TE RMS OP PUBLICATION.'
“ 82 QO per annum, in advance—or
g 2 50, if not paid within live year.
No subscription taken for a less term than six
inonthsi.Un.d no discontinuance permitted until
all arfekyages are.paid. A failure to notify a
discontinuance at the expiration of a term, will
lie Considered a new. engagement.
■ .Mycftifiemeni* —ptr square for the;
first three,insertions, and twenty five cents for 1
every subsequent one*. ' V
LEMUEL TODD,
; •■.-ATTOS.NST AT LAW. ,
OKFICE No. AO, Harper’s Row, -in-,the room
formerly occupied by Isaac Todd, Esq.
j Carlisle, August 26, 1811. ’
SAMUEL R. HAMILL,
; ATTORNEY At law.
Will practice in the several courts of-Cumber
land countyjOjfice in Main street, tho oflice.now
occupied by James n. T)eyor, Esq._ _
Carlisle, September 30, 1841.
WILLIAIVI H. I.AMBBBTOH,
JiTTORNE¥ JIT LA W.
WILL practice and attend to collections in the
counties of Vesasoo and ln any
husincss that may lie chtruStoAto him, he will be as
sisted by SamuelJV. PunviASCE, Esq. of Butler,
, ■ Office two doors east of Evans* Hotel.
Franklin, - 1 " •
\>m. C. OIBSON)
MEStECTFUIitY informs the public th'nt be
is supplied.with a HEARSE, and ready to per
form every duty hf an Undertaker. .He is-preptrred at
nil limes* *t6 make Coffins and attend Funerals.—
CABINET MAKING,
in"nll its branches carried on, as usual, at his old.
stand in North Hanover ’ sited, next door to Abel
Keeney’s Copper, and shop. Every thin in
tho»4ine of his business will be done on the most Jac
comodating teems.. [Carlisle, Oct. 28, 1841.—tf.
• ITliSt Received at the store of .the 'subscriber a
" fresh lot of OJRANBERTHES; White Hominy and
Beans? Currants; ap additional supply of best winter
spEUM Otti - r Also, Yoißff Hyson and Im
perial Tcas;»Horeo Irtish;
•4lAihVaud.C , JiOTi£W^tfcdii'xs; v iind a variety 6t
articles. . - ,
; J. *W. EBY.
Carlisle, Decr9, 1841’. - r
Assignecship Account.
’ Lx the Court of Cam'rtioYi Pleas of Cumbcr-
land comfy, DecanhorAArXXip
The account of Moses F.by and Melehoir
Rich neman, Assignees of Maj. Johh Craig:
head, has! been prc,s\in(cd, to Jhc Court t>£
Melehoir Jircnncman, and (he 2d Monday
ol the January Court (being the_ 17Jb day)
appointed for its confirmation and allowance,
if no objections be made—of which all con
cerned will lake notice. - ,
GEO. SANDERSON, Protldy-
Carlisle, Dec. 16,. 1841. , 5t
CAPS! CAPS!! CAPS!!!
Just received an extensive assortment of. Otter Fur
Seal, Hair Seal, Ccylot & Cloth caps, which will be
cold at reduced prices by
, ' Ouppinoer & Caiist. .
- Shippcnsh’g. Dec, 30, 184 U
NOT! C 23
TO CONSTABLES, RETAILERS, Ac-
IN and by an act of the General Assembly of Penn
sylvania, entitled “An act graduating the duties upon
wholesale, dealers and retailers of merchandize, and
prescribing the mode of issuing licenses and collecting
«pid duties,” and its several supplements, it is made
the duty of the Constables of the several townships and
boroughs within the county of Cumberland, and they
are hereby required to make.out, on oath or affirmation',
and deliver to the Clerk of the Court of Quarter Ses
sions* a separate list of “all persons engaged in the
dr Vending of goods, wares, merchandise, of
whatsoever Kind or nature.” on or before the first.day
of the next January sessions, being the 10th day.—
The following is the classification Under the act of the
4th of May, 1841: . . '
Those whoso sales amount to $300,000 and upwards
shall constitute the Ist class, and pay $2OO.
100,000 and lees than 000,000 -2d class', $l5O
- ,200,000 , do . 200,000 3d “ 100 '
65.000 . do . 100-,000 4th “ 80
75.000 do 85,000 sth “ CO
CO,OOO do 75,000 Gth « 60
40.000 »' tlo 60,000 7>h 40
40.000 • do" 60,000 fclh “ ,So
30.000 do 40,000 Oth. 25
.20,000 do 30,000 IOtH “ 20
- 15,000 do , 20,000 11th 15
; 10,000 dqj l2th “ ‘ 112,50.
