American iHSIh 39 oluntrrr.
VOL. 47.
AMERICAN VOLUNTEER
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY UORNIKQ BY
JOBS B. BRATTON.
TERMS
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and Two Dollars and Fifty Gents, if not paid within
the year. These .terms will bo rigidly adhered to in
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Editor.
Advertisements —Accompanied by the cash, and
not exceeding ono square, will bo inserted throe
times for Ono Dollar; and twonty-fivo cents for each
additional insertion. Those of a greater length in
proportion, -•« ■,, _ , *....
Job-Printing—-Such ns Hand-bills, Posting-bills,
Pamphlets, Blanks, Labels, *o. Ac., executed with
accuracy and at the shortest notice.
Mmtllmwm.
Adventure of an Orphan Boy.
Toward tho latter part of the summer of 1840, a
lad of prepossessing appearance entered the beauti
ful town or G , situated at the foot of Senaoa
Lake, New York, nodr the centre of tho State. 'Ho
had travelled from the western part of Ohio, where
his father, a widower, had died from one of those
malignant fevers so common in newly made conn
tries, while overseeing tho cultivation of a large
tract of land, in order to regain a. fortune lost du
ring the disastrous speculations of 1836.
Being an only son and left among strangers at
tho death, of his father, George Wentworth resolved
to leave Ohio, and romovb to tho State of Now
York, for the purposo of trying his fortune in any
manner that chance might offer. He had passed
through several towns, and villages on his route*
without meeting with anythinglo attract his atton-
I tion, until reaching T . This fine town, with its
! lovely lake and fine scenery struck his fancy; so ho
determined to obtain employment if possible, and
make it his future home.
While walking along; the principal street of tho
shady avenue overlooking tho lake on which were
located scvoral fine churches and other public build
ings, ho saw a large crowd of people assembled
around a newly ereoted liberty polo, in front 6f one
of the principal hotels. Oh approaching thp spot,
ho found it was a political meeting, held for tho
purpose of raising the polo and making party
speeches. •
Our hero forded his way into tho crowd just as
they wore raising the “Stars and Stripes,” with the
names of their candidates to the top of tho flag
staff. The flag had scarcely reached half-way, the
enthusiasm being at its height, when the cord
twisted and caught in the little wheel at the top.—
. They .pulled and tried every way, but wore unable
to raise or lower tho flag a single inch. The excite
ment, and cheering ceased, and all eyes wore turned
to the half-masted flag. . A portion of the opposition.
party, who wore grouped a little in the rear of the
.main body, began to jeer and joke about the appa
rently bad omen, to tho evident discomfiture of their
i opponents.
I AUcngth, .Judge S editor and publisher of
f the Q Journal, then a candidate for Congress,
offered fifty dollars to tho person who would climb
tho staff and! draw tho cord through, tho wheel.—
The utmost Silence reigned for,several minutes, but
nO /Mr® advouced to make tho daring trial.
Will no one volunteer ?” shouted tho judge,
strongly excited as a peal of laughter wont up from
I \bo ranks or tho opposition. ,
Tho chuckle had ecnrcoly died away, however,
before George, with his cap aud shoes off stepped
before the Judge, and with a confident look ox
i okimed— .
I “.Yes, sirl*ll climb, it?”
[ ' "You/my lad; are you strong enough?'? ;
' “Oh, yes, sir; Lam used to climbing” >•
“Then go ahead my little Spartan,” said the
judge, at the same time giving him an encouraging
pat upon tho shoulder.
Steadily, hand over band, his foot clutching the
polo in a manner that proved him an export clim
ber, George made his way to tho very top of the
staff, which was so slender that it swayed to and
fro with his weight. -Nothing daunted, ho wound
his. legs right and left around tho polo, and with his
right hand untwisted tho cord. Shouting fearlessly
to those below to hoist away, ho clung on till tho
flag, fairly reached tho top, and then slowly de
scended.
Tho cheers, that now rent the air were terrific—
every body, opposition and all, joining in.with one.
uaivorsalshout. ’
After the excitement had somewhat subsided,
Judge S—r—, looked upon tho boy with admiration,
and took out bis pocket book to pay the promised
reward.
George noticed the action and exclaimed- •
“Keep your money, sir, I want no pay for help
ing to raise an American .flag, ■
“ Nobly said, ray little man; what is your name ?"
inquired the Judge.
“George Wentworth, sir; I am an orphan, and
just arrived hero in search of employment,” replied
ouV hero, his bright eyes glistening, with a tear.
“Well, you,shall livo with mo,” exclaimed tho
Judge; “I'll take care of you-for tho future.”
.9 » * 9. ■ »
I Five'years hayo passed away since George Wont-
I Irorth had boon a member of bis benefactor’s fami
ly. In the meantime, Judge S. had been defeated
by bis political opponent, and George had been ini
tiated into the mysteries of the " Art of Arts.” Ho
had become a great favorite with the citizens', and
was looked upon as the.adopted son of the Judge.
It was whispered in private circles that ho was to
bo the envied husband of the beautiful and accom
plished Ido, the Judge’s only daughter. But this
George had not dared to dream of; ’tis true ho nev
er felt so happy as when in her presence, and it did
make him twitch to see the foppish students from
the oollogo.swarm around the unacknowledged idol
of his heart. Poor youth! had ho known the real
state of Ida’s fooling the thought would have almost
turned his brain; and could ho have interpreted the
gleam of joy that flashed from her eyes whenever bo
uttered a noble sentiment or sally of wit, it would
have filled his soul with oostaoy and delight.
