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OFi'ICE--SOUTIIIVEST CORNER OF CENTRE
FRWARE.
Voettp.
=KIM
Axon' Elt year another year!
The unceasing rush of time sweep., on !
Whelm'd in Its surges, disappear
Man's hopes and fears forever gone!
Oh no! forbear that Idle tale !
The hour demands another strain—
Demands high thoughts that cannot quail
And strength to conquer and retain.
"Ds midnight—from the dark blue sky
The stars—which now look down on earth
Have seen ten thousand centuries fly
And given to countless changes birth.
Shinn on, shine on! with you I iron!
Tho march of ages, orbs of light !
A last eclipse o'er you rimy ?int...nil,
To ino; to Me, thore conics nn night
0 what convene: It him whose way
Lies upward to the Immortal dead
That a few hairs are turning gray.
Or one more year of life In lied?
Swift years! but teach me how to hear,
To feel and act with strength and skill
To reason wisely, nobly !lure;
And speed your courses as ye will.
When life's meridian tolls are done,
How calm, how rich the twilight glow'
The morning twilight of a sun,
Which shinemi not lame on things below
lint sorrow, sickness, death, the pain
To 1011V1 1 , Ihr lose wife, eloldrem frle 11l !
What, then, shall we not moot again,
Whore parting comes nut-sorrow ends!
The fondness of a Parent's care.
The changeless trust which woman gl V 1.4
The smile of childhood it is Were,
That all we love In them still
Press onward through said] varying
1.11 no WINI. 1( fears thy sourse delay;
Immortal being! feel thy power:
Pursue thy bright and endless way.
f+liscellancous
An " Avenger of Blood."
The subjoined brief narrative, which
was repeated to me by an eminent sur
geon in the United States navy, may be
classed under the head:of " Authentic
Sensational History;" for it is literally
true in every respect in the record of the
strange dkcovery and catastrophe, and
in the minutest detail or the singular
events which led to both.
But first, let me pay a proper tribute
to the narrator—a line specimen of what
our "Young America' was composed
Of in our struggle %081 Great Britain.
I must gossip a little in so doing; but
my " twitter " shall be short and that is
One comfort in such things, any how.
I was surprised, not long ago, upon
reading the announcement in the Prov
idence Daily Journal, of the death of
the venerable Dr. I 'slier Parsons. I
was surprised, because I had supposed
hint to have departed this life some ten
years ago: indeed, I was so informed at
the time by a former mutual acquaint
ance In Providence. I ant rejoiced to
learn that he was spared until he wits
over four score years old—dying, even at
that advanced age, while yet " his eye
was not dimmed nor his natural force
abated."
While for a twelvemonth, and more
I chanced to be editor of the Providence
Daily Journal—more years ago than I
now care to speak of—l became well ac
quainted with Dr. Parsons, and his last
ily image is now distinctly before my
mind's eye. The sketch given of the
doctor in the Journal is brief, but ex
ceedingly comprehensive and well writ
ten. Those who knew him as he should
be known will be glad to recall the his
tory of the poor young, surgeon walking
from Albany to !hand°, when the war
broke out to report himself to Commo
dore Perry, carrying his commission in
Ids pocket as surgeon's mate.
In the great battle of Lake Erie he
was the only medical officer on duty in
the entire squadron. His eminent ser
vices and success in and after the battle
led to his rapid promotion in the navy.
He afterwards visited in his official
capacity Gibraltar, Minorca, Tunis,
Sicily, Naples and St. Petersburg—
availing himself of leave of absence to
attend the hospitals and tiled Mal schools
in London, Paris awl Edinburgh.
After his resignation front the navy
he rose to a very prominent position in
Rhode Island as a surgeon and physi
cian, and received the highest medical
honors in that gallant little State. He
wrote in the meantime on several pro
fessional subjeets, which became "stand
ard " in their kind and passed through
numerous editions; also, successful med
ical dissertations, for which premiums
had been ollered ; four of the " Boylston
Prize Essays "—the first of which was a
medical history of the battle of Lake
Erie and the last a SUM inary of his prin
cipal surgical operations, together with
many articles on diverse themes for
medical journals in ditli•rent American
Ci ties.
But he once told me a very startling
story, which, nt my request he wrote for
my especial gratification. It was the
only merely "sensational" contribution
of the doctor to the public press that
ever came from his pen, prolific as it
NVOS in professional exerestat ions. The
events savor so much of modern fiction,
and so sanguinary are the incidents, I
will state on the irrefragible authority
of the narrator that he was the
surgeon of the ship on which they oc
curred, and stated to me that the mate
rial facts were just such as he had re
lated them.
This exciting reminiscence, then, of
nu 711 . tUal scene on board of a mamof
war, I will call, if you please,
"It was on a dark, tem pestous night,"
said the doctor, " that the frigAto
Here ploughed her way through the
(hilt of Finland, rolling and plunging,
at the sport of every billow us rt dashed
in spry over her (leek. The inceasant
groaning and risking of the ship's
joints at every surge, were oceasionally
interrupted by the hoarse sound of the
otllcer's trumpet or the shrill pipe of the
boatswain and the tramp of men run
ning with the halyards.
"Steward," said the eatcher of the
ward- room, as he entered it from (leek,
" invite down all the oilleersof the mess
about the galley, and all the officers who
can be spared from duly. Tell 'cm it is
Saturday night, and mind ye, have
ready the.large Call of whiskey punch,
piping hot, and' nuderials for tire same,'
its the Irish have it."
" The social board WILY soon rround
ed—each man steadying himself in the
ehair as the ship rolled front side to side
by embracing a leg of the tattle between
his knees."
" Sweethearts and wives," the custo
mary toast for Saturday evening, was
drank with the usual sigh of fond re
collection. Then followed the enliving
song or mirthful story.
" There is some fun," said the sailing
master, " in that pilot who joined us at
, Copenhagen. If we could only get the
Russian down from deck he would make
capital sport for us in his broken Eng
lish."
" We'll have hiun, then," said the first
lieutenant. "Steward, ask the pilot
to join us: and look ye, have less noise
in that gunroom when you come hack."
"The wardroom servants occupied the
adjoining apartment, and had evident
ly followed our example in calculating
the Saturday evening glass.
" Presently the rough, weather-beaten
pilot appeared at the table, and twisting
his large moustache right and left to
open a way for the glass, soon made up
in speed what he lacked in time, nor
did he fail to confirm all that tine sailing
master had said of him.
" Little did he dream of the transition
his feelings were soon to undergo.
It is common on board of war vessels
on pleasant evenings for officers to stand
listening about the forecastle to overhear
the songs and jests of the "jolly boys."
On this occasion, too, the noise from the
servant's room had drawn the pursur
from the table to listen to their sport.—
After a while he came back with a lit
erally overwhelm i ng ex pressi on of coun
tenance.
" Gentlemen," said he, in a hushed
tone of voice, 'one of our servants is a
pirate."
" A pirate !" was the united, subdued
echo of the company.
" Yes," responded the purser, Pa Bar
rittarian pirate, who WM contacted soil
subsequently pardoned by President
Monroe, and now is telling to the other
servants what he has done.
" By St. Nevski !" exclaimed the Rus
sian pilot, "dat is no the way the Em
peror *eats de pirates. He would send
them to Siberia to be knouted and den
hung.
" Let us have the rascal out here,"
said the purser, "and make him describe
some of his pir acies."
" Agreed. , -
" And John Smith, for that was the
name he had chosen, was called forth to
entertain us with-a story of real life.
" All eyes were fixed upon him as he
.approached the table, but a more de
mure and innocent looking face no one
-ever encountered.
" The first lieutenant began the exam-
stzettioite: - .
VOLUME 71
'nation but John hesitated to answer,
being evidently astonished how it was
that any of the company had came to
know anything about the piracies.
"Go on," said the lieutenant, "go on.
We know all about it. You have been
pardoned, and therefore, have nothing
to fear from us. Give us the whole
story. Come out with it."
John Smith," of course disclaimed
any guilt in the outset. He did not
know the object of the band with whom
he had enlisted until it was too late to
extricate himself. He recounted sever
al of his piratical adventurers, and
warmed up as he proceeded with a de
scriptfon ilk his bloody career.
" But there was one act," continued
he, gratified at the evident interest
which his story excited; "there was
one act never came to light, which was
worse than all the rest."
"Let us have it, John," said all the
company; "out with it."
" Well," continued John, " it so hap
pened:that we:fell in with a Russian ship
bound to Mexico and boarded her. The
captain, a brave fellow, resisted our
search for money ; but we knocked out
his brains with a hand-spike, and after
ward killed every man on board. We
plundered all we could carry away,
scuttled the ship and set fire to her."
"Vat Russian ship vas dat'."' asked
the pilot, his eves starting out of his
head.
" It was the ship (Moon'," said John,
"Captain Nicholas Potowsky."
" Mein (lot!' exclaimed the pilot,
with clenched hands and a quivering
lip, 'it was my brodder Nicholas! You
shall be put in irons and hunged yen die
ship arrives at Condstadt ! Oh, Nicho
las, you NIS not drowned den, ship and
all! No, no!'
"'Flu' pilot rose from the table to see
the captain, but could not pass the sen
tinel at the cabin door. John, the pirate,
was confined in the coal pit of the ves
sel, out of sight of the pilot, during his
stay on board, which, however, was
short, as we soon landed at Crondstath.