~ do 10,000,13 th “ 10,00
Less than 5,000 14th « ‘ * 7,00
“Provided, That whore such wholesale or rclail
. .dealers confine their purchases and sales to buying and
vending goods, wares, and merchandise, the growth,
.product and manufacture of the United States, he.or
they shall pay only one half the amount of the licence
Required by the provisions? above-stated. - -
“And every adl&por vender of wines or distilled
liquors, • either with or without other goods, wares,
merchandise, commodities, or effects, as aforesaid, shall
pay fqr his license fiftt per cent, in addition to the
rates above specified for the respective classes*”
•WerchnutS) Il}calcrB, ,
And others interested in the said act, arc also notified,
that the Associate Judges .and-Commissioners of said
county, will attend at.thc Commissioners’ Office, on
Fn'cfay ike 14 th dayjtf, Januaryat T o’clock"
P. M. for the.purpose of- hearing and btassifying all
rctailcra witnin said county, agreeably to the said act,
all such os think proper inay attend*
: Attest— JOHN IRWIN*
J . . .s . ■ Clerk io Commissioners.
Commissioners Office, ‘ ' -—r-
Carlisle, Dec..l6, 1841.' 5 ...
FOR SALK OR RENT. .'
. That valuable and coiniiiodious
property now in the tenure of
JgMnltßSaiiiuel.M’Kcchan. Esq. situate
€*S£3SSSon Uic north, side of. East High
Street,,Carlisle. Possession given, on the.
Ist of April next. Apply to ,
~ : J AS, H. DEVOK, Ag*t for owners. .
Dec. 16, - 1841.:-r3t, ; - •
FOR, RENT.
JB, AT:,largo and commotlious ~
House, on lhfi corner of' Hanover e glet
&' I.outher fitieetfi; it can-bn divided bo' £u»a g m iB&
as tb accomodate 2 Fancies, and faSBaHI'
well -calculated for a Hoarding IIonse: ther>
i»a large Cistern, and a- Well of Waterin the yardt
also, a Pump otthe is alsoa Lorge Gardcxf
r and Extensive opd a .Citrrioge House..
will be.tenied separately or together. Apply to.
JOHN P. LYNEr
/ Cor’ifilD,,J)cc.-9 f 18-11.—-tf. - 1 . ’
ed qtianUueatoam^by/^^fc^.
Cdmraan'.'?•_';V'; 1 ■ r "’ r ;' ; ., ’/ : ~V "v. 1 -*-:^ : -:'
SPERM Ortndlo fdr snlc.by J. <fc E.,Comm3h.
, -v >; ''i ; :
■■■••'• ■■ s"'.
BY GEO. SANDERSON.]
Whole No. 1433.
GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE.
To the.Sendte and House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: _
Fellow- Citizens: —ln performance of
the duty enjoined on tn,c by the Constitution,
I proceed to give you such information ot
the state of the Commonwealth, and ito re
commend to your consideration such mea
sures, ns 1 think expedient, at the present
time. The discharge of this dufV is, in
Tnahv respects, beset with difficul tyr but this,
does* not: absolve me from the obligations
created by my official station. In a spirit
uf perfect frankness, I shall submit to you,
the best diefates of my judgment, and shall
be happy >f» in your wisdom and experience,
you can so modify and improve them ns'to
pr/imotc in a greater degree, the welfare of
our common constituents, the people of Ibis
Commonwealth.
The subject of deepest interest, nnd great
est perplexity, that caUs for our attention,
is the financial comlitiorTof the State. Al
though I have, on several former occasions,
entered into a full and minute, exposition of
this matter, I cannot, refrain from'again pre
senting it. to your consideration,-in-a-man
ner so ifistinct and plain, as to preclude, I
trust, the possibility of misconception on
the part of those who feel an honest dcsirfe
to understand it. lam persuaded that how
ever, embarrassed may be' the pecuniary af
fairs of the Commomvealth, nothing is need
ed to induce the people to,provide means to
extricate them, but.a clear nnd candid,, ex
position of the nature and extent of the lia
bilities, <o which,they are subject. The
time for concealment, evasion and deception
on this . point, is at an end—The contract
bus been made. -The faith of the' §tate"is
j.le lge,d, ami cfery- consideration nf'/lutr
and of bjjiivor require of us, to know bur
true condition, and to provide, adequate
rhcaqfi to meet bur obligations, and .to redeem.)
our plighted faith. j
There is due by this Stale, to life“ United
States, on account of'depbsite of. surplus ]
revenue, the rum of $2,867,514 78, The j
funded deht bf (he State, amounts to $36,-;
SS 1,005 68. This debt is reimbursable as I
followst"-, ... ■ .. . •
$270',06l 8" in the year 1841!
