-- _ 1 . . . • : - '', , ) •,- .-:' r- 1 - - .- • . . . . . . ~ . , . . • . •. . . , . . . . , ' . • , , . • . .. . , • . 9 . , . i "Th • . .-.--. • ' _..: . '* - . ,- ' ' - • . -.. -•.-. . _ . . . • , i -.' -"• '-• , i ' , - , i -.: ',.: • .; - , . . • --- • . • ' f .s.l. . • , 1 .. . - • • . - , • .i ' 1 1 .7 ..k .. . 1 i _ 0. • , i .• • 1 . * .- . . , • .fr • . . • . , . . , • . • lIIIIIIIV • . . 1 . ' , • ..• 1 , . . . VOL. LV GOVERNOR'S mmae;4&.gai-m. Th the Honorable the SentitOrs and Members of the House of Representatives of the Gen eral Assembly: GESTLE3IEX :—Whilst the events of the year just closed, present many'causes of joy and congratulation, and afford abundant reason for thankfulness to a beneficent Providence for his goodness and mercy— our prosperity and happiness, as a people, I regret to say, has not been unalloyed.— The general growth of the country, the pro gress of the arts and sciences, and other causes of moral and social comfort, have not, it is true, been interrupted ; but the loss of valuable lives and property, by the. casnalities of the elements, has been unu sual, both in number and extent; and in certain sections of our Commonwealth the afflictions of pestilence and disease have also been sorely felt. N s er should we esti mate lightly the suffering that manifestly exists amongst the poor in our cities and towns. The drought of the season deprived the husbandman, to some extent. of the an ticipated rewards of his labor, and lessened the means of human subsistence ; whilst'the depression in monetary and business al fairs, has deprived many laborers and me chanics of their usual earnings.' The means of subsistence are thus greatly enliiAnced in value, at the same time that the opportuni ties of earning them are much , didnnislied: The field for charity is-consequently wider than usual ; and to meet its reasonable de mands on the part of those: blesied with abundance, will be to sustainithe ehristian character, and measurably to Merit: the con tinued bounty of Heaven. The operations cif the Treasury for the last year, will be presented to you in detail, by the head of that department. The re sults are highly satistactory, showing a. steadily increasing revenue from nearly all the ordinary sources. The aggregate receipts for the fiscal year of 1854, including loans and the balance in the Treasury, on the 30th November, 1853, amounted to the sum of $6,664,912 01. The gross payments for the same period, to the sum of $5,424,983 29 ; leaving a balance on the 30th of November, of $1,240,929 72. The. extraordinary payments consisted of the folloiiing items, to wit : loans repaid, $235,888 40 ; to the North Branch canal, $206,552 76 ; to the construction of the new railroad over the Allegheny mountains, $461,921 03; to the payment of debts on the public works, $389,946 38. Of the hal- ' 1 ante remaining in the Treasury, a portion is applicable to the payment of the State debt, and the remainder to current demands. The simple, or ordinary operatio of tire treasury for the same, period, were as fol lows, to wit : the reCeipts . „,,,exclusive. of loans and the balance in the: Treasnri obi the 30th of November, 1853, realizbd from permanent sources, amounted to the sum of $5,218,099 00. The ordinary expenditures, including the interests on the State debt and all the payments on the finished liges of the public works, excluding the payments on new works and loans, tononnted to $4,116,744 84 ; being $1,101,490 ; 15, less than the receipts. This statement may be rega:rdeo as the workings of the Treasury simplified ; and as establishing the gratifying tact, that the present reliable revenues of the State, ex ceed the ordinary or unavoidable expendi tures, over a million of dollars • and that, relieved from the demands for the construc tion of new improvements, the Treasury could pay a million or more of the public debt annually. It will also be perceived that the income from these sources is stead ily increasing. For instance, in 1846, with the State tax at present rates, and the same extent of improvements in use, with nearly all the present sources of revenue in oper ation, toe gross receipts amounted to hut little over three and a half millions. No more reliable estimate of the opera tions of the Treasury for 1855 can be made, than is furnished in the results for 1854. The ordinary receipts may be safely esti mated at a mrlliou of dollars above tue un avoidable .expenditures. A portion of this excess will be required to complete the new Portage railroad, and the N o rth Branch canal; and the remainder should be faith fully applied toward the payment of the State debt. The aggregate receipts on the public works for the past year, as reported by the Canal Commissioners, amounted to the sum of $1,876,078 00 ; and the expenditures to the sum of $1,101,570 54; leaving a balance of $774,508 34, from which, how ever, should be deducted the sum of $37,- 900, properly chargeable to the year, for new locomotives and other unavoidable ex penditures—thus reducing the net profits to $736,608 34. If we add to this, $131,- 000 00 received from the Pennsylvania rail road company for the the three mill tax, which is claimed by some as a part of the income from the public works, we find a net revenue of $867,000 ; a sum equal to the interest on seventeen millions of the five per cent. debt of the State. The aggregate receipts were $57,121 less than for the year 1853, and the reduction in expenditures amounted to over $159,287,00. The with: drawal of the business of the Pennsylvania railroad from the Portage road, readily ac counts for this difference. Viewed in every aspect, this exhibit is gratifying. Few similar systems of im provement in the country can present a more favorable picture. Some of them, in other States, have recently been reduced to a condition of virtual insolvency. The in crease of business on the State works for the two last years, has exceeded our anti cipations ; and but for the necessity which seemed to exist , or- a eduction of tolls to meet surrounding' competition, the revenue would have been largely increased. The general movement now on foot amongst railroad companies, to advance these rates, may perhaps, relieve the State to sope ex tent in this respect. The Delaware division makes a most gratifying exhibit. The gross receipts counted $365,32507, and the expenditures 859,748 67, showing a net profit of $305.- 588 40 ; a sum equal to the interest on six millions of the public debt, and to 20 per cent. en the oiginal cost of the work, in cluding the expenditure for new works. The North Branch Canal and the Colum bia railroad also present favorable results. The business and tolls on the former have increased with marked rapidity; and the management on both these branches bear the marks of skill and economy. The ex penses on the Allegheny Portage road have been largely reduced, and the business bet ter regulated than at any former period.