" ' The pilot applied to the authori
ties there to take the pirate out of the
ship, but as the (tuerriere was a national
armed vesse?, nothing of the kind could
be done. John, therefore, escaped due
punishment until the vessel arrived at
its next port, which was in Sicily,
where, expecting another trial for his
life, he immediately deserted, and was
nevermore heard of." •
A Turkish Beauty
I enjoyed the pleasure this morning
of being introduced to a very handsome
Turkishlady, in order to give an oppor
tudity of witnessing a perfect specimen
of Oriental beauty. After a good deal
of persuasion she allowed toe to copy
her profile. Her eyes and eye-lashes
were intensely black, though I suspect
the latter were stained of a deeper dye
than the natural one. Her complexion
was beautifully fair, with the slightest
tint of carnation Sllllll.Ol over her face.
Her lips! sweet lips! that made us sigh
even to have seen such. Her glossy
hair, which was bound with a kalemkier
or painted handkerchief, representing a
whole parterre of flowers, fell in loose
curls upon her shoulders and down her
back. She wore a short black velvet
jacket, embroidered with gold lace ;
trousers of sky blue and under-jacket of
pink (Tape, and one of those beautiful
transparent shirts which ravish the be
holder and "half reveal the charms
they fain would hide."
A. magnificent Persian shawl emir
clelher waist, which had nature's own
form, never having been compressed by
the eruel bandage of stays. Her feet
were in slippers, and two or three ugly
rings deformed her white and slender
fingers, the nails of which were dyed
with henna. Around her neck she wore
a double row of pearls,'from which hung
an amulet. Her skin was very white
and beautiful ; the constant use of the
dry vapor bath having reduced it to a
fineness which 1 can only compare to a
highly polished marble, and it looked as
glossy and as cold. She was well pleased
with the drawing I had made, and, on
rising to go away, she put on her yellow
boots over the beautiful white foot and
ankle, which it \ rani a sin to conceal ;
then, donning her cashmere and cloak,
she bade us adieu, with a grace and ele
gance which few English ladies could
equal. No wonder the Lurks sigh for a
paradise, when they believe heaven to
be peopled with houiis such us these!
—Aa/djo's Visit to Constcintinopte.
Ex-Queen Isabella and Iler Daughter
Sued by a Jeweler.
The Civil Tribunal of Orleans, Frame,
has just given judgment in a suit
brought by M. (tillion, a jeweller of that
city, against 4jle Princess Isabella Fer
'iambi of Bourbon, I nfantaof Spain, and
against the ex-queen Isabella, her sister
in-law,and against the French Minister
of the Interior, under the following cir
cumstances: In 180 the Princess Isa
bella Fernanda arrived at Orleans, to
place her three children to be educated,
the boy at the Petit Seminaire and the
two girls at the Convent of the Sacre-
Cmur ; her Royal Highness at first
alighted at a hotel, but afterwards, on
the invitation of the Minister of the
Interior, removed to the grand apart
ments of the Prefecture, where balls and
other fetes were given in her honor.
On the observation of the Princess,
that, not expecting to be received with
such honor, she had not brought with
her any jewels, and consequently could
not appear in a state befitting her rank,
the Prefect requested M. (lillion to sub
mit to her Royal Highness his stock of
wares. The tradesn uu n was quite unite
quainted with the Princess and her po
sition, hut confiding in the recommen
dation of the functionary, lie allowed
her to select different articles to the
amount of 11,712 francs, in addition to a
suit of pearls and amethysts, valued at
0,0)0 francs, and which, requiring some
alteratiohs were afterwards forwarded
through the Span ish Consul at Bayonne,
according to instructions from the Min
ister of foreign aflitirs at :Madrid.
The Infanta was to pay for the jewels
after her return home, but the drafts of
M. Gillion were returned dishonored,
and he afterwards found she was hope
lessly insolvent : having enormous
debts, while leer whole resources con
sisted of an allowance from the Treasu
ry, but which is not liable to seizure by
creditors. Her reputat ion in Madrid was,
besides, such that she could not obtain
credit for any article of the most insig
nificant value. Gillion consequent
ly brought the present action to recover
the 11,712 francs from the Princess joint
ly with the French Minister of the
Intjrior, on the ground that he, the
jeweler, had been solely induced to sup
ply the articles by the invitation of the
Perfect, and by the attention shown to
the Princess in accordance with instruc
tions front the Min ister ; the 6,000 francs
were claimed front the Queen laicause
the jewels were forwarded through her
Majesty's diplomatic! agent.
'the Court rejected the demand
against the French Minister and the
Queen, but condemned the Infanta Is
abella Fernanda to pay the stun of 11,712
francs with interest and costs.
Prince Arthur Coming to Washington.
The Wash i ngton Chronicle says : It
appears that we are to have a visit from
His Royal Highness Prince Arthur,
William, Patrick, Albert K. U. Lieu
tenant of thp Rifle Brigade of the Brit
ish army. Priitc'e Arthur has announced
his intention of visiting Washington
city somw here about the latter part of
the month, for the especial purpose
of calling on President Grant previ
ous to visiting other portions of
the United States. He will be ac
compained by Colonel Elphinstone.—
C. B. V. C., Isis Equery, and Ensign
Fitzroy, will remain here about a week,
and will be the guest of Mr. Thornton,
the British minister. From here Prince
Arthur and the suite will proceed to
New York, where he will spend several
days, but whetherhe will visitany other
city has not yet been definitely decided;
it is believed, however, that if he has
sufficient time at his disposal, he will
also visit Philadelphia and Boston.
Prince Arthur was sent to Canada to
join the Rifle Brigade as a subaltern, in
order that he might familiarize himself
with all the branches of military duty,
and is at present serving with his com
mand at Montreal. His Royal High
ness Is nearly twenty years of age and
is spoken of as a young man of fine
presence and engaging manners.
It Is to be hoped that the ladies of
Washington will not lay siege to the
young gentleman's heart in the enthu
siastic and vigorous style the ladies of
the Dominion are said to have adopted.
They will at least be content to admire
the scion of a royal house without ab
stracting his gdoves, seizing upon his
royal handkerchief, begging to be per
mitted to kiss his hat and overcoat, or
trooping In crowds to inspect his private
apartments during his temporary ah
aortae.
re:llV D 4 :A , ;(0 :CO j , • ›tzizMe")
To the& nu te and House of Representatives
oj the Cbonnonwea/th of Pennsylvania:
GENTLEMEN :—From the days of Wm.
Penn, the great and pious founder of our
Commonwealth, it has been the universal
custom of my predecessors, when making
their annual communications to the Gen
eral Assembly, to acknowledge their grati
tude to, and dependence upon the Great
Lawgiver of the Universe. In imitation of
their noble example, let us earnestly in
voke His blessing and guidance in our ef
forts to perform the great work of legisla
tion now before us e in such a manner as to
meet His approbation, as well as that ofour
common constituents.
In transmitting to you the seventy-ninth
annual message since the organization of
the present State governmet, it affords me
the highest gratification to congratulate you
and our fellow-citizens generally on their
enjoying, to an unusual degree, the bless
ings of health and unstinted prosperity ;
and that our principles and institutions—
the pride and boast of every true hearted
patriot—although tried again in the cruci
ble of a heated political contest, the heav
ings of popular passion, and the collisionof
parties, from which we have just emerged,
remain unimpaired and vital in every part.
Under such auspicious circumstances
you have assembled for the purpose
of discharging the• important duties
and' mounting the special responsibili
ties which devolve upon you. It is ex
remely difficult,!even withthe greatest cau
tion in your deliberations, to enact laws
that will fully meet the expectations and
approbation of all the people ; but much of
this difficulty may be overcome by avoid
ing legislation for personal and special in
terests, and not being unmindful of the
magnitude of the interests of the State, and
of its rapidly advancing populatiort o wealth
and influence to destinies beyondthe reach
of human vision. A nobler heritage was
never given to man than that which we
possess; geographically and politically of
the greatest importance; an area of more
than forty-four thousand sqaure miles; di
versified with mountains, valleys, plains,
rivers ; mountains covered with majestic
forests of valuable timber of almost every
variety; plains dotted with cemforLable
homesteads, and presenting well cultivated
Gavots and lux - al-hurt fields marked by the
advancement of agriculture'—the parent,
supporter and stimulator of every species
of industry, exchange and commerce; trills
and valleys with teeming mines of all the
varieties of coal, iron, oil, salt and other
minerals; with farmers, manufacturers,
mechanics, wool-growers, coal and iron
miners, oil producers, and merchants full
of activity and confidence; with:thousands
of miles of railroads and camas to transfer
the vast products to market, and 11M/IMM/-
date the travel of four millions of happy
and prosperous people. Nor should we be
forgetful of education in all its branches, of
the public charities, prisons, reformatories,
lap collection of properly imposed taxes,
[lib speedy reduction of the State debt,
the preservation of order, and the more
certain protection of life, business and
property. All these interests and perhaps
others of equal importance, demand legis
lation of the most enlightened, liberal and
comprehensive character.
In conformity; to the requirements of the
Constitution, I proceed to invite your at
tention to such measures as are deemed
necessary for your consideration, and to
assure you of may willingness to share with
vou the anxieties and responsibilities of all
legislation calculated to ads once the pros
perity of the people and the best interests
of the Commonwealth.
