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;AP):: , :ns3?
VOL. LIT.
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.'
To the lro'noiviblerthe'Sehhtors acid Mentbers of
the IlMise'of ReprOentatives of the Generas
Assembly:
Gazurr.eirew: 2 -a" beneficent Piovido,nce has
favored the people' of our Conainenwealtti with a
high degree Of health and'general pursperity' du
ring the year just closed, and with many other
'causes of pleasure, and gratitude. Humbly, ac-. a
,knoviledging these blessings,let us ask His di
vine direction in tho disiharge of our official ob-,
ligations. ,
It affords me unaffected delight to whicoirie
the Repiesentatives of the people to the seat of
governmeht, and rely for a time upon the aid of
their combined wisdom in the administration of
public affairs; as it is also s'lgrateful task toper
form the constitutional injunction that requires
the Executive to " communicate to the-General
Assemblyinforrnation of din State of the Com
monwealth," and make suctillsuggestions and re
commendations as the welfaio of the .people and
the exigencies of the times nay seem to demand;
and to the discharge of, thiri obligation I now
proceed.
The receipts of the treasuq6r. for the year 1853,
exclusive of loansf•and incluaing the actual hal,
once in the treasury on the est - day of December
1852, (being $671,037 72 amounted to the
sum of $5,952,474 47.
The payments for the sortie period, exclusive
of loans mid other extraordinary expenditures,
make a tdtal sum of $4,131048 47, being $l,-
818,92610-less than the reheipts. Of this ex
cess, $505,057 55 was paid :,to the Commission
ers of the Sinking Fund, and $589,000 towards
the payment of old debts and the construction of
new work on the North Brahch canaF and Port
age railroad, being part of the temporary loans
authorized by thh Act of thertnineteenth of April
last:. which, together with the balance in the
treasury applicable to the redhmption of outstand
ing loans, reduces the actualj balance on the first
day of December last, to the;' sum of about six
hundred 'and twenty five thOusand dollars, to be
used in the payment of the February interest.
The receipts for the year 4854, including the
balance in the treasury on the first of December,
1853, may, in my opiniondoe safely estimated
at $5,846,417 34.
The expenditures for the tame period, includ
ing $250,000 for the paynient of old debts on
the public works and $3OOOO for the sinking
fund, should not, and if pF i rer care he taken,
will not exceed the sum of ' ,500,000, leaving
a balance in the treasury on the first of Decem
ber, 1854, of $1,340,417 34. Deducting from
this $625,000, the amount :that should remain
in the treasury to meet the interest due February
I, 1855,.and we have a surEllus revenue of over
$700,000.
Ft is thus made apparent t
treasury will li'avo the abilit , during the coming
year, to redeem the entire aptount of the tempo
rary !bans now outstanding;land pay the, debts to
which,Lhave alreq,dy refer,O.d. 'But no addition
al, drafts - phould be made Ilion it, without pro
vision being first made fortheir .payment.
At this time of my indliction into office, thy
iabilities of the State were is followd, to wit:
Six percent. bonds, 81,314.023 SI
Five .4
do., do. 36,704.458 Cd
Four and one-half per sent. oorids, 1.084:00 tfo
Relief notes. per act of May 4, 3841. ft 0,1133 00
Certificates for unpaid lutenist* the pub
lie debt, fur the years 1843,'4-Maud 450vith
their accumulated interest,
Domestic creditors' •certificate 4,
Total liabilities, Dec. 1. 1851', 1, 540.154,457 48
Add loanhf April 0 . 1852, for thli oomph+,
tion of the North Branch canl,
1
q $4 1 ,004,457 18
•
IFrom which take the followi 9 6 Yculs :
lilA ul
Po the sinking fund, 541.409 Sl.:
lrwirest on
--- orits',g certificates, .50,752 91 '• 1
732.222 47
. . .
~.
Total amt. of funded debt at t
To meet this apparent increase of $117,777 53
of the public debt, it shouldlbe observed that, by
the cancellation of six persent. bonds, we haie
a ,saving-,of $20,000 ann4allk"to the treasury,
which is equivalent to a Ivirtual payment of
$400,000 of the five pert cant. bonds. The
amount thus saved will be a:jpermanent resource
without making any exacttpn from the peopki
and constitute a substantial;addition to the sc,•• -
ing fund. It will be a virtnal reduction ! the
public debt to the amount of $282,222
The floating liabilities aiid curre • emends
upon'the treasury, at the pe!iod I have indicated,
were. as follows :
Damages; balances on contract, and for
labor and materials on the ',Mille works
prior-to. January, 1852, and since paid,
as appears on the books of the Auditor
General,
Temporary loans,
Unpaid appropriations,
Total,
The floating liabilitles of tholCainuton
weak h, and current demandslupon the
treasury at this lime, are ,
Railroad and danal debts, V 2,7,734 00
Temporary loans, • 00,000 00
Unpaid appropriations, i 05.605 00
Difference between the two pnioda,
It will thus appear that the floating liabilities
are $17 . 7,661 15 less than ivhen I assumed the
duties of my present station. It should be re
marked that floating debt, as above stated, is no
new thing: It has alwayal existed to a greater
or less degree, but has not usually been exhibi
ted in this form. A balance of unpaid appro
priations is unavoidable, arid has not been so
small for many years, as atipresent.
During the years 1852 and 1853, follow
ing appropriations and pftyments been
made, towards the construction of n improve
ments : '
For re-laying the north track (if the Col-
umbia railroad, i
For the Muu3truction of a - neir road to
avoid the inclined planes on ~the Alle
gheny fnountains,
For the completion of the Wesitrn reser
v0ir,52,380 41
•
);or the North Branch canal, 1,000,000 00
For the hew locks on the Dela"are Qivieion, 80,000 00
From the foregoing figures it is apparent that
the operations of the treasury have exceeded our
most sanguine expectations,l yielding over a mil
lion of dollars annually aba4e the ordinary char
ges and expenses; and shoWing, that if no new
improvements had been in progress, two million;
at least, of. the public debt cyanid have been paid
during the last two years. lb addition to these
extranidinary eipenditures, there was paid out
of the treasuryduring said riod, in pursuance
l at,
of laws passed prior to 1852: for the State Lun
atic Asylum, $70,700 ; for the publication of the
Pennsylvania Archives anil Colonial Records,
$23,16352; for the ,improvement of. the State
penitentiaries, $35,000; fol the publication of
Professor Roger? Geological Survey, $16,000;
for the preparation of tlfB registration books,
$12,190 19 ; to the Sag* Valley and Deer
Creek turnpike comPany,sB,ooo.
It will be readily .. per
H ived, therefore, that
should the appropriations ereafter be confined
strictly to the ordinary expinses of government,
we shall have an' annual sus Ins revenue exceed
- ing one million of dollars, applicable to the pay.
merit of the funded debt. That such should be
the, policy of the state, althr tha completion of
the works now in progress, 'will not be doubted.
