SUBSCRIPTION TERMS, &C The IOCIHER if published etery iu)iT morn tag he following rates : 0* *YAR, (in advance,) $2.00 " " (it not paid within tii mm.)... S2.SO " " (if not paid within the year,)... $3.00 All papers outside of the county discontinued without notice, at the expiration of the time for which the subscription has been paid. .Single copies of the paperfur nished, in wrappers, at fire cents each. Communications on snbjeets of local or general merest, are respectfully solicited. To ensure at tention favorß of this kind must invariably be accompanied by the name of the author, not for publication, but as a guaranty against imposition. Ail letters pertaining to business of the office should be addressed to JOHN LUTZ, Bsnronn, Pa. LAWS.—WC would call the special attention of Post Masters and subscribers to the Isqcntsit to the following synopsis of the News paper iaws: 1. A Postmaster is required to give notice by et(er, (returning a paper does not answer the law j when a subscriber Joes not take his paper out of the office, and state the reasons tor its not being taken; and a neglect to do so makes the Postmas ter repeontibl* to the publishers for the pavmeut 2. Any person who takes a paper fTom the Post office, whether directed to hit name or another, or whether he has subscribed or not is responsible for the pay. 3. If a person orders his paper discontinued, he must pay all arrearages, or the publisher may continue to send it until payment is made, and olleet the whole amount, whether it be taken from the office or not . There can be no legal discontin uence until the payment is made. 4. If the subscriber orders his paper to be stopped at a certain time, and the publisher con tinuesto send, the subscriber is bound to pay for it, if he taken it out of the Poet Office. The law proceeds upon the ground that a man must pay for what .he uses. 5. Ihe courts bare decided that refusing to t*k< newspapers and periodicals from the Post office, or removing and having them uncalled for, ii -prima jacia evidence of intentional fraud. & business Caul*. ATTORNEYS AT LAW. JOHN T. KEAGY, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW. is- 095 ce opposite Reed A SeheU's Back, ounsel given In English and German. [pl26] AND LINGENFELTER, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, BEDFORD, PA. Have formed a partnership in the practice ol •the Law, in new brick building near the Lutheran Church. [April 1, 1864-tl lyj. A. POINTS, ATTORNEY AT LAW, BEDFORD, Pa. Respectfully tenders his professional services .o the public. Office with J. W. Lingenfelter, Esq., on Public Square near Lutheran Church. > SST-Collections promptly made. [Dec.9, 64-tf. |_JAYES IRVINE, ATTORNEY AT LAW, Will faithfully and promptly attend to all husi aess intrusted to his care. Office with G. H. Spang, Esq., on Juliana Btreet, three doors south of the Mengel House. May 24:1y OSPY M. ALSIP, Ci ATTORNEY AT LAW, BEDFORD, PA.., Will faithfully and promptly attend to all busi ness entrusted to his care in Bedford andadjoin a counties. Military claims, Pensions, back pay, Bounty, Ac. speedily collected. Office with Mann A Spang, m Juliana street, 2 doors south ofthe Mengel House. apl 1, 1864.—tf. B. F. MITERS J. W. SICSXRBOX MEYERS A DICKERSON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, BEDFORD, PESS'A., Office nearly opposite the Mengel House, will practice in the several Courts of Bedford county. Pensions, bounties and back pßy obtained and the jarchaseofßeal Estate attended to. [mayll,'6B-Iy F R. DURBOKROW, 'J., ATTORNEY AT LAW, Will attena prompuy u, BU _ his care. Collections made on the shortest no tice. He •*, also, a regularly licensed Claim Agent andwil give special attention to the prosecution . 'sis * against the Government for Pensions, Buck 1 y, Bounty, Bounty Lands, Ac. Office on Juliana street, one door South of the Inquirer office, and nearly opposite the ' Mengel House" April 28. 1865:t jg B. STUCKEY, ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR AT LAW, and REAL ESTATE AGENT, Office on Main Street, between Fourth and Fifth, Opposite the Court House. KANSAS CITY. MISSOURI. Will practice in the adjoining Counties of Mis souri and Kansas. July 12:tf • . 1. RCSSBLL. J. M. LOKGBSECBKR RUSSELL * LONGENECKER, ASTTORSBVS A COCRSELLORS AT LAW, Bedford, Pa., Will attend promptly and faithfully to all busi ness entrusted to their care. Special attention given to collections and the prosecution of claims for Back Pay, Bounty, Pensions, Ac. Office on Juliana street, south of the Court House. Aprils:lyr. J* M'P. SHARPS E. F. ERRR SHARPE A KEKR, A TTORNE TS-A T-LA W. Will practice in the Courts of Bedford and ad joining counties. All business entrusted to their care will receire careful and prompt attention. Pensions, Bounty, Back Pay, Ac., speedily col lected from the Government. Office on Juliana street, opposite the hanking house of Keed A Scheil. Bedford, Pa. mar2:tf PHYSICIANS. yyM."wT JAMISON, M. D., BLOODT RCH, PA., Respectfully tanders his professional services to tia people of that place and vicinity. [decS:lyr QR. B. F. HARRY, Respectfully tenders his professional ser vices to the citiians of Bedford and vicinity. Office and residence on Pitt Street, in the building fcrmrriv occupied by Dr. J. H. HoSus. [Ap'l 1,64. DR. S. G. STATLER, near Schellsberg, and Dr. J. J. CLARKE, formerly of Cumberland cc unty. having associated themselves in the prac tice of Medicine, respectfully offer their profes sional services to the citisens of Sehelisbnrg and viesnity. Dr. Clarke's office and residence same as formerly occupied by J. White, Esq., dee'd. S. G. STATLER, Schellsburg, Aprill2:ly. J. J. CLARKE, M ISC ELL ANE"O U S. OE. SHANNON, BANKER, • BeFORD, PA. BANK OF DISCOUNT AND DEPOSIT. Collections made for the East, West, North and South, and the general business of Exchange transacted. Notes and Accounts Collected and Remittances promptlymade. REAL ESTATE bought and sold. feb22 DANIEL BORDER, PITT STREET, TWO DOORS WEST OF THE BED FORD HOTEL, BEIFORD, PA. WATCHMAKER AND DEALER IN JEWEL RY. SPECTACLES. AC. He keeps on hand a stock of fine Gold and Sil ver Watches, Spectacles of Brilliant Double Refin •d Glasses, also Scotch Pebble Glasses. Gold