MEESE!
From the reports of the Auditor Cleneral
and Slate Treasurer, the following state
ment has been carefully prepared, and ex
hibits the receipts and disbursements for
the fiscal year ending,Noyember 30, 1869:
Receipts.
1111111t11, iu Treasury, Nov. 30, 1009 q,012,9 . 2:i.n
Ordinary receiptsduring, the tional
year ending 9,231,711:28
Total In Treaanry daring year ending
Nov. :tO, laaa
Disbursements.
Ordinary expenses paid
during the year ending
Nov. 30, ISO) 32,185,111.'27
Loans, 4:e., redeemed at
Treasury 109,011.09
Loans redeemed by the
nunmissioners of the
Sinking Fund 362,702.09
In terra. pa pi at Treasury.. 170,6;5.71
C
Interest pall by umli's
sioners of Sinking Fund 1,735.0q7.07
13=I
It will be observed from the above, that
part of the loans and part of the interest are
paid at the Treasury, and part of both by
the Commissioner of the Sinking Fund.
This produces a complication of accounts;
which, in order to avoid, and to simplify
the financial statement, I recommend that
authority be given by law to charge the
Commissioners with the whole amount of
the State debt, and also with all the money
applicable to the payment thereof, and that
they alone be credited with all pay
ments on both principal and interest of the
State debt.
The following is a statement showing
the nature of the indebtedness of the Com
monwealth, on November 30, 10100:
Funded debt, etc: r-,..,
a per cent. loans .• , 5,:3 I I .1,40.00
5 per cent. loans 7,:77,3 , 1,:1a
•1n.,, percent. luans I 12,000.00
532,700,564,3µ
Unfunded debt, viz
Re' b.f notes In circulation $96,3 , ,r7.0.
Inrerest sertillentes uut-
standing
Interest certificates un
claimed 4,11.,'.'1
laitnestlcereilitors'eertill- 1 ..7
vales
Amount of public debt, Nov. :to,
The public debt on N0v.30, 10030 n 1, 2 ,0017,13
Deduct amount redeemed int the
Treasury, during the year ending
November 30, 1809,
per cent. loans 0 172,t07,10
Relief notes cuncelled ......
Mir=iITIEBI
==MMENZSI
At the commencement of the present ad
ministration in January, 1867, the total out
standing indebtedness of the State was
thirty-seven million, seven hundred and four
thousand, foie• hundred and nine dollars
and serrney-seven cents. Since then, and
tip to November :10, 1369, the sum of four
eight hundred and eighty-nine thou
-Bfl MI, eight hundred and sirty-eight dollars
and eighty-two cents have been paid, and at
live per cent., the stun of :3244,493 -1-1, in
interest, is annually saved to the Com
monwealth. Consequently, the total
amount of indebtedness of the Com
mon wealh on November :10, 1869, was
thirty-tiro million, eight hundred and four
teen thousand, fire hundred and forty
rlol
tars and ninety-five rents.
The reduction during the year ending
November 30, 1869, amounts to four hun
dred and seventy-two thousand, four hu
dred and six dollars and eighteen rents.
The assets remaining in the Sinking Fund
are as follows, viz:—Bonds of the Pennsyl
vania Railroad Coinpany, six million, three
hundred thousand dollars. Agreeably to
an act dated March 30, 1809, the Sinking
Fund Commissioners delivered all the ob
ligations of the Sunbury and Eric Railroad
Company, being .third mortgage bonds, to
the Allegheny Valley Railroad Company,
and received therelor thirty-five second
mortgage bonds of one hundred thousand
dollars each, making in all three million,
five hundred thousand dollars, executed by
the said Allegheny Valley Railroad Compa
ny, and guaranteed I,v the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, the Northern Central
Railroad Company and the Philadelphia
and Erie Railroad Company, payable to the
Commonwealth as follows, viz:
The principal of one of said bonds ($lOO,-
000) shall be payable each and every year,
beginning January 1, 1873, and so continu
ing_
annually thereafter until the said sum
of three million, live hundred thousand
dollars shall be paid, with interest thereon
from January 1, 1872.
The citizens of Pennsylvania have always
borne taxation not only patiently but cheer
fully, and they are still as willing as ever to
contribute to the payment of all the obliga
tions resting upon the State; but they ex
pect their public servants who are entrust
ed with the management of their affairs, to
act upon the most prudent and economical
basis. In a word, they demand reform in
the management of the financial affairs of
the State, and, as far as possible, the re
trenchment of all unnecessary expendi-'
hares.
On the 30th of January last, replying to
a resolution of the Senate, I said:
"I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt through the Clerk of your Honora
ble bod y, a copy of the following resolu
lotion, passed on the 12th inst., to wit:
" Resolved, That the Governor be re
quested to submit some plan to the Senate
to secure the State from loss by the arm
ulation of large amounts of surplus . funds
in the Treasury:
" In reply, I beg leave to direct your at
tention to my message of January 8, 1868,
in which I say, 'the balance now in the
Treasury might be rendered productive by
being invested in the bonds of the State,
berinng six per cent. interest;' and to the
message of January 0, 1869, where I remark,
'whenever there may be surplus funds in
the Treasury, they can with safety and
benefit to the State, be employed in the
purchase of its outstanding bonds, and in
saving the interest of them which would
accumulate prior to their maturity.' "
Since making these suggestions, and ma
turely deliberating upon the subject I
have seen no reason to change my mind in
relation thereto ; and now submit the same
plan, more specifically set forth, based up
on the following statement of - the loans of
the Commonwealth, viz:
Amount of over duo loans, Includ
ing bank charter loans and relief
notes unredeemed 8389,482 2 . 5
Am't payable In 1870, lot. 5 per cont.. 1,483,815 65
Do 1871...d0.0 do 2,820,75000
Do 1872...d0.. 0 do 4,007,15000
Do ... tlc 02850 00
LANCASTER, PA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 12, 1870
Do
1877...d016 do 7,939,603 00
Do
1817...d0_5 do 3,934400 00
Do 1978...d0 5 do " 321,(XX) 00
I
Do 1879...d0_6 do 400,000 00
i Do 1FM2...d0_ EL.._ do 9,23,03000
Do 1882...d0..5...... do 1,183,95000
Do 1/442...d0_134... do 112,00000
Amount of loans
To the liquidation of these loans the sur
plus funds in the Treasury could, with
great propriety, be applied. This indebt
edness is held in bonds bearing interest;
and it will readily be perceived that this
interest will be saved to the State upon
whatever amount of these bonds may be
redeemed, and the State be saved from all
risks of loss by the accumulation of large
amounts of surplus funds in the Treasury.
A few illustrations will show the benefi
cial workings of this plan. At the termi
nation of the fiscal year ending November
30, 1868, there was an unexpended balance
iu the Treasury of $1,912,915 37. If the sug
gestions heretofore made had been carried
out, by the investment of one million of
dollars at that time, in the five per cent.
bonds that will fall due July 1, 1870, and
which I am credibly informed could then
haye been purchased at something less than
their par value, the interest on. the same,
from November 30, 1800, to July 1, 1869,
would lie seventy-nine thousand, one hun
dred and Iflxty-seven dollars, and sixty
seven cents, which has been lost to the
State. Again, on the 30th of November,
1869, there was in the Treasury an unex
pended balance of 31,400,862 49. If one
million, four hundred thousand dollars of
this sum had been invested in the same
kind of bonds, at par, on the Ist day of De
cember, 1869, the interest for the seven re
maining months, ending July 1, 1870, would
lie 340,833 34, but which, in consequence of
non-conformity to this plan, will be lost to
the Commonwealth. I cannot reiterate too
strongly my reeommendation on this sub
ject, and would, therefore, recommend that
a law be passed making it the duty of the
Commissioners of the SinkinaFund to in
vest all surplus funds as rapidly as they
accrue in the Treasury, in the purchase of
the bonds of the Commonwealth next fall
ing due.
I beg, once mate, to remind the Legisla
ture that the salary of the State Treasurer
should at least lie equal to that of the Gov-
ernor. It is only seventeen hundred dol
lars,a sum entirely insufficient to coin
mend the services of any responsible man,
who is required to furnish a bond with
good and approved sureties, for eighty
thousand dollars, and to run the risk of
handling at least Live or six million of dol
lars per annum, without the unlawful use
of the Stale funds, and subsidies from
sources that dare not be revealed to the
beeause they are positively prohib
ited by law, under penalties of no ordinary
magnitude. Yet there are but few men
who have held this office,however poor they
may have been when they took charge of
it, who have not bectime rich. There is
certainly some advantage to be gained by
the holding of the position of State Treas
urer unknown to the public, but which
readily accounts for the disgraceful scram
ble, and for the political and moral de
bauchery which the people of this State
seem to lie doomed annually to witness, in
the election of that officer ; and because of
the disgrace it brings upon their represen
tatives, the people hang their heads in in
dignation and shame. Then, in the name
of the good people of Pennsylvania, I call
upon the members of the Legislature, with
out distinction of party, to rise above the
murkyness of the polluted atmosphere of
the past, to the true dignity of manhood
and exalted patriotism, and purify the elec
tion of Treasurer as well as that of every
other officer within this Commonwealth,
and punish every one who tampers with
the purity of elections, whatever may be
his position or pretensions. And then
every ono who shall have performed his
whole duty to sustain the true interests of
the State, and to maintain the high dignity
of her character, may return unpolluted
and with a clear conscience to his constitu
ents, who will receive him with open arms
and with the joyful exclamation of "wel l
done, good and faithful servant."