The importance of such - ec;omy in view.of the
great end to be attained— e liquidrition of the
public debt—and consequent relief of the people
from taxation for titate purtses, is too manifest
for argu ent. Enterta". ng these views, 1
/could not my assent td any new schemes of
, z _
improvemena__ y . the State.l •
The operations on the i ublic works for the
year just c losed do not present a very flatte ring
picture, so far as to relateiTo net revenue. The
aggregate_ amount of business was larger by
1 twenty 'p er cent, than the! of any former year,
and the gross receipts anneunted to the sum of
$1,932,495 33, baing.an4cess of but $35,683
91 over the receipts of .1952: This increase of
tqnnage without a correaphiading increase of to
ceipts, is the consegeence of a very redo
I
opinion
Lion in the rate of tolls,ainYesattre, in II
of the Canal Cotnmission4rs, demande by pub
, lie policy ; and it may be aid that whatever has
been lost to the near:1101 was' given' to extend
. ,
commerce and trade. "Ttiti,expenditures for the
year, aciordingy.o.the report of The Camila COM
missicinen; amounted to the cam of 51,177,11.2
75,Ieavirtg a net balance of 8754,752 58 ; bat as
this cam does not inclade any Portion of the cost
of new locomotive engines, and the erection of
farm bridge'', the deductiou of the proper. proper
tiori of these will leave the sum al $7.04,752 58
as the actual net balance.
Tho, receipts and expenditures and general
operations on the Columbia Railroad exhibit an
encouraging state of affairs, as they also do on
the Mirth•Dranch canal and Delaware division
on the other divisionV the canal they are tol
erable; but on the A ghany Portage yailroad
the conjition of affairs is entirely unsatisfactory.
The system of management heretofore practiced
on -that complicated and difficult. work, would
seem to demand a speedy and radical change.—
But the Executive, under the laws as they now
are, having no control or direction over. the pub
lic works, it ie right and proper that I should
leave the explanation of the details-of their work
ings and managemegt to the people's agents,
who have charge of the whole subject.
I am, however, still entirely sanguine that with
the necessary change in the. system of manage
ment, the public improvements can be Made to
yield a very handsome revenue to the treasury ;
indeed, even for the last year, had the expenses.
~f 2 the Mountain division been confined to a rea
sonable sum, the nerevennes would have reach
ed near one million of'dollars. Relieved from
these absorbing demands by the construction of
the new road, or in sOme other way, and we
shall realize, by the year 1855,a net profit equal
to the interest on twenty-two millions or more of
the public debt".
The work on the railroad to avoid the inclined
plones on the Allegheny mountains, has not pro
gressed as rapidly as has been anticipated. It iS
the opinion of the engineer, however, as will ap
pear on reference to his report, that should the
necessary means be promptly furnished, the en
tire line could be eompleted during the .coming
yeah. The grading for a double track is finished
with the exception of four miles, and the cost of
this balance, together with the expenses of lay
ing down a single track, is estimated at six hun
dred and five thousand dollars, in addition to the
value of the okEtrack. The engineer also esti
mates the annual saving, as compared with the
expenditures on the old road, on a business
equal to that f 1852, at two hundred and nine
ty thousand liars. He also states that the
road between l ane No. 4 and Hollidaysburg,
with a double tratic s will cost about eight hun
dred thousand dollars less than the Pennsylvania
railroad, for a like distance.
Viewed in every aspect, it must be confessed
that this branch of the public affairs presents an
embarrassing alternative. The prompt comple
tion of the new work will involve the expendi
ture of more capital than the State can command
without resorting to farther temporary loans';
whilst on the other hand, the maintenance of the
old road, at a cost of four hundred and fifty
thousand dollars pernnum, is quite out of the
question. Its exhausting demands on the treas
ury must be speedily obviated, and for my part I
can sea no mode of doing this except by the com
pletion of the new road.
o my mind, thatthei
- At the time I assumed the duties of my pres
ent station I found this work in progress of 'con
struction; the western slope up to the summit
having been placed under contract during the
summer of 1851. On referring to the reports of
the Canal Commissioner and the engineer, the
only data which I could properly consult as to
the policy of the measure, I found that Ihe torsi
cost of a single track was estimated'at
000. The matt rials ea the old road were valued
at $248,650, Which together with the appropria-
204.680 20
82.932 74
bOO 000 00
tions previously made, reduced the amount to be
provided to complete the work to the meagre sum
of $591,350. With these calculations before me
and even adding a larger amount far errors in
the estimates, and the enormous expenditures of
the old road in full view, I could not doubt the
expediency and economy of the measure. But
the unusual advance in the price of labor, mate
terial and subsistence, addedlo the obvious errors
in the estimates, has changed the entire aspect
of this enterprise. The sum of $650,000 has
been appropriated since that time, and over six
hnndred thousand dollars is still required with
the value of the old road, to bring the - line into
use.
s time, $411,272,235 Ul
The estimated cost of completing .the North
Branch canal, at the peridd already named, was
$772,000. One million of dollars has since been
paid, and a sum exceeding one hundred and fif
ty thousand dollars is still required to pay for its
completion. , With such unexpected demands
upon the treasury within the short space of two
years, it would not be unreasonable to expect an
increase of the liabilities of the State ; but it is
alike gratifying and astonishing to know,that this
has not occurred,
The Junction canal, extending from the New
York line to Elmira, will be ready for business
during the present' month, and the State work
from Pittston to the dam at Athens, a distance of
ninetythree miles, has been completed. The
only unfinished part ,of the work lies between
Athens and the State lime, a space of about two
and a half miles, the construction of which was
delayed by an effort of the Canal Commission
ers and the Governor, under an act of Assembly,
to negotiate with the Junction canal company
for its completion. But even this section, lam
assured, will be ready in ample time for the
spring trade.
These works will complete the last link in a
continuous water communication between the
Chesapeake biry and the northern lakes. The
struggle for this achievement has been long and
arduous, covering nearly a quarter of a century.
But the triumph is still a brilliant one, and must
be cause of gratification to the people of the en
tire State.
17381.752 10
398,000 Oe
621,838 00
$1.401,090 15
MEM
$355.500 00
6..16,034 90
Most auspicious and promising is it tor the
enterprising inhabitants of Northern Pennsyl
vania, to whose untiring efforts its final consum
mation may bk z mainly attributed. Through
this channel, in the early -parr of next season,
and during each succeeding year, Pennsylvania
Will send greeting, to the people of a neighbor
ing State—the evidence of fraternal affection—
the assurance of politic4Lfidelity, and the bles
sings of an extended commerce, in .the shape of,
inland vessels, freighted With her richest min
erals. and receive in return, as she certainty will
be offered, froth the vest valleys of the Empire
State, now teeming with wealth in ail its varie
ty, assurances of lull reciprocity, in affection, fi
delity and commerce. And in due time the
collets of the State, I am confident, will receive
an ample reward , for these new relations if
trade. Indeed, on this point-, the large increase
of profits on the old line, for the year just clos
ed, furnishes the most reliable indicattonnt - whgt
we may anticipate from the new. The constant
ly increasing demand for coal, outrunning, as it
he adone for years, the means of supply, 'justi
fies,- if it does not force upon us the conclusion,
that so soon as boats can be constructed, and
proper business corn:lesions formed, this canal
will be patrOnized up to its fall capacity. A
glance at the vast, rich and populous eectioa of
the country which it will be called upon to 'sup:
ply with coal, for every imaginable purpose,
domestic, mechanical 'and manufacturing, mut
at the facilities offered by the" New York canals
and lakes, to-reach all points, of that country,
must satisfy the most skeptical, as- to the value
and importance of this improvement.
