The Beaver Argus. J. WEI/AND. Moron ♦kD PaOriarrOz Beaver, Pa.; Jan. 101041872. GOLD is,now quoted at a premium o f si per cent. on the dollar. This Is lower than it has been for mauy years east, and proves that our currency is costing on a scud basis. We 'will wake-up some of these mornings and make the discovery that a paper dol lar is worth just as much' as n gold one, and this will come about too, in n gradual way and without ',any con gressional legislation. THE Pittsburgh .Afail of the 28th of December informs its readers that to Col. Quay of this place belongs the honor of bringing forward the Constitutional Reform ,movement. This is news to Col. Quay's immedi ate neighbors. Will the Mail be kind enough, therefore, to point: out any thing Oni. Quay said in his paper In favor of Constitutional Reform, until long after that movement had be mine a uceessP The wing of the Republican party to which Col. Quay belongs was for many months looked upon as hostile to the reform move ment, and it was only when they found it could not be successfully re sisted that they yielded the point and assented .to the proposition To Col. A. K. McClure of Philadelphia belongs the honor of 9riginating the movement, and pushing =it forward to success. A TEiditnix tragedy occurred in New York on last Saturday, which resulted in the death of Col. James Fisk, jr., at the hands of Edward S. Stokes. It appears that at the close of the examination into the Fisk- Mansfield case, that afternoon, Stokes left the court room and proceeded In a carriage to the nethborhood of the . Grand Opera House, in twenty-third street, where he remained a short time. Shortly after three o'clock, Mr. Fisk left the Erie railroad office, in the opera house building, entering a carriage. Stokes did not follow him, but immediately drove to the Grand Central Hotel, which he was seen to enter about half past three o'clock, Fisk's carriage Itrived at ten minutes past four o'clock, and the Colonel alighted at the ladies en trance, to pay a visit to a Miss Morse. Ile was ascending the stairs leisurely when he discovered Stokes standing at the head (date stairs with a pistol in his hand. l'he doorkeeper states that almost instant lyt_Nd shots were "II red , and that Fisk leaned up ag,ai nst the wall and said. lam shot. He felt to the. floor, and lingered until 0 10:4:5 the next day when he expired. I T would, perhaps, be well for those who are just now engaged: in "reaj ii< certain persons out of the Re )publican party to look .baCk a little into our past history. In IS4B the Whigs elected General Taylor by an overwhelming majority. In fact the Majority was decisive enough to in duce the leaders of the party to con clude that they were to be the ad ministrators of the Government for unnumbered years to come. Hence, when Whig politicians of lesser note and agoodly number of the rank and were unceremon i ously " . read • out Of the party," and informed that they "must go to the Democracy, where they belonged. " Thus shorn the Whig party went into the succeed ing Presidential contest and not withstanding it had the country's greatest military chieftain for a lead er, it had only strength enough to carry four out of the thirty States then composing the Union. That was the experience of the Whig party in declining to allow a little free think ing within its organization. In 1856 the Democrats elected Mr. Buchanan by a large majority of the electors. The leading men in that Organization thought the verdict then rendered implied a perpetual lose of power to them, and that'no condi tion of things could arise to divest the Democracy of the control of the ooverninent. When, therefore the Lecompton controversy came up the 1/entocratic leaders ejected everybody from the Democratic door who re fused to think as they did or act as t hey prescribed. Douglass, B rod er ick , Geary and their partisans were all "read out" of the party at that time. In the next Presidential Struggle the Democracy were too weak to carry the election, and in fact from that time to the present they have remain ed riven-and powerless in the country. Our point in referring to these scraps in the political history of the country : It is only a month or so ago that it was found necessary to count over the bonds and money in the Treasury at Washington to see ''whether the twoclerk - s who had been detected as defaulters the previous week were -the only ones. A short time before that another clerk had been found out helping a knavigh Congressman to pet payment for the sham claims of sham soldiers. A short time before that it was found that a paymaster had made away with t.:106,000 ; almost the same day it was found out that an assistant postmaster had stolen $150,000. Since then-a man : whose business it is to keep the oroverntrient and the public informed orthe condition of the 'Na tional Banks is foiind to have been silent when he ought to have report ed, and "to have been silent for money. "- Hence a week:Or two after. Congress convened, oo the Ist of De cember, Senators Sumner,. Trumbull, Schurz, Tipton, and a number of oth er prominent Republicans, insisted upon an investigation of alleged abuses. This was resisted by the Conklings and Chandlers in the Sen ate, but finally carried, and a Com mittee istow at work to ferret out the scoundrel* in our party who have sie.yeeeded in<Mitaining official posi tions in the Government. The ap pointment of the Committee should . have ended the wrangle, but it has niit; and the Conklings and Chand lers, and all that brood of politicians who live and fatten on public treas uries, are now engaged in "reading" Trumbull, Sumner, Schurz, Greeley, and everybody else out -of the Re publican party, who have not been willing to blink at Republican ras ealities, or magnanimous enough to allow Itepubliean thieves to go un deteebd And unpunished. When these Senators, and all other Repub licans, who ins4lBt upon knowing which of our officers are honest and which are dishonest, or who claim the right to expresS a choice among Republicauo for the same office, are ." read out`'? of the party and stay "read out," it seems to us the Repub lican organization will be about n able to elect a President in 1872 as the Whigs were in 1852, or the Dem ocrats in 1860. MESSAGE. 7b the Senate and House of Represep :tativeS of : the Cimmonweetith 41 Pennsylrania. GENTLEMEN' : —You have, for a sea.son, separated yourselves from private business and _,perwnal Inter ests, and - come from ditlarent soak= of the State clothed with the powers of more than three and a-half mil lions of free, intelligent and Inde pendent people, to serve them in your representative capacity and to determine upon public affa irs, in such manner, it is hipped, as may de serve the blessings ofGod and the gra titude of men. It is becoming, there fore, to advance to these duties with winds untainted with party acrimo ny, unswayed by selfish or interested motives, and with fervent aspira tions of praise and gratitude to the Great Preserver of nations, states and individuals, and to mingle our humble and devout supplications for His guidance and approbation in the accomplishment of the task assigned. I am not insensible to the magni tude and importance of the subjects before me, nor to the responsibilities imposed ; and , approach them with diffidence and misgivings, conscious that some ethem require more ex tended research than time and space could be allotted to their elucidation. In compliance with the duty pre scribed by the Constitution, I trans ►nit, for your information and that of the people, a statement of the condi tion of the finances, schools, military and other matters of interest, with recommendations of such measures as are deemed of sufficient impor tance to be presented for your consid eration. FIN After thorough examination of the reports from the accounting depart ments the following statement is , submitted : itErapli. • Balance in - Treasury. Nov. SO, 1870, $1,302,942 82 Ordinary receipts daring the fiscal year ending November 30,13:1 gxtraordinery receipts from the V. S. Government on acct of Penn's. war claims, applied to the payment of the State debt total in Tress'y during year ending November 90, 1.071 $.8,000,838 44 Disbursements. Ordinary expenses paid during yr ending Nov 30. 1071... . • $3.018,019.9% Loans &c.. redeemed:=• 2,420, 1159 Interest on loans 1, - 83,Cr35.9l Total disbursements -- 111,034,079 0.5 Balance in'Treasury Nor•. 30. 1371.__.51.475,90s 59 Public Debt. The public debt Noy. 30, itao, was $31,111,651 90 Deduct ain't paid by Sinking Fund Commissioners during the year ending tins. 30. 