Fitt gi
tinurat.
HE LARGn4 CIHCUL TiOX,IH- NORTHERN PENN'A.
N DAY, Pima&
E. B. CUASE
1854.
~~~la~,
et obligations to Hon. G.
favors received.
gar We are un ,
GROW for publi
AIPPOINTMEN-79- uir THE COSIMISSICYNKFUL—
The Commissioners of, this :County hare ap
i;ointed Wltr A:\ CEOSSMAN, Clerk, FRANKLIN
Fasssa, EN,Counsel, and Gso. Lswis
f\ h •
Ditnock, Mercantile Appraiset,for the en
suing year.
. gmr On out firlt page may be found an
extract from ajsketch of Marshal Lannesg%
J. T. Headley. NI pen excels Mr. HeaAlers
in Power of vivid_and life-like descriiition,
ci t rea
and none of the' t battles . of Nap - Oleo];
pietured , by the author in his book of "Na
pc•leon and-his Marshals," is more thrilling
than the battle of Essling at which the brave
Lannei fell. ' .. • ..
liar The Legislature of this State met and
organized on Tuesday bir t Oecting MAxwma,
11cCAsiis . , oeGrt•n county, Speaker of the
Senate, and E. . Cuss; Speaker , of the.
Utilise of Represe tatives. 'Mr. Jack, of Blair,
Clerk of the, last ouse, was unanimously re-
k then appointed Win. S.
Assistant Clerk, and IL
Gray,'ChaheiStoCkwell,
sleeted. The Cli
Pickering, of : yo
r. Adams,
i s, Transcribing Clerks.
• The Gover i pOr'*
this week, crowd
ter prepared . ',for
:clarria . ges,.*l o
lklessagel which we publish
out a large variety
,of 'mat
is papei. AdvertiseMents,
er notices crowded out.
is of the •' Demociat"'
imencernent . of. the pr , nt
nnection with the Mon,'
s one of. the E t lite6 . and:
e business of my Profe4 : kon.
here I have been located for
'. iths, re4uiring all my time
deemed it
.lest to ‘lisPeif l e• - Of ,
•tablishment to ALVIN ; DAY,
.n with my late partner will,
the paper. ~ I .
•ractical printer, a-sound and
t, faithful to whatever inter
to his care; •and in all , re
an most worthy, of the pat;
mocratic friends in the Celin
a in o . ur office, 'during the'
we assumed the control of
know - of no person whom I
ommend, indeed I very much
iiy other' person would haVe
to part with, my interest..;
kthe nevi 'material, they pre
. . .. .. 'sheet . that challenges any.
•••, - Juntry paPer.fil the State; and 'I trust the
.-.tlditionallatronage they will receive, !nay
. 1.- - t
coextensive w ni ith their recent outlay, and
the; Tarious l imoveeuts. - .. - . --.--
. • • pr .
The croWded, l
state of the columns this,
, 1
N• - eek, occasioned by • the Nle,:isage r , prevents
tae from making as many remarks as I inten 7
ti.ed.' ln leaving the Democrat I feel, like
5- . .-irting with and old friend; • and the pleassnsf
'r •.•quaintances termed toall parts of the cottn- -
:: while. I havei been thus 'connected, will be
t. :lerished through the remainder of my life.
.Iruly grateful for the increasing support the
;.viper has, received ,during my connection.
...t ith• it, I 4ncate the editorial 'chair; anti , hid
my friends adieu. • • S. 8..cu15r...•\
To the IPatro ,
With the: ;corn'
‘ - !,ar, closed• my'
:Tole Democrat,,l
'roprietors. Th
Great . Bethl,
:be past fewmOr
ttnd attention; I r
. :ay half of the es
in connect
IL•reafter eottdue
• • Mr. Day is a
Demeera..
...s ; are e6ritided
, •ects a young n
tittge: of our (let
t -He his be.
hole time since
• • i
r:le paper; nd
mid sooner r
r:oubt whetlieza
.und me
With the aid
i—nt this week ;
Reisdeit of the Democrat! ,
i
In aocordance with - 3rerious announce m ent,
3, -.; prt?Font you the D nocrat today in an l \u.
.....ilarged form, nd, to o taste,, printed in 'a
vie unsurpassed by any paper in the State. 1
e,have made itte. , \ expenditure necessary to
1 rint the,paperlin i t e. style of this. 'number,
1
i'. - 1 onlerlhat the eiiiiens of this county, dis
-
-----:'
-
-. liguisliel . as they are for their intelligence
V ud. support of ,that circulating library, the
i
Newspaper, may feel that. they can justly_
I .....
Il t oast of bolding the first rank in respect to a
, I
i spn identified by interest .and- patronage
1. ith their own locality ; and that they may
.i el, toil, that no reason now exits for prefer
:g a foreign paper to one published, in their
Lridst. With this object in view we present
you the Dcmccrot, and send the question with
i , ,--shall . our expectations Lie realized, , and
" 4` ; at anxious labors be requited, by a liberal
' tnften;:-rortslpationage at your hands? •
We have ,no dispOsition to -display false
eklors. - We love every .m4l.er• of the noble
.nimily of. Truth, and admire most of all the
press, a bold, 'manly, and uncompromising in
i'.rpendence,-ait independence that dare ad.
vDcate and vindicate just and 11.?neficent prin
. 'ples everywhere, at all tiint. and - under all
i ircumstafice.s. his above all else in * this
T'
la.. •
,popularp government finds security, as
it is against this .. that Wicked "and despotic,
'; - mbition first. directs its power. "Give -nit'
o.le'libt-iitg of the Press,"—said the immortal
::. , nEam.i.; - ,..." and. I will shake down corrup
!ion and wrong from their:height, and, bury
them amidst the ruins of nives.".•
• r , 1 •
. We 'shall' strive. to Make the - Dernocrof
~:hat its name imporis,--01einoeratie - ,a,per,
• tirmly and 'radically so, in whatever.. prinei-.
\ -
. I.lcS Of public political policy it : shall adiocate..
We do, no . mean bY this.that it shall be
1 -, ound.to m 1
i re partisan :policy, for' We may
• a..asOnably Ipect 'to .differrin our opinions
from others, at leat abstractly. • When such
.. nay 14 - the case, we. must he permittedto do
our own thinking„ - and to act. • from - the con
victions of our own judgment enlightened bV:
ihe opinion; of others, and no man, or set, of
I 1,
tien must attempt to control. us. We -own
.
our press' and type; and claim the 'same right
10 useltheto l as we please as does' the . farmer
his - cattle, always receiving with kindness and'
I I
consid ration the , .sugg*tions - . of our patrons
and frfendslin refownee to anything connee.
• 4 . : d with thct general interest .and prosperity
of our!. paper. - But ' * we men to say, tliat
latcVer of political influence 'may, stirrotind
.? . .