I congratulate you, therefine, upon - the con
summation of an enterprise which will be thus
profitable to the State, and beneficial to the peo.
Pie: '
The expediency of selling the public works
has been a topic of discussion in the press of the
State for some months past, and tvithodi indica
ting a policfor the General. Assembly, or in
tending the ighteirdfacourtesy toziThe people's
agents, to wh the management- of this branch
of public affairs : as been confided, I have deem
jcialli
ed it my duty to dhicusi some of the considera
tions incident Inland growing out of. the prop°.
. s:, ion. . 1 f . .. . . 1
X 2,143,916 3
Indeed, it - Nodld.bE .unreasonable to assume
either the afflinterive or negative of the question,
and expect to be protierly' tUrcrerstood, without
'some oxpianation.a3.-:to.the , ..price al. the works
end the conditions of sale:
It is' fair to presuine that ihose - Who advocate
tbs. affirmative have distinet! -ideas' le to what
the.price should be, and thatunless each consid-
11 1 'ME MOST PROMO% !lIRBR WWI CcINILINii.thIII
lIMMI
CITY OF l i A CASTER, TU r ESDAY M
'elation can be realized,:tbei . Would not agr,etito
The first inquirY;titerefore x is, jithy shotild
these works be sold t The atuiwer usually giv.
en is, that the measure is nicessmi to reduce
the State debt and to relieve the people from tax
ation. These are great .objects indeed, and
should ; as I have no-doubt they will, receive
your, earnest considerathin;, their . realization.
however,must depend mainly upon the price
obtained. •
Should the interest 'on the public debt to be
liquidated by the sale be lees tharrtba net profits
arising from the works, theft it would be false
economy to sett. In that case the measure
would not be one of relief to the people, but
must necessarily increase r their yearly burthens.
And what reason is there to suppose that more
can be obtained ? Capitalists, it will be con
ceded. when. weighing the question of a pur
chase, will make the nett profits on their invest
ments the basis of all their calculations. They
will look at the past operations of these works,
in connection with their prospects in the future
—carefully considering every fact and circum
stance bearing on their real value ; and it is
namely necessary . to remark, will only buy
when perfectly satisfied that they have the best
of the bargain. In attemptink to determine the
question of value, it Will be perceived, therefore
that the inquiries, examinations and motives of
buyer and seller must necessarily be identical.
_it is apparent then, that the effect of ccimpe
tition' on the value of fhese•worka: the inroads
which, may be made by science and mechanic
arts on every description of transportation fa
cilities now in existence, ; the casualities that
may result to them from the elements ; in short,
the mutability of human structures, and the
duties of government, must constitute, mainly
the considerations in favor of a separation be•
tween the State and her improvements.
On the other hand will be presented the hopes
of future business and increased profits to the
treasury, predicated upon the growth' of the
Commonwealth ; her east and varied resources,
and the influence of these upon transportation
within her limits; the increasing demand fur
facilities to transmit-her products to market; the
endless consumption and unlimited supply of her
great staples of coal andiron, and their pros im •
ity to her works, at all points ; the enlarged pro•
ducts of agriculture, and the rich variety Of
manufactures, so rapidly multiplying in every
part-of the State, constituting at once a home
business, with ages of duration before it, which
no human agency can disturb, and whieh must
contribute at all times a fair income to the gov
ernment. In addition to these considerations
against a sale, may be urged the necessity which
would be presented for the creation of a number
of corporations,. having community of interest
and feelings with similar bodies already in ex
istence, and the danger' of thus inducing the
organization of a controling power in the Com
monwealth.
But it is said that companies can manage
these works with greater skillland economy than
the State, and for that reason they would be
most valuable in the hands of the former, and
that the State can realize this difference by a
sale. It must be confessed, that it is to these
considerations, and these only, that we can look
for arguments to sustain the idea that the State
can gaiii anything, pecuniarily, by a sale of her
improvements. That the difference in the ex•
penses of the management of the works would
amount to a fair per centage, in the estimation
of some capitalists, I have no doubt ; but it is
not so great as estimated byflome. Indeed
certain portions of our own works are now well
managed, and if is hoped and believed that such
changes can be made in the system of direction
now practised by the,State, as to lead to gen
eral skill and economy.
But the main question will be the minimum
price that shall be fixed on these improvements;
and the proper disposition of this, it must be
readily seen, will demand much careful exami
nation. Aid in reference to this point the wis
est and best may honestly differ, for the issue
belongs mainly to tha future, and can only be
untimeated troth the results of the past. To these
we may look for a moment.
For the years 1852 and 1853, the net receipts
may be put down as equal to the annual inter
est upon about fifteen millions of the public
debt ; and I am inclined to believe that, with
out any increase of trade except on the North
Branch, the net profits for the ensuing year may
be estimated at a sum equal to the interest on
seventeen or eighteen millions of the debt, and
that the completion of the road, over the moun
tains, or relief in some other way, from the lee
ching demands of that portion of our improve
ments, will see the net revenues from this
source, swelled to a sum equal to the interest
upon twenty-two millions of the State bonds.
If it be desirable to sell the public works, we
should not underate their importance, nor is it
just to disparage the wisdom of their founders.
We 'are Prone to 'murmur against . the-policy
that dictated their construction,'because of the
debt we have thus incurred, and yet, if the pro
position- were submitted to cancel this liability
' by their -- destruction or disnse, We should be
compelled to reject it.
At the tithe of its adoption, this policy was
necessary - and proper. Avenues of this kind
through the body of the State, to convey her
vast productions to market, are ae indispensible.
to her vigorous growth and physical develope
ment mare the veins and arteries to the human
system, to give circulation to the blood and con
eeqUent health and vigor to the body. To atop
or clog these, in either ease, would produce
stagnation and ultimate destruction.
Without reference to the abstract question of
a sale, I may say, that under no circumstances
should we entertain the proposition to part with
the public works by the construction of a joint
stock company, as heretofore repeatedly pro
posed, by which the Commonwealth is to re
main a large shareholder, but the direction to be
in the hands of individuals or corporations asso
ciated with her in the ownership. I have always
regarded this as a most dangerous and insidious
measure. If the proposition to Bell be seriously
entertained, tinder the present condition of the
money market, it should be based on the idea
of a bona fide sale, for a full''tompensation, in
exchange for the bonds of the State, and under
such salutary reservations and restrictions as the
interests of the people may demand.
But it is urged by many that the State's sys
em of managing the public works is susceptible
of improvement—that much can be done by
judicious reforms toVugment the receipts to the
treasury, and facilitate the business of trans
portation ; and, as mush of this system results
from positive law, it may not be deemed offici
ous on my part to make suggestions on the sub
ject.
In a special message, communicated to the
General-Assembly, soon after my induction into
office, I advocated the policy of making cash
payments for labor and materials, and the inter
diction by law of the creation of debt by the
officers on the public works, and made allusion
to other radical defects in the system, .which
could scarcely be reached by the Canal Board.
To some of these,l. shall now briefly allude.