— As a whole, I feel constrained to say, that the condition of the public works has been improved during the last year: in no par ticular, to so valuable an extent, as in the matter of contracting debts, which it seems has been almost entirely avoided. The of ficers on the respective lines report that they have paid all expenses; and some of them have gone so far as to say to the Ca nal Board that they will be personally re sponsible for any debts that may hereafter be discovered. This is truly a great reform —for nothing has cost the State so much,,as the pernicious practice of making debts on the public works ; I still think it should be interdicted by positive law. In my last message I gave my views at length, as to the principles and rules that should control in the management of the State improvements, and I need not tepeat them in this. I would respectfully suggest, however, that so much of the law as binds the Canal Commissioners to a fixed rate of „lolls; for the whole season, should be re pealed. The officers directing the opera- tions of the public works should, it seems to me, be left free to meet the exigencies in trade and commerce, as they may arise. The work on the Mountain railroad has progressed slowly, and it is obvious that it will not be fully completed before the sum mer of 1855. 1 must confess myself sadly disappointed as to the time and money con sumed in the construction of this work.— The expenditures; since 1 came into office, have greatly exceed the whole amount esti mated us necessary to complete the line ; and yet, it is but justice to say, that the Pennsylvania railroad, lying parallel with it, has cost—a-still larger sum per mire. I have endeavored, during my service, to guard against the commencement of schemes of this or any other character, to entail future liabilities on the Treasury. This ought to be the settled policy of the State. No new improvements should be undertaken, upon any pretext whatever. The payment of the debt, and that only, should absorb the surplus revenues of the Treas ury. If this policy be pursued, no other financial scheme, , to pay the debt, will be necessary. The large annual surplus will reduce the State's indebtedness with suf ficient rapidity. 1 regret, exceedingly, the necessity of an nouncing to you that the North Branch Canal is not yet iu full operation. It is now more than a year since the Caual Commis sioners directed the water to be let into the main trunk of that improvement, and di.-- 'clared their confident belief, that it woul be in successful operation by the middle of last summer; but their sanguine expecta tions, as well as those of the people, have, 'in this respect been : sadly disappointed. A variety of unforseen difficulties presented themselves in the way of the attainment of this end. The old work, construed some twelve or fifteen years•since,as well-as some sections of the new, located on the hill side, near the margin of t' , river, when tested by the admission of water, turned out to be porous, and totally insufficient in its mate rial and formation. In some instances rocks, roots, trees and stumps have been concealed under the bottom of the canal channel, covered only by a few inches of earth ; thus presenting but a slight obstruc tion to the passage of the water out into the bed of the river. This is especially the case in much of the old work, in all midh sections or places, no remedy, short of - -a reconstruction of the bottom of the canal, could prove sufficient; and this was neces sarily a tedious and expensive process.— There is still a considerable portion of the work to remodel in this way; but it is confi dently 'believed that it will be ready for use in the early part of the coming season. That the utmost skill and vigilance has at all times been exhibited by the agents of the State, on this line, d do not believe ; but the deficiency, in this particular, on the new work, has not been so palpable as alleged by some. Indeed, since May last, great ener gy has characterized the management on this line ; the President of the Canal Board having devoted much of his time to a per sonal. supervision of the work. But it is obvious, no degree of capacity in the State's agents, for the last year, could have over come all the difficulties that were encoun tered, with sufficient celerity, to have en tirely satisfied public expectation. At the time I came into office, the sum necessary to complete this work was esti matsd at $772,000. Since that time the sum of $1,206;552 72 has been expended, and it will still require, as estimated by the Canal Board, $60,000 to put it into com plete operation. 'Whilst I regret this unforeseen cost and delay, I cannot refrain from repeating my unfaltering confidence in the wisdom of the policy that dictated the completion of this work. The large increase of business and tolls for the year just closed, on the older portion of the line, indicates what we may safely anticipate from the new ; and, I can not doubt, that the gross amount of bus iness it will command, and the revenue it will yield, will exceed the most san guine expectations of its advocates.- -The inexhaustible mines of coal with which that section of the State abounds, the products of which are destined to pass through this avenue to a limitless market, wl furnish for it a never failing supply of business and tonnage. Besides, its comple tion will be an act of justice to the industri ous and enterprising inhabitants of that part of the Commonwealth, who have here tofore willingly contributed towards the construction of the other improvements of the State, from which they could derive but little advantage. It will, also, add to the general prosperity of the adjacent country ; to the value - of property, and consequently to the revenues of the btate. At the time of my induction into °thee - the funded debt, including accrued interest, amounted to the sum of • • • • $40,154,457 48 Add to this the loan of April, 1852, to complete the N. Branch canal, 850,000 00 Deduct payments as Ibllows : Interest on outstanding certifi cates, 5,50,063 39 Receipts to the sink ing fund up to this time, 1,057,856 15 ,Total funded debt, The floating debt and unpaid ap propriations at the period already indicated. 1,421,090 15 Deduct theavailable balance then in Tthe i : easury,• . 750,1300 00 The floating debt, temporary loans, unpaid appropriations, except for repairs after the Ist Decem ber, 1854, 1,630,000 00 Balance in the Treasury, Novem ber 30, 1854, after deducting the amount applicable to the old public debt and the relief issues then on hand, 865,929 00 During the same period the following appropria tions and payments have been made toward the construction of new improvements, to wit: Far the re-constructing of the Co lumbia railroad,. • • • $514,407 66 For the new railroad over the Al legheny mountains, 1,117,955 93 For the completion of the Western reservoir, 52,388 00 For the North Branch canal, 1,206,352 76 New locks on Delaware division,• 100,319 99 Sundry sped:a payments, 95,353 71 The foregoing figures exhibit the aston ishing fact, that the Treasury has been an nually paying over a million of dollars to wards the construction of new improvements and at the same time accomplished a small reduction of the public debt. As made my duty, by an act of the Le gislature, approved the 27th of April last, providing for the sale of the main line of the public works, sealed proposals for its purchase were invited, up to the first Mon day of July last. No offers were made un der this invitation; and public notice was again given, on the 14th of November last, in accordance with the 29th section of the act, for proposals, to be submitted to the General Assembly ; but none have been re ceived. This improvement is, therefore, still the property of the State, subject to such disposition as the Legislature may deem necessary. My mind has undergone no change, on the subject of selling the public works, since the period of my last message. I think the policy of the measure depends mainly upon the price that can be obtained, and the con ditions on which purchasers may be willing :to hold these works for the use of tlia pub lic. With a full and fair Consideration, and "THAT 00IIIITIVY 4 IS TEE MOST PROSPEROUS WIRY LABOR 00111ELSCIA :I: OSZATEST BEWAILD."