■two-thirds of the legislature, 'according to the tonus of fhu Constitution, ntllwilhstaild. ■ 11* .? <,b J e ctmn4 ur tUe Kxecmive > I hive TiXerted mysell to the utmost, to see its nnj , visions properly carried into Vtfcct. i'his was my duty as the. Executive; and I have taitlilttHy performed it, agreeably to the best dictates o my judgment,■'4l did hope that some of the evils which have resulted from it, might have bfeen obviated, if it was forced by me, and acted upon in a spirit ofj eMorgeJ wisdom, by the banks themselves, i lug hope has been vain. The worst anti cipations have -been realized, mid it is thy duty to suggest such a remedy, as appears to .mo, to be best calculated to correct the grievances, under which the public labors. By this act a loan of three millions onh hundred thousand dollars was authorized, to pay spccilic appropriations iiiiide by the oaid act, and the several banks of the Com niimwenltli, subject to the payment of a tax _ on their dividends. were authorized to sub scribe for the same, in. certain proportions to the oanital BtuckjOf each.—- The whole amount of bank ing capital in-the Common wealth, is, 623,559,274 Banking capital not subject to a tax on-'dividends, Banking capital subject to the payment of a tax on divi dends. • , . 618.409.374 Of the" banking capital subject to the pay ment of a tax on dividends, banks holding to the amount iif 510^336,145,-did not ac cept the provisions of the act of 4(li May to provide revenue, and hence the capital of , the banks which did accept of (he provisions of tile said act, , amounted only to the sum «jf«7,573,229. The whole amount of the loan taken by the accepting banks and paid into the trea sury is $1,756,650 61, leaving the sum of 81,343,3.42 32, which has nut been received. On the,3oth' August, 1841, I accepted an offer of the Tuwanda bank, to subscribe for an additional-sum of one hundred thousand dollars of the said loan, and on the same day, accepted .an offer of the Erie bank, to sub- scribe for mi additional eu:n of*three hun dred and fifty thousand dollars. ' ‘ Of these oilers the statb treasurer agreed . to accept front the Erie bank, the sum of twenty five \iioaslnil" tlu»;ip;'}ind fi-om the Towanda bank the sum .of thirty-seven thousand-five; hundred dollars.; This bank tbaccept a'. (tart ot ihivsum bjfefou, hence. no part oi- the one hundred thousand dollars was received at the treasury. Thus it appears a very large portion of thehanking capital, subject to' the operation of thisLbill, has taken no part ol the loan at all, and can, of course, have no claim to'imldlgcncc under this law.. Those banks which have complied, stand in a dilterent positioh—their loans must be re paid beto're they can be. forced to resume.— It is an inquiry pf muclnminient.-whiMherthe .banks that bare not complied With the req'ui sitions of .the law, OughtTiut to be'ilejiriycil of the advantages arising from the use of the notes issued'by those that did.; .. Alter the most patient' reflection on (his subject, I am persuaded that the only elfec loal and certain remedy is, to-repeal'the act so far as relates tdnhe issue ol these notes, and to provide adequate means to discharge the loan on which’ they are based. To-pay this loan, a six per cent stock might he au thorized to be thrown into market, to sell for whatever it will produce. Should there bej» small loss upon'if, 1 am sure ic will be t/eemed a very inconsiderable matter, com pared with the inconvenience the people suf fer from the present state pf things. To remedy this, a sacrifice, to some extent, is inevitable. Connected .with the repeal of this law, should be the enforcement of -'specie pay ments by the banks. An early day should be fixed fur this event, at least as‘early as the first ot Jane. The time, however, is not so material, whether it beiufew months sooner-or later, so that a certain definite and reasonable Jiirie be fixed. Your action: oil this point, cannot be too prompt fur the public interest. The community has. been long cmmgUlieUl in suspense—let the final issue be at dhee presented, and it is to be hoped tire people and the hanks will be pre pared fur it when it arrives.' I hose banks which are in a, sound con dition, will conform to the requisitions of the Legislature, without much embarrass ment; and those wide ha re not, will thus be brought to the touchstone ofjthcjr merits.— The first wifi'sustain themselvcs/the latter must lakejlheic: fate. As sunn as the pro duce of flic country'lias found its Way to market in the*’spring, the people will be as able as at any other period, to endure what ever hardship results from this measure, I do not myself believe, that, any inconveni ence which can arise from it, WiljJje greater, nor any thing like so protracted, as Those which are felt by all classes now. It seems to me if would be far belief, to bring matters to a crisis at .oncc, than to suffer under (be slow, but deutb-like torpo.r that has already seized upon all.