jIOyfiBIWB'S HESSAfiB.
Zb tlm Honorable die Senators and Mem
lentfihe House of Representatives of
Hit General Assembly : '
CteiniEMßN :—A>beneficent Providence
haa favored the people of our Common
wealth with a high decree of health and
general prosperity during the year just
closed, and with many other causes or
pleasure and gratitude. Humbly acknowl
edging these blessings, let us. ask His di
vine direction in the discharge of our offi-
C l\°affords me unaffected delight to wel
come the representatives of the people to
•SKS of government, and rely lor jt a
time?upon the aid of their combined w,s. '
'doth in the administra»ion of public afiuirs,
as it is also a grateful task to perform he
ititutional injunction that requires the
•utivo to “communicate to the faener
ssembly information of the state of the
imonwealth,” and make such sugges
i and recommondaUbna ns the .welfare
ie people and tho exigencies of tho
•s may seem to demand; and to the
ihargo of Ihis obligation I now proceed.
'ho receipts at the treasury for the year
13, exclusive of loans, and including
actual balance in the t reasury on tho
day of December, 1852 (being 8671,-
72,). amounted to the sum of 85,952,-
. 47. ‘ '
The payments for tho same period, ex
isivo of. loans imd other extraordi
•v make a total -sum
J>f 84,134,048 47, being 81,818,320 10
1> less, than tho receipts. . Of this excess,
'" 505.057 55. was paid to tho Commission
f"ersof tho Sinking Fund, and 8589,000 to
words the payment of old debts and tho.
& contraction of now work on tho Norihi
Branch .canal and Portage railroad, being |
r part, of tho temporary loans authorised by,
Ij tho act of the nineteenth of April last;]
u which together with tho balance in the.
f treasury applicable, to the redemption or:
| outstanding loans, reduces tho actual bat-;
I anco on the first day of December last, to
! tlie sum of about six hundred and twenty
-1 five" thousand dollars, to bo used in tho
; payment of the February , interest. .
' The receipts for tho year 1804, inclu
ding the balance in the treasury on the Ist
of December, 1853, may, in my opinion,
be safely estimated at 85,846,417 34.
The expenditures Tor. thp samo -period,
including 8250,000 for the pajment of
did debts on the public works, and SJUO,-
" 000 for the sinking fund, should not,anu
if proper care bo taken, will not exceed the
’ sum of 84i5p0,000, leaving a balanco in
the lrcasurv on tho first of December,
1854, of 81'.340,417 34, Deducting from
this 8625,000, the amount .that should, re
main in the treasury to meet ihc jnlercst
I! diid February 1, 1855, and a
•i surplus revenue of .over 8700,000,;
. .-iltistbus made apparent'to my mind,
that the treasury will have the ability, du
ring the: coming ydnr, to redeem the cn
i tiro amount of the temporary loansnow
outstanding, and pay the debts to which. 1
* have already referred. But noadditional
drafts should; be made upon it, without
provision being first made for their pay-
time of my induction into.office,
: tho liabilities of tho State were as follows,
i : to wit:
iSix percent, bonds
;Fivo do : do. j■.
Four and one half per.
. ■ cent bonds . _
UeUofno.tea pernct.ol
ll M tty i 4,1841 ;
Certificates for unpaid,
* .interest cm the public
• debt, for the years
1843, ’44, npd ’45,-
. :• J with’their ocoumula-
ted interest
Domestiooreditors cer
tlfioates. ; '
Total liabilities, Dec. 1,
1851 „ '
Add loan,:of April.
, 1852;> for the; com.
pletionof the North
. -Branch canal !
