‘ 10, 1866. »^TUeprinting presses shall be fr.ee to every person who undertakes k> examine the pro* ceedlngs of the legislatures or: any branch of government; and ho law srhaU :everbe made to restrain the right thereof. • The free commu nication of thought dud opinions is one of the Invaluable.rights of men; and every citizen may freely speak, write and print; on any sub feet; being responsible lor the abuse of that liberty. In prosecutions for the publication of papers ihvestigatiug the official conduct of offi cers, or men In public capacities,x>r where tbe matter published Is proper for public Informa tion, the truth thereoi may be given in evi dence.” ■Major Gee, the commandant of the rebel prison at Salisbury, N. C.,who was sent from the Old Capitol prison * about a month ago to Raleigh for trial, is still under confinement in the latter city, and ignorant when the court will be convened. His counsel is already upon his way to Washington to ascer tain, if possible, the course* the prosecu tion will take in the case, and toask for a speedy hearing. Gee writes to his friends in this city that he is very hope ful of the result, and only anxious that the trial may go on. It-now turns out that R. B. Winder, captain in the rebel service, and who was confined for some months in the Old Capitol prison, and subsequently transported to Richmond for trial by court martial, is not the man he was ta ken for. The real culprit that the War Department is desirous of overtaking with vengeance is W. S. Winder, a son of the rebel General, whereas the for mer is a nephew. Theman now incus tody was Chief Quartermaster of all the rebel prisons east of the Mississippi river, and was responsible for the disci pline of no one particular prison. W. S. Winder, however, is the man who immediately supervised- the affairs of Libby prison at the rebel capital, and,, kuowing'that he was the man really wanted by the government, wisely lied * across the border into Canada. The three hundred applicants for awards for the capture of 'the conspira tors have aJj last undergone final exami nation at the hands of the Judge Advo cate, aud the li.->t of rightful claimants thereto has been designated from among the three hundred, ayd was referred to the War Department.’ A large number of the apphc;ants are now in Washing ton and are anxiously awaiting the pro mulgation of the list of successful claim ants. It is supposed that the names will be given in a'day or two. It posed that the names will be given in a day or two. It is understood'that the money is in requisition at any time — some two hundred thousand dollars coming from'various States and cities that offered additional rewards to the one hundred thousand advertised for the apprehension of the conspirators by the War Department. A Luminous Decision A case of slander was recently tried in Liberia, wherein ex-President erts was plaintiff, ami President Pen son defendant. In the Court below judgment was rendered for the plaiutiir in the sum of $5,000. In the Supreme Court, to which the case was taken, the judgment of (lie inferior Court was re versed. The Chief Justice, in giving the opinion of the Court, said : “The Court doubts not that if this Case had been regularly conducted the plaintiff may have had judgment on some of the counts. Put order or regu larity dpes not appear upon the record.' Therefore, since no good reason can b<\ assigned for this irregumrity, unless it be Laken in a had sense as to the want Of the right influence of the law, it is, therefore, the duty of this Court to ar iest the judgment in this case.” | This is as clear as mud, audit is not tjo be wondered, that the 'plaintiff could’nt exactly see through it, and, therefore, with his adherents, made “ a particular nufts.” PromLsc Making and Breaking, There are people in the world against .-whom -the inexperienced should be warned. They are the sanguine promise makers. They may be divided into two sorts. There are those who, from a foolish custom of fawning upon all those they V-come in contact With, have acquired a habit of promising to do great kindness, which tjhey have no thought of performing.— The others are a sort of warm people, who, while they are lavishing away their promises,have really sonic thought of doing what they engage for ; but af terwards, when the timeof performance Cjomos, the sanguine lit being gone olf, tjlie-troubles appears in auother light; tile promiser cools, and the expectant is Received, and perhaps injured by the (jisappointment. Notes of Warning. ; Prudent business men in all sections of the country are alarmed at the signs olf the times. They fear a revulsion, compared with whicli, the storms of 1837 and 1837 were mere summer breezes. The report of the Secretary of. the Treasury has added to the fear. He warned the country of the danger ahead, and as one means of ren dering the calamity less disastrous, if not indeed of averting it, he urged a re turn'to specie payments by the speedi est possible means, and by a simultane ous reduction of the paper currency. To make the suggestions of the Secre tary practical, the Chicago Republican contends that there must be retrench ment oh the partof thegovernment and people, and adds: The merchant may, after he has spent all his money, keep up appearances for a long time, indeed, us long as he can ■ borrow from one bank to pay another ; but the end is certain—he must fail. — The people of the United States have notexpeuded all theirineans; they have an abundance to meet their present debt and to pay it, if they are prudent in their habits. If, however, they continue the prodigality which wasan incidentof the luflutnm produced by the war; if they will pursue the extravagances which have been adopted during the last live years ; if, instead of paying oil' their home debt, they contract an addi tional foreign debt, then the da\J of reckoning will speedily arrive, and will, bring with it its terrible crash. We repeat that the exigencies of the times demand that there shall beatonee adopted and religiously observed a sys tem of economical expenditure, public and private. This may not avert alto gether- the financial collapse thatthreau •eus us, but may do much to lessen its' force and reduce its volume of disaster. Every man should now put his house in order for the coming day of settle ment. Let those In debt economize now while they can ; let them as soon as practicable pay wimt "they owe, and go in debt no more. Let the credit sys tem, as a system, be discontinued as far as practicable, and the mail whose af fairs are the best regulated according to this .policy will have the least to dread, and will suHer less when the result of our extravagance and recklessness falls Upon the country. A Singular base. About llfty-five yearn ago, a young "gentleman and lady formed an associa tion as young people often do, ami it was supposed by their friends that it would terminate in matrimony. But for some reason best known to the par ties the association was dissolved, and - they separated. The young man sub sequently married and lost three wives, the last one within the last eightornlne months. Thp young lady married, and : lived with her husbuud over years, and raised a numerous .■During the last year her husband diea. The lady remainedawidow abouteleven months, when her former suitor made an advance to her —he being about 75’ years old, and the lady 71—and they 'were married. The parties are living io othe : vicinity ofLynd.P. 0., Susquehan na county, Pa., and the gentleman gave his consent to the publication of this .notice,— Montrose Republican. Wanted---! Eulogist. It is announced authoritatively that both Mr. Stanton and Judge Holt refuse to pronounce a eulogy on Mr.- Lincoln, and that the committee u find great di£ ficulty in procuring a -proper person.” This Is a painful state of things. 