Watch Chains, Breast Pins, Finger Kings, best quality of Gold Pens. He will supply to order any thing in his line not on hand. [apr.2B,*6S. £ P. HARBAUGH & SON, Travelling Dealers in NOTIONS. In the county once every two months. SELL GOODS AT CITY PRICES. Agents for the Chambersburg Woolen Manufac tunng Company. Apl l:Iy T) W. C ROUSE, • • DEALER IB CIGARS, TOBACCO, PIPES, &C., , ' 3 street one door east of Geo. R. Oster t 'Store, Bedford, Pa., is now prepared sei. by wholesale all kinds of CIGARS. All . irrs promptly filled. Persons desiring anything bis line will do well to give him a call. Radford Oct 10. '66., JOHN U'TZ. Ettttor and Proprietor. Htujuirrr Mumn. ADVERTISERS: THE BEDFORD INQUIRER PIBUBHXD EVERY FRIDAY MORNING, BV JOHN LUTZ, OFFICE ON JULIANA STREET, BEDFORD, PA. THE BEST ADVERTISING MEDIUM IN SOUTH■ WESTERN PENNSTL VAN IA. CIRCULATION OVER 1500. HOME AND FOREIGN ADVERTISE MENTS INSERTED ON REA SONABLE TERMS. A. FIRST CLASS NEWSPAPER. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: $2,00 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE. JOB PRINTING: ALL KINDS OF JOB WORK DONE WITH NEATNESS AND DISPATCH, AND IN THE LATEST & MOST APPROVED STYLE, SCCHAB POSTERS OF ANY SIZE, CIRCULARS, BUSINESS CARDS, WEDDING AND VISITING CARDS, BALL TICKETS, PROGRAMMES, CONCERT TICKETS, ORDER BOOKS, SEGAR LABELS, RECEIPTS, LEGAL BLANKS, PHOTOGRAPHER'S CARDS, BILL HEADS, LETTER HEAD 3, PAMPHLETS, PAPER BOOKS, ETC. ETC. F.TC. ETC. ETC. Our facilities for doing all kinds of Job Printing are equalled by very few establishments in the country. Orders by mail promptly filled. All letters should be addressed to JOHN LUTZ. a Horal anb i&nirral flrtospaprr, Drbotrb to politics, obucatton, llitrraturc anb fHovate. Ikbfort Inquirer. OOTESIOB'S MESSAGE. To the Semite and House of Representa tives of the Com mon wealth qf Pennsyl vania: i OENTLESTICN !—For the harmony and general relations of eomily and friendship existing between Pennsyl vania and all the other States and Ter ritories of the National Union ; for the present prosperous condition of the Commonwealth ; for the glad signs of coming political tranquility ; and for the success which attends the progress of our free institutions, we owe a heavy debt of gratitude to Divine Providence. In view of the favorable circumstan ces under which you are now assem bled, it becomes my province and du ty, as it is my pleasure, to offer you my hearty congratulations, and to tender you a cordial welcome to the Legisla tive Halls of the State. This, indeed, affords mea higher gratification because ; > t participate with your constituents in : ; the confidence mard''sled-by them in selecting you to represent their indi vidual interests as well as those of the Commonwealth. On your wisdom, in tegrity, judgment and discretion, all will undoubtedly rely for the correct I determination of every question affect ing the largest interests and gravest responsibilities, and for a continuance, | anu even an increase, of that prosperi-! i ty which has hitherto been so signally enjoyed. It is not without a consciousness of the great responsibility resting upon me that 1 undertake the performance of a constitutional duty, requiring that the Governor "shall from time to time give to the General Assembly infor mation of the state of the Common wealth, and recommend to their con sideration such measures as he shall { judge expedient." In conformity | with i his requirement your attention; will be called only to such matters of 1 public interest as'in my judgment de- : serve careful consideration and action j on your part during the present ses- ■ sion. FINANCES. The following is a carefully prepared statement of the financial condition of the State for the fiscal year ending November 30, 1868: Tbe reports of the Auditor General and State Treasurer show that the balanee in the Treasury, Novem ber 30, 1867, was " $1,661,836 46 Ordinar.- receipts during the fiscal Tear ending November 30, 1368 5,216,019 55 Depreciated funds in the Treas ury, uiiavailable 41,032 00 Total in Treasury for fiscal year euding NOT 30, 1663 $9,918,918 01 Payments, viz : Ordinary expenses daring the fiscal year ending November 30, lb6B $2,154,506 09 Loans Ac., redeemed 4,417,463 6} Other payments 12,500 00 Interest on loans 1.979,690 91 Depreciated funds, unavailable 41,032 00 8,905.492 54 Balanee in Treasury, Nov. 30, 1868 $1,013,415 37 Sinking fund. By an act appro veil April 10. 1063, the transactions of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund were ordered to be thereafter reported annually to the 30th day of November. Their last re port, therefore, includes a period of one year and three months. The following is the "recapitula tion" of the operations of the sinking veinner 3D, 1868 : Balance in fund, September 3 1567 sl, 737,912 41 Receipts in fund from September 3, 1887, to November 30, 1868 3,413.992 31 5,156.90 4 79 Paid interest $1,(W0,905 84 Premiums paid as equivalent for coin 49 98 Loans redeemed 2,414,816 64 4,222.871 96 Balance in fund Nov. SO, ISSB $924,032 76 By the sixth section of the act of May 16, IS6I, a special tax of one-half mill on the dollar was especially set apart for the payment of the interest and re demption "of the loan created by an act of May 18, 1861, entitled "An Act to create a loan and provide for arming the State." Balance on hand September 3, 1857 $319 933 17 The receipts from said tax and tax on gross receipts from September 3, 1867, to November 30, 1868, amount to 423,979 20 Total 743.912 37 Interest paid in January and July, 1868 169.245 00 Balrnce in fund November 30, 1568 $574,667 37 Out (lit ion of Balances. Balance in siLking fund Nov. 30, 1857 $934,032 76 Balance in sinking fund Nov. 30, 1868 574.667 37 51.505.790 13 Deduct balance in Treasury, Nov. 30. 