In the filet place, it is impossible to avoid the
creation of debts, if the appropriations be insuf
ficient to meet unavoidable expenditures. The
business or transportation and travel on these
highwais meat be kept up, whether the expen•
see be paid or not. =These circumstances have
defeated, to some extent, the administration of
the law of May, 1852, requiring cash payments
and prompt settlements by the officers on these
works, and prohibiting the creation of debts.—
This result, Iregret, for I am still decidedly of
the opinion, that no other change in the system
is so likely to beget eeonomy, purity and effi
ciency in their general direction. For the last
year, however, this law was strictly carried out
on some of the divisions, and it is sincerely de-
Itred that hereafter the practice may be extend
ed to all.
I need not discuss the consequences of the,
custom of making debts on the public works—
its errors are too palpable to need refutation by
argument ; and I shall only repdat what I sub
stantially said to the General Assembly on a
former occasion, that in additibn to the opportu
nity it afforded for extortion off the-State, if not
actUal fraud upon the treasury, the idea, that
officers, for'the time being, should be allowed
to scatter the credit of the Commonwealth
broadcast, to be. discovered and redeemed,at,
some future period, by their successors, is a
monstrosity in the economy of public affairs.
There seems to be some plausibility, if nut
actual truth, in the allegation, that the State's
management of these works is expensive and
inefficient; and yet it is not clear to mind,
that treated as a mere business affair, her su
pervision would not be as .oheap and efficient
As that of corporations and individuals. But
the instability of her agenda renders accur
acy and economy exceedingly difficult. Her
periodical change of officers has always de
prived her of the benefit of.experience in this
work; and this, in any business you will agree
_
with me, is equivalent to a fair pro fi t, and-that
it is eminently soin the repair and generallm.
pervision of taffies& and canals. Thiszthift
ing practice has had the-effaet of making -her
worke.a species of Normal sehools for-the edu
cation of engineers and, supervisors to take
charge of other improvemedts. This instabil
ity results from. the. recognition of placesmii-I
the State works, as political .offices, instead , of
scientific and "mechanical -work-shops • and
,bringing to bear on their control and dir ection,
our notions of rotation and shOrt tenure in of
fice. These ideas are sound and.republitian,
and should never be disregardecl;de.reference
to the offices appertaining, to our 9 politiold or
ganizatien as a governme nt; but it must be
conceded that a mere business operation to
make money, in competitien with the creatures
of government and the efforts of• individuals,
was not contemplated moan office in the organ
is law of the State; and hence, it is notetrange
that the principles proper Or one do not apply
usefully to the ter. What, I would inqnire;
would be the co dition of the Reading railroad,
the Pennsylvania railroad and other similar
works, were they ,required to change their en.
gineers and superintendents; itt - shoitiperiodi,
and bring stringers into their, employ? The
answer may be readily discovered in the-State's,
experience. I have long been of opinien that
in reference to all the subordinates of the Can
al Commissioners, changes should not be peri
odical and prefixed, but should be'made as de
manded'by exigencieS of the public service..—:
The delinqtient in any one of the obligations
of duty should be dismisbed at - onee,
only guarantee of continued 'efnplOYineitt
should be found in the superiority!.of-the -ser
vices rendered the State. All other. rules.for
appointment and dismissal should be speedily
obliterated from the system. . The present
practice, deprives the State, to a great extent,
of that incentive to excel, which actuates all
men where character, position - and emoluments
are at stake. Of course, coy suggestions !
reference to the iniportanoe of experience will
not-be understood as applying to all the agents
on the works ; for instance, it requires but lit
tle experience to make a collector, but it has
and always will require this to render an agent
efficient in the construction and repair of rail
roads and canals, to foresee exigencies and
give harmonious direction to the current oper
ations of this complicated branch of public
service. In short, the management wants the
application of business organization and prin
ciples. A system of books should supplant
the use of check rolls, and the operations be
so systematized that the receipts and expendi
tures of each month, as the season passes by,
could be announced Co the public.
Confusion, obscurity and redundancy in our
annual volume of laws—veittious inroads
upon private rights—attempts at the usurpa
tion 01 the power and consequent strivings and
litigation, are, in my opinion, the legitimate
fruits of our system of special And omnibus
legislation. Indeed, the truth of these prop
ositions is too'polable to admit of argument. It
is manifested in every year's experience, and
in some instances the 'government, as a conse
quence. has been forced into the humiliating
position of becoming a litigant against her own
creatures. Its demoralizing influence is mark
ed and admitted on all hands and imperiously
demands an efficient-remedy. That the pres
ent General Assembly may be distinguished
and blessed for applying the axe at the root of
the evil, and marking the era of its final ter
mination, is my sincere hope.
A prolific source of mischief consists in the
practice of, passing a number of laws,, entirely
"dissimilar in their characteristics; in the same
bill, or in what is familiarly known as the
•‘C I
nihus System -, The inevitable, and in-
dee , the frequently lamented effect of this''
mo e of legislation, has bean to facilitate the'
passage of bills through the General Assembly,
and to 'secure the sanction of the Executive
without that critical examination so indispen-.
sable tc a clear comprehension of their true iv
port. In illustration of ihe difficulties whidh
I A
the practice imposes upon this branch of t e
government, it is only necessary to state, .t. t
within two days preceding the final adjon n
ment of the last Legislature, no lees than .ne
hundred and six bills were presented for Itx
ecutive consideration containing three hun. 4,
and thirty-lbur different subjects. Some—of
these bills captained as many as twenty dis
similar items of legislation ; and of these, some
were not even indicated by the transcribed
title.
In addition to the difficulty of comprehend
ing the - import of such a heterogenous mass of
matter, the Executive- frequently finds , himself
forced into the dilemma of signing a law which
his judgment rejects, or returning another
which he really approves. Neither alternative,
you will agree with me, is in strict accordance
with the mandates of the Constitution. Great
inconvenience also results to the people, under
this system, in the payment of the enrolment
tax upon private laws. In bills, suciras I have
already described, may be found a number of
items, some taxable and others not, and the bill
must be enrolled under its proper number and
title, and the first tax'be paid. One, party in
terested in this legislation may pay his share,
another will refuse to do so, and a third, on
seeing the amount of the tax, concludes that,
he can live without the law ; and thus it has .
been no uncommon thing for persons to be for..
ced to pay tax on laws in which theY have nO,l
interest, in order to avail themselves of what
the Legislature. had expressly granted. Such
a state of affairs . 0 scarcely consistent with the
dignity of a great State, and certainly de-nomads
an efficient remedy. .
. .
Some of my predecessors have urged the Gen-.
- era Assembly to change this system, and in .
'several previous communications, I have sug
gested the propriety and justice of passing' each
proposition separately, at least so far as theob-;
ects were dissimilar. But the evil still exists,
and I am deeply sensible of the difficulty which
the application of a prompt and effectual rem-I
til
igh
edy must always present to e 13eneraL'Assem-.
bly. After much refleetion o e magnitude;
of this evil—its vexatious inr s upon private'
rights, and its demoralizing t ndency upon. the.
interests' of the people, find the more elevated;
purposes of legislation, I have determine& to!
co-operate with the General Assembljr in.theis
application of the west efficient means which.
their wisdom may devise ,for its-, removal :but
in the meantime,,as a restraining partof the
law-making power, I must beg leave to be in
dulged in claiming the privilege of considering
each subject of legislation separately, and en
its own merits, as contemplated by the spirit of
the Constitution. Henceforth, therefore, bills:
containing a variety of subjects of legislation;
dissimilar in their character andpurpoees, can-!
not receive the sanction , of the present, lizecul
tive.