1871.12.113.3b.63 Amount paid by State Trans during same time 13.311.5.1 Total public debt, Noy. al, 187E._ $28,930,071 73 The following statement shows 4he nature of the indebtedness of the Commonwealth, Nov. 30, 1871 : Fcuulect Debt, &e. Amonnt of over-due kiaus $11.0( t. :6 do payable 1572 .t IS7:, int. 6 pr ct 3,7146.550 00 do do 1872 & 1877. int. spr ct 43 iislt 00 do do Itcri S M 2. int. 6pr ct 7.K90.550 00 do do Pin, Interest. 5 per ct. 3,at9.71 1 0 00 du 4 1 ,1 1S S, interest 5 per ct. 290,00 00 do do. 141. interest 6 per et. 400,010 10) do do 1892, int tl pr ct 9.271.it50 do do 11132, interest 5 per ct. 1,119.010 (10 do do ltt•ii. hiL 4q per cent. 112.000 00 Total Funded debt..... $2:4,..466.113 16 o;f:int - lett Debt, I iZ: Relief notes in circulation. $116.317.00 Int. certiticates outstand'a I:l,Ust; 51 Inl.certiticatesunclaimed 4.4.14 Domestic creditors' cut itl cams. 4-1 G 7 113,921; 57 Pub. debt N0v..11, "71,alabovestated $V.1,071 The Cotninis.sion , , , rs ot the Sinking Fund report assets remaining in their hands, as follows, - to wit : Bond. of the Pa. It. It. Co.. secured by lien on the Philadelphia S Co- Inn3llia Railroad Thirty-five bnd', of the Allegheny Valley It. R. Co., each for IllU0,01.), guaranteed by the Pa. R. It. Co.. Northern Central Railway Co. and the Philadelphia and Erie It. It. Co.; payable $lOO.OOO annuilly. be ginning, January. lap, with 6 per A mount of aarets.....— Amount of Public debt t irt,34ll,fß. 79 Deduct am't of &stmts.—SU:M.ooo IV Cash halftiee in Treaeu ry, No% ember 30, 1871 1,4:11,8114 59 - Balunee,of pub. debt unprovided for t18j0.3,263 14 In obedience to the sixty-seventh section of the appropriation bill, ap proved May 27, 1871, the State has 'mite(' for the relief of the citizens of Chanibersburg and vicinity, for war damages adjudicated under former acts, certificates of loan to the amount of two hundred and ninety-nine thousand seven hundred and fbrty eight dollars and ninety-one cents, which sum bears interest at six per cent payable semi-annually at the State - Treasu Ty. The books of the Auditor General and State Treasurer show the to tal indebtedness of the Common wealth, on the first day of December, 1866, was thirty-seven million seven hundred and four thousand four hun dred and nine dollars am/seventy-seven cents. Since then, and up to Novem ber 30; 1871, the sum of eight million seven hundred and twenty-four thous and three hundred and thirty-eight dollars and four cents has beed paid. The reduction during the year end ing November 30, 1871, is two mil lion one hundred and thirty-one thous and jive hundred and Ninety dollars and seventeen cents. The avarage rev duction during the last five years is one million seven hundred and forty four thousand eight hundred and six ty-seven dollars and sevenlyilive cents. It will be observed, in the table exhibiting the nature of the Indebt edness of the Commonwealth, the y amount of the loans now overdue is' $2,45112,69:1 IG. This sum can, with out doubt, be paid as rapidly as the holders will present it to the Com missioners of the Sinking Fund. The bonds payable in 1872, and deman dable in 1877, amount to $3,879,4i* 00. These can also be paid within the live years prior to their muturity, at an average of $765,880 00 per an num. For many years the general appro priation hills have been withheld from the Governor until about the time of adjournment, when he must either sign them without proper in vestigation, suspend the means to de fray the operations of the govern ment for the ensuing year, or call an extra sessiOn of the Legislature. It is earnestly desired that the appro priation bill be taken up, discussed and passed at an early period during the session, to enable the Executive V) give it that thorough examination which its importance demands. ll'ar Claims In my message of January seventh, I informed the Legislature that "the balance in favor of the General Government for Pennsylvan la's q uota of direct tax levied in the sere states for war puand for cash - from the United rrit:s, amounting in all to nearly two millions of dol lars, has been settled in full by the allowance of claims for extraordin ary expenses Incurml t hy the State during the war. In consequence of the lapse of time since the remaining claims were contracted, the want o sufficient vouchers and explanations, and the - difficulty of finding the par ties, some of them being dead, by whom they should he made, render their settlement difficult, and in many instances doubtful, the accom plishment Of which, however, will be vigouronsly pursued, and the re sult laid before the Legislature.'i Lately publicattention has been persistently directed to the stibject of these claims, and their collection from the National Government; and in view of the action which it may be your duty to take in reference thereto, i the following facts, - showing what these claims consisted of, the measures taken by the State for their recovery, and the success resulting therefrom, are submitted to aid you in your deliberations. By a statute of Congress, approved July twenty-seventh. 1861, entitled "An Act to indemnify the States for expenses incormi by them in defense of the United Stat e s, " it is provided "That the Secretary of the Treasurybe, and he is hereby directed, out of any money In the Treasury not oth erwise appropriated, to pay to the C3owernor of any State, or to his duly authorized agents, the costs, charges, such St ate properly Incurred by . such Slate for enrolling, subsisting,' clothing, supplying, arming, t quip ping, paying and transporting its troops employed in aiding to sup pre-Ai the present insurrection against the United States, to be settled upon proper, vouchers ,to ,he filled and pawed upon by the proper account lug officers of the Trestiry." By another act of CongreA approved August sth, 1861, entttled "An Act to pro vide increated revenue from imports to pay interest on the public debt, and for other purposes," there was levied a direct tax upon the several States, Territories, and the District of Columbia, of twenty million dollars.with the privilege to those Slates of collecting and paying the quota of their tax lute the Treasury of the Uni ted States, of a deduction or allowance of fifteen per cent. as compensation for the expe Isom attending the collection. Penn sylvania's portion cf this tax amounted to $1,940,719 33, - the payment of which the State assumed. The 53d section of the statute last-2re ferred to provides: "That the amount of direct tax apportioned to any State, Ter ntory or the Dist ict of Columbia, shall be liable to be paid and satisfied, in whole or in part, by the release of such State. Territory or I:As:rick duly executed to the United Suites, of any LIQUIDATED and DE TERMINED CLAIM Of such State, Territory or District of equal amount against the United States: PROVIDED. That in case of such release, such State. Territory or Dis trict shall be allowed the same abatement of the amitunt of such tax as would be al lowed in case of payment of the ivamei n money." Under the act of Congretre first refer. red to, of Jab 47th, LIR, claims on ttyr part of the little against the tilted States were tiled. amount- ing In the aggregate 13,111,219 19 These claims were Bled in six differ- , eat installment& vs follow, vls lot fled March 1. ltoti 2d " Jane 11, 8.14,X117 90 3d February 20. 81.1184 91 " May 4. 1870 " ....... 1.57.9M1 18 Alt" June 3COM —... 7 .127 91 tali " May 25. 83.737 Amonat of eltdme fined,...._....._..53,1724118 10 It was in reference In the first and sec ond instalments of the claims so tiled, that my pi-ctlecessor, Gov. Curtin. informtsi the Legislature. .lan. 7, 1863, that on the 14th of June, 1862, the quota of direct tax due by the State had been " paid to the United States, partly by u relinquishment of a portion of the sums claimed by this State from the Government. and partly in cash. atter deducting the 15 per cent. al lowed by act of Congress (or prompt pay• meat." The settlement thus assumed to have beenpie , :ted, and which. on the in- Jormation leported to him. Gov. Curtin suprsed to have been complete, was based upon an arrangement. as understood by the State authorities, shown by the follow ing figurer: Amount of direct tax.. $134 1 1.719 33 6.458."44 %5 70.9,710 67 Deduct 15 per cent 2,131,590 17 Cash paid by the State to the Untt.al States., Jane 80, ItitU - Pmportion of war claim, pet off by the 5tute.......--•.