- A very, few may, possibly, fall victims a little soon er, who could nut escape in the end, but the community at large will ultimately experi enceclfeciual relief. Let rashness, violence and injustice be strenuously avoided, but no v.ain hopes, or empty theories should pre " . Vent a cool, calm contemplation of our duty, antla firm and unshaken discharge of ft; „ without turning; to the right hand or to. the left. A suspension ot specie payments is at variance.with' every principle of correct banking. The forbearance .hitherto cxtcnilcil to lhe ;■ Dams hits not been without i:s uses.’ It has . enabled the hanks to test their alleged abili •r -fy, and td extricate themselves from their , difficulties,and has'uddctl iriuclpto the stock ofhmr experience. It has. dearly demon-, strated, that if the bank a .could not regain public confidence, under tire indulgence they nave -received,- (he, system ow which they are founiled is essentially-unso.qud, and re.-' quires thorough amendment or extirpation. We Wave, witnessed, too, under its influence the most.extraordinary changes take place, without any;, sudden or general , convulsion. A.bank oft thirty-five millions capitaljias exploded and gone down in the midst of us, comprehending within ilssphercof business, . the must extensive relations, both with in dividuals mijrkTvith other: banks, without making .iniircThjiri liiniilul .portion's' df/tl-e' - Chmi 010,11 weiil tli feelthe blow'with oppreSMV'e Looking,-therefore, at all these 7. eiiiiSiucratio)(gi(lieViiidulgeticc.heretdfure ' jpiyej)To the banks;- furiusTies. the strongest reason in favor of the course I suggest, and fully justifies its ndwption. 1 have recommended to three several leg ishitureS the proprhsty of selling the stock wliich the. State owns in the Bank of ayl’vania, the Philadelphia Bank, and the Fanners and Mechanics’ Bunk, and used every argument that I could bring to bear Upon the subject, to convince them .of the propriety of separating the Commonwealth irum the banks, and of disposing of the stock.she holds .in them. I recommended it.in. a message communicated on tho 7th March, 1839, bh"wliich day the market price of the said stocks were, for the Bank -Vf Pennsylvania, $496 for $4OO paid; Phil adelphia Bank $lOB X-3 for $lOO paid, and. the Farmers andJAcc_hanic's’ Bank $62 lorsso paid. The satiie rccuiniiiendatioh was again made on the Bth Jan., 1840, at which time the following whs the price of said slopks—lor Bank of -Pennsylvania $410; .Philadelphia Bank $99 1-2; Farmers and Mechanics’ Bank $54 3 -4. A similar rccuinniciulalii n Was made Oth Jan., 18417 on which day tlie following sales were made, viz: for Bank of Pennsy|vania.s4l2; Phil adelphia Bank $100; Farmers and Mechan ics’ Bank 52 1-2, niakilig the said slocks, held by the'Commonwealth, worth $2,157,- 970. By the la>t sales made (luring the present month, the na-ket value of these stocks arc, for Bank of Pennsylvania $160; Philadelphia Batik $4B; Farmers and Me chanics’ Bank $3O; making the present total worth of those stocks $992,424; by which it is'seen that by the course pursued by the last legislature,' in refusing to authorize a sale, the'Joss sustained by the State, on, those slocks, amounts to the formidable sum of $1,255 546'. I renew the same re commendation to for the reasons given, from time to lime, in several communications on that subject. , , Before 1 dismiss the subject touching (he hanks, I desire to call your attention to the policy of rechartering banks, by the legisla ture, during the present session, at all.— When a chat ter for a bank lias- bceii grant ed to .a number of individuals, for.a. fixed period of.tinrei there'is no express or im plied obligation to. renew'it.' On the con trary, the very limitation shows that its ex istence's to be terminated at the time de signated. ‘ Its, stockholders bftaw thid.'aiid Cannot complain il held to’their bargain.— The condition of batiks never is known till 5,150,C00 they are wound up. and- closed. Their - inocle : uf doirtg business, enables them fq defy public scrutiny, and to acquiree credit and standing to which they may not he justly entitled. Frauds and irre'gulaiities of years perpetration, are concealed from /he eye-ol the public, till n final settlement /of the concerns of the bank is made ■ Little knots of persons confederate and. gather round- these institutions,—reap the bonefit of their existeiice,—ntotfopolize thelr advan tages, and perpetuate their power. \Ve seldom find among- them the energy, intel lect” and'cTilcrprise of-the community, but those .who derive (heir consequence from their.combinations sanctioned and invigora ted by tlm law. I cannot think such a sys tem as this of perpetuating these corpora tions, congenial to our free institutions. . It establishes monopolies of the mosb’pdious. kind, because not limited in .duration. If the business of the community really re quires the aid of