FOL. LIII. ELLMENCER & 'JuunNAI, N CASTER IN VERY TIIUDAY 1101X04, 0. SANDERSON. PUBLIertED BY G TERMS I.7IISCRIP'PION.,—Two Dollars per annum,, payable in advance; two twenty-five, if not.paid Within sit months; and two!fifty, if not_paid within the year. No subscription discontinued until all arrearagea are paid unless at the !option of the Editor. DVERTNEMENT.—Accompanied by the CAsH, and not exceeding one square, will he inserted three tunes for one dollar, and twenty-five cents for each additional insertion. Those 'of a greater length in proportion. 08-PRINTI:4G —Such as nand B.lls, Posting Bills, Pans ph.eux flanks, Labels, &c., executed with ac curacy end at theishortest notice. GOVERNoR'S MESSAGE, lb the honorable,the Senators and Members of the House of Repre+autives of the General Assembly: I congratulate you, , my fellow citizens, on the au s ricion9 circumstances under which you have con vened at the seat of government. An all-wise and beneticent Providdnce has greatly blessed our . COUri , qy during the year that has just closed. The des olations of war the ravages of pestilence—the ikastings of lamina have not been felt within her lirn i~s; nor have the jsickly influences of internal strife teen permitted to paralyze her prosperity. All the great interests of the Nation have received ad ditional growth, and her institutions'of government acquired renewed strength. Agriculture, com merce, trade, manufactures, the arts and sciences, Have been eminently prosperous, and each been dis inguished by some mesh discovery to facilitate its rogreis. Another Presidential election has been held.— Once inure the People of this vast country, through Ole agency of the ballot box, have designated the citizen, who, for the ensuing four years, is to fill he highest office knows to the Constitution. The hheerful submission of the minority, in the result iit the contest, ahtl the magnanimity of the major ty.in the enjoyinent of their triamph, afford grat- Ifying evidence t_hat our civil institutions are not, this day, endangered from the violence of party Spirit. The voice of the majority is honored by mplicit obedience, whilst the rights of the iminor ty are prot eel sib by the constitution and laws.— trhe officer thus chosen is-the representative of the whole people, add is bound by his oath and the ob. igations of patr i litism to do " equal and exact jus lice to all men of whatever persuasion, relignms or " Each' successive test of the elective feature of nor gOvernment has been followed by re • peweit conf idencethe whole system, and so it will doubtless continue to be, so long as the exer cise of the right] , of suth age be characterised by in telligence and patriotism In all. parts of the ci vilized world the people are becoming conyinced, -not only of the practicability, but of the wisdom and justice of a l govsrnment founded on the princi ples of a representative Democracy. Even the 'yield prejudiceslbt monarchists, are beginning to 'yield to the powerful evidence furnished by our ex perience. "I' tie linission of the present generation is to secure tligi future triumph of these principles in other countries, by transmitting to posterity, un impaired. our model system of government. That ribs will be dole, tinder a kind Providence, I have steadt tot belie'f. At no period since the acknowledgment of our independence us a Nation, have the people of this Union enjoyed l a higher state of prosperity, or en tertained a brighter hope of the future. .At peace with 'all the World, and treed from internal strife between the several members of the confederacy, by the ready acquiescence of each in the recent Con gressional atlitt,iment of the controversies incident to the institutions of domestic slavery and the .requisition of new territory; when -has this Union been more min and perfect? We may well ex change congratulations on this auspicious picture, as I am sure we should mingle our thanks to Al mighty God for His bounteous goodness and guar dian care. t 'fr.vo statesmen, long eminent in the councils of the Nation hale been called from amongst, us with in a brief period. I lENItY CLAY and DASEI L WEB STER. will be known no more except in history; but that immortal record will make their good works familiar to posterity.. The tolling of bells —the sable en' s ign and the solemn obsequies have manifested the; Nation's regret. Whilst thus la menting the lass 'M those patriots, we should be consoled by the recollection, that they had been spared to 1111 the lull measure of time allotted to man. According to the beautilul figure of one of them; presente'd in a discourse at New York, not many months since—measuring time by ideas and events—they had become modern Methuselahs in the extent of What they had seen of the world, and done her theirlcountry. Who could expect more? and who is not satisfied with the extent of their la bors. the receipts to the Treasury during the late fis ral year, exclusive of the proceeds of loans, amounted to the gross sum of $4,501,555 50, which amount added to the balance in the Treasury on the lot of December, 1851, (leaving out the unit vailable mean's which only serve to confuse the ac count,) malc.s the total ordinary means of the Treasury for j the year, $5,104,424 71. The pay ments, exclusive of the cancellation of State stock --the appropriations to the North Branch canal and the Portage railroad, amounted to the sum $4,- 129, 262.49, being $976,602 12 less than the re ceipts. Of this excess, however, the sum of $304,-- 024 90 was applied to the completion of the Wes tern reservoirl—to re-laying the north track of the Columbia railroad, and to other extraordinary re pairs on the public works, leaving an actual avail • able.balance in the Treasury on the Ist day of De cember, 1552, of $671,037 72. But, it must be observed, in Circler to a correct comprehension of the relative condition of the Treasury, that the un paid balances of appropriations for 1851, amounted 'to $621,335 Us, whilst those of 1852 only reach the sum of $529,801 14, showing a difference in favor of the 'ilatter year of near $lOO,OOO. The receipts to the Treasury for the coming year may he safely estimated at $4,626 500. Taxes from real and personal estate and tolls on the pub lic works, are the only sources of-revenue in which there can be 'any considerable variation from this estimate. The farmer of these I have estimated at $1,400,000, and the latter at $850,000. To the above estimate must be added the sum of $671,- 037 72, the balance remaining in the Treasury on the Ist day of December, 1552, and thus swelling the whole Means of the Treasury for 1853, to the sum of $5,297,537 72. The ordinary expenditures for the same period, including. everything except new work, may be estimated at $4,025,670, which will leave a i balance in the Treasury on the Ist day of December, 1853, of $1.271,305. In this expen diture is ineluded $300,000 for the sinking fund, which, added to the foregoing balance, makes the snm or $1,571,208; and deducting from this $671,- 037 72, the amount in the Treasury on the Ist of December last, we shall find an actual balance of $898,630, applicable to the payment of debts and the completion of the North Branch canal and the - Portage railroad. The result of these estimates demonstrates most clearly to my mind that when the improvents just named shall have been comple ted, should] all new schemes of expenditure be sternly resisted, as they shall be, so far as I am concerned, the Treasury will be in a condition to cancel at last one million of dollarri of the public debt annually. In ac!ortlance with the provisions of an act of the Legislature, approved the 24 day of April, 1552, I proceeded to borrow, on the faith of the Common • wealth, eight hundred arid fifty thousand dollanifor the completion of the North Branch canal. The maximurl6 . ate cif,interest named in the law is 6 per cent. 