-; he. press,. mat influence. cannot he used - by.
ritivbody , to . . Accomplish local, personal, or
l'aifislil.o 43 •:- - ..We shallnot
:edit - eaii a Page!'
for the , nirrow . .purpose or liieddlinfiwith i and
udearorin to control,- the, local ':politics of
he c,Ounty,t at .. ill:, ..... Such - . mere local
. contests are only •- inciilent An the ; org.apiration
" of - the . - -greai democratic party :of the .
.nation,,
• -.; 1 3::: - 'I . - -" .-- -.v• -'' . - ".- . -. '" .. .*- 1 : - -:- ':. - _ -
and never have involved in them, di*tly,
the broad and distinctive principles ,upon
which that party is founded. 'NW the4shall
make the paper an 'earnest advocate of lit ho
principles, and the detetMined defendeeof or
ganization to reduce them to practical
This we conceive to be the legitimate
mission of the natioiml democratic i4ev:atid,
as, by such a course, the Minds of 'the lieople
becomesimpressed- With the impOrtance to
therfi!"elvei
, that the politics of the 'C'OuntrY -
ihould,be controlled by , such principles; local
organization and succe ss will follow asfi nec.
essary and natural incident to.ensuro state
and national triumphs:'
'Nor do we'speak ofi the principles of
mocracy - in a narrow,;partisan sen.Se.i,.
mean by theni those; eternal priticiPles of:
Right And Justice Which lie . at the founda
.
• tion of republican governnieut,—which clothe i
'every, man with sovereignty, and every one of
God's children With equal rights,—the asser 7 /
tion'of-which long age exploded the doctrine
of the divine right of 'Rings to rule • the con
sciences as well as the bodies of mea l - - those
principles of republicanism - first'digaled and
applied`to the-govertiment of men milder! the
bright sun and by tli mercurial peopleof It
aly, when Roman valor reared ' a,Oimmon
wealth in -Place of a IMonaichy; And g Amalfi
'first gave .republican. institutions tq !fife world.
Under the benign influence of these,principles
the world is now marching forwara With. the
•
strides of agiant... them is summed up all
of. progress' , mankind has made since,; Adam;
and tracing them (rein the "'altarsitif the tan-
Aeon, smoking. to the diginities of inYtholo
gy," as- theYhave toiled/their way - TOr seven
teen centuries, gaining :Slowly and surely
through bloody .. conflicts, defeats., 'anil vieto
ries, Sufferitigs and • fransports;WT F find
. them
at the present day enshrined in the hearts of
men.all over the world, - and - influeqing, the.
destiny, of all : litimanity. - • • Mind, ttio,witli the
progress of these principles, has Struggled and
broke away, froin old fenris. and cat --s.. -Ev
erysea of blood that" has settled .hack over
revolutionary ruins in Europe, • since: a King
Was first beheaded like common Mon for
daring to encroach on the liberties of. his sub
jects,- has kept collecting lti itsliddie;:+ele
ments more closely ceinented for a more
gry'storm. . VMS, it is that:de...4 principles_
havekept in agitation the great hefir,t• of the
political world, , and thus it is that, they_
ogress,, as rude Culture gives .Way to drill
' zatiOn and a correct understanding, by Man,
lof his God-given rights. " • _ .
We believe that the.democ" ratio: party of
thit: country is the chosen repreSentative of
these OineiPles and the wonderful - success
which attends.every appeal it makes to the
suffragt..s of the people is-hut , the natural re
stilt Of a firm adherence to them, That par
ty must Wot_ . now forsake its ancient tenets,
for ineie partY„names . canncit now held. men
~w ithin their lines.. Around the principles of
the party only will the masses of the nation
rally in future' years. •
In lhe keeping of '
,our present State .and
National.Adminitrations, we believe the in
terests of the DemoeMey,of the Country rest
.canon-•:e ,
otherwise conviriced.l we shall stand by them
. ,
with all our energies.!. , . • . 1 , •
1..
With .our general political ideasi . enuncia-1
ted, it remains onlyJ h or us to say, , that we
shalt . use every effort ,to- make :the Democrat
rim acceptable fainily :paper.. The late.st news
will - always be found in its,• colutrins,. while
every department- of seience, art.,•and industry
will be. carefully cared for: This much and
.; ,
we commit i t to yoUr consideratiOn, asking
for it a continuance of that generous support
and liberal patronage,.which,• in a few years'
has made it what it ',now appears from pa
per of eery I:!divary parts..
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
To.thelronorable the Senators anct ..Ifemlgrs
of the House of Ripregentatives‘6l fhe gen
eral Assiably:• •
GENTLEMEN :--A 'beneficent ProVidenee has
favored 4.hc,•.people of our Common Wealth with
a high degree of health -iand presperity dur
ing the year just ..b.)Sed; 'and .with many -oth
er cause's of plea. re :itid -gratitude. Humb,
lv •acknowledgin! . these bles.sings; let us ask
flis 'divine idirect on. in ' the 'tliicharge cif <ir
. - , . .
official obligati() s. i
. ..: •
- It affords me unaffected deli,tlit to welcome
the representatives, of the peOple' te„ the seat 1
of gOvernMent, and elv for a nine, upon the]
aid of their combined wisdom. in the \admin- ."
istration Of public affairs ;asit is a grate
ful' tiedc' to perform. the constitutional hijune r
tion -that requires the eiteutive to t‘eomrnum-
A..-ate to the General Assembly. infermation of
'the state . of the Commonwealth," i and Make.
Such suggestions and recominendations as the
welfare!of.the, people and the exelgenebl of
the times may seen] to demand ;' l and to the
'discharge bf thi`s obligation I nowi proceed.
' • ' The receipts at the: treasury for the ; year
1853, .exclusive• of loans, :rind ineluding, tie
actual baliince in the treasury on the first, day
of 'Deco:abet; 11852; .(being *671,037 72,)
araounted , to the sum of $5,052,474 47.
.1
.' The paYments for - the same peritid;i.exclu
sive of loan and' other extraordinary expen
ditures;'mak.e a total - sum (4844 34,048 4'7,
• being *1,818,326.19 Ifiss‘thtui the reecipts.—
Of ' his exe+s, 4505;957 '5.5 Was; paid to the
0 - missieneni of the Sinning fund, and',
*5 9,0001 ()Wards the payment of the' old
• 'de ,ti and be 'ionnStruction of new iverk..ou' r
i ,
th ' North Branch' canal and Portage rail-1
tn
read, bein • part orthe temporary loansliuH: l
thorised, by the act of the nineteenth of April
last:, which together with'the, balance in. the,l
• ; treasury' applicable to the. redemption lof out
'istauding loans, reduces theiadual balance on
the first! day ofiDebember, last, to the sum O(
about'Ax. hundred and •twenty-fiie thousand:
dollamitO. be, used in the payMent of the Feb-' , ,
~ ~. . .
..
nary .interest.' • ' - •
- The, receipts forthe year 1854, including
the balance in the Are asury on the first of De-',
. .
