulderation. From the notice given of nnputpue intended applications to the Le gislature for new banks and Increase of banking capital, this snAloct Wril doubtless ho presented' tq, and StrOngly urged utxm your attention. 'Shall - bhe number of banks and the amount Of banking capital he sli er/eased ? and if so, to what extent and in what localities? are questions of absorbing itildie interest. Without aesirisg as tr e a nen d and uncompromising hostalty all banks, or to an increase Of bankitig capital, I cannot dis cover the necessity tbat requires, or the cir cumstances that woidd justify the incorpo ration of all that m , be demanded from the Legislature. The i corporation of new, or the re-charter of old ud solvent banlts„ielien indispensably neces ary and clearly del/- tied by the actual business wants of I e community in whic they may be Incased, should not bo refuse' ; under no other cir cumstances should their incorporation be permitted. necessity for increasing the number Of t hanks MOM he 'titermincittwnre - by the actual wants of legitimate trade than by the number of applicrtims and the ,wild fancies of stockjobbers and specalatore. The sud den and unnecessary expanslas ea lake. rendrsbould be avoided, and whatever tends to , produce such a result ought to be discoun tenanced and prevented. In the rrl ation of banks the true interest of the state and the people should be consulted.; twd a honest discrimination, as to number, locality and the demands of trade, be exercised by their representatives. Public sentiment does not,depand,por do public grlmvateiWtrusts re u ire, file creation oridnierons batiks. In the present condition of the nuances, and in aid of the revenues of the stat e , (i n addition to the taxes now imposed by lan-) a reasonable remium should be required to he paid by ni l banks or saving imititutions that may hereafter be chartered or re-chart ered by the Legislature. ds appropriate to this subject, and inti mately connected wit.lt it, I cannot forbear ) express my disapprobiltion of ft prantice, that has heretofore obtained to some extent, of using the names of members of the Legis latuie as corporators in bills pending before them for the incorporation of banks and other companies. Such a practice is peniicious, and cannot be too strongly condemned. ft perils the independence of the legislator exposes him unjust suspicions, and stamps with seltisline* at least. his legislative ac tion in the iNinisee. Legislation should be fret!, even from the appearance of nil proper motive ; and every undue and cor ropting influence, inside or outside the Leg ial.",47* Wain. Laikks44.4lkaislaiAlua4alk dettmed. It is a CRUM" of more than ordinary ton gratulation, that agriculture, the first, as it is the noblest pursuit of man, has, in its progress of development, vindicated Its out) importance, and assumed in public esteem, the honorable position to which it is so pistly entitled. Constituting, IN it does, the sub stratum of our great mechanical, manufactu ring rind commercial intertsts, it should ever be regarded as the chief source of State and National prnapenty. First in necessity, it is the highest in usefulness of all the depart ments of labor, snstanung and promoting, in their varied and multiplied relations, all the other industrial interests of the country. Our financial and commercial prosperity is largely dependent upon the success of agn cultural industry. An interest on import - ant should receive the encouragement of all classes of society. No longer a mere art—an exertion of physi cal strength, It has retched the dignity - of a science ; and to its progress and improve frient the - people and their representatives should cheerfully contribute. State and county agricultural societies have done Much to promote this rause, and through their Agency much valuable information has been collected and diffused. Much yet retrains to be done. More information is demanded. More efficiency in the collection and diffusion of useful knowledge is required. To secure this result, the establishment of an agricul. lurid bureau, in eimneetion with sortte. of the departments of State, would largely contri bute, The importance of such a bureau, pro perly organized, as an aid to thu advancement of agricultural knowledge and the success of agricultural industry, cannot easily be overestimated. The subject is earniAly commended to your Attention. By an act of the last session, an institu- tion designated as the "Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania" was