--...._._ $1.304,711 43 It subsequently transpired, however, that at the date when Governor ('urtin as sumed the above settlement to have been completed, nto portion of the State's claims had been " liquidated and determined " the '• proper accounting officers cf the Treasury ' of the UniteeStates, as requir ed by the stacrites of 'Congress. approved 27th July and :ith August 1801. Indeed, it was not until Nov. 1, 180:i, that any portion of the States' claims had been "li quidated and determined" by the United States officers, and even then the only sum allowed amounted to oNE HUMMED and TWELVE dollars and FIFTY cents. Still, on September ✓O, 1801, the United States made an advance to the state o n accoun t of these claims of $1106,000, and for this cash advance the State stood debtor to the United States until the claims were "liqui dated and allowed, - So that on the books of the National Gitvernment the State ap peared debtor for, Ist quota of direct tax....._ $1,046,719 93 id rash advanced by United States to the State, September 10_1861. 116.000 00 $5,900,000 00 53.334,713 J 3 Lrvi cash paid by the State to the United Si l atee, Jane 30, Mil. 350,000 00 'Mit gn i % WAN ' : against the United States were understood oaf properly supported—to be consider ably in excess of this amount. To-enable, the State to have secured the benefit of the rehateinent of 15 per cent. nn the quota of diriict tax, amounting to $292,007 90, it was absolutely necaisary, under the stat ute: of July 27, and August 5, 1861, that the money should either be paid out of the Treagury to the United States, or that the claims of the State against the National Government, which had been "disallowed and suspended" (except the credit of $112.- 50, above explaiped,) for five years, should be "liquidated and determined" 1 33- the ac counting officers of the government. It was under these circumstances that the Legislature of the State, to 1867,-by joint resolution, authorized the Governor to appoint "a special agent to collect disal lowed and suspended claims against-the United &ales," `'whose compensation for that purpose shall lint exceed ten per cen-, tum of the amounts thus collected, and shall be paid out el such collections." As thus authorized, it became my duty to appoint a competent person to attend specially to the interests of the Commlnwealth in the collection and adjustment of these claims, and under the authority conferred upon me, I appointed Mr. George 0. Evans, of Phi L..del ph ia, w haat) recom mendations for efficacy and faithful ness were so strong, that I had no hesitation to place in his hands the agency required by the act of Con gresS of July 27, 1861, and the joint resolution of the Legislature. It %V ILS not expected that he would ever suc ceed in paying oft a debt which seem ed to be greater than the amount of the claims than on file ; nor was it expected that he would succeed, un der the best circumstances, in obtain ing more than a few hundred thous and dollars out of vouchers, which had for upwards of five years, been "disallowed and suspended," and deemed almost without value. $9,400.000 00 10,876,808 59 Mr. Evans, upon his appointment, immediately gave his attention to the duties assigned him, and through his success in paying the entire debt due the General Government, I was able to communicate to the Legisla ture of 1868, the partial settlement of the claims referred to. It is due to Mr. Evans to state, that reference was of too meagre is character to place the result of his servia4r- fairly and fully before the public. Through his labor, the claims of the State, which hjd for yeats been "suspend ed and disallowed" were "liquidated and determined" by the accounting officers of the National Government, and being thus "liquidated and al lowed," the State for the first time became entitled, under the provis ions of the act of August 5, 1661, to the above sum of .t.:N2,007 90, as the rebatement on the quota of the Coiled States tax. The credit thussecured to the State, deducted from her quota of theidi rect tax, left a balance thereon against the State of $1,614,71! 43, and from this sum there was to be deducted the payment made by the State on account of this tax on JuneBo, 1862, of $3.50,000 00—reducing the liability of the State for direct tax t 051,304,711 43. This indebtedness, as also the cash' advanced to the State on • September 20, 1861, six months before the first in‘talment of claims had been tiled or4the part of the State, of $606,000 00, were paid by Mr. Evans by the col lections wincn he sucreeded a mak ing Upon-the claims "liquidated and determined" in favor of the State is already explained. By act of Congress, the State was entitled to a rebatement of fifteen per cent. on her quota of the United States tax, provided it was paid before the first of September of that year. The State had forfeited both of these proposed reductions for prompt pay. mont by her delinquency in not pay ing the tax for five years. But,not withstanding all this, Mr. Evans7Rtt only obtained for the benefit of the State, the rebatement of the fifteen per cent. on the amount of the tax, but a release of "the interest which might have accrued on the entire claim of the United States. The claims collected by the State from the United States, are as follow: Ist. November 1, 19C8 , ....... us 50 2d. Nrty I, 180.. -.., . 1.999,11 i 01 ad. W.tober 27, 1901 103,651 40 4th. Angast2^. 18:o 143.845 09 sth. April 11, 1811. 187,821 59 6th. May 15, 1871............... 7th. Jima 18, Int $2,010,4e1 The*: colliectinns the !special agent ac count!, for as t Mows:: Ist. May 2, 1887, paid debt due by the State to the United States, being bal ance of quota of direct lax__ . _ . 41 May!. 1857 . re-pald cub advanced to the State by the United Slates, Sep. tember 20,18671 . .. GAM 00 2d. Paid to State Treasury as follow : April 20, 1871, ca5h,._....,..5131,0a, 59 May 18.1871. cash,. ...-... 2112,167 57 June 1871, cash:: .—. 298.711 ocl , July 21, 1871, cash. . _ ... 2:1,9117 53 llia constaission of 10 per ct. on amount collected; re mined from collections, 291,046 01 -----65,910:469 11 From these result it will be seen that the present condition of the claims against the National Government stand thus: Am'i oLelaims Medea Wore shown, $1,172,218 13 Of which there have been allowed & collected r 2.010,46011 The balance yet in momenta it 1P961,7111 OS Farther claims on the, part of the State can, I am informed, tie fairly made, with rood prospect of collection, to Abe amount of. Making the amount of suspended and outstanding claims j . et to be col- C 161,743 03 Credit 3fo6ilier of America. By the 4th section of the act approved May first, 18118, taxing corporations, it is declared: That the capital stock of all companies what ever. Incorporated by or under any law of this Commonwealth ...............shall be subject to pay tax Into the Treasury of the Commonwealth annu ally, at the rate of one‘half mlll for each one per tent. of dividends made or dethued by such corn parry., The taxes received during the last four years from corporation stocks have annually exceeded one million dollars, aid are now about the 'one si xth part of the revenne of the State. "The Credit Mobilier of America" is a corporation Created by the Leg islature of Pennsylvania • and under the vast powers conferred by its char ter, .it undertook the construction of that great national, work, the Union Pacific railroad.: The first contract WAS made With a Mr. Hoxie, for two hundred and - forty-seven miles, at the eastern terminus of-the road, and east of the one-hundredth meridian, for the consideration of fifty, thous• and dollars per mile. This witraCt. was assigned by Hoxie to the Credit: Mobilier, and the road was built by . that company. In the execution of the contract certain profits were made and dividends divided by the cor poration ; and the taxes thereon to the State of Pennsylvania were vol untarily paid Into the Treasury. Soon afterwards another contract was made with Mr. Oaks Ames, for the construction of six hundred and six ty-seven miles of said road west of the one-hundredth meridian, for an aggregate consideration of forty-sev en million nine hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. This part Of the road was constructed under the latter contract • and out of the profits aris ing ther efrom about the sum of nine million dollars was declared as divi dends, and paid to the stockholders of the Credit Mobilier. But when the State demanded her taxes on these immense profits, payment was refused by the corporation, on the grounds that the dividends• tbou •h paid to, and receiied ny, the stock holders of the corporation, and in the precise amounts and proportions