a bank, instead of renew ing the charter of the one nbout to expire, establish a new one. Let its subscription books, be open to'all, and if it be advanta geous, let all share .til its enjoyment, who may choose to do so, and if not advantage ous let all participate in hearing the burthen. -Besides this is not a fit time to renew bank charters, or to establish new ones. Tl.e public mind is riot settled on this subject, nor can we fully appreciate the soundness, or unsoundnrss of the hanking system, un til a resumption, of .specie, payments takes place. Let the Irecommendations I have now submitted to you, he adopted, and let us wait a year at least to judge of (heir re sults. This experience will essentially aid future legislation, and perhaps rescue us from fatal errors. The history of. the legis lation of this Commonwealth, in regard to banks, is a succession of plausible theories; let us hereafter' rest it on the solid basis of enlightened experience. Tljen may we hope to escape (he rock, on which all our banks are now temporarily shipwrecked'. I hope anti trust'- most, 1 if not all of them, are able, to resume specie payments; but it is impos sible to know this, or to confide in their ability andrdrspusition fii cld so. uinil wc have the proof, which they' alone can fur nish. Th 6 public has cea'sed to yield its credit to any corporate pretensions, which are not supported- by corresponding acts.— I have appended several tables connected with This subject, ns affording matters of convenient references The general,subjeerdf creating amliegu- Ittting corporations, is so intimately blended with that of the banking institutions of .the Commonwealth, as to claim a place next in pur consideration. 1 have remarked in former messages, that the creation of cor porations fur all purposes, has been carried -to a fearful extent in this State. Year after year they have been springing up around us on all sides, and are rapidly becoming competitors 'with individuals in all sorts of business. When confined to their legiti mate purposes, such as the construct! n of canals and railroads into our fertile interior, and rich mineral regions, I shall not utter a word of complaint; hu to this limit, strictly should they be restrained. The increase of corporations is a growing evil; : I have again Tind’again cautioued-theLegislature against the grunting of corporate privileges; I can act touatrongly impress this; caution upon your mindsi Oy referring to the acts of lhe : last Legislature, we find the grant of corpo rate.privileges to have been free and almost indiscriminate.-: Su/much ; so, that .of; 14JL’ laws, enacted; more than one third (her acta of incorporation, : pi- acts ineiitary thereto. I adhere to the- dpilfan, lictctufore.expressed ,Tliat corpora tidfis ought never to be created, where the objrct fe'Le accomplished is within The probable/reach of. individual exertion,-; They absolve men from persorial liabiiity. aod may tend .by unduo coriibrnatifinsirid concentrated action, to embarrass ppeiati.on df/goyernment, nnd iiileifere witlv the populari suvereignty. Let the present Lfgialatare set. (he example of restslirig, cncrouch mcn 1--. If the propriety oftl^s course was e»er ,(luubtrul, lhe expeiiehi;c of a few ycai-s past lias - dissipated at I- doubt , and clearly marked oaf; the path of duly. ’ ' | On this subject, there is another (natter «hicli has been lepcohidlybrought under my notice. Ixallude to the extension of the au thority. to create for various purpuscs,cmifened on the Courts of • Com mon, Pleas, by the ISth, 14th, 15fh& : i6th sections of the act of the.lSlh of October, . 1840, entitled VAn act ielating to Orphans’ courts and for other purposes.” of incorporation.are procured under this law, "on application to the respective courts of common pleas, without being subjected to a-r ny other restraint or. control, than their own hasty perusal. Notice, to be sure, is direc ted to be given, but that is of little avail.— There is ho common standard for the whole State, as was the case when these charters were to be approved byJhe Attorney Gene ral and tlie JudgeS~of llie Supreme CduTTr& enrolled in the department-of State, at tile seat of Government. Under' the old system there was uniformity;in the provisions con tained jn these charters; but now, under the new law, ihp discretion of different courts may essentiillly differ, and ultimate disorder and confusion cannot fail to ensue. These! domestic corporations, as they may be call ed, are of great service to the public; but it may be fairly questioned whether,it will not detract from their uses, to render their ,cre ation a matter too ready and unchecked, f invite your attention to this subject, and if you should-agrce with me in opinion, it will be easy to remove all ground of complaint, by restoring the power of granting these charters, to the hands in which it has been safely lodged fur upwards of half h century. The delay