.. _ , . . • .. ..
ceinbitrp.lBo3.-may, in iii,) ,opituon, he safelk
,estimated-at *5,846,417 3t. ' . - •
.
• The, :expenditures for the Barrie perioit'ini
eluding *2.50,000 for the payment of old debt:;
.on 'the public - -Works and *300,000 for the
sinking fund; should" not, and if proper care
be taken,'ivill 'Mit 'exceed the sum of $4,500,4
QOO, leaving it balance in the treasury on the i
first Of 'December ' . 1854, of *1,340,417 . 34'.--
Deducting from .this *626,900; the sarnottnt
that should' remain in the ' treaimry to Meet
the interest due- February hat; 185:5, and we •
have iesurpluß !revenue of over $700,000. i
. ' It is thus thafie.e.ppare . at rto my mind, that.
the treasury Will have the ability,-during the
coming year,) ' to rii4eetril . the enure *cent (if
.the ' temporary:6B3ol:lloW -- 011WilrldiTig, god
I pay .`the debts. to : which r llniv . e already re.
ferret; - But no additional drafts should,be
made -, upon it,: without provision being first
made4Or theirpaynient...
Miele time:of my induction into oftice,the
liabilities i were, as follows, to wit : .
Six per cent. bonds, . $2,314,023 51
Five do. do. 30,704,458 03
Fotrind one-half per cent
Relief notes, per act of May
4,;1841 .
Certificates for unpaid-inter
est on the public debt for
the. years 1,843, '44, and
'46,- with them accuuala
tcit
th. - mies . tic creilitdrs'
.
Total
1) ; T 1,1851, ; $40,154,457 48
Add. loan of - April 2, 185 . 2;
fcirktlto completion
the. North Branch ca
nal,.
$41,004,457 48
FrotU which a like the' follow- • r .
tug paymeuts: -
To the spiking fund,
i • ' ' • $681,469 83 , _ -,
Intdrest On \Out
snnding cer
. tificafes,
Total amount of furided 'debt
at. this tittle, ; *4O,
To meet . this -apparent inerem
111. 53 of the' priblae debt, it sh,
seri:t.4 that, by the cancellation of six per cent
boads,'_ we bilve.a. saving of *20,000 dollars
anritially to4lic treasury, which is equivalent
•to a virtual' payinent' of $400,000 dollars. of
the, five per:: cent. &Silas. Thy amount thus
saved *ill be a permanent
_resource, without
making any exactiOn from the - people, And
cOnstitute a'sulktantial Addition to the sink-
fund. It will Vp a -virtual reduction_ of
the:public debt:to the amount of *282,222 47.
The -floating liabilities and current demands
upon the Treasury, at the period I have indi
cated, were :as follows:
Daruages, balances bit con- • '
tracts, and for. labor and • - • ,
Materials:on the public
works, prior to January;
1852' and since Paid, as •
as appears on' the!, books,
Of the Atiditor General,
Ternporaloatis,
Unpaid appropriations,
•
floating liabilities of the
Commonwealth, and cur
ivnt deniands upon the
(rensury at this time; are
Railroad and ettuall
•
debts, (4:327,734 00
TeinporaryAoans, 590,000, 00
Utipaid . appropria- •' ,
'tons, . ' = 305,095 00
DitTerenee . ,between the two
,
',periods,;'; *177 661 15
;It will thus . apiiear that' the floatinff Habib:
i4s are E 4,177,661 15 less than.whtu I as
sinned' the duties •of my present.' Station. It
shOuld be remarked that floating debt, as,
above stated, is nO new thing. It tins always
e.isted to a ffreater .or less degree, bat has
exmoneu. ibis tom.- A
biilanee unpaid; appropriations is unavoid
able, and has not been so .small for many
years, as at present.
During the vents 185 4 and 1653, the fol
lowing apprOpriations and payments have
been mad, towards the. construction of new
improvements
,
For re-laving the north track
of the Columbia' railroad, $:355,500 00
For the construction of a new
• head tO avoid the innclin ,
ed .
For the 'eorripletion .of the
• NVestern res,evor, 52,380 41
Por:the North Branch canal; 1,000,000 00
For the' i riew locks on the .80,000 00
Delaware Division •
"I ' _ • *2,143,915 31
From the. foregoing figures it is appareat
that the operation S of the treasury have
deeded our most :anguine expectations,•yiel
- over a minian of dollars annually above
the ordinary charges and expenses ; and show
ing, that' if no new.improvements had been in
progress . ; two millions; itt, least, of the public
debt could. have been paid during the two
last year:;.. In addition to these extraordina
ciperidittires; there was paid- out of the
liclisurTiduring:;said period,. in pursuance-of
- laws passed prior to 1852 :. for the State Lu
natic Asylum, .r',.70,700; for the publication
of the• PeunsvKania Archives and Colonial,
E. E.Cilitk;.
AL3.-xx DAL
records 03,163; 52; for- the improvement of
the State penitentiarks.*3s,ooo; for the pub
licationlof,Profor Rogers,'.geological survey
410.000 I; for the preparation of registration
boots 02,190 1 ,19 - to the Sugar Valley and
CreekTurtipiLe company $8,600 . .
:readily be perceived, therefore, that
Ishould, the appropriations hereafter be contin 7
ied strictly to the ordinary expenses of govern-
L 'inent, ne shall - have an annual surplus reve
nue exceeding,.One million of dollars, apßli
- cable to the payment of the funded debt.—
That snth shodld Le the policy of the State,
after the completion of the,works now in pro-
gress; will not be doubted. . The importance
of such! economy of'the great end to
be attainedthe liquidation of the public
debt—and'' consequent relief . the . people
frOni taxation for State purposes, is too roan-
ifest for argument. Entertaining these views
I could not give My assent to any new s.chein
es of improvement by the State. 1
The'operatiOn.s On the public .works for the
fear jest closed do not present a - very flatter
ing- pi4ture, So far as relates to nett revenue.
IThe aggregate amount of business was Jar
, ger. bit tweritY per cept, than that of .any -for
nier year,.andlllte grwis receipts amounted, to
the sutn of $032,495 33, being an excess of
but 505,683 91 over the-.receipts of 1852.-
(Thish increase of tonage'without a, correspon- •
ding inert...a . ..o of receipts, is the consequence
a very great reduction in the rate of tolls;
•
a
measure, in'the opinion of the Canal Com
missioners; demanded by. public policy ; and
it may be
,said that whatever has been lost to
• the treasury lias been given -to extend com
merc4 and trade. The expendiatures for [ the I
necOoing •to the report .of the Canal
Comniivioneis, amounted to the. sum of $l,-
777,1112 70,14Mvinga nett balance of *754,7 42;
58;b0t. as .th su m does net i lude any portion -
of tb4 cost -of new locomotive engines and the
erection of farm bridges, the deduction of this.
prop4r propoitionof.these will leave • the Sum
of ;$704,752 - b - as the. actual 'nett: balance.