Liberal appropriations are made annually
to our penitentiaries, lunatic asylums, and
other charitable and beneficial institutions,
without requiring from those who receive
and disburse the money- any satisfactory
evidence that it has been faithfully applied
to the objects intended. This is wrong, and
should be corrected without delay. All
officers of the State who receive public mo
neys, not excepting the Governor, are re
quired by law and usage to settle their ac
counts, on proper vouchers, in the Audi
tor Generals Office. This is right; and
there is no good reason why the same
accountability should not be enforced
against all those who receive annually
such large sums of money from the
bounty of the Commonwealth. I, there
fore, recommend that a law be passed
requiring all persons who receive and
disburse State appropriations to take
proper vouchers for all moneys so expend
ed by them, and to make quarterly settle
ments of the same in the Auditor General's
office. This is important, not only to pro
tect the interests of the State, but also the
good name of those who receive and dis
burse the money, and of the members of
the Legislature through whose influence
the appropriations are represented to be
procured.
For many years the general appropriation
bills have been signed on the day of the
adjournment of the Legislature, and I here
repeat my suggestions of last year on this
subject. "The Governor has been forced
either to sign the bills without proper in
vestigation, notwithstanding any objec
tions he may have; suspend the means
to defray the operations of the government
for the ensuing year; or call an extra ses
session of the Legislature. It is therefore
earnestly desired that the appropriation
bill be taken up, discussed and passed at a
sufficiently early period during the session
to enable the Governor to give it that thor
ough examination its importance de
mands."
MEM
The peculiar interest which is always
manifested by the people in the subject of
education, is an inducement to lay before
you, more at length than would otherwise
be done, the principal statistics of the sys
tem drawn from the report of the Superin
tendent of Common Schools.
IBl'tMElllil
There are within the state 1,971 school
districts; 13,936 schools; 2,445 graded
schools; 12 900 school directors; 70 super
intendents; 17,142 teachers, 815,753 pupils.
The average cost of tuition for each pupil is
ninety-seven-cents per month. The whole
cost of tuition for the year $3,500,704.28.
Total vost including expenditures of all
kinds during the year, $8,980,148.92. Esti
mated value of school property $14,045,632.
Notwithstanding the fact thiit our school
law was made general in the year 1848, it is
remarkable that there still remain five dis
tricts within the State which have not vet
conformed thereto. I lopes are entertained
that four of these will soon accept the con
ditions of the law, and the remaining one,
known as Harmony District, under the
control of the " Economites," having a
good school of its own, will probably not
adopt the public school system so long as
the present organization of that society ex
ists. It is, therefore, a subject worthy of
hearty congratulation that our school sys
tem has been so universally adopted by the
voluntary consent and general acquies
cence of the people.
As important auxiliaries to our common
schools, the Normal schools aro entitled to
assume the front rank. Their flourishing
condition may be understood from the fol
lowing statistics; The whole number of
students that have attended the four Nor
mal schools is 10,237, of whom 321 have
graduated. During the past year there were
in these institutions 76 teachers, and 4,178
students. Since my last annual communi
cation, a State Normal school has been
fully established and recognized at Blooms
burg, Columbia county. Its buildings are
of the most finished and substantial char
acter, and it commences its career under the
most auspicious circumstances. Another
is now in a state of preparation at Califor
nia, Washington county, and will proba
bly be completed during the current year.
'sour attention is again invited to the fact
that there aro about seventy-five thousand
children in the State that do not attend
schools of any description, and who are
permitted to grow up in ignorance and
without employment, and, in many in
stances, from lack of industrial and edu
cational training become not only the vota
ries of vice, but a prolific source from
which the inmates of our prisons and peni
tentiaries are supplied.
The number of children throughout the
State attending private schools, is estimated
at eighty-five thousand.
The aggregate of the educational condi
tion of the children of the Commonwealth,
may bo thus stated:
Attending the public schools
Attending private schools
Not attending schools of any kind
Whole number of children
The subject of non-attendance by so largo
a portion of children, is specially and most
earnestly commended to your considera
tion. It is true economy on the part of the
State, if possible, to save these children
from ignorance, vagrancy and crime. To
neglect them would be inexcusable, if not
criminal. Doubtless in your assembled
wisdom you will be able to devise some
effectual mode by. which this evil can be
remedied.
Many of the recommendations contained
in the report of the Seperintendent are of
the utmost importance, and eminently de
serving of serious attention and legislative
action. The facts above set forth illustrate
most forcibly the practical value of our
most admirable common school system,
and bear testimony that cannot be misun
derstood, to the wisdom and liberality by
which it has been conceived and so success
fully carried into effect.
Soldiers' Orphans' Schools.
'Attention is invited to the report of the
Superintendent of the Soldiers Orphans'
Schools, for the year ending May, 81, 1869,
in which is exhibited their condition, cir
cumstances and expenditures.
The whole number of children admitted
into these schools from their origin to the
31st day of May, 1869, is four thousand, five
hundred and nine ; of whom three hundred
and seven have been discharged on order,
five hundred and eighteen on age, and
fifty-three have died ; making a total of
eight hundred and seventy-eight, which
left three thousand, six hundred, and thir
ty-one in the schools at the end of the year.
Up to May 31, 1869, the number of dis
charges from the schools have exceeded
former estimates by one hundred and
seventy-five. The number of applications
for admission on file and not acted on, was
seven hundred and one; some from every
county in the State except six.
The sanitary condition of the children in
these schools has been remarkably good.
And from the foregoing statement it appears
that during the four years in which they
have been in operation, the whole number
of deaths has been less then one-third of
one per cent. per annum.
The entire cost for maintenance, educa
tion, clothing and general expenses, for the
year ending May 31, 1889, differs but little
from the original estimate of the Superin
tendent, and
Amounts to 9.500,K1
:r2,810,047 90
To pay which there wan an
unexpended balance 0f... . SCOW 74
Appropriated April 11, 186.. 4oopo 00
Appropriated March 13, 1.309 50,11100.
Balance improv Ideal for AIM SS
For which sum there should be a special
appropriation without delay, to meet the
pressing wants of the teachers of the differ
ent institutions, who have been already
compelled to await its payment for more
than seven months.
In his last annual report, the Superintend
ent estimated the expenses for the current
year terminating May 31, 1370, at $494,700.
the sum appropriated for that year, by act
of April 10, 18119, was $150,000. As the Su
perintendent reports the expenses will not
materially vary front his estimate, there
vill therefore be a deficit of $44,700 for the
current year, to be provided for during the
present session.
Fur the maintenance of these schools dur
ing the year ending May 31, 1871, it is esti
mated that $534,500 will bo required. Which
sum I recommend to be appropriated, with
the positive understanding that the ex
penditures shall not exceed that amount.
We are admonished by the rapid expan
sion of the system, and by the constantly
increasing desire to obtain admission into
these schools, that some definite limit
should be determined upon by law. It is
therefore recommended that the indigent
children of Pennsylvania soldiers, who
served in Pennsylvania regiments, and who
died prior to January 1, 1860, from wounds
received or disease contracted in the service
of the United States during the late war,
shall lie hereafter admitted, and none oth
ers.
With unsparing patience, well considered
measures, and earnestness of purpose, many
defects have been eradicated, and the schools
have been advanced to a more perfect and
efficient system than that by which they
were at first characterized, and elevated to
a condition not second to any similar insti
tutions in the country. This humane and
philanthropic service is being performed
by intelligent officers and faithful teachers,
which will be more fully shown by their
reports, communicated for the information
of the Legislature.
The establishment of these institutions,
where the destitute orphan children of th
soldiers who lost their lives in the supprese
sion of the late rebellion, are fed, clothed
and educated at the public expense, contin
ues to command the cordial support, ap
proval and encouragement of our citizens,
and tends to elevate, everywhere, the repu
tation of Pennsylvania, (the first State to
establish such schools,( to the highest de
gree, for her justice, patriotism and philan
thropy.
Most heartily have the people endorsed
the past action of their representatives in
relation to these schools, and there exists
not a single doubt but that they will most
cordially approve all necessary appropria
tions for the continuance of the support,
education and guardianship of these adopt
ed children of the Commonwealth. To the
honor, State pride and humanity of the
Legislature is confided the guarding and
maintaining of these sacred interests, end
in the faithful discharge of this noble duty,
you shall receive from me a special and
zealous concurrence.
4gricultural College
The establishment of this college was un
doubtedly intended as a progressive move
ment, and under the impression that it
would contribute much to the easy acquisi
tion of a combined knowledge of agricul
ture, science and literature, and to promote
the practical education of the industrial
classes in the several pursuits of life. It
has been fostered by the most liberal leg
islation, and is endowed with the sum of
,5,:i81,500, invested in United States and
Pennsylvania bonds, yielding an aggregate
interest this year of . $25,551 90, which has
been paid to the trustees of the institution.
Thus far the most satisfactory results from
the workings of the college have not been
realized. But it is now under the direction
of a president and six learned professors.
It receives for its pupils only males over
the age of fifteen years, qualified for admis
sion by a good common school education.