'The lcdn was awarded to Messrs. Har ris & Co., for C. H. Fisher, of Philadelphia, Dun can, Sherrrian & Co., New York, and George Pea body, of LOnflon, on the 12th day of June last, as follows: $200.000 at an interest of 4.§ per cent., and $650,000 at an interest of 5 per cent., and the ; bonds of the State issued accordingly, in sums o( one thousMtd dollars each, free of taxation, with: coupons attached, re-imbursable in thirty years of ter their date. The 100th section of an act to provide for the ordinary expenses of the government and other pur poses, approved the 4th day of May,1852, declares " that the Governor and State Treasurer be, and they are hereby authorized and empowered to bor row, on the faith of the Cmrhonwealth, during the pear 1852, at such times, and in such amounts, as they may deem best for the interest of the State, , any sum not exceeding five millions of dollars, and issue the bonds of the Commonwealth fur the same bearing a rate of interest not exceeding five per cen turn per annum, payable semi-annually, which bonds shall not be subject to taxation for any pur pose whatever, and shall be reimbursable in twen ty live years from their date; and the sum so bor rowed shall be applied to the payment of 6 per cent. loans, that are payable at the option of the Coat monwealth, alter the years 1846 and 1847 ; to the 'cancellation of the certificates issued to domestic creditors, and the outstanding and unclaimed inter est certificates, in the mariner hereinafter provided; and the balance of said five millions shall be ap plied to the extinguishment of any of the five per cent. bonds of the State now outstanding, and for no other purpose." In compliance with this and the other sections of the law relating to this subject, the State Treasu rer, Auditor General, and myself, proceeded to make the loan of five millions. The details of our action will be found in the State Treasurer's teport. The 6 per cent. bonds, the domestic creditor certificates, and the certificates, for outstanding interest, have been cancelled as fast as presented, and the money is now in the Treasury to pay off the entire bal ance. On opening the bids on the 7th of Septem ber, we disco"ered that only $3,410,000 had been for bid, and owing, as we thought, to a slight misunder standing between our government and that of Great Britian on the Fishery question, which seemed to disturb the monetary world for a short season, the bids were not so favorable as we had anticipated; we, nevertheless, lelt bound by the teams of our public notice, to accept the amount offered. The remainder of the five.millions has been used in the cancellation of the 5 per cent. bonds, by tile ex change for them of new bonds, bearing a like inter est, for which exchange the Commonwealth has re ceived. a cash premium of 5 per cent., which is a more advantageous loan for the State that were the bids opened on the 7th of September. The premiums received on this loan amounted to $134,534 00, which sum, in accordance with the terms of the Law, has been paid over to the Coin missioriers of the Sinking Fund, to be applied to the cancellation of the public debt. In addition to the premiums, there will be anually saved to the Treas ury, by the - reduction in the rate, of interest on the renewed debt, the sum of $20,436 62, which for twenty live years, the period which the loan has to mu, will amount to a.saving to the Treasury of $510,915 50. This result is not quite equal to my expectations; but when it is remembered, that all this has been accomplished without the exaction of a dollar from the people, we have much reason td be gratified with the issue. In our efforts to effect a conversion of the five per cent. loan into the new bonds bearing 4 per cent interest tree of taxation, with coupons attach ed. reimbursable in 20 years, under the 1 , sth sec tion of the law already referred to, atter consulta tion with a number of the most experienced com mercial men of the State, we deemed it our duty to send an agent to Europe, where most of the five per cent. bonds are held, to prom te, as far as pos sible, the desired end. Accordin. y, we assigned tO Col: John J. ArCahen, of Phil a elphia, the pei-- formance of this duty. This gentleman immediate ly repaired to London, and subsequently to Paris, and elevated himself; for some weeks to the objects of his mission with untiring zeal and Yehilst it is true we claim for his efforts the credit of no definite result, we are nevertheless decidedly of the opinion, that this mission has been of great service to the State. His minute knowledge dale whole history of the financial difficulties of Penn sylvania, their cause and the remedies applied, en abled him to remove many unfounded prejudices which were cherished in the money circles of that country, against the integrity and honest ptirpoes of the descendants of Penn. Mr. M . Cahen thinks he could have effected a conversion of a large por tion of the loan at 4i per cent. but the officers of the government had no power under the law to al low a greater interest than 4 per cent. I respectfully recommend the passage of a law similar to that of the 4th of May 1852, authorizing the officers of the government to cancel the old five per cent. bonds by the creation of new oris, free of taxation, with coupons attached, bearing a less rate of interest or bonds bearing 5 per cent. on which not less than 5i per cent. of a cash premium shall be paid. The State can, in this way, I believe, con fidently, save a large amount of money, and finally cancel all her present bonds, and be clear of the trouble and expense of keeping loan books and trans ferring her stocks. This consideration alone is a most desirable end, and would go far towards com pensating for all the labor and trouble of renewing the bonds, for periods of five, ten and twenty-five years. The financial operations of the year, including the North Branch loan of $850,000, I am greatly gratified to discover, has left but little additional burthen upon the Treasury. The interest on this loan will amount to $41,500, annually. Deducting froM this the sum of $20,436 02, the yearly saving secured by the cancellation of our six per cent. lebts, and we have a balance of interest on the North Branch loan to pros ide for a $21,063 38.- I'he receipts to the Sinking Fund from ordinary sources, up to the close or-the fiscal year, amounted to $221,403 74, which when added to the premi ums received on the live million loan, and the tax from the Penns lvania railroad company, make a total of 377,298 40, the interest on which, at 5 per cent. will make an annual saving of $18,864 02, and thus, together with the interest saved by the five million loan, as above stated, will entirely ex haust the whole amount of the interest on the North Branch loan, less $2,104 46. It is propor to remark, in this connection, that a considerable portion of the Stale stock purchased for the Sinking Fund, was not delivered at the State Treasury until after the close of the financial year, and hence this investment is not stated in the report of ,the Auditor General. The receipts from the public works for the fiscal year of 1652. as appears in the report of the Canal Commissioners, amounted to the sum of $1,606,- 511 42, and the ordinary expenditures for the same period, to the sum of $1,020,341 23, leaving a net revenue to the State of $567,470 19. This result, when compared with that of the last and precedifig year, presents a somewhat flattering picture. It Must be remembered, however, that we have had a most fortunate season. The general prosperity of the State has tended to swell the amount r.f ton nage, whilst no interruptions of business or injury to the works have resulted 11*mi fire or floods It might, perhaps, in view of these things, and the energetic competition which has grown up around as, be unsafe to anticipate any increase on this net income for