1863 1,013,415 37 Balance in favor of sinking fund $4y5,234 76 lied lie t ion of the Stale Debt. By the report of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund for the year end ing September 3, 1867, the "loans re deemed" amouuted to $1,794,569 50, and by their report from September 3, 1867, to November 30, 1868, the "loans redeemed" amounted to $2,414,816 64, making a total reduction of the State debt, in two years and three months, of four million two hundred and nine thousand three hundred and eighty-six dollars and fourteen cents. The assets remaining in the Sinking Fund are as follow, vizßonds of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, six million, four hundred thousand dollars, and bonds of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Company, three million, five hundred thousand dollars. These are non-interest bearing bonds and will not mature for many years. 1, there fore, recommend to the consideration of the Legislature the propriety of the passage of a law, authorizing tin? Com missioners of the Sinking Fund to sell these bonds at public stile to the high est bidder, and direct the proceeds to be applied to the liquidation of the State debt. Public debt outstanding December 1. 1867, $37,704,409 77 Deduct amount redeemed at State Treasury during fiscal year end ing November 30,1868. viz, 5 per cent loans, $4,354 253 04 4J percent loan? 63,000 00 Relief notes cancelled 210 00 4,417.463 64 Public debt December 1, IS6S, $33,286,946 1.3 Statement showing the condition of the indebtedness of the Common wealth on the first day of December, 1868. Funded debt, viz : 6 per cent, loans, $25,311.180 00 5 percent, loans, 7,749,771 56 4i per cent, loans, 112.000 00 Total ftinded, $33,172,951 56 Unfounded debt, viz : Relief notes in circulation, $96 415 00 Interest certificates outstanding 13,056 52 Interest certificates unclaimed 4,448 33 Domestic creditors' certificates 44 67 Total unfunded, 113,994 57 Total funded and unfunded, $33,286,916 13 Which is the amount of the State debt as before stated. During the last eighteen years there has been carried ujnm the accounts of the Auditor General and State Treasu rer, and in their several public state ments, "depreciated funds unavaila ble'' to the amount of forty-one thous and and thirty-two dollars. I recom mend the appointment of a joint com mittee, by the Legislature, whose duty BEDFORD, PA., FRIDAY, JAN. 151869. it sisal 1 he to examine the said depreci ated and unavailable funds and dispose of them to the best advantage of the Treasury ; or, if found to lie worthless, to cancel and destroy them, so that the accounting officers * may be relieved ! from the necessity and responsibility of annually accounting for them. The large cash balance remaining in the Treasury on the 80th of November,! 1887, has been used for the payment of the twenty-three million loan and for j the liquidation of outstanding claims j against the Slate. The investment of the funds, in one of the modes recom mended in my last annual message, ! has therefore, in a great measure been rendered unnecessary for the present. But in the event of large accumula tions of money hereafter, the recom mendations therein given are respect- ; fully referred to, and renewed. When ever there may be surplus funds in the Treasury, they can, with safety and benefit to the State, be employed in the purchase of its outstanding bonds, and in saving the interest on them which would accumulate prior to their maturity. I regret to slate that the lost Legis lature. although fully forewarned in regard to the inset-uitty and Want of proper and sufficient guards for the safe keeping of the money of the Com monwealth, failed to determine upon, any mode by which the Treasury may I be effectually guarded against the pos sibility of loss. The present Legisla ture has it in its power to secure for itself no ordinary honor, by the enact-- ment of such a law, strongaod efficient fur the purpose indicated, and the en joyment not only of the approbation, hut the permanent gratitude of every j citizen. Notwithstanding the satisfactory re duction of the public indebtedness, as shown in the forgoing statements, an immense State debt is still upon us, requiring nearly two million of dollars to be collected to pay the interest ac cruing upon it annually. Its extin guishment at the earliest practicable period, not inconsistent with other public interests, is of the highest im portance to every tax-payer. 1 cannot, therefore, too strongly urge the strict est economy in respect to every expen diture and the utmost retrenchment in every department. Retrenchment is emphatically de manded by the people, in legislative expenditures, as well as in every other branch of the government. Their eyes are open to investigate every transac tion, and by their ballots they are ready to strike down those who will not take effective action in favor of positive and radical reform. The mon ey paid into the Treasury is the pro perty of the people, every one of whom has a just right to hold It is representa tives to a strict accountability for every dollar that may be appropriated or ex pended. I here renew the remarks uiade last year on the subject of "annual appro priations," to which yeu are respect full referred. For four successive years the genera! appropriation bills have been signed on the eleventh day of April, being about the time of ad journment. The Governor has been forced either to sign the bills without proper investigaton, not withstanding any objections he may have; suspend the means to defray the operations of the government for the ensuing year; or call an extra session of the Legisla ture. I repeat that "it is earnestly de sired that theappropriation bill betak en up, discussed and passed at a suffi ciently early period during the session examination which its import-lr,'""''^ l mands." , Ed>• • common Senools. te annual report of the Superinten dent of Common Schools exhibits the condition of that department in a highly satisfactory manner. Within the State there are 1,918 school dis tricts; 13,766 schools; 2,382 graded schools; 11,698 school directors; 73 county, city and borough superinten dents; 10,771 teachers; and 809, 515 pu pils. The cost of tuition for the year was $3,273,269 43; of building, purchas ing and renting school houses, $1,991,- 152 5-5; of contingencies, $854,253 21. These three items, with expenditures for all other purposes connected there with, amount to the aggregate sum of $6,200,537 96. These facts are exhibited with great satisfaction, as they show the average annual cost for the tuition of each pu pil to be about seven