incorporated. The charter * WWI accepted by the trustees, and the Institution duly organized. An eligible site for the college has been swore,' in Cen tre county, sod two hundred acres of valua ble and highly cultivated and donated to the trustees, for the use of the institution, by Gen. James If4in, of that county. The citizens of the county, with a liberality highly commendable, have pledged and se cured to the trustees, for the use of the col lege, ten thousand dollars in addition to the land donated. This liberality shows that the farmers of Pennsylvania fully appreciate the importance of such an institution, and will support and sustain it. The course of instruction 'will be thorough and practical. Scientific and practical - agriculture, with the usual branches of academic education, will be taught, and the effort will be to Wake good carmen, good scholars, and. good citi- Senii. Whilst individual liberality.iand energy have done Much and will do more for this institution, in appro priation by the State, in such sum as the insisturp may deem pro per, would not on yai and 4encourage this laudable enterprise, hut would be an honors bin and just recognition of the important in terests involved. The lawn now in operation, regulating manufacturing and other improvement coin panies, are in some of their provisions ton severely restrictive, and should be modified. Legislation ort.thealia LtlOects has .heretofore nded to restrain the investment of capital --check industry, and curb the energy of the people in the prosecution of those enter prises that aicT,the development of our im mense resources, arid cotilribute so largely to the wealth arid prosperity of the State. Liberal and Judicious leglalation—encour aging individual anturPrist—inviting the iiin vestment of capital aqi, mulatistg the va rious departments of - ufac.turing and: mechanical industry, wo greatly promote the interests of the people--inorease our revenues, and give to the Commonwealth F- that proininence and position, in the sister hood of States, to w hich the churnoter of her °Wrens find tier illisitable nateural.imaouroefi justly entitle her. To thin subject your at.= tent ion iR invited. The report of the Superintendent of Com mon Schools will exhibit to you their condi tion and the general operations of the sys tem throughout the Conmumwealth, dur ing the past year. To the valitnble and use.. fail iiiiptgeations of the report, I ,woufft - carri , estly ask the attentam of the Legislature. The operation suit results of the system nti detniled are highly interesting. Our edic cational system is slowly, but surely. con quering the prejudioes and gaining the emit donee of the people. Under the ,fostering care of hheral and enlightened leg,l,l:dion its ultimate triumph is certain. When the sys tem was first witrochiced, it was Supposed that it could be 'perlEcted and forced into general and vigoropuiperation by the there will of tie Legislatuic. Experience 11118 proven, that in,this, as in every other great Social and moral reform, time and that con sent which arises from a radical I.llllllge in the popular mind, were required. This slow pruccsa , osth r . KcJitnatioxpithe new ,yi,temi to our social . arid moral ntruhvpherc, ha, been iy operation for nearly to eat_ ears; and it is now evident that the penal for another effective interposition of legislative aid and authority in favor of our noble system of common schools, Inns arrived. In whatever font this obviously proper and necessary in terposition May preqnfr Itself, if ettlrillateil to promote the great purpose in tieW, it shall receive my chveiful SUppont. After a careful examination of the sub „feisty is clear eonrietiou that thssystisst IN now. prepared for and requires increased efficiency in its geneml supervision—inerels ed qualification in its teachers, and increased :mans of support. The expernoeot or the County Superin tendency wherever Wilily - i'arried out, hi; not disappointed (lie ssxpectahons of the ad voeatcs.of that measure. The improved con dition of the schools, and the greater 011- i-4:WY - or ali• 43 , 7,1 - elif, - Vffti-fy establish the liropriety: and utility of such supervision. The official Visits of an officer of the school department to some of the counties of the State, in-connection w=ith the County Super intendency, hese denionstiated that the voice of public authority to sustain, and the pres ence of an official agent to encourage have largely contributed to excite ,and maintain the deep interest now felt b, the public in our educational progress alit improvement. ' The most marked'linproverrnerrt:-Acently effevted in, the syqem.has been in its corps of teachers. With almost my rralleled disinter estedness and devotion to the noble ratusii which Mei arc engAged, the eoallllollBlllool teachers of the :slate have in almost every county been using all the means and appli arn'es within their power, for self improve• meat. 