There are in it at present forty-five stu
dents, with a fair prospect of a considerable
increase in number. Tuition, board and
the ordinary necessaries of life, are there
furnished at a less rate than is generally
demanded for board alone, thus affording
an extraordinary opportunity to the youth
liitlthe country to acquire an accomplished
education with comparatively small ex
penditures. Under these circumstances the
college deserves the indulgent sympathy
and support of the people.
Three experimental farms are connected
with the college, purchased at an aggregate
cost of 21-13&.43.50. One is located at the.
college, one in Indiana county, and one in
Chester county. Operations have been
commenced upon them under the prescri
bed programme of a series of experiments
with promises of complete success; the re
sults of which are to be reported annually
to the Legislature by the Professor of Ag
riculture. It is confidently expected that
the record of these experimental results
will prove highly interesting, and greatly
beneficial to the community.
The military department is one of great
importance to the honorable history of the
Commonwealth, and to that of her citizens
individually. It is the custodian of all the
military records of the State, embracing
that of every officer and private soldier,
and the history of every military transac
tion performed by the State for the suppres
sion of the rebellion. It has also in its cus
tody all the regimental, State and National
flags borne by our soldiers, and many tro
phies of war won by their valor on the
field. All of which should be systemati
cally and carefully preserved and perpetu
ated.
During the last three years, all the staff
officers rendered necessary by the war, and
the different offices established for the con
venience of the soldiers, have been discon
tinued, and the duties performed by them,
as well as the official books and papers,
have been transferred to the Adjutant Gen
eral's department. He is, therefore, the
only military officer remaining, to whom
recourse is constantly had for statistics and
information, not only by the soldiers, and
their relatives and attorneys, but by other
States, and by the War Department at
Washington. All these circumstances, con
nected with the present flourishing condi
tion of the volunteer militia in the State,
induce me to request the continuance of
legislative favor for the Adjutant General's
department, and that it may be generously
supplied with such appropriations as have
been requested by the Adjutant General
for that office.
An unusual martial activity prevails
throughout the State, and more particularly
in Philadelphia. The encouragement which
has been afforded to the uniformed militia
has been responded to with alacrity, and is
exhibited 119 follows: In 18136, there were
eight volunteer companies ; in 1867, thirty
eight; in 18&8, sixty-seven, and in 1869, one
hundred and eighty-four, No less than
one hundred and seven companies were or
ganized during the year ending November
30, 1869, of which fifty-six are in Philadel
phia, and fifty-one in other parts of the
State.
This is a small but efficient and well
equipped force, which in case of riot, rebel
lion, or other public danger, would be
ready at once to imperil itself for the en
forcement of the laws, and the protection of
the lives and property of our citizens. It
is therefore desirable that the Legislature
should give the volunteers such practical
aid as would, in some degree, compensate
them for the time and money expended to
maintain their organizations, in which the
people are as much interested as the volun
teers themselves,
The report of the Adjutant General will
be found to be a very interesting document,
containing much valuable information and
many important suggestions. A careful
perusal of its contents, and such action
thereon, as acorns to be demanded by their
importance, is recommended. Gen. D. B.
M'Creary has been elected to membership
in one of your honorable bodies, and with
his last report tie closed his career a. 9 Adju
tant General. In losing his valuable ser
vices from a position he has so ably filled
for more than two years, the hope is in
dulged that the departmenti will gain an in
telligent and devoted friend, and an able
and efficient advocate in the halls of legis
lation.
The report of the State Historian is de
serving of your careful attention. In it
you will find a detailed account of the ope
rations of his department from its com
mencement to the present time. The work
entrusted to his care is one of no ordinary
character and responsibility requiring tal
ents of a high order patientindustry, carp
ful research, andtrnbiased judgment. The
labor to be performed is-immimse, and cart
only be properly appreciated by those fully
acquainted with its magnitude. It em
braces a faithful account of all the or
ganizations of Pennsylvania troops du
ring the war of the rebellion ; the collec
tion and adjustment, in a comprehensive
form, of each military organization and,
an unprejudiced description of all military
transactions of importance, so far as the
the volunteers of this State are concerned,
in the camp and in the field, throughout
the most terrific conflict of arms that has
ever occurred.. in the history of the world.
The propriety of such a work must be ap
parent to every intelligent citizen of the
Commonwealth. Certainly it is due to the
citizen soldiers, who offered their lives in
the defence of their country, that their
name's should, at least, receive a place in
the archives of the State, toward whose
honor and glory their gallant deeds have so
largely contributed.
The work of the Historian, when com
pleted, will embrace four large octavo vol
umes, in which the name of every Penn
sylvania volunteer will have its appropri
ate place. Two of these volumes are al
ready completed, in a manner highly cred
itable to the Commonwealth. The third is
rapidly.progressing, and with a generous
appropriation s on the part of your honora
ble body the entire history will he execu
ted, if not before, soon after the close of the
present year. Most other States are pub
lishing histories similar to this, and it is
due to the importance of the subject, and
to the credit of the State, that Pennsylvania
should not be behind in this patriotic un
dertaking.
HOME FOIL DISABLED SOLDIERS
There, is probably, no State in the Amer
ican Union that has contributed more lib
erally toward the the support of charitable
and benevolent institutions than that of
Pennsylvania. The appropriations annu
-1 ally made for the benefit of soldier's or
phans' schools, asylums for the deaf and
dumb, blind and insane, and many similar
' worthy establishments in which the poor,
helpless and otherwise friendless are eared
and provided for, reflect great credit upon
the Legislatures who have donated the req
uisite means fur their support. But there
is ono other institution needed, and the
claims fur which are more strongly urged
by every principle of humanity and patri
otism, than any other now in existence,
which has not yet received the attention its
vast importance imperatively demands.—
This is a home for the soldiers who.have
" borne the battle " in defence of the honor
integrity and perpetuity of the American
Union. No men living have as powerful
claims upon the generosity and nurturing
mt.:, of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl
vania, as those who, upon the battle-field,
fought to protect it against threatened de
vastation and destruction,*(md who in this
patriotic service, endatut
tiro
their lives,
srcrifieed their health, los their limbs, and
became enfeebled and' disabled for life.—
And yet o daily see theke men, (and who
does not blush to see them?) to whom we
owe the preseveration of our goveniment,
the homes we enjoy, and almost every
thing we possess, hobbling about our streets
upon crutches, with missing limbs, and
otherwise so enfeebled as to be entirely un
fitted for and remunerative employment,
begging their bread from door to door, or
sitting upon the corners of the streets turn
ing an organ for the few pennies the chari
table passer-by may feel disposed to be
stow. Every one of these helpless men,
whose patriotic devotion to his country has
brought him to this deplorable condition,
is a burning reproach to the State for whose
welfare he has met the most serious and
lamentable of all misfortunes. All of them
appeal, by their wounds and destitution, to
the people of the Commonwealth for that
care which, in such contingencies, was
promised the soldier of the Union, his
widow, and Ins orphan children. It is time
that all such promises should be redeemed.
The wounded and helpess soldiers have a '
claim upon the State which should not, and
cannot be ignored. And I do earnestly
recommend in their name, and in their be
half, that measures he token by your .hon
orable bcxly, to establish for them a home
where they shall be amply provided with
the necessary comforts of life, and no
longer he compelled to be pensioners upon
the scanty charity of the world. This is a
debt the State absolutely owes, and no time
should be lost in its honorable
BEE=2
In two former communications your at
tention was called to the importance of es
tablishing in the State an insurance depart
ment similar to those existing in other
States. But the Legislature has thus far
failed to give the subject that consideration
which interests of such magnitude to the
people seem to demand. Insurance de
partments in sonic of the States are re
garded of paramount importance, as they
effectually guard the interests of the in
sured, and:through theiehealthy influence,
frauds and spurious companies, so coi ninon
in Pennsylvania, are rendered almost im
possible. The greatest benefits would
certainly accrue both to the companies and
policy holder, as has already been demon
strated in the States of New York and Mas
sachusetts, where the subject of insurance
has received the most careful study and
attention, and been reduced to a science
which commands the approbation and con
fidence of all who seek its protection. The
necessity for such a department, with full
powers to organize and examine all insur
ance companies is sanctioned by the ISIS
dom of experience. And as I have here
tofore remarked, the result of the protection
thus afforded, is, that whilst foreign cbm
panics do immense business in this State,
so little confidence is hail in those of Penn
sylvania that their business is almost en
tirely confined witbin the State limits; and
even here foreign companies maintain an
ascendency. To this same defect is attri
butable the operations of the number of
worthless companies that have suddenly
sprung into existence without any solid
basis, and as suddenly exprred to the in
jury of those whose confidence they ob
tained, and to the dishonor of the Com
monwealth.
In view of these facts, I earnestly repeat
the recommendation made to the Legisla
ture at its last session, that an insurance
department be established, and a superin
tendent appointed by law, who shall have
supervision and control over alt insurance
companies allowed to transact business
within the State. The community is deep
lv. interested in this matter, and demands
legislative protection.