One fine day in the latter part of Juno, Ida, her
lather and George, wore enjoying a sail on the lake
[ je their trim littie yacht, the Swan—which had won
toe oiip at;tho last regatta under the management of
our hero; who was standing with his hand on the
least gazing.at the beautiful scenery on the opposite
fnu r ovo^he J , U mf r?l d ‘bo tiller and Ida was lean
ilifmiffh (I. i boat trailing her pretty hand
. wat ? r “ftho lake, when a sudden
of 1 tho yacht so thatsbe lost her
balance ana foil into tho water ■i, ixi
splash made by Ida, and before the Judge could ut
mfd a «t ry ' h °l w k ‘ okod off bis light summer shoos,
.fttld plunged in to her rescue. Being a skillful and
vigorous swimmer, ho came up with tho struggling
girl before her clothes allowed her to sink, and en
twining her waist.with his left arm, struck out with
his,right,' and kept her above water till the Judge
turned the boat and came to their relief. In a few
moments they were safe in tho boat again, and Ida
.toon recovered from, tho effects of her unexpected
bath. The old Judge embraced George and ex
. claimed, with tears starting from his eyes:
a U y° u f niy dear boy, you have saved my
daughter's life,’ how can, X eyor repay, you ?”
.'By saying nothing about it,” replied George.
1 owe yon a thousand' times inorb than 1 can ev
er repay, and ain too happy in being able to render
,evon this slight service.” .
The lovely Ida could say nothing, her heart was
overflowing, but she gazed on her preserver with an
expression which told volumes. Her father obsorv-
Od her, earnest, loving glance; and began to guess
the true state of affairs. Ho was not prepared for
», and in silence ho turned the boat toward the
snore. They reached home wirh feelings far diffor
from those they had started with.
The following morning, George received a notice
w meet the Judge in his library. His heart beat
w, *dly—what can it moan ?
The Judge had determined to put him to a severe
imenoed- S °° n ** Qoor S° entOTe( l the library ho com-
von ?, iUOe booo , min e “»inmate of my family, George,
you have conducted yourself in an honorable and
■And „LV m " ,ICr ' Performing every duty cheerfully
Vjabln ?°? m K none. You are now of.ago; and oa
teonn t f „ d .n m ? b “ sines3 for yourself. I have placed
Sum yony disposal; you eon use this
feat, ‘or vm* tblnb I lrQ P or > Or .let it .remain bn inte-
Wlarv of flf>° an , tak o charge of my office under a
y of fifteen hundred dollars a year. In either
ease you must leave my house for the present,—
What do you think of my proposal ?’*
George was completely bewildered and stammer
ed forth a request to bo allowed a few hours for con
sideration; This being granted, ho repaired to his
room and throw himself on the bod .in a paroxysm
of grief. Could the Judge have gussod what ho
himself had hardly dared to hope? Whatrighthad
ho to his benefactor’s daughter and fortune ? None 1
Ho would smother his feelings, and earn an honor
able living by his own exertions.
Various woro the rumors sot afloat by the scandal
mongers of ,G , as to tho cause of ryoung
Wentworth leaving his patron’s mansion, but their
inuendoos wore unheeded. , His brow wore a' more
thoughtful expression, and his cheeks grow paler.—
The Judge acted toward Min in a straight-forward,
frank manner, yet never addressed him in tho kind,
fatherly tones as had been bis wont before tho inci
dent that occurred on the lake. If be chanced to
moot Ida in his walks, a friendly nod was all that
passed; still she felt that his looks betrayed him, for
the warm blood gushed from his loving heart, and
tinted his cheek with the tell-tale blush, and ho che
rished tho pleasing thought that her looks were bea
ming with loyo and hope.
A littlo more than a year had passed from tho
time George had left tho homo of those he loved.—
It was tho ovo of another election. Excitement ran
high, and Judge S was again a candidate for
Congress. For several weeks a series of ably-writ
ten articles had appeared in the Judge’s paper.—
They were addressed to all classes—farmers, mechan
ics, and laborers. The original and vigorous stylo,
clear, convincing arguments, deep and profound rea
soning of these articles, invariably carried convic
tion to the parties to whom they were addressed.—
All tho newspapers of the party of that Congression
al district copied them, and curiosity was on tiptoe
to discover the author, as they were simply signed
by two little * # . Tho election passed off, and
Judge B— ; — was elected by a largo majority.
Date ctaonight, while Ida and. her father, were re
turning from a party given in honor of his election,
they observed a light'in the printing-office, As the
establishment was usually closed at twilight, it ap
peared strange that it should he lit up at that hour,
so tho Judge determined to learn the .cause. Re
questing his.daughter to accompany him, they walk
ed up stairs and quietly entered the office. A sight
mot their gaze which caused the heart of one of them
to leap violently. At the desk, a short distance from
tho door, sat George, fast asleep, with bis head res
ting on his arm.
As Ida’s, father, stepped forward to awaken tho
sleeper, he observed a political essay laying open on
the desk, and a freshly written article with tho mys 1
terious ***■ attached. Tho truth flashed .upon the
Judge in a moment —ho was indebted to George for
his success] Ho beckoned.to Ida, who came trem
bling to his side. Just then they saw by tho flick
ering lamp a smile pass over the slumborer’s face,
and he muttered the words “dear Ida,” iu a tender
tone.
“0, father!” exclaimed the loving girl affection
ately, throwing her arms around him; “do lot George
como home again. It is surely no sin for him to
lovo mo!”
Awakened by the sound of Ida's.voice, George
looked around confused, and as bo saw Ida. and her
father, ho endeavored to hide tho manuscript. But
the Judge stopped him, laughing, saying: .