" 62,500 06 •* 1844.
S,SJ 6,5,68 81 . " 1846,
50,000 Q 0 " 1847 j
'1,000,000 60 " 1850!
2.000. 00 " 1853;
3.000. 00 “. 1854
3,783,861 00 “ 1856
7,070,661 00 " "1853'
1.250.000 00 " 1859
6,648,680 66 w . • 1860
120,000 00 ' " • 1861
3.225.000 00 1862
200,000 06 " 1863
2.515.000 00 “ J 864 ]
1,797,010 06 kk 1865 1
2.524.000 00 " 1868
1,957,362 00 " , 1870
640,081 00 at the expiration of
Certain bank chat - -
—— ; — fers.
Total $36,331,005 68
, Tills debt has been contracted for Hie fol
lowing purposes:—
For-canals ami railways, $30,055,013 68
To pay interest on. publit
debt, 3,304,303 00
For the use of the Treasury, 1,571,689 00
For turnpikes. State roads,
bridges, &c., 930,000 00
For the Union Canal, 200,000 CO
For the Eastern Peniten
tiary, ' " 120.000 00
For the Franklin 'Railroad,' 100,000 00
For the Pennsylvania and
Ohio Canal, 50.000 00
Total
The value of our public ini- I
provements, estimated at . >»
- -cost, .id, $29,292,165 33
_The State.ow naJwnkjtuck ■ j
.. Which coati at pat ,2/108,7'00 00 .
The • State owns turnpike
and bridge stock, •’
i The State owns,canal and
navigation stock, 831,778 66'
The' Slate owns railroad
■ ‘ stock, ■ • 350,546 90
Money due on unpatcnted
lands, estimated at —1,000,000.00
Total* 836.426,239 78
The immediate difficulty of our situation,
Arises mainly from the payment of the in
terest annually accruing on this debt. This
interestis about $1,800,0005. and this sum;
it is iricuoibcnt on the State fo provide asit
becomes due. The inconsiderable portion
of the funded debt, now redeemable, can be,
doubtless, postponed until more auspicious
times, blit the interest admits of no such
postponements This is in a great measure
payable to those who cannot afford to pro T
crastinatcils.rcceplion, ahd, Whose means of
subsistence depend, on the 1 faithful' adhe
rence 1 of the State, toils solemn engage
ments with its loan holders. The income
especially appropriated to the payment of
thiSjinleresf, is derived from, the following
sources to wit£ tolls on canals and railways,
auction duties,-tax oncullaferal inheritances;
dividends on turnpike, - bridge and' naviga
tion stocks,- escheats and the’tax levied on
real and' personal property, &c.
-"The amuulit received from cacliof these
several sources', during the last fiscal-wear,
ending 30th NOveinbcr last, is as follows:
From-tolls rail- : :
' ; $762j560 44
■" Auction dalies, 77,022 15
*• Collateral inheritancdjf,' 21,591 43
'*• Divideiidsdn turnpike,’.
'* ' bridge and ; navigation''’•
; ‘ ' • i ' . '^80.555572
Tax on l-eal and. pel-jonal • ; ’’ •
/ ' , pro|terty, &c.. 83.292 T 7
'Vi' $924’,95P 15
The sum in-Jlie treasury, applicable to
this object, ort tlie first day of this month,
independent of. what will be received during
the month, vyaS $ 1,020,936 38, being
3124,042 02 more than is nccesssary to pay
the interest due on tlie Ist of February, riext.
■ In relation, to'the assessment and collec
tion of the Statjß.laxes, undcrthe act of the
lltlr June, 1840, the greatest.delinquency
is found, with the, county commissioners.—
No return or statement has been received
from-several of- the counties, although re
quired by the 6th section of .the said act, to
be transmit (eel .to the Auditor General bn or
before the first Monday of September, in
each year. It is, therefore, out of my power
to inform you bf the amount assessed under
said act. , From the information, however,
received, 1 feel warranted in saying that it
will amount to about half a million, or with
in a fraction of it. That amount will be.
considerably increased by the valuation and
assessment provided by~the "Act to estab
lish a uniform mode for the valuation of
properly and assessment of taxes,”
15th May, last, the returns of which are"
required to be made to the Auditor General'
within the present moh.th, and will be laid,
before you as soon as, received; ..
4 The duty of the county commissioners to
make returns of the assessments, &c, to the
Auditor General, imposed by law, seems not
to be designated and enforced with sufficient
precision and certainty. To secure its faith
ful performance, 1 recommend a revision of
the law; ~ , .