Another branch of the evil, and if .possible.a
still greater one, consists .of special ,and local
legislation. It is to this Practice, that we are
mainly indebted for an annual yohime of lawa
most unseemly dimensions, and for- a *irate
code for nearly every totality in the Siate:' T. t it
remedy for this must be found in the adolitind
of a - few more' general laws, and the rigid ad
ministration .of those already in eatatencelr-r
Special acts, you will agree with me, should in;
no instance be passed where' the object can be
reached under general laws. -
The law of 1791 and its several supplements
make provision for the creation and amendment
of corporations for literary, charitable - and rah , .
glass purposes, and to create beneficiary socie,,
ties and fire engine and hose co parties, through
the instrumentally of the Attorney General and
the Supreme Court. The act' of the • thirteenth;
of October, 1829, extended this power to the."
courts of the serval counties. The acts 0f1836,
and 1838 make provision for the association of
individuals, through the , instrumentality:al the
Atorney Gannets} and the Governor,: ler the,
purpose of manufacturing iron from mineml coal.
In addition to these acts, the law to encourage
maamacturing, passed in 1819, Itrid'jtei stipple
memo, provide for nEisociations for thdpnrpose
of manufacturing woollen; cotton; frainnd•ellic
goods, or for-making iron ; glitter,- salt; Paper;•
lumber, oil from rosin, MinemPpaints, setifietel
slate, and for printing and. publishing; and , the•
supplements of 1853 extends its provisionst - ilia ,
modified form, to the businesaof mining of al
most every description.
On the subject of erecting ~ .new townships,
and incorporating borottglati,'the bowie h_a!trull'
limited - power; end in the manet'efeeilmtg, re'
.J. ; :AmTA : ..•l.toj.- . ;:i.,8 - 0,4' ,, •-•:,,.
441 estate; the property of minors _
*executors or others',:actiriz a'frditmarf inipaci
ty, the act of last session on this' subject ',will,
, lermy-opinion f ieseh - .every imaginable case.—,
Itg provisioms. should not-be infringed, , fot the
subject.belange7mostlegitimataly.te the CCIOIII3.
I can sea. no seamen:why, the power to desig
nate eleCtion houses should, not be .eon.ftdud to
the commissioners of 'aiti save*, .coanties.— .
These officers' usually fs,iiirtar with the
cantles, and can readily 'iletertnine Whit
ment would beit suliserie the convenience of the
electors. - Infladdition - to' the fact; Which - Will'
not be 'deputed, that• thie bosiness- receives hut
partial consideration in the Legislature it ie oh-
Jectionable, because of ;the great space it Minn
''. ally occupied in the journals and.lawis. .am
aware, hnwever,that it has been suggested that
the laws.of the 'United States provide that the
[' place . fOr fielding the members of ,
,Comeas
r; shall be fixed 'by the Legislature of the. several
'States, and that; therefore, the end in view
can
not be attained. - answer. to this objecting,
it may hi remarked, that the Legislature hiving
in other -instances - delegated doubtful' poirefe,
I .uch as the 'right -to make .paper' money, it is
[ scarcely i necessary to raise the questioe of the
rignt to delegate a function so exireselytsonfer
red. 1
' , A large ..number of.3,lrawa of , the last seeeion
'lonast of special acts to incorporate, cotcpentee
to construct ttbjeck right and,
proper in itself, might, it Peemi to me, be readi-:
leid by aienerral la*, atithorizing the association
lof any nurntierof citizismoto construct these high
:ways ori.pruper Conditions. ';-
: In former- communications I have. held the
LdoctrinaPthat , but little legislation of any hind
iwae essential to the,enda of mere business enter-
'.pride—to promote objects understood by all, and
;within the reach of .moderate means; andr that
:"•mosi certainly, whatever might be deemed ex
pedient should be general in its character. 'That
the Legislature; had no moral right to grant
,special advantages to one citizen and deny them
'l.O another; and I have declined to approve any
' net on this subject, where the corporators Were
not made liable in their individual estates for
-the debui of the 'corporation.
'No clearer evidence, it seems to me, can be
, furnished to show that much of this special leg
. lslation is sought and is valuable only because it
is special, than is found in its own history. It
wilt be remembered by many of you, that der.
Eng the administcation of Governor Shunk,
'numerous applications were made for special
'netsi to incorporate manufacturing companies,
and that Governor refused to give his assent
to their passage. In 1849, a general law to en
, courage . meaufacturing, liberal in its provisions,
was adopted, and you will be astonished to learn
'that at Mistime there are not a dozen compimies
in existence under it.
• During the etessi?na of 1852 and 1858, much
time was consumed in the consideration of spe
cial acts; to incorportite mining companies--
Near the close of the lest session a general law
'on the subject, applicable to all the counties in
'the State except six, was passed, and although
this law , is as favorable in its terms 'us the spe
cial acts:solicited, but !a single application has
been made under it for mining purposes; and
'even in this instance operations have not been
commenced. These are significant, facts, and
in my opinion will fullyjnatify . the rejection of
all special acts pn,thc subject in the future. I
.can see no reason why .this general law alio*
not be extended to the balance of the Suite, ',if
.the people desire to have it; but no special act
to organize companies within the counties not
included in the general law, can receive my ap
proval, and such as are now in my possession of
this character, will be-returned without the Ex
ecutive sanction.
At the date of my last annual message, pro•
°Ceding& were pending the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania, to test the-right of the Frank
lin canal company to construct a railroad from
the city' of Erie to the Ohio State line., The
decisiuu uf the Court was against the company
on the main point, and the opinion of ,Chief
Justice Black shows most clearly that the con
struction of their - road without authority of
law, but the preliminary injunction 'prayed
thr by e complainant Islas refused, qn the
ground that the Commonwealth could not,
under e law, give eecarity for caste The
effecy this decision was to place the privi
leges aimed by the company within.the con
trol o' . 1 . e Legislature. In anticipation of this
result, had suggested to the General Assembly
the pr.. iety or taking charge of these rains.
ble riJiSs, and so far as might be practicable,
wit .. ut the exercise of an illiberal principle,
render this important link of communication be
tween the sea-board and the great West, sub—
servientito the interests of the people of Penn—
sylvania. The subject was considered, but
not Mildly disposed of.
In May last i recei7ed a oommunlca it
the presideut of the. company, covering the
proceedings of a meeting of the board.of direc
tors, in' which; atter an allusion to the action
of the Supreme Court and the Legislature, a
number of propositions were submitted, indi
cating the willingness of the company to pay
certain rates of taxation for the unrestrained
use of the road, until after the coming session
of the Legislature, or until that branch of
government should sot on the subject. Believ
ing that I had no right to make conditions with
the company, or 'even to receive the ,money
which they were willing to pay, I declined to.
entertain the preposition.. The relations of the
company toward the State, therefore, hive nu
dergorie,na change since the adjournment of
the last legislature, except that the Attorney
General.hes recently, taken measures to obtain
a final decree in the plea for an.injanction and
'by writ of quo marranto to revoke the fran
chises claimed by the company.