'That time should dull the acuteness ofcihe nation’s for. the late ’President, is natural enough. Thatphotographs&hd busts, themselves attractive, disappear from shop windowtfTm&parlor tables, was to be expected. Tlmt more faces should be turned to the living President than to the neglected grave of the dead one, is but the common course of things. But, then, when the nation determines on a .monument, and the of* the. ration resolve on a eulogy, that both should fail, and that the only tribute Mr. Lincoln’s party pays his memory is an appropriation of §23,916 60 in greenbacks, of $15,000 in gold, to the widow and children, shows sadly that the memory of the good are buried with their bones. The eulogy matter is sad-; dest of all—for monuments, even to( greater men than Mr. Lincoln, notoriously of slow and uncertain! growth. That in the great Republican party there should be “ difficulty in pro curing a proper person” to say a kind word for the martyr, is actually piteous. We are, we confess, not surprised that Messrs. Stanton and Holt—those twins of blood—should refuse to act. They nre not of the mould of funeral eulogists. They are too fierce and truculent to speak gentle praises over a good natured man. They like better to hang women and arrest and imprison qharmed men. Their function is prosecution and per secution, not panegyric Then, too, it is an untoward coincidence that these two gentlemen, selected before all others to speak Mr. Lincoln’s praises, were members of Mr. Buchanan’s cabi net, bound to him by official and per sonal intimacy—one of them in public, and both in private, having expressed the highest confidence in Mr. Buchan an’s integrity, patriotism and pub lic virlue. How could they introduce the opening incidents of Mr. Lincoln’s administration without doing full jus tice to his injured predecessor? If any two men know Mr. Buchan an’s real merits, his trials and ef forts during the agony of the winter of 1861, they are Edwin M. .Stanton, his Attorney General, and Joseph Holt, his Secretary of War. This, in the face of the world, and in the teeth of the radi cal party, they would not dare to say. Nay, further, a special difficulty lay iu Mr. Stanton’s path. One of the earliest and most interesting incidents of the Lincoln reign, was the negotiation as to Fort'Suinter between Mr. Seward and Judges Campbell and Nelson, in which there is an adjourned question of vera city triHhis day. Now, itwould go very much against Mr. .Stanton’s grain, un less lie he more “ demoralized” than even we take him to be, to say in pub lic, fin private he certainly would not,) that he did not think Judge Campbell and Judge Nelson men of perfect truth fulness. Vet, this lie would have to say, or inculpate his colleague of the State Department. Then, too, as we once before had occasion to say Mr. Lincoln’s professional merits and stand ing have always been the butts of Mr. Stanton’s rough ridicule. So, even to a late day, was his personal demeanor and appearance. As to Mr. Holt, we do not care to conjecture why his dark nature recoiled from this gentle duty. It is natural enough. But who shall be substituted? The May is near at hand. It is only a short month till the 12th of February. It should he a ready writer. Now that Mr. Everett is gone, Massachusetts can sup ply no one unless it he General Butler, and we have heard his name in this con : auction. He owes a large debt of grati tude to Mr. Lincoln. He wasone of his pet generals. He was sent by him to Norfolk and New Orleans. Mr. Lin coln knew exactly the work he was fit for. Then, too, what a chance would it be for him to answer General Grant. — From a high pedestal as the funeral orator of Congress, he could fulminate at the Lieutenant General, and do it be yond the reach of reply. Mr. Sumner has been suggested, but Mr. Lincoln was not only too moderate for him, but he was white. Mr. Forney has been mentioned, and knowing, as wedo, that he has iu his memory a vast number of those peculiar and congenial jests in which Mr. Lincoln’s good humor in dulged, he could do justice to this trait of cha'rafcjer, and relieve the gravity of a funeral discourse. Then, too, Bel lows/ and C’heever, and Beecher, and Brownlow, at a pinch, are on hand, to say nothing of the‘“ Snlrra Minora ” of Kelly & Company. General Cameron might get some one to write a eulogy for him. WendelUMiillips won’t do at all. We shall, therefore, watch the is sue of these perplexities with some in terest, content, now, simply to repeat, in all sincerity, our regret that tlijs tribute to the memory bf the honored dead is in danger of being withheld.— A Shameless Assertion A few days before the last municipal election, Horace Binney, Caleb Cope,' Mordecal L. Lawson, William Biddle, Wm. L. Lewis, A? E. Borie, and others, published a statement that under the Democratic administration of the city of Philadelphia there was no protection for life or property in the city. This assertion was signed and published for party political purposes. It wasintend- ‘electors” to vote the *d to induce Republican ticket. The libel it con laiued on a Democratic Mayor and Democratic citizens was of no moment, f the statement produced the result in- :ended. We respectfully invite the attention )f the “ xif/ners” to the following extract Tom the Public Lcdycr of yesterday :• MriIDKHS Fort MONEY. Our city has been aillicted with another •old-blooded murder lor money. This is he second within a lew months—the colored )'>rh‘r at White’s dental depot in Arch st., md now Miss Walt, in (Germantown. The icart sickens at the thought ofstieh crimes, md ut the consciousness that stick monsters n human shape as the perpetrators ol'lkese mirders can prowl about our dwellings in he dead of night, to do their horrid work it (lie -approach of dawn. We trust the “.s \ir/ncrs' ) will make mother statement of their opinions as to security of life and prop ce/y in Jdiiladc/phia , or retract the shameless assertion which shows so malignant a partisan spirit.— Asje. Statement of Number of Volunteer Called from each State. The Secretary of War, in compliance with a resolution of the House ofßepre sentatives, has furnished a statement of the number of volunteers called for by the President at various jxiriods. The first call was for 73,000 ; the second, in July, 1804, for 300,000, and the third, in December, for 300,000, namely : •suites, .Aggregate. Aggregate reduced to * tUe 3 years standard. Maine 71.715 5(3,505 N. Hampshire 04.ii';5 80 f Sg7 Vermont 35,240 20,052 Massachusetts •. 15i,7Sd 123,844 KlcaU Island 23,711 17,878 Connect ieut 1 .‘)7,27U '. .50,014 'NeW York 455 5(38 3sd,!)-0 Now Jersey 70,0il 55,785 IVnusylvania 207,558 Delaware in,303 Maryland 40,730 -10,402 W Virginia 3d,on’. 27,G53_ bj ‘OllllllOOl Id,ss2 11,503 t dim 317,133 230,071} India- a 105,147 152,283 Illinois 25V-17 t 21< (>!JI Michigan .• dti,2ld 80.8U5 Wisconsin in 1,118 78,1185 Minnesota 25,i «1 19,875 lowa ‘75,800 (38,182 Missouri 108,773 88,102 Kentucky 78,540 70,348 Ka. sas 20,U07 18,(554 .2.12^,041 This information was called for to acilitate the business of the special committee on the war debt of the loyal States, to whom it has been referred. l\l the Truth, Who To! . When the Democratic papers, pre vious to the last State election, charged on the Republican leaders that they wotfld attempt' to place the negro 01* an equality with the white man, the publican papers denied it and declared that the charge was untrue. Jolm-©eBS- mi, the Chairman of the Republican State Committee, issued an addesstothe people of the State, assuring them there wan no such issue before the people and that the Republican party intended no thing of the kind. Now, what are they doing ? Stevens, Sumner. Wilson and ollieis, have introduced at least for- ty propositions into Congress to break 'down the barriers God has established between the black and white man.— They are attempting to do it in the Dis trict of Columbia and in all the South ern States and they will try it in the Northern St.ates-as soon as they can. Sumner has even introduced a bill into the U: S. Senate to allow negroes to sit on juries with white men. Our white laborers and mechanics, many of them at least, will not see the danger they are in until it is too late.