dollars and sev enty-four and a half cents. The aver age amount paid to each teacher is a bout $195 17] per annum. This, in my opinion, is too small a salary to secure the services of competent teachers; and I am fully justified in urging the ne cessity of increased compensation, it is but just, and it will have an eleva ting tendency not only upon the teach ers but the manner in which their du ties are performed. Your attention is called to the fact that, notwithstanding the ample pro vision now made by law for the edu cation of all persons between the ages of six and twenty-one years, large numbers of children, principally in our cities, do not attend any kind of school. Over twenty thousand of this class are found in Philadelphia, and the num ber in the State is estimated to be not less than seventy-five thousand. These children grow up in ignorance, fre quently without employment, and many of them contract habits of vice, which eventually cause them to IHJ committed to houses of refuge, county prisons or penitentiaries. Humanity and sound public policy demand that something i>e done to remedy this growing evil, and also that of the ne glected condition of considerable num bers of children in the alms and poor houses in many of the counties. Four Normal Schools are now recog nized as State institutions, The num ber of students attending them during the past year was 2,115, of whom eighty graduated. Two additional Normal Schools will probably go into operation during this year, one located at Blooms brug, Columbia county, and the other at California, Washington county.— The value of these institutions to the common sehool system cannot be esti mated. Our schools areeomparatively worthless without qualified teachers, and such teachers can most easily be ob tained from the Normal Institutes, where the art of teaching is made a specialty. A meeting of the presidents and oth er authorities ofa number of our prin cipal colleges was held in llarrisburg last winter, the object of which was to bring about a closer union of all our educational institutions, and connect by a bond of sympathy, if not of or ganic structure, the common schools, high schools, academies and colleges. The establishment of such an educa tional department seem- to be desir able. There is no subject more worthy the deliberations of the Legislature than the promotion of the welfare of our common schools. They immediately underlie the characteristic features of our social system ; they are fountains of that wide-spread intelligence, which like a perennial vitality, prevades the nation, and are nurseries of that inquir ing spirit to which we are indebted for the purity ami preservation of our free institutions. In a republican govern ment education is a sure basis of pow er and public prosperity. By it the people are taught to discern and esti mate the value of their own rights ; to distinguish between oppression and the exercise of lawful authority; to I discriminate between liberty and lleea tiousness; to preserve an inviolable j respect for the laws, and exercise "eter i rial vigilance" against any eneroaeh j ments upon them. It is admitted that j a thoroughly educated people alone : can let permanently free. By educa tional culture patriotism is expanded, and the principles, manners and senti ments of the whole people are assirui lated. Many of the sources of jealousy and prejudice are diminished, social harmony largely Increased, and the structure of our free and happy'systetn of government cemented, strengthen ed and adorned. Soldiers' Orntuim' Schools. In his report, the Superintendent of ! Soldiers Orphans' Schools, exhib its the total expenditure for their sup pert from December 1, 1867 t May 31, ISIiS, to be 8236,970 26 ; total number of pupils in the schools 3,431; average cost per pupil $69 . The residue of the fund, j $13,886 50, aas been appropriated, uii- J iler the law by the board of trustees, to ■ the purchase of three model and expo- j rimental farms ; one at tiie college, in Centre couaty, for SB,IMK) fit), oue in Chester cotnty for $17,750 (M), and one in Indiana county for $18,133 50. The board has sJso recently re-organized the faculty lud remodled the course of studies, so as to adapt them to the j wants of the agricu'tural community. j This new order of things goes into op-i peration at the commencement of the } next session and it is earnestly hoped will boa suc?css. There is no profess ion, trade or calling in life, where the value of knowledge and the lights of sci ence, and the practical application of both, are so potent for profitable re sults as in their adaptation to agricul tural pursuits. And in this truly prac tical age it is well worthy of the con sideration of parent-, whether they should not avail themselves of the ben efits of this institution, now so gener ously endowed by the State. Military. From tiie report of the Adjutant General you will learn the condition of the Military Department. The in activity iii military affairs after the Cessation of hostilities and upon the re-; turn to peace, has in a great measure j been dispelled and an active martial ; spirit now prevails throughout the, State ; more particularly in Philadel-j phia, where by a special legislative eu- I actment, the minimum number of men required to form a company has been > reduced, and a brigade fund is raised j by a tax upon those who are not mem- ] hers of a military organization, but j liable to the per or >le State. For the sake of preserv g the great inter ests involved, which include the lives, property and happiness of our people, this is presented to you as an impor tant subject for your deliberation. Every possible encouragement of vol unteers has been afforded, and notwith standing the difficulties indicated st has resulted as follows: In 1666 there were eight volunteer companies in i he State; in 1867, thirty eight; and in 1866, sey- j enty-seven, and a number of others in ; preparation for organization. I By a reduction of the number for aj company from that now required to an aggregate of fifty officers and men, companies would soon be numbered by the hundred, any of which could easi ly be recruited to the maximum number if required for active