Recent occurrences at the city of ,Erie evince
an intensity of feeling among the people, sel-_
dom equalled on a qtiestion of this kind, indi
cating not only the.propriety, but necessity
for prompt and decisive legislative action, as
to the rights of,this company..
It must be clear to the impartial observer,
that theLegielatare never intended, by any
previous act, to authorize the construction of a
railroad between the city of Erie and the Ohio
line. Indeed, the highest judicial tribunal in
the State kik 'expressed the opinion, thit no
inch authority can be found its the charter of
the Franklin .oanaluompany ; and in . sny. open
ion, the grant should be made .hereafter on
snob conditioitti4iify, as will protect and, ad
vance the interests of the people of Pennsylva
nia, so far as they .may be involved in the
subject. It so ; happens that Pennsylvania
holds the key to this. important link of mime-.
tion between the East and-West, and tlmost
nnhesitatingly!sayi. that where nb-prineriple
of amita : or,con.unerce,is , to be violated , title:
the right.and duty of the State to turn her,
natural - advantages to the promotion of the`
views and welfare of her own people.
It may be said the& a restriotion that would
require a break of railroad guage at the bar.
.bor of Erie, would be the use of an illiberal
principle. . The Answer is, that the neciasity
Aor ei . ,brealt; of snage. between the Ohio line
and the aea-boind existe.aa a oensequence of a. •
,differeacki in the width of the New York and
Ohio roads. The obi); questicni to settle, there
;fore, relates to the point at which it should
occur.
.I have been ,able to , discover no rear
.sons, fOuided in the
. publio Pelicy, why the
break Should be , fixed 'at Buffalo, that do not
„apply with squid ranee in favor of Erie. Tiin•
nage and passengers-can be as well tranship
,ped at the latter, as, well as the former oily.
So concenid'ilieenefits toeither ; city,
, incident to , a .tranehipmant; the idea, Itutivior
; thy a-notice. But the effiers of 'Chink 'of
gnage, art& eon fiequerit transhipment' east? of
'Me, upon *is. basin* of„that harbor. , must
ibe paralyzing, itnoi;fatal. It would' virtually :.
$ require shipments fo be'made either at Cleve
land Scarcely - leas embarraiiiing
would this-arrangeraent be upon the - intensta'
of ;the Sunbury and Erie road, or any other -
avenuethat may. hereafter connect the lakes
with the
_ cityof „ . , , .
It maybe that:nelghboriug,Stittes,pnaetiaitig
similar.nitturat advantages, would
pile 'them
away for ourheneit, but l'hart not been able , '
.to discover. arty,fact in. their formerwolicy4h
justify. such a conclusion. , .i I; shall await-your.
tuition ryith ancriety:, . ,
The Ottbscriptiant of the cities ac,'PhibWiel
•phis and -Pittsburg , ' to the' stock of.the
.railroad, and the 'prompt lasynient .the'
:ietiatt cut Abe same together.with thellattering ,
'Priftipects of , that improvement, bad- the effect.
of 'etteading the .belief that muniMpak,aub,-.
scriptichlicottld be AtifelY made to 'arty similar ,
enterprise - such suhieriMlOntriveie ifi
truth, what had been allegedhji soma,'lVlll44i
loan Of the,oretlit.hf the:respective municipal
C°ll thk ikez cher pZICAPI -a
nd *:
clkw4c4--
The consequenoeslof . this . plausiblesind
dttbtilf ) . doctrilie Were promptly.stinifested in
the fora of nnmerctutkappllcations.forlegisla-•
die authority to munripathedies4O,snbacribe.
to - mdlrdad" stncks, in, various partai.of the
t.ttios.. These apppeationo .were inToriablY
prtissedOP : _thit Oleo of promoting. public cow
vsniende and the general, prosperity; end, a
number of laws of thie Character were adopted. ,
'B&W - as these apply to cities andher .
.their operation 'has !Omen rather .eucceasfal;
'bat when applied to counties' it has certainly ;
'been .
.much less so; entirely. In some
instaitoes, and' iii others leading to violent.
controversies amongst the people, destitiotive
to- the value' of the- municipal honds
.oreated. Viewed in every Jutpect;'es a Mere
question • of expediency;' the experithent - al
ready made • would Seem to weigh - heavily
against the policy op'such subacriptiens; in
deed, II have• no hesitation in saying that the
,ayersion. I have always , entertained towards
this
‘ firineiple r and especially its extension to .
counties,,has been greatly strengthened-by
this wipmiencep.,and we: should now, it- seems-
Lb me, as a prudenti people, profit by this.
Lelaos and itvpid thelprauticte in future. Al-
WitYsdoubting the policy of such subscrip‘
tions,l and declaring my views freely against
them,ll.. hive not
..felt Teqnired to interpose
the'Ekeoutlin...prerogative .against the judg,
mope ktf the people . direptiy,.intereated.in dut
quiationt, or na . , other wards, to judge y e : b y , -
citizens of a pal:dealer ,lenality. on a subj t
relating merely to their pecuniary inter sts,
or to resist the , wishes of their immediat re
presentatives.
In a communication:addressed to the neral
Assembly in March; 1852, on this en jeet,
remarked, `'that the power to subscribe would
never be exercised by municipal corporations,
milers the interests of the people represented
by such authority are directly. and certainly
identified with theprOjeot on which the money
is to be-expended. The Operation of the prin
ciple may be 'equitable, when applied to the'
people of a city or towtu-whose interests - are
identical, but when*pplied 'to the people of a
county, it may not be so. --On the'coAtXary it
may prove:most unjust and oppreeisiVe—ettb
jectino the people to burthens in the shape 'of
taxes for the construction-of publio improve
meats, from which they may never , Teethe
benefit, direct. or .remote. The people in one
section of &county may derive valuable Oven
ogee from the construction oLa public work,.
whilst these of smother.section, equally taxed
for the , payment 9f the interestand principal .
of the debt, so contracted, may.poiudbly realize
no benefit at all." It is to' these effeots that
may be'attributed. the violent, contests that
have grown up in certain counties, to which
the principle sae been extended,. ,
in the State of 9hro, where this. dangerons
prectice also'prevalled; a constitutional pro
has been deeined necessary by the
people, 'and municipal - subscriptions dentist .
now- be 'made,'even with the assent of (hoe()
affected by the measure. The experience of
that State, as I have learned, was alike:against
the practice of making improvements in this
way; and that is the end it became inefficient,
through the dispositiortof capitalists and Others
to rely alone upon municipal corporations for
the means of constructing• public improve
ments/. -'I am decidedly of- the opinion, gist a
eipiilar aeoision would and should be made by
the people 01 this State,. when -the proper Am
pormnity is presented. In the meantime, this
insidious and dangerous mode ef contracting
debts shouly be guarded against with , the ut
most vigilance. I shall indulge the hope, that
an future applications for legislation of, this
character may be rejected by tho General As
sembly.
It is my duty to inform you that $328,851
of the reliefladues of May, 1841, are still in
existence, :and /cantina° to pollute .the chan
nels of circulation. Under the provisioins of
the act of April last, $121,b12 of theSe notes,
of a less denomination than five dollars, have
been and the whole amount .can,
under' this law, be ultimately extinguished
But the process has mot been so rapid...as was
anticipated; nor is it sufficienily :sotto meet
the demends of tht4ublic weal. I respectfully
suggest, therefore, that the law be so amended
as to make it-thejlity of the State Treasurer
to retain from time to time, as near as prac
ticable, the amount, in relief notes, necessary
to meet the- entire 'demands of the sinking
fund: I also recommend the repeal of the
act of April 10, 1849;•authorizing the re-iseitte
of this currency. . • .
