- JRETSS23J®IEIB sJs iPCTraTMrgflHircti^ Whole No. 2797. Lewistowu Post Office. Mails arrive and close at the Lewistown P. 0. as follows; ARRIVE. Eastern through, 5 48 a. m. " through .and way 421 p ra. Western " " " 10 55 a.m. Bellefonte " " " 2 30p m. Northumberland, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 6 00 p. m. CLOSE. Eastern through 8 00 p. m. •' " and way 10 00 a. m. Western " •' 300 p. m. Bellefonte 8 00 " I Northumberland (Sundays, Tueesdays and Thursdays) 8 00 p. in. Money can be forwarded through this of fice in sums from SI to S3O, by the payment | of the following fees: From $1 to $lO ten | cents; $lO to S2O fifteen cents; S2O to S3O twenty cents. Office open from 7 30 a. m. to 8 p. m. On Sundays from Bto9 am. S. COMFORT, P. M. PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD. Trains leave Lewistown Station as follows; Westward. Eastward. Piitsburgh and Erie Mail, 3 5G a. m. 10 45 p. m. Baltimore Exnress, 5 26 a. m. Philad'a Express, 605a. in 12 18 a, m. Fast Line, 625 p. in. 516 " Mail 421 " Fast Mail. 10 55 " i Harrishurg Aecom'n, 3 44 p. m. ! Emigrant, 10 47 a. m. Through Freight, 10 30 p. in. 150 a m Fast " 9 45 Express " 12 10 p m 12 35 p. m ; Stock Express, 5 oft p in, 900 " Coal Train. 1 15 p. in. 11 45 a. m. j Union Line, 7 41 " Local Freight, 730 a. tn. 625 p. m. | NOTE. —The Pittsburgh and Erie Express leaves east and west daily except Sunday ; j Baltimore Express west daily except Monday; j Philadelphia Express east and west daily ; Fast Line east daily except Monday and west daily except Sunday; Fast Mail east daily ex- i eept Sunday; Mail Train west daily except j Sunday: Harrisburg Accommodation east dai- j lv except Sunday, and Emigrant west daily ! except Monday. Fare to Philadelphia, $5 85 " Baltimore, 5 20 " llarrisburg, 2 10 " A1 toon a, 250 " Pitishurgh, 6 60 •i#-G*!braith's Omnibuses convey passengers to j end from all tiie trains, taking up or setting them down at all points withiu tlie borough limits. I Mifflin & Centre County R R. Lewistown and Reedsville. OX and after Monday, January 2, 1865, I tra n will leave Lewistown and Reeds ! ville as follows: Leave Lewistown for Reedsville, (mail) 7 30 a. m. Leave Reedsville for P. R. R. 830 " P R. R. for Reedsville 11 00 " " Reedsville for Lewistown II 30 " i " Lewistown for Reedsville Ilop. m. " Reedsville for P. li. R., mail 215 " " P. R. R. for Reedsville 425 " " Reedsville for Lewistown 515 " fIaSU The train will stop at Lewistown, Freedom Iron Works, Yeageriown, and the Crossing of the Turnpike above Mann's low er Axe Factory, going and coming. JOHN WATEKHOUSE, jau4 Eugineer. WILLIAM LIND, has now open A NEW STOCK OF Cloths, Cassimeres AND VESTINGS, which will he made up to order in the neat et and most fashionable styles. apl9 AMBROTYPES AND The Oemi oi the Season. r PHIS is no buuibug, but a practical truth J. The pictures taken hy Mr. Burkholder are unsurpassed for BOLDNESS TRUTH FULNESS. BEAUTY OF FINISH, and DURABILITY. Prices varying according to size and quality of frames and Cases Room over the Express Office. Lewistoww, August 23, iB6O. Kishacoquillas Seminary AND NORMAL INSTITUTE.I U* ILL commence its winter session. OC j IOBER 12, 1864. and continue twen : ty weeks. Cost for Board. Furnished Rooms. ' an 4 1 uition in English Branches, $75. Fuel, Light and Washing extra, tor particulars see catalogue. S Z SHARP, Principal. Kishacoquillas, Sept. 21. 1864. Academia, Juniata Co., Pa, C COMMENCES its Summer Term May 4th. j / 1864 For circulars address Mrs O. J FRENCH. Principal, or ANDREW PATTERSON, Proprietor. sp6 1864-Iy GEO. vr. ELDER, Attorney at Law, Office Market Square, Lewistown, will at end to business in Mifflin, Centre arid Hunting don counties oay26 STOVES. I) EMEMBER that F. J. Hoffman has a v tine assortment of Cooking, Coal and 1 W uod Stoves, at lowest prices. jan4 L. LYONS' PURE OHIO Catawba Brandy, AND . Sparkling Catawba Wines, Equal in Quality and Cheaper in Price than the Brandies and Wines of the Old World. I FOR SI MMER COMPLAINT. CHOLERA INEATCM. DI ARKHTKA, BOWEL COMPLAINT, CRAMP A COUC. A sure Cure is yuaruntied, or the money will be refunded. IN support of the above statements, are presented the Certificates of Dr. Jas. R. | Chilton, Chemist, New York; Dr. liiram Cox, Chemical Inspector, Ohio; Dr. James R. Nichols. Chemist, Boston; Dr. N. E. Jones, Chemical Inspector, Circleville, Ohio ; Prof, j C. T. Jackson. Chemist, Boston ; Dr. Cbas. i Upham Shepard, Charleston, S. C.; and J. V. Z. Blaney and G. A Mariner, Consulting Chemists, Chicago, all of whom have ana lyzed the Catawba Brandy, and commend it in the highest terms, for medicinal use. ) Analysis of the Massachusetts State As saver, January 25, 1858. When evaporated through clean linen it left no oil or offensive matter. Jn every res pect it is a PUKE spirituous liquor. -The oil which gives to this Brandy its flavor and aro ma. is wholly unlike fusil, or grain oil. Its odor partakes of both the fruit and oil of grapes With acids, it produces ethers of a high fragrance. The substitution of this Brandy tor Cognac Brandy will do away with the manufacture of fictitious spirits, sold un der this name both at home and abroad. Respectfully, . A A Ilayes. M D., j Assayer to State