and inconvenience of the old sys tem, jyer fully counterbalanced by t,he cer tainty, consistency and uniformity of the corporate powers and privileges enjoyed by the corporations created. ' * The'fetgjslature, by the arfof!6th June, 1836", conlenayl equity or Chancery powers on our supreme court, courts of common pleas and district courts, in certain specified cases. There are also, certain other enact ments, on the same subject, in the 391 h sec tion of the act of 13th June, 1840, and per liaps m other acts. . It is stated that.some of the provisions of these various laws are in-" .congruous, that the jurisdiction 'conferred is not expressly defined, and it has been deci-| rvicii-by the Supreme Court..that the parties aggrieved have noLredress by appeal from the inferior, tribunal- tiTthe Supreme Court,, or by writ of prior from the'latter to.the form er.-,‘.lf it.be deemed advisable to retain the feat urea of these dence, jt would seem rcquisite''tlTnl tlie evijs complained of should be removed by.lcgig lalive emfclmerit. -. , would, also recommend an examination Hilo the state and condition of the extent and business of the several judicial districts of. tlie.piinnnonwealth,. k so. that the amount of labor of the several President Judges, some of whom are at present overburdened, may' be in some measure equalized. * There are complaints, of the accumula tion of business iir tlie courts of the city apd county of Philadelphia, and especially ol the difficulty of reaching, in a reasona ble time, the trial of causes at nisi piuus, in the supreme court. This last is said to arise from the lime that the court is neces sarily obliged to devote to the business in hand, where they have to decide appeals, and writs of error. Whether such com-, plaints be well ,founded or not, I am not prepared to say. A careful examination into the whole subject, and such enactments as Shall be found necessary to meet any evils that may exist in the administration of justice, and give to every one an oppor tunity of speedily' trying his cause, is res? pcctfully recommended. P It *9 often made the subject of complaint, that the decisions of the, supreme court are not published under the supervision of a Re porter, appointed by authbrity'of law. . I think it is worthy of your inquiry, whether the public interest would not be’promoted, j by providing for the appointment of such a [■Reporter, who shall be responsible to the public, for the.manner in which he discharg es his duty. Complaints continue to he made in many counties of the manner uf selrcli ng ; .jnrors. Unless some additional guard be thrown around this inestimable right, public confi dence .in the trial by jury will be much di minished, . This most Wise, and venerable of all human and social institutions, must be guarded against the possibility of en croachments, and this long boasted bulwark 0 fiber' rrotccled froi "pstitution. to ty._pi purposes not intended-by-theconstitutron.- I therefore recommend that the Jurors be annually selected by the judges of thcxourt of common pleas, or some tivo of them; to gether with sheriff, and that they.be drawn by them in open court, op. that some other provision be made, that the trial by jury, may be .respected. and effectually se cured.*: The laws relative fo colialteral inheritan ces imperatively call forrevision, iii order to insure the collection of moneyfrom that source. I respectfully recommend the adop tion of the amendment suggested in a for iner communication, to enjoin it upon the registers pf wills to inquire of all executors and administrators oh path, at the time of granting letters, whether the; estate of their testator or intestate, will he, in their opinion, the subject of the laws relative to collate! ai inheritances, and that the Regis ter give notice of all such to the Attorney General, orchis deputy; whose duty it shall be; to make a record thereoV'Shd enforce the collection, from time'to time, of. the moneys arising therefrom, and hand over his record to his successor in office. The eighth section of the. sixth article of •the ■ constitution provides, that all officers, whose election is not therein provided for, sliiijl beeleclcdor appointed as directed-by iuWfi There has been no legislative action oh this subject, as far as regards the offices of Surveyor General, Secretary of the Land Olfiee,.and Auditor General, since the adop tion of that instrument.