— Easton Argue . The French Press on Mexico. In reference to a rumor which has prevailed that the Government of the United., States has sent an envoy to Paris tp treat With thePkris Cabinet for the withdrawal of the French troops from jAexico, this Siecle considers that the .Emperor’s advisers would act wise ly in. recommending the speedy adop tion of such a course, and it assigns the subjoined reasons for entertaining that opinion: “According to the French official Journal and its correspondents, all is going on in Mexico as well as can be wished; every thing, therefore, author ises us to believe that the moment when rhe French soldiers are to return is not remote. The period of combats seems at last to be ended for v the French ;in whatever direction the eye is turned over that vast Mexican territory every vestige, we are told, of a regular army of malcontents has disappeared; there remain only to be subdued some bands little to be feared ou account of their scanty numbers and want of discipline. This being the case the task devolves by right on the gendarmery and local police, and concerns the French army very little. It would seem indeed scarcely worthy of France to maintain in Mexico au army of 20,000 or 25,000 men, commanded by one of her Mar shals, only to act the part which was recently refused by the Governor of Jamaica for the Lnglish troops, and which he confided to the Maroons and their bloodhounds. The Emperor Maxi milian, besides, has not lost liis time since he ascended the throne. Several legions of Belgians, Austrians and Hungarians having ranged themselves under his flag, he is surrounded by a palace-guard composed of men of a stature and bravery that would have made the father of the great Frederick die of vexation. Besides all this he will retain duripg several years the good services of the old French foreign legion, and lie has succeeded iu enrol ing a native army which feels its honor deeply concerned iu attaining success, and which is now in a position.to gather laurels in its turn, as testified by the successes of Colouei Mendez. Nothing consequently justifies any longer the presence of the French army in Mexi co, and these days of economy the mo ment is come to put an end to the sacri fices of every kind imposed ou us by this expedition. As there are now no serious enemies to be subdued, and as those not yet reduced belong to a class of'men without any moral influence; as the popularity of Maximilian is gaining strength every day ; as the population has become converted even to a fanatical feeling, so that they view in him the predestined man whom the notables of lsu:; had first the merit of signalizing, the Mexican Umpire must henceforth be seated on an immovable base. We havetherefore nothing more to do; let us leave, aud by so doing we shall succeed in balancing the French budget iu a way much more satisfactory for every body than by mutilating the gardens of tbe Luxembourg. A Base Attack on the President, Mr. Johnson Accused of Entering- Into *' Criminal Agreements.*’ | From the Chii-m-o T ribunc, Dee. 30, 1535. J FEDERAL i’ATKONAdK. We recently published the statement that the President had given directions to the heads of departments to make no more appointments at present on the recommendation of members of Con gress. It is well understood that this orjer originates in the opposition of Congress to the President’s reconstruc tion policy. The question arises, there fore, whether the President is prepared to use the Executive patronage as a means of persuading Congress into abandoning what they deem to be their duty, and submitting to his dictation. Such a course would introduce in to the President’s policy the com bined elements of treachery for his party, bribery for its repre sentatives, and coiftempt for its princi ples and power. The policy of regarding the federal patronage as the spoils of the party, is but another mode of expressing the political axum that the same majority which elects the Presi dent should exercise and control the offices to which he has the appointing power, so that for the-loweras well as the higher departments of government the same majority shall rule. Butin no party and under no government has the doc trine been accepted that when the Exe cutive, elected by a popular majority, is so unfortunate as to place himself in opposition to them, he may use the whole patronage of the government, which of right belongs to them, to co erce the majority into the views of the minority. In principle we see very lit tle difi'erence between the lobbyist who waits in the aute-chamber with pres ents of railroad,stocks, mining shares’ or greenbacks as compensation for a vote in Congress, and the Pres ident who withholds or distributes office to a Congressman’s friends for the same consideration. The most in sidious advances toward such a policy should In* spurned by Congress in the most emphatic manuer. The people will sustain them in refusing the execu tive bribe. If the President’s policy either as to the time when, or the terms upon which, the States should be ad emitted, or the portion of their people to whom the suffrage should be extend ed, be reasonable, safe or wise, in fact can be impressed upon the minds of an intelligent and patriotic Congress by more worthy and respectable arguments than the coercive withholding or the corrupt granting of federal patronage, based on a log-rolling and essentially criminal agreement as to the mode in in which the representatives of the peo ple shall vote. Negro Outrages in North Carolina, The Wilmington Daily Journal , in speaking of the recent outrages com mitted by thefreedmen in that vicinity,' says : “Continual complaints of outrages by refugee negroes reach us from resi dents of this county. A letter is now before us from a number of citizens re siding on the plank road, near Wil mington, in which the writers ask : ‘When will outrages cease being per petrated upon unprotected citizens liv ing around Wilmington? Lawless bands of negroes continue to prey upon them with impunity. Every house on the plank road, with scarcely an ex ception, has been visited and pillaged by these bands of refugees, Ayho are en camped around Wilmington, hiding themselves during the day and rob bing all night. They represent them selves as soldiers. These gangs of out laws first surround a man’s house aud commence furiously firing upon it, to keep him inside, and if he appears or dares to hoist a window they immedi ately fire upon him. It is impossible for him to defend himself against such odds ; he is powerless, and has to sub- 1 mit to the lawless robberies perpetrated upon him.” A Mormon,who has arrived in Chicago for the purpose of marrying his fifth -wife, writes the following curious note to the Tribune of that city : 1 Editors Chicago Tribune: \ “ On my visit to Chicago I noticed an article in the 2W6un<s in regard to Utah. That Speaker Colfax expressed a wish that President Young might have a ‘ revelation prohibiting polygamy’ is to me a matter of some doubt. On the contrary, I have reason to know that Speaker Colfax eloquentlyexpressedhis gratitude at the domestic happiness of our community. lam a Mormon born and bred, and the husband of four wives, and what may seem strange, my mission here is one of love, to transplanta flower from this sterile (morally) latitude to bloom and flourish in our happy home. We have no wish to be admitted into your ‘ Union’—nor do we wish at one fell swoop to bedivorced from our wives and families. It seems to me it would be wise to let us Mormons alone, and devote your moral lectures to a com munity where a man or woman can marry and bedivorced three times within as many years. Respectfully, ABRAHAM WELLS.