service. The State that always maintains the high est degree of preparation, accomplish es most and suffers least in the conflict of arms ;and by being in readiness it of ten prevents improper encroachments upon her rights. The Adjutant General presents a full and detailedstatenfent of the disburse ments in his department during the year ending November 30, 1868, with an estimate for the necssary appropria- ■ tions for the current year, and also for such amounts as have been discover :edto be due from the transportation department, contracted during the i war. Stale A ftency. The existence of the Military State Agency at Washington terminated on the 31st day of July last, at which time the appropriation for the payment of its expenses was exhausted. Much benefit resulted to many of the sol , diers of our State, and their represen ! tatives, from tliis office, in which their J just dues from the United States: Government were collected and trans- i j mitted to them free of charge.— ! In August, after tiie agency ceased to J exist, there still remained a eonsidera j ble number of unsettled claims, and as j no one knew more about their condi i tion, or could possibly obtain an earlier j settlement of them than the late agent, I Col. Cook, I permitted him, upon his I own offer, to close up the business of ; the office, and to transact any other business for the soldiers of Pennsylva nia at one. half the fees that are charged by any other private agency in Wash ington City. This arrangement has thus far befit) carried out, and I ana pleased to add, with very general sat isfaction. Ail the books and papers of the agency will be transferred to the office of the Adjutant General. Registry Laic. At the last session of the Legislature an act was passed known as the ''Registry Law," the intention of which was to pro tect the ballot-bcx against corruption and fraudulent voting, to which it has for many years been disgracefully expo-i d. This law seems to hare been so defective in some of its provisions as to have rec< ived the con- Jeniuation of a majority of the Supreme Court, by which it was pronounced "incon gruous and unconstitutional." At the elec tion immediately after this decision, it is alleged that frauds were perpetrated, sur passing in magnitude, perhaps, any that have been consummated heretofore in the history of the Commonwealth. These frauds have demonstrated the necessity of the passage of some law, or laws, that will accomplish the desired object, without be ing subject to the exceptionable features pointed out by the learned gentlemen who pronounced the opinion of the Supreme Bench. There is no subject of such vita! impor tance to the whole country as the sanctity of the ballot-box, and the protection of all citizens in their right to the elective fran chise. This right is our proudest boast. It endows the American citizen with a free dom and a power not possessed by the sub ject of any other government. It makes him the peer of his fellow man, whatever may be his rank, station, or position in life. To he deprived ofit by any means whatever, his boa-ted freedom becomes a sham—his especial and exalted prerogative a mockery and a farce, What avails it to the citizen that he is entitled to a vote if that vote is to be nullified by fraud? Such guards, j then, should be thrown around the polls as will effectually if possible, preserve thera from tbe taint of a single illegal vote. Not only should false voting be severely punish ed. but false swearing to obtain a vote, be visited with the pains and penalties of per jury and with perpetual disfranchisement. The people must be perfectly free to reg { ulate their public business in their own way. and when the voice of the majority is fairly ' and clearly expressed all should bow to it jas to tbe voice of God. They are the sov ereign rulers, and their will must be the law of tlie land. Corruption of suffrage in are I publican government is the deadliest crime that can be perpetrated; is a-sassination of die sovereignty of the people, and will be <•." •• ...Oil win ne money ami perjury. And if this privilege be tampered with, sooner or later the sure and indignant popular con demnation will be rendered and condign punishment admini-tered. All good ciri- ! zens, o' whatever political opinion, should ; lend their aid for the accomplishment of any and every measure that may tend to secure to each voter, not only his right to the elec tive franchise, but the assurance that his vote wiil not be rendered valueless by ille gality. corruption or fraud. Every proper facility for the naturaliza tion of citizens of foreign birth should be afforded; but the Legislature, iu its cotubin ed wisdom, can surely enact some mode to prevent the pos-ibility of a single vote being cast upon spurious naturalization papers, and thus fuliy secure the purity of the elec tive franchise. Revision of the Civil Coda. The commissioners appointed to codify the statute laws of the State have diligent ly prosecuted the work assigned them, and with every prospect that it will be fully com pleted within the time prescribed by the FM ;-!utive resolutions of April 8, 1668; and in further compliance wttn luem, cause to be laid before each branch of the General Assembly, at its present session, various titles of bills, with brief abstracts of the several sections of each, which have been matured. Insurance Department. Among the subjects of importance to the J citizens of Pennsylvania is the establishment ; of an Insurance Department. Such d_e- [ partments are in successful operation in several neighboring States, by means of which the interests of insurers are guarded and promoted. So careful a supervision is had over the transactions of insurance com panies that frauds are rendered almost im possible, and spurious companies can have no existence. The result of the protection thus afforded, is, that whil-t foreign com panies. thus protected, do immense business ill this State, so little confidence is had in those of Pennsylvania that their business is almost entirely confined within the State limits; and lately some of them have with drawn their agencies from other States, be cause no risks will be taken, in consequence of the