“ It won't do', young /ascal, you are fairly caught,
found out—talk in your sleep, will you? ha I ha!
but como hero, take Ida, and bo happy. I know
she loves you. - Ha! ha!”
Georgb was bewildered aud transported—he had
been awakened from a pleasant dream to a bright
reality. ,
Matters wore soon explained, and tho warm-hear
ted Judge, after blessing them both, promised to sec
them married before ho started for Washington.
Chinese Views op Death; —There is noth
ing in the Chinese Character more striking
than the apathy with which they undergo
affliction* or the resignation with which they
bear them. —There is so much elasticity - in
their, disposition, ; that the most opposite chan*
ges in their condition produce hut little
A coolie can admirably ape the dignity of the
mandarin when promoted, and. a disgraced
official or ruined merchant who formerly had
lived in luxury, appears little to regret the
change he has undergone; There is no fear
of death amongst them, thoiigh .they have a
character for cowardice. It is true they have
the relics of the dead constantly, before their
eyes. The country is : covered with graves,
and in many places about Shanghai the coffins
are openly exposed in the fields. They are
even kept, in the houses until.a propitious day
arrives for the burial, months : passing by
sometimes before the body is removed.. When
tho the coffin is decayed, the bones are care-.
fully gathered; and in a country walk one
very often comes upon jars containing “ potted
ancestors,” Money is saved for the purchase
of a coffin, and it is put by till ready for use.
The first time I saw this was in a little cot
tage near Shanghai. There was an old cob
webbed coffin in the corner. I asked a young
lad why it was there; He quietly pointed
with his thumb over his'shoulder to his grand
mother, standing close by, and said Hwas for
her! She was very old, and was nearly wear
ing out the coffin before she was put into it.
At funerals females are hired to do the “ in
consolable grief”. parts of tho performance.
It seems very ridiculous that such customs
should be kept up when it is known by every
body that tho mourners howl for hire. They
;certainly work, hard for their money, and
their piteous moans would be heart-rending if
they were real* .
An Extraordinary Snake Story.
The Claiborne (Louisiana) .Baniieiv or one
of its correspondents, is responsible for the fol
lowing:
, About the year 1829, one E. Barker moved
to Bayou Kisatchie, in the southern portion of
'Natchitoches Parish. During his travel there
had been a quantity-of rain, which made it
necessary that every, thing should be sunned.
One of the feather-beds had, by accident, a
hole torn in it about an inch square. This
hold was patched while it lay on a brush heap
sunning. ' Not long afterwards the sleepers on
this bed were troubled with dreams of snakes,
ancf often its occupants actually believed a
snake was in bed with them, and would bounce
out of bed in great alarm, but would return
alter a vigorous and unfruitful search., Two
years after Barker came to Kisatchie, the el
dest daughter was married to J. W. Brown,
and took this bed home with her; yet its sleep
ers contined to be troubled with visions of
snakes, _ and an occasional search was made
for the intruder. Four years after this mar
riage Barker visited his daughter, and was
put upon this bed.
_ About ten o’clock he was heard calling for
his son-in-law, 11 John, John 1 come here quick,
I say, a snake is in my bed!’’ Lights were
had, and though every nook and corner was
searched, no shake was found. All retired
again, but were soon to be startled by the old
man’s excited cries for help and lights, as if
he was holdingsometbing with all his strength,
John went to him thinking he had’the night
mare; but, to his surprise, found him wide
awake and holding something with all his
might. After searching under the covering,
it wn's found to be a snake on the inside of the
tick among the feathers. It was pulled out
and found to be quite strong and active, and
was about seven feet in length. Now the
question is for naturalists to solve, how did
this snake subsist' among the feathers; as it
must have been in there for Six years without
food of any kind or water? The ticking was
now when the hole was torn, and there never
had been but that one hole in the bed, until
one was out to pull the snake out.
Wo give this as strictly true. John W.
Brown and his wife are still living, and .will
assert the same as above. Their-post-office-is
Cousbate Chute, Louisiana.
" OUR COUNTRY—MAT IT ALWAYS BE RIGHT—BUT, SIGHT 0R WRONG, OUR COUNTRY."
Dow Judge 11- Helped to Unload the
Steamboat.
A friend of ours, who was an eye-witness to
the fact, related to us an amusing circumstance
which occurred while Judge H presided
on the bench in this district.
On„a peculiar occasion, after his appoint
ment business called him to liberty, ana while
there meeting with some of his old associates
at the bar, got into a convival mood which las
ted several days, and on going out he looked
rather the worse for wear. Iu crossing tho
river at Owen’s landing, there was a boat dis
charging, freight, and in great haste for fear
another boat, then just hove in sight, would
pass them.
The clerk sang out “ I say old man can’t
von lend the men a hand, in taking off that
load Of furniture ? I’ll pay you well for so
doing, and 'double filly’ in the bargain.”
“ 0 yes,” said the Judge, “ always ready to
help in time of need.” . .
“Then turn in and he' quick,” said the
clerk. . v
The first thing was a marhle top bureau,
going off the plank, the Judge slipped, and the
clerk roared out —
“There now throw that in the.river, will
you?” ’
“ Certainly,” said the Judge, and giving it
a kick with, the order, over it went.
“ Hallo I what’s that for ?” said the clerk.
“ I always obey orders when I work for a
man.”
“ Leave,” said the clerk.
“ Agreed,” said the Judge. '
“ Who is that man ?” askdd the clerk. .
. A bystander remarked “ that is Judge H
of the fifth Judicial District of Hissou-
“ Let go that line,” said the clerk, and the
boat put into the stream at its highest speed.
What Becomes of all the Newspapers ?