Mass., 16. Boyleston St. By the same, in 1804. I have analyzed " L Lyons' Pure Catawba ; Brandy," with reference to its composition ; and character, being the same as that pru duced in past years. A sample taken from I ten casks afforded the same results with re i gard to purity; a slightly increased amount j of the principle on which its flavor depends I was determined hy comparison with former I samples. The indications of analysis show that this j Brandy is produced hy the same process as j most of the imported Brandy. Respecfully, A A.IIAYES M D State Assayer, Boston. July 20, '64, 16 Boyleston St. Manufactured by H. H. Jacob & Co-, j (To whom all orders should be addressed,) Depot, 91 Liberty St., New Y'ork. | nov9 3mos. E. & H. T. ANTHONY & CO.. Slanufaclorm of Photographic Materials, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. 501 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. JN addition to our main husinees of PllO TOGKAPIIIO MATERIALS, we are i Headquarters for the following, viz: STEREOSCOPES AND STEREOSCOPIC VIEWS Of these we have an i-i-inense assortment, in cluding War Scenes. American and Foreign Cities and Landscapes, Groups, Statuary, Ac , &c. Also, Revolving Stereoscopes, for pub lic or private exhibitions. Our catalogue will he sent to any address on receipt of stamp. Photographic Albums. We were the first to introduce these into the United States, and we manufacture im mense quantities in great variety, ranging in price from 50 cents to SSO each. Our Al liums have the reputation of being superior in beauty and durability to any others. They will be sent by mail, free, on receipt of price. •taTFine albums made to order- CARD PHOTOGRAPHS. Our catalogue now embraces over five thou sand differeut subjects (to which additions are continually being made) of Portraits of Eminent Americans. Ac , viz ; about 100 Major-Generals, 550 Statesmen, 200 Briy. • Gederals, 130 Divines, 275 Colonels, 125 Authors, 100 Lieut' Colonels, 40 Artists, 250 Other Ojficers, 125 St aye, 75 Navy Officers, 50 Prom'nt Women, 150 Prominent Foreign Portraits. 3000 Copies of Works of Art, including reproductions of the most celebra ted Engravings, Paintings, Statues, Ac. Cat alogues sent on receipt of stamp. An order ! for one di>zen Pictures from our catalogue j will he filled on the receipt of SI.BO, and sent j by mail, free. Photographers and others ordering goods : L-. O D will please remit twenty five per j cent of the amount with their order E A 11 T. ANTHONY A CO., j Manulact'rs of Photographic Matrials, 501 Broadway, New York. fcaj~ The prices and quality of our ■ oods J cannot fail to satisfy. nov9-ly. n. P. ELLIS. OF the late firm of McCoy and Ellis, has just returned from the city with a choice ; assortment of DRY GOODS & GROCERIES, j selected with care and purchased for cash, which are offered to the public at a small ad | vance on cost. i suitable for ladies, gentlemen and children, with uianv new patterns. His UKOCEKIUM comprise choice Sugars, Molasses, Coffee, Su perior Teas, Pure Spices, Ac. Also, QIEOaWAKE, (ILASSWASE, and all other articles usually found in Stores, : all of which his old customers and the public 1 in general are in v. ted to call and examine. Country Produce taken at full mark et | prices. It F. ELLIS. Lewistown, March 9, 1864. I FOUND out that Hoffman's is the place for Groceries. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1865. For tiie Educational Column. Genius. > There is no error more common or inju 1 rious to man than the opinion in regard to genius, namely, that it is an especial gift of God to certain individuals; that our com I rnon mother, Nature, partial in the distri I button of intellect to the human family, - has made some men great, and distinguish ed, without any additional labor or exer ' tiou on the part of those upon whom she j has bestowed it. How many young men are endowed with ! \ all the necessary faculties to enable them to become ornaments to their country aud a glory to the age in which they live, if they but knew the powers that lie dormant in them. It we examine the history of persons whose names have been handed down from time to time as the distinguish ed of the earth, we will find that they, through the proper use of the talents which God gave to them, by close application of their minds and continued perseverance, distinguished themselves. Our minds are formed on the progres sive principle, and there is scarcely a limit ! to their improvement. Hence, if we wish to acquire knowledge—if we wish to he come wise and good, we must not expect to be able, to grasp the depths of science at once, or to overleap the bars of ignorance at a single hound. Slow hut sure should he our motto; determination our watchword; and then will the bright prospect of u gio j rious iuture be spread out before us. Man's grand distinction is his intellect his mind, by which he ascends the sweet scented path of science; by which he soars through the regions of space, and takes an imaginary view of the universe of God But the mind uncultivated to a certain ex tent is dead, and can form no proper idea of the wisdom, greatness and glory of its j creator. ihe elements of genius are im i p anted in the bosom of everv