, During the existing stale of tilings, the
continuance of taxes assessed, for the pay
ment of this interest,"or .It least of (axes of
some, kind for this, purpose, appears to be
indispensable.. If the distribution yof the
objects of taxation, or.thq mode of levying
.arid colled lax be unfair, or rincrous,
undoubtedly the,evil, should bo. promptly
- - * v,* .■
j _ I have licnstofnro declared my determina-
I ti,on to do all that belongs to this department
to meet faithfully the engagements of. the
State, and to maintain unsullied, the'credit
land, fidelity of the Commonwealth. My
j sentiments .in relation, to these matters "have
I undergone no change, and 1 am pleased, to,
! fin'd that on this subject", there is no diversity
j of'opmiori among the great mass of the citi
zens of the State. All agree.that, when
| ever the constituted authorities of the Com
-1 monwealth, have entered into engagements
i conformably to (lie constitution arid laws,'
! whether these engagements have been char
-1 actcrized by due prudence and a proper fe
’ gard to the interests of the public, or not,
the honor of the State, the permanence of
our republican institutions, and a sacred
gard to the sanctity of public engagements,
require that the resources of the Common
wealth, and the energies of her citizens, be
| put in requisition,.to mcetheC public engagfc
| m’ents promptly,.punctually, and unhcaita-.
; tingly. It is, therefore, respectfully and
I earnestly urged upon the Legislature, to
take the necessary ; at the earliest
possible day, to .ensure this desirable result.
As the most efficient means that have oc
curred to my mind, I would suggest the fol
lowing course. Let the Legislature, ascer
tain from the financial departments, both
the ordinary revenue, and the amount ne
cessary to bte raised, annually, for .the pay
ment'of the interest on the-State debt, and,
the ordinary expenses.of government. Let
provision also be made to cover all possible
cohtingcncies and losses on collection. Add
to this a sum, though, ever so small, fora
.sinking fund, to be applied annually to the
! extinguishment of Ihe principal of the public
| debt, and. apportion it among the several'
counties iff the Commonwealth, designating
the amount to be paid by each, by an
| uniform apportionment according to the tri
i ennial, or last assessments,.with such, cor
j rections and equalization as shall be found
necessary, and on the same objects now tax
able, or any others that the Legislature may
j think preferable. Let adequate- and
j penalties be imposed on each county com
.lrifssioiicr for omitting to haVe.lhe duplicates
I issued in time, and on each assessor for the
I non-performance of his duties, and allow
I the county such . a premium, as shall, be
thought .right, if its full quota be paid info
the Treasury, on or before .the. day'required
jby law. It-is:.bdie.ved, that a. committee of
j the Legislature would he as compfetctit, a
board as could be raised to apportion tlie
Iquotadf the .several counties, as above men
tioned, aided, as they will be, by the late
assessments and census. The establish
ment of this syslenlj. by law, would place
the fund to meet the'interest on the public
debt, on a permanent foundation, and.si
lence-forever all, doubts which interested
speculators might seek to raise on this sub
ject . I
But it-is not only to the loan holders of
the Commonwealth, that she ought to-be
Just in the mcetirig;Of- her engagements, / A
regard to economy, as well as justice to
tlleirien who labor upon the repairs mf-oilr
canals and rail roads, requires that they
should be punctually- paid. ■ The laborer is
his hire, and is ns meritorious a
creditor as tlie Commonwealth has’, and it
is absolutely disreputable-that he-shuuld be
depgpdant on the borrowing of money for
his pay,.and be unable,-at times, for months
together,, to procure as . mucbjfof Ids labor
ns will-buy bim liduaf of bread.’ It is re
spectfully seggested.i that when abundant
means fiom,taxation are provided tß.mect
the interest of the State-debt; that (lie tolls
oii imr puulic. works shall .be first'.applied
to tlißir fepaiiß, so that we mSy a
glatfcet Tp wfat the nett, revenue,' it -any,
arising from them‘, respectively%mounts.
Vlt is' riot .to be disguisedwthatwe are
deeply in debt; anil that fiir
affounqriailing feaflessriesaj iil our public
functionaries, to hVeet'the' criSergency, aftdj
The peopie artj rilleadyburdffied with tax*-
lition.-ftrid those burdens canrtot be diniin
ished. if we expect to pay our:debts. . The
conduct arid: motives bf (hose wlio make
$36,331,005 68
2,843.048 69
“OUR COUNTRY RIGHT OR WRONO.”
Carlisle, Pa. Thursday! January 13, 1843.
provision, to pay them, may be misrepresent- (
eil.'and for a time misunderstood. Preju
dice, from the sordid feelings of
maybe invoked, and demagogue's and un
principled politicians will, doubtless, at
tempt to use it, to ahstyer their orwnpurpo
ses» Bat the responsibility is one which
every honest public functionary must" meet
fairly and frankly, and in so dding he will
be eventually sustained-by, the people at
large, who never deliberately err, and who
alwaya will reward,, with their confulcnce,
an honest and fearless d,evotion, to their
true interests, even though it may, at first,
have met with temporary disapprobation. .