The reeeipii - and expenditures and general'
.openitiOns on the Columbia • railroad exhibit.
an
.encoura . ging state of affairs, as they also
do on the North Branch - canal and. Delaivare . 1
division ; on the other divisions -of' the canal
they are tolerable but on -the,. Allegheny
Porttige railiad, the condition of affairs are
entirely •unsaturfactOry. The systerko - f tuan
agernentheretorpre imvet jeer! r, that e(inlpli
i
108,200 00
650,163 .00
204,080 20
82,932 74
850,000 00
5'0,752 91
732,222 74
$381,752 15
398,000 00
621,338 00
$1,401,090.15
_ .
1,223,429 00
656,034 90
eated' and difficult tvok, would scent to`', l ;de-i
mend a Speedy and rai)ical changei But lthe
. ; , r t he . 1•
ExecutP.T,'-unuer. laws -as the it • now are;
having iio control or::, lirection over the .Pub
he wort is right and proper flint I sh ould
leave the ; eoplanationk of the details 'of their
working and managejtient, to the people'ia
gents, Who have chatge of the w4 l O subject- •
I am; however, stilli entirely sfuliguine- ; hat
with,the necessary' Change 'in the -sysle of
management, thapublic improvement can be
made to yield a very: handsome revenue t
. to
the treasury ; indeefVevea; for the last year,
had the ' expense on!,the mountam d,alSion
been confined to a ieasonable . '
sum, the nett
revennes would have, reached near one :mil-.
lion of ;dollars; Reinived of t h e Absorbing
demands by t e coastruetior. of the new roa'a
or it some other way 4 and,we.shall,reallie,by
the year 1855, a nett; profit .equal to the in
terest on twenty-tWeinillions or titore,of the
. -, .:
public ;debt;
The; work on thei railroad a#' - avoid ; the.
inclined planes on the Allegheny;mountains,
haii not. progressecE as had beer(anticipoted.
It is the opinion of : the . engineer,!liowever, as
will appear on refe4nce to his ,Ereport,;ltlitit
should the necessary; means . be promptlyitir
nislaxl, the ,entire line could be-cUrupleted 4 . 1.1 2
ring the. coming ypar. The, grading fur a
double track is finisihed With the exec itionr
of four miles; and the cost of thi;balane ~ to-I
1 .,
gether with the expenses of laying dO vn a
single track, is estimated at six . litindre, - and'
five'thousand dolltaitin additioato. the. Alue
of the old track. The engineer also eStiihates
the annual saviug,;os compared ;With the ex-
peallmes on die .Old load, on a buiiness
.1 to that .of It)2, .at two hundred and
thotisaint dollars.. lie Os) stater that
id between Plane No: 4 and ilollllays
with a double, will Cost about
,
400;000 less that; tlie Pennsylvania railroad
for alike distance' ;-1 ; • ;: - . I
Viewed in everY!, aspect,- it Must ; hki , con
fessol that this branch of public Wait pre
sentsl an embarrassing alternative; The p ompt
completion of the pew work 7 ili involve the
expenditure of _more capital than the State ,
can command with-tait resorting to farther
temporary loans; whilst, on the other hand
the maintainance 6f the old road, at a , c ost of
'150,000 peraininin,•is quite out of th ques
tion. Its exhausting deniands - on the tlreasu
:ry Must be•speedilyi - obviated, and for rav part
; - can see no Mode - pr doing this except by the
conipletion of the;new• road. I;.. '
At the'tinie I aSizumed - - the (Wits of my
',present station, I found, this won': ;in progress
of.Constructiew; ilte western shipe up. to the,
summit having hen placed Oder equtract
during the suipmei of 1851. On.referiling to .
thelreports of. th(i;:fCanal .Cothinissioners and
the enguat..er ; the Jinly data Which IL could
properly consult as: to . the policy of the mots=
ure, I found that; the total- cost of ti single
tree]: was estiniateil at. 51,015,00. . Tile_ina-1
terials on the old - road were valued at $'248,.;
650, which togetbir scith the appropiPitions,,
reduced tlie
. oinou tit to , be
provided to ;compl4e the - work to the 'Meagre
stim of $591'.35W .With these caletiations
Before me, and even adding aiiirmer I mount
fur' errors in the' etitimOtes,. and ;th e enormous
expenditures of - the ''ota road in full' !view, 1
could not doubt the expediency and economy
ofthe Measure..." But the unusual. adViince in
the, • .
,price of labor ii material 'slid subsistence,
added to the obvyints errors in the esiamat . es;
has changed ,the'enti re aspect,,, of tl4. enter-;
prise. • The sum f 'of $650,000; has Nee r: ap
propriated since,that time, awrover $ 6(000
,
is still required With the value of the . c• d road,
to bring the line'rlito use.
Ile estimated cost completinti the Noi lb
Branch:canal, at the period already named,
was *, i 4,taal. glue million Of doll us luw
sconce been paid, hid a sum ;exceeding . one
hundred and fift34.thousatal dellata isi still re
,quiroil to par foiitts completion. AVitli such.
unexpected ileminds upon the!treasurv.With
in* the short - spat .1 of two year4 i it. would not.
be untireasonableto expect artlineieaf,c of; the
liabilities of the State ;i.but it is alike gratify
ing and . astonishing to kno‘4 that this has
not occtirred.' ' • . , .
-. .• ;
The Junction '4anal, extending frt.
Y. line tot Elmira; will'be- ready : for i
during the present-mouth, ainttlie,;Sn
,frOin Pittston tei,ithe atim-tit i;Atlien
tame of 93 milA has been templet:
'only unfinished i!iart. or the wOrk lies
Athens and thelState line, a Spaci!'
two and a half miles, the Constru
which Was delaYiA- by an . .effOrt, of t
Commissioners Ural the Governor,,.. it
act of Asseinbi to negotiate. with
tion canal/comOnv for its corniktil
even this Section; - lam assurrl, Milli
in =ample time for the springlirade. i
. These works } .. - ill completeAeilait linkin
a continuous Water conimunicationl between
the ChesepeakeStiv and the northern lakes.—
The struagle•f4i this r achieve:meat as. been
long OnearduonS, covering nearlyla . parter of
a century. B 4 the triumph is still brilliant
one, and. must be Cause of gratification to the
people of the entire State, • i ; -
Most auspicious and promising; is it for the
i nhabinints of N,turtheni Penn Sylvania to whose
untiring etforits final constimaiio I may s be
- mainly attributed. Through tills Channel, in'
. the early part of next seasoniafid during each
siicteeding yeatkPennsYlvitina tviiF send gree
ting,•to the - 141 e -of a neighboring state—
the eVidence • orfraternal affetitionthe assur-:
:Mee ofprilitical fidelity, anti; the ;blessings of
an extended cibnunerce, in the shape of inland
ves• - wls. freighteki - with her ;_choicest - minerals
and receive in return, as slici;certOinly will be
offered, from the vast. rallies Of. the Empire
State f now teeining'with' wealth in all its va
riety, assuraneo:of
. full, reciprocity ; , in affec
tion, fidelity - nnd c om merce. And .in ;,due
time the cotters' of the State I am - -confident
.will receive aniAmple reward . .frO these.new
relations of trade. • Indeed,. , o th ii point, the'
large increase, sOf.profits on i the old -line, for
the yearjust :eti*:ed,furnislieS . the most reliable,
indication of fiat we may anticipate from the
new. The ci*stantly increAsing ilemand for
coal, outrunning, as it has done fu years past
the means of ;*upply, justifies . , ift does not
r
force upOn u4lie conclusion, that so,soon as
boats can be Onstructed, and proper business
.connexions . ffitMed, this canal will be patio-,
_nized up to its!,' full capacity. .k glance at
the vast, ; rich. And •populotis section 'of coun=
try which it- Will be called' : upon to .supply
with coal, for every . imaginable: purpose, clo
inekic, mechanical and' manufacturing, : and
at the facilities offered by the Nv York 4ca
nals andl.hii lakes, to reacli•allpo ints of that
country,-mnsii;satisfy the nlost se .ptical as to
the yalue anW importance 'of t ' . s improve.