--rBOOSANLII CITY OF LANCASTER, TUESDAY MOANING, JANUARY 9, 1855. on terms amply protective of the rights and interests of the people, in the future enjoy ment of these highways—a sale might not prove injurious to the public weal. But it is certainly neither wise nor politic to as sume that they must be sold for whatever can be obtained; or that they should, in any event, be given away. Nothing could have a more prejudicial effect upon the in terests of the State, as involved in these improvements, than the avowal of such a determination. Nor is it less unwise to disparage the value of the Commonwealth's property, at the very moment of putting it in market for sale. No intelligent 'private citizen wonld so act, in reference to his own estate. He would hardly give notice to capitalists, io advance, that he would sell his farm fora fair price ; but if unwilling to pay such reasonable consideration, they could have it for half the money. Nor would such a person proclaim, that of all the farms in the country, his was the least productive. It is certainly the wish of many good cit izens of the State—perhaps of a majority— that the public works should be sold ; but this desire is evidently' based upon the as sumption that the measure would be one of real economy—that it would lessen, without the hazard of increasing, their annual taxes. The realization, of such an object, it must be perceived, then, depends entirely upon the price and terms. Those who desire a sale, certainly expect the State to be the gainer by such a measure. No other im portant, or sufficient reason for partingiwith • this property has been assigned. It is usually said that the works should be sold to pay the public debt and lessen the burthens of the people; but it must be' observed, that a sale might be made at a price far too low to effect such pliglose ; and if so, to give them away would ',still less likely to produce the desired result. Should the gross sum received, not be equal to that on which the nett earnings would pay the interest, then the effect would be to increase rather than diminish these annual burthens. This is iot what the people desire to ac complish by a sale ; nor will they be satis fied with such a disposition of their proper- ty. The real value of the public works, is a proposition full of difficulty ; and I doubt not the General Assembly will approach the in quiry, duly impressed with its importance. Ten millions of dollars was fixed, by the law of last session, as the price fur the main line. This minimum is said by some to be too high, and the failure to sell, regarded as the con sequence. Others attribute the absence of bidders, to the condition of the money mar ket—to the stringent restrictions imposed up on the iow ; tad to the efforts that had been previously made to disparage the value of the line. But it is obvious that more than one of these causes may have operated ; and a greater than all may have been, the hope of getting this property on better terms, at' a future time. I feel very confident that the latter consideration was not without its in fluence. But, be this as it may, it is cer tainly wiser to fail to sell from any one of these causes, than to hazard the works in the market, without any restriction or limi t tation as to price or conditions. A bad sale I would assuredly be a greater misfortune, than no sale at all. The benefits resulting to the people from these improvements, have been numerous and diversified. They have facilitated trade and commerce; stimulated productive indus try in every department; and have not only enabled the farmer to reach a ready market with the fruits of his labor, but have furnish ed - convenient out-lets for the rich mineral treasures of the State. Without them, the miner would be deprived of his occupation, the transporter be left in helpless destitution, and the Commonwealth itself be permitted to retain a parsimonious possession of vast masses of natural and unproductive riches. Our predecessors were wise in opening these avenues to trade and commerce ; and if we wish to he rated wise hereafter, we shall not rashly and hastily throw away the advanta ges of their future use. This use, to the full extent, in the event of a sale, can only be secured by a jealous protection of the right of the people to enjoy it. The very first con ditions of such a measure should be, that the works, and every branch of them, be kept at all times in good order and iu operating con dition, and remain forever public highways, for the use of all persons who may wish to transport goods or merchandise over them, upon rates not greater than those charged upon other similar improvements. No cur poration should get possession of these valu able avenues, on such conditions as would enable it to impose unreasonable burtheus on the internal trade and tonnage of the State, or in any way to encroach upon the rights of the individual citizen: To obviate such results, the powers, privileges and re strictions of any corporation getting the works, should be minutely defined. Past experience suggests these purdential coun sels ; for we have often seen in this State, how difficult it is to confine the operation of these artificial bodies within the limits prescribed by the law ; and we should not fail to profit by the lesson. By the 29th section of the act of the 9th of May last, providing for the. ordinary ex penses of government and other purposes, Nimrod Strickland, of Chester county, John N. Purviance, of Butler county, and John Strohm, of Lancaster county, were named as commissioners to settle certain claims and debts against the Commonwealth. It was al so made the duty of the Governor to supply by appointment, any vacancy in this com mission which might occur. The gentlemen already named having declined to serve, I accordingly appointed William W. William son, of Chester county, William English, of Philadelphia, and John C. Magill, of West moreland county, in their stead. After a tedious and laborious investiga tion, these gentlemen have completed the du , . ty assigned to them, and the result will be oommunicated to you. in detail. in their own report. $41,004,457 48 1,103;919 54 $39,900,537 94 8671,090 I+s $765,929 00 I regret to perceive that the accounts, so examined and settled, exceed the amount of the appropriation nearly $150,000. It is well, however, to see the end of claims of this character; and having accomplished this it will be prudent to guard against the re currence of a similar state of affairs. Indeed, the practice of contracting debts on the pub lic works, should be at once and forever abandoned. It has been a fruitful sourL•e of confusion in the accounts, if not of palpable wrong upon the Treasury. The right to scatter the credit of the Commonwealth in -this unguarded way, is, I venture to assert, without a parallel in the management of par lic affairs. Of the many defects in the sys tem of managing. the State improvements, this has been the most productive of evil.