individual, ' to a greater or less extent, and all that is I required to show the brilliancy of its ius ' tre is to put it to act on. I'e re vera nee unflinching perseverance alone can make a genius, and I feel assured that no one has ever become celebrated without it Deep mysteries flv f rom before it. rough and rug ged ways become smooth when it approach cs, obstacles of stupendous magnitude are easily removed by its mighty power; great difficulties are 1 loked upon as insurmount able, hut gradually thev disappear, and perseverance is proclaimed conqueror Per ! severance grasped the thunderPolts of Jove and dragged thetr. to the earth. It ealcu j lated the distances to the different planets, | and their periodical movements It discov ered the univirsal law of attraction, and its j great importance to the material world It I has exposed to our view many of the tnys ; teries of nature, which can only be com prehended by deep and continued thought ! We never know our strength until we ap ply it. It is so with the mind; its power can only be tested by putting it to work., and the more it is exercised the stronger will it become. If mankind could be made sensible of the power of the mind, and the glory of that immortal principle. methioks that ignorance and vice of every character would take their everlasting flight lrorn this earth of ours. \ r oung mau, do j you thirst for fame ? Do you desire that your name may be handed down to future generations as one of the world's greatest and noblest characters? then let aic urge you to make good use of the talents which our Creator has given you. Wrestle for it as did Jacob with the angel of the Lord, and 1 promise you success beyond your most sanguine expectations. Although dif Acuities and doubts may surround you thro' a long uight of mental toil, the conquering power of perseverance wiJl bring >ou un told success in the morning. The more dilligently you have struggled, the more i earnestly you have labored, the more bril liantly will the sun of fame spread its ; beams over the community in which you | have thus toiled. Let me point you to a Patrick Henry, an Elishi Burritt, and a host of others, who by their own exertions have distinguished themselves as statesmen | arid scholars. Young lady, you have genius slumbering within you; you have a mind, if carefully polished, may he made to sbine bright as a star in the-deep vault of heaven. Let ir not continue to be hidden in its darkened chamber, but bring it forth, and let its brilliancy 1864 4,733,313 02 Total in treasury for fiscal year ending Nov. 30. 1864 $6.850.644 72 1 Ihe payments for the same period have I tjee " 4.938.441 09 j Balance in treasury, Nov. 30,1864 $1,942,203 63 The operations of the sinking fund during the last year have lecn shown by my proclamation of the 27th day of September last, as follows: Am't of debt of Commouwealth, reduced $268,569 50 As follows, viz: Five per cent, loan of Cont'eallh 268.308 03 Interest certificates redeemed 261 47 $268,569 50 The fiscal year accounted for in the statement of the Treasury Department. embraces the time from the Ist of December. 1863. to the 3 th of November. 1564. The sinking fund year commenced the first Monday tu September. 1863. and closed the first Tuesday in September. 1864. This will explain the discrepancy between the statement of the freasttry Department as to the reduction of the public dent of the State, and the statement embodied in the proclamation rel ative to the sinking fund. Ain't of public debt of Penn sylvania. as it stood on the Ist day of Dec.. 1563 $39,496,596 78 Deduct am t redeemed at State Treasury during the fiscal year ending Nov. 30 1864. viz: Five per cent, stocks $194,722 73 Four and a-half pret stocks 10.000 00 Interest certificates 2,270 11 Public debt Dec. 1, 1864 39.379.603 94 Funded debt, viz: Six per ct. loans, ordinary 400.630 00 Five per et. loans, ordinary 35,605,263 72 Four and a half per centum loans, ordinary 255.200 00 Unfunded debt, viz: Relief notes in circulation 97,251 00 Interest certificates outsta'g 13.u56 52 •' " unclaimed 4.448 38 Domestic creditors'certiffa- 724 32 36,379,603 94 Military loan per Act May 15, 1861 " 3,000.000 (8) Total public debt. Dee. 1, '64 $3y.3t9,1i1'3 94 The Commonwealth holds bonds received from-tbe sale of Public Works, amounting to ten million, three hundred thousand dollars. tsl9.3u,Uou 00) as follows . Pennsylvania Railroad Company bonds $6,800,000 00 Pliilad a and Erie R. R.Company bonds 3.500,0tX) uo $10,300,000 00 These bonds are in the Sinking Fund, and reduce the public dm t to $29.079:603 94. t he tax on tonnage imposed by the acts of 3rtth April and 25th August, 1864.has yielded something less tnan $200,000 —a much less sum than was antici pated 1 recommend a revision of these acts for the purpose of rendering this source of revenue more productive, and amernung other defects in those bills. The revenue derived fjrom the tax on banks during the year amounts to $539.eu9 tbut under the enabling act "of the State so nvtny of our banks latve lieeome i National banks under the act of Congress, that this : source of revenue may be considered as substantially extinguished, and it will be necessary in some way to i make up the deficiency from