'rent. 't 1", - •
„_
I c;ongrattilote you, therefore, u .. n the corn
sumation orith enterprize Which will be thus
profitable to the . State, au4 beneficial to the
people; • ;
.-. :.: - i
Tl;petliency of selling the -liublie. works
.
V - rib
has been . :o;ie of discussion i.n thb press of the
State, for sit4e months* paSt, and Without.lndi
eating a polity for the General ft .sembly, or
intending tli, slightest disCOurtesy to the peo-
plc's - agenti n. whom the manag i ement of this
branch - of puhlie affaim•hnkbeen confided, I
hive deenit4it. my duty to diseia, s some ex
planation aS i 4o the price • of the Works and the
conditions" of sale. • - • - •
•It is fair 'l,-.l.iresitme that thoie. Who advo
eate the atliiinative have. distiralt ideas as to
what the price should - be, and that unless such
consideration can be realired - th i ev would not
i.,;(70.e!:.:11;. l• • -
The. fist inquiry therefore is, why'should
these works be. sold I The answer usually
given is, that the measure is.peces..sary to re-.
duce thei Statti debt and to relieve the people
from taxation. , i 'These are
' great objects
deed., and 'Should, as I haVe nO doubt they will
receive yonr earnest consideration; _their re
alizationj howeVer, must depend mainly upon
the prie4 Obtained.
_. .
•
Should the interest on the public debt liq
uidated by thd the side b less than-the net
profits-atiSing:froln the Niorks, then it wotild
be false eeonorny to selli In that 'ease the
.!
Measiirel l wont& not be or*, of relief to the o
ple, but,ittinst 'necessarily :increase their yearly
btirthens.. - . -
And What reason is there to suppose that
-more can be - .obtained 1 Capitalists, -it }till
be conceded,'When weighing the question .of I
a pinch*, Will Make thy net.protits on -their I
investinients the basis of 411 their calculatiOn , .
They will look at. the past oPerationsof these
works; in connexion Oitlitheir prospects I the
ftitureAirefully considering every filet and ,eir
cuinstanee bearing on
. tlieir real value . ;•and,.
it is-Scayeely.''necessary .t_o *remark, will
buy. whi.tia - perfectly sati4ied that. they -have
.the hest of the bargain In attempting - t 6 de
the question of s;•itlue, it wilt be ,per
ceived,ithereforerthat examinations
- and-motives of the and seller, must.
necessarily be identical% - N
• . •
,
It, is;appafent then, i s that the 'ellect of coin-
Petition, On the value Of tliesc. works ; the
roads ',Which! may be iinade by : science and
meaanie arts on every&flescription of trans . -
portatiOn facilitit new in existanc ; • the cas
ualitieS thatinay resultlokhein from the el
ements in short,: the' utability of human
structitrO, .and the .proiviety :-iMplifying
the duties of governiu'Ont, must constitute,
the Considerations in favor of a separ
ation between thd :State and
,her. improve-,
. . .
inents,7 1 1.. -
•_ f .
On the othere hand' will 'lie I)reseated .the
hopes pf futdre biisine4 : and increased profits
to thei
,treasury, predicated upon the rapid
growth'f the couinninivealtli ; her,,Ya.st "and.
variediresc;iirces, and', Ile influence •ofiliese
upon. Itiansiortation within her limitg;. the
incicaiing demand for . : . fzicilities to . transmit
her prialtict`s to market?; the endless censuin
ptioti arid Unliinited•'....tupply, of her eat sta
ples of coal, and iron, and . .their proximity to
tier works at all points the enlarged products ,
of iigridulture, and therrich variety .of inanu
fat turO, so, *rapidly, iiinttiplyiug in every part,'
of thei State," constituting at once a home bus-,1
iuess faith 'ages of duration . before it, i which
no lin ' nitin ,agency caii_ disturb, and ..whield
must tOutribute at all iiines a, fair iucente to
the OYertirnent. In addition ~ to these con- .
sidetliOns,.,agaiust 'n.sale ' may' be urged the .
; riecesSity:Which w.oul.&be presented - for the
leaving- I
creation of.a num cr ofcorporations,
a conitirunity of inteic4 and feeling with slutl
ilar bodies already.in existence, and the. dan
ger of tlins. inducing the organization of a
contri)llingpower in tlte Cumniowealth . .
Brit it is:said that companies can Imanage
diesel Works 'w ith greater . skill.and economy
I than !the
. St`dite, and for that' eason they wo'ld
be trit”it, valuable in -- Abe:hands of the, former,
artd that tie State
.can realize this difference
by a , '..ale I. It must he coule.seed, that it is to
. a . • , - and - these - • - 1 !
these; tionst era.ions, : . otil).-that .m,t,
can rpOl: for arguments'.to sustain the idea that
the Stiite - can gain tinythiug,peenniarilv, b„ya
.salct 'of her, improvements. . That . a. difference.
in . the expoises of the manage - ment of the .
1
. work:slwonld amount to a' fair per centage; in ,
, , r . i
the estimation of some capitalists, I have no
douli t lint it :is nut so.. great as estimated
by. seine. ' Indeed', : certain portions of our
own v0r1:....11t.,. now well managed, and - it is
hopettand heirrea Li....,.....:.1. ..i.....,,,,,, —,,,, 1...
made in the system' of direction now practic- -
+ ed UV! the ;State, us' to lead to general - skill
, t. l '
and eeonen - iy.• . •
.
,
' Iltitthe main question will , be 'the mini
mufti Price. that shall be fixed on these ini-1
proienierits; and the proper. dispOsition of
tbi4 it 'Must be readily seen, will demand
muel4 careful exatnitiation.: And - in refer
enc'4 to this point the wisest and best may.
hotiesilydiffer, fur' the issue belongs mainly
to.tlai future, and; ean . only - be anticipated
froM the results oftlie past.. To these we may
.
looli,for . a moment: i
. . . .