'these Ohio.. so creditable to them, has c been highly beneficed 111 their results, and clearly prove the necesso , and point with unerring certainty to the esiabli-hrnent of State No. mat Schools. Teachers' meet- was fur r. d j ha la Ones to j,pat Marta fora weak ; and them again to nurrieroila Norront meennw+ continuing from 0110 to three month. At every step in ibis pmeression, It has become more apparent that permanent institutions, with their proper proles+ors, and appliances, vdikli nwtiing but the power of ides si,tio cart provide, are demanded by, and would meerthe warm of the ny form and the ()evasion. In cor;ceeding dila Loon to our children. j through their teachers. WO are encouraged bi the evarriplo of other eoninsies, and fir penence_ol the put• llir'a~rrtf ; uFkutitt'tal t, that no Shale of our Union, nor nation of the old world, has penciled its system of public 110111101 DH, wiLouf n• h onl for the profession al training of teachers, e•tahllshrrl .and sup• ported'by, the public authority and meat's , and st to ne lees menatkable, and Hill more encouraging, that no such taattiutiou has ever yet been abandoned. From Proseia, whose experience in this regard. is that of a century and a quarter, to that of our young [sister Alichigaii, whose existence is as of .yenter• day, the Normal school has been tried throu2hout Christendom with unvarying success. This result is in full harmony with the laws of mind and of human screiety. Teach ing is a Midi and honorable prolosonn : acrd no profession hum more arduous and complex duties to perform—no one greater responet bduier lat 41:11telzr,..ituhiry one operats On, or with, such valuable and numestaug material The - Most ihorotp,2,ll pieparatimi is, therefore ! requisite, 411,1 as the dunes to I,ic performed uie lint only responsible, but delicate. and may affect the social, political. moral or reli gions feelings and rights of the Clll7Oll, 110 source is so safe, no authority for their dis charge so lice from suspicion mr bias, as the State. Teachers trained by the State, anti representing the vitality of its republicanism, will be the firm support and sure guarantee of its republican equality. It is lime also that ltt teaching mindshonld resumei its true place the schools. In the communication of knowledge, to be effect. lye, mind, in sympathetic contact, must act upiri mind, and with living, speaking ener gy, leave ita impress there. The firekt Maq ler himself thus trained the school which Was to reform a wodd but now the book hen too much) iqtruiled itself between the teacher and the taught. Tho teacher has too much became the mere ouolient, of the printed page, and thu mind of !he learner the e,s , ed copy of the text. fit thus saying, the sulue soil importance of books, as a means of knnwledge, are not intended to be overlooked or decried; but the uses of 011 f best .agencies have their limits; anti when we find the book usurping the place of the teaoher, to the injury of the mind of our youth, we should restore each in its proper posilloo—require from each the performanee 'of its appropriatsrfunctions, and, - thus confer upon both the full measure of their useful ness. • Ali an eapedient to supply the place of regular Normal Salmis, nil eatahlinhed, anti ca a valuable auciliary to them when in op enatron, the Tenchers - Institute Would be of kutriumationable value. ft woolit'l,tring to pther the teachers of a county under the born nifluences 4 for conkilltalinn nod iitimovrt manta said evhibit them before their fellow; rathatris in their proper protessional character. A portion of the means of the State, fir of the respective counties, applicable to educa tional improvement, could not be ni Die pro fitably applied, than to the encouragement of the meeting of At least one such inatitue, an nually, in each county. An ekperirnent of this kind recently made in the county of Cheater, is said to have beep eminently rule ceasful, and.ritrongly indicativir of the wisdom of the measure. If, in stir:titian to these,' or similar meas ures, the Legislature shook/feel warranted— and the measure his all the sanction this ex• enttive document can give