inadequacy of the laws to afford pro tection to insurers. To this defect, more over, may be attributed the operations of the number of worthless companies which | have suddenly sprung up, without any so;id I basis, and as suddenly expired, ta the in- I jury of all whose confidence they obtained, and to the dishonor of the Commonwealth, i Whilst Pennsylvania insurance companies transact little business outside of the Mate, : it is alleged that foreign life insurance com ! panies alone paid taxes last Tear on three ' million eight hundred thousand dollars of premiums received iu Pennsylvania, a great ' proportion of which would be confined to j this State if the same protection was given ! by law to its citizens as is afforded by other Stales. The report of the Insurance De partment^'New York, published in 1807, shows that the companies which were doing business in 1866, in Pennsylvania, and hlso in New York, had risk" in force for more than five thousand million of dollars; an 1 it is believed that the ri.-ks in Pennsylvania companies, which, for want of a proper in surance Department, can not be obtained, would swell the amount to over six thou sand million. „ , , In view of these facts, and of the costly experience of the people who have been itn* ! posc-d upon and defrauded by unsubstantial 1 and ephemeral companies, I repeat the i recommendation made to the Legislature at ' its last session, that an Insurance Depart ! ineotbe established, and a superintendent ! appointed bv law. who shall have super- I vision and control over all insurance com ! panies allowed to transact business wuhio ' the State, and annually publish, under oath, full reports ot their transactions. Thecom j munity is deeply interested in this matter, and demands the protection which can thus ! only be afforded. New Hospital for the Insane. The commissioners appointed by an ac of the last session "to establish an audition al State Hospital lor the Insane, have notified me that they will present a report of their proceedings sometime during the present month, which will be communicated when received. VOL. 42: A O. 2- ( Damages by JiaiJs. In accordance with an act of the last ; session, providing for an investigation and adjudication of the claims of citizens ol several counties "whose property was de stroyed, damaged or appropriated for the public service, and in the common defence in the war to suppress the rebellion," a commission of three competent gentlemen was appointed, who have performed the allotted duties, and will soon make & full re i port of their transactions. Paris Exposition. I I have revived through the Secretary of ; State of the United States, a bronze medal j and diploma from the Imperial Comtnissiop | era for the best specimen! of' Pennsylvania 1 anthracite coal exhibited at the Paris Kx | position in ISG7. These tributes to an iro portant branch of the internal resources of Pennsylvania have been assigned a place among other valuable relics in the Ex ecutive Chamber. tit ate Coat of Arms. Diligent but unsuccessful search has been repeatedly made for the coat of arms of the Slate, and for the authority under which the pro-e tit design was established. It seetuslhat for years past no trace of either ! <' O'.'vir'! authority or design could any where be found, and it is recommended that the Legislature take the necessary steps to supply the omission, by such means as they iu their wisd on shall determine. State Beneficiaries. A number of benevolent, charitable and other similar institutions annually receive appropriations from the State for their sup port. These appropriations, in most, if not in all cases, appear to have been adequate for the purposes to which it was intended they should he applied, and arc as liberal as can reasonably be expected in the present condition of the Treasury of the State. The Susquehanna lisheries A preliminary report on the Susquehanna fisheries has been submitted by Col. James Worrall, Civil Engineer, Commissioner un der the act of the Legislature in reference thereto. There are some facts which should be em! odit-d in the report, but which tan not be ascertained until early in January. Permission has therefore been granted to the Commissioner, at his request, to post pone the submission of his regular report until the surliest day practicable during the present month. Cattle Disease. The prevalence of contagious or epidemic diseases among cattle and other animals lias for some years past been a prolific source of anxiety and alarm among the producers aud eousumers of meats in many of the States. It was therefore deemed important to call a convention of competent persons to take into consideration the means best calculated to remedy this great and growing evil. This convention, composed of three commission ers each from the fourteen States represen ted, appointed in accordance with an agree ment bv the several Governors, assembled at Springfield, Illinois, on the first of Decem ber last, and an account of their transactions is herewith presented. Without legislative authority, but believ ing my action would ba sanctioned by the people's representatives, I appointed Dr. Hiram Corson and Messrs. E. C. Humes and A. Boyd Hamilton, commissioners to represent Pennsylvania in that convention. These gentleman freely gave their time and experience, and also incurred a pecuniary expense of about three hundred dollars, to defray which I recommend that an appro priation be made. Statistics. In view of the vast amount and great variety of the products of the State, a desk I for the collection of statistics, relative to ex i ports and imports, agriculture, manufactures propriety and profit be established. This could be accomplished by the employment of a competent clerk, under the supervision | of ODe of the present heads of department, ! whose duty should be to collect and publish >uch facts as might teud to stimulate and increase our productive energies, instil new life and vigor into our manufacturing inter ests. and lead to more accurate knowledge ! of all our internal resources and the proper methods for their development. There is abundant space in the Capitol buildings to be appropriated as a receptacle for books, papers, niitie