-Aa- the—ciimmis ■Sipnsof the preaent incumbents will expire on the lOth day of. May hast; it would seein to be a’ suitible t|me for providing by law, for the tenor of those offices;' They, with, the Secretary of the coihihonwealtli, constitute' what iBUsually;deiVonduaiedthe public opinion for Hie manner in whiclf they perform-' iheir dutiesiyct under tiog hiwslio possesses - nif power of sfh"o -iiig iheio, even for the most p-ilpahlc ifei'c- Ijclion 'of duty,; during "(he time/(or which they ara I respcctfully com- iricnd this subject to your attention, ami that those officers he placed., as to tenure; on the same footing as the < onstilution has placed that of Secretary df the Cotnmon wealth. , , - i ’So far as respects the office of Attorney, , General, it secies proper that the tenure should remain as itns. It is in truth a coiii- I’ men law office—the incumbent is the legal , advisor, of the Governor, and the heads.of r department, and is the legal .hand by which . the. Executive functions are'performed. The. duty will - probably devolve on you to make provision lor'the election of repre sentatives, to. represent this State in the Congress of the United States. As soon as Congress shall have decided on theMippor tionment, according to the last census, no ' tiine“Bhair be.’.ll)St .to ’lay- the samebefure ■you.' The report of the Superintendent of Com mon Schools will put you in possession of the staje and condition of our colleges, academies, female. seminaries, and schools. The general evil- of which we • have just cause to Complain, is the incompetency of many of those employed as teachers. The compensation to them is generally low, and' yet it is generally more'than many of them can earn as teachers, if the possession of knowledge and the capacity to impart it, be requisites for those entrusted with the mo ral and, mental training of the rising gener ation.' Upon this, and upon a|l other sub jects connected'with the important work of education, I must refer you to the report and documents wliich tlte Superintendent will furnish, and shall only remark, that I , will most cheerfully, co-operate in any and ' all measures, which shall place the means of acquiring a sound and practical education within (he reach of all the children of the Commonwealth'—elevate the-character, and improve the qualifications of our teachers;. ; and enlarge'the usefulness,’ and,increase the beiifita .to- he- derived frbtn our-colleges, a cademies and seminaries. A sound educa-- tion, under proper moral and religious train ing, is the best legacy a parent can bequeath 1 Jo his child, and the best provision a patriot can make to secure the permanence of re- J publicahism in its purify, 'l'o our system uf common schools, alone, ■" can we look as 1 the oifans of imparting this .education ;.and ,on this system at least, ns a corner stone, ■ \ye must rest our free institutions, and our 1 .best hopes to set them descend nnahakenJo" '< to thesy who come, after us,'d ■ V~' ... duties of the'Superintcndcnt of .Pub lic Schools, have become so onerous, as to occupy , almost the- entire attention of the incumbent, and leave him but little time to devofe to the oilier duties of Secretary of the Common weal Ih. I respectfully recoin-, mend this subject to your consideration, OflW ,c * u tercst does not require a separation of the duties of Superintendent, from-that of Secretary of tho Commonwealth. - - I cannot but repeat what I said in my first annual-message, that we are in need of a proper system ol school hooks, to be used ju our schools, and which should be compo sed by competent persons for the instruc tion ol the youth of Pennsylvania; such a course as would tend properly to impress our youth with a due regard for own,Com monwealth, and endear her to their, hearts. Her position, weiillh and intelligence; the admirable free system of her laws; her un wavering patriotism and devotion to repub lican principles; her.distinguished philan thropy and benevolence, entitle her, in n pre-eminent degree, to the love and vener ation ol her children, who should, be early taught to estimate her great characteris tics. The twenty-third section of the,first arti cle of the constitution of the Common wealth provides that “every hill which shall'' have passed both Houses, shall be presented to the Governor. If he approve he shall sign it, but it-he shall not approve he sliqll re turn it, with his objections, to the house in which it originated, who shall enter tile ob jections at large upon the journals and pro ceed to reconsider it.”' ‘ The section then proceeds, to provide, that such hill, so re turned, shall not become a law, unless two thirds of each house shall, on a call of - the yeas and nays; agree to pass the lull. This provision Was inserted in uurc.onstitutiun of 1790; and retained in that of 1838, from a conviction of its use, as well as necessity. It was intended fur the protection of the people against liasty.iinpruvulent and im proper legislation. The constitution, while itgivestu-thelwo-houses the right- to nre pare, to amend itflil" pass the several bills, still makes lhe Exccutive an active constit uent part fof the legislative power. This occurrence! in acts of legislation, is. required to be expressed in ah approbation of the act proposed. When he conscientiously be lieves that the proposed, measuie is wrong, he would-be reprehensible, were he to give an approbation he cannot feel. Deriving liis power and authority directly from the people of .