Our laws in relation to life insurance
companies are defective and need revision
and correction. Without the protection
referred to those laws bear unequally upon
our own and foreign companies. The lat
ter, being protected by legislative enact
ment, are enabled to transact an immense
amount of business within the limits of
this Commonwealth, whilst our companies
having no such protection, can do but little
in other States. The consequence is, that
foreign companies can readily afford to pay
a license office hundred dollars to conduct
their extensive operations in Pennsylvania,
whilst our companies would be sorely op
pressed by the imposition of the same li
cense tax in States where their operations
aro exceedingly limited. And yet these
other States have retaliated upon our
license law, by adopting its provisions and
demanding from our companies the same
amount of license in each State that we de
mand of their companies in ours. This is
not only oppressive to our own neglected
companies, but it fails to furnish a
,just
and equitable revenue from the various
companies for the amount of business
transacted. The tax should be made to
bear equally upon all companies, whether
home or foreign, and be adjusted propor
tionately to the extent of their several ope
rations. This arrangement would be just
to all—oppressive to none. The abolish
ment, therefore, of the license law, and the
substitution in its place of a reasonable
and equitable tax, would meet the appro
bation of all companies, in favor of equal
and exact justice, whether belonging to this
or any other State. At the same it would
insure a larger income to the Treasury.—
For instance, there are thirty-seven life in
surance companies from other States doing
business in Pennsylvania, who each pay a
license of five hundred dollars, making the
sum of eighteen thousand and five hun
dred dollars. Not one of these companiess
would object to paying an equal tax
say one-half of one per cent. upon the
amount of their business. This, in the
aggregate of the thirty-seven companies
is more than five millions of dollars, on
which a tax of one-half of one per cent.
would be twenty-five thousand dollars, in
creasing the revenue of the State from this
source more than six thousand dollars, and
at the same time equalizing the tax in ac
cordance•with the business done and profits
received. An efficient law, establishing an
Insurance Department, such ES is recom
mended, would meet this and 01l matters
connected with the subject of insurance,
in all its branches.
THE AVOEDAI.E DISASTEE.
The recent disaster in the Avondale Coal
Mine, in Luzerno county, is still fresh in
the minds of the people. It mused a thrill
Of horror to spread throughout the coun
try; and even in Europe it has been pro
ductive of the most painful emotions and
deepest sorrow for the sufferers. Women
and childrenwho had tgen accustomed to
regard the occupation of the miner as one
a ordinary' character, now look upon it as
fraught with danger, and part with rela
tives and friends, when about to pursue
their perilous occupation, with fearful fore
bodings. And even the sturdy miner,
himself, trembles at his dangerous calling,
and demands greater protection than has
hitherto been afforded.
The history of this terrble calamity seems
to be as follows: Early on the morning of
the Bth of September last, one hundred and
eight men entered the Avondale Mine to
prosecute their avocation. None of them
anticipated danger as they descended the
fatal shaft; not one supposed that he was
entering a tomb in which he was doomed
to be buried alive. But the destroying
angel hovered over them, and the shaft,
constructed principally of combustible ma
terials, having become ignited from some
cause, yet undetermined, was soon a sheet
of flarne„and huge burning timbers came
tUrnbling from above, choking up with fire
and - smoke the only avenue of escape. Sen
sible of their peril, the unfortunoto men
sought a place of safety but it was not to
be found. They cried for succor, but no
earthly arm could give them help; hope-
less they huddled together, and clasped in
each others arms, met death in one of its
most frightful and agonizing forms.
Whilst this fearful scene was transpiring
below, the immense wooden structure
above the shaft took fire, and burning with
frightful rapidity, was soon reduced to a
crumbling mass. Thousands of men,
women and children soon surrounded the
place, and being unable to afford theslight
est relief to their suffering friends below,
filled the air with lamentations, appalling
even to the stoutest hearts. Never before
was a scene more heart-rending witnessed
withinthe limits of this Commonwealth_ and
it is trusted that through your prompt and
efficient legislative action, another such
will never be permitted to occur.
The mines in many cases are constructed
and managed in the most selfish and parsi
monious manner, the owners exacting the
largest amount of profit from them, from
the least possible outlay;
consequently
some of them, like that of Avondale, are
nothing but underground man-traps, with.
outany other outlets than wooden chimnies,
and these constantly liable to become blaz
ing volcanoes, through which escape is im
possible. The lives of so useful a class of
men as our miners should not, and must
not be permitted to be thus sacrificed upon
the altar of hurfian cupidity.. Yet a repre
hensible neglect to give them that pro
tection by law which their valuable ser
vices, at liest laborious and dangerous, un
questionably deserves, renders our mining
system worse than that of any other coun
try, whilst our mining interests are une
qualled by those of any other part of the
world.
The most appalling accidents on record
have been traced to unsafe ventilation, and
more especially to the employment of fur
naces at or near the bottom of the shafts.
Where the furnace is used, and the sumoke
is carried through a wooden chimney, it
seems almost certain that, sooner
or later, by the inevitable accumu
lion of soaot or carbon upon the
the frame-work, it must ignite from the as
cending sparks or from the heat of the fur
nace, and a conflagration ensued. To
guard against this, it should be made obli
gatory, if the ventilating furnace be still
allowed, to build the chimneys, the aides
of the shaft, and the buildings surround
ing it at the top with incombustible mate
rials. But even this precaution is not a
sure safeguard, for the firo is liable, at any
moment, to communicate with tho"fire
damp" or other gaseous vapors, that de
spite of all known means of prevention,
will generate in the best regulated mines.
Tho propriety ofdispensiug entirely, there
fore, with the furnace, has received the se
rious consideration of scientific miners and
engineers, and the fan, in many instances,
has been substituted, which being worked
by machinery at the surface, produces a
more constant current of air, dispenses it
more freely through the gangways and
chambers, and, in all respects, accomplish
es the object desired with better effect; and
when the shafts and surface buildings are
tire-proof, without the possibility of dan
ger. This system of ventilation, with ad
vantages so palpably obvious, will, no
doubt, be universally adopted. But the
very nature of mining operations subjects
them to other dangers. The walls and roof
ing of the mines, from the effects of blast
ing and other causes, frequently give way
and fill the gangways so us to render them
impassable, as in the more recent calamity
at Stockton, which resulted in the death of
ten persons. Hence it is absolutely neces
sary, and should be imperatively demand
ed, thit every mine should have more tlum
a single avenue of ingress and egress.
Whether as regards fire, or any other
source of danger to which the miner is ex
posed, this is his surest promise of safety.
Whatever system of ventilation may be
approved, or safety lamp adopted, the
means of escape from the mines, when
danger occurs, will depend very material
ly upon the provision made for the exit of
the miner.
The best method of constructing, vent
ilating and working the mines, should be
unhesitatingly adopted; and the system
adopted rigidly enforced. The inquiry,
therefore, into the causes which produced
this shocking catastrophe—the various the
ories that have been promulgated concern
ing it, the remedies for the prevention of
similar occurrences hereafter, the con
struction and ventilation of collieries, and
the modes of conducting their operations
so that the operatives may prosecute their
labor without imperilling their lives, are
proper subjects for legislative considration.
Such laws as you can enact can most cer
tainly be enforced by competent inspectors
in the mining districts, who should be
chosen with strict regard to character, in
tegrity-, capability and scientific knowl
edge ; and whose duties should be so spe
cially defined that they cannot be misun
derstood.
I, therefore, most respuctfully and earn
estly recommend that this whole subject
receive the attention its importance de
mands, and that a law be passed, so gen
eral in its character and so stringent in its
provisions, that the people of this Com
monwealth will never again be appalled by
a calamity, within her limits, so sad as
that of Avondale.
BOARD OF PUBLIC CHARITIES.
In accordance with an act ofthe last Leg
islature, a Board of Public Charities has
been appointed, consisting of the following
gentlemen, viz: Gen. Thomas L. Lane,
for five Tears ; F. B. Penniman, Esq.,
four
years; Hon. G. Dawson Coleman, three
years; George L. Harrison, Esq., two
vears 4. and
The bOard•lorganized by electing Gen.
Kane, President, and lion. Wilmer Worth
ington, Secretary and General Agent.
From the establishment of this board, and
especially from the high character and
and qualifications of the gentlemen who
have consented to assume its important
trusts and responsibilities, we have reason
to hope for the most beneficial results.
This change in the management of our
charitable affairs is deemed of the highest
importance by many persons intimately
conversant xith the workings and manage
ment of these institutions.
A thorough review of all the establish
ments receiving appropriations from the
State by this board, will give an assurance
to the Legislature and the people, which
they have never heretofore possessed, that
their benefactions will be worthily bestow
ed and properly employed.
Some time during the present session, the
board will present to the Legislature, a re
port of the condition and requirements of
the various institutions that have been re
cipients of appropriations from the State,
with such recommendations as may be
deemed necessary . ; and, therefore, no in
formation concerning them, except the an
nual reports of the superintendents, will at
present he laid before you.
Many prominent citizens have represent
ed that there exists great necessity fur a
more complete geological and mineralogical
survey of the State than at present exists.
. _
Thai° is no doubt but the developements
of mineral wealth that would result from
such a survey would be immense, and the
beueficial returns to the State would many
times more than reimburse the Treasury
for the expenses attending it, including the
printing of reports, maps, itc., sufficient for
the information of the people.
Should the Legislature concur in these
views, and pass a law authorizing such a
survey, it will meet with Executive ap
proval.
- - -
At the last session a law was passed creat
ing the office of inspector of gas and gas
metres for the county of Allegheny ; and
in accordance therewith, I have appointed
an inspector possessing the necessary
scientific qualifications.