- flow to Furnish a Hotel. The correspondent of the Boston Traveler , at Fortress Monroe, writes that large quantities of the bedding of the Hampton General Hospital have been bought to furnish hotels. Fifty cords of iron bedsteads, 4,000 matresses, 10,000 blankets, and 6,000 linen sheets, almost as good as new, a fevr still stain ed by the blood of wounded Northern soldiers, thousands of whom, both wfeite and colored, died upon them, go North to furnish a house of sqmnier resort* Pennsylvania Legislature. Harrisburg, Jan. 3, 18660c* Senate. —The Senate met at 10 o’clock. N; Mr. Householder presented the petition bf David McConaughy.'contesting. tneseat of Mr. Dnncan, Senator from ffie'conntiee of Adams and Franklin! Tile; petition is lengthy, and protests against Mr. Duncan retaining his seat on the ground of general illegality. ; j v At 11 o’clock the Senate proceeded to draw a committee in the contested Section case. The following Senators were elected: Bigbam, Graham, Connell. Lowry, Landon and Worthington. Mr. Connell, however, receiving consent to with- j draw, Mr Montgomery was by consent of \ the Senate substituted.. • The official list of the officers of the Senate as sworn in is as follows: , Speaker—David Fleming, of Dauphin. Chief Clerk—George W. Hamerslyj of Philadelphia. Assistant Clerk—Lucius Rogers, of Me- j Kean. Transcribing Clerks—E. K. Haines, of Somerset, James C. Graham, of Allegheny,' John T. Johnson, of Centre, Henry M. Gratz, of Montgomery and Chauncey C. Rogers, of Erie. Sergeant-at-Arms—Joseph Riblett, of Philadelphia. Doorkeeper—John Martin, oi Lancaster. Messenger—William Dnffv, of Philadel phia. Librarian—Jacob Styers, of Dauphin. The following nominations were made for State Treasurer Wm. H. Kemble, of Philadelphia, by Mr. Connell. Wm. V. McGrath, of Philadelphia, by Mr. Randall. Henry Kittering, of Westmoreland, by Mr. Latta. Jacob Zeigler, of Butler, by Mr. Wallace. J. M. Kreiter, ofDauphin, bv Mr. Clymer. Mr. Champneys announced the decease of Day Wood of Lancaster, one of the new ly elected members of the House, in an ap propriate address, and ottered a series of resolutions expressive of the regret of the Senate at his death. Mr. Dunlap also made some eloquent re marks, and the Senate adjourned until Wednesday morning next. House.— The House met at 11 A. M. On motion of Mr. Davis, of Philadelphia, a committee was appointed to inform the Governor of the organization. "Hills relative to the Crawford countv, Franklin, Sulphur Springs, Williamsport, Bullion, New Boston and Centre Mining Companies, (passed in ISGS, but not yet signed) were recalled front the hands of tbe Governor; also bills incorporating city of Williamsport, Bear Island Navigation/and Williamsport Manufacturing Companies. The Speaker (Kelley) presented the an nual reports of the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society and Lehigh Canal Company. r £he election of officers then took place, the official list of which is as follows : Speaker, James R. Kelley, of Washing ton. Chief Clerk, Adrian W. Benedict, of Huntingdon. Assistant Clerk, Williamll. Dennison, of Allegheny. Transcribing Clerks, Caleb W. Walker, of Philadelphia; A. D. Harlan, of Chester; J. P. Willison, of Allegheny; M. Edgar King, of Fulton; Robert Brown, of LycomingS-Fostmaster, J. I). Kirkpatrick/ of MercerA Assistant Postmaster, W. A. Rupert, of Crawford. Sergeant-at-Arms, Charles H. Idell, of Phil adelphia; Assistants, George Strain, of Al legheny ; .James B. Work, of Indiana; Samuel Christ, of Lancaster; Hugh McMunn, of Delaware. Doorkeeper—James McGowan, of Law rence. Assistants—J. JI. Hull, of Susquehanna; Charles 11. Kurtz, o/ Philadelphia; John Moore, of Westmoreland ; S. Y. Boyer, of Dauphin. Messenger—James McCauley, of Phila delphia. Assistants—Wm. F. Brookway, of Erie; J. J. Nofsker, of Blair; J. W. Powell, ol Lancaster; Samuel Nace, of Philadelphia. Nominations were made for State Treas urer as follows: Mr. Slack nominated Win. 1L Kemble. Mr. Josephs nominated Wm. Y. Mc- Grath. Mr. Barr nominated Jacob Ziegler. Mr. Quigley nominated Lewis Snell. Mr. Early nominated Joseph S. Hyde. Mr. Quay nominated Win. W. Irwin. Mr. Cameron nominated John F. Spang ler. Mr. Sbenk announced the death of his colleague, Day Wood, of Lancaster countv. Eloquent addresses in memory of the de ceased were de.ivered by Messrs. Shenk, Denues, Stehman, Kuddimau and Thomas, and appropriate resolutions were'adopted. A message was received from the Gov ernor which was read: Message from tilt* Governor. Gentlemen ; The toils and anxiety of the last four years have, from time to time, brought on the severe attacks of disease.— From the most severe of these I am slowly struggling towards recovery. I find that to give my constitution an opportunity to cominnethis struggle it is absolutely ne cessary that I should, without delay, make a short sea voyage, and sojourn in a milder climate. I nder the pressure of this necessity I go to the Island of Cuba. 1 1 is my hope and in tention to return in good season to welcome you on your arrival at the seat of govern ment, but it it should be found indispensa ble that my visit to Cuba should be pro longed to tbe latter part of February, this message will serve to lay before you the cause ot my absence at the commencement of your session. In this case I feel sure that you will adopt such course as shall be consist ent with your wisdom,and wit h theaffection ate consideration which I have always re ceived at your hands. It would, however, not become me to forget that the issues of life are in the hands of One above all, and that many have found death waiting for them on the foreign shore to which they have been sent in search of health. Should such be my fate, I shall draw my last breath with a sense of the deepest grat itude to the people of the Commonwealth and their Representatives, for the cheerful, manly, and -unfailing support which thev have-given during the last four years to the general cjjuse of the right, and to me in mv etlorts tormaintnin it ; and with a prayer of tbankfuflgfcs to Almighty God, that he strengtljffied till the end of the cruel rebel lion, ancf thought me worthy to he permit ted to continue that ti mo a&Chief Magistrate ot the people of Pennsylvania, and to have my name connected in that relation with such a people during snclia time, ought to be enough to fill the highest measure ofany man’s ambition. • ANDREW G. CURTIN, Executive Chamber, Harrisburg, November 27, 1565. After the reading oft he message the House adjourned until 10 o'clock, A. M. on Wednes day next. General Sickles Nonplussed. On a recent occasion General Sickles, of the Federal Army, accompanied Ex- Governor Aiken, of South Carolina, on a visit to his Sea Island plantation, on Jehosse Island, to assist in persuadiDg his former slaves to enter into labor con tracts for the ensuing year. They found the negroes totally unwilling, however, to enter into such an arrangement, as, indeed, they are throughout the South generally. The prominent difficulty in their minds was the hope and the ex pectation that the Government would divide out lands among them. Our in formant reports the following colloquy as taking place between .General Sickles aud one of the “ head men” on the plantation. It speaks very well for Af rican logic : “ General, can’t you send to the gob erment, and ask ’um to let us buy de lan’, an’ we will pay for de lan’ in two years; and if we no pay fer ’um, den let de goberment take de lan’ back.” The General replied that“such anar rangement was impossible; that the land did not belong to the Government, but to Governor Aiken, their former master, who, as everybody knew, was a very kind master and would' pay them good wages.” The reply was: “Well, mass General—din we use to belong to Mosser? and din. de gober ment take us from. Mosser and gib us free? Den can’t de goberment do de same wid de lan’ ?” General Sickles was, of course, unable to deny the consistency ofthe reasoning, which also showed that the negro had a clear idea of theimmense spoliation of property which the South had suffered. His mistake was in expecting to find no limit to it, short of our entire destitu tion.—Exchange Taper. Dry Goods Market. The following quotations and dispatches are from the bulletin of the Dry Goods Ex change, New York. Jobbers' Prices.— Brown Sheetings—Stan dard, 34c.; -Pepperpeli E 33c.; Atlantic I). 314 c.; Nashua A. 314 c.; Oregon B; 31o.; Bedford 3-4,24 c.; Bleached Shirtings—New York Mills, 524 c; James Mills, 40c; Hope, 40c.; Bates B. B, 374 c; Newburyport 7-8, 33*c.; Columbia A. 27*c.; Prints—Cocheco, 27c.} Sprague, 26*0.; Americans, 26c.; Lan caster, 25c.; Allen, 24c.; Freeman, 23c.; Delaines—Armures, 31c.; Pacific, 29c.; Brown Drills—Pepperell, 35c.; Winthrop, 30c,; Corset Jeans—Amoskeag, 39c,; New market, 324 c.; Canton Flannels—Hamil ton, 50c.; Laconia, 424 c.; Ticks—Amoske ag A, 574 c.; Amoskeag B, 524 c.; Amoske ag C, 474 c.; Kentucky Jeans —Richmond, 674 c.; Spool Cotton—Coats, $1.10; Willi mantic, 93c.; Hoop Skirts—Bradley’s Du plex Elliptic, and Empress Trail, 20 to 50 hoops, prices unchanged; S. T. and A. T. Meyer’s L I prices unohanged and ac tive. Boston.— Market firm. Goods readily taken. Full prices. ; Providence.