—A Pile Fourteen Miles High. —The New
buryport Herald has the following inquiry and
calculation, which is quite as interesting to the
general public as the inquiry; “ What becomes
of all the pins?” It says:
There are published in this country and
Canada nearly three thousand newspapers.-
More than one-half are weekly; the remain
ing are divided into serai-weeklies, tri-week
lies arid dailies. These papers would .more
than reach around the globe. We have some
times heard it asked, how high would all these
joui rials reach, if piled on top of. each other,
just the thickness of one sheet. Some have
answered,;a thousand feet; others two thou
sand ; others a mile. But all are wide of the
iriark. Dr. Ayer, of Lowell, is probably the
only man in the United States, who takes all
the journals of our country, Canada, New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia. By actual meas
urement, he has ascertained that, in one year,
his exchanges amount in height neither to a
thousand feet, nor five thousand, nor two miles,
nor five miles, nor tqn, nor twelve, but to more
than fourteen miles I In short, the newspa
pers published north of, the southern line of
the United States are nearly five times higher
than the Mont Blanc in Europe—a mountain
which overlooks a circle whose diameter is four
hundred miles. . , .. -;
The New Ycirk ITeralSand thePhijadelphia
Ledger “wet dpwn” forthe prees,each,daily,
heap.flight feet high, or togetherffor
the New York Herald publishes on Sunday)
annually a mile perpendicular, which is not
far from the height of Mount Washington.—
We have not included in this calculation Har
per's Magazine,' the Atlantic Monthly, Godey,
Graham, Peterson, Ladies f Repository , &c., &c.
Magazine, according to its publish
ers’ statement, circulates monthly 170,000 co
pies, each of which is tho third,of an inch
thick. Annually, tho number will be repre-.
seated by-2,040,000; or, if these numbers could
be placed one upon another, we should .have
55,161 feet 2 inches, or more than ten miles '
high, or.twice the altitude of the highest Hi
malaya, the loftiest mountain in the world. -
, Fate of the Apostles. —St. Matthew is
supposed to have suffered martyrdom, or was
put to death by the sword at the city of Ethi
opia.
St. Mark was dragged through the streets
of tho city of Alexandria, in Egypt, till ho ex
pired.
St. Luke was hanged upon an olive-tree, in
Greece.
St. John was put into a cauldron of boiling
oil at Rome, and escaped death. .lie after
wards died a natural death at Ephesus, in
Asia.
St. James the Great, was beheaded at Jeru
salem. i
St. James was thrown from a lofty pinnacle
or wing of the temple, and then beaten to death
within tim temple with a fuller’s club.
St. Philip was hanged up against a pillar
at Hiordpoiis, a city of some renown in phry
gia.
St. Bartholomew was flayed alive by a bar
barous king. -
St. Andrew was bound up against a cross,
whence he preached to the people till he ex
pired. :
, Sti Thomas was thrust through the body
with a lance, near Malipar, in the East In
dies. ■
Worth Remembering. —Life is short, there
fore should be- well and usefully employed.
If thou become offended, let not the sun go
down upon thy wrath.
A good deed done-in the day is satisfaction to
the soul at night.
Kind words alleviate misery and are as a
balm to the afflicted. -
Pray unto God for all men, for they are all
members of one family.
God is unto us a kind father. Him should
we always love and obey.
He that is wise will lead a good life that ho
may. come to a good end.
All that we possess in this life is a gift of
our heavenly Father.
Love not the world nor the things in the
world, but lore God.
K 7” The latest invention is an instrument
to prevent poultry from scratching up the
gardens, It is something like a" long spur,
attached to the hind part of a rooster’s leg.
The instrument is so arranged that when the
fowl is about to scratch the earth, the spur
catches in the ground before the foot has fair
ly descended, and obliges it bring its foot
down quietly and harmlessly in front of the
place where it aimed at. The fowl thereupon
trios the other foot with a _ like result. It
keeps on trying, and, before it is aware of it,
the machine has walked it right out of the
garden.
[C7* Beautiful things are suggestive of a
purer and higher life, and fill us with'a min
gled love and fear. They have a graoiousness
that wins us, and an excellence to which we
involuntarily do reverence. If you are. poor,
yetjpiire and modestly aspirin]?, keep a vase
of flowers on your table, and they will help to
maintain your dignity, am} secure for you con
sideration and delicacy of behavior.
CARLISLE, PA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1861.
$0 Y. WILLIAM F. PACKER.
To the Honorable the Senators and Members of
the House of Representatives of the Commonr
wealth of Pennsylvania;,
Gentlemen :—ln submitting to the General
Assembly my last annual communication, it
is the source of unfeigned gratification to he
ableto announce to the people,-and to their
Representatives, that notwithstanding the
present unfavorable crisis ini .the monetary
affairs of this countiy, and the'general pros
tration of arid credit, the financial
condition of, Pennsylvania is highly satisfac
tory.
Tho receipts ttt the State Treasury, from all
sources, for the fiscal year ending on the 30th
of November, 1860, were $3,479,257 31, to
which add the available balance .in the Trea
sury on the first day of December, 1859,
$839,323 09, arid the whole sum available for
the year will be found to be 4O.
The expenditures, for,;nil purposes, for the
same period, were $3,637,147 32. Leaving
an available balance in the Tresiury, on the
Ist day of December, 1860, of" $681,433 08,
The following items are embraced in the ex
penditures for the fiscal year, vS'i
Loans redeemed,* $664,857 65
Relief notes cancelled, 1,811 00
Interest certificates, , 2,439 52
Domestic creditors’ certificates,
Damages on the public works,
and old claims, 22,644 32
Making of the public debt actu
ally paid during the year, the
sum of
The funded and unfunded debt of the Com
monwealth on the Ist day of December, 1859,
was'as follows: .