other sources. ; The act of Congress authorizes the taxation by the ; State of the stock in tsie National banks in the hands 1 of the holders, not exceeding the rate of taxation itn j posed on other similar properly, and part of the defi ] eiency may be thus provided for. The amount of debt extinguished by the Sinking ; Fund during the year is uuusually small, which is to be accounted foe, by the extraordinary expenses which have been iueiirred. Seven hundred and ihir teen thousand dollars ($713,090) hare been paid to re fund to the banks the money advanced by them to pay the volunteers in service'duritig the invasion of the State in 186.",, One hundred thousand dollars (SIOO,- 000) have been distributed among the inhabitants of Chambersburg, suffering by the rebel destruction of their town. About two hundred thousand dollars ($299,090) have, been expended under the acts provid ing for the payment of extra military claims, aud in addition to these extraordinary outlays, the amount appropriated to charities was last year larger than usual. In my opinion this matter of donations to charities is fast Tunning into a great abuse. Houses of Refuge, and Instate, Blind and Deaf and Dumb Asylums, ap pear to.be proper subjects of istate bounty, because their c ejects are of public importance and to be use ful, and well and economically managed, it seems to [ be necessary that they should be more extensive than would be required for the wants of a particular county. But in our system, ordinary local charities are left to the care of the respective localities, and to give the public money for their support is really to tax the inhabitants of all the counties for the beiiefit of one. The national taxation is heavy and roust probably be roade heavier, and the local taxes authorized by un wise legislation and paid by our people are excessive. In view of these circumstances, we should endeavor to avoid increasing their burdens by making undue appropriations for any purpose. It being alleged tiiat the Atlantic and Great Wes -1 tern Railroad Company has not in various particulars obeyed the law t.y which it was incorporated, the At torney General (on the suggestion of parties claiming to be thereby injured) lias tiled an information tit equity agatusl that co ipany, seeking an injunction to prevent a continuance of its past, and the persistence in its intended illegal course. Since my last annual message on the report of John A. Wright, Esq., that the Suubury and Erie railroad was finished, I ordered the bonds remaining in the treasury to be delivered to the company. It is a subject of just pride to the people of this Commonwealth, that this great work is completed, and whilst it opens a large and wealthy part of the State to the commerce ot the seaboard, and unites capital and enterprise within our borders, it se- i cures to tite Commonwealth the payment of the sums due her from the company. In mv special message of 3utli April last, to which I reter. 1 communicated to the Legislature, in some I dentil, toe circumstances connected with the advance i by banks and other corporations of tne funds to pay | the volunteer militia of 1563. It is not necessary here to recapitulate them at length, the case was peculiar, and ins believed none quite like it has occurred. The call for volunteers was made by tiie authorities of the United States, but it beiug found that men could not be got under that call, the form of a call by the EState authorities for the defence of the State was, with the assent of the Pres ident, substituted. The United states agreed to fur nish the arms, subsistence and supplies, but it was alleged that Congress Itad made no appropriation covering the pay. In this state of things, the emer gency being great, the Secretary of War telegraphed me. thus: Washinotox, July 22, 1863. 7b His Excellency, Guv. A.G. Cartiii: Your telegrams respecting Die pay of militia,called out under your proclamation of the 27th ot June, have been referred to the President for instructions, and have been under ins consideration. He directs me to say, that while no law or appropriation authorizes Die payment, by the General Government, of troop.-that have not been mustered into the service of the United States, be will recommend to Congress to make an appropriation for the payment of troops called into State service to repei an actual invasion, tucluding those of the State of Pennsylvania, if, in the mean time. you can raise the necessary amount.a.