it—to,make a large adman to the ttortuel. State apinopria lion to common schools, I believe that all will be done which the patriotism of the pea ple's representatives can now ,elTect ; and I do tint hesitate to el press the opinion that the time has come for this prompt, full and deci sive action. Let the integrity of the system, in its gre'at porpose.4 and oljeuts, he mato tattled ; and i(changed, changed only to ren der it mote' efficient, Flll3 11 , 1 ipetease ila power for gteater usefulness. What-level` else may (lb-41149141 your present Pension, it is 'warding hole In predict. that more 110‘10, sad benefit will result from the perfection of the common school system of education; than from any other exeleise of younjegiele, live powers. The public schools of Philadelphia pre deserving of special notice and approval. In their various gradations, from the primer, IT to the high nchool.'they'are models wor thy of imitation ; end their management and "efflitieridy 'diem great credit upon those to whom have been committed tlimr supervis ion and control. It in to be tet„sretted Wit these school.,. en creditable to our go:tat-can mercial end Ittetary emportum i ttlid so lion=' °rabic to our Commonwealth, should tjtkeo place in the annual report of the Supltinteral ent of Common Schools. As Id present or ganized, these Pchools are intlepeodent of the State Superintendency, and do no t report to die school department of the Common wealth, 4_pyernlitnz, that Xelates.ta the operation of the common school ei t stein, add she condition of the public schools in, the, Spte, is importsnt and Interesting, the statis tics of thoike schools shoult} be tarnished to iimgairpetistilitiperr Af existing laws on thin subject, so fur nn to re- Ipti ma the controllers of the piddle schools of Philadelphi I, to report to the sChpol depart Inept, the number. grade, and condition 0 their schools—the number of pupils. ace generally such. Information in relation ic their if li ern ni eat 114 may be deemed 1,55101 to lite cause of education, is respectfully re- cotasnendisd. To improve the social, intellectual anti moral condition of the people—reclaim thin erring, and amelimate the human suffering aro objects that corwrnda themselves to tire consideration of the philatithropiA and the Statesman Our educational, charitable and reformatory institutions are inruly . the pride at the mate, honorable alike to the 'wisdom that devii.eil and the liberality that founded and sustains ibern. Tit , y hate strong 01111115 upon the bounty of the. people. arid I cordi ally recommend them to your care and the liberulitypf the Gommona viii ii The ?flaw Lunatic' Hospital, at Harris. I burg, in it olijklit and result', merits o ur highest approbation. Ihe just expectations of its projector. and founders have not been di-appointed. hindness ~,ot:lore, with their •Oltonrivr Cli n t irillurinee. constitute 'he rule ol its government. .Many of n form• er tinforturiate inmates have been resoled to rereinii, to friends and hotne, and thd en• joymenbs - uf- social life. Vhose that remain revilltro our sympathy arid aid. They should not be wlthlfelif. ro Oct or the ditlliNwif will exhibit, in derail, the operations of the iregitirtion. The necessity and importance of providing additionala u c t i:7 l ll ,4 l , t , N i t a a , lini ve be file w-quo of western p , u pressed upon my attention '1 he prevent ac commodations aro clearly insufficient, and these have been provided principally by the crintirbotionv of benevolent ciiisens. It is urged that the rapid advance of our popula ,tiorvedlie gloomy Increase of the insaity—and thr - mederptsey -of the pre.venr trevyittryi• tor their care and rn sumueme;tit, render it roper air vely necessary - that effective mil sliculd be given to that portion of the State, for the es tablishment of a new and entirely deninct Western Irmme Hospital, as .t liorne to those of ouLfellow-citizems whose only alleviation In to bajaalill tit their ow o 1:11,0fal/CY of Iha !rightful malady with which they are burden ed. The subject is worthy of calm arid dies passionate iiiiitory. I will cheerfully co-op erate with the Legislature, in all proper efforts, to accompli•ti thy; object. Should you decline to act upon this enbjecli would then rcommend that alt adequate appropriation be made to the Wenterir Perim sylyania Hospital, for the purpose of exien drug en accommodalions for the care of the insane, as diviiind as Illay be praticable hem the other che.o of patients and inmates The charter of this instoution is liberal in its pro- VIAiOIIB, WO comprehensive in the Objects tie. We to be brought antler He- ram l'entbnieerg the insane as well as the sick, helpless and infirm In thin ronitection I would commend In your attention .be Pennaylvaora Trattinig School for Mimic and Feeble-Minded Chil dren: The aid of the Commonwealth has heretefere'Ven extended to thin Institution. 