The necessity for such a law has been
long and extensively felt, and it has been
earnestly demanded by a largo number of
highly respectable citizens, whose opinions
are eminently worthy of consideration. I
therefore respectfully recommend that the
just and equitable provisions of the Alle
gheny county law be extended to other
counties in which gas is largely consumed.
REVISION OF THE CIVIL CODE
The law on the subject does not contem
plate a full report from the Commissioners
to revise the general statutes of the State,
before the session of 1871. It may, how
over, be important to state that this work
has so far progressed as to make it almost
certain that it will be completed and ready
for the press soon after the close of the
present session as will allow time to bring
within the code such of your enactments as
may with propriety be incorporated.
The Commissioners will report for your
consideration, the revised school laws, as
thepresent edition Ls exhausted, and it
would he inexpedient to re-print them,
when they might be superseded by others
in the course of the current year.
A general road law, and one for the sup
port and maintenance of the poor, have
heretofore been reported but ,not definitely
acted upon and the frequent demands made
for such enactments to correct many exist
ing abuses, and supply a common public
want, render it desirable that these enact
ments should receive your early attention.
The State census will be . taken during the
year, and the law for its regulation having
in it some provisions not now required, a
revised bill will be presented by the Com
missioners for legislative action.
In view of the changes which the revised
code is expected to produce, it is desirable
that no more laws of a general character be
enacted than is indispensably necessary, as
they might occasion a necessity for a revis
ion of what - has already received appropri
ate attention, and cause delay in the com
pletion of the work.
==!
A. great inconvenience has long been felt
in every department of the executive and
legislative branches of the government, for
the want of properly recorded statistical in
formation, relating to the development and
growth of the resources of the Common
wealth. It is impossible for any State °M
eer to report the actual or even the ap
proximate amount of any of our great natu
ral resources and it can not be ascertained
from year to year the amount of eon' mined,
petroleum produced„lumber cut or Iron
manufactured, without special reference
NUMBER 2.
to those who have charge of the Industries
growing out of these products. At very
little cost and labor, statistics relating to
all these objects could be gathered and
annually embraced in a report to be made
to, and published by the Legislature.—
The value of such information would be
of incalculable importance in an official
way, as well asin the general business
of the country. It would stimulate
competition, exhibit the inexhaustible
material within our borders, and
give our people and others, a more perfect
idea of our wealth and resources. The re
commendation made last year for the es
tablishment of a desk for the collection and
preservation of statistics relative to exports
and imports, agriculture, manufactures,
coal, iron, oil,. lumber, Se., and for the col
lection of mineralogical and geological
specimens, and other things that may be
deemed appropriate to such a department,
is resctitilly renewed with the sugges
tion that the duties be attatchcd to the of
fice of'tho Librarian and Assistant, with g
reasonable increase of compensation, and
an appropriation for the same.
_ .
PRISON DISCIPLINE
In accordance with a law approved April
13, 1867, Mahlon H. Dickinson, Esq., of
Philadelphia, was appointed "to visit, for
philanthropicr purposes, the prisons and
almshouses in the various counties of the
Commonwealth." kris second report,
which is herewith p esented, embraces a
• vast amount of useful information, and
will be found highly interesting and wor
thy of mature consideration. It will be
seen that while some of our county prisons
have been constructed and are being con
ducted with strict regard to the proper ob
jects of punishment, others are utterly un
fit for any such purposes, and are a disgrace
and reproach to a civilized age and a Chris
tian people. The Commissioner in regard
to some orthese, describes them " as being
unsafe, where prisoners could not be held
unless loaded with chains, where the sexes
were not separated, where there was no
discipline, or any effort made towards the
moral or religious improvement of the in
mates; the buildings totally unlit for the
purposes of a prison ; and where the pris
oners become schooled in vice, and eventu
ally graduated 4 prepared for a life of law
lessness." In sonic of the prisons the cells
are represented as contracted dungeons,
into which not a ray of sunshine or a draft
of pure air can enter, and in which a hu
man being could not possibly live
through a lengthy term of sentence.—
And in still others, in consequence
of the want of proper accnimoda
[ions, all classes of crimnals, from the most
hardened and aged to the youth of tender
years, are permitted to congregrate, and
indulge in card-playing, profanity, and al
most every species of immorality and
crime. Udder such circumstances, - refor
mation, which is the grand object of divine
and should be of all human laws and pun
ishments, is rendered impossible; whilst
hideous lessons of vice are taught and
learned, to be practised when future oppor
tunny occurs. This is all wrong, and a
remedy for the evil should by all means be
applied. No community has a more legal
right to inflict punishment as a were retali
atory measure, or in such a manner as to
endanger the health and life of the criminal,
to deaden him to all the better sensibilities
of his nature ? and to abwlutely harden him
to the COll/11118.9i011 of crime.
The Commissioners a p pointed "to in
quire into the various systems of prison
discipline, as practiced in other :mac s
and countries, as compared with
what is known as the Pennsyl
vania system," will submit von their re
port at an early day, from which you
will learn that the capacity of our peniten
tiaries is at present competent for the safe
keeping and proper punishment of all of
fenders of the higher grades, arid that work
houses and houses of correction are needed
for those whose crimes are of a more triv
ial character, and whose reformation and
future usefulness may he accomplished by
a humane system of discipline, such as
will
he recommended.
THE JUDICIARY.
Communications have been received
from various parts of the State, represent
ing that the present judicial force is inad
equate for the purposes designed. Since
the number of judges was fixed, tho busi
ness of the courts has greatly increased,
with our rapidly expanding population,
and the multiplication of commercial. and
business operations of our growing Com
monwealth. flow far relief should be af
forded is well worthy of careful considera
tion.
In one district of the Supreme Court,
over seven hundred new cases have been
docketed within one year. Many of these
involve very large amounts, an import
ant legal principles ; and their proper con
sideration imposes upon the judges great
labor and responsibility. In the other dis
tricts of this court the argument lists are
also becoming so crowded that it is impos
sible to dispose of the business with that
promptness and intelligence demanded by
the public interests; and especially, with
one of the judges, as now required by law,
assigned to duty in the court of nisi prilLY
at Philadelphia. I therefore earnestly re
commend an additional judge for this
court, believing it a public necessity, in
justice to tho many suitors, and to the
judges who have more work than should
be required of the present number of men,
let them be ever so laborious and effivient.
In obedience to " an not to settle, determ
ine and locate the southern boundary line
of the Commonwealth," approved March
20, 1869, I appointed James Worrall, Esq.,
of Harrisburg, and Strickland Kneass,
Esq., of Philadelphia, both civil engineers,
Commissioners on the part or Pennsylvania
to act "in conjunction with like Goiania
sinners on tho part of the State of Dela
ware."
The Governor of that State was promptly
furnished with a copy of the act, awl in
formed of the appointment of Commission
ers under it, and his co-operation invited.
But, so far as I am advised, no action of
any kind has been taken by Delaware on
the subject; and consequently the work
contemplated by the act above referred 'to
has not been performed.
Your special attention is invited to the
reportofour Commissioners, which is here
with communicated.
It is eminently proper that special notice
should be taken of the decease of such per
sons as have occupied prominent positions
in, and rendered distinguished services to
the State. Conspicuous among these were
lion. Joseph Pitner and Iron. David It.
Porter, both of whom died during the pre
sent administration. During their event
ful lives they shared largely in the public
confidence and regard, and filled many
posts of honor, trust and responsibility,
including that of Governor, with distin
guished,
fidelity and patriotism. They ,
were conspicuously identified with all the
grave and important questions of State
policy and administration, through the
eventful period in which they lived, and
contributed largely to shape and strength-
the firm fonn - daiions of our Common
wealth, upon which others have been ena
bled to build securely. They have passed
away, ripe in :years and full of honors;
and it is respectfully submitted whether
it lie not proper for the Legislature to take
sonie appropriate notice of the lamented
death of these two distinguished public
servants.
It has grown into a custom to regard an
application for Executive clemency - an an
indispensable part of the machinery of
criminal justice. Because the Executive is
invested with the power to pardon, it is by
many supposed that he has not only the
right, but that it is his duty to examine
into every allegation of error, and give a
favorable response to every application;
and hence, petitions fur pardon are becom
ing so numerous that the mere examina
tion of them is exhaustive of a large amount
of valuable time; at least an hour in each
case, exclusive of the time occupied in cor
respondence with the judges, district attor
neys, and other parties. Criminals are no
sooner convicted, than their friends, and
other interested parties, who seem to think
that it is the Governor's constitutional duty
to nullify the laws instead of seeing that
they arc faithfully executed, prepare a raid
upon Into, and employ in their importuni
ties for pardon every device that in
genuity can suggest; and if lint a tithe of
the representations set forth were believed,
one would be led to suppose that our courts
are daily guilty of the grossest blunders,
and that justice is far more blind than she
has ever been painted by the most skillful
artist.
During the year ending December :11,
18(i9, there have been fifteen hundred and
fifty applications for pardons, of which six
ty-two, or four per cent., were granted,
eleven hundred and eight rejected, and
three hundred and eighty are still under
advisement.