6 per cent, loans,
5 do.,
4J do.,
4 do.,
Total funded debt.
Relief notes in circulation, §101,213 00
Interest certificates outstanding, 18,513 82
do. unclaimed, i 4,448 38
Domestic creditors, 802 50
Total unfunded debt,
Making the entire debt of the.Common
;wealth, at the period named, §38,638,901 07..
The funded and unfunded debt of the State,.
at the close of the last fiscal year, December
1, 1860, stood as follows: . .. .
6 per cent, loans,
5 do.,
4J do.,
4 do.,
Total funded debt.
JUNFUNDED DEBT, ; , {
.■Relief notes W'
Interest certificates outstanding,: f'Tjft'jQ 74 30j
!’ do. .''■; •■}■ unclaimed, 4,448 38
Domestic creditors’ oertificntes, .’[‘.'797 It)
Total unfunded debt,
Making the entire public debt of Pennsyl
vania,'on the Ist day of December' last, $37,-
069,847 50.
To pay the principal and interest of this
debt, besides the ordinary sources of revenue,
the Commonwealth holds the following mort
gage bonds, derived from the sale of her pub
lic improvements, viz;
Bonds of Pennsylvania railroad
■ company, $7,200,000 00
Bonds of Sunbury and Erie rail
road company, ' . • 3,500,000 00
Bonds of Wyoming canal co’y, ~ 281,000 00
Total, $10,981,000 00
At the close of the fiscal year, on
the first day of December, :
1857, the public debt of this
Commonwealth, funded, and ' f'V
unfunded, was $39,881i738 22
It is now, 'at the close of the
fiscal year I 860," - 37,969,847 50
Having been reduced, during
’ the last three years, ' $1,911,890 72
The available balance in the. .
Treasury on the first day of
December, 1857, was. $528,106 47
On the first day of December,
1860, it was . 681,433 08
Exceeding the former balance in
the sum of 153,326 61
Add to this the sum paid at the
Treasury duringthe past three
years, for debts and claims
against the .Commonwealth
arising out of the construction
and maintenance of the pub
lic improvements, and which
was substantially a part of x,...
the unfunded debt of tho
Commonwealth, amounting to £171,664 82
And we have the sum of
By adding this sum to the amount paid on
the public debt from December 1, 1857, to
December 1, 1860, to wit : 51,911,890 72, it
will bo found that during the past three
years, the State has not only met all her or
dinary liabilities* including the expenses of
government, and the interest on her public
debt, but has diminished her.aotual indebted
ness the sum of $2,236,882 15.
When it Is remembered that for the last
three years the tax on real and personal es
tate has been but two and a half mills on the
dollar, while from 1844 to 1857 it w;as three
mills—that for the past two years and six
months the State has received po part of the
tax on tonnage due from the Pennsylvania
railroad company—and that since July, 1859,
the interest on the bonds held by the State
against the Sunbury and Erie Railroad Com
pany, has remained due and unpaid, it is cer
tainly cause for hearty congratulation, that,
without aid from these important sources of
revenue, so great a reduction of the public
debt has been accomplished in comparatively
so short a period.’ The funded debt of the
State is now less than it has been since 1842,
and the unfunded and floating debt, which at
that time amounted to upwards of two mil
lions of dollars, has been almost entirely re
deemed. It is now reduced to $120,721 78—
and of this sum over ninety-nine thousand
dollars consists of relief notes, most of which
are undoubtedly lost or destroyed, and will,
therefore, never be presented for payment.
The claims against the State, accruing from
the construction and maintenance of per , ca
nals and railroads, are now reduced to a mere
nominal sum; and, in the future, after pro
viding for the ordinary expenses of govern-
IKBSSAOS
■ fes .
$691,757 89
FBHBED -DEBT.
$400,630 00
37,625,153 37
. 388,200 00
100,000 00
$38|513,983 37
BNFBNDED DEBT,
§124,9.77 70
FUNDED DEBT,
§400,630 00
36,967,295 72
381,200 00
100,000 00
$37;849,125,72
$120,721.78
$324,991 42
ment,' her revenues and her energies may be
exclusively applied to the payment of the in
terest, ana the discharge of the principal of
her public debt.
_ The people of this Commonwealth have
hitherto met, with promptness, the demands
made upon them, from time to time, for the
ways and means of replenishing the Public
Treasury; and now, that they see that the
onerous debt with which they have been so
long burdened, is each year certainly and rap
idly disappearing—that the amount required
to meet the interest is annually being dimin
ished—that consequently a still (greater sum
can each year be devoted to the reduction of
the principal of the debt, without resorting to
odditional sources of revenue—and that, with
a proper husbanding of the resources of the
State, the day is not far distant when direct
taxation in Pennsylvania will cease altogeth
er—the payment of such taxes as may for the
time be required to meet the public necessi
ties, will continue to be met with cheerful
ness and alacrity. But they will unquestion
ably hold those to who~o, care they have en
trusted the financial interests of the State to
a rigid accountability. That there should, at
this particular juncture, when the business
and monetary affairs of , the country are so
greatly depressed, be the strictest economy in
.public expenditures, is’so manifest, that it
can scarcely bo necessary to call attention to
so plain a duty. It is equally clear that any
legislation , which would tend greatly to lessen
the revenues of the Commonwealth; would, at
this time, be peculiarly unwise and. inexpedi
ent The exigencies of the future no man
can foretell—the prospect before us is be
clouded with doubt and uncertainty—it is,
therefore, no more than the part of wisdom to
guard, with unceasing vigilance, all our pres
ent sources of revenue, and to thus be pre
pared for every possible contingency.