any year hereafter, until the North Branch canal and the Portage railroad shall have been completed. Pressed on all sides by rivals of vast power, the necessity for an economical, energetic and skillful management 01 the public works is made manifest. The utmost vigilance to prevent interruptions by breaks, the greatest skill to regulate the rate of tolls. :and other details, so as to secure an increased i amount of tonnage, and the prompt abolition of every unnecessary otficb or other cause of expend i .ture, is demanded by the exigencies which surround The law passed at the last session, forbidding the creation of debts by the officers on the public works; requiring the payment of cash for all la bor and materials, and monthly returns of all re ceipts and expendithres, has already and will con tinue to exercise a salutary influence. As a con sequence, the expenditures will be much decreased, and the receipts transmitted to the Treasury with the greater promptitude. The administration of this law, however, I regret to say, has not been as efficient as it should be hereafter. It , table was owing, to some extent, to a deficiency in the appro priations and to other difficulties incident to the in troduction of a new system of business. This and other reforms so wisely commenced Within a short period, with such additional retrenchments as ex perience may have shown to be practicable, will doubtless be rigidly carried out in future, by the of ficers controling that branch of the public affairs. The net increase of profits on the Columbia road for this year over the profits of she last, is but lit tle short of one hundred thousand dollars, whilst the net losses on the entire operations on the Por tage road have exceeded that sum. The direct, un avoidable and incidental expenditures on this latter road, must necessarily be very heavy. Whether it be practicible to arrest this monstrous demand upon the Treasury, by any other means than the avoid ance of the planes, is a question I am not prepared to answer, for I have not looked into the details of the subject. Certainly a more honest and devoted public servant could not be found than the gentle- "TRIP COUNTRY IS TILE MOST PROSPEROUS, WIIERE LABOR COMMANDS THE GREATEST REWED."—Buthanan. CITY OF LANCASTER, TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 1853, man who superintended the operations of this work for the last year. Both he and the Canal Commis. sinners concur in the opinion, that this growing ex penditure is owing to the increased business and dilapidated condition of the road. The avoidance of these planes—the completion of the North Branch Canal, and the relaying of the north track of the Colum:da railroad, are subjects which will.claim your early attention. These mea sures were all in progress when I came into office. In a special message to the last Legislature, I de clared the opinion, that they were necessary to the public welfare, and should be speedily consummat ed. I still entertain these views. Should the General Assembly adopt this policy will i be for them to provide the means to sustain he 'El'easury under this increased demand upon its resourses. In another part of this communication, I have given you my views touching it , future con dition. No permanent loans, it seems to me, should hereafter be made for any purpose whatever; nor :hoidd the Sinking Fund be diverted from its legit mate ends. The General Assembly may, hm.vev m, in view of the pressing necessity for the imme kale completion of these improvements, deem it wise, to authorize the anticipation of the surplus which may accrue in the Treasury for one or two years. When the foregoing schemes shall be com• pleted, the government, in my opinion, should abandon entirely the policy of constructing im provements of this character. The circum stances which made it right and wise for the State to participate in such work, have passed away. Grand avenues have been constructed through nearly all parts of the State, whilst individual capital has increased, and is rapidly occupying every'feasible scheme of the kind With my present imprpssions, I shall, under all circumstances, resist the commencement of any new projects of this character. An unpleasant misunderstanding has existed for some time between the Board of Canal Commissioners and the Pennsylvania railroad company. The points in the controversy have been passed upon by the highest judicial tri bunal in the State, and the decision on each made known to the public. The management of the public works is an independent branch of the public service, and has been confided to the care of agents selected by the people. It might seem unbecoming, therefore, in an officer of this department of the government to discuss the action of the highly competent gentlemen who at present discharge the troublesome duties appertaining to the office of Canal Commissioner; nor can • _ any good result kont a discussion of the policy which has heretofore governed the Pearisyl- vunia railroad company. As a citizen, and as a public officer, I have ever felt a deep interest in the success of the great enterprise commenced by this company, and have inclined to facilitate its objects so far as they may be consistent with the interest of the State. This corporation should be allowed to enjoy its legitimate rights without being permitted to infringe those of the State. It is cause of regret that feelings should have been excited, calculated to lead to au unneces sary rivalry between the main line of the State improvements and the Pennsylvania rail road. These avenues of communication be tween the east and west should be acute to move in harmony, so far as that may be prac ticable. They will doubtless be competitors for certain kinds of tonnage, but in the main. under proper regulations, the conflict could not be very injurious to either. The railroad, with a single track, cannot have the capacity to transport more than one-half the tonnage destined front tire west to the east, nor is the State line adapted to that branch of business most desired by the railroad. I can see no reason why one of these great improvements should be so controled as to destroy the other. In all their elements, their objects and conse quences, they are both eminently Pennsylva nian, and should, it seems to me, be so con troled as to promote the trade, commerce and general prosperity of the State. The interest which the State has in the re• ceipts from this branch of her improvements should be guarded with jealous care; in doing this, however, we should not forget that this is not the only interest involved—than those of trade and commerce, are quite no important for the people. A policy looking exclusively to the former of these considerathms, might measurably destroy both interests. We can have no income for the coffers of the govern ment without trade or tonnage. We may have the latter without the former. - Our efforts should be to secure both. If the force of com petition from foreign rivals should defeat us in this, we should then yield much of the revenue to save the trade, rather titan lose both. I ant not inclined to excite alarm in reference to the success of the State line. I believe that it will continue, under the worst circumstances anti. cipated , to receive a fair share of the through' and local tonnage. What is most to be desired is, that the facilities possessed by those great artificial highways shall be united, as far as possible, to counteract the influence of their rivals outside of the State. The exercise of a wise discretion, such at should, and doubtless will, govern the action of those intrusted with the control of this subject, may, it is hoped, lead to the attainment of this desirable end. There are still in circulation about six hun dred thousand dollars of the relief issues, a considerable portion of which have become so defaced and ragged as to render their