— Goods generally firm. Better feelings ip .regards to Prints., 1 Philadelphia. —Market for Cotton Gobds firm and rather more Active. Wool ens steady. St. Loots Correspondence; Wie Holidays—Grand Ball of the ‘ftmplaiwHew Tear’s Day— * -The., Oinraies—The Blm, and lee—, ■gnatnrtfl The Theatres—Tke,■ Bth of ylnwary, Ae.» Ac. v \ v ■■■'. - • A St. Louis, January 4,1866. ; ; We are jnst beginning to get over the splntoai and carnal excitement of the holi days'. One scene of pleasure is followed by another, and amid the whirl of enjoyment the sound of business is somewhat deadened j to the public ear. And this js as it should be once in our annual pilgrimage'; constant and no relaxation will bring its le gitimate Jruits,in a hardening of the gentler susceptibilities of our nature, and in mak ing us forget that we are only “children j of a larger growth,” capable of the same ! thoughtsand feelings, though chastened and made more useful by greater age and ex perience. Santa Claus also 'visited the children of the city, and gladdened their hearts with his lavish kindness. *The mu sic of the little cherubs* voices, and tbe„pat ter of tbeir tiny feet on the bias morning were more joyous, perhaps to the capitalist’s heart than all the rustle of greeubacksor the metallic ring of his count less mint drops. Gifts of love and friend ship were exchanged among all, and a mer ry Christmas indeed has just passed a A-av. The crowning pleasure of the week has been the ball of the Knights Templar at the “Southern.” This took place on the eve ning of the 28th ult., and was attended by much of the beauty and fashion of the city. Some two or three hundred couples were present, making it a very pleasant affair.— The ball opened by the Knights, who ap peared in their splendid regalia, and went through with a grand ceremonial peculiar to the higher branch of the Masonic Order, which was highly interesting and curious to theuninitiated, after which dancing com menced and was kept up without much in termission until 5 o’clock. Supper was served up from 11 till 2, but to attempt a description of the table would be almost im possible. Sufiiee it to say that all the luxur ies, eatable aud drinkable, were in the greatest profusion; and all that the taste of man could sigh for were before him. The music was perfectly in time, style, brillian cy and execution; and the intricacies of the 2* mazy’* were under the charge of Prof. Xaupie, the “-master of the situation” here* in regard to his particular avocation. And then the ladies, so agreeable, so free from the prudery which often mars similar occa sions on East, whose bright smiles only ani mated their partners to do their utmost in the way of graceful movements and natural politeness. The dresses of some of the fair sex were beautiful, beyond the description of one who is not) acquainted with the names of the materials used intheir compo sition ; but the style and agony of hairdres sing far exceeded our own suburban ideas. The hair tortured and arranged in every con - ceivable shape and fashion, powdered with diamond dust, and adorned with whatever else the fancy could devise, whether that lancy was good, bad or indifferent; and I will whisper in your private ear, that some of the complexions and forms that Hooked upon were not those that Providence gave them. They tried to improve their appear ance, but nature scorned the counterfeit, for all the appliances of art cannot hide the want of the natural roses of tbe cheek, or the roughness of a clouded skin. Not be ing a judge of painting, I shall say no more about it. The kind, agreeable,social feelings which predominated, certainly were pro ductive of much pleasure to every one who attended the ball, and there seemed to lie nothing which marred the occasion or the after remembrance of it. Dancing not be ing m} r forte (?) I cannot speak much of its pleasures, but my recollections of it, every time I attempted to indulge in its “poetry of motion,” are such as to make me wish an early repetition of the same. I think I should get to like it muchly. The tickets were fifteen dollars. Does it frighten you? New Year’s Day was celebrated with all due eclat. Firing of fire-arms and a display of fire-works at different points iu the eve ning. The day, however, was given over pretty much to the occupation of making calls by the gentlemen on their fair lady friends, who -were mostly “at home,” unless something unforseen occurred. From 9 o’clock in the morning to 10 at night the lady who was fortunate eno&gh to possess her “ clear five hundred friends,” was glad dened with the visits of those who came to wish her the compliments of the season. One of the beaux here made a bet that he would make three hundred calls between the hours of 9 and 4 on New Year’s Day, but either owing to some accident that happened to himself or his team, he could only reach the number of two hundred and sixty nine. Some persons are so ungenerous as to sup pose that he drank too many healths or egg n °g» s . and that his locomotion was some- what impeded thereby. It is true that sev- eral callers got under the influence of their ‘ever-present spirits,” or rheumatism, and went on their winding way rejoicing. Not being an old inhabitant, the number of my friends was small, but “select,” and at every place, as well as at a private dancing party in the evening, I enjoyed myself and the hospitality of the inmates greatly. Of course I drank nothing but coffee , and the effects were not, therefore, injurious. Many we know will remember the day from the unaccountable headaches which followed. It is, however, a subject of rejoicing that the practice of having wine and similar re freshments on such occasions has been done away with, for it would require the heart almost of an anchorite to resist Lhe fascina tions of beauty when she stands before you and bids you sip the rich juice of the grape, whether you like it or not. Thus you feel your courage leaving you at your fingers' ends, and submit to the allurements ot the hour, hoping almost against hope that each temptation will be your lusf, when it mav be only the commencement of that which will eventually lead you to the drunkard's forgotten grave. The New Year opened gloriously, and all hearts seemed joyous under the sun's in spiring rays. And this is as it should be, for what heart can close up its avenues of approach while all nature and the season of the year bids us to enjoy our being and make it pleasant for once in our annual pilgrimage through the desert of life. These occasions are the little oases which blossom and make beautiful our journey, and if the future is but the mirage that often'\, disap- points us, still we must hold fast to that which is good, let the “dead past bur}’ its dead - ’ and the future provide its own anti- dote. We have much to be thankful for, even amid the dark clouds which surround us now and 'envelop our future. Peace, blessed, glorious peace, once more smiles upon this unhappy land and covers us with her benignant, healing wings. There has been enough of dreariness and sorrow, and the tears of this nation have been countless in their number in the past four years. Sickness, desolation, famine, war and its harvests of “envy, malice, hatred and all unchuritableness ” have scourged the land and inkle it almost the Pandemonium of the modern world. Butf now we have re ceived a breathing spell, and the New Year has become the halting place on which we can look back at our unhappy past and take fresh courage and a full-chastened dis- cipline for the future. Our better natures should have full scope, all our bitter jeal- ousies should be forgotten, and our hearts permitted to expand with the natural love that is within them, contracting and shrink- ing from the emotions that make them fiend-like in the intensity of their hates. When the hand meets hand in the token of friendship, let it be real, heartfelt, and the rich blessings of a holy, contented calmness will steal over our minds and make the earth on which we live a place where at least some lives, some loves and some hopes may be created which will not be destined to be aimless, heartless and futile, but bless all with tfieir presence, example and reali- zation. If our sorrows are not to be con- trolled, at least let a Christian resignation throw an atmosphere of sweetness around them and turn them into benedictions which can throw off their dark disguise, and though the night of trial be dark and dreary, the single sjar of hope and mercy will only Bhine the more brightly amid the gloom which darkens all around, and prom- ise the smiling face behind the clouds. The churches of the city are numerous, large and costly. The Catholic ifrsthe pre vailing denomination, and the Cathedral and other of their ohurohes are of splendid architecture. I attended the 9th street Church oh Christmas morning, and was amazed with the gorgeous beauty p{ the Service. The dioir was ytsiiitpri h~y a. frill orchestra, and the singing was rate in quality and sweetness. The Episcopal, Presbyterian and Methodist rank next in numbers and influence. The Episcopalians are noted fo* theirpulpit learning and elo quence, and the fine singing which bd ■heard at almost any of them. St.