in which they severally held stock in the company, were yet Raid to them as in diridy.alB, and not as stock-holders. To rnake , gcxxi this defence sundry pa pers, agreements and contracts were produced, and especially a tripartite agreement between Oaks Ames of the second part ? and the Credit Mo biller of the third part, by which, and the accompanying parol evi dence, it was contended the corpora tion was not responsible for the taxes claimed, amounting to about one million dollars. The accounting of fleets of the State, with counsel em ployed by the Auditor General, as sociated with the Attorney General, prosecuted the claim with zeal and ability, and on the two separate tri als in the court of common pleas of Dauphin county recovered verdicts e nd judgments against the corpora " Tile utter was OULUILICUI °Vein Der 1869, for $407,483 39, and the sec ond, December 24, 1870, for 610,391 03. The defendant took writs of error; and the Supreme Court reversed the judgments, and in the opinion of a majority of,the judges certain prin ciples are declared which are consid ered fatal t i ci l reovery by the State. If this co tion, created by the laws of Pennsylvania, by the legerde main of a tripartite agreement, and other contracts and proceedings to which the Commonwealth was not a party, can thus evade taxation upon its capital stock, I can iinaging no good reason why every other corpora tion may not, by a resort to the same ingenious contrivance, cesape the payment of taxation on their capital -tuck, arid thus over a million of dol len. annually be lost to the State Treasury. In view of this impend ing danger, I earnestly invoke your prompt and careful consideration of this whole subject, and recommend such action as will in the future effec tually protect the interests of the Commonwealth. $1,189,997 /9 292,007 UU $1.654,711 43 350,000 00 CONSTITUTION' A/ REFORM. 6 The peopleat the last election hav ing proclaimed unmistakably in fa vor of a convention to revise the Constitution, it will doubtless be the pleasure of the Legislature to pro vide the necessary legal machinery to awry out thb popular will on this important su bject. I cordially sym pathize with this movement, and in my lug annual message presented my views thereon so fully that a repe tition of them is deemed unnecessary, but to' which.special reference is made. A careful revision of our fundamental law, by men qualified for that duty, is imperatively de manded by the highe s t considera tions of public welfare. Connected with this, in a consid erable degree, are the questions oc the establishment of a "Court of Ap peals." and the appointment of a commission to revise—the tax laws and to equalize taxation. Both of these measures are; important, and are urged upon mY 4 cousideration by intelligent men from different parts of the State. But, inasmuch as the constitutional convention may, with propriety, undertake the te-organiza tion of our judicial system, and as taxation should be based upon and made conformable to the require- merits of the Constitution, I incline to the .. .opinion that general legisla tion on these subjects had better be postponed until the action of the pro posed convention shall be known. R EASION A L APPORTIONMENT fhe second'section of the first arti cle of the Constitntion of the United States, as modified by the second sec tion of the fourteenth amendment thereto, defines the principles and basis of congressional representation ; and imposes upon each State the duty of dividing the same, every ten years, into Congressional - districts, each containing I LS nearly as possible the ratio of inhabitants adopted by Congress, based upon the enu meration of the Xational census of 1870. No more important du ty than tills apportionment of the State into Congressional districts is likely to devolve upon the present Legislature; and I bespeak for It that tureful and patrefotic considera tion which is required by the mag nitude of the interests involved. THE Al I. LFORIP A,N D NI ATAII ORAS RAILROAD COMPANY About the close of the session of the Legislature in 1870, an act was piss ed and approved, entitled "A supple ment to the Milford and Matame ras Railroad Company." The fourth section of this enactment seems to have been intended to take from the State, and give to - the company, the ten thousand dollars bonus, paid Into the State Treasur,y annually by the New York and Erie Railroad Corn pay, under the fifth section of the act of 26th of March, 18-16. Soon after the adjournment, my attention was directed to the subject, and to guard against lanl caused the Attorney General tO eve notice to the NeW York and Erie Railroad Company that the State would look to that corporation for the payment of the imbed bonus, - as he (4 not withstanding the .passage • •••• he Sup plement referred To. I rd the latter as having been enact and ap proved, through inadvertence, in the hurry of a closing session, and as hasty and „Inwnsiderate legislation, at variance with the settled policy of the State, and highly prejudicial io the•Pubile interests; and. I therefore' earnestly repeat the recommenda tion in my last annual message for the immediate repeal of this obnox ious law, or at least of that. part, of it which relates to the bonus. The State having long since abandoned the policy of _paying money out of her Treasury for the construction of railroads, their is neither equity or justice in allowing this enactmen,t, to remain in force. 2t),167 457 M 4,71511 el EDUCATION. Every citizen is deeply interested in the management and welfare of our common schools, and in the cause of general education, and should re joke that in the prosperity of so great a trust he is charged with an appro priate share of responsibility. In proportion as the character of public instruction is elevated, the vast mul titude who emerge from our schools will be properly prepared for the ac tive duties of life, and "the weighty responsibilities of American citizen ship." Thirty-seven years hii've elapsed since the common school system was introduced into Pennsylvania, and the general prosperity of the State has ever since been commensurate with the advantages that have heen afford ed to its rapidly increasing popula tion. Those whoare instrumental in its introduction, and those who have devoted themselves to perfecting its operations as to methods of teaching, the adaptation of buildings, and all other means of education, ruv fully appreciated and compensated by all good and intelligent people. But, much tbt tetnains to be done to per fect ite inmate purposes, and it must not be said of us, now upon the field of action, that we are permitting the good work to languish in our hands. No just complaint should be allowed as to its efficiency, or that its great and important ends are not being ac complished. ICO.OOO 00 It was certainly the purpose of the founders of our common school sys tem to give every child in the Coin moilwealth; without regard to his pe cuniary or social condition the ad vantages of sufficient education to en able him or her to engage in the suc cessful transaction of the ordinary branches of business, and to obtain and maintain a respectability which ignorance can never acquire. Thus far this has not been fully accom plished; for I am informed there are at least seventy-fiVe thousand chil dren in the State who attend no schools whatever. It is unnecessary to inquire into the reasons for this shameful neglect. The evil exists and demands an efficient remedy. It may probably be found either in com pelling, or in holding out induce ments to parents and others havl children in charge—whether rich r poor,—to afford them the benefite, for at leastli reasonable term of years, of our, public schools. Those who neglect this duty are unfit guardians and deserving of severe reprehension. Parents are not the sole owners of their children. The hitter are the property of the State, the prosperity of which materially depends upon their future usefulness. They are emphatically her children, and have an indefeasible right to demand her protection in their youth, that In ad vanced life they may in turn become her protectors. let tfiem be proper ly reared, trained and cultivated, and they will grow up to maturity loving the hand that fostered them, and feel ing a deep and lasting interest In its welfare for the paternal care they re mived. And thus many who would otherwise be neglected may become an honor to themselves, and bright and shining lightsp the moral, 50.... .... of the Comtnonweal h. • But let th be neglected, and what are the 1 - verse results? Idleness