- hasheen done in other Stales, the appropriation will be applied | to refund Die advance to those wno made it. Measures i have been taken for the payment ot troops mustered | into Die United States service, as soon as the muster ! and pay rolls are made out. the answer of tuis de- j partment, to you as Governor of the State, will he given directly to yourself, whenever the department is pre pared to make answer. . ! (Signed) E. M.STANTON, Secretary of War. The banksandiHi.eroorp'jratiuus refused to advance the money units* i would pledge utystU to ask an 3LISW222 } (2)WSJr2) IPSSySJo appropriation from the Legislature to refund it. It will be noticed that the pletke of the President is clear and distinct, but. notwithstanding the money was paid and the accounts settled and placed in the , hands of the President before the meeting of Con | gress. no stteh recommendation as promised me was I made, and for t.'iat reason the bill introduced for that | purpose failed. The men were rai-ed and placed ; Under the command of Major General Couch and the other 11. S. officers in this Department The troops were held in service longer than the emergency for which they were called out required. Several of the ! regiments were marched immediately into distant I parts of the State, by order of the officers of the artnv i stationed in Pennsylvania, against my repeated re monstrances. They were retained, as was alledged. to preserve the peace and enforce the draft. Nearly, ! it not quite, one-half the money was paid to troops thus held, and after the emergency bad expired. I Finding that the appropriation was" likely to fail in I Congress, 1 laid the matter before the Legislature, j just prior to their adjournment, in May last, and an act | of Assembly was immediately passed to refund the money out of the Stale Treasury, which, as above stated has been done. I ought to say that tlie appro priation by Congress was vigorously supported by all the members from this State, in both branches. Having done everything in my power to procure the payment of this just claim ot the State. I now recom mend that the Legislature take the subject into con sideration with a view to induce proper action by the President and Congress. By the act 22d August. 1564, I was authorized to cause an immediate enrollment of the militia to he made, tutle-s that recently matte hv tlio I'm ted States should be found sufficient, and to raise by volunteer ing or draft a corps of fifteen thousand men for the defence of our Southern border The I'nited States enrollment being found very defective. I directed an enrollment be matte, which "is now in progress under charge of Colonel Lemuel Todd, whom I appointed Inspector General. A draft by the United States was then in progress, and it was not thouhgt advisable to harrass our people by a contemporaneous State draft even if a drait had been practicable under the present law. Volunteers could not be obtained, there being no bounties, and the men notbeing exempted hv their enlistment in that corps from draft hv the United •States. fortunately the United State placed an army, under Gen. Sheridan, between us and the enemy, and thus provided effectually for our defence. With such adequate protection as proved by the brilliant cam paign of that army. I did not think it right to incur the expenses to tiie State of an independent army, and the withdrawal of so many of our people from their homes and pursuits. Meanwhile arrangements have been made with the authorities at Wa-liiugton tor arming, clothing, subsisting and supplying the corps at the expense of the United States, and an order lias been given by the authorities of the United States to furlough su.-h volunteer.- in the corps as may b3 dratted by tlie United States. T'ie corp.* so privi leged not t<> exceed 5,000 men. Tt i- my intention o raise 5,000 men during the winter, and I "have already adopted measures to that end. There may occur irruptions of irregular bodies of the rebels, and it is well to be provided against them. The numbei pro posed to be so raised and put into actual service, will, in my judgment be sufficient, and a regard to due economy requites that no more than are sufficient should hy placed on pay. The remaining lO.non will be organized, and ready for service in case of neces sity. 1 invite your immediate attention to trie vt rv able report of ue Inspector rieneral. which sets forth the defects in the lavy which he has discovered in ins preparation for carrying it into practical effect. 1 he State agencies at Washington and in tiie South west. are in active and successful operation, i com municate herewith tiie reports of Col Jordan, at Washington, and Col. Chamberlain, agent for tlie South-west. The provisions of tlie law requiring the agents to collect moneys due by the United States to soldiers, have been benifiecnt. A reference to their reports will show the magnitude and usefulness of this branch of their service, i desire to invite the at tention of alt our volunteers, officers, soldiers and their families to tiie fact that tin* State agents will col lect all their claims on the Government gratuitous ly. a* I have reason to believe that many are still ig norant of that fact, and are greatly imposed upon by fFw exorbitant commissions charged by private claim agenfs. Under the art of the 6th of May. 1864. I appointed Hon. i homas 11. Burrowes to take charge ot the ar rangements tor the education of tlie orphans of sol dins. t commnni ate herewith a copy of his report on the subject. He has discharged Ins duties with commendable zeal, fidelity and efficiency. 1 earnest ly recommend that a permanent and liberal appropri ation be made to support tiiis just and worthy scheme of benificence. 