— In.my first, as also in my last annual mes sage, I most earnestly urged the General As sembly to • provide, by law, that no debt should be contracted by the officers ou the public works;—that the necessary labor and material to maintain these works should be paid for in cash—and that each officer should be compelled to settle his accounts promptly. The examinations just made, demonstrate still more clearly the necessity for such re form. Repe. ited attempts have been made to re peal so much ,of the act incorporating the Pennsylvania railroad company, as requires it to pay into the Treasury annually, a Cer tain per centage on the amount of tonnage which may pass over that road as an equiva lent for the privileges granted by the-Com monwealth; but the Gen-val Assembly have asrepeatedly rejected the proposition; and I sincerely hope, that, so long as the State may need the revenue from this source, all future attempts to accomplish this end, may. meet a similar fate. $3,086,778 05 „Elaving_been conxiected with the iamaasassaassiesasaasaaes unction any 'extensive iacrea.se of bank- 'equates to be taught in every district,. and Lion which brought this company into ex- . refused ta li rme • also in the art of teaching—is already obvious istence, and clearly cognizant of the mos Every commercial country is liable ao alternate ly effecting decided improvement in this regard, tires and purposes which:governed the Legis- seasons of excitement and 'depresson; to periods of and it is belieaed will do much towards plac gacapital. Normal schools, it is urged, could in addition, lature in imposing this condition on , tits extratagant over-trading,,followed by ruinous re- ing the profession upon a high and 'inn basis. grant, I can discover no raison, in stibse- - vulsions. The reaction now felt is the inevitable,• ' queue events, tb jueuiy the relinqaish- .if not the natural counterpart of an undue expan- to some extent supply the deficiency, but the ment of this valuable reservation; blie Many ,ion of credit, in the form of bank paper , railroad, expenses of such an institution would be un the contrary, to sustant its justice, seta' thous. In 'those States where the free; or stock- . The source of this difficulty, it is clear can uulita, The discussions pending the incur- Stateand corporation bonds and individual obligee , heavy banking system had stimulated the expansion,. the be traced, ill a great measure, to the want of a poration of the company, will best proper appreciation in the public mind, of the the object of this restranion. The construe- ourowu beloved Commouvrealth the shock has been iiialLaate : workings of the reaction have been disastrous. La s , theer position and business at a teacher. The aro tam in a railroad from ilarriaburg t u Pitts- sensibly felt, though far less seve l re than in tession for this reason, in addition to the ab burg, parallel with the State works, wasvery ,aaaaresdef.thearro% litoellerarttpraudeesentaaPieid it tne - sense of fair compensation, has nqt been at properly urged as indispensably neceasary '`d eyed, ' is in -the ase g album. credit. It is, at tractive. Indeed, it has scarcely been regard to meet the wants of the taaveiiing pablic, as a profession at all, but as a preliminary and to enable our metropolis to corapem sue- ing plan, at one time so zealpualy advocated-, been step to some other pursuit. Well directed eta least, clear, that had the free, or stack-bank- ed cessfully with Maier commercial cities. , The , a d o pt e d in this State, or haltaaar present system ' forts have recently been made to change the very first and indst formidable diffipuity I been greatly expanded, the aaation of affairs in general sentiment on this point, and I rejoice which presented iese prejudicial effect such alf iet the than' of Lille en- our commercial metropolis would not have been so In the belief that these have not been in vain; terprase, was the favorable as at present. Had the natural tendency and that the day is not far distant, when the profession of teacher will be equal to the as work might has c upon the business and . I the limits of safety, like the lessons of experience, to elation received this artificial stimulant— profession of the most ambitious of our people; profits of the main sate of the public nut rove- when its distinctions, dignities and pecuniary meats. It was urged ant the one band that good men, in the pursuit df useful enterprises, have would have been passed unheeded ; as it is, some rewards, will command the time and attention the State works had been conseructed'at the : been prostrated. It is moat unfortunate r that under of the most gifted. I can see no reason why if 'who Ibis state of teeling should not prevail; why expense of the people of the entireCoMmon-; this influence, all must suffer alike. T d ho e sa • wealth—that encase residing in the extreme Profit least by the lap:linen ; are lle the profession of teacher should not rank in atm t f the :Rate, as well as those al the ' ru°St b a r pur s : nal- last be honor and profit with the other learned profes the contra? io . HT . is peciy ee the case with labor, which is an& y theeto . dons; why the science of developing the hu interior, had, annually, contributed tomaards ' elevated in times of prosperity, and the first to go the payment ul the interest uu the debt I man intellect—of giving scope and force to mind—of elevating the moral faculties of our winch had thus been contracted; and, there- r d ad own r,dl in s t mhoaskesofthdeepmreosostioonu. out The banks,convulsions. T o n n e s: . Mare, the Legislature could not, consistently It is often their error to flatter the merchant and : race—of controlling the passions and temper with the principles of justice and equity, him the tide ar of prosperity runs high', ing the desires, should not be esteemed as thefirst appearance of its ebbing. highly as thole protessions and callings, whose make a grant that would depreciate the i te Even sound banks and of good repute, it is said, ' ornaments have received all their capacity and value of property which belonged to all, for are seeking to make money out of the present crisis, : polish at the hands of the comparatively hum the purpose of fostering the growth mall pros- by sharing their capital as its benefits with brokers 1 ble and illy rewarded teacher. perity of a particular portion of the State.— and jobbers, instead of aiding the business corn- I earnestly recommend tiltl common aohool Gout faith and correct moral prineipl;e for. inanity at legitimate rates. How far these allegi- system to your guardian care, as the most warranted, it is difficult to decide; but t, sacred of all our institutions. The offspring bade such action. On thauther hand, ,fa was lions are alleged that the increased businessof a constitutional injunction on the Legisla such an improvement would throw up, n the ' 'inch it ' s is tly M a b ia e bl h e e I .,, to dthat t efetwarate urge, for o s f u o c h ur ab practice anks er e ture--the extension and perpetuity of its use- Columbia railroad, and tile outlaw:ea value j w u ould be hiahly improper, and well calculated to excite discontent. Such a departure from legiti- fuluess, is the plain ditty of all. Resting at of property adjacent to the propesed, Irma', mate business would demand a prompt remedy at the very foundation of the government, its from which the State would derive infirleased your hands. It may be difficult to confine these I practical workings should be a true reduction revenue in the form of taxes—would