-George’s, Christ and the Trinity • churches appear to : take the lead in these- matters. -Theyiwere all appropriately and beautifully decorated for the festive season of the church, i The Presbyterians have also an able ministry here, amongst whom is the Rev. Mr. Xich ols, whilom of Chambersburg, who has been laboring in this portion of the Lord’s vine yard for about a year. His sermons are very interesting and instructive, and his popularity must be great, when we inform youthat be received Christmas presents tothe amount of one or two thousand doLlars from his congregation. His manners, fire also 'much in his favor,'and make his presence ever welcome. The Methodists are unfor tunately somewhat split up by politics.— Their churches are also large and hand some, furnished with organs and got up in a style which reflects great credit upon the liberality of their congregaions. The preach ers I cannot say much about, as I have heard only one of them, but the church is well supplied, I have no doubt. Two of the churches are named the Union chinches, from which I presume we are to infer tbat the rest are all Southern , some nine or ten iu number. A good many of the preachers of all denominations are considered as rather dubious Union men. “Where shall the weary soul find ils rest,” for here we meet secessionists on every hand, and that! the Lord would permit one to preach, is n niost amazing stretch of the Divine mercy! Don’t you think so? * Last Sunday night I went to hear a ser mon delivered by a Rev. Mr. Kallocb, of Kansas, who, I believe, distinguished him self in his tcx> much love for the.lady members of his flock in Boston, in by gone years. By the dim religious gas light, Mr. K. presented a line appearance and would be doubtless captivating to many of the fair sex. His person is large and well propor tioned, and his features regularly and classically cut. making his face intellectual and noble in its outline. He also wore a full beard, of an auburn tint. His manner was easy and graceful, bis voice clear, strong and eloquent, especially when he quoted poetry, of which article he seemed to have an abundant supply on haijid. His theme was the dawn of the juilleniutii and it was a nosi a >\- übrt to prove the fcarly approach of rhm much to be desired'time for which all mankind are sighing. ITe ar gued that all the modern discoveries in sci ence, the wars and rumors of wars, the rapid spread of the Gospel in all lands, the successful termination of our late civil war, and of course the the poor op pressed African, were only some 01 the proofs of the great coming time. Ho didn’t say anything about the sufferings of the “ poor white trash,” however; their color was their misfortune. With all due deference to his superior wisdom, my optics will remain blind and I cannot see the bright day a dawning very soon.— It may be that steam and the telegrapfi are spreading light and truth, but at the same time they are carrying heavy loads of wickedness with them, and distributing them along the route of this world with a most liberal hand. The knowledge also that wars demons Vized society fearfully was not a very great, help to my faith when lis-' toning to his e.uquent flights of fancy.— His sermon, though flowery and beautiful, was very unsatisfactory to a soul seeking after the truth, and as his character (if he is the person of whom we have read) is not above suspicion, we must swallow much that we think are mere words not tit f<rr the mental digestion. Oh. if these leaders in Israel only knew iii what an anxious man ner their words and deeds weredwelt upon, and what an influence thej' have upon the young souls who watch their every out go ing and incoming, perhaps we might begin to realize that the millenimn was near at hand. But the standard offclhe Cross has fallen into so many unholy, unclean hands, that its glories have become tarnished and its brightness surrounded with the mists of fanaticism, bigotry, intolerance and hypoc risy. The weary, sin-sick soul in vain looks for some faithful standard bearer. He sees often mere cunt and haughty Pha raseeism, Mammon placed above God, deception where be had expected at least goodness, bitter hearts reviling each other even at the communion table, and he turns with a loathing from the church and its ministers, and wastes all the divine portion of his nature in a fruitless attempt to set up his own church within his own heart, but finally sinks into infidelity and skepticism with no light but human reason to guide, and no hope for the future to buoy up his longing, thirsting and once trusting spirit. When men cease to thiuk of self, and minis ters practice what they preach, there will be enough of joy and gladness in this world; but until then, there is no solace or “ balm in Gilead" for those who have been expect ing that which is impossible in unregener nted, unenlightened human nature. The river still remains solid, as the freez ing weather can make it. Navigation lias entirely ceased and business is at a stand still. The ice is full a foot thick and will bear almost any load. Crowds of foot pas sengers and heavily loaded wagons are crossing it every hour in the day. It is sup posed that it will remain closed until the first of February, and when it does open that the business carried on will be enor mous. .-The consequences of the freezing are very important to the city, as its market is to a great extent supplied from Illinois. At one time, when the ice was rather risky to try, coal advanced to the price of one dol- lar per bushel, its usual price being from 15 to 20c. Even now it is very high, ami as it is a necessity, the poor suffer nodoubt very much. God help them if something don’t turn up for their benefit, as expenses are much increased by the cold freezing weather that we are now experiencing. The wholesale houses are not doing much, but still the town is lively with the expec- tation of the business which will soon crowd its streets and stores with a buying and spending multitude. The retail stores (among which may be noticed Ticknor’s immense Clothing Emporium jseem to make a large amount of sales and prosper in all kinds of weather. The ladies still Hock to the stores to get something to wear for the numerous parties which come oil', and the streets present ail the gaiety and business look which is delightful to any one who feels interested in the prosperity of this great city. Truins of oars are arriving from all parts at all hours. The street cars run crowded with passengers, the pavements are full of youth, beauty and commerce life, the hotels are overstocked with guests, and there is a general look like the “flush times” we read about. Everything seems “ gay and happy,'" and if there is much suffering it seems to be well concealed, as it is not apparent on the general picture of prosper ity before us. The theatres are doing very well, but the stock companies which belong to them are very indifferent, with one or two exceptions. We have hud ;the Italian Opera, but its season was not very successful. Hackett, the,Shakespearian comedian, followed and showed us his conception of the valorous !