Since July, 1858, the Pennsylvania railroad
company has refused to pay the tax on ton
nage required to be paid by the act incorpo
rating the company, and its various supple
ments; and there is now duo to the State, on
that account, exclusive of interest, the sum
of §674,296 22. Including the interest, the
sum now due is about $700,000. Before my
last annual message was communicated to
the Legislature, a case had been tried in the
court of Common Pleas of Dauphin county,
between the Commonwealth mid the railroad
company, involving the question of the con
stitutionality of this tax, which was decided
in favor of the State, and the imposition of
the tax pronounced constitutional. In Jan
uary last, another suit was tried between the
same parties, in the same court, involving the
same question, with a like result. In Decem
ber last, a judgment was obtained in the dis
trict court of Philadelphia, upon one of the
semi-annual settlements, for $llO,OOO. So
that judgment lias been obtained for $365,000
of the debt, being the whole amount which
Icame duo prior to 1860.. The tax which ac
crued during the past : year, amounts to $308,-
G 29 03. The first settlement for the year is
before the Dauphin county court, on an ap
peal taken by the companyand the second,
or last, settlement was made but a few. days
i since, by the accountant department of the
(Commonwealth. ;
recovery,- the common pleas r of
. .Dauphin county; the cases were removed by
writs of error, taken oh behalf of the defen
dants, to the Supreme Court of. this State,
where they were argued in Juno last, and. in
Octobqy that tribunal sustained the decision
of the court of common pleas, and held the
tax to be clearly constitutional; thus uniting
with the law making power, in affirming the
right of the State to tax a corporation under
a Taw: to which it owes its existence. But,
notwithstanding this concurrence,of opinion
and action oh behalf of the constituted autho
rities of Pennsylvania, the litigation is not
yet at an end; for the railroad company has
recently removed the cases, by writs of error,,
to the Supreme Court of the United States,
where they are now pending. That the de
cision of that court will, when made, fully
sustain the right of a sovereign State to en
force a contract betwCen the State and a cor
poration, and entirely vindicate the power of
a State to impose such taxes upon corpora
tions, as in her sovereign will she may deem [
proper, I cannot for a moment doubt.
To complete the history of this important
litigation, and to show that every effort has
been, thus far, made to compel the payment
of this largo sum of money into the Treasury
of the State, it is proper to add, that the law
officer of the Commonwealth, being of opinion
that the writs pf error were not issued from
5 40
the Supreme Court of Tie United States in
time to prevent the collection of the judg
ments rendered in the State courts, execu
tions ware issued by the sheriff of the county
of Dauphin, and proceedings are now pending
in the Supreme Court of this State, to deter
mine whether the Commonwealth can compel
the payment of the judgments already recov
ered, before the final decision by the Supreme
Court of the United States.
The Sunbury and Erie railroad company
having failed to negotiate its mortgage bonds
in their present condition, the expectations
confidently entertained of an nearly comple
tion of that most important improvement, have
not been realized. The work during the past
year, however, although greatly retarded, has
been continually progressing; upwards of one
million of dollars having been expended on
the line from November, 1859, to November,
1860. The whole length of the road, from the
borough of Sunbury to the harbor on the lake,
at the city of Erie, is 288 miles; of which 148
miles are now .finished and in operation, and
115 miles of the remaining portion of the line
are graded; leaving hut twenty-five miles yet
to grade. Pennsylvania is largely interested
ini the early completion and success of this
great thoroughfare, not only because she is the
creditor of the company to the amount of three
and a half millions of dollars, but for the ad
ditional, and more cogent reason, that the im
provement, when completed, will open one of
the most important channels of trade between
the city of Philadelphia and the great lakesof
the west, at the host harbor on Lake Erie, en-
tirely within the limits of our own State, which
has ever been contemplated. It will, moreo
ver, develop the resources of a large portion of
North-Western Pennsylvania, abounding with I
the richest minerals, and a lumber region of
unsurpassed excellence, which the munificent
band of the State has hitherto totally neglec
ted. By disposing of her branch canals to that
company, in exchange for its mortgage bonds,
the State has already largely aided in the con
struction of this great work; and it may bo
necessary, to insure its completion, that fur
ther legislation should be had in orderto ren
der the means of the company available. It
is evident that a liberal policy, on the part of
the government, will promote alike the inte
rests of the Commonwealth and the railroad
company: nevertheless, great care should bo
taken to protect, ns-far as possible, the debt
now.due from the company to the State. If
all/propositions which may be made for a
change in the .securities now held by the Com
monwealth, be 6arefully considered by the
LegiJlaturo, end no more yielded than sound
economy demands, with proper provision for
the due application of whatever means may be
realized, it is believed, that sufficient relief
can he granted to the company, to it
promptly to finish the road, while the security
remaining will be fully adequate to insure the
ultimate payment of the principal and interest
of the bonds of the railroad company now held
by the Commonwealth.
I commend this subject to the Legislature,
as one entitled to its most careful considera
tion, as well on account of its vast importance
to that portion of the State through which the
railroad passes—to the cities of Philadelphia
and Erie—and to the railroad company—as to
the Commonwealth herself. Premising that
whatever policy it may be thought expedient
to pursue, should be adopted solely with refer
ence to the protection and furtherance of the
public interests.