• From which, toko the
• Jutfowitig payments:
To the flint- „ „„
t. u ingfuqd 8691,469.83
luU.onOut* 1 '
• ;. ftafidihg
, t icortifiV
(Tbtti fdnd- -40072,235 01
- ed dehtSt this time, •
'1 To' meet this ; apparent increase o
ftII3YZT7 <53 of the public: debt, it should
r anoiflO dollars of the five P er Ml c f n, ‘
•i <gss£s*2>ggzsi£
ssisssrct^rfc
debt:to the d
The floating liabilities and current ae
JJ> <w> fa JWjSi* 1 '»'“ Kl 1
- hawtndw»(fldj,wew-M follows,
jl Damage* balances on
T it cofrttftcts, and for
m , \tbox- and, material*. -
\
' paid.
i Lnf}U«iAtt* torG< f 1
[m«‘
fix
82,314.023 51
36,704,458.03
498,200 00
650,103 00
304,080 20
82,932 74
840,154,457 48
850,000 00
841,004,457 48
50,762 01
732,222 47
. ®aai,762 is
,398,000 00
. qai.33B oo
I. ■. .. •<«•',l- 1 ■> ■*,
=Tm r SSr'SiiSr.TO«» do*®™ «thmobih»
Volume 3i
Railroad &
canal debts ©327,734 00
Tempo’ry
loans 590,000 00
Unpaid op«
iropriations 805,695 00
Diflbreoco between the •. _
two periods ©177,60115
It will thu9- appear that the floating ha
bilities arc ©177,661 15 less than when I
assumed the duties of my present station.
It should bo remarked that floating debt,
as nbovo stated, is no newthing. It has
[always existed to a greater or less degree, |
but has not usually been exhibited in this
form. A balance of unpaid appropriations
is’unavoidable, and has not been so small
for many years, nsnt present. _
During tho years 1852 and 58, tho fol
lowing appropriations and payments havo
been mndo towards tho construction ot
now improvements:
[For' ro-laying the north
track of tho Coluin
bia railroad
For Ihe construction of
n now road to avoid
the inclined plnne9
on tho Allegheny
mountnin-
For the completion of
tho Western reser
voir
For the North Branch
canal
For tho new locks on
the Delaware Div’n
§2,143,915 31
From the foregoing figures it is oppa
rent that tlio operations of tin; treasury
have exceeded our most sanguine cxpec
taiions, yielding oyer a million «r dollars
annually above iho ordinary charges and
expenses ; anil showing, that ir,no new
improvements had been in progress, two
miFlions at least of the public debt could
haVp been paid during the last two years.
In addition to llieso extraordinary expen
ditures, there Was paid out of the treasu
ry during said Period, jn pursuance of
laws passed prior to 18o~ : for the State
Lunatic Assylum, §70,700 ; for tbo pub
lication ofthc Pennsylvania Archives and
Colonial Uncords, §23.163 5?;, for. tbo
improvement of tho State Penitontiaries,
§35,000; fpr tho.publication o.ri roTessor
Rogers’ geological survey ,©| 6 .» ( } 00 J » 1 £ or
the preparation or registration books §U,-
; to tho Sugar Valley and Deer
Crcek Tumpiko Company §B,OOO.
Il will readily be'perceived,, therefore,
that should the appropriations hereafter be
confined strictly to the ordinary expenses
of government, wo shall have nn annual
surplus revenue exceeding ono million of
dollars, applicable to tho payment of thQ
funded debt. That such should bo tho po
licy of tho State, after tho completion of
tho works now in progress, will not be
doubted. Tho importance of such econo
my in view of the great end to J;o attain-
S—the liquidation of tho public debt-and
consequent relief of the people from taxa
lion for state purposes, is too manifest, for
argument. Entertaining theso views, I
cbuld not give
schemes of improvement by the.Statc.
Tho operations on tho public works for
the year Just closed do not present a vc
ry flattering picture, so far ns rolates to
■nett revenue. The aggregate amount of
business was larger-by twenty per.