• alstalf, which was, of course, as amu- sing as Hackett's inimitable humor could make it. Laura Iveeue is now playing here and has performed " Our American Cousin” several times. Amusements are plentiful a £ orc * 80mG recreation and comfort for tbecold, uncomfortable state of the atmos phere, The friends of President Johnson have advertised a meeting be held on the Bth of January, at which expressions of ap proval ot the President’s policy of recon struction may be expected, and which policy meets the hearty approval of the great mass of the American people, J. Kansas, Leavenworth, Kansas, Jan. 6.— An immense meeting was -.held here last night to hear Gen. Lane’s views on re construction. Resolutious were unani mously adopted endorsing President Johnson’s administration of public af fairs, his „ reconstruction policy ,'oas announced in his message, and pledging him support in bis effort to perfect reconciliation and harmo ny \ between both sections of the country. Jt waa-SSso resolved that the theory upon which the war was con ducted under the late lamented Presi dent, and maintained by President Johnson, that the normal rights and status of the States lately in rebellion were not suspended nor destroyed is both constitutional and commendatle. State Finances. Annual Report of the State Treasurer for the Tear 1865. To the Senate and House of Representatives ojtfhe Qtmmonweallh of Pennsylvania: e Gentlemen: In presenting his An nual Report, the State Treasurer con gratulates the people of Pennsylvania, through their representatives, upon the prosperous condition of the finances of the Commonwealth. It should be a source of pride to every Pennsylvanian, to learn that, notwithstanding the ex traordinary expenditures to which we have been subjected,during the last five years, inconsequence of the rebellion, reachingithe large amount of $4,028,627y 21, (in addition to what has been rev, funded'oy the General Government), wea*, on thetermination of the current fiscal year, financially in a better condi tion, by the sum of $2,560,173.72, than we were on the 30th day of November, 1860. By a statement hereto appended, it will he seen that during that time we have reduced our public debt 1 $492,935.- 66, while our assets have increased $2,- 067,235.06. These facts demonstrate the immense resources of the State, and cannot fail to give increased confidence to the holdersofherobligations. During the last five years, at least three hun dred thousand of her citizens have been called away from the peaceful pursuits of life. Millions of het treasure have been contributed, publicly and private ly, to sustain her gallant sons while but tling for the great cause of freedom, and yet she stands to-day with an overflow ing treasury, and with every Just de mand upon her paid. The receipts of the last year exceed those of 1564 by $1,486,676.65, the larger portion of which has been derived frouj taxes on corporation stock, tonuuge, real estate, loans, income, collateral in heritance, foreign insurance companies and charters. The only sources show ing a decline are the proceeds from pa tenting lands and the tax on banks. The income from the latter source fell off during the year, in tax on dividends, $205,911.39; in tax on capital stock, $75,- ■507.05, making in all $281,481.44,audhas now almost entirely ceased. This dim inution has been caused by the banks having ceased to operate us. State insti tutions, and accepting charters under the national banking system. As these corporations are still locuted in our midst, and derive all their profits from their business relations with our people, it -will be admitted by all that they should be required to bear their propor tion of the public burdens. There is no valid reason why a business which is always profitable, when properly con ducted, should Ife exempted from the taxation which is imposed upon every other pursuit of life.— I recommend, therefore, the passage of an act taxing the capital stock of Na tional banks, to be collected early- in the year, as the method by whic&Twe can now get, which we failed to demand a year ago. Of our right to impos/this tax 1 have not a single doubt; but even if it were an open question,! feel con fident that there is patriotism enough among the owners of these institutions to iuduee them readily to bear their just proportion of the expenses of a contest which, if it had terminated adversely, would them .with little or no . capital to tax. On inquiring of the con troller of the currency, i learn that the National banks of Pennsylvania have a capital of $46,943,19(1. A tax of one per cent, on this amount would, no doubt, be cheerfully paid by them, provided they were exempt by law from focal tax ation.- There is no foundation for the cry that these institutions are already too heavily taxed by the General (!overnment,for,iu fact these State banks, by placingthem selves under the National banking laws, have cscajtcd the larger portion of tire increased taxation that all other trades and occupations have been subjected to on account of the war. An exhibit of the relative amount of taxes paid under each system, is herewith appended, from which it will be ,-een thutthe taxes of these institutions are in reality, less now than they were before the war. I respectfully call your attention to the very small amount of revenue real ized from tax on railroads and canals, representing in value, in 1864, almost $250,000,009. The whole income from them in 1805, was $032,562,10, or about one-fourth of one per cent, on their val ue. In this the tax on tonnage is not included, for it is difficult to determine whether this was intended as a tax on the corporation or on proiluction. If it was designed for the former, it should be forthwith amended or repealed, be cause of the inability' of the Auditor General to ascertain what amount of tax is due the State, and on account of the unequal manner in which it oper ates upon the different companies, which it was intended to reach. For exam ple : The Pennsylvania railroad company, with an income which, in 1864, amount ed to nearly $15,()UO,000, pays for ISBS a etax of $51,305.13; while the Heading railroad company, with an income of 50,250,000, during the same period, pays $89,232.77. Tile Lackawanna and Bloomsburg railroad company, with an income of S7(in,(IOO, pay $10,383.0.3. The Erie and Northeast, with an income of only $500,000, pay $14,754.43 ; and the Atlantic and Great Western, with its immense capital and traffic, paid the insignificant sum of $0,031.57. It cannot be ascertained at present, what tlie gross receipts of the different railroad and transportation companies will amount to for the past year ; but they will most probably reach the sum of 660,000,000. A tax of three-fourths of one pel cent, on these gross receipts would yield asmuclfincome, andwould be far more equal in .its operatioiPthan what is now known as tonnage tax. This change in the manner of assess ment would double tile the taxes of some of our large corporations, but it would proportionately' reduce the amount now paid by others, who are unfairly dealt with by the present sys tem. By a law approved April 30, 1864, the traasurersof corporations are required to deduct the three mill tax when paying tlie interest on their bonds, and pay the same over to the .State Treasurer. Tin's law thus faroperates very advantageous ly, yielding in 1865 an excess of slsu - 000 over the previous year. But it is still imperfect, and ought to beamened. A tax of three mills on the principal of a six per cent, bond is the same as a tax of five per cent, on the interest. I recommend that the law he so amended as to require a tax of five per cent, to be paid on the interest accruing on all bonds. This will make a five, six or seven per cent, bond bear equal burdens. The corporation should lie re- rjuired to make its return to the Auditor General, instead of the State Treasurer, and have its ureounts settled in the usual luunner, with a severe penalty for non compliance. This tax, if properly regulated, will become one of the most reliable sources of income to the State Treasury, and should receive tlie early and careful consideration of the Legis- lature. Some method should lie adopted by which the officers of the State can learn the whereabouts of the officers of for eign corporations liable to taxation un der our laws. As the law is