The attention of the Legislature is again
invited to the subject of general education.—
At the present juncture it presents peculiar
claims. The experience of a quarter of a cen
tury has satisfied the proverbially cautious
people of Pennsylvania, of the adaptedness of
the common school system to their wants and
condition. No less has the severe ordeal of
the past three years shown its capability to
endure those sudden reverses which occasion
ally prostrate the other interests of the com
munity. Involving greater expenditure than
the rest of the departments of government, and
that, too, mainly drawn from direct taxation,
it is a proud fact, that, while most of the en
terprises of society have been seriously em
barrassed, and some of them suspended, by
the pecuniary crisis of 1857, our educational
system has hot been retarded in any appreci
able degree. On the contrary, its operations
have been maintained, to an extent which
plainly indicates,-that our citizens fully appre
ciate its value. Contrasting its main results
during the past year, with those of 1857, we
find that the whole number of pupils how in
the schools, is 647,414, being an increase of
44,422; these were taught in 11,577 schools,
021 more than in 1857, during an average
term of five months and five and one-half days,
at a cost of fifty-six cents per pupil, per month,
by 14,065 teachers, being. 529 more than in
1857. The entire expenditure of tho system,
for the past year, including that of tho School
Department, is §2,638,550 80. These figures
afford some idea of the magnitude of the op
erations of the system; but neither, words nor
figures can adequately express the importance
of its influence upon the present, or. its rela
tions to the future.
I In contemplating the details of a plan for
tho due training of the youth of a community,
its largo proportions and imposing array of
statistics ao’not display tho points of its grea
test importance. Pupils may be enrolled by
hundreds of thousands j school-houses of the
best structure and most complete arrangement
maybe dotted at convenient distances over the,
whole face of the land,;, the most perfect order
of studies may bo adopted, and tho best possi
ble selection of books made; but what are all
these, without tho learned and, skillful, the
faithful, moral and devoted teacher? With
out this animating spirit, all is barren and un
fruitful.' In this vital department, lam hap
. py to announce that the improvement of the
: -common school poachers, of .the.' StatA shows,
more solid advancement, within the past three
years, than any other branch of the system.
This, therefore, being the point ,whence all
real progress in learning and culture must
originate, is also the one to which the foster
ing, attention and care of the public authori
ties should be mainly directed.
Our peculiar mode of training teachers un
der the normal not of 1857, has now stood the
test of practical experience; and, against the
most adverse circumstances, has produced
| suits decisive of its success. Already it has
placed one institution in full operation in thd
south-eastern part of the State, equal in stan
ding and extent to any in the Union. '-Anoth
er, with all the requirements of the law, has
just applied for State recognition in the ex
treme north-west. I commend these noble,
and peculiarly Pennsylvania, schools, to your
favor. Aid to them will be the best invest
ment that can bo made for the rising genera
tion. Good instruction for our children, is the
strongest earthly guarantee, that, whatever
else we bequeath them, their inheritance will
be a blessing and not a curse; and, if nothing
more is loft, in the well cultured minds, the
willing hands, and the trust in God, of free
men, they will have all that is essential. ,
, Nearly eleven thousand of our fellow citi
zens are now devoting their efforts to the im
provement of the common school, as directors.
Than this there is no more meritorious body
of mem An increase of the annual State ap
propriation would not'only be a material re
lief to the districts, at this time, but would,
to some extent, disembarrass directors in their
local operations.
It is not, however, the common school sys
tem, vast and honorable to the State as it is,
that claims your entire attention, in reference
to education. Pennsylvania also boasts her
collegiate, academical, scientific, professional,
and .philanthropic institutions, and numerous
private schools ,of every grade. In this re
spect, she is second to no member of the con
federacy; but, from mere want of attention to
the proper statistics, she has thus far been
ranted far below her just standard. The
present is not the proper time to renew grants
to institutions of these classes which hereto
fore received State aid. If it wore, the pub
lic authorities do not possess the requisite da
ta for a safe and just extension of liberality.
The period will arrive when all public educa
tional agencies must bo included in one great
system for the elevation of mind and morals ;
and when the State will, no doubt, patronize
every proper effort in the good work.
For the details of the system, during, the
last school year, the attention of the Legisla
ture is respectfully referred to the annual re
port of the Common School Department, here
with submitted.
: I desire again, specially, to call the atten
tion of the General Assembly to tho Farmers
' High Behoof of Pennsylvania, as an institu
tion which proposes to accomplish an object
which has never been attained in this country
—the supply of a want which has over been
felt by the agricultural community: the edu
cation of their sons, at once, to scientific
knowledge, habitual industry, and practical
skill, to fit them for the associations of rural
life, and the occupation chosen for thorn by
their fathers. The gains of the farmer, how
ever certain, are small. The education of his
sons should, therefore, be measured by the na
ture of his business. There seems to be no
practical mode of cheapening education, but
by combining an amount of expenditure, with
in the ability of a farmer, with the daily labor
of the student, so as to make the institution
so nearly self-sustaining as to bring it within
the roach of that class who constitute so im-
portant a branch of the industry of our peo
ple. The original design of this school em
braced the accommodation' of four hundred
student;, a number essential to the economi-
cal workjngiof the system; and, although the
applications .for admission are numberless,
the 1 utmost effort* of the trustees have' hot eh-
abled them to complete' more than one-third
of the building, or to accommodate more than
a corresponding number of students. .Many’
individuals throughout the Stated convinced
of the merit of an institution .winch promise*
so much good, have. contributed liberally ter
whathas already, been done; and the board
of trustees have labored with a zeal which
cannot fail to commend itself to the kind feel
ing of all our citizens. Scientific education,
has advanced the interests of every avocation
of life—agriculture far less than any other-r
-and for tho manifest reason that it has not
reached it to the same extent, and never will
reach it, unless the body be educated to the
plow, as well as the mind to the philosophi
cal principles which the plow’s work devel
opes.