The means to pay. off-the loan under the
act Of 4th May, 1841,—t0 pay- the foregoing
creditors of the State, and the interest on
the public debt,—must be provided before
the Legislature adjourn?-.. Sound policy,
Ihay common honesty demands this much at
jyour hands, and I am persuaded no member
lif the Legislature will shrink from a duty
enjoined by such considerations as these.
It will be found on- reference, to the al
- of taxes paid-by the pcopies lliat
comparatively a small portion is Icyied to
discharge the interest on the public debfi—
-Although in the aggregate the taxes are
onerous, .by far tlj,e greater amount is ab
sorbed in the ordinary purposes of town
ship, city, and county affairs,'. take great
pleasure in stating'the fact, that the in
crease of the taxes fortlic maintenanre of
the faith and honor of the State, has been
regarded in a spirit of patriotic duty by the
public at-large, and has beep, borne without
repining, unless, except a very
few persons, residing in portions of the State
which have-reaped almost the eiilite bcndljp
of the expenditure of thejnist sums of mo
ney, for the jmymerit qf interest on »«iich
these’ taxes' are imposed. I felt satisfied
when I recomiiichdcd, early, jn my official
;carfCrv (lie - rCsbrt to taxation,.instead ofiad
ditiorrai loans; tq^Jy the interest' annually
accruing,’ that the enlightened yeoma_nry of
Pennsylvania tVbu|d, Under -PlUi tirCuin
sta’nces, sanction, the recommendation.' ■> I'
am nowconvihccd I did not mistake their
true.charactcr; nor can the extraordinary
conduct of some persons, professing belter
principles, who .first urged the adoption of
the measure; and afterwards dciounpid
those who .acquiesced in it, shake for a
moment mV steadfast convictions oh this
subject'. 1 always believed the people
would, do their duty, let it cost what it
might; (he first instance is yet to he found
in our history when they have flinched from
it, if rightly understood.
The unprecedented increase of our pop
ulation and resources, cannot fail, in a few
years, to render our improvements so pro
ductive as to supercede the necessity fur
Taxation. The ultimate value of our stu
pendous system of public works can hardly
now he estimated. They have.already add
ed an incalculable amount of value to the
properly of the ’citizens of the Common
wealth, and given an earnest of their capa
city for future usefulness. The travel and'
transportation upon them must increase in
full proportion with the multiplication of
our population, and the development of our
cxhausllcas resources. Wlitft it is recol
lected that the population of this State ih
the year .1800, was only 602;545; that in
1820, it was -1,049,313; and in 184(5, it
was 1,724,033;'5h0wing no increase within
the last twenty years, exceeding the wlio'e
population; in the year 1800; and when
it is remembered that this immense in
creased and increasing population has im
parted, and- is. imparting, i|s intellect, en
ergy anil industry to the. improvements i f
the agricultural, mining; manufacturing and
commercial ibferests of the Commonwealth;
and .'that during the past year, when trade
and business were greatly depressed; Wheri
the Delaware division was not in use unt l
about the Ist of August; and when tlie im
portant anthracite coal trade from the Wy
oming, Shamokin'-and Bear and
Other iriterniediafe poinls to tide; a T ml tlie
bit ominous coal Irade from the, Allegheny
mountain; on tlie West Branch, and Juni
ata region, to tide;-have been baVely com
menced, the' feccipts_ofToll amounted; to
the sum of $762,260 44, it.will be diffi
cult to form a just estimate of the .extent of
their future .usefulness and. extended: fe--
cCiptS 1 . t:':.
These internal improvemen's, for the
construction of which the principal amount
of the State debt has been incurred, consists
of 768| miles of canal and railways com
pleted, -and 16S| miles of canal in pro
gress of construction and nearly completed.
The finished works are the followings
The Delaware canal, from Easton to
tide at Bristol, . " 59$
The main line of canaTnnd railway
--front Philadelphia’ttt Pitlsbilrg; _ S9s|
Canal from Beaver, on the Ohio river/ 1-
to Greenville/ in the direction of ,
Erie, : ' • - 725
Gunnl from Franklin, on the Alleghe- ' 1
ny river, to Conncaut lake, 495
Canal, Susquehanna and North Branch, •
; froln Duncan’s Island- to Lack#- -, i
wanna, , . ' 1115
Canal,-West Branch, from NbrtliUm- .
. berland to Farramlsville, ; V7§
[ Several side cuts and navigable feeders,*'/?