r alcgical and geological speci mens, and other articles that might be con tributed appropriate to such a department and which in a few years would form an in valuable collection. Under legislative direc tion, the good results would be almost in calculable, and are required by the progres sive spirit of the age in which we live. Jit solutions of the Vermont Legislature. Your attention is called to the accompa nying joint resolutions, passed at the last session of the Vermont Legislature, bearing a just tribute to the late Hon. Thaddeus Stevens. Joint resolutions from the same worthy of your consideration, refatrfeTo the act of Congress "to establish and protect National Cemeteries," and recommending "to the Legislature of the State oi Penn sylvania the passage of an act empowering the board of commissioners having eharge of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Get tysburg, to transfer all the right, title, in terest and care of said Soldiers National Cemetery to the General Government, upon the completion of the same." In Memnriam. , It has been the misfortune of the State during the past year to lose by death two of her representatives in the Congress of the nation, lion. Thaddeus Stevens, of the Ninth, and Hon. Darwin A. If inner, of the Twentieth District. Both were natives of Vermont, but in early life selected 1 ennsj I vania for their home, and identified them selves with her interests, which they were chosen to guard in the Legislature; and the people of the Commonwealth will long re member with gratitude their faithful and efficient services. The first went down to i his grave after a long life of public useful ness and in w,ll matured honors; the other in the prime of manhood, which gave prom ise of a scarcely less brilliant career. Pardon*. The list of pardons issued during the pa-t year will be t'ouud among the papers to which your attention is called. The princi pal reasons upon which they were based, and the names of some of the prominent petitioners, arc given in event case. I hat a few of these pardons may have been un worthi'y granted, through misrepresenta tions of relatives, friends, sympathizing neighbors and other interested parties, there is no doubt, but in the majority of instances it is certain that the facts not only justified but demanded Executive clemency. The whole number of applications fur pardons during the year has-been sixteen hundred and twenty-three. Ihe number of pardons gtaiitei in that time has been one hundred and six, which is a little over oj percent. Of these pardoned about five per cent, have !cn again brought before the courts in consequence of their return to the commission of crime. . . , 1 am fully impressed with the weighty responsibility of the pardoning' power, which ranks among the most difficult and embar rassing duties of the Executive office. Oaily beet with powerful and pitiful importuni ties, as well as conflicting representations, from those in whom he should be able to place the fullest confidence, in order to avoid errors in the decision of any case, the tiov eruor is compelled to take into consideration the action of the court before which the convict has been tried; the majesty of the ' law which may or may not have been viola ! ted; the condition of the prisoner; hts temp 's tation to err; the injury that may be inflict ed upon hi* helpless and dependent rela tiveg, and the arguments and appeals 01 i citizens whose opinions and wishes he is : bound to respect. And however just his ! decision and humane and generous his ac ; tion. either in favor of or against the peti ! tioner for clemency, he must expect to nave i his motives impugned, his name and cliar f acter maligned, and to suffer virulent attacks RATES OP ADVERTISING. All advertisements for less ;k*n t It cents per line for each insertion. Speewl one-b*lf additimai. All resolutions of tioos, communication* of a limited or inditi<4i interest and notices of marriage* and death*, ex ceeding five lines, 10 eti. per line. All legal noti ces of every kind, and all Orphan*' Court an 4 other Judicial sales, are required by law to be pub lished in both papers. Editorial Notice* 14 centa ! per line. All Advertising due after first insertion. A liberal discount made to yearly advertiser*. 3 monts. 8 months, 1 year One square 4.50 $ 6.00 SIO.OO Tre squares 6.00 0.00 16.00 Three squares 8.00 12.00 20.00 One-fourth column 14.00 20.00 39.00 lUlf column 18.00 25.00 44.00 One column 30.00 46.00 80.60 for the exercise of this most important and merciful prerogative. The pardon report will exhibit that many instances in which Executive clemency has been invoked, youthful prisoners, charged with their fir.-t offences, and those of a triv ial character, have been the recipients. The object of punishment, in all cases, should net be so much to inflict pain as to reform the sufferer and prevent the repetition of evil deeds. This fact is frequently lost sight ofiu imposing punishment upon criminals, especially when inexperienced youths are shut up in close cells with men hardened in crime, where its arts are daily taught and a romance thrown around its commission. In- -tead of being improved, they come forth at the expiration of their terms of sentence with the less of self-respect, their moral sentiments blunted, and prepared to prac tice upon society the infamous lessons they have learned. .Such punishments tend to increase rather than lessen the quantity of crime. When houses of correction and re formatories are constructed, or a proper sys tem of confinement and prison discipline is adopted, there will be a material decrease of crime, and comparatively few cases to de- mand the exercise of the pardoning power. Commutation of Sentences. There are confined in the Philadelphia county prison the following named convicts, under sentence of death, for whose execu tion warrants have Dot been issued : Ed ward Ford, sentenced May 12, 1851; Jerry Dixon, May 30, 1863; Patrick Finnegan, February 9, 1863, Newton Champion De cember 1, 1866, and Alfred Alexander and Hester Vaughn, July 3, 1868. Successive Governors, for satisfactory reasons have de clined to order the execution of these per sons. The law requires that they shall