1 recommend that an appropriation be made for pensions to the volunteer militia men. (or their fami lies.) who were killed or hurt in service in the years 1862 and 1863. As soldiers sometimes arrive here who are insane, and who should be protected and cared for. I recommend that provision be made for their be ing placed in the State Asylum for the Insane, at tins place, and kept until notiee can be given to the au thorities of their respective counties, who should be required to remove and care for them. I feel it to be my duty to invite your serious atten tion to the evils growing out of the system of passing acts of incorporation, for purposes which at e provided for by general laws. We nave passed acts authorizing charters to be obtained without special legislation These acts have b e i generally pr. par d with some care, and contain the provisions wuicii tlie Legt-lalure thought necessary to protect the Commonwealth and her citizens. It these general laws are not found to answer such purposes, they should be amended and perfected. If any eompany desires to be incorpora ted with greater privileges than are conferred, or to be relieved from any conditions imposed bv anv of these acts, it appears to me that it should Vie required first to obtain a charter under the general laws, and then apply to the Legislature for an act making the changes which aie desired. The attention of the Le gislature will thus be drawn to the specific object.and a jndginent can be formed of its propriety. I would also observe that great evil results from the habit of granting privileges to a corporation by a mere refer ence to some former private act relating to other cor porations, sometimes without eyen giving the date of these acts. All these practices are bad. and although they may sometimes be pursued by parties having no bad intention, yet they certainly originated in the de sign of surprising the Commonwealth into grants of privileges which it was known could not he obtained if their extent were understood, and they are often followed now for the same fraudulent purpose. 1 strongly recommend the repeal of the act passed the 18th day of July, A. D. 1863, entitled "An act rela ting to corporations for mechanical, manufacturing, mining and quarrying purposes." Its provisions are found to lie practically so incon sistent with the due protection of the citizens and with the just policy of the Commonwealth, that it ought not to be allowed to stand any longer on our statute book. I approved the act in question with great reluctance, and subsequent reflection and obser vation have satisfied me of its mischievous character. 1 also recommend the repeal of ?n act passed the 22d day of July. A. d. 1863, entitled "A further supple ment to an act to enable joint tenants and tenants in common, and adjoining owners of mineral lands in this Commonwealth, to manage and developo the same." This act allows foreign corporations to hold three hundred acres of laun in this State for mining purpo ses. It was passed, it is believed, for the purpose of enabling companies near our border, engaged in the manufacture of iron, to hold laud as ore banks. But under the idea that the sinking of an oil well is min ing. it is believed that companies have already been organized under the laws of other States, and that more will be. for the purpose of holding lauds and carrying on the oil business in this dta'e. It would be better to remove all doubt on this question by repeal ing the act. i'hese companies, being foreign corpo rations, are not within ihe control of ur laws to the extent that they ought to be tor the purposes of tax ation and regulation." The immense development of wealth in some of our we-tern counties by the discovery of oil, has add ed vastly to the resources of trie Commonwealth. I have made efforts to ascertain the value of tiiis product during the last year, but have failed hi pro curing information sufficiently accurate to justify me in estimating its amount. It is already vast and is rapidly increasing. The productions and manufactures of the Stato have become so diversified and abundant that some measure should be taken for an accurate ascertain ment of them, so that their extent rn.iy Ist generally known, and also that the necessary taxation may be intelligently imposed. I recommend tor these pur poses the creation of a Bureau, of wiueli tiie Auditor General and State Treasurer shall let members, and the tiead of which shall be a new officer, to be styled Commissioners of Statistics, or designated by any oth er appropriate title. Tlie act of 25th August, 1864, providing for the vo ting of soldiers, should be carefully examined, with a view to it" amendment, and. indeed, a revision of our whole election laws would seem to be desiraole. with a view to the two essential objects of. 1. The admisiou of legal and exclusion of illegal vote* at the polls; and, 2. Faithful and correct returns of the votes actu ally polled. I communicate herewith the opinion of the Attorney General on the conflicting returns for the 16th Congressional District, which will show some of the practical difficulties winch arise under the exist ing system. Without undertaking to recommend the adoption of any particular plan, 1 submit the whoie sullied to yuur careful and earnest consideration, in the hope that in your wisdom you will lie able to de vise some measure which wio produce the result so •aseuuai to tiie existence of a free government: that New Series—Vol.. XIX. No. 10. vote. shr.ll hp fairly taken in the tint instance, and fairly counted Hint returned afterwards I have endeavored since t came into office to exer cise as cautiously as possible the powers confided to the Executive, and avoid usurping anv. I shall en deavor to persist ill this course to the end. A new call has been made by the President for 300.. 