than that ornny former year, and the gross
receipts amounted to the sum of.© 1,932,-
495 33, being an exces ? ofhul 535,683
91 over,tho receipts of 185--. ■*• 1113..l 113 ... 1 "
crease of tonogo without U corresponding
increase of receipts-is tho consequence xA
d very great reduption in the rate of tolls,
a measure in tho opimow of «he Canal
Commissioners, demanded: by pubho poli
cvTdnd it may bo said that .whatever has
been lost tp tlie l treasury has been gwen U,
extend commerce and trade*. The expen
diSTor the year, according «o the
norl of tho Cuiial Commissioners, amount-
S to tho sum of $11177,742 75, leaving
I a nott balanco of 8754.,75!? *|B, but
this sum docs not include apy- P? W
tho cost of now locomotive, engines and
the erection of fairmbridges, tho deduction
of the- proper proportion of these will leave
Sip sum of #9*s? .aetuu 1
net balance. , ■ j.:i|iV'j
:' The receipts and expenditures and gen
exhibft no encouraging af&irs, ns
fhev also do on the North, Broach; capol
an/ Delaware division; Rib . |b P P l jv r 4'^!*
PPifiiiS
'should
of their df the
tem of management, tho_ public improve
ments can bo made to yield a very hand
some revenue to the treasury ; indeed, o
ven for the last year, had tho expenses on
the mountain division been confined to n
reasonable sum, tho net revenues would
have reached near one million of dollars.
Relieved fromtheso absorbing demands by;
tho construction of the how road, or in j
some other way, and wo shall realize, by j
tho year IBSG, a net profit equal to tho in
terest on twenty-two millions or more ol
tho public debt. .. .
. Tho work on tho railroad to avoid the j
incVned planes on tho Allegheny .'moun-i
tains, has. not progressed ns rapidly ns had
been anticipated. It is tho opinion of the
engineer, however, as will appear on re
ferenco to his report, that should the ne
cessary means bo promptly furnished, tho
entire line could bo finished during tho
coming year. The grading Tor a double
track is finished with tho exception of four
miles, and tho cost of this balance, togeth
er with tho expenses of laying down a
single track, is estimated at six hundred
and five thousand dollars, in addition to tho
value of the old track. The engineer nl
so estimatestho annual saving, as compa
red with the expenditures on tho old road,
on a business equal to that of 1852, at two
hundred and ninety thousand dollars. Tie
also stales that the road between plane ft o.
4 and HollidoySbiirg, with a double track,
will cost about eight hundred thousand
dollars less than tho Pennsylvania railroad
for a like distance.
Viewed in every aspect, it must bo con
fessed that this branch of the public affairs
presents an embarrassing alternative.—
Tho prompt completion of the now work
will involve tho expenditure of mote capi
tal than tho state can command, without
resorting to further temporary loans;—
| whilst, on tho other hand, the nvpinten
nnee of tho old road, nt ncost of four hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars per an
num, is quite out or the question. Its ox
haustirt" domands on the. treasury must be
speedily obviated, and for my part I can
see no' modo of doing this except by the
completion or tho new road.
• At the time I assumed the duties of my
present station, I found this work in pro
gross of construction; the western slope
up to tho summit having been placed un
der contract during the summer of 1851.
On referring to tho reports of the Canal
Commissioners and tho engineer, the Only
data which I could properly consult ns to
the policy of tho measure, I found that tho
total cost of n single track.was estimated
at 51,015,000. Tho materials on tho old
road were valued at 8248,650, which,
totrelhor with the appropriations previous
lv D made, reduced the amount to bo provi
ded - to complete tho work to tho meagre
' sum of 8591,350. With these calcula
tions before mo, und even adding a larger
amount for errors in tho estimates, and
the enormous expenditures of the old road
in full view, I could not doubt tho expedi
ency and economy of the measure. But
the unusual advance in the price of labor,
material and subsistence, added to the ob
vious errors in the estimates, has changed
the entire aspect of this enterpnso. Iho
sum of 8650,000 has been appropriated
sinco that time, and over six hundred
thousand dollars is still required with the
value of the old road, to bringthe line into
US The estimated cost of completing the
■ North Branch canal, at the period already
named, was 8772,000. One million of
dollars has since been paid, nnd a sum
exceeding one hundred and filly thousand
dollars is sliil required to pay foritscom-
Diction. With such unexpected demands
upon the treasury, within the short space
' oftwo years, it would not be unreasonable
to expect an increase of /the liabilities.of
the State; but it is alike gratifying and as
tonishing to know that this has not occur-.