a:onsti- i institutions to their proper business, with the pros- I of our republican system, and its blessed op tute an ample remuneration to her coffers, Pact of betterprofits te portunities made available to all, regardless in t hoatth they s q u h a a r v te e r v s e ; e d b bus of rank, or condition, or persuasion. It should and thus do full justice to the peupleirts the for ulao mde feel owners of the works to be affected. :But a ahigher purpose than merely to enrich the aid the poor, advance the rich, and make the ignoraat wise. I stockholders. majority of the Legislature concluded that The crisis is a trying one ; but there is still rea- ignorant confidently anticipate fur it, a day of grea some additional benefits were demandea, and son to hope that the credit and trade of the country ter perfection anu us slur influence. No bet hence the adoption of the provision tea ivhich will never suffer as much as it has done similaron occasions, in times past. There is now no -National ter object eats engz.ge use attention of govern- The have referred. I Bank to mislead the mercantile class, and to em- anent, or manautue its meaua, titan the educe- The stuck was subscribed with a full know- - a • • • . , • . • arrass the commerce which it professed to aid. non of the people in isle isteL•L comprehensive ledge of this reservation, and the acceptance Still the shock will be great enough to lead the I sense of the term ; embracing the use of let of the charter by the company, was tale con- public mind to enquire after a remedy for these t ters, the cultivation oh the itionil !acuities, summation of a solemn agreement between periodical convulsions. And, surely, we may be and the ditluaiun ot eimiatian truth. in this them and the State. . , , permitted to hope, that the good sense of the people we have the surest guarantee for the perpet hose crude Yet, under the specioua plea that i at, a n _ l will never again be imposed upon b t uity of our republican government, and for s e o xp ih e ntinny poses a tax on trade, the Commonwealth is experiment which hav, on some former y occasions the enjoyment of civil Liberty and religious now asked to relinquish this conditiem and aggravated the evils they were intended freedom. such an education° may be safely to remedy. I. respectfully advise the General As the case is argued as though it had been the I eembly against all such experiments. Theremedy, claimed as the most potent mean:, of proven policy of the law, that the company lahould to be permanent, must be asnatural one ; artificial . ting crime—of increasing smitvisival happi maim' ma y not correct them. add to present derangements ; but can- ness and national dignity of promoting impose this charge of three mills per e' nup - means may on every species of property Christianity and civilization—of extirpating pass over its rood; and in this way it is very An extensive increase of banking capital and l and political evils--of elevating, dig readily shown that on coal, iron, lumbar and otherexpedients will, doubtless, be pressed upon moral - nifyang and adorning our social condition. other cheap tonnage, this charge would be cy vour attention :- but it is hoped that no such falle may find favor. Nor is there-any sufficient rea- Our various charitable and reformatory iu too great. But the company are not abliged son for the alarm and sensitiveness manifested in stitutions—so creditable to the :llate, and to assess this tax on all kinds of tonnage: certain quarters; the real wealth of the country which, in their practical operations, have nor was it the intention of the act that they stilt exists, and the natural elements of prosperity done so much for the relief of sunering hu should du so. The design was to make an are no less than heretofore. It is the ,i _ h had e h o n w, not. manity—will claim the continued care and exaction from the nett profits of thascoinpany the co M u u h ri s i t t anc s e ho th u l a d Ito' passing d a n : - n e y r . in the face, maensdg bounty'of the Commonwealth. The State Lunatic Hospital at Harrisburg, for the use of the public coffers, as cum- by theiren y ergy, honesty and en terprise, g overcome man pensation for a valuable grant, and t hereby it. Mutual confidence and forbearance should be under its present eff i cient control and protect the public improvements Ifi m the cherished by all, as a means of accomplishing this competition of this new rival. The ax on i ii, desirable end. agement, meets the just anticipations of its . wise and benevolent advocates. Its humane with the provisions of a law pas , anti benignant agency in ameliorating the tonnage, therefore, was intended to i dicate li!itacAcotridlatz t e , a vote of thepeople was taken, condition of the unfortunate class for whose only the mode of ascertaining the suM to be ` ' a e tAlif, Oc P tober election, on policy of prohibit- relief it was designed, can be judged by no paid, and not the specific tonnage on which Mg the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liq- ordinary standard. The benefits of such an it should be charged. When the sum is in uors ; 118.342 votes were east in favor of the men- institution rise above all mere pecuniary es this way ascertained, it matters nut to the sure, and 163,510 votes against it. ~ timates. Its purposes address themselves to State how the company obtains the money; The proper regulation of this subject great- the best and noblest feelings 01 our nature, whether it be by charges . on . freight, or on ly concerns the moral welfare of tne people, and can only be rated at the price of human passengers--on local, or orathrough tonnage. and for that reason will claim your anxious hope and harden reason. Should, therefore, certain kinds of tonnage consideration. Perhaps no other moral ques- A somewhat dissimilar, tho' nut less mer be improperly oppressed, the fault is with tion 'within the range of your 'authority, so itorioua institution has recently been estab the company, nut in the law. And surely deeply interests the people of every class, race lished in Philadelphia, for the mental train it will out be contended that the protection and condition. Indeed, the immoderate use of ing oh' the Idiotic and the Imbecile. The as thus thrown around the tforks of the State intoxicating drinks is an evil that has left its touishing results it has already- achieved in fatal mark in every vicinage. its progress as utmecessary;—so far from tine, the wis- developing and invigorating the weak and fortunately, has been steadily resisted by Mita! dont and utility of this feature of th coin- Iclouded intellect, should secure for it public:. patty's charter has already been mail mani- I confidence and patronage. It commendsjt fest. The ;Cry exigency anticipated bythel viduals and societies, who have employed the efforts have done much, and may do more here- , power of truth and - reason against it. These self to the bounty and care of the State. Legislature has arisen: tile cumpeti iun ut after to mitigate the evil. , Avoiding all vexa- The institutions for the education of the the railroad is already seriously telt y the Maus encroachments upon the rights and prix- Deaf and Dumb, and, Blind, will alai) need, as f• main hue. Relieved from this mamaut; but ileges of every citizen, there is clearly no rea- they justly merit, the usual annuity from the a meagre portion oaaahe carrying trail would i son why the influence of a well designed law, i State. They are in a flourishing condition, be left fur that bran of our hupruv meats. regulating and restraining the sale oh intoxica- ' and continue to bestow numberless blessings Nor will it be contended that the Coln- ting liquors, should not be brought to the aid . ' upon the' unfortunate beings- committed to inonwerath does ma need this source of rev- of these individual efforts. Although the vote' their charge. of the people would seem to atiumate their a As a scheme for correcting and reclaiming enue. - • aversion to the particular measure uf reform ! wayward and offending youth, the House of But, viewed alone, as a matter int estingproposed,'a notbeinferred,that Refuge' itl no to forrea- stands pre-eminent ; and is every to the owners and transporters of t o nnage, son they are averse to all attempts at reforma- I where gaining public confidence. its general what guarantee would they have that the tion. Such an inference, lam confident would I influence upon this class of erring creatures rates of transportation would be caused, hot be a true retlection,of their sentiments.