and ignore .e are the prolific source orvice and crime. They will fill our alms-houses with youthful vagrants, our prisons with convicted criminals, houses of infamy with dissolute wretches, the perlieus of our cities with miserable, drunken and half starved vagabonds, and cover our "Potter's fields" with the graves of those who might have been, with proper instruction, orna ments to society and serviceable to their country. These statements are fully sustained by the reports ot pris on inspectors, wardens, physicians and philanthropists who have given the subject careful/consideration; and it has been clearly demonstrated that an exceedingly small percentage of the saffering beings who ffrowd our prison's and poor-houses have receiv ed even the rudiments of an ordinary educii ion or moral instruction dur ing their childhood. This condition of things admonishes those having charge of the public interests of a great responsibility, and that the ap plication of effectual remedies admits of no delay. Therefore, such legis lation is reCommended as will remedy any defects in our school system that have hitherto failed to make it thor ough, coin prehensi VC and universal. I would advise a more lit oral wh ey to be adopted in regard to the compensation of teaehers in the pub lic schools, that the highest order of talent and the' bent qualifications for the responsible and important duties of instruction may always be seen red. On this occasion I have omitted the statistical statements exhibiting the condition of the different branches of the School Department, and respect fully invite your attention to the ',ltrefully prepared reports of the Su- Pretintendent for a detailed account of the Normal, Agricultural. Oitrinion and Soldiers' Orphans' Schools and Colleges, and to the suggestions and recommendations contained therein. His long and successful career as an educator eminently entitles them to your attentive consideration. I also recommend an appropriation Of five hundred thousand dollars for the con tinuance of the Soldiers' Orphans, Schools, for the school year termina ting May :il, 1873. NATIONAL GUARD The accompanying report of the Adjutant General will be found an interesting document. It is replete with valuable information in regard to which every citizen of the Com monwealth is deeply concerned. The present condition and efficiency of the military organizations of the State, recognized as the "National Guard," is in most instances such as to give general satisfaction. From a very small beginning, at-the close of the war, they have assumed an attitude most credita/ile to the patriotic ardor of our young men; some of whom, during the past year have been ena bled to avail them elves of an oppor tunity to prove their usetblness in the field. The effective force of the National. Quard is at present nineteen regi ments and three battalion'S, coinpris ing, with unattached organizations, three hundred and eighty-two com panies, viz : Eight artillery, twenty cavalry, and three hundred and fifty four infantry.• Of the regimental or ganizations, thirteen are in the First division, one in the Second, three in the Eighteenth and two In the Ninth. The aggregate of enlisted men is six teen thousand seven hundred and thirty-four, and thecotumissioned of ficers number one thousand one hun dred and forty-two. The Fifth brig ade of the First divisitin, organized in accordance with an act of the last Legislature, is composed of three re ginuots of colored troops. The entire force is handsomely equipped, and generally well drilled and dtscaplined,and prepared to meet any ordinary emergency in which its services may be required or demand ed by the constituted authorities. The riotous condition of affairs in' Luzerne county during the months of April and May last, demonstrate the necessity for and efficiency of these voluntary military wgarnzts lions. For a full account-+f these = dlstarbancm, if- the peace, end the opeOttions of the volunteers ordered lnto'service, you are referred to the repo - it of Major General Edwin S. ()Aherne, commanding the Ninth di vision of the National Guard, which will be found; in the report of the t t i Adjutant Cie erul. - From this docu ment and cth r facts daily communi cated to me d ring the existence of the Scranton roubles, It' 13 evident that our citizen soldiery cannot, be toahighly esteemed_for their servi ces on that occasion; and their use fulness is demonstrated should, simi lar, or any' other civil disturbances, hereafter occur. But for the prompt appearance and Judicious management of the Nation al Guard on the ocotsion of these riots, one of our most prosperous cities might have been reduced to ashes, millions of property destroyed, many valuable lives sacrificed, and scenes of general ruin and devasta tion produced. By act of the Legislature provis ion was made for the expenses neces- . sary for the suppression of the dish turbances in Luzerne county. They amounted to thirty-seven thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven dol lars and thirty-sixvcents. The vari ous items comprising this sum, prop erly audited, and paid by the State Treasurer, will be found in detail in the report of the Adjutant General. The history of the volunteers in the late war is completed and ready for distribution. It embreees. five royal octavo volutnnes, and bears evidence of being a work of Much labor and research. Accompanying this you will receive the final repor ' of the Historian. • WRITS OF ERROR IN CRIMINAL CASES. At the session of 1870, the Legisla ture passed au act, entitled "An Act to allow writs of error in eases of murder and voluntary manslaugh ter," the first section of which pro vides that a writ of error "shall be .1f right, and may be sued out upon the oath of the defendant or defend ants, at) in civil cases. The second section makes it the duty of the judg es of the Supreme Court, In all such awes, to review both the law and the evidence. The importance of this subject, and the neglect of the Leg islature to act upon it in response to the request in made my last an nual message, makes it incumbent upon me to repeat my recommenda tion. Before this enactment the law required the defendant to allege that sonic error had been committed by the court on the trial, and to show cause, within thirty days, why the writ of error should be granted ; but this law gives a writ,. whether any error is alleged or not, and allows the defendant seven years in which to issue it, according to the practice in civil eases. Heretofore the Execu tive dj4 not ordinarily issue the war rant kir execution of any criminal until the expiration of the thirty days within which he was permitted to apply for his writ of error. - That limitation of thirty days being uuw virtually repealed, and seven years substituted therefor, is it expected the • warrant shall be withheld fur the seven years? If not, when may it properly issue? And- if issued at any time within the seven years, may not the criminal supercede it at any time he pleases by his writ *of emir? And inay it not be reasona bly expected that this will be the practical result in many cases? This would Settill like trifling with very serious mutters; and I respectfully submit whether the act should be re pealed, or very materially modified, without delay. In my message of loth February, 1870, returning the Lill with my objections, I gave sun dry reasons Why it should not be ap proved, and the views therein ex ' pressed remain unchanged ; and the Supreme Court of the State; in the Slueppe case, expresses its opinion of • this enactment, as follows: "It is not improper before closing row we in reference to the act of 1870, to craw intention w Jvaxac ' of its defects, and to the radical change in our criminal jurisprudence it will produce. It was passed for this case r -tytit owing to the Govern or's veto it came too late. It is an other evidence that laws which are the offsfring of feeling are seldom wisely fraitied. t.lt commands this court to review the eridence and to determine whether time ingredients to constitute murder in the first de gree were proved to exist ; and yet itl forgetfulness of the formerjlaw, it provides no means to take, preserve and bring up the eridence. This, the first attempt to act under it, proves its Inefficiency, the judge below re turning to our certiorari that he was not able to make the return of the -evidence. lie is not bound by law tp take the testimony or to certify to At. A bill of exceptions brings up only 50 touch of the evidence us may be required to explain the point of law comained