16 The Junction canal* extending from the
Now York line to Elmira, will bo ready
for business during the present month, and
tho State workfrom pittstonlo tho dam nt
Athens, n distance of ninety-three miles,
has been completed. The only unfinished
part of tho work lies between Athens and
thO Stato line, a space of about two and a
half miles, the construetiom of which was
-delayed by .aneffortofthoCanal Gommis-
Joners nnd. the.Govornor, under an act of
Assembly* to negotiate with the Junction
canal company for Us completion. But
even this sectiop, I am assured, will be
ready in ample time for the spring trade.
, These works will complete the last link
in a continuous water,communication bo
tween tho Cbesapeoko. bay.and the north
qrnlokes.'The strugglefor thisachievemeot
hnsbeanlQngand.ardaQU 3) covenngnea.
ly.ft quarter of, a century. But the tri
umph.is Still » brilliant one, and must he
cause, of gratification,to the people, of ‘he
and .promising » * Tor,
tbe enterprising inhabitants of
Ponnsylvnhia. whose .uPh« b 8 fi ®?^ 9
its finalconsummahon may ba mamly ai
t/huted. r Through thischanfiei, in the
earlV ; purtfof next .soasOn. and during
eaclv succeeding ysht. Benoaytynnm ■** u
send greeting, to the peoploxifa peighbor
ipgi StfttP-”^ 0 evidence pf fraternal of-
1,223,429 00
$353,500 00
056,034 00
52,380 41
1,000,000 Ot)
80,000 00
Clearfield, Pa M Jan.Mi 1854.
(ection —t,ho assurance of political fidelity,
and the blessings of an extended commerce
in the shape °f »nl a “ d vessels,. freighted
with her richest minerals, and receive,as
she certainly,will bo offered, from the vast
vnllies of the Empire State, now teeming
withLwcalth in ull its variety, assurances
of full reciprocity, in affection, fidelity and
comniorce. And .indue time the coders,
of the State, I am confident,: will receive
an ample reward from these new relations
of trade. Indeed, on this point, the largo
increase of profits on tho old line, for tho
year just closed, furnishes the most reliable
indication of what wo may anticipate from
tho new. The constantly increasing dc
mnnd for coal, outrunning, os it has done
for years paßt, tho means of supply, justi
fics, if it does not force upon us tho con
cluson, that as soon as boats can be con
structed, and proper business connexions
formed, this canal will be patronized up
to its full capacity. A glance at tho vast
rich and populous section of country
which it .wi'l bo called upon to supply with
coal, forevory imoginnhlo purposo, domes
tic. mechonicol and manufacturing, nnd at
the facilities offered by the New York cn
nais and tho lakes, to reach all points of
that country, must satisfy tho most scepti
cle U 9 to the value and importance of this
improvement, d , . ,
I congratulate you, therefore, upon the
consummation of an enterprizo which will
bo thus profitable to the State, and bene
ficial to the people. ■ t ...
Tho expediency of selling tho public
works has been a topic of discussion in
tho press of the State for some months
pnst, and without indicating n policy for
the G Choral Assembly, or intending the
slightest discourtesy to the people s agents
to whom tho management of this branch
of public affairs has been.confided.l have
deemed it my duty to discuss some of the
considerations incident to and growing.out
of tho proposition. ’,, . I
Indeed, it would bo unreasonable to as-,
sume either tho affirmative or negative of I
' the question, and expect to be properly ,un- 1
, derstood, without some explanationins to,
the prico of the works and tho conditions
of sale. , , .
It is'fair to presume that those who ad
vocate the nffirnialtvo have distinct ideas
as to what the price should be, and that
unless Such consideration can be realized.
; they would not agree to sell.
The first inquiry thereforo is, why
should these works be soldi The answer
’ usually given is,, that the measure is ne
ccssary to reduce the State debt and to
relieve tho peoplo from taxation. These
are great objects indeed, nnd should, as l
' have no doubt they w ill, receive your ear
nest consideration; their realization how
ever,' must depend mainly upon the price
obtained. ... , .