— 1 is far more effectual and humanizing than were this tax taken off? None whatever.— So far from this, they acknowledge the exist- 1 that of the orctidary modes of punishment.— The company could charge as heretofore, ence of the evil and the necessity of proper , , It takes charge of those whose °deuces are and thus realize the amount of thel i tax in remedies. Our present license laws, to this often the result of circumstances rather than addition to their present profits. ' I they end, might, in my ?pinion, be usefully revised I criminal intent; who fall by the influence of should not du this, their action woula differ the th v e ic o e uje o c i. t i o n f te s ns ual e i ra r n e c visio arhbaetintghotsoelessen bad example, of wicked association, of idle from that of similar corporations under like habits or animal necessities ; or who sin be need such recision is conceded. So far as re s - i cireumstanced. But to admit, what ia claim- , cause of the utter want of moral and mental fates to the city of Philadelphia, they are pe ed, that a reduction in the charges of trans- I , caliarly prejadicial to public morals, and seem I perception ; who do wrong, rather than right portation to a sithilar extent, would' take to have been constructed to promote the con- 1 because they have not the power to distin place, it must be perceived would duplicate venience of drinkiag a far more than to restrain I guish between them. For such unfortunate the loss to the State; for she would not only its eva consequendes. The subject is worthy 1 beings, the House of Refuge possesses the thereby lose time amount of the three mill tax, of your early and 'deliberate consideration. advantages of restraint and correction—with but be deprived of a very large portion of The Maori of tfie Superintendent will exhib- . . I moral and intellectual training,as well as of t t.' inthus ' ' '• lire, tonnage which would be attracted •to the it to you in detail, operations of the Com- 1 instruction ii, usual pursuits ot• . ~ . 'grace and chilling influenoe of company's road by this reduction! in the mon School system for the year just chased ; I without priaon oonfinement The results, therefore, rates of transportation. We are thus brought and I respectfully 'recommend the suggestions I to the simple s in Miry, whether the State of that officer to your careful consideration.h cured of alaamoral defection, and. competent shall retain this valuable income, tin which law,The o g d le a r t a l l on s ls o ,as f 1849, re-modeledwit amendmentsby the last to fill the aalace of correct and useful members she is so justly entitled, or whether' she shall a L n egi n s : lature. The, most material parts of the of the community. give it to the railroad company. Most cer old law, which were omitted in the new, were During the past summer, the niagnificent manly the latter alternative should; nut be the sub-districts, the endowment, and sectari- structure erected under the supervision of adopted, so long 'as the question of selling an features. . The former was rejected because certain benevolent gentlemen of Philadelphia, the State improvements remains undecided. I of the unnecessary multiplication of Mikes as a new House of Refuge, was completed As a mere revenue measure, this tax con- which it authorized, and the conflict which per- and thrown open for public inspection. The . ~ stitutes an important and increasing item in the annual receipts of the Treasury. In the year 1853, it amounted to the sure of $74, 000, and fur the year 1854, to $131,000. That this amount will be materially 'in creased hereafter, is self-evident. 111 this important important item he withdrawn from the sinking fund, there will be,but lit tle left to sustain its operation's. I am aware that these views may be met with the plausible argument that trade and commerce should not be thus burthened— that the effect is 'prejudicial to the business of the State. This is true to a certain ex tent ; and should have its full weight in the adjustment of a question of this character.— But it• will scarcely be contended that trade and commerce should be sustained by contri butions from a needy Treasury. On this prin ciple, t could as reasonably be maintained that the State should make no chargis what ever for the use of her own works. . The administration of Governor[Shuuk commenced the cancellation of relief issues ; and that of my immediate predeeesso arrest ed the process, leaving $650,163 00 of this :Unsightly currency in. circulation. In the spring of 1853, the policy of canilellation was again resumed;and up to this date, $485,- 38-1 88 had been received into the sinking fund, applicable to that purpose, leaving the meagre sum of $154,778 12, tq provi( o f or ._ The gratifying fact is apparent, tlerefore, that, without any further legislation, on this subject, the entire outstanding balance of re lief notes can be withdrawn from circulation and destroyed during the current year. it is f true that these issues have not come' into the Treasury as rapidly as the funds r their cancellation have acenmulated; and lat,con sequently, a portion of the receipts 'lave nut been invested: but this difficulty wil be ob viated in June next, when the law will go into operation which forbids the bdnks and receivm,, officers of the Com mortw , alth to pay out these issueli, and reqUires them to be presented at the Tfeasury for canlellation. My opinion on all questions that co cern the currency, have been so often expressed, hat they must be well known is the Legislature, and need not be given, at length, in this communication. Without, at any time, assuming it would be wise for this State,j regardless of the policy of other Commonwealths, to dispense suddenly and entirely with banks of issue, it has bean uniformly held that the amount of banking capital as a basis for Paper circulation, should be closely limited to the urgent wants of commerce and trade. If the ex perience of the country is worth any thing at all, it has demonstrated the correctness of this policy; and that the ate of small. bank notes should be disown-aged and forbidden. In acoordance with this new of the subject, I have, on wt.ocessions, r petually arose between the committees - and di rectors ; and the latter, because in manifest hostility to the true intent of the common school