future use almost impracticable About 5250.000 of the old notes were cancelled at the Treasury during the past year, under the provisions of the act of the 16th April, 1840, end a like amount of new notes issued by certain banks, for which the State paid these institutions two per cent. The efficiency of the law of 1850, prohibiting the circulation of the small issues of other States, has been greatly weakened by the continued use of the relief issues under the denomination of five dollars. The presence of these notes familiarizes the people to the use of small paper, and prevents the circulation of coin; Whilst the officers of the law, in many instances, make this a pretext to evade the duty of scrutinizing this currency. The law of 1850 never will, I fear, be thoroughly vindicated so long as this depreciated paper is permitted to supply the channels of circulation. To remedy this evil,three modes have suggested themselves to my mind. The first is—to allow all holders of these notes to convert them into State bonds, bearing a rate of interest not exceeding four per cent., in sums of not less than one thousand dollars. The second is—to apply the means of the Sinking Fund to their cancellation. These notes are as much a debt against the State as are her bonds, and it would be the legitimate work of this fundr to take them out of exist ence. The third is—to apply to this purpose,all the premiums that may be Deceived from a far ther conversion of the present debt into new coupon bonds, as suggested in Author part of this communication Should the latter idea meet your approbation, the Sinking Fund can be made the instrument of performing the prac tical work of cancellation, By the adoption of this policy, this illegitimate currency would be removed from the channels of circulation with out entrenching upon the present means of the Treasury, or imposing new burthens on the people With the necessary legislation, I con fidently, believe that this end can be accom plishedk I hope, therefore, most sincerely, that the General \Assembly, .in the exercise of its wis dom, may devise :some mode of bringing about a speedy cancellation of these notes. Toe currency of the State generally, seems to be iu a sound condition, and to be sufficient in the aggregate amount, t.t.• answer the ends of trade and commerce. Au increase of paper circulation, at this time, would, in my opinion, be unwise policy. Indeed the fact cannot be disguised, that to a considerable extent the present upward tendency in the prices of goods and property, is the consequence of the abun dance of money. This advance in nominal val ues is rapidly approaching an unnatural eleva tion and should excite jealousy rather than confidence. The indications that we are on the eve of a dangerous inflation of prices and an artificial expansion in commercial and other business affairs, are too clear, it seems to me, to be misunderstood. This tendency should not be stimulated by an increase of paper money.. It is the part of wisdom to restrain, rather than heighten this excitement. To the influence of the unparalleled amount of gold furnished to the world by the mines of Cali fornia and Australia, during the last year, may undoubtedly be attributed, in' no inconsidera- ble degree, the production of this state of nom inal values. The careless observer may regard this result as a real advance in the valte of goods and property, when in fact, it is only a cheapening of the standard by which these things are measured. Like all other commo dities. money will depreciate so soon as an ex- cess of it be placed in the market. A common effort, it seems to me, might be wisely made, throughout our vast country to prepare the channels of circulation for this great increase of coin. Bank notes of a less denomination than five dollars, now occupying a large space in these channels, should be forced to give way for the precious metals.— Pennsylvania, I am confident, will most cheer fully, now and hereafter, perform her share of this great work ; and I hope to witness, at no remote period, a general movement of, all the States on this subject—first to remove from circulation all notes under five dollars and nest the fives also. I am fully aware, that in declaring this sen timent I am encountering a strong adverse feel ing, nor am I insensible to the difficulties which would surround its practical adoption ; but, entertaining the conscious belief,ns I do, that it is the true policy of our country, as re dar s her commercial rivalry with other 4" ,, . nations, 1 should be unworthy of your respect, or of the confidence of the people, if I did not so declare The dissemination of the precious metals to points remote from our commercial emporium, shoal i be facilitated by every proper means.— Such distribution cannot be tully accomplished, so long as the 'channels of circulation are sup plied with small paper issues. Every merchant should endeavor to draw coin into the interior of the country • not only because it is the best currency for the use of the people, but because of the great protection it affords against the consequences of commercial revulsions. When these come, and the banks at the seaboard close, and country paper depreciates, the mer chant can then fall back on this coin for relief. Bat if we desire to have the precious metals amongst us we must make room for them -- Both will not circulate at the same time, in the - - same channels. There is, perhaps, no principal in political economy more completely settled, than that, which dem)nstrates that two kinds of currency, differing in value, cannot circulate at the same time The less valuable of the two will be constantly on the surface and obtrud ing itself upon the use of the public, whilst the more precious article will retire to quiet vaults. The efforts of a single State, however, it must be apparent, can do but little in this great reform. To be complete, it must be the work of the whole country. Forced vacuums in the channels of paper circulation in one State, are reaoily supplied by the issues of another and thus the effort to introduce coin is defeated. No tith er feature in the policy of our country, I sin cerely believe, so deeply concerns all our great interests as this great subject of the currency.— Lt vin will the manufacturer rely on the tariff laws for Protection against foreign competition, so long as the nominal valuer are greatly inflated by an excessive issue of paper money. All his theorizing ()bout specific ditties and home valua tions will avail him nothing, if the upward ten dency or prices out runs the rate of duty. The paralyzing effect, of an inflated currency upon all our Stale and'national interests when closely pressed by foreign competition cannot be con coaled. "It virtually opens our ports to invite such rivalry against all these pursuits; and no rate of tariff that the wisdom of Congress ran devise. wit hitt any reasonable limit, can counteract its influences. It greatly enhances the nominal prices of goods and commodities in this, above what they will bear in other countries, whilst at the same time, it retards rather than facilitates their production. It thu's gives the foreign pro ducer the opportunity of manufacturing at the low rates of his own country, and selling at the inflated prices of ours ; for he receives his pay, not in our depreciated paper but to gold and silver. It is this State of the currency more than any other feature in the policy of this country, that en bles the foreign manufacturer to complete with, if not to underuell the American producer in our own markets." Special legislation to create corporations has usually occupied much of the time of the Gen eral Assembly. This business will doubtless be pressed upon your consideration (luring the coming session. It is right and proper, there fore, that I should declare to you fully and frankly my views touching this whole