For the years Issi 'and 1853, th_e'nets.re
ceiiit.4• may he put !d{4n as equal to the an=
nual - interest upon 41)i:out fifteen millions of the
publi i i d'eht ; and lain inclined to believe that
Without . ,any increase of trade except on the
N'otli Branch,`the net profitsfor the ensuing
'year May, be estileated at a sum equal to the
inNrest on seventeen: or eighteen millions.' of
theidebt,. and that the .completion of the'road
ove i r the mountains, for relief in some other,
waf,'lrem the leeehing demands of that 'por
tion of our improvements, will .st•e the
. net
re4nues..,; f - r Om. thiS - Source,. - swelled to a sum
equal to lite interest upon twenty . two trail-.liOn's lof• the - State. hends,
If it he desirable fto sell the public works,'.
westiould not-tinderate their importance, nor
is it just-to dispark(i the wisdom'of their foun-.
deis." ‘ We are prone to murmur 'against the
policy that dictated. their construction,
•tic..
cause. of the' debt We, have thus incurred, and
yet i .if the proposition were submitted to can-.
eel this liability. by their deStruction of dis
use, We should be compelled\ to reject it. '.
At the time ofit3 adoption, thispolicy was
nere.ssary and, proper.. 'Avenues of this kind
throtigh the body of the State,.to.convey her
vast 'productions toy market, and as iiidisTen=
sabletoiler vigorous growth and - phySicaf de-,
:.
velopement as=are . the veins! and arteries to,
the hunian system,ito give circulation. to the
II tqe WO and consequent health and yigorie
the body. To stop- or clog n. these 7 • in . either
..
cliskiWould. produce stagnation and ultimate
destruCtion. i.
Without reference t.i t the abstract question .
of abate, I In:1y
.saY., that under no circum
stances.should we entertain the proposition to
par(With s the puhfic works by - the creation of
nijoint.'stock company,as he'retofroo repeat=
edlY proposed, by winch the'Commonwealth:
is to remain a large shareholder, but the. div.
4tion to be in thd hands of individuals or
.eprPorationsi associated with her in the own
.ersiiip. ' I have alirays reganled this as a most
dan k Brous and . irisiduons ; measure.lf. the
proposition. to selNo seriously 'entertained,
under. the present condition 'of the money ,
titatket, it.shotild be .based on
,the idea of a
bona - tide sale, for,* full cempensation,lin ex- .
4hange for the.hoOds of the State; .and under
such salutary reservations-and'restrictions as,
the; niterests of the people may i demand.. •.:
Dut.' it is urged : by many , that ..the State's
ivstena of managing tbepublic]' works is 14us- .
eeptihle of improvement—that .mueit can be
don& by judicouslreforths to augment the re
ek` iPtS...to the treasury, and facilitate , the bus
.., ~ . • .
ess , oltransportation; and as much of this
J , v4tein remits from positive • law, 'it may. not
eldCem. -- ed OfliciPus 911 my Oft to-Make sug 7
t,reStiotni on the' Subject.• -. . ; ,
t,.4 . - a special in;Nsage chrantunicated to the
'Oeneral As.sembly; soon after my induction
inte;Office I advOcated the policy,Of making
i , , • ~
.asir payments !lir labor and materials, And,
'1 interdiction by law of the creation of debt
tb3i, officers on the public works, and made al-
Iluhion-'to other radical defects in the system,
ii•tii* could scarcely be reached • by the Of
-41.41. Board. To some of th'ernl
shallnp* briefly
- allUde. .; . . 1 .
1 'i In 'the first place, it is. impossible to.atoid
!Alio Creation of debts, if the appropriations* .
/insiifficient to meet unavoidable expenditures.
IThe.' , husinc4s - vif transportation and travel on
the N.
'business
ate work
cis, a is-
The
between
f about
.tion of
le Canal
tinder an
be June
13n. But
.these higliwayi must be kept up,
expenses be paid or not... These
CeS have defeatedi to some extent
istration of the Law of May, l.Bi.
cash - payments. and prempt. Set
the - officer' on these works, and
the-creation of debts. • .This i.es
for I am.. still deeidelylof Atte
no other changein the system is
beget economy; purity and efficii
•general direction. For thedak
er, thisilaw was strictly carried
of the divisions, and it is sitice
that hereafter the, practice may
to all.
• . .
I need not discuss the cem - , . e ' qtr i nee3,o f t h e
custom of - making, debts on th e Ali- e s works
--.-its errors are too palpable to need refnta-_
tion by argument; and,shall\Ml fepeat what'
I substantially said_ to the. Genet it • Assembly
on a former occasion, that in addition t o . t h e _
opportunity it afforded for. i eXtb-tion oil th e
State, if not actual fraud upon the treasury,
the idea that ofllcers, for the time being, should
be alloWeil to scatter the credit ,Of the Cont
monwealth broadcast, to . ' be ' disCevered .and
reduced, at some futureperied, 4.their sue-.
.ces..ws; is a monstrosity in' the i economy of
public affairs. •... • 1
. • i 1..
T here Seems to: be some plairilitY,if not _
actual truth, 'iii the allegation ; that the State's .
management a these works is pensive and
inefficient ;and yet is not f - •lear,ito my mind,
that treated as a mere business tiff:air, her su
pervision would not be as cheap HO efficient'
as. that of corporations. and individuals. but
the instability.Of her agencies ren leis aucttra
' cy and economy exceedingly difficult.
.ller .
.periodical cleuige of (Mittens] has jalways tie
, prived her of the benefit of experience in this.
work ; and this,. in any businesa, you will
agree With me, is equiyulent to r h fair prefic '1
1 - 1
and . tliaNt is eminently so in !the repair and
general supervision of railroads ,and canitlS.
This shifting practice has had' !the . effect - of
making her works a species of N em?' schOoli;'
for the edneatimi of , ' engineera Had • supervi- 1
sors to . take 'charge of Other!inioni . .. veinentS.-
This instability results from th 1 recognition
of places on the • State works, political of
ficers, i nsteadef scientific and niei.thanicalw j ,ork
shops; and •bringing , to hear en 'their control
and direction, or notions of rotation and short
tenure in office.. : These ideas "are sound and
republican, and should never lxi i ldisregrirded;
in reference to the office. appertaining te.our
political: organization as • acroY l eininent ; ',but
t'
it must-he conceeded that n•mere
-1 - businessop,
eration to make - money; in i conipetio.n With
the creatures of government anfli the efforts of .
indiyiduals,,was not conteinplated as an of:_
flee in the organic law of the StUte ; and hence
• it is notstraitge„ that the'i proper
for one do:not apply usefully to the otlidr.--
What, I' would inquire, would; be the'ceindi
tion of the . Reading railroad, the Peiiitsylva 7
I,
nia railroad ,and other Siinilaf . works, were
they 'required to change their 'engineers! and
superintendents, at short periods,,and bring
strangers into their own employ t The; ans,i
wer may be:readily discovered lin . the Slate's;
experience. I 'have long been °F. : opinion that:
in reference to all thesuberdinates Of th Ca-!
nal Commissioners, changes 'slietild . not 1 epe-:;
'riodical and prefixed,) buti . Shonld 'be - made
as demanded by theiexege'pciesl of the public
service. . - The delinquent in-any one of tLeob4
ligiations of duty should be dismissed attonce
and the only gnarautfof I continued entplopi.