in the bill. "The effects of this liana seems not to have excited atten4on. It has changed the whole doctrine of the criminal law as to the speed and cer tainty of punistiment, and left to the felon both theAlope and a door of es cape not °nil from the law's delay, but by prison breach, and all the va rious means of avoiding retributive justice. At this moment, two cases occur to, my memory of convictions of murder in Allegheny county, de laytsi by dilatory motions, where the prisendoors were opened by unknown. means, / and the prisoners escaped forever. Any murderer may, under this law L--though like Probst he may have murdered a whole family— take out his writ of error, without limitation of time or condition, whether in prison under sentence, or stepping upon the trap of the gallows, with cause, or without it, and sus pend his ease until the next term of the Supreme Court. No one could condemn bite, if the death warrant not preventing, he should wait till time term of the Supreme Court be passed, and then take out his writ of error to delay the execution Of his sentence for it whole year. That on ly-security to the public, the exam ination of the case and allowance of the writ for cause, is repealed.'' I'ItoCLANIATIONS Von ELECTIONS Complaints have been made to ine pia want of uniformity in the Sher iffs' proclatnalons for . elections, to which I deem it important to invite your attentien. There are sundry local laws on the subject ofelections, to which the local proclamations must necessarily eon form, The elec tion laws are generally unifofm; and there are no good reasons why the main body of the sheriffs' proclama tions should not also be uniform.— For many years scarcely any two proclamations nave been :Mimi and they seem in many instances to have been prepared with more regartl4o supposed partisan advantages than to the plain requirements of law. Many things, are included which are unne cessary, and frequently other things are excluded which the law positive ly requires. This evil should be rem edied ; and I mu suggest no better way of doing it than for the Legisla ture to authorise the Secretary of the Commonwealth or the Attorney ( ;en eral to prepare and distribute such a form of proclamation as the law pre scribes. ILA I LIIOAD CONSOLIDATIONS The consolidation of railroads and railroad companies has lately become quite common, and the intrests in volved are very great. The laWs heretofore created, authorizing, this to be done only require that the ar ticles of Merger sball be filed in the office of Secretary of State, but confer no authority for recording.. In view of the magnitude of these interests I recommend that authority be given to the Secretary to record, In . suitable books, all articles and agreements of consolidation and merger heretofore tiled, and all that hereafter may be. Presented for that purpose. CAPITOL ..t.N D CAPITOL - GROUNDS A suitable place is desirable for the proper exhibition of the, painting of the Battle of Gettysburg, and the flags now stowed away In the office of the State Historian. Few 13er3OnS visit Harrisburg who are not desirous of viewing, not only the painting, but the worn and tattered colors ter ried triumphantly over / many battle fields, by Our brave soldiers during the recent war. ? These should not be hidden from public inspection as so much useless and condemned rub bish. The rooms in the Capitol used by the State Historian and the Board of ,Chtultles, would, conjointly, an swer the purpose indicated; and but small expense teed be incurred to put them in proper order. The Legislature has frequently had under consideration the propriety of purchasing a small piece of land at the east corner of the Capitol grounds, necessary to complete the square. I recommend that further efforts be made to secure the object indicated, and that the iron fence enclosing the grounds be completed. CODIFICATION OF TuE LAWS. In my last annual message the fa vorable consideration of the Legisla ture was invited to the revised civil code ; but no action was taken on It other than the appointment.of a . Joint committee of the two Houses to ex amine it and make report at the pres ent session. The commissioners in formed me that, in the interval of time, they have ingrafted into the code so much of the legislation of last winter a. 9 was necessary to harmonize the whole, and have also made some corrections of their earlier work, and that production is now in the hands of the committee. COAL MINES During the Session of 1870, the Legislature passed a law "providing fol• the health and safety of persons employed in coal mines," which has been productive of beneficial results. Yet there are deficiences to be sunpli ed in order to-fully accomplish the desired objects, In a previous mes sage I endeavored to make it appear that no extensive coal mine could be safe without more than one outlet, and not even then unless secured by ineombustible material. The recom mendation that at least'two openings should be required has been incorpo rated in the law, but that regarding the use of wood in their construction was unheeded. It is comparatively of little importance how many means of exit there may be if these are choked up with the flames and smoke of burning timbers. This was dem oristrated in September last in the terrible calamity at Pittston, which followed so soon after tbat of Avon dale, and was less horrible only be calise less extensive, by which the lives of eighteen miners were sacri lit2ed, and which, with the proper precaution against fire, might prop erly have been saved. A still more recent casualty sug gests another amendment to the act referred to. By the reprehensible pekctiee of robbing the supporting, columns, the roofs of the 'Miles, the overlying surfaces of which are in sonic places covered_wlth houses, sink into the vacuum, causing the destruc thin of matiy thousand dollars worth of property., as at Scranton,.7llyde Park and Wilkosbarre. a should, thtl..refore, be made unlawful to re move the coal supports without sup pls,•ing their place with others of sub stantial masonry, or something equi valent. ,The reports of Inspectors of Mines fu f fnish much statistical information and other valtiable and interesting matter, exhibiting their usefulness and Vindicating the propriety of their appointment. COM Pt' 1 &"' AT 1 N , The small-pox has, during the past year, made its appearance in the ci ties and popti lons districts of the State. tn July last it assumed an epidemic character, and its ravages still con tinue. During the last six ionths, it Philadelphia alone; over eight thou kind cases were reported, of which eighteen hundred and tieventy -nine proved fatal. On this point, the Port n..,v.siittian and the ifealtlvOttiour of that city, in their report of December say "it i, a deplorable shame that ten hundred and eighteen lives (the number reported up to that date) have been sacrificed this year, which Could and should have been preserved by the known means of prevention." From this statement it appears that one per cent. of the population of that tity was smitten with the infection. Auld that the mortality exceeded 23 per cent. of the macs reported. The i eohleinie has spread widely over the Hate, and many neighborhoods have ,greatly suffered. 'l'h, cause evidently exists among ourselves, and it becomes our duty to devise means to arrest its progress, and to enact such legislation as will protect our people against its recur rence. This is a delicate subject, but it is one which so dceple affects the ,welfare of our 4 itizens, and the gen :end interests of the State, that it be comes toy duty to speak frankly and to the point. And it is also one in which every member of the General Assembly is concerned. Eminent utedieal urea unhesitatingly declare that thousands of lives have been sac rificed. for want of proper sanitary laws. There are none such in the Suite ; and if they are not speedily enacted a weighty responsibility will rest upon wh4llll the duty devolves. I quote from a recent work by Dr. P. 11. Chavasse, an eminent English surgeon, and 1)r. F. H. Getchell, lec turer, Jefferson Mtslical College, the following paragraph : "Small-pox is a pest. It is worse than the plague; for if not kept in subjection it is more general—spar ing neither young nor old, rich nor poor, and commits greater ravages than the plague ever did. Small-pox is a disgeace to any civilized land, as there is no necessity' for its presence. If vaccination were frequently and properly performed,small-pox would .be unknown. Cow-pox is a weapon to conquer .stnall-pox, and