subject. These artificial bodies are created by ex tending to an association of individuals powers and privileges not enjoyed by the mass of the people under the general laws of the State. One important class of these seems to result from the public necessity and to have no ob ject but the promotion of public convenience Another, however, seems to look solely to the palpate gain of the parties interested. Among the former may be classed corporations to fa cilitate the the construction of•roads, bridges, canals, railways, &c , the direct tendency of which is to promote the comfort and prosperity of the people generally. To accomplish these ends, the association of capital under corporate powers, imposing only a limited liability on the corporators, may be wisely encouraged. In reference to such, the policy of the State seems to be well settled. In the latter class may be placed all kinds of corporations to pro• mote the ends of individual gain, as connected with the ordinary business enterprises of the country. With regard to such, the legislation of the Commonwealth has been extremely un• certain. I entertain the opinion that, as a general rule, corporations of this character are not es sential to the public weal—that whatever legis lation may seem necessary to facilitate the busi ness of mining and manufacturing, and the vari ous other pursuits for which corporated powers are usually sought, should, as far as possible, be general in its character and be available alike to all. There is, it seems tome, no evidence to be found in. the history df our Commonwealth, or in that of any other State, that these great in terests are more successfully managed by spec ial corporations than by individuals or associa tions under general laws. Whilst in the experi ence of all, it is made very apparent that indi vidual efforts and experiments arc much less liable to entail injury.upon society at large. That energy,independence, integrity and purity which usually characterizes individual operations, are not, as a general rule. so well maintained in the efforts of artificial bodies. Ambition, pride and responsibility, the great incentives to action, seem, to some extent, to lose their proper influ ence over individuals thus associated together. Carelessness, inefficiency and, prodigality are too often the fruits of a light interest and limit ed responsibility on the part of these entrusted with the management of incorporated com panies. But why should these special privileges be de sired? Are they intended to shield the par ties interested from the full force of the loss where an enterprise may prove unsuccessful ? If so, how shall we grant such great advantages to one citizen, and deny them to another?— Equality of rights is all is an elementary princi ple of our government. If, therefore, for nffit mg, manufacturing and other pursuits, corporate pc,wets are to be granted. how shall the Legis• laturtilluse similar privileges to the farmer, the miller, the hatter and the shoemaker? If one class of citizens are to have the opportunity 01 experimenting in their chosen business, on only a limited liability for the losses, all can claim a like advantage. We should thus be led step by step in the creation of these artificial bodies, un ul'the field of personal enterprise would be oc cupied by privileged classes—individual enter prise be completely prostrated beneath the pow er of concentrated wealth and special privileges. and the relative position of the people rendered less equal than before this system was commen ced. We must notice, in addition, the palpable injustice of its practical operations as compared with those of the individual citizen. A corps , ration is organized on the principle of a limited liability of the stockholders—its business is un wisely chosen, or unskilfully managed, and it results in failure and loss. The stockholders, in such case, lose the amount they may have paid in, and the remainder of the loss falls upon innocent parties, who. misled by its great nomi nal capital have become the creditors of the in stimtion. An individual engaged in a similar enterprise, meets a like fate, and the last item of his personal estate is sacrificed to pay the debts he has thus incurred. But it is said that capitalists will not invest their money in hazardous enterprises, if requi red to bear more than a limited liability. I am confident that you will agree with me. that this reasoning in favor of special privileges has no foundation in correct principle, and is not, there fore, entitled to favorable consideration. In a mere business point of view, the position is not a sound one. If a given etiterprize be hazardous it is the less liable to competition, and the more lucrative, if successful. But if it be a dangerous business, and therefore, likely to result unprofit ably; upon whom should the loss fall? Certainly it will not be contended that it should 'be thrown upon innocent parties who have had no agency in the business. It is surely more just and reasonable that those who are lo receive the profits should bear t he loss es—that those who enjoy ;the privileges • should incur the responsibilities. The Constitution never intended to sustain any other policy. It never contemplated acts of legislation to advance one man's interest at the expense of another's. Nor am I at all convinced that capitalists would not invest their means under the individual lia bility principle. It is but a short period since it. was extensively believed that banking capital could not be concentrated, if the stockholders were made liable in their individual estates for debts of the bank. A short experience has dis pelled this doubt and served to demonstrate the wisdom and justice of this,policy. So it would he, I am confident, if this principle were ex tended to all corporations designed to facilitate the endi of prjvate gain. ' Capitalists who might be apprehensive that their private estates would' become involved for the current debts of the corporation, can employ the simple and easy remedy of making no such debts. Let the contraction of a debt be forbidden by the laws of the institution. Let their business be transacted on the cash system. By this policy they will give the greater efficiency to their operations and escape the dreaded liability.— Besides, it does not seem reasonable that special legislation for the ostensible purpose of concen trating capital, should at the same time look to the.creation of large debts., If the incorporation of this principle should do no more than lead to the a loption of the cash syStem, it would be the means of profit to the corporators and great good to the public. If there be enterprises legitimate and useful to complicated in their operations as not to, come within the reach of 'general laws, and it should be deemed proper to extend to such the convenience of a corporated seal, such corpor ation should always be limited to a moderate existence and be accompanied by the principles of individual liability for all the debts of the association. The convenience of special legal organization is all the advantage that any as sociation of individuals should ask, and it is certainly all that any proper enterprise can need. The salutary effect of this policy would doubtless be, that whilst it could not restrain the 'association of capital for wise and legiti mate ends, it would aave.the Legislature the labor of considering unwise and visionary scheme-, and the public ,from their injurious consequences. , In a .nessageto the General Asserublydur tag its lust session. I took occasion to refer to the growing inclination,for special legislation, and recommended the adoption of some mea- . sures to remedy the evil. A resolution was passed by that body authorizing the Governor to appoint three comtnissionerS to prepare gen eral laws for the consideration of the Legisla ture, touching various subjects therein named