Anent should be found i t rd the superiority of
the services' rendered. the i Sta
,e. All lothet
rules for appointment and dismissal .should*
be speedily, obliterated_ from the
. syst in. —÷
The present practice deprives. the Stan , to a
great extent, of thelenefit di that inc ative
e. .
~. v, ,,. 1 whiqh„ ttetuat6 all Alenll , eri.t
character position and i emoluments re at
m
stake. Of course;V Suggestions in re4rence
to the importance of experience will not' be
understood ass applying to Olt the agents on
' the
. works ; for' instance, 'it requires but little
experience.to make a collector but it haS and :
always will require this to.render an agent :
efEcient in the constrUctien - and repair of rail- -
. roads . and , canals,. pf 'foresee exeigencies and
give harmonious direction to the current op
erations of this complicated brandh of public
•service. In.short, the manage n tent wants the
application of business organization and prin
ciples: - A system of books should sapplant 1
the use of citeek'rolls; and the operations be 1
so systemiied that the receipts and. expendi
tures of each month, as the s.eason passes by,
could be announced .to the public. I, , •
Confusion, ' obscurity: 'and r edungtincy in:
Our :annual volvme oflaws--yexations inroads,
upon private rights—attempt' at the Usurpa-.
tion of power sad conseqiien't savings andlit 7 '
. tigation,. are,. in my opinion, the legitmate
fruits of our system of speeial - and . omnibus.,
.legislation... Indeekthe truth Of these prop
widens is. 'too palpable - to adinit of argument .
It is manifested in every yeitr's experience;
and in some instances the \ , g iverunient, 'as' a '
(1
cell:sequence, has-been.. force' into the linmil 7
ating positieniof becoming a lltigant 'aeitinst
her own creatures. Its deitioralfinig influence
mid •
is niarked,adniitted on-all hands' and im
perieuslydemands an efficient remedy. That
the present-General AsSemhlY may be distin
guished and ' blessed - for applying the axe at
the era .olits final terininati nos my sincere
hope. ' .
.__
. A public source \ of mischi f consists in the
practice of passing .a :Lambe of laws, - entirely.
dissimilar in their characterekies, in thesame
bill, 'or in what is fainiliarlY known as - the
" / Oinnibus System." The inevitable,- and in
deed the frequently lamented effect of . this . .
mode of legislation, ha 4 been to facilitate the
passage of hills through 'the General Assemb
ly,
and to secure the sanction . of the Execu
tive withouCtliat critical exta-mination so in
dispetisible to a clear comprehension' of their
true iniport. lii itsillustrition of the - dilli s
• ditties which 'the practice i nposes - upon this'
branch of the government,. , t is only necessa
ry to state, that within two days, pieceding
the final atijournmentof th last egislature;
no less than one ,hundred a d six, bills - were,
presented for Ex4cutive C nsideration; 'con 7 .
taining,three hundred : and, thirty-liour differ
ii
. exit subjects: Some of thee,, bills contained
as ninny as twenty di.4situilkir
were
ollegis,
:lation; and of these, sonic 'were not. even-M
-dieated by the transcribed title. , ' •' '
' ln addition to the difficulty of corliprehend- .
ing the import of such a htnerogenions mass:
of matter, the Execuli4 frequently Ands him
self forced- into
.the dijemunt of signing a: law
ivhieli ins-jUtiguient rejeciA„ or returning an
-
other - which he really . i.tfippi'eveS., , Neither al
ternative, ypittlill agree With me, is in strict
acepniance with the . . mandates .el.the Consti
tution. . Great itictouVenience also -results. to
the. people; Under this Syst itn, in the payment
of the enrolment tax upon private tws. ' In
bilk such. as I have alrei y descri ed, may
be found a number of it ins, .souffle taxable,
and others not, and the bi l l must be enrolled
under its: proper nuMber audjitle k , and the
-tai be first paid. One party interested in this
legislation 'may pay his share, ataitlier•will re
fuse -to do. - so; and a third, on• seeing. the
itininit)t of the tax, Concludes that he can live
without the law ; and tints it has been liP un
uonnuon thing forpersens!.to be'forced - to
pay tax-on laws : in Whichl they hare no ins
wrest, in order to avail ithentseivo" of what -
the Legislature had . .expressly*: . granted.ssi - .
Sue%
a state of affairs is . scarcely consistent
with - the dignity of it gre4t State,andeett*-
Iy . detnau4 an eilieieut remedy.
_Some of my predeeeSsers, -
have urged
,the
General Assembly te -
eliairPe ibis system, and
. • . i ' •
. . .
in Severalpre .
i ,•
!..previous; communications, I have
,
suggest(al.the - propriety•and justice OT paAing •, '
each proposition separately, at least so Mi. as , ---
the objects were dissimilar. Buf • the evil still' •
exists, and 1 am deeply. sensible of the dific' t it.; •
ty ... .which the.applieation of a,prompt and ef
fectual
remedy • must always , present • to I tare ' . '
• Gener.al A.ssembly. •After much retlectiei on
the magnitude of this evil—its vexations in- . : .
roads upon private rights; and -its tienuirdiz
ing tendency upoit.the interests - of
tll f
and the more elevated purposes of legila ion '
I have determin ed co-Operate with the . l'en
eral Assembly in the application of tbe • ost • •
efficient means which•their Wisdom may de-'
viiie for its removal; but in the . Mean t me,
as a restraining part of tic law-making kw • .
er, 'I must. -beg - to . bo i :in4 ulged in:Oa:tiling .
the privilege of consideifing each subjCci t i of
-legislation separately, and. On its own merits, c '
a.S contemplated `by he spirit . of. the:. Ctnsti-, - •
tUtion. - lleneeforlr, thcirefore - ; bills - contain- ••
ing a
,variety. of subjects of legislation, difsim
liar iu their character And .purposes,,. cannot
.ret.ire the sanction of tie present Exceed Ye. .‘
i : Another branCh of th evil, And if p%sible-.
a still 'greater one, consists of tg 'end and 10-•
c,`ad lemslation_ it is to:,' this' • • ' hit • .
pi• thee t we
are mainly in4ehted forint an ual volifine Of -,
,inws of most unseemly imensious,•and I for' a
separate
.code f r nt'arlv,ivery'l9eality. in 'the
State. . The re 'Ay fo'rthis must be fottlid in' •
the adOPtion - ef i fey mole general lase, , and. 7
the rigid admin ire ion of thi.4 •rdr y in, '
existence. • SperAaUttet - you will. a • gre with.
e.lil
me;'Sltotild Inruicf inSTa• (A, .be passed'', yhete
the object can be, reach el\under, - ,generti laws..