Should the interest on the public debt
liquidated by the sale bo less than the nett
profits arising from tho works, then it
would bo false economy to sell. In that
case tho measure would not be ono of re
lief to the people, but must necessarily in
crease their yearly burthens. '
And whnt reason is there to suppose that
more can be obtained ?, Capitalists, it .will
bo conceded, when weighing the quest ion of
a purchase, will mnko the nett profits on
their investments the basis ot all their caU
dilations. They will look at tho past op
orations of these works, in connexion with
their prospects in the future carefully
considering every fact and circumstance
bearing on their real, value; and,; it is
scarcely necessary to remark, will only
buy when perfectly satisfied that they have
the best of the bargain. In attempting to
determine the question of value, it will be
poroeived, therefore, (bat the ex
aminations and motives of buyers and sel
lers, must necessarily bo identical.' :
It is apparent then, that the effect of
competition on the value of these works ; j
the inroads which may be made by science
and mechanic arts on every description
of transportation facilities now in existence;
the casualties that may result to thtfm
from the elements; in short, the mutability
of human structures; and the propriety of
simplifying the duties of government, must
constitute, mainly the considerations in fa
vor of a seperation between the State and
her improvements. . ’ • :
On the other hand will be presented
the hopes orfuturebusiness and increased
profits to tho treasury, predicted upon the
rapid growth of the commonwealth; her 1
vast and varied resources, nnd the iijjlu
«nce of these upon the transportation With
in her limits; tho increasing demand for
facilities to transmit her products to mar
ket • the endless consumption and unhmit
ed supply of her great staples of coal nnd
iron, and their proximity to her works ut
kll poinU:; /ihb enlarged products of agri
! culture, and the rich variety of maculae
lures, so rtipidly multiplying in every part
'of the State,: constituting nt once a home
j. business, with ages of duration before it,
which no human agency can disturb, and
which must all times a fair
income to th® government. In addition to
these'' considerations against a sale may
iL urged the jnccessity which would bo
oresented for the; creation of a number of|
corporations, having a cpmmunityiof ip
teresi aod feeling with similar bodies ai-
ready in existence, and the danger of thus
Inducing the organization of a controlling
power in the Commonwealth.
Bui it is said thnt companies can man
nee these works Nvilli greater ; skill apd e
conomy than the stale, arid fot that rea
son they would ho most valunblo m the
hands of the former, nod that the state con
realize this difference by a sale. It mim
bo confessed thaf it is to these cons)dera.
lions, and these only, that we can tookfor
arguments to sustain the idea thatthe state
can gain nny thing, pecuniary by a sale
of her improvements. That the difference
in the expenses of the management ol tno
works would amount to a fuir por centoge,
in tho estimation of some capitalists, 1
have no doubt; , but it is not so great ns
estimated by some. Indeed, torlain por
tions of our own works are now well man
aged, and it is hoped and believed that
such changes can be made in ihe system of
direction now pructised by the state, us to
lead to general skill and economy.
But the main question will be tho min'
mum price that will bo fixed on theso im
provements; and the proper disposiliPn o
this, it must be readily seen, will demand
much careful examination. And in refer
ence to .this point the wisest and best may
honestly differ, for the issue helongsmoin
|v to the-future, and can only be anticipa
ted from the results of the past. To theso
wo may look for a mompnt. •
For ihe year 1852 tincl 1803, tho net
receipts may bo put down as equal to the
I annual interest Upon about fifteen millions
of the public debt; and I am inclined to
believe that without any increase of trade
except on the North Branch, the net pro
fits for the ensuing year may be estimated
at a sum equol to the interest on soven
teen or eighteen millions of the debt, and
that the completion of the road oyer the
mountains, or reliof in somo other way
from the leeching demands of that portion
of our improvements, will sco the net re
venues from this source, swelled to a sum
equal to tho interest upon twenty-two mil
lions of the stale bonds.
If it be desirable to sell ,the public works
wc should not underate their importance,
nor is it just to disparage tho wisdom ol
their fouuders. Wo aro prone to murmer
□gainst the policy that dictated their con
struction, because of the debt we have thus
incurred, nr.d yet, if the proposition were
submitted to cancel this liability by tlicir
destruction or disuse, wo should.be com
pelled to reject it.