Accordingly, iu June laSt. I appointed Hort Jaws Porter, Edward A. Penniman, and J Eliis Bonham, Esquires., commissioners under said resolution. ' These gentlemen have for some time been de voting themselves to the performance ,of thn du ties thus devolved upon :them.. The result of their labors shall be communicated to you at an early period of your session. The evils of special legislation seems to have been a subject of complaint in the early history of the State In the preamble to the law of 1791, intended ' obviate the necessity for spe cial or private legislation, this complaint is freely expres§ea. The volume of laws for that year numbered fifty-nine pages of a small book —in .1851, they count eleven hundred of a large one. This evil was then in its infancy— th s now full grown and should be corrected. This, in my opinion, can only be dode by t e adoption of a few more general laws. and the rigid administration of 'those already in ex istence ; I deem it right to say that I shall re gard the maintenance of this policy as a high obligation to lie people The law of 1791, and its several supplements snake provision for the; creation and amend ment of corporations for literary ,e charitable. and religions purposes, and tti create benefici ary societies, and fire engine's and hose corn• panics, through the idstrumentality of the Attorney General and the Supreme Court. The act of 13th of October, 1829, extended this power to the several 'courts of the several counties. The acts ofllB3o and 1838 make provision for the assodiation of individuals, through the ins'rumentality of the Attorney General anti the Governor, for the purpose of manufacturing iron from mineral coat In ad dition to these acts the general manufacturing law of 1849, and its Supplements, provide for the purpose of manufacturing woollen, cotton, flax, and silk goods, or for matting iron, glass, salt, paper, lumber, oil front rosin, mineral paints, artificial slate; and for printing and publishing. The commissioners already named have re• . commended the extension of this law to the business of mining coati and to the mining and smelting of iron, lead; copper, and other ores, and so to alter its provisions as to render the liability. of the stockholders more extensive.— They also recommend thy passage of it law giv ing the courts more general powers on the subject of selling real estate by parties acting in a representative capacity, and another re• ferring all claims against the Commonwealth to the courts. These things done, and a more general administratiorfof the law giving the courts the power to change names, to erect boroughs, to incorporate bridge and road com panies secured, and we shall have a new era in tkeoe:gislation of Penhsylvania—shall save a la amount of money, annually, and prevent many impositions in the shape of hasty legis lation, based on ex-parte statements. These commissioners have also prepared with great core, a general tax law, simplifying the lows as they now !stand—extending their provisions to certain new subjects of taxation, and altering its leatures so as the more com pletely to reach motleys at interest and other personal propetty. This is a most intricate. and important subject, and. should be handled with the utmost care. I have not had the opportu nity -ufficient ly to examine this proposed law, to give an opinion as to its merits ; but I am clearly of opinion thatithe e iv much room to improve the tax system now in operation. The subject of agrieulture has not, it seems to me, received that attention in t his Ste' e which its exceeding importance would seem to justity. It was the truthful remark of George Washington, that there is "no pursuit in which more real or important good can be rendered to a country, than by the improvement of its agriculture." The art of tilling the soil in such manner as to secure the largest yield of vegeta ble matter of which it is capable, ane the appli cation of the p inciples of science to that• of art, so far as indispensable to the attainment of this end, is a topic worthy of the attention of the beSt minds of tile State. Agriculture is the pri mitive, as it is the most necessary occupation of man. It was at the beginning of his exist ence, and is at the fOundation of all his pur suits. In this Commonwealth, it is peculiarly adap.ed t o the soil, to the climate, and to the habits of the people. and constitutes their grea test source of weath and happiness. It is the agriculturist who pays the largest share of the country's taxes i n time of peace, and furnish. a -the greatest number offer soldiers in time of war. It is the most steady, peaceful, and dig nified, as it is the least ex,cting d all our great inte ate.' But it is said by .many good citizens that there is no utility in the application of the teachings of science to the practice of rigricul lure. This. in my opinion, is an erroneous idea In a late report front flue Patent office at Wash ington, it is estimated that •'one thousand mil lions of dollars would not more than restore to their original richness and strength the one hundred millions at acres of land in the United States, which have already been exhausted of their original fertiliti." A proper application of science would arrest this waste of the ele ments of the soil. In Europe, this process of exhafistion has lorg since excited alarm. What it is doing in our country, is shown by the startling facts already presented. To counter act its edema in tile former ccuntry, about three hundred and fifty agricultural schools have been established; in the latter, there are not a dozen. The result of the European schools has demonstrated the practical utility of scien• tific farming. These institutions are calculated 'to teach the art et tilling the soil, and to disse. minate 'a scientific knowledge of this great pur suit. To place within the reach of the agricul turalist, a knowledge of the constituent ele ments of the soil, and the influence of these up on vegetation, enabling him to discover a defi ciency in any one of these original parts, and showing him how to restore it without exhaus ting anothor— to learn him to comprehend the different stimulants for the soil, of mineral, ve getable, animal or liquid origin, and the pro portion of each which the lands may from time to time require. They also teach methods of practical farming—the use of implements—the nature of seeds, and the origin and character of insects destructive to vegetation. What farm er in Pennsylvania can say that he has never made a mistake in the use of manures, or that his crops have never beon injured by destruc tive insec,sl And where Is there one who would not be willing to contribute something to be protected against such damage in future 1 But is it not astonishing, that in this progres sive country of ours, so suited to agriculture, and in this age of scientific discoveries and per- fection in all the arts, that no institutions to impart instruction in the science of agriculture have been established. It is true, that societies have been forreed in a number of the States and exhibitions have been held calculated to a- waken the people to t he importance of this sub ject. Our State Society, organized about two years since, has held two exhibitions, which have done much good in the way of sending to all parts of the State the best breed of domest ic animals, the best grains and seeds, and the most approved agricultural machinery. But it seems to me, that the government might just ly lend her aid and countenance to this good work. In Maryland, an agricultural chemist has been employed by the State, and I am in formed that the result of his investigations have been highly satisfactory and useful to the peo ple. Cannot the great State of Pennsylvania do as much for her farmers 7 She has expend ed a large sum in the development of her min eral resources, and has cherished her manufac turers