! Total canals and railways completed, 7^Bf.
Canals in progress and nearly completed:,"
- ■ ' Jr'-. . :Miles,
North Branch extension, front Lack
awanna to New Y,ork,line,
Erie extension, from Greenville to
Erie.harbor. • / .
Winconiaco canal,
/Total canals in'progress,
The report of the canal commissioners;
be Jaia before jnu;, will show/
,th?; stale - pndi .condition of bur
~Hating/in. lornVer;
cbmf^t^^tlopWufe,jatated^
[AT TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
New Sorlos«»Vol. 6 iKo 3 1.
i my view Sip relation (o our system of in
ternal improvements, I. beg leave, respect
fully, to refer you to (liem, as being un-’
changed, without ,wishing unnecessarily, to
extend this communication, by, embodying
them in it. ' ./:
. When I first entered upon, the-duties of.
the executive department,- the question of
completing the North branch and’Erie ex-,
tensions,■ wassnbniittcdto.tbe action of the
legislature. The representatives of the,
pepple.decided..in.fayor>f_completing
and, have by. three:subsequent acts, appro-’
printed considerable sums of money-for that
purpose. The North Uranch canal has al
ready c05t52,348,276 38, of which the sum'
of $389,676 42 remains yet due to con
tractors'. ' The Erie, extension lias already
cost about $2,919,507, of whiclv.tlic sum of
$574,406'25, is yet due to contractors.
‘The grave question is now presented, to I
I yoiir serious consideration, whether, under
>ll the circumstances,those two.lines are to
be forthwith finished,:or abandoned .for all i
time to come, and'the entire amount of Tabor
and money expended upon them-throwh a
way. Contractors Who have guhe on to the"
I work, and perhaps executed the least pro fit
[able part of it, wjll have fair Claims on the
justice of: the legislature for
.for the losses they have sustained by an a.-
bandonment of .the work, by the common
wealth.! Judging from the success Which u
sually crowns persevcfence.tn s;milarappli
cations'before the -.legislature,, there can be
but little doubt that , this class of claimants
will not go away unanswered and unsatisfied.
The farmer whose lands have been,.cut up
and.destroyed, will also be a just'claimant
Ifor compensation for the injury he.lias.sus
tained, for, which the advantages .from the
proposed, canal’ will not.be-un aya’djiblediet.
off ; arid if may.be welt tb ,eivq,4ite -whether,
the amount of those claims would not go far
towards the co rrpletion of those branchcs.uf
our improvements-. ohly valid objec
tion to n.prosecution of these works to coin-,
pleti.on, is the difficulty .to be apprehended'
in,raising Jhe necessary-'funds for the,pur
pose. The' estimated cost, to complete the
Erie extension is, $336,142 46,, and the
North Uranch $1,293,416, independent of
the arrearages due the contractors, as : before
stated,.which must he paid at all events*—.
More confidence can be placed in the accu
racy ofthese estimates of the cost of com
pleting, these works, than could be extended
to those made in the earlier stages of our
fiublic improvements, from the’increased
•practical experience of those intrusted with
i the duty.of.making them.My own opinion
remains unchanged, that it is our true poll
. cy to go on and complete bptb These works
with al'little delay as possible. This how
ever, is a question exclusively for yo jr de
cision.
For the.-debts jiow due to contractors on
these lines, as well 'as for repairs on the
other lines, rendered indispensable, and
withou t which many portions of our canals
would have, been -unavailable and' useless
throughout the season,'! respectfully urge
that some prompt and immediate provision
•be made.- Many 'of the contractors have
laid out of their money for a long time, and
have sulfercd serious injuries by the delay,
ff tin better expedient can be devised, I
would recommend the immediate issuing of
a six.per cent, stock, tq all such creditors,
redeemable at such time ns shall be thought
most expedient.
■ The amount required to pay debts due
for repairs on the several liiies ot.canal and
rail road, it will be observed by the report
of r the Canal Commissioner?, is unusually
■ large. This is to be ascribed to the unpre
cedented breach which occurred iti the Del
aware Division, ill January last, .which cost
about S 150.000; lb the.renewal of the North
• track of the Columbia rail- road; to the re-,
building; in a permanent locks,
bridges and aqueducts on several of the.
divisions; and particularly Oil the North
Branch, where the oHglnal superstructures,
:wddd;hadsufaTd'e
' caycd ns to leave no other alternative, than
either to’renew them throughout, nr aban
don the -navigation entirely. Ij is also, in
paid; Id be ascribed to the fact,, that only .t
portion of. the funds appropriated by the act
of the, 4th of May last, for repairs, atid to
pay debts then due, became available; leav
ing a large balance of the appropriations of
these objects, therein ' authorized;'stilt dub
to the public Creditors.