(lie whole State, his interposition of the veto power, may be essentially ne cessary to preserve this interest of the Com monwealth, from the of-', local causes. Whatsoever reasons, however, in duced the imposition of this duly upon ihe Execotiveorginally, ills enough to say, that tl|e duty is enjoined in our organic law, and I Jjclievo wisely. It has been my lot, as well as that of all my predecessors, I be lieve, on several occasions to exercise the power, thus conferred. .jUra'yc always done so with due deliberation, and only .-'when the exigencies of the occasion furnished to me satisfactory and conclusive rensoas.fur so doing. -It »s,-.hpwcvcr,)a power which I never hesitated io exercise, when duty re quired it at my hands. . During the last ses sion of the legislature, ! was obliged to ex ercise this power often,cr than heretofore. I did so. at a time-when my condu'cftwas about to undergo the ordeal of public opin iun,;and there seemed to be a dispositionJo riinke the exercise of this power, an import ant issue before the people- . Tliat issuc was had r - amlthe - result- has—cx pressed the voice of the people .iipun.it, in a wiiy .nut easilymisumlerstuud. ;- i. ... ; ' ’ t,liad tlie duly thus enjoined by^heFcnn stitmiim 'upon, the Executive, been Jreely. and in the early legis latiopDflohillie-aubjcctufonijiiitcrnaiim- :pi'uvciiieiils, weishiiulil tiut nmv bejinvulvpd ja debt to the extent avq' are. and there .woqld ifended* upun .tVui ks of dimhtfulutllity.'and minor public importance. Our mainland leading avenues rtif intcrcom.miiiicntiim n |ot»c,‘ woljld liavc becn-Wnstractedi arid the »m pr [jo tale saved trom all clanger ot being dis , hunoreil by failing to ipcet her engagements, i Far*be, it from me'to reflect on my prede i cessurs, but it is our duty to gather wisdom from experience, and to avoid as far as pos , sible, the repetition of error. : In the months of June ami August, next, the commissions of (he militia officers wilh jin this Commonwealth wdl expire by their '.own limitation. It would, therefore, seem to be a fit. time to lake up that very im portant, but much abused subject.—Ope of our most important duties is to cherish and encourage the true military spirit among our citizen soldiers. In war, and in all trying emergencies; on them we must rely, chiefly, to protect our homes and firesides from aggression—our national honor from insult^-and-vour?liberty,- fiom destruction. It is too much the habit of'sume, who should know better, to decry and underrate our mil itia and volunteers. Those'who remember (heir services in the revolution atid late war, with. Great Britain, entertain a different o pinion; Tret the organizationof'Volunicer companies be promoted;—Jet them devote all the tune, they carTspare, to theacquisi of military discipline, and they will speedi ly silence the voice of censure and of pre judice, and strengthen the arm of our na tional defence. ' , A convention was held within the last season, tor the purpose of devising and re commending a mute effective military .sys tem, and the result of their labors will short ly be laid before you; in relation to I take occasion to say, that the opinions of that conVention, combining as it does, much of die ta'ent, experience and military know ledge of the'country,"will be emitled to, and doubtless will receive at your hands, the must respectful consideration. Ameri can freemen should never lose sight of the solemn injunctionof the,father of our coun try “in time of peace prepare for war.” The geological survey of the State is nearly completed,—-the, past, season having brought the exploration to a close. As soon as the field work can be reduced to shape, (tie Slate geologist jyill.jliis winter, enter Upon the prejarution of his general report, i intended tu embody the results of the' whoie ■ survey. While the final report-is-in pro- : grcss ; .(he engravings of-, the. maps' and arrangements of the State -cabinets,’as fab' as they are in readiness, 1 might, he advan tageously commenced. As a portion of lhe,, 'work can he put-to press before the meeting 1 of the ficxttegislalure, if seems advisable that provision should be now made," for pre- i paring and publishing the details. .This very important survey, developing the na- i lure and' extent of our vast mineral resour ces, having been, prosecuted steadfastly to its'completion, sound policy and economy certainly require that the'results should be I embodied .and puhlisl eJ'with, all possible i lespalcl j _ The enormous amount of capital invested -in our various works of.