drive it ignominiously from the field. My firm belief, then, is that if every per son were, erery Revell gears, duly and properly vaccinnated, small-pox might he utterly exterminated. But as long as there are such lax notions on the subject, and Fu h gross negli gence, t he disease will always be ; for the poison of small-pox never slumbers nor sleeps, but re quires the utmost diligence to eradi cate it. The great 1)r. Jeuner, the discoverer of cow-pox as a preventive fur small-pox, strongly advocated the al 601 ute necessity of every person be ing vaceinnated once every seven years or oftener, if there was an epi demic of small-pox in the neighbor- I hood." These eminent phygicians I also aver that very few fatal cases are recorded as occurring after vaveina tion, and these may be considered as only exceptions to the general rule, anti sonic of them might he traced to the vaccinnation not having taken effect. They moreover say that per sons who take small-pox after vac cination are seldom pitied, and the disease assunicA a comparatively mild form. The necessity, therefore, for a compulsory ramination law and its utility is also demonstrated by unanswerable statistics, contained in the report of the portysician, here with submitted, and Co which you are mostzespectfully referred. A STATE BOARD OF HEATH. Many eminent medical and other scientific gentlemen have suggested that the organization of a State Board of Health; under the auspices of the Legislature, would be greatly con ducive to the general welfare of the people of the Com monwettip. After mature deliberation I thoroughly ac cord in this. opinion - . Local boards. of health May answer the purposes for which'they are established , but their fields of operation are limited, and they cannot accomplish the objects rtintemplated by the ap pointment'of a general State Board. The prevalence of yellow fever in for mer yearsi . :which spread beyond the boundarieeassigned to the Philadel- . phia Board; , the devastation produc ed by the sinall pox during the past year; the fact that the Asiatic chol era is steadily Marching over its old track to oar very doors ; and the many,other influences which cod-Stantl threaten the health of our citi zens, seem Imperatively to demand the creation of as efficient a sanitary institution as legislative - wisdom can possibly dcvlse. The Board could be formed somewhat Similar to that of Public Charities. The expense_ ,to the State need be no greater, while the benefits to be derived are incal culable. The head of the Board should be athysicien of undoubted respectability : . in - regard to every necessary acquirement, and largeex perience in the practice of his profes sion, while the Board might consist of five or more medical men resident k in different parts of the State, who would perform the duties, if not grat uitosly, at least at every moderate east. The general objects should be clenrly specified and defined; and each metnber should exercise a careful su per Vision over the sanitary condition of the district of the State to which he might be assigned.. The appoint .meat nj such Board cannot result otherwise than in great sanitary re forms. REMOVAL OF TIIE QUARANTINE. The propriety of removing the Quarantine has for a: long time been a mooted question. Popular opinion decidedly favors a changeauni in a few i i years it will be an it perative neces sity. The existing zaretto was es tablished nearly a ntury ago in a sparsely settled district. Since then its neighbornood has become thick ly settled, and many dwellings and towns are springing up in its immediate vicinity. The rapid growth of the city of Chester, and its being made a port of entry, will ne cessitate the removal, Besides, there are cities and villages of considerable size far below thequarantine station, on both sides of the • river,' which should receive the protection now only inadequately afforded toThila delphia. it should be located at the mouth of the Deleware river, or upon the bay, if a proper situation for the erection of the necessary buildings can be obtained, No argument is necessary to show that quarantine, to be effective, shout be as far remote from thickly popu lated districts as possible, and hence he necessity for the change sugges ted. To effect this change the co-opera tion of the• States of Delaware and New Jersey is desirable and impor tant, in order that a joint Quarantine for the protection of the three con tiguous States may be established. I recomend that two commissioners be appointed to correspond with sim ilar commissioners of the other States named, for the purpose of success fully accomplishing this greatly de sired object. • THE POWDER MAGAZINE. The removal of the powder maga zine in Philadelphia from its present location is a subject demanding prompt attention. It is nearly (lin t iguous to the city gas works, coal oil - fineries, the new League Island navy yard, many manufacturing establishments and dwelling houses ; and consequently an explosion of the magazine might result in great loss of life and destructioq of property. The magazine should be in some afore is olated district. PUBLIC CHARITIFN YOU will, in due time, receive a full report of the transactions of the I Board of Public Charities during the past year. The usefulness of the board will be flown by the facts to be presented. Several suggestions as .to the improvement of its organiz:►- tion and management will be made in the report, to which your attention is invited. Its importance to the t cause of humanity and the interests I of the Commonwealth is generally acknowledged. IN NI &MORI ANI During the last few years it has been my melancholy duty to chroni cle the death of a number of eminent citizens, who had either heretofore been, or were at the time connected officially with tho Commonwealth, and at the present time I would (14 injustice to my own feelings, were I to omit to notice the fact, that three noble and patriotic sons of Pennsyl vania, whom the people had lately honored with their efinfidence, have terminated their earthly career with in a brief period: lion. George Connell, member of the State Senate from the Fourth Senatorial district, died in Philadel phia on the .'6th of October last, aged fifty-six years. A brief tribute to his many virtues and excellencies is due to him its a faithful public, servant. During, the early part of his life he was engaged in merchandising, afterwards in real estate and law buisness, and subsequently, from 1859, a period of twelve years - , was a member of the State Senate, during several years of which time he was chairman of the Committee of Fi nance. lie was elected by a majority of over seven thousand votes in Oc tober last to his fifth term. His death leaves a vacancy in the Senate, and will cause a void in political and social circles of the State that will not easily be filled. His faithful and valuable services will long he re membered. lion. David Stanton, Auditor General elect, departed this life on the fifth of November last, aged forty two years. Ile was a physician, having graduated at the Cleveland Medical College, and at the Univer sity of Pennsylvania. During the late war he was professionally en gaged in several branches of the army, viz: Surgeon of United State-. Vol unteers, Superintendent of Hospitals, Medical Director of the. Northern department, and at the close of the war brevetted Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel, He continued actively engaged in his profession at the time' of his death. He was a scholarly refined and thourough gentlemen ; kind in his deportment andeminent ly skilled in his profession. His de parture is the more deeply lamented as he had just become the people's choice for another and more extended field of honor and usefulness. J. \V. I►ickerson, Esq., of Medford, departed this life on the 26th Decem ber last. He had distinguished him self as a successful teacher of our commOn 'schools, and as county Superintendent.. lie was a young man of ability and much promise of future usefulness, and wits elected, last October, :t member•sf the House of Represesntati yes from the district composed of the counties of. Bedford and Fu!ton. I'AItDoNS Among the most einbarru,:sing and responsible cloths required of the Executive k the exercise of the par doning poN% er. There k scarcely a petition for pardon made. upon which strong conflicting, interests anti opinions are not brought to bear, all of . .vhich must receive close and un prejudice4l scrutiny in order that mercy and justice may alike be satis fied, This demands. ninch lime no small amount