The occurrences o'f the past year greatly
strengthen the views I expressed irciiiy last
451, _____
annual message, on the L üb'ect of the curren
cy. 'The daners an in ted paper system
have been m olt strikingly nifcsted in the
experimitft of 'a'nuMber of he surrounding
SMea, and nothing, in my op Ilion, saved our
i 3
metropolis, and possibly M 'et. parts of the'
State, from the consequenc of a severe con=
traction 'of the currency. bu ,our vast.agrieul
tural And mineral produotio e, and the Annan-,
ally high prices which the e command in for
eign] markete. ,
I have alwhys held th doctrine that our
/ ie
country, like till others, m t have a system of
currency; sad whilst, the L fore, I have resist
ed the excesive increase f -banking capital, I
have not sought to nproo , entirely, the system
we have. That it- itt
, thl beat that the ..wit of
man could devise, is n t believed, nor is it
,
probable that the Attie s ot =this :. paper' .ays
tem, enjoying the exp . ience of the present
age and possessing tne v t amonntof coin now
in existence; wont& h ve' entailed this evil
uporiqus. ,But we hiv it, and the best we can
do is to'adtigate , its ponsequences while, it
endures, and throw it off by degrees. I believe,
that the Penneylvanfd sYstem of paper `
money,
reeling on a specie btMis,iaiiall as it is; .,
and the
iiidtvictigl liability of the stockholders, is se
safe as any other.. 1l prefer it vastly• to the
loose plan existing infsome of The neighboring
-States or 'to the solieMe of fteVianking'adop
ted in other eeotions of. the Union. . . .
That any system of, banking that authorizes
the. 2migtion of small paper as a _ mediu m of
circulation, Imi:at, erifail'evil consequences upon
the country, has-been toO'clearly demonstrated
by par owreasperience to meed , eincidation by
argument. -lkiii,beliezed, ther,elpte, that it i ia i ,
the true policy of dug ancta elf ihe EStaies; to
restrict thd paper Petrailkitoo' P te nerds' of
..laXge.denomination4l Those ofitt' smolt denom=
'nation should„ be, gradually; withdrawn ,rroui
cire n tation, in. order to make room for the yaw,-
accessions of the precious metal from Califor
nia and Australia. +ln vain shill Lwii . saek , lo`
diaiSminate_coins throughout the.countrykautt.
induce their circulation at points.remote from
the ' , Allende citied'ho Vong as if niall. - 45aper is
pertifitted to exiet:' -if liana of tad dinoaiina-'
tion of 'Asir dollars were withdrawn from the'
charinela of circulation, the vacuum the',
created would be rapidly supplied_with_ gold
and I silver...4d so 844 with those of .a greater
nominal value., But se bum as this Taper.
medium is parenftedte_eik•culat, will it be im
peadtieable to induce the' gen al diffcisiett - Cf
Coin. "The people inquire way it is, teas with.
the 'vast increase of gold so little is seep., : . The
,unsWer is, that batik' n otes always interieue...
'The' trader, tairofiiiiit and othera;'kteraiii . ther
06in and pay ant the paperT and the only rent
edy, ii to ho fou nd in the' removal of the latter.
There is, perheps, rio principle •iipplicsition to
this: qUesidini bersei settled, than that' which
proves Wee two kinds:of currency, differing in
seine, will not circulate together. The-least
• 'valtiable will constantly_ be obtruded, whilst
themore precious will be displeeed. The gra
dud' withdraWAV of the smaller denomination
of paper, presenta,to my,saindi Alm greatest
practical reform that, can be applied to our eye.,
tem of otirrenby. 'The exchangeor one. paper
system for Inother, and the incorporation of
restrictions on this or that point of the one me
:hired; although.often right and-necessary, can
never eradinate:;heaelL' ,1: --i - -
i l.would,aot,ho a seser, be un derstood
fa . -
iiing a vary stdenlitteratiOn in Our gyeeeixi -
of Iptii-rencj, iffisidineliii' I do, all violent ,
Ohangea in the politir tif gtivernmfiAnalifijnet
ka n a, oppressive. All the business arrange--.
rmantauf_the country_are based upon- our. pre-
I: PPAt .; Ptail= 0,11 4 .41, L is so. interwoven , with. the
te'neral "ifrairit ' a Ilife as - loTo s itiCiti regd.
F..eitti1a.,40.1.1.' -Rut ' the liogirding 3 iihorild - lie
rieggeNad ire taliiiol.prepoza tuuthrow; 40 4
int4Pn which will! in the future, Co a greater
': I I
cclrintz
71:x 1•L,i1,41
:.. 5
•71,9r424 20.4
I.extent, perhaps, than in-the l phiti4iiiidiiintir .
OQulttry tributary toiher rivallt;trinr piiihitotti '
Doggie "hewers of woOd•andllivikilit, lir Wistex,
to,
_Oilier nations."“liffilifithiri4' 'irinTfi7Xltif '::
,pilligiflal policy of -tlriti,nalzion't 'CarelY.les-• :._ T
kiayp, I won] d . have such a dlirt ' 'dairy - ';o:
. minote all the great inter taitsi . COP? Anwritaus -: , ..
people. A practical, safe' ata a1iii.4.40; 9 4,,,0f _ .
I n
carrying out thiri work , is %o'..tii. firankin,ther
gradual extinguishment or 4 4 .k . . uotes :o r a
entail denomination. „ ; ii,i, ~, ,:- -
This reform, however, to be Complete,- 10'0'
give, the people the full benefieicif lite-salutarl ef. ' •
feels upon our commercial crpetationewith *hoer
nations, must be common kr-the *bole counttY.
The efforts of a single member ofthe qidtgeracy, ~ .
howe.ver thorough abd' Well'ffirectediarieve, , -
but partial success. Even' itLitilOntiioint oitview - . n'
they can scarcely exareises,,contrnl)inginfhtentie-• • •
Forinstance, vacuums, in. the , channels- of paper •
circulation in one Slate, are:too:liable to.be stip- '
..
plied by the issues 'of others,: interditited,--thengh - '
the circulation of the latter: may by - poet:life
taw., T,hese considerations have sitggested the im
pertande of a simultaneous action'ot the States on
the subject, and it has occurred'-td nik;mintl,itPix
a convention of delegates tem:lC.6mb, appointed by
the respective legislaturesilifight be . a good mode
of directing public attentidn'tothesubject, ands*.
curing
efficient action.
In the meantime; our State can take the lead in
this work, as she can also, carefully •restrict the
evil tendencies of the prcient system, by requiring
the institutions now in existence to more frequent
, ,
settlements, and render more e ffi cient bar present
..
system,: by confining the amount•ot banking capi
tal, ea a basis of paper issues, to'the lowest point
consistent with the demands of legitimate businessi.