At the time of its adoption, this puhey
was necessary and proper. Avenues or
this kind, through the body of the fatute, to
convey her vast productions to market,
nro as indispcnsible to her vigorous growth
and physical dovelopement ns are the
veins and arteries fa tho human system,
to give circulation to the blood ahd conse
quent health and vigor to'the bodyr fo
stop or clog' these, in either case, would
produce stagnation and ultimate destruc
tion.
Willi reference to tho abstract ques
tion of a sale, l'may say, that Undergo
circumstances should we' entertain the
proposition to part with tie public works
by tho creation of a joint stock company,
us heretofore repeatedly , proposed, by
which the Commonwealth is to remain a
large shareholder, but the direction lobe
in the hands of individuals or corporations
associated with her in the ownership., 1
have always regarded this as a most dan
gerous and insidious measure. If.the prop
osition to sell be seriously entyrta.ned, un
der the present condition of the money
market, it should bo' based on tho idda ot
a bona fide salo, for a full compensation
in exchange for the bonds 61 tho State*
and under such salutary.reservations and
restrictions as the .iutorest of the ptpplc
rriay demand; ' '..... ■
' But it is urged by many iliat tho State s
system of managing the public, works is
susceptible of improveriiont—thut much
can be done by judicious reforms to aug
ment the receipts to tho treasury, and iu
cilidte the business.of transportation.; and
as much of this system results from posi
tive law, it may hot bo deemed officious
on my part to make suggestions on the
BU Ia a special messnge, Communicated to
tho General Assembly, soon after bavin
duclioh into office, l advocated the policy
of making cash payments for Iqbor and
materials, and the interdiction by law of
the creation of debt by the officers on the
public works,' and mude allusion to ptlier
radical defects in the system, which could
scarcely be reached by the Canul Board.
To somo of these I ahull now briefly al-
In the first place.it Is impossible to avoid
1 the creation of debts, if the upproprinhOns
be insufficient to meet unavoidable expen
ditures, The business of transportation
and travel on these; highways must bo
kept up. whether the expenses bo paid or
no 't These circumstunces have defeated
to some extent, the administration of-llio
law of May; 1852, requiring cash pay
ments and prompt settlomehia by;ib? pllj
cers on these works, and /prohibiting the
arettlion ; of.debtfl.' This result, i regret,
for! am still decidedly pf tho. .opinion,
that no oilier change it» w
i likely tu begot ecoitomy; purity and effl-
cifency in their general direction. For the
ilnst year,- however, this law .was strictly
j carried'out on some of tlia Uiyision3f nna
litis sincerely desired that hereafter the , , ;
practice may he extendedid all- v
1 I need not discuss the consequences ot ' '
[tlic custom of mailing debts on the public
works — its errors are too palpable to need ■
refutation by argument; and 1 shall only
repent what I substantially said to tho -
General Assembly on a former occasion;
■that in addition to tho opportunity. i» ftffar
.dodforextortionoff'ihoStcttOiifhotac-
lual fraud bpon the treasury; the idea that
officers;, for the time being, should b» at
lowed to scatter tbe credit of the Common
wealth brondenstt to be. discovered^andTC*
deemed, at some future their
successors, is d-monstrosity in the econo- .
I my of public affairs. ‘ .-<•
There seems to fifessome plausibilityijt
not actual truth, in the allegation, thattho
State’s managenicnt of theso works is ex
pensive ..and-inefficient?' y et - lt 19 not
clear to my mind, that treated as n mere ! :
business affair, her supervision would wt
be as cheap and efficient ns that of corpp
rations and individuals. But the instabil
ity of her agencies renders accuracy ana
economy exceedingly difficult. • Her pc
rodical change of officers has alwnys- de
prived her of tho.benefit of experience in
this work ; and this, in any business; you
will agree with me, is equivalent to ; a, fair
profit, and that it is ominehtly so m.; tho
repair and supervision of . railroads: an
canals. This shifting, practice has hod
the effect of muking the works a species 1 ot
Normal schools for the education of engi
neers and supervisors to .take charge ot
other improvements. This instability re
sults from the recognition of places on the
Stale works, as political offices, instead
of scientific and mechanical work-shops;
and bringing to bear on their control and
direction, our notions of rotation and snort
tenure in olfico. These ideas are sound
and republican, and should never bo du
regarded, in reference to tho offices apper
taining to our political organization as a
government; but it must bo conceded that
a mere business operation to make mon
ey, in'competition with the crealures.ot
government and the efforts of .individuals,
was not contemplated as an office m_ttie
organic law of the State; and hence. it ts
not strange, that the principles proper for
one do not apply usefully to the other.