000 men. This renders it proper that I should invite your attention to the evils which have resulted trom abuses of the system of local bounties which was be | gun. in an emergency, by the voluntary and generous i lovalty of cur citizens, before tlu- pas-age by Congress j of the enrollment act. and has since been continued | by sundry acts of Assembly. The result has been to i the last degree oppressive to our citizens.aud unpro | duotive of corresponding benefit to the Government. : In some counties and townships, it is believed that I the bounty tax during the last year exceeded the av : erage income derived from the land. Tlie large sums offered in some places in the competition for men, have demoralized many of our people, and the most atrocious frauds connected with the system have be come common The men of some" of the poorer counties have been nearly exhausted by their vol unteers being credited to* richer localities paying heavier bounties. The system as practiced lowersthe nvtraU' of the army itself, bv putting into the ranks (pen actuated by merely mercenary motives and who are tempted to desert by the facility now existing of escaping detection, and the prospect of new gains by re-enlistment, a process which thev expect to he able to repeat an indefinite number of times. Of the num ber of men for whom bounties have been paid, it is believed that not one-fourth have been actually placed in the ranks of the army, and even those who have ! joined it. have probably not on an average received I for their own use one-half of the bounty paid for them. ) Immense sums have thus been appropriated by cheats j and swindlers, in many eases believed to be acting I in complicity with agencies of the Government. An ettbrt was made to prosecute some of the par : tics concerned in such frauds under the Act of As j sembly of 14th of August last, and they Were bound ! 2 V, i r ''- v l ' >e ay or of this eitv. but after the witnesses , had eonte here on the meeting of the court, thev dis- I appeared from the public eye. • I recommend the . whole subject to your careful'consideration, that the ] system may he purged of these evils. I am officially informed that the quota of this State j under the recent call is ob.W.' but fam not informed I of the principle on which the draft is to he made, i appears from tiie President's proclamation that it | is made chiefly to supply an alleged deficiency in for- Lmer calls. lam surprised at the amount of this large ; deficiency, aud can only account for the difference : between the number of men furnished by the State ■ and the deficiency alleged to ex st in the assignment ; of the present quota by the assumption that the men never reached the artnv, although enlisted and mus tered after the payment of bounties by the localities to which they were supposed to be credited. It is probable that there are very lew counties in the State which have not pud large bounties for a number of men sufficient to fill thoir former quotas. I aking the local bounties at the low average of four hundred dollars, it is believed that it can be demon strated that the people of Pennsylvania have thus been robbed of more than twelve millions of dollars during the past year. This estimate does not include the money fraudulently taken from men who have actually gone into the service. The continuance of these monstrous and unparal led abuses cannot he tolerated. Certainly more men are required to aid our gallant soldiers in the field in crushing this rebellion.and-ev ery consideration of patriotism and of regard for our brothers who arc now in the face of tlie enemy, ohir* ges us to spare no effort to raise the necessary force. In June last I gave letters to a committee of the prison society of Philadelphia, requesting tiiat the committee might be allowed to visit and examine the prisons and poorhouses throughout the Common wealth. I transmit with this communication a cony of the report made to me by the society of the results of their labors, and commend the same to your atten tion with a view to the adoption of proper measures to reform the abuses which have been found to exist. In connection with this subject. 