system. These provisions which seem ed to contemplate a separate school establish ment, under sectarian patronage, although con trolled by the ,common school directors, were originally engrafted upon the acts of 1836 and 1838, and were again re-enacted in 1849. They were very properly stricken from the system by the law of last session. Should efforts be made in the future, at similar innovations, come whence they may, it is hoped they may be promptly rejected. The system to be effectual, must be simple and uniform in its operations. Special legislation, inconsistent with the gene ral law, applicable to particular localities or districts, to answer temporary or partial ends, always has, and always will embarrass the ad ministration of the general system, and should for this reason, be carefully avoided. The in tegrity of its forms, not less than the means to sustain its operations, should be constantly maintained, and sacredly cherishVil by the gov ernment. Anew feature in the system, adopted in the law of last session, creating the office of Coun ty Superintendent,. has not, as yet, been fully tested; and there evidently - exists some diver sity of opinion as to the wisdom of the provi sion. It is already very obvious at least, that its beneficial workings must depend mainly upon the dharacter of the agents selected to carry it into operatidn. Competent and faith ful Superintendents may produce the happiest results; whilst the agency of the ignorant or inefficient will be attended by the reverse con sequences. In order to give this new feature of the law a fair trial, t will be necessary, therefore for the directors, in the respective counties, to select Superintendents with sole reference to their adaptation to the duties of the station. Of the many obstacles in the way olthe complße success of our Common School sys tem, the one most prominent, and most diffi cult to remove, is tbe want of competent teach ers. 'ln some communities,• I regret to say, the system has fallen into comparative ineffi ciency because good teachers cannot be found; and in others, the most vexatious consequen ces have arisen from the employment of the illiterate and incompetent. Nothing could ex ercise a more prejudicial influence; indeed, be- The practice adopted and maintained by tween a very bad teacher ernl none at all, the the last General Assembly, in reference to latter alternative might, in manyinstances be omnibus bills and special legislation, is an preferred. This deficiency is already manifest, improvement td• .such value as to commend an hard to obviate. Sr me orthe best minds itself as a settled rule ; and I confidently,trust of tilt State have been occupied and perplexed this salutary precedent may not be disregar % with it ; and until recently no general and prat- ded. ticable plan for its removal had been devised.. l Obscurity, confusion and inaccuracy in the The plan Of granting permanent professional caistraction.of our laws, inroads upon private certificates, by officers skilled in the art of rights, and unguarded corporate privileges, teaching,. and esiinent in literary and scientific iltigation.and confuSion in the interpretation acquirements, to teachers .who satisfactorily a n d tt,azinotration of our statutes have been pass a thorough examination, in the several the &hits of a loose and nnguardsd system of branches of 'study, which the act of May, 1854 ) .;legislation. 1- lation. The evilhas bserioruiof theireat , - - capacity, order, and arrangements, in every particular, of this admirable building, are ful ly equal to the design of its founders. It is an honor to them and an ornament to the beautiful city in which it is situated ; and its good effects in future, under the same syste matic and wise discipline which so eminent ly distinguished its past management, will not be readily over-r ated. The Western House of Refuge, situate on the bank of the Ohio river, a short distance below Pittsburg, I am gratified to say, -is also completed and ready for inmates. Though less imposing, as to size and capacity, than its stately compeer of the east, it possesses all the order, economy of space, and perfect adaptation to the purposes designed, that characterize the more costly structure at Philadelphia; and it is also believed to be quite adequate, as to size, to present wants, while it is built with express reference to fli t:ire additions, should they become necessary. Neither of these buildings have, I presume, been erected without involving their projec tors in pecuniary liability, and perhaps loss. The entire State has a deep interest in such truly meritorious institutions; and whatever relief can be given to them by the Legisla ture, consistently with the condition of the Treasury or our public engagements, should be cheerfully extended. The interests of Agriculture are ardently commended to your care. ,Extensive and en ergetic efforts have been recently made to dis seminate correct information concerning this great pursuit, and in this way to confer upon the farmer the advantages of a' scientific as well as a greatly refined,vractical understan ding of the noble pursuit in which he is en gaged. The utility of a College, devoted to Ag riculture, with a model farm attached— wherein the principles of a scientific cultiva tion of the soil, and manual labor in that pur suit, would be joined to the usual academical studies—has been strongly pressed upon my attention. It is believed that such au insti tution can he successfully organized, under the auspices of the State and County agricul tural societies. est magnitude, and the remedy should be chin.- ' jetted with unyielding tenacity. Special le / I gislation has so littf ,to reced:aemend or ana -1 tamit in . principle, it is ,surprising . it has been SO. long endure . Although much was done by the' two preceding legislatures by : general laws, the', obViitte any supposed news- . fifty for special acts, there still is much to be performed in avoid* a return , to this 114- safe practice. It iseleived that general laws can be so framed. asto avoid in most cases the necessity for s p ecial ants, and the propo sition is most earneltly . commended to your favorable consid e ration. The omnibus system—a pernicious-mode of legislation, by whiohl the most opposite meas ures, good and bad, are thrown together in one bill and under one title—was, I rejoice to say„ entirely broken down and discarded by the last General Assembly. I The volume of laws for 1864 contains no acts of this character. Eaoh law embraces but al single subject, and that indicated by its proper title. 