There is always, even under Ihc most c
conomical administration of affairs, a great
er amount of expense incurred in managing
and keeping in repair great public improve
ments for the Commonwealth, than it would
cost if.'they were in the hands of individuals.
It is, therefore,' respectfully - suggested for
the cohSiUcrritiori’of the Legislature, wheth
er the,publicJnterest would not be promoted,
and the am unt of the State debt considera
bly lessened-, by ti sale of the canals & rail
roads belonging to the Common wealth,or at
least a portion of them, or such other dispo
sition ns would diminish their annual expen
ses to the-Common wealth,'rind increase the
amount of revenue from'them,
’ Were the Commonwealth free from debL
I should: hesitate to'rcctimnlcml ThffsiilisTllf
any .of her public imprpvetrtejits'. ftut op
pressed as she is, the cost: which the repairs
require, and the necessity (if relieving’ oUrj
slaves ari*fay as possibler,;indijce me to urge
actffejon this subject, at least so far a* re
jpifiltrJlie.ColUmbia railroad, and the petti
warc.ffiWsioi) oft he Pen n sj-l va ni a canal.' It
iVSl|yi||iattei-; but Jittlfe: to those .interested in
the usevof the iinprovemch's. whether they
are ibllitPhand? of the 'public or of individ
uals; provided proper Safeguards are enflctcH
to protect the public iti the free oSe and en
joy ment of them, and to guaril against abu
re’s.ahd exactions; V’V,^-
If it be objected that sales cannot be effee-.
;feff ifv ) tb^pf l atfrtc of our pecuniary eriff ■
bafrassmehfs.'-lhatwilfbejnorcrisohwhya
law shoulil hot nbw be enacted .autliorizing
the sale of such portions pf them Jis. shall be
debuted proper, subject to the appntbutioh of
Miles,
- 9,6
6Si
165{
John Moore, Esq.iNeWvllte
■Joseph M. Hopewell t'dWnship.
.TiioNii H. IfiiirroN, Shippenslmrg;
'WILLI AM M. MATKBU. liHq. LeC’? X ttouiU.
, John MkiiaffSt, Hirkiuson township.
John CLKnDSNiif iJr. KKn., Hpgestowo* ;
. GeorgeT. Cain, Esq. MeclumirsliUrg- .
Fhf.deiuc'k WoNDEittiqn', - '
JoHN'STOUGIr.’Kaq.-.StnuKltstowVr.
'>*i)ANiKL KnvsHKn.'Esq. Ch'nrchtown.r
; Jacob Eongnecker, Esq. Wormlcyib.org.
J. B. IJitAwBAUGIr, CvdurSpring, Allen tp.
Martin G. Hupp, Esq. S)iirenmnstoivn. ,
the Legislature on the paie.being reported.
'lf sold, even on an extended credit, if the
principal be secured, and Jhe.interest punc
tually,paid, it will so 1 far relieve the Com
monwealth 1 if it-were .made' ,a. .condition.-
that State,stock should be received in-pay
menty'it wofild probably makethesaie. more,
a.ayaiitagcoua, iq. the. "Commonwealth. The,
dispositions of capitalists would thus be made'
known, and.it -can at least be ascertained
whether a sale at an adequate price can be :
efFected. The pnlicy of leasingfiir n term,
of years, one or both of those iniprovenientSi
has been more than once suggested.. Of the-,
propriety of so doing, Lam not prepared to
express'a decided opinion, but'have thought-
It worthy of a suggestion for your considera
tion.
- That (he.public works should be unpro
ductive,, is owing in a great measure to want
of proper legislation Oh llic subject,, and
less this be remedied, it must impair public
confidence in their, ultimate utility.. The ;
Canal Commissioners have,repeatedly urged
upoh the Legislature the propriety of allow*
mg the Com mon wen I riv,, alone,Jo.carry {lid
passengers on the Columbiuji'uijroad. No
railroad in the U. States could sustain itself,
if it were to relinquish the-carrying of-tlie ■
passengers; yelp on that;road;-this-slrango.
condition of things is exhibited, The §tnlo
bps expended in its construction over four
millions of dollars, ivliilejhc capital employ-.
ed by thosU carrying tli'tTpassengers, is per-
Imps riiirty'tliuusand dollars. The Stntc-on,
her immense outlay, is reaping about three
percent,, while the individual carriers, on
their thirty thousand dollars,'are clearing
nearly 200 per cerit; So it is, also, with re
gard to the transportation between Philadel
phia an,d,_£Utshurg. 'Thai, lineof otir'im
'pr.oyem.enlß, het'i'eea.those,cities,
strutted at a cost of a fraction over fourtceii:,
millions of. dollars.. The transportation ed
it is monopolized .byigaihe--seven : or- eight
compatijcsr employing a 'capital of ljets lli'afiT
fo.aV-h'jittdVed^flW
the Stale.is-receiving little more, than will,
keep it in repair, the transporters are realiz
ing immense profit*, and that, 100, on acom
paratively small outlay.