be executed in accordance with the sentence, unconditionally pardoned, or held in close confinement in the county jail during life. The latter punishment, with the additional embitterment constantly preying upon the mind that a death warrant may at any mo ment be issued, is, perhaps, the severest that could be inflicted. It would be both just and merciful to give the Governor au thority to commute the sentence of death in the above named cases to imDrisonment, at labor, in the penitentiary, for such a term of years as the ameliorating circumstances may seem to justify and demand. One of the convicts named has been imprisoned about eighteen years, and although it might not be advisable to set him at liberty, hu manity and the ends of justice require th commutatoin of his sentence in the manner suggested. Conclusion. The foregoing subjects have been deemed of sufficient importance to submit at the present time for your information and con sideration. Others may occur before the close of the session which may be worthy of special communications. It wiil be my con stant care and determination to co operate with you in the prosecution of any measures that may tend to preserve and increase the prosperity of the State and the happiness of its people, with the firm belief that your united wisdom will aim constantly to pro mote these desirable results. Many of the events that have transpired since my last annua! communication to the legislature have been usually interesting and significant. They have been infinitely more than political, and bear directly upon the great interests and most sacred_ destinies of the nation. Apart from the vindication of the principles of the party which sus tained the government and the army during the contest for the preservation of the Union and the election to the Presidency ftic 1 j.'vtpie" n'&'Vc I>y "fri£3uphaht ' majori ties forever settled our controversy upon certain fundamental principles. Parties may and undoubtedly will arise upon other issues, but there can be DO fu ture struggle about slavery. Involuntary servitude, as a monopoly of labor, is forever destroyed. The monster obstacle to the national progress has been removed, and henceforward all the the faculties of our people can be developed ''without let or hindrance." The fair and exuberantly fertile States of the South, heretofore com paratively retrogressive and unproductive, relieved from this terrible curse, with the iufiux of northern immigration and capital, will soon become the rivals of their northern sister States in all the arts of peace, and ad ditional markets will be developed in which to exchange the varied products of the here tofore hostile sections. Hardly less magic-al lias been the effect upon other nations. General Grant's elec tion has confirmed the hopes of our nation's friends, and the fears of its foes in the Old World. It supplements and seals the ver dict of arms and the progress of republican principles. The downfall of the rebellion pyhle'irrifat 1 CKTl' "revtrruißm-Vir- itaSouoJ the peaceful expulsion of the last of the Bourbons from Spain; the unrest of Cuba; the concession of more liberal principles in (;,-rmany; and the necessary acquiescence of the Emperor of the French in the republi can sentiments he fears even as he has be trayed them. What are these but the echoes of thedire catastropho that has over whelmed aristocracy in the United States? Notwithstanding the importance of the issues involved in the late canvass, and the bitterness of feeling as well as the earnest ness with which it was conducted, its ter mination has happily met the with acqui escence of nearly the whole people; and at no time in the history of the nation has there been opened before us a brighter prospect of continued peace and increasing prosperity; and wo have no greater cause for universal congratulation than that no differences of opinion now exist that can materially mar opr national happiness, re tard our onward progress, or threaten the peace or perpetuity of our government. In conclusion, permit me to remark that the voice of Pennsylvania, as well as that of a majority of the States, has at the ballot box proclaimed to the world that all our national indebtedness, no matter how heavy the burden, will be paid according to "the letter and spirit" of the agreements made and entered into at the time the debt was contracted; and that in this as in all other respects our individual and national honor "must and shall he preserved;" that we are determined by all honorable means in our power to secure ample encouragement and ; protection to each and every branch of Homo Industry, and every manly enterprise that contributes capital, labor, ski 1 and industry to our material wealth, social advancement and political tranquility; that for all our cit izens the children of the Commonwealth, being abo citizens of the United States, we demand the fullest protection, in their per sons, their property, and in all their rights and privileges wherever they may go withm the national jurisdiction or in foreign lands; and that whilst our financial policy shall be such as to maintain untrammelled our na tional credit, it is to be hoped that it may at the same time, b* such as will permit and sanction the construction of the great rail way now in progress and stretching out their giant arms to grasp the mighty com merce of the Pacific, to develop the untold resources of wealth in the intervening terri tories; and to connect the most distant por tions of our countiy in a common union, not only with iron hands, but by the still stronger and more indissoluble ties of a com mon interest and a common brotherhood. To lessen the burdens of the people, and to keep the expenses ot the State as nearly as possible within the limits 01 its absolute necessities, will always be among the chiet objects of wise and just legislation. Let us, then, with a due sense of car obligations f and high responsibilities, endeavor so to - discharge our duties as to secure the great s est good of the community and merit the approbation of Him by whom our - wealth has been so abundantly Wes_sU y ! EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, 1 s Harrisburg, Jan. 6,1569. j