-ihtcrnal improve uient, admonished us to exert our utmost | power, to render them productive. There is one matter connected with this subject, to which 1 desire to call your earnest atten tion. The experience of every year proves •more clcarjy the necessity of'our . action upon it. I allude to-the removal of ob structions from the channel of the Ohio riv er. The general government has several times directed.iU.iuquiriasJ:nto this meas ure, but has never yet undertaken the effect ual execution of the project. It is a meas ure in which Pennsylvania is most deeply, but not alone interested. The great -and growing western and southwestern states, embracing nearly the entire valley of the Mississippi and its tributaries, have’a direct andabiding interest ip its speedy completion, ,as well as Pennsylvania: . Pur,tlie impor tant national purposes, of transporting the mail, for transferring armies, and convey ing the munitions of war, it is of quite as great moment. Indeed it addresses itself to every duty, slate, and national, and aps peals to every interest that should command the care and guardianship of both govern ments, in a manner nut easily resisted. Considerlng.it, (ns the legislative guardi ans of Pennsylvania,) we are constrained to urge it upon the general govVrament on grounds the most Just and unanswerable.— Cut oil'.as the navigable communication with our improvements is, from Pittsburg to Louisville, for a large portion of the year, it diminishes the value of those- Improve ments to a ruinous degree,— 7-forces business upon-otbcr.less.directaml convenient-routes,, "and of cmVrse. dperateiT'tu'tlie seridu's ili'sad vautage nf'lbe mercantile, agricultural, and manufacturing classes of our citizens. It is a singular and startling fact, that insuran ces on goods to be delivered at Cincinnati, are now'effected in. the city of Philadelphia, cheaper and inore readily, by the way of the. New. York- canals, Lake Erie .and..the Ohio canal,'than by the.direct and na'ural route through our own improvements to Pittsburg. I learn that the whole diflicuity in this particular, lies in the uncertainty of the navigable state of the Ohio river. Thus is a large share of business‘daily diverted from our public improvements,-and the probability,, nay • the- certainty is, that as regular lines ofdransportation are establish ed on those collateral- improvements, this diversion of business will be greatly aug mented.—We are most imperatively called upon to look to this matter before it is too late. In the commencement of her stupendous system of public improvements, this state wasinduced to incur the vast liability, she did, under a conviction that the trade,and business of the. west and. south, wo'uld afford an adequate'return. It was dn the general assurance that this.would be secured tu.jjer, that she opened the highway to.the sea board for those rich and vast interior regions. Pennsylvania nd\y relics on the. sgnse of justice which she knows will, oh this, as on all subjects actuate her sister states, in de-, termining on a measure calculated; to alle viate the burthen that is weighing down her citizens. Those states .which’ during progress of our main Upe,o,f.impro»cm.ehts from ’.■Philadelphia -to Pittsbuijg. looketl-on with an interest less Uvelythanqui owhj will not surely..withhold their aid Trohi ren- of iho Ohio na'vTgable at all. practicalVgtasons,, and thus completing tht*entir»lfne of -Thtproyemcnts began by! Pennsylvania, ~nuw: ; wlien i cspyricnce haB demonstratcd the iieccssiiT of llns measure. I trust the Legislaturo-wiil exertlts.utmost in; .this work, .which is so obviously one const by sound policy. It is proper to mention two other meas ures of national policy in connection with this subject, in both of which* this State has such an interest, as'to justify the inlerposir lion of the legislature. ! I speak in refer ence to the establishment of a National' Foundry, and, the construction of a Dry Dock at Philadelphia. The first of these has recently engaged the attention of Con gress, and seems likely to be received with, general favor. Not disparaging-.the claims of other sections of the country, we may without fearing contradiction on very ra tional grounds, urge in behalf of Pennsyl vania, the most conclusive reasons. Among them are our central position, our contigu ity to llie sea board, our numerous and per fectly safe inland communications with al most every section of the Uiiiop, and above all, the deposites of coal and iron scattered throughout our borders, to an extent un known in any other quarter of the world.— w e have in these, every conceivable advan tage, to recommend some point, perhaps in the valley of the Susquehanna, to the selec tion of Congress, as a site for a National Foundry; and the same reasons in point of location,-apply with equal force in l favor of constructing a Dry’ Dock at Philadelphia. In addition to thege, its safety from the at tacks of_an enemy, its fresh water supplies, its conveniences of producing timber and workmen, all conspire to enforce its claims upon.the-notice-of the Getiei’ai-.Govcrnmcnt in the-most convincing form. I will cheer fully co-operate with you in any. manner deemed most advisable in impressing these considerations upon-the National Govern ment.' If properly represented, I'do not thinfc ’they. can be overlooked.. _ The recent convulsions in our commer cial affairs, have fended to the deep and lasting injury of this-Coinmnnwealth; 1 fear - it wi.ll require_years oT:industry, prudence and integrity, to wipe out the stain from our escutcheon, and to replace, us, on that solid* manly and proud footing we once occupied) in the estinialion of the world. The wil'd and headlong spirit of speculation, and stock gambling has brought disgrace Jo our doors, and stamped every thing depending on our business fidelity, with suspicion amf discre dit. ’ This faint of-cliaVa'c ter has extended too far.