For some reason, not easily understood,
it seems that public sentiment has become
perverted on this important subject of par
dons. The framers of our government, as
I understand it, never contemplated or in
tended an indiscriminate use of the pardon
ing power. It was only designed for the
correction of manifest errors or oppressions ,
palpable mistakes, cases of after-discovered
as
and others of exceptional charac
ter. But the theory of our government
and public policy require that the pardon
ing power should be kept within these rea
sonable limits; and not be made an instru
ment to defeat the execution of the laws
and the administration of public justice.
All ordinary cases, therefore, are wholly
outside of and in conflict with, the princi
ple on which Executive clemency should
be based; and none such should bo pre
sented for consideration. It is earnestly
hoped the public will understand and act
in accordance with this view of the subject,
as duo alike to the Executive and a proper
regard for the execution of the laws.
Having laid before you a general survey,
of the affairs and condition of the State,
which relate to the common welfare it af-.
fords me also the highest gratification to
add that the amicable intercourse and
pleasant relations which have so long ex
isted between the government of Pennsyl
vania and the governmepts of all tho other
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States, and of the Union, continue unim
paired; and consequently, our resolution,
' preserve, protect, and defend " these
fundamental principles of humanity equal
rights and equal justice to all, universal
freedom and a united country, is greatly
strengthened.
The general relations of the National
Government, as set forth in the recent an
nual message of the President, continue to
be "peace at home and without entang
ling alliances abroad ;" the reconstruction
of the States lately i rebellion is being
rapidly accomplished—the revenues are
faithfully collected—the National debt Is
being liquidated, at the rate of about ono
hundred million dollars per annum, and re
pudiation has been emphatically ropudia
dialed. A strict and uncompromising ad
herence to this policy by a prudent and
economical administration has already ro
stored the National character to the fullest
confidence in the minds not only of our
countrymen but of foreigners, and has al
layed all • spirit of discontent that might
have been dangerous to the stability of our
institutions.
There is another subject also of National
importance claiming our attention, because
it directly affects the industrial operations
in which Pennsylvania is so largely inter
ested. Movements, characterized with the
greatest energy, are now being made by
those interested iu free trade, to induce
Congress to pike such action as will permit
the free introduction of steel, iron and iron
materials fur ship building, and many other
nmditications of the tariff lane Should
such efforts be successful, the- esult must
I prove disastrous to the great coal, iron and
! other interwts of our State, diminishing
the production of iron and other manufac
tured articles, and consequently the con
supmtion of coal, and be destructive to our
valuable home markets. It would also
prove disastrous to many of our capitalists
and working, people—depriving them of all
reasonable prospects of future activity and
remunerating wagers—and bring our pro
ducers into a ruinous competition with
pauper labor from abroad. So far as the
present system affords protection to the
num ufactures, labor and products of Penn
sylvania, it is obligatory upon us to use all
favorable means to prevent any reduction
of existing duties. Our miners, laborers
and manufacturers should not be thrown
out of oMpIOyIIIOIIL by the proposed change
of duties on foreign Imports, which has
always heretofore resulted in the prostra
tion of every department of trade, labor
and business, and entailed upon us the
manifold evils of National, State and indi
vidual bankruptcy. Wo owe it as a duty
to our constituents to instruct our Senators
- - -
and request our Roprosentatiyos in Con
gross to oppose all such attempts. For the
same reasons we should oppose any reel-
Procity treaties by which the people of Can
tuht can gain adyantagos over our own
lumbermen, farmers and other producors,
within our limits.
While acknowledging the rightful con
stitutional authority of the General Gov
vennent to dispose of all questions rela
tive to national affairs, mid whilein no
manner seeking to interfere with the exor
cise of that authority, I cannot refrain from
alluding to the fact, that for more than a
year a bravo people in Cuba have been
struggling fur their independence against
great odds, in the face of barbarities and
atrocities which will forever be a foul blot
- -
upon the history of Spain. We should In
deed be unmindful of humanity and of the
greatness of our nationality, It wo omitted
to notice thispatriotic effort by the Cubans
to throw off the Spanish yoke, and like our
ancestors, "to assume among the powers of
tha earth the separate and equal station to
which nature and nature's God entitle
them." The new organization has abolish
ed slavery, and attested its right not only
to our sympathy but to recognition, by the
vigor and determination of its resistance to
the oppressions of the mother country.
Almost from the beginning of our National
Government, Congress has furnished nu
merous precedents for the action bore indi
cated, even when the people struggling for
liberty were not upon the American
continent. They recognized Greece in
her efforts to establish her nationality
against Turkish oppression. 'rho Ramo
spirit prevailed not only towards Poland,
Italy and Ilimgary, but to Ireland, in all
her movements to regain her long lost na
tionality. These countries had the unmis
takable sympathy of the people of the
United States, and our public men in
every branch of the government, never
hesitated to Shenk in their defence. In the
ease of the rench revolution, the states-
meu of America gave every encourage
ment to the people of that country to estab
lish n republican form of government.
Upon this continent there aro numerous
instances of active sympathies with the
struggles of the people for liberty In vari
ous nations. In the case of Texas, during
her conflict with Mexico, she not only,had
our undisguised friendship, but obtathod
our recognition of her Independent nation
ality, and soon afterwards she was annex
ed to our great sisterhood of States.
It is in singular contrast with these his
toric precedents, that the people of Cuba
have as yet received no national encour
agement or recognition, while they are
imitating the example of our fathers,
who, as colonists, struck down the hand
which oppressed them, and established for
themselves a free and independent govern
ment. There is no question but that the
patriots of Cuba have the warm and em
phatic sympathy of a great majority
of the people of this and other States,
and I but give utterance to what is
an abiding sentiment among the masses,
when I declare a hearty sympathy with
the people of that Island now endeav
oring to cast off the yoke of oppression fas
tened so long upon them by an intolerant
government. The gem of the Antilles of
right belongs to republican rule, and is, to
all intents and purposes, covered by the
Monroe doctrine, so that whatever recog
nition the government might extend to re
publicans of Cuba, it would only amount
to the practical enforcement of what our
nation has no long advanced in theory.
Cuba is an American Island. Goegtaphi
it belongs to the United States. It acqui
sition has been a leading principle with
many of our ablest statesmen from an
early period in our history. Jefferson,
Madison, Adams, Clay, Van Buren, Buch
anan and many others advocated the in
corporation of Cuba into the Union. It is
hoped the time will soon come, if it has
not already arrived, when by the offun
elation of a prompt and decided policy a
brave people may be recognized as inde
pendent, and the cause of republican prin
ciples receive now encouragement.
The management of our national finances
Li one of the most delicate and important
questions now under consideration by the
American people, and while it is not my
intention to oiler any plan to settle a mat
ter which seems to give so much trouble to
many of our most experienced financiers,
a few suggestions may not bo out of place.
It will be remembered that by the estab
lishment of our National Banks, the best
and safest paper currency that ever existed
in this nation has been afforded. Great
caution should therefore be taken not to
mar a system that has been so generally
beneficial. When tho government estab
lished the National banks, our State banks
were taxed out of existence and destroyed
as such, but in ninny instances they were
renewed by the solem enactment of Con
gress, under whose supervision they were
promised a just, kind and fostering care.—
t seems unjust , l therefore, that the govern
ment should propose to withdraw a part of
their circulation from them and give it to
new ones to be organized where none
exist. If new banks should be created
wherever they may be required, they
should receive their circulation from an
increase of the amount now authorized by
law. The circulation to be the same
as the banks now have, and on
the same kind of securities. In my
opinion, a policy of expansion of the
currency should be adopted that will give
ease and comfort to the people, and that
will cheer up and re-assure our business
men and put the wheels of commerce, man
ufactures and labor in full operation. It
will prevent a decline in the revenues de
rived from the tariff and internal taxation,
and will save thousands of citizens from the
crushing effects of contraction. As apart
of the same policy, there should be no hes
itation about the abandonment of the idea
of reducing the currency by the adoption
of any plan to curtail the amount of legal
tenders now in circulation.
The constant and natural approach to
specie payments is the only safe mode, in
my opinion, to accomplish-'Chat desirable
end. Any compulsory law that may be
enacted will in all probability be a failure.
do inzt hesitate to say that the contraction
of the Mirrency at this time would be pro
ductive of great injury both to individuals
and to the general interests of the Nation.
Let there be a liberal encouragement to
railroads, manufactures and every project
that will afford employment and compen
sation to 'our toiling millions. Encourage
a vigorous collection of the revenues on
luxuries. Maintain a strong treasury, with
gold sufficient to keep a check upon those
who might be disposed to disturb the natur
al tendency towards specie payments, or for
the purposes of speculation. There could
be steady but moderate reduction of the
National debt a funding of the present,
six per cent. live-twenty bonds In others,
at a lower rate of interest, not by com
pulsion but by fair defiling, and the es
tablishing of a sinking fund, at such a rate
as will pay off the debt in about thirty
years. We shall then not only find the
business of the country reviving, but our
business men ready to expand their oper
ations with the greatest encouragement.
The foregoing are the only subjects con
nected with State and National affairs that
I have deemed of sufficient importance to
offer for your consideration at the present
time; and - rionclude by exprng the
hope that your swains will be marked.t y
harmony among youffiekee.sed the mem
bers of the severall3tatee,Departmente, and
your deliberations result in lasting benefit
to the Commonwealth.
JOHN W. GEARY,
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
Harrisburg, Jan. 5, 1870.