'lt in a noble charity, and appeufa to the beat feelings of the heart. it deserves to Aare the bounty of the ;mate. The [rouse of Refuge in Philadelphia, arid the Western House of Refuge neer Putsburg, are institutions of great excellence, having for their object the reclaiming of warren,' and airing youth—the employment of the idle—ihe instruction of theitignorant—the re formition of the vicious and depraved, and the fifiefof the wretched. They am schools, not priarios—lionien, not platien of puntolt• tnent , Ibex- are it refuge to the neglected and ()Meant children and youth of our Common wealth. seccesn of the pant in a sure guaruntess of their future usefulness. They should receive your aid and encuuritgtoment. The "Blitut" -and the "Deaf and Dumb Asylums," in Philadelphia, invite our eym pßthz, and ask to share the benefactions of the Commonwealth. They should not be disappointed The blind, iti their darkness —the dumb, in their silence—will cherish the gift, and bless the generous donor. Legislation, in relation to all questions of moral and social reform, should be careful ly and wisely considered and matured. On I/ l 0 subject, with the con e ' horns! authority of the Legislature, ere t people so sensi tive; mid no one more dee interests eve• ry class anti crintlitkiti of society, Sun:sonar) , laws, as a general ruler, um of doubtful ex pediency; and to abridgements of the liber ty and priviliges of.the citizen, can duly he relit - led on the ground of necessity. Wliik this in admitted, it (-sown be denied that pys, evils resulting from intemperance, create a necessity for regulating and restraining. by legislative acts, tbe'trafiti 'and nth of intokl catir,p, liquors. To what' extent' this trafic shobld be restrained by , positive law, must depend, on the will of the people, determined by considerations of their own moral, physi, cal and timid welfare. Whatever may be my crwn'opinion, or that of the Legislature, or the peoplb, in reference ,to the law of this last session, ''to restrain the sale of iotogioa• tingliquoni," it must be.admittost that e full return to the license system, in °potation 6. A prior to the inteiage of the,present itsys, is not demanded by enlightened publioilleolimont, and wbeld vor'prositetebthe goott nyder and tmplate's of the community. ThetAs lawn , then in existence were imperfect, and felled to check or control the,evilaof inteniperanee, is a proposition too plain to he doubted-ghat they needed revision melt also lad donoeded. In our large aide and !owner, the evil/ of the system were mere severely felt. The Neill ty and cheapness with which license* wan I ohtaitied, , operated as a premium ;n viee and immorality, and multiplied tippling, herpes and plates where intemperance.. MOO 11 . 0 authority of law, was nut only permitted, but encountered My Immediate predeoessdr, in his list annual message to the Legibiature, iu reference to the then 'license laws, save: "So far as relates to the city of PhillidelAbblit 1 they are peculiarly prejudicial to public inn- , ' rale ; a n d seem to have been comeruets4 to - promote the convenience of drinking (at more than to restrain its evil eonsegnenaist." In this opinion I folly concur. That a rapt' ity was iteinanded. all will concede. Meth, et the law of the lam session wan the proven remedy, it le not toy provironi now to deter- , tuhri,“ ...Enact,. I try the representatives of he pe0p15,...1 cave Will out roy Oficial appro 1.1. I Recognizing the people as the source u all, political potver, and their representstiveara.. , the immedrate exponent+ of their will, nurse; you wilt devolve the responsibility til Jetliner legislation• if any, on this subject. In all lita retailer's, economical, ,political, social Awl. moral, the question isomportant. and its pro. 1:- per ile;erininiiiion weaves fearful resale+ tolitiev. It deserve. and should reneerns, your aeflous coneideration. If action to lig emsysswe•noalierselliset it sviiikeranyirestirAW,- promote the virtue, morality, and tree mane -1 ems of our people and Commonwealth. Leirralattoo, ad far an practicable, should be general mid uniform. Local and yacht; ingoulatiori should not he encouraged, when the desired object earl be obtained by general laws. Such legislation is urn only local sort special in its character, butt frequently tempo rary—:*he act of one session being repealed by the act of the next, and periled!, replayed by oue still more objectionable. which, ma tan, soon shares the hie of its predecessor. It crowds the statute book with useless and urine' 7 laws=--vioates private rights-- creel •onfaidn and unterteinty—detitmys uniformity of prabtice and decision—prolongs the aeseions of the Legisleture, and increases, the public expenses- Our general laws regd ulati lig roads, highways era bridges, aim providing for the support and employment!