of patience. The pleadings of relatives friends and hu • man itarians must be heard and duly considered on the one hand, and on the other the action and decision of the courts, and in many cries the earnest protests of either sincere or malicious prosecutors. And after his decision is, fairly given in favor of an unfortunate convict. the Execu tive must, in almost every caw, be prepared to encounter acrimonious criticism from parties who have nev er given the subject one moment's consideration. During the past year the applica tions for pardons were one thousand and twenty-three. Of these, sixty were granted, less than six per cent of the entire number, being one to every sixty thousand inhabitants of the State. in proportion to the popu lation, in which committees are ap pointed to exerciWhis power. Ac companying this message will be found a pardon report, in conformity with a plan adopted the first year of my administration. • These reports are made for the purpose of showing that no secrecy adheres to the exer cise of the prerogative in question, and to inform the Legislature and the people, every one of whom h a , an Interest in the subject, what Sons have been adduced for the eration of persons convicted of crime, and 'what personal influence s h ave been employed for the aceompliA. went ofthat object. (X)NI UTATIONI4 oP IMPRISONNIEXT The act approved M a y 21 , au. thorlzing commutations upo n terms of persons convicted of crime has produced a decidedly salutar,; effect. - The disciPlitto of tile . priso n , is reported as beinggreatiy . proyeil by the voluntary good conduct of all desirous of availing theniselv of the merciful provisions of the t aw . and . teformatory influenee l hacr been manifest in many ea,e,, t, y the goo d behavior of those who h ave been the fortunate R•cipient s of it, benefits. The improved habit, of prisoners dufing their continemtv have gone with them into privat,, life, and the wisdom of the Legi,L. lature in passing the law has thus h ence signally confirmed. In accorrin,l. with the act referred to commenda ble conduct on the part of the pri K , ner, such As will merit and reet.ive a favorable certificate from the wank of a prison, with the approval of iii board of inspectors, seCU rc_-4 the ;f i t. lowing deductions from the tern ~t sentence, viz: "One month on n h of the: brit two years ; two months on tech sac• seeding y ea r to the fifth year; an d tehre months on each following yf tr r to the tenth ; and four month, each remaining year of the termq sentence." The number of convicts dirrettli to be discharged, under this act, W ore their terms of sentence had c-xpi r ,,L from the State peniterrtiarit., an d county prisons, during the pd-t y r , 4% amounts to five hundred arrri three, and it 1- a gratifying favi thus far 1 have not heard of of them returning to habits of 6 ENRA I, REM ARKS Herewith Is submitted a.efina r , u . niaition from the President of United States, in regard to the ty-seventh article qt the treaty eluded in Washkigton on the eighth day of May last, between the l-:nit,ll States and Great Britain. It rt later to the navigation of'the lake 7., river, and minis along the northern bon. daries of the United States. 1, which, and the accompanying cony of the treaty, your attention i, 11i vited. In accordance with an existing law, the banks in the Lointnon wealth art required at stated periods to pubil.-4 a correct statement of their busing transaction., and financial condition. A law• . sin] liar in all respects should be passed in regard to all saving fund institutions. A re-survey of the geological and mineralogical re.._ , ,urees of the State has on several occusitais been recom mended. The sulject 6 agt, tin com mended to vl , ur consideration. The report fif James wurriTl, Fish onlitni,4ioner, a itl ke laid In. fore you ; from. which it - WiliAkcetli that although the Work as.signed is progressing slowly, it is surd>. accomplishing the desired result, In previous messages legldativ.. gtention has been called to suudry subjects upon which no, action h.,. ! been taken. Among the most Hi:- portant of these is the creation ,ran insunince department, the protect, r. and multiplication of our ti horn and the establishment of a bun-au f statistics. ' With regard to the tali r. it is important that the resouros the State should be more thorougifir ascertained and understood tli4n they are at present. The extent value of our oil, salt, coal and if-!, fields are unknown, and there is reliable information to be oktainisl from any one source concerning :tw amount of these wild staples, the value of their annual produchun. The saute may be said of all our pr,- ductions, whether they result fr , ,ni mining, manufactures, agricultUre or commerce should ili . oo recorded in this proposed bureau such facts and statism , as are aces: sible, concerning the cunditiot, wages and treatment of ail classes ut working people. Facts un all ther and other suhjocts relative to. b. , business and productions of the Snito should he collected and properly 1 . ,: corded by an officer appointed fur that purpose, who would riot only keep them easily accessible to persons desirous of using than, Lt.: publish them annyally for genet:, information. The expense of stn h, bureau would be insignificant compared with the udvantages to derived therefrom. The obnoxious doctrine of fro.- trade is again raising its ilYtir,v4i , a.l with a view to destroy, as far soine of _the Hunt interests of the State and nation it is hoped and expected that our Senators and Representatives in ( gress will interpose in solid phajaux between its advocates and tilt' 21CliAll• plishmerd of their designs. My opinions, heretofore so fully and freely expressed in relation to a tariff protective of our product , and manufactures, and especially open salt, coal, iron and steel, remain uot , only unchanged, but are greatly strengthened by reflection and 01- servation. Any atbmipt to reduce the protection now afforded c:turplt but be regarded as an effort to beacnt , foreign interests at the eXpclaSt . yfc our Home Industries, and I.) 'Ave \ our toilers on a par with the ill-paid labor of foreign countrics, must eventuate in the dc,truction the very influences which ha' , , 'OW the war, made us so prosperou people,. and laid the foutalation. , suet] great individual and natiot;:ti wealth. The aveable teaching experience on this important subject should not be unheeded, and Lion on it should be for the N 1 1:;iro of the people and the, nation. It should untietsitatingly pioteet jean labor, maintain its muipen-a tion, hold out inducements to cavi talists for investment, give the ri ., - dueer a home market, and afford the amplest opportunity for the devel opment of the unbounded resources of the country, and not for the bene fit of those who are industriously endeavoring to lure our eapitali,t to financial ruin, and bring about the impoverishment of our niechani , - and citizens who are now prospen)u ly engaged in all branches of tradt and tdustry. An "International Congress on tit, Prevention and Repression of Crinw, Including Penal and Reforniatoo Treatment," has been appointed :- be held in London, on the :Id of Jul . 1872. By resolution of Conan-, C. Wines, LL. 1)., has been Commissioner of the United State- The philanthropic objects and t"' teial results contemplated are to. numerous to be here set forth. accompanying doibuments will tn!- Pish all necessary inlorninti , I.2ommisSioners from nearly kv , `civilized nation are expelled to present, and a number of our ow 1 Stales will, doubtless, be represen l• It is suggested, very properly, OA the Legislature of Pennsylvania "" thorize the appointment of one '' r more Commissioners to repre , cill the State in this important Congo-, Upon all national questions tlw, views.then entertained and advanced- In iris' last annual tnessage reino,ll unchanged. On this acvaunt, gether with the belief that Cottgrc" will soon dispose of the subjects ti"" discussed, and others that have •intt been brought prominently before the public, I deem it unnecessary t" copy ••:iur time with any especnii rematics on the affairs of Ow n.ern I conclude with a sincere I ar' - est desire that your session May characterized by universal kintn and generosity, while on in part I will be pleased to glv:e a cordial con currence in every measure calculate e' y to adyance the interests of our con- mon constituents and the gener 3l prosperity of the aim monoealth. JOHN W. GEARY. ExEcurtVE CHAMBER, Harrisburg. January 3, 1871.5
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