by every proper means, and it is right that she should now do aomething for her agri culturists, I, therefore, respectfully recom mend the'appointment of an agricultural chem ist. with a moderate salary, leaving the details of his duties to be suggested by the State and county societies. The subject ()I - growing wool. in our State, is worthy ()Especial attention. I had the pleas ure, at the late State fair, a short time since, of examining an extensive card of specimens of this article exhibited by Peter A. Browne, Esq. of Philadelphia. It is said to be the most ex tensive, interesting and instructiv; col (action of specimens in the UM ted States, or perhaps in the world. NO Irian can examine it and not feel himself edified by the great practical truths which it is calculated to impart. It demons. trates most conclusively that our Common wealth is- peculiarly adapted to the production of this amid... and that in the United States we can raise as fine fleeces as can be produced in the world; and finer than in any other country except Saxony. It appears by the census of 1850. that Penn sylvania has only ',822,350 sheep—that Onio with a much less territory has 1,967,000—that New York has 3,454 351, and that whilst our consumption of wool in manufactures for 1850 was 7,560,379 lbs., our production was nly 4,- 48.1,570. France raises thirty-six millions of sheep, and England with less than half the ad vantages of this country raises forty-six. mil lions!! This spbject is one deserving the attention of the people and the government. I cannot refrain from congratulating you on the eviddnces of the great prosperity of Penn sylvania to be totted in the census report of 1850. Her relative position to her sister States is truly a r proud one. Of the four large States her per ce . ninge of increase in population, since 1840, is the greutest, and she has, besides ex celled the best of her sisters, in the production of wheat,, : rye, iron, and coal. Her pobulation numbers 2,3'11.786, being an increase of almost 33 per cent, since 1840. According to this ratio of erswili her people' in 1870 will number !tear 4.000,000. Our debt of forty millions is. at this time a charge on each inhabitant'of a little over eighteen dollars ; in 1870, accordion to this datum, it will but little ex eed ten. The present• assessed value of real and personal este e is 6497,039,649, show. tug an increase of eighteen per cent, since 1840, and according to this ratio of growth up to 1870, it will amount to the sum of 8675,973, 922. The debt of forty millions was a lien of 8 per cent. on the assessable properly of 1840 ; on that of 1870 it will be only five per cent. and eight mills. But in the census report of 1850 the true value of the property of the State is estimated at 3722,486,120 . ; on this sum our present debt is but a fraction over 51 per cent. Who can doubt the solvency of such a debtor 7 Her productions 01 wheat in 1840 was 13-, 213,077 bushels. In 1850, 15 482,191, being an increase of 17 per cent., at which rate her yield for .1870 will exceed twenty millions of hu,hels. • The same rate of increase is appar ent in rye, corn, oats, barley, buckwheat and live stock. The census of .1845 shcws a pro• duction for that year of 98.395 tons of pig met al—that of 1850, is 285.702', or an increase of 190 per cent. At this rate the yield of 1:70 would he 1,371.370 tons. Wrought iron in 1840 amounted to 87,244 tons—in 1850 it is 182,506. tons. On this datum the production of 1970 would he 590,369 tons. Our woollen nia• nufactures for 1840 were valued at 2,319,161 dollars, and for 1850 at $5.321,866, showing a gain in -ten years 0'129 per cent., and the en ormous yield of 1870 of 813,738,404. In cot ton goods the increase has been about 6 per cent., which ratio of growth up to 1870 would show a production of about six millions of dollars. The whole amount of anthracite coal mined and taken to market in 1640 was 867,000 tons. In 1852 the product will reach near five mil lions of tons, being an incroase in twelve years of 600 per cent. This rate of augmentation bp. to 1870 would give the startling production of over forty•five millions of tons, and yielding at the present Philadelphia prices, the sum of one hundred and eighty millions of dollars, be ing more thaft treble the present revenues of the whole United Slates! This is a most gratifying picture, and goes far to prove what I have for some tim , ) believ• cd, that before the close of the present centu ry Pennsylvania, in point of wealth and real greatness, will stand in advance of all her Sis ter States. 'lucre are yet a few public enterprises to be consuranated to render her triu nph complete. The North Branch canal must be finished The Allegheny mountains must be passed without the use of inclined planes, and our metropolis must be connected With the lakes, by , eans of a railroad. T'te trade of the State is only second in im portance to her agricultural and mineral Wealth. Nature has assigned to Pen.nsy vania a most advantageous position for external trade. Con nected with tre Atlantic, the lakes and the western . waters, and extending on both sides of the Alleghenies. she forms the great link be tween•the East and the West. The only obsta cle ti, an artificial Union of the great natural high ways by which she is environeu, is this inter posing chain of mountains, wh.ch cutting tra versely across our territory, divides the tribu tary waters of the Ohio . and th hikes trom those . orthe Atlantic. But this mountainous range. we should rejoice to know, upon close exdminhtion, is found to present no insepera. Ole impediment.' It is to be crpssed, within a short period by two railroads of reasonable gradients. The \Vest will then communicate Stith rite E .st without interruption front these mountain barriers. . But the railroad to Pittsburg should not fin ish our' internal • onnections. In addi ion the railroads up the valleys 01 the,Stisquehan na and the S c hujikiti, now in progress of rap id construction, the best interests of Pennsy I vanil'require a railway to Erie. We need the shortest and best line of communication be tween the lakes and the Atlantic at Philadel phia. The considerations in favor of such an improvement are too numerous to be given in this document. The advantage which it would possess' in distance—in light grades—in urn lormity of guage, when tested by the laws or trade, renders its superiority over any other avenue which sow exists or that can hereafter be constructed between the Atlantic and the lakes, a fixed fact. The harbor at Erie is re garded' by competent engineers as the best on the lakes, and from no otherpoint can so short a line be made to the seaboard. Such a medi um of communication would he of ineatimable value to Erie, to the intermediate country and to our State metropolis Our citizens, by neg lecting or deferring the construction the work, may subject themselves to the charge of slighting the beneficence of nature in not co. operating with her great designs. The trade of the West, and the lakes, may by this means be secured to Philadelphia. No time, however, should be lost in the construc tion of this great highway. Delay may lessen the chances of success, whilst it will certainly afford opportunity to our rivals to form and ce ment business connections which may not be readily severed in the future. Nor are we to look at these internal advantages alone. No thing crn'do moie to augment the foreign trade of Philadelphia, than a direct avenue to the lakes. Her growing commerce would invite the construction of steamers to convey direct ly to her own port the merchandize wh ch she would then be called upon to supply to the boundless West. Great as are her natural ad vantages, no observing man can fail to see, that deprived of the sustaining arm of foreign commerce, she cannot attain to that distit•- guished position, as a mart, which nature in tended she should occupy. The right to construct a railroad from Erie to the Ohio state line, parallel with the lake; has been a subject of controversy in the Leg islature for some years. The Franklin canal company claimed to have obtained from the State the privilege to construct a railroad on this route, and have proceeded to construct it accordingly. 