1 again call your at tention to the expediency of providing for the recep tion in the penitentiaries, of persons convicted of murder in the first degree, and who may be pardoned on serving a limited term therein. It has become a custom that an incoming Governor should not issue a warrant of execution in cases left unacted on by his predecessor, and it not unfrequently happens that even in eases which are recent, while some punish ment should be inflicted, that of death may appear to the Executive to he too severe. The result is that mere are at this time, in tiie various prisons, some eighteen or twenty persons under sentence of death, and who may lie there for an indefinite period of time. The vast amouut of additional labor which lias been imposed upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the existing state of att'airs renders it absolutely necessary that the clerical force of his department should be increased. The making ont of commis sions for our large army of volunteers in the field, and the preparation of election blanks required by law to lie sent to the army—the receipt, filing and re cording the returns of the soldiers' votes—tlie enroll ment of tlie yearly increasing number of the Acts of Assembly, and of charters obtained under general laws and tiie making out of letters patent for them— all these, together with the previous heavy duties of the office—lorm an aggregate, the weight of which must surely break down Ins few subordinates, dili gent. faithful and enduring as they are. I recommend therefore that provisions be promptly made to meet the necessities of this case. It is a subject of just congratulation that notwith standing the distracted condition of the country, our svstom of common schools continues to flourish. The report of the Superintendent, which I herewith transmit, shows that there has been an increase of scholars during the past year. It is important to se "cure as teachers a sufficient number of men of suita ble education and ability, and with a view to tins ob ject, I suggest for your consideration the expediency of making out of the school fund itself some provis ion for the support of such teachers as shall after a given term of service become superannuated or disa bled while in the performance of their duties. Of the fund placed in tny hands bv the Acts of the 16th May. 1861, and of the 4th of May. 1864. and to be appropriated in tny judgment in military service, I have expended in the last year <6,124 08 in'support of the agency at Washington—up to the 30th May. last, for my personal staff and other military service, an account of which is settled in the office of the Audi tor' General. No similar appropriation will be required at this ses sion. A bill was introduced and passed the House at the last session of the Legislature providing for the ap pointment of a commission to ascertain the damages done in the counties of Bedford. Fulton. Franklin, Cumberland, York aud Adams, bv the rebel armv in 1863, which failed in the Senate for want of time. I commend to your consideration the propriety of the passage of such a bill during the present session. It is just to the people of these counties who have suf fered. as well as to the Government that these dama ges should be fairly ascertained and the evidence per petuated. whatever may be the view to be taken on L future consideration by the United .States or State | Government as to tlie propriety of paying such elaims Major General Hancock has been authorized by the War Department to raise a corps of veterans, "to he called the First Corps. One of the regulations is that on application hy the Governor of any State, recruit ing officers will be designated for such State. I have been requested by Geneaal liancock to make such application, but have hitherto declined tocomplv with the request. It appears to me that tiie families of men raised on the plan adopted by the Uar Depart ment would probably not be entitled to the relief pro vided hy our own laws for the families of volunteers. I have enquired of General Hancock whether the pro posed corps is to form part of the regular army or of the volunteer force, and if the latter, under wtiat act of Congress it is to be raised. He iias referred that communication to the War Department, from which I have as yet received no answer to it. The following letters have passed between General Hancock aud myself on tins subject: PzxxsvtvA.vti EXECUTIVE CHIMDER, HARKUSHURG. PA.. Dec. liiftu. 1564. GKXERAL: —I received your letter at the moment of my departure for Philadelphia on Monday last. 1 re turned this morning aud hasten to rop.'y. Having no knowledge of the, organization of the corps you are to command than what appears in the newspapers and orders. 1 will be obliged if you wilt | inform me if it i to be regarded as a part of the reg | ular army of the United fjtaces, or as part of tiie vol unteer service. If it is part of the army of the Uu:to.d.State-. I cer \ tainly have no connection with it, us Governor of the j suite. If it is organized as volunteers, be pleased to I inforfit me under what act of Congress! I need not say. General, that 1 wouid be most happy to do all in my power personally and official!) to raise a force to be commanded by you. Can we not raise you two or three regiments in Pennsylvania, in the usual manner and according to the net of Congress, for your corps? Of course I wauid consult you in the selection of officers and only commission where you approved. I cannot understand the importance of my asking that parsons be sent to Pennsylvania to lu-iuce veter ans to go to the lii-trictof Columbia to enlist. I cer tainty will do nothing to embarrass the plan proposed. We have benefits, by genera! and special legislation j in Pennsylvania, which attach to the volunteer aud ■ nis family. While i will do nothing to deter the vet j erans of the State from entering your corps, I hesitate ' to aannnet myself with a mod* of enlistment whieA