The . law 1781 land its.r several stipple mints,
. il
.make provisions' for. the cr e ation and - a end
. nieut - Of cdrporations .for • literary, chattable- .
and religiont puiposes; and to createhen'efici--,
ary societies and fire etigine:sandlatec tripa-t ,
tries; through,tlio instrumentality of th . Ate ;
toi ney Generaland the Supreme Cottri • The •
act of the thirteinth..of,: October,•lB9. xten:
ded this power to th'e courts of)the viral
eoun ties: ...Theli ets . of 11836
.and 1838 make--
.provision for - the assodation of indiv rains;
'through the instrumentality of tle - At Ortley
General and the Govenor, for the pu , ' Of
manufacturing i On frorn miners coat. , In
addition to these acts, he law to etteoufage
manuflicturing, - witted. o'lB4p, alb its - sup=.,
plements, -provide for associations for,tl t r pur
pose of manufacturing' woollen, sotto i :flax
'and silk
. goods, rfor. Marking iren,-glass.,salt
c li
paper, lumber, it rosis, mineial paints,
artificial slate, a„ d fo . i . tinting and pub "shing;
and th guppleinent of 18.53 extends i firf2 , - •
rck- I?.s
visic,ins; a modified orm,.tb - the business it
- mining of alino ; t evert- - .description. -. I - t '
Yin n tbe suhje t of eecting - new„ tou
' and incorporating boroughs, the cour t
unlimited poise' : and in the matter of
i
real, estate, - the _ rope•r y „of minors, by
lions, eXecuto._ or otl ers, acti•ng.in t al
ty capacity, th act o last session on tl,
jeet . will, in my, o pini „leach eir-ery. i
able case. ItS proyis ons should not
~
frtnged, for the subject belongs most.
mately to the Courts. - -
.... '
I can-see nii - relta 9 thep Why power` il
,
•i o
ignate election heusesz,should not be Confide
to the .cominissioners:l l ef: the several'.. counties
-,
_These officers are
.usually fat-Oilier wit i l the Ic
Calities, tend - can, rea(hlydetermiiie • what; ',art
rangement• we ild be4t subsen - e• the 'convent
. ience of the el etors, j lii addition.fo thefaCd i .
which wilknoti lie-disputed; that thislbusine-
Ireceives bile - partial 'Consideration in the Le
1 islature it is lobjeetionable, because" of t I
great space it' annually Occupies in the lon -
,
Uals andslawsj. I ern awar • e . however, that„tf•
ihas • been- su o gestedf-Ahat, the laws of. the.
I
United -§tateslprovide th'at. places for hOlditig
1.1. the eiv.,•, - ,ti0n4 . 1 . 01' 'Met Of •
.Congrs4 shall
he fixed- by .the - : `:Le . gislature of thfl' s4ceral
1 .
( States, and that'therefore i .the end • inview
,
;cannot be attained. 1 Inlanyver to this ollic-f - s ,
Ition,• it May :1;e remarked . ; that thel;Arigislaturei .
':haring in otherinst - Imes delegated Idoilbtful
~
powers,stich as .the *ght to make piper . . / e-'
liney, it is scarly ne essaryto-reise the -qu --
I: tion of the right to elegiac. a function So ek
. •
pres - slyconferred. '.I
1 -; • • '. i
A large number - of the laws of th last ses.. - - - .
sion conSist of special acts to ineorpOrate cote
panies.to ec -
- istruct•gank roads. This object
right and. prtiPen itself, might it' seems io
nic., be•reachethltyitt.i general laW;iitithe - rizing 1
:the ,assOeiation of tai number of ertize-as to :
"construct these -high iift) on proper Foriditiors.
In former Comniunictifions I Nave'- held the .
doctrine, that but lit le legisl lion oil any kind
:Was essential to the'.ends of me business errl.
terprise-- , -to promot objeCtsTunderstood. by
all and within the mach of mederatamean,S;
and that most
,certainly, - • ii:hatever 'might be
deemedexpedient should be general in' its •
eharateer.: • That th• Legislature', had to iniftr:•\
alright!to - -krant g,pLicial adVantages til,o,no. \
citizen' and' deny them to another; and II
have - . declined ? to. approve. any arton• t •
Ir
subject, where, the,etirpOrators were ;apt ma o -
liable in theirlndividual estates forlthe • .debts,
,
of the corporation. I. . -' , '.• - -. f - , I '
' No clearer evidence it seems to - eCanbe •• .
- Tarnished to show thrat much of is. agecial
legislation is songhtnd.is Vainabl , • o); Ire-.•- I •
cause it is special; than is found in its, 011 - ,7 ,
history.. It . Will be rementberedq nianyl4
You, that (twined+ •adininistraticin..it, Goy. --
Shutik,•nuinerous applications were madelfor
special acts to - 'J incorporate , manufacturing,..
companies, and tle4 the Governor refirsed to
(rive his assent to their passage.. In it 3-4.% 'a
-.
,m , -
general law to encourage manufacturing, lib.-
erid in its- provisionS,..Was adopted t • end ion'
-will' be astonished tklearn that, at[this time ,
there are not a dot n companies '.in ekistence -,
under it. During the: sessions 0.1852 and •
...
1853, much time % as consumed ift• the con-. •
I sidemtion of specie acts, to incorporate pine
ing conipanies., i t ear-the -close of I the•last
session a - general law - on the subject, •a•pplica-.
ble to. all the counties in the State' except six,_
was passed; and although this. Jaw-is sts fa - '
vorable in ita,ternis as the sr,
, cia -acts ',Olio
ited, but a single application hats' been made
under, it fer...„ mining purp*s ;• and, even• in .
this instance
- operations have not' beenl Coot-
meneed. .These 're signifieant:t)icti; and is .
any opinion will f lly justify thetirejection,of •
all -special••acts.. of the: subject - i the fungi..
t .c.
I can see no rea n why, this '.(etieral-lait -
..
should not •be ext tided to the litqaneelifl*
.
State,,if the:people desire to hake it; bit tm . .
special .
'''
companies ;thin the
act, to orgimize . 1
~
connties not”' ineltded in. the getterid, law! co
r - eceive my iippro, 'al, and such is :ice nOicisl. -. ,
• my';posseSsiOn oft this ;•eharadter, w..ili., bf r - r
turned Without the. Executive sanction, -. 1,
At the clateA, my,illast. annual ia,l , g , .
1 . • - s' itwe
proceedings..iier4 pen ing. m ~the f ,up,
~ .
.Court of Peunsylvamit, t 0... test 'the: right 'I
_the Franklin can, conipany to' construct $
111
railroad