- the poor, conetnue a well digested system fur the aseomplistrtraertt of thews albeit.; and I , ye t, under the system of Intial legislation I heretofore parole:ed. we frequently find to different townships of the same county, local laws regulating these subjects. not onfrrlif feting matessally from ilia general liar, kart , horn one another , Ref trio rim thou regard is required, and to thied respectfully ink your atteenon. "Omnibus legislation" having been oon &Diced and. abandoned, abould smot he permjited wits to sully the, records orbs.: Osborne wino. II *aloof telnOrt on, ' approval. Numerous spplicationa will dnubtlesa he made fur the incorporation of insurance, gas, water and bourn Oulffrpaniel. To Gail. intro hOtion on these rpteadone—economise 16n:1e-7:reduce the expenses of legialationl— setae uniformity and confine the Compa nies thereafter incorporated to tint legiti mate purposes of their creatioe, f would recommend the propriety of enacting gen eral lawn - regulating such mit - potations...- Already laws of this character for coal, iron, c.itusl, railroad, turnpike, plank and bridge enmpanies have been passed, alid'in I practice have beet, fund highly woeful and economical, tiot.li laws, well regehried and careftilly guarded, would be productive 'Of similar melts in their application to intinranee and the other-companies named. i 'flit propriety of limiting and restrain ' ieg corporate babes to the object', and purposes of their creation, will not be de nied or coetroverted, la relation terthe povrets and privlle4es of latturatme cesspit ntes, this plan principle has been o'er larked and disregarded. liy successive &eta of legislation, many of these institu tions have umpired discounting privileges, and nearly all the power. sad beaks with ' out their guards rostrlethurtr and ilsttiliflus- - This has been effected by the emelt of some general prevision in tltit actineorphrsiting 1 the company, or by refilv i tone tit 'lmre for gotten supplement eoncealed in the fells lon an "omnibus bill," or losfr in sittc ; mazes of the paintitilet laws. General fliers, whilst; they would eqnfer on anch4g!nPa - Men all the powers necessary to.stecepsolish the objects of their incorporation, wouldat. the same time prevent an ~extesisiosi nf privileges foreigo to such aasociatiopr.— This subject is commended to yoqr consid eration The jurisdiction of the oottets . 'rela tion to real estate, trusts, the incorporation of literary, charitable and religious snide ties, manufacturing and other associations, has beau grimily extended by recent legis lation. This enlarged jurisdiction Arra coufem-d for the purpose of relieving the Legialaryra cram the pressure of onuitsroua applications for special legislation is the premises. The courts are,, theinfighe proper tribunals to determine isiuMOtst Lions; and in all catifillehilre the emblem matter is within their jurisdiction,' the 14e gislainre should refuse to ent4rulia the ap plication. Divorces, urileste in cases of mitre's' le oesaity awl 'Aced,' beyond the jnrisdietioq of the courts, should not be gniated lay,the Legislature, .he entitled "Aq Act to 'Derrell! Ale ieVOIDUeI end ditninith the lelislatiypexpenpee pf the Cotnuionweelth," It wee filividetl' that thereafter no private bill, thetwltile4fltied cud taned, ehoold be onroilid ih likitiltiott of the Secretary of the Oeignietitreekby (4 publieheckor ha.. the fovea en& 4iii of law untiftbe party &eking or tepticiiithe same should pay into the llresemry of the Cornrow" cerelth the repßeeliitg toll4ll MVO in said act. A. large number 9f l loll4rgesei 'i y .4 former 4agiilaigref, set sit • *Ale tax, reetOd cl ie the tfiee of; AI.: of Ow CoilmoniesllN 41,1.'0,44, r qtno4a h4ving bean paid: ' -4.444o*rett i f • (commune en venertnow44,l,„l„ _~'`~ -_+~~ •• , -TTi--t'n I . , . MO /MI • •
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