- It has reached (lie whole commu nity, when in truth it ought to have been fhose-only, wboseTplJyjmnrn-., dericO?- oipdsshb'«ekty‘ charge. —The great body of our citizens are free from debt, have neveo engaged in'ruinous fancy Slock speculations, are abundantly able and willing to comply with all their obligations, to each other, and to the citizens of every other Slate or coun try. It is true our situation and habits of business have rendered us a debtor State, and subjected ,us to responsibilities, which ■night, easjly have been avoided utqler a different system of policy. W.,e purchase [large amounts of manufactured goods .of all kinds from the eastern Stales, to con sume ourselves, and to sell to the citizens of the south and southwest. We arc lia ble on the failure of our debtors, to pay for the commodities we purchased, and sold to them, and we of course must pay for those we use ourselves—We can only discharge these debts in cash, or by selling to our eastern manufactories, our coal and iron in -their raw state. This very iron.jn a thou sand shapes, we purchase afterwards at an enormous advance for (he labor bestowed on its manufacturers, and thusbecoinc debt ors for labor that we ought to perform our selves. For leather, boots, shoes, &c. cloths and other domestic manufactures, we are: daily incurring immense debts to the citi zens of other Slates, and are now, in the hour of o'ur necessities, feeling the heavy hand of the creditor laid ou r ail our resour ces. : ' . This ought not to be. . It is unworthy the great State of Pennsylvania to depend on the manufactures of other states or of foreign countries, to supply her citizens with those articles for the various purposes of life which they can pniduce themselves; as well, as cheaply, and as abundantly as any other people on the face of the globe. Our valleys teeming with-.plenty, our hills with exhaustless coal and. iron depusites— our streams abounding, with water power for all purposes, unsurpassed by that in any other country —and our citizens stimulated by enterprise and possessing means to ren der it nft’cctual, should awaken in. us that spirit of independence which' disdains to- seek at the hands- of others that which it ' can furnish with its own. If is with no feelings of envy,, pr of local jealousy of. others, that I-bring this subject to your no tice; but with.an honest feeling of State pride, and a generous emulation, which should inspire us with a determination not to.be indebted to others for those solid ancf ustful means of promoling-our prosperity and independence which "nature boun teously lavished on our own citizens. The duty of encouraging manufacturing establishments-, to convert to useful purpo ses our coal and iron, and indeed to supply, all our domestic wants, has become one of peculiarly imperative obligation. The com merciul calamity under which we are suf- > faring; has been so much heightened by the circumstances to which 1 have just ad verted, and the inability of our citizens to perforin all their contracts, has been so greatly exaggerated ■ by the interested and malicious in other .States~;'thut self-respect as well as public spirit calls .upon ns most emphatically, to tUrn a kindtnnd cherishing eye to their advancement. /Every measure that 1 cah conduce 'to this end, will meet my . must hearty concurrence.- rjhink’mqbiries* on ibis subject should- be .instituted. - - Wt want facts - as the basis of legislativeeri--' couragement, Let them be diligently - ' sought fur,,artir when ascertnined. let thein be promptly applied to some useful purpose. It is high time the Legislature uf Pennsyl valiia islfquld' remember that the interests of JPennsylyania are confided to their'cape.-,’ cial care. ; It is a source of pride and! gra tificatioif'ift. reflect, that but a Jfiall amount of.the indebtedriesa to n.ther" States, which is now .griping and annoying us/is far.com modities disposed of tp.our own citizens.— ' .NearlyevcrydolfOrbfthisdomeßtrcdebt ias been faithfully paid, The sum now. . pde is for sales made to purchasers in the. . west and south-west, for. whom' Pehnyrlva niafis are'in truth?fherely ,to be regarded its tlieyguaiantors. -TliiS; circuttolahce is en* limy, overlooked by 1 our detractors, who ; i are attempting to Sunni power, and
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