I have always looked upon the Farmer’s
High Sohsol with peculiar favor, as well be
cause of my own convictions of its promised
usefulness, as the favor which has hitherto
been shown to it by the Representatives of
the people. I.ts charter requires an annual
exhibition of its receipts, expenditures and
operations generally, and these will doubtless
be laid before you.
By the act passed by the last Legislature,
establishing a system of free banking in .
Pennsylvania, and securing the public against
loss from insolvent banks, radical changes
were made in the banking laws of this Statei
Instead of corporations created by special
laws, voluntary associations are authorized to
transact tho business of banking, without fur
them legislation; and as ah indispensable
prerequisite to the issuing of bank notes for
circulation as money, ample security must be '
deposited with the Auditor General for their
prompt redemption. The law makes provis
ion, not only for the incorporation of new
banking associations, but enables banking in
stitutions already in existence, to continue
their business for twenty years after the ex
piration of their present charters, upon com
plying with its provisions, by withdrawing
their old circulation, and giving the securities
required for the redemption of their new is
sues. The public, lam sure, will rejoice that
no further necessity exists for legislative ac
tion, either on the subject of creating new ( or
re-chartering old banks; and that the time
and attention of their Representatives will
how, happily, be no longer monopolized, in
the consideration of a subject hitherto pro
ductive of so much strife and contention, if
not of positive evil. . .
The rapid increase of private banks,
throughout the State', makes it eminently right
that they should be placed under proper legis-.
lative restrictions, and that the large amoupt
of capital, thus employed, should be, inode to
contribute its fair proportion to the revenues
of the Commonwealth. Their business, in ~
the aggregate, is now believed to amount to
a sum almost, if not quite, equal to the whole
business of the regularly chartered banks;
and yet it is entirely unrestricted, and, with
the exception of a merely nominal license tax,
is free from taxation. This is unjust to every
other class of tax paying citizens,, and especial
ly so to the banking institutions holding char
ters from the Commonwealth, for which they
have each paid a liberal bonus, and are, in.
addition, Subject to a very large tax on their
dividends, 1 1 respectfully commend, this sub
joct to the attention of the Legislature-
A high sense of duty impels, me again td
call the attention of the Legislature to the in
adequacy of existing laws, regulating the re
ceiving, keeping and disbursement of the re
venues of the State, The public moneys are
now paid directly to the State Treasurer, who
deposits them, at his own discretion, whenev
er and wherever he chooses, and pays them
out in sums, either small or great, upon ■ his
own unattested check exclusively.' The
amount thus received, kept and disbursed is
annually between three and four millions of
I dollars, with balances on hand, at times, ex
ceeding one million of dollars; while the bond .
of the State Treasurer is for only .eighty thou
sand dollars. His accounts are settled month
ly by the Auditor General, by whom the re
ceipts for money paid into the Treasury are
countersigned, and these are tho only safe
guards provided by law to prevent the illegal
and improper use of the money of the State;
by the State Treasurer.
Happily the revenues of tho Commonwealth
have hitherto been safely kept, properly dis
bursed, and promptly accounted for, by those
in charge of the Public Treasury; but in view
of the serious defalcations which have occurr
ed elsewhere, and in other States, this fact
should furnish no reason why wo ought hot
to guard against loss in the future. Referring
to ray former annual messages, I respectfully,
but most earnestly, recommend that provision
bo made by law:
First —That no money shall be deposited
by the State Treasurer in any bank, or else
where, without first requiring ample security
to bo given to tho Commonwealth for the
prompt repayment of such sum ns may bode-
Sosited; and that such securities shall be
eposited in the office of the Auditor General.
Second—That all checks issued by the State
Treasurer, shall be countersigned by the Au- ..
ditor General, before they are used, and that
daily accounts shall be kept of the moneys
received, deposited and disbursed, in the Au
ditor General’s office, as well as in the Trea
sury Department.
Third —That condensed monthly statements,
verified by the signatures of the Auditor Gen
eral and State Treasurer, shall bo published .
in one newspaper in Philadelphia and one in :
Harrisburg, showing the balances in the Trea- .
sury, and where deposited, with the particular
.amount of each deposit; and Fourth —That
the bond of the State Treasurer be increased
to the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars.
Our various charitable and reformatory in
stitutions—the Statetunatic Hospital, at Har
risburg—the Western Pennsylvania Hospital
for the insane, at Pittsburg—the asylums for
the blind, and deaf and dumb, at Philadel-
phia the Houses of refuge at Philadelphia and
Pittsburg, and the Pennsylvania Training
School for idiotic and feeble minded children,
at Media, will present their usual annual
claims upon the bounty of the State, These
excellent charities are continually dispensing
benefits and blessings upon suffering and err
ing humanity, which can scarcely be overrat
ed- They are heartily commended to the'dis
criminating liberality of the Legislature.'- I
refrain, as I have heretofore done, from recom
mending, os proper objects for appropriations
from the State Treasury, other charitable and
benevolent institutions, not because they are
undeserving the confidence and patronage' bf
the public, but because they are focal in' their'
character, and in my judgment have no claims
upon the common fund which can be admit
ted, in justice to the rights and interests of
other portions of the Commonwealth.
The inspectors of the State Penitentiary for
the Eastern' District of Pennsylvania, in their
annual reports for the years 1858 and 1859,
called the attention of the Legislature' to the
insecurity of such parts of the penitentiary
building as were exposed their own fires and
tho soof the neighborhood, find recommended
that roofs of suenof the corridors ha Vvere oor-'
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