What, I would inquire; would be the con
dition of the Reading railroad, the Penn
sylvania railroad and other similar works
wore they required to change their engi
neers and superintendents, at short peri
ods, and bring strangers intotheir employ I
The answer may be readily discovered in
the iSiate’s exporjence. 1 havo' long, been
of opinion that in reference to all the sub
ordinates of tho Canal Commissioners,
changes should; not bo periodical and.prc
fixed, but should be made as.demanded
I by the exigencies of tho public service,—
Tho delinquent iu any one of the obliga
tions of duty should bQ dismissed nt onco
and the only guaraqty of continued employ •
robot should be found,in the superiority, of:
the services rendered the State.: All. oth
er rules for appointment add dismissal
should be speedily obliterated .from tho
system. The present practice deprives
ihp Stute, to a groat extent, of tho benefit
of* that incentive to excel, which actuates
all men wheso character, position , and
!£moluments wero at stake, Of course
my suggestions in reference ta tho .impor-
I tanco of,experience will not be understood
[as applying to all theagents,op tho works;
for instance, if requires but little experi
ence to make a collector, but it has.and
always will require this to render an
agent efficient in tfio construction and to
pair of railroads and canals, to foresee ex
igencies arid give harmonious directioato
the current operations of this complicated
branch of public seryico. In short, the
management wants the application of bus
iness organization and principles. A.sys
tem of books should supplant the use,of
check rolls, and the operations be so sys
tematized that the receipts and expendi
tutes of each month, as the scuson, payees
by, coltld be announced to the public.. :
Confusion, obscurity and rodundehfcy
ii> our pnnual volume of lawsr—vexafious
inroads upon private rights-—attempts ot
the usurpation of power and consequent
strivings and, litigation, ore, in my opinion
the legitimate fruits of our system of spe
cial nud omnibus legislation. Indeed,the
truth of these propositions is too palpable
to admit of argument. It is mani.ested, in
every experience, arid in some in
stances fhc government, os a consequence
has been forced into tho humiliating pt»i
tion pf becoming p litigant ngainst herdivn
creuturcs. Its demoralizing inlluence'is
marked and admitted bn all hands and
imperiously, demands an efficient remedy,
That the present General Assembly may
be distinguished und blessed forapplyingtho
axb at tho root of the. evil, and marking
the era of its fiuql termination, is my sin
cere hope. . .. .
A prolific source of mischief consists-tn
the practice of passing a number of laws,
entirely dissimilar in their characteristics
in the same bill, or in what is famtlliariy
known ns the ‘'pmnibus System.’ .OT*
inevitable, nnd indeed the frequently la
mented effect of this mode of legislation,
hns been to facihtato the passage of; bills
through the General Assembly, and to se
cure the sahetion oftho Executive without
that critical examination so ipdispensiblo
I to a clenr comprehension of their true im
port, In illustration .of the diffioultiqs
which the practice ..imposes upon;.this
branch of. the government, it is online-
Cesstiry to state, that within two dnys pre
ceeding the fina| adjournment pUbatlMt
Legislature, nb loss than one iuindredoad
six bills were presented, for,ExccUM vacoq
sideratiotiffContaining, threo hundred and
thirty-four diU'areut subjects., . feonlo.Qt
these bills ..contained, us many -qs si jyfcnty
dissimilar items of.legislation;,ahdi|iot
these, sbmo. vyere not eveu i»djctUt4.hy
the transcribed .til(ip*
Number 1.
la the diVficulty of coirpro-
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