I believe the amount we now have comes - up to
this standard, and that the best interests 01 the peo- ,•
pie require that it should not be increased. '•
.Efforts, extensive, eneigetic and highly com
mendable, are being
,made in all parte ofthecoint
try to advance the ibtereite 'of agriculture, by the
dissemination',of correct 'information concerning
this great pursuit, and in this way bestow upon
the larmer the blessings of a scientific, as well as
a greatly refined practical understanding of the no
ble work in which be is 'engaged.
Pennsylvania, so eminently an agricultural State
and therefore so.deeply interested, cannot be indif
ferent to th e merite of this enterprise. Her best
energies ru tty wisely be exercised topecure its sue
,cess. Already much hesbeen accomplished in the
way of removing prejud icesheretofore extensively
cherished againstany aystem of agriculturaP edn
cation, and by i nte extinguishment or doubts as to
the nnlity, or even the practicability, of applying
the principles Of beience to the business oi farming.
The belief that these principles can be so ap
plied, 1 am gratified. to perceive is rapidly gaining
popular favor. Indeed, the; experiments which. have
been made in this country . and in Europe, clearly
establish the utility of scientific 'aiming, and in
both, the necessity for such a system is - manifest.
A proper understanding of the constituent ele
plena e t the soil-the influence of-these irr the •
production of iegetable matter-the means of
maintaiog these ' eleieen te iri their original strength
—the nature, of alio:idle is for the'soil, and their
proper use—the quailitYlof seeds, and the breed of
animals, make up the main features of this eye- .
'tem. These subjects will constitute an agreeable,
and I have no dotibt, a highly advantageous study
.tor the larming-cornmonity. '' •
In . my last annual message I suggested the pro
priety of appointing an iAgrichltural Chemist, to
be
_paid a moderate salary, and whose labors should
be given to the , State add County' societies. I still
entertain the opinion theisneh en officer, surround
ed by proper opportunities, could render great ser- •
vice to the cause of agriculture.
The utility of establiihing tin agricultural col
lege, with a• model 'Mem attached, wheeein the
principles of a scientific:cultivation of the soil and /
manual labor in that pursuit would:be joined to ~
"th'e usual academiCal studies, has been strongly'
urged upon my attention. Such ali institution and
,system of education, •ir is belieiedff would of the
same time improve the physical andlnorel i condi:-
tion,of the professional and mercantilo chums,
and,promote the social and intellectual attain
ments of the 'agriculturist, mechanic and laborer,
in addition to the - vast benefits it 'would, confer np- -
on the•pursuit of the fanner. These considera
tions, and othe,ra which will.. doubtless be present
ed by
, the advocitni of the 'proposed institution,
will c ommend the subject ' to your faiorible con
sideration. It is believed•that such an institution
can be,successfully organized underthe auspices ,
of ,the tlite and,Couuty societies . .
~.. 4
A highly Useful institution has recently been.
organiz.ed at Philadelphia; under the anspices of
liberal and patriotic citizens of that city and vi
cinity,in pursuance 4.an act of the . last session,
namect , The Polytechnic, College el,Penneylvania,
in which the education of youth in i a practical
knowledge of"mining, manufacturing and the me
'chanic arts is united idthe ordinary literary stud- -
les. Surely, as much eau be done to impart a
pradlical understanding , of the pursuit of the far
mit'. '
.Within a few years past the general govern
mem has expended n large sem of I pooriey in the
Construction of a ilit•Modli di the• Philadelphia
navy yard * , with a railway. attached, to facilitate
*the operation of rajsing;and.repairing vessels A
survey of the Delaware river has, also been Made,
which' justifibelheapinihn 7 ttititthere is a sufficien
depth of wafer in - int chandertto admit vesiselii of
large class with- emirs' .111iety: , The- location 'of
ta;us, yard, on the bank
_of. the , the
southern part of the county of Philadelphia, acces
sible irom fifl Paints; draroitiiiled by a vigorous
and flourishing. • • popolation; and blessed' with' '
healthy climate, giyes , ,to. its.advantages not sur
passed by those serronnding.the navyyardaol any
'other section bf theignion. There is, then no rea
son why it should . not,receive a hill share of'pat
ronage from - the.'governnrant l • - whyrit not
been sofavored, I
shall not at this time attampt•
to learn, by; that thß,ficc,has been. the .cau s e of
regret and complaint' amOng the 'people of Phila
delphia and eflit . r peiti of are' Stere,'is ' a circum
stance whichicannot.basdiagnieed.' , No considera:
r ions ot.pubgc,itterests,,whichl. tieve..been.able
to discover, Auld seem to demand this pdlicy.—,
Nothing, in my opinion, is gained by it in ecorin
my, efficiedcylor skill in the . constructlon ' of ves
.sels."Tne niiteriels•tonritis , work can be as-conve- '
nixrdlyariCchmply .,: six,ognred: t ar Philadelphia as
qahy cither_point_to the,country, and tisr inechim
icsstand tiettleft a±; [knot Of skill
aild'eflitincy in all the britiiiblislif this fidiiinessr;'"
and preTinittentiiir.the constractitulioistiaisr ma-ii
c Wimp. , I test justified, thereforkin entertaining
the hope that a more eiluril distribution al' Pattthe,
on-
a.eeliall Perimter diatiligni
' atf*the action ni
depifrinient "
" , the consolidation of the - city" and' county' of '
Philadelphia into one municipilk government, is a
.subject4liat will be ppgand . .ygon 4 yottr.:copsiderar,
non during the present session., Wu bout d e siring •
'?express
. opininti Ott the policy of .ihe meat:
toe; 4.maylay; that-rregiiid , it as involvingliitat
considerations.conneeted4iM the welfare of oar r
metropolis, and _consoalrently to t,h,e State,at large
'arid salamis it shotild, asThaye no , doubt it will.
command Pro Mitt and' anxlCluieakiglenitirin: - -
I hayc lonesstieved .thit , 'the' knife Or the"Sts to
.
should he conliolidated:inte , tlaree cg , four• classes,.
trinVitisdpr the directrpqatrol of, the greasary,
•partdient at Barrisbiirg...The Books are paw
kept at-the Bank cirPedililirdnii,iiiirelhe loans
are transferred( re-issuett , 'aititlent ,
Sh . ape to suit,ol3-wishesof the.holder,:fori which
"seividdlliat institution•irheisipOpo heavlYeuly
'compensation. ,There woisld :be no difficulty
whatever, I= am berifideitt,qd exefiantirighew eon
pop boads4orthe'certificateieflisitt riew- - ontstand
tag, „withooLanY fintagt :extension:or the maturi...
tY' Or the loans, ara,cost•ufafevv.thousand donate ;
Indeed, on this point I am entirely certain that the
exchangelcan be trade •a' source of 'iirdfit to the
State abtle all expenses. This aceomplished,and
the hiterest can be paid at the treasury, and the
whole binsiness , af•that - department :.rendered - the
more simple: andleale. „:. . •-r
The financial „year, emrimences •and closes on
the last day of Ishivemley, had appropria tion
and.school - year oh the 'ifrst"6l(Jane. The' effect ,
'of Ibis arrattgeinent toibeker the
IA the several departments of governi
went., Indeed, so completely — is th in-theease ,
ihatit is 'cLoSte m po,yssibfre -Ana.pprsrm• my - fared ;
rest. 49 itlim2e sutue_ci - to
4 .corr spesend Meet opera -
orafitienerrigtlr,
"