'flue authority of this company to do so has been doubted, and the Attorney General has filed a bill praying for an injunc tion to restrain the construction and use of said road. Su long as this question is pending be fore the highest judicial tribunal of the State, it would be unbecoming in an officer of any other branch of the Government to express an opinion touching the question at issue. I may; however, it seems to me, with propriety sag. gest, that should the decision of the court nm confirm the entire rights claimed by the I'ren• kiln canal company, the Legislature shoUld take such action as will bring this valuable privilege completely within the control of the State. and so far as may be. without the exer cise of an illiberal or contracted principle, ren der this important link between the seaboard and the great West, subservient to the inter ests of the people of Pennsylvania. Amongst the multitudinous obligations res ting on the Government. there is none more binding or sacred than that which looks to the education and moral welfare of the people.— These great considerations will doubtless re ceive your nnxious care. You will find in the very able and comprehensive report of the Su perintendent of Common Schools, many inter esting and useful suggestions in reference to the present condition of our common school system. and the cause of education generally; to all of which I most respectfully ask your early . attemion. I am deeply sensible to the correctness and propriety of the remarks of that officer on the subject of teachers fur the common schools. It is the greatest all the difficulties surrounding the system, and I moat earnestly entreat you, it it be practicable, in the exercise of your wisdom, to adopt some mode of supplying this.deficiency. There are many other defects which will claim your consideration, tint this is of pre-eminent im portance. The general law should be made plain and simple, so that the mos. ordinal y mind could administer its provisions; us it us, the questions and decisions touching the meaning of the law, have become more vulutninoua than the law itself. For inforniot ion in reference to the military affairs of the Stale, I respectfully refer you to the able and highly intcresti•g report of the Adjuvant General. I regret to learn, as I ha. e done by this document_ that this breech oh the public service is not in n very flourishing condition. The report contains many highly importune suggestions and tecomthendatioes, some of which are so obviously correct that they cannot fail to receive your tavurable con suleiation. • In conformit ywithuf a resolution of the General Assembly, passed on ihe 24th day of February last Albert G. I.Vaterman, Esq., of Philadel phia, and tn) self, attended a convention of del egate- from the thirteen original States, at In dependence Hall, In Phil.tdelphoi. convened on the fourth day of July las , for the purpose of taking into consideration We subject of erecting a monument in Ind pendency Square, to commemorate the event of the Declaration of Independence. Delegates were in atten dance from thy Slates of .Slessachuseits, Con necticut. Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, G. orgia, and, Pennsylvania. 'I he subject wan favorably re garded by the convention and an able address to the people of the thirteen original States was prepared and signed by the delegates, presenting a comprehensive view of the con n'derution in favor of ibis most noble design, and suggesting a practical mode of carrying it into execution. A copy of this address, to. gather with all the other proceedings of the Convention, I shall cause to be communicated to both branches of the Legislature. It would be difficult to conceive a more in teresting idea or one so congenial to the feel ings of the people, or inure consistent with a just spirit of national pride, than fhe commem• oration by sonic visible and imperishable sign, of the great event that distinguished the dawn of American freedom. 'Flue propriety of this design will not, I ant sure, be doubted by the Legtslature or the people, and I shall not, therefore, trouble you with any further eugges• 'ions in its favor. It is proposed to raise the means to construct the monument from the States in their soverign capacities, and to make no expenditures until the whole amount of nutney shall have been secured. According to the estimates of the committee appointed by the Convention on that subject, Pennsylvania's share of this ex• penditure would amount to between fifteen and I twenty thousand dollars. I respectfully recommend the adoption of such measures as will indicate the willingness of this State to do her part, whenever her Big ler States shall have given a nirnilar intimation, and to take such other preliminary steps as may seem proper and right. 1 desire to call your attention to the condi tion of the public grounds surrounding the State Arsenal. It has occurrea to me that fins eligible spot should be enclosed with a good fence, be planted with shade trees and otherwise improved. As at present ezpoe'd it makes rather a barren and t heerleas space between the town and the capitol. If proper. ty enclosed and beautified, it will add much to the appearance of both. A due respect for the memory of the generous donor of this valuable piece of ground, not less than a just regard trir the appearance of the seat of government, would seem to require its proper improvement. 1 respectfully commend this subject to your favorable consideration. Recent difficulties in a neighboring State have suggested the existence at a deficiency in our State laws, in reference to the conveyance of persons nerd to involuntary servitude, from one slate to another. The Pennsylvania stat ute of 1780 gave all persons passing through or sojour tug in the State for a brief period the right to hold their domestic slaves. The act of 1e47 repealed this provision, and the repealing section at last session did not reinstate a. 1, therefore,respecttuily recommend ihat.proviston be made tor the transit of these domestics ihro' the Itmiter el this Commonwealth. Such a [eel; seems to be contemplated by the Consti tell.t of the U toted' States, and to be suggest ed by those rules at comity whicd shouts exist between the States—by tile public peace and by ihdtvtdual convenience.= It has usually been the custom to delay the passage of the appropriation bill until !tear the close 01 the session. Sly predecessor recom• mended a chanse in this in winch re. commendation 1 mo's't heartily concur. - 1 lie or dinary purp.tses of governor , at should be pro vided fur early in the session. It there he out er necessary appropriati .ns, they can be em braced in another bill and allowed to stand on their own merits. Having thus, gentlemen, given you as bri fly as possible my views tuuctiing none of the subjects which will claim your attention during the present session, permit me, in conchision, to assure you, that I shall must cheerfully co o erate with the General Assembly in the adoption of all measures calculated to promote the welfare of our beloved Commonwealth. WM. BIGLER.. EXECUTIvI CHAMBER, Harrisburg, Jan.. 5, 1853. WoMAN ' S RIGHT,. --It In now proposed that womem shall be taught the art of Housekeeping. There seems to be no good reason wny any le male, in this progressive age, should be ignorant of an ort with which our grandmothers were fa miliar. -Twenty boys were arrested 'or stealing on the leYee at St. Louis on the 16th, and lucked up. NO. 51.
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