This can" (inly’be remedied by vesting ’(lid
Canal-Commissioners with-, full, nml'ampld
authority, to adopt such measures as in their
judgment will be best,calculated to enlist in
dividual cnlerpviscnntl itiVi(c’cumpctitiiin £
and to co'untcracttlie“cffccts of-the s'eliisli_&.
monopolizing system lliatbas-’con trolled .add
now controls,.the transportation otruur pub
lic works. '
It niay.possibly .be supposed that (be Car
nal Commissioners possess adequate poWet,
already for this purpose, but this is to mis
take the cjisc.- From the nature of that dc
partmerit of Ibc government, it is always Ibb
target tit which the discontented and interes
ted point their sb'aftS'. Not a scssiort of the-
Legislature passes without harrassing tips
Commissioner with' investigations; the whole
State is ransacked for accusers—every act is
questioned and misrepresented—and, after
all, the result is fruitless.. The first instanc'd
is yet to be found in which any thing tangi
ble has been produced', or any salutary re
form of the system effected. ■ Were the Le
gislature to devote one session to an honest
and thorough examination anil correction of
the abuses and defects of the system, with
out annoying and pursuing individuals for
sinister ends, not openly avowed, much good
w'ould be produced; hut, under any' other
mode of treating this subject, the issue .must
he as idle and Irivolous as heretofore; Idß
not wish to precludfe the most searching in
vestigation. 1 nierely desire to direct your
attention in a channel that.will be beneficial
to the public..
One of the greatest evils of these frequent
and frivolous . investigations, is, that they
bring legislative investigations thcinselVeii
into discscdit.. The persecution of the in
nocent, always affords a shield to the guilty.'
It is now; throughout the country, a mat
ter of idle sport to lalk’of these invesfigar
tiotm -The mode by which, (hey arc brought v
a bmlti stv el lii ml erst (iml. A few dissatisfied
contractors, and! others, iuipose on (lie ere- ,
dulity and stimulate the ambition of some
member of the Legislature to offer a.pefition;
complaining of ' public grievances. A com
mittee to investigate, is appointed—subpoe
nas are issued—ami straightway swarms of
hungry confederates-throng the l seal of gov
ernment, toprosccute their claims—lmingb
at the public join in a wliolc
salc pillage of the tfeasurv. . At the close of
the session the committee,reports,—the wit
nesses return to their homes, and laugh at
the trick, as they pofcket the spoils. By re
ference to this subject, it Will be fountl that,
a large.portion of the,legislative expense is
ihcurreil in this way; -Thcmextraiinlinary
increase of these expenses, over those of all
oilier departments, lias been of late years, ii
matter of just complaint.
. It beepines my duty in Uicncxt place, id
invite-ypur carnhst attention'tii tlie present
condition of'tlie banks; anil, currerfcy of tills
state. It is aninpt lamentable fact, that, in
relation to this subject, the, greatest'irregu
larity'and disorder prevail. It, is true, ive'
have little, if aiiy, of that wretched' illegal
'll ash; in eli'ciiiatiiib,' \v-lucliyVdunrigjlie;ea|i-‘:
ly part of the. last six years, iufecledallPife
tions of the Commonwealtln
notes, checks, certificates,- &c., &c.; of cor-'
porations and individuals, i'drisoiull' su <»>¥>'
put- fun h witluijtt l;iW;ful an iborily;' and ill :
spite of die priiliibitiOnsOT laiv| bbt bchaVO/
what is litlle bctier. n laige nMiiidnt or nntes
in cii-cplatipni ostensibly li-galj anil pufporVr*
ing tb be uf fcijual Value, because; founded
on lilt taitli of liie Ptate, byohatcyCrbank'
issued, and yet, not«|ilißlanding ibis fact;
discredited and t , cpu«liated by the very ini
slituiioiis fiVr i' bbse.beiiefit snd rtlief tbey ,
were’au'thoriied to be issued. - ' i' !
: The acf iif the lnsf aessiim' bntTtled;
acifopriiviilcrevcinietonieeftlicilernenils
on the treasury,"'ahd for 1 Oilier purposes,”
wider 1 the provisiohs or ivhiclii liiese srnall'
notesliavcbcenllrriiwniiitocirculihtibn,
having betome a law by the sahetionof