65th section [of the act :providing for the expenses of Government for 1863, author ized and required g a le Governor to sell the State arsenal at Ph delphia, find apply the proceeds of such sale towards the purchase of another site and the erection of a new building; and restricting the e penditure to the sum re ceived for the old p peep. The building and lot were readily 'BOl, for $30,000. The selec tion of a new location, and the erection of an other building, pre anted a far more difficult task. I readily dis overed that the sum thus appropriated was entirely inadequate to ac complish the end iu yiew. The price of a sim ilar location would leave but ameagre sum with, which to erect the bnding. Underall circum stances, I have not felt authorized to attempt to carry out the laW, and would respectfully. suggest the propriety of increasing the appro priation for this purpose. The renort of the present able and energet ic Adjutsililt general will inform you of the condition of the military affairs of the State. This department ofrpublic affairs, I regret to a say, has been in confuted and declining condition for several years. „ The public Librarian has called my atten tion to the fact, that the law reports of twen ty-two other States have been regularly received by this, and that no provision has ever beT3lrmade, on our part, to reciprocate this courtesy and ,generosity. I respectfully suggest the propri tyof authorizing some offi cers of the Governinent to procure the neces sary copies of the i Pennsylvania reports to supply those Statet who have so generously added to our library. _ • . .. The registration het, I respectfully suggest, has essentially failed to accomplish the -end designed, and shod be repealed or amended. A record so incolete and imperfect can do no good; lid may s really do harm. It has already cost the State about $25,000, to which there must be aionnally , additions. -The ob ject i..4.1t desireablejone, but I am confident it can never be attained by the mode contem plated in this law. i It is a subject of constant complaint by registers and-physicians, and only such registration. is nude as is compul sory, in order to legalize letters of adminis tration. , By the'67th sec* ion of the appropriation law of last session the Secretary of the Com monwealth was authorized to continue the publication of the Archives to the year 1790. Under this authority the selection of docu ments from 1783 to 1790 has been made, and the tenth volume, containing this matter, will be ready for distribution before the close of the session. Ti'ro additional volumes will complete the worb, as originally designed. The councils of Philadelphia, by ail ordi nance passed-in Ocitober, 1652, dedicated the necessary ground fin Independence Square, to the erection of h nis nument commemora tive of the Declara,tion of Independence ; and tendered the possession of the premises to the representativel; of nine or more of the original States. , Since that time,' the States of 'New York, 1 New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, , ' Connecticut, Georgia and Pennsylvania have signified their willingness to accept the prop osition on the tOms indicated by the coun cils, and to participate in this patriotic work. Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the two Carolinas, have taken no action on the sub- I ject. I cannot refrain; from again **pressing my unabated solicitude for the se...cess of this movement. if izherican hi,tury furnishes a single event wortty of commemoration by a monument, the D claration of Independence is that event. Inl moral grandeur it is with out a parallel, and stands above all others for the mighty influence which it has exert ed upon the political,' religious and social . condition of mankind. It has been justly said, it ushered in a new member into the family of nation* and electrified all Europe. It opened new ievelations of liberty, and changed the relations of people and govern ment, by teaching the one how to resist and conquer oppression, and the other the abso lute necessity to its own continuance, of re cognizing and respecting the rights of huma nity. From that time forth, a new, vital and. quickening spirit has pervaded the world.— Thrones have been shaken, empires have been overturned, society has been convulsed, blood and carnage have desolated the earth ; but still the intelligence and Souls of the peo ple of all Christendom have been so vivified, elevated and expanded.; to a comprehension of their rights, as will never be obliterated ro forgotten ; but will advance, enlarge and in crease, until that moral and social prepara tion for the appreciation and enjoyment of liberty shall be effected, which, in the divine economy is so indispensabl4 to the perman ence of free institutions. As the third generation of that posterity, for whom the men of the revolution chiefly labored and suffered, and died, it is peculiarly fitting that we should erect such representations of their great and controlling acts as shall speak to our own hearts, to our children's hearts, and shall testify to God and the world, that we appreciate and rev erence, and would cultivate and disseminate the mighty truths and ;principles which brought our nation into existence, which constitute its very life, and of which itseemsdesignitted by providence to be-Lthe special defender and protector. I believe we shoUld have a monument to perpet uate the remembrance of the *great event, from which such manifold and inestimable blessings have sprung , souse imperishable memorial of our gratitude to the authors of the Declaration of In dependence ; to tholieroes who participated in the mighty struggle ; ah enduring witness of the great thinp done amongst us and for no ; an embodi ment of the origin land principlo,o of our govern ment ; some distinguishing mark of the place of the nation's birth ; 'a consecrated temple of liberty, about which unborn generations of America may meet and renew their assurances of fidelity to the principles of the Declaration and to their natural offspring—the Conititution and the Union. lam for this work most earnestly ; and I trust that Pennsylvania will not permit it to fail ; but that it may be pressed upon the 'attention of the original thirteen States, until each and all •shall evince a willingness and determination to participate•in the erectkp of this glcirious structure. To this end I respMfully suggest to the General Assembly,- the propriety of again calling the attention of the original States to the subject, by resolution or oth erwise. In closing my fait communication to the Gener al Assembly, and terminating my official relations with the people ofi my native Commonwealth, may be indulged in a brief and general reference to her present proud position as a member of the great family of States, and to the patriotism, in tegrity, and general prosperity other citizens.-The advantageous geographical position of Pennsylva nia, with a fine harbor open to the Atlantic, and another connecting her centrally with the magnifi cent chain. of western lake navigation—her long branching rivers, spreading their arms and arte ries through every portion of her territory—all adding to her fertiletsoil and exhaustless deposits of valuable Minerals—present a combination of the nSural elements of greatness, scarcely equalled in our own or any Other quarter of the globe.— These have made - her an attractive field for the science, industry aid enterprise of man ; and all her naturaLadvaittages have hien cherished and cultivated, until she has reached a condition °fil lied wealth and pOsitive prosperity. Her system Of internal iniprovoments will safely compare with those of any sister State, whether in regard to completeness in construction, or the extent of coun try which they traverse. Nor have the higher hopes of humanitylbeen disregarded•hy our states men, and the people at large , ; the liberal pro visions for commodkohools, Academies .d Colle ges, and our numeinwrerowded Churipheglattest : while; at the sell time, geffraidotm -ASYlnms for the insane, and fox the9ifaiieeihe of all classes and conditions, and Houses of Refuge, for, the -re formation of the waywards - a erring, silently, yet . [COI4CLUDRD ON SOU:tan .] , NO. 51
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