now en- forced, but a small proportiou of these institutions pay any tax into the Treas ury. If all corporations, both foreign and domestic, were required to keep a complete record of the names of their officers, place of business, &c., with the Auditor General, it would greatly facili tate thecollectionoftaxesduefrom them :o the Shite. Our license laws require amendment. Nine-tenths of tlid theaters pay no li cense at all, and in the city|of Philadel phia, alone, nearly three thousand per sons, liable under the laws,annually fail to take out licenses as venders of mer chandize. This is from no faull of the county officers, hut arises from the fuct that these people are allowed to appeal from the decision of the mercautileap praiser to an alderman, and from the judgment of the alderman to the county court. The result is that the year for .which they are required to pay a license generally expires before the case can be readied. I suggest that licenses be collected in the same manner as other taxes. The law requiring corpo rations to pay a bonus for their charters, should be so amended as to cdtapel the first payment to be made immediately upon the organization of the company. Had this been the law during the past year, the State would have received an income of $150,000 more than she de- rived from this source, most of which will now be lost. By the estimate, hereto annexed, of our receipts and expenditures for the coming year, it will be seen that our receipts are expected to reach the sum of 50,426,000, and our expenditures, during the same period, the sum of $3,523,000. By levying a tax of one per 'cent, on the capital of banks, and the exercise of proper diligencein collecting our taxes on corporations, license?, &e., the receipts can readily be made to reach $6,000,000; while, the expendi tures, with the least'posaible effort,',<*an be reduced t 0,53,300,000.,53,300,000. Under these circumstances, it is worthy of serious inquiry whether the finances of the State are not now in a condition to pense altogether with the tax reft! estate, leaving it to be taxed only for county and township purposes. It should be the endeavor of the State, as far as possible, to collect her revenue from sources that cannot be reached by counties and towns. At the time of creating the last war loan, the first thing seized upon for its repay ment was real estate; and now, that the war is over.jvhy should it not be the first to receive the benefits of peace? From all parts of the country we hear the cry, high rents; and much of the necessity for this advance arises from the high local taxation rendered necessary to liquidate debts incurred by counties and towns to pay bounties for the war. Presuming that our receipts will b 0...- ' $5,420,000 00 Our expenses 3,300,000 00 There would be a balance... From which deduct tax on real estate Leaving a balance 'We will still have a balance in the Treasury of $.526,000 over and above all necessary expenditures. If we .add to this a tax on banks, of $470,000, it will give us $006,000 —nearly a million of dollars to be appropriated to the re demption of the public debt. From this statement, it seems clear to me that we could along without levying one dollar of tax on the real estate of the Commonwealth. We can, at least, s'us-' pend its collection for a year or two. until we have tried the experiment. All of which is respectfully submitted. WILLIAM H. KEMBLE, State Treasurer. Ounpinulirr Statement of Liabilities for .Vor. 30, 18(50, and Nor. 30, ISOS. Liabilities, Nov. 30, ISOO 37,964,602 02 A ssets—Bonds of Penn’a. R. R. Co Assets—Bonds of Phil’a. and Krio R. R. Co. 3,500,000 00 Infst on bonds of Phil’n and Krie R. K. Co. Cash in Treas vi rv $7,200,000 oo 175.000 00 Liabilities in excess of assets. Liabilities, Xov.'.o, ISIm Hotels of iVnu/ K. K. Co ( U,700,000 (.Ml Homis IMiil'a Erie K. U Co.) :?,.*»(K),uoi) on Int'st on l)omls of Phii’u and Erii> K. H. To. 1,0;>0,000 00 Cash in Treas u ry 2,373,008 14 Liabilities in arrows ol' assets 23,M7,M5 22 Liabilities, Nov. 30, IN>O. Do do Improvement in condition of Treasury since Nov. 30, ISMO 2,560,173 72 Tttbf r of Extraordinary Expenditures, since since Xnvemhcr 30 f 1 S(>o. In>l, military IM)2 do do ISIM do National Cemetery, Cettys bur|? *.... Relief of Chnmbersburg 1065, military National (Vmetery SchuylkilUrount v riots. Premium on goltl to pay .. ’ interest Refunded bv C. S. liovorn merit and othef parties— ISO! $03K,22‘1 -I.') Ihti2 «m 1*63 iti.tHjs ao I siM 1 Total extraordinary exsrndl t u res Ixdative Taxation of Xational and State. NATIONAL HANKS. Capital. 1> posit*. Circulation. Dividend. Sfttfuuu «1,.(K),0eu S4OU.INX) 12 per cent. Net prollts, (10,0011 f> per cent. Bit,r>oU Cirnilation, •Mj.oix) 1 do -i OfH» Deposits, I,2(W,(XK) V$ do <i 000 Whole amount of tax A bank under tin* State law has t'nited States tuxes on- Nut profits s6<),<)tiO 5 per cunt. $3,000 Deposits 1,21x1,00ft i do 0,000 ( ’irculution •100,000 1 do 4,000 (’apilal Stock J do 2,500 Statu tax—Tax on capital slock 3,000 'fax on dividend, 17 poret. 10,200 Tax on bunks remaining under thu Statu law K'ftimatf'd'*Rf'cciptx an<l JCxpc.nditurcx for yvar avlnu/ Sovnu/n-r IJOdh, l^Uo. HKCKH'TS. §la,UOO 0(1 Lands action Commis sions v .... 1.5,()0n on Auction duties... Hank dividends.. Cnrpnr'ln stocks Heal and person- al estate. I,.son,turn on 1)70,000 ou Net earnings or 100,000 oo 27,000 oo 400,000 00 Fnrolmments. Tonnage Comimilation of tonnage •. 500,000 00 Writs, wills and 70,000 oo Brokers and •fbftnkers Certain o/liees. Collateral inher itance . r )0,ooo oo 17,0(H) 00 27.7,000 00 227,000 00 250,000 00 4,0(H) 0o Tavern licenses... Retailer's d 0.... Theater d 0.... Hillard room and ten pin alley licenses Fating house li- is,ooo on 2,<K>o (H) S,OOO 00 censes Pedlers’ licenses. Hrokers’ d 0... Patent medicine licenses I>isti'y and brow ery licenses.... Millers’ licenses, Foreign ins u r 127,000 OO ance companies Pre mi u m s o n charters Horn! No. it, Pu. Railroad Co * Right of wuy Fees of public of- 100,000 OO 100,000 oo 10,000 oo ficers Miscellaneous. 7,000 IH » IO.IHHI on 5.7,42(5,000 00 KX rKXDITntKS, N Kxponscs ofl i o v - eminent MiliUi r v or >I i - nary Military extraor dinary Pensions) Charitable insti- 150,000 oo 0,000 oo Unions I merest on public debt Pennsylvania in sane asylum..:.. 11,000 00 Common schools ii 10,000 00 Public buildings. 40,000 00 10 x(on s i o n of " Capitol ‘*'>,ooo on House of Refuge. 00,000 o<> Penitentiaries..:.. 45,000 00 Miscellaneous 15,000 00 300,000 00. 1,!»)'>, (KjO 00. Extravagance in Gifts, . 1 radesmen say there has been no time in the last twenty-five years when their Christmas business, in proportion to the population, lias been so large as at the present season. The actual retail sales .in tliis city, for holiday gifts, during the past and prepent week, will reach, 1 am -Uiiormed,sB,(i(jfrdoifto $10,000,000. The presents varyVll the way .from a tin train pet to a iirmyn-stone front and lot —from a China noil to a monetary set tlemen to a fortune. Com modore Vanderbilt, Hemy B. Claflin and George Law, I am informed, gave to each ot their children, a day or two. since, $50,000 in gold, as a Christmas, present, which ought to have been ac ceptable, if not from its appropriateness, at least from its pecuniary significance.. — L'cw York Letter. We stated some days ago that the fathers of the Republican party in New York hudorganized a Free Trade League and we predicted at the same time that this organization would extend it self to the West and occupy the ground that has been occupied for the last five years by the 11 Union Leagues.” From yesterday’s Press' we learn that “ the Secretary of the New York Free Trade League has recently been making a tour through the West, and as one of its re sults a Free Trade League has been or ganized at St. Louis, and it is announced that similar organizations are about to be established further’westward.” 2,120jb00 00 1,600,000 00 $526,000 09 11,550,438 OS 20,408, IdS 04 $37,471,003 30 13,023,008 14 20,408,108 04 "28,847,005 22 $2,35-1,340 83 832,380 00 207,728 07 ‘100,723 25 5,000 00 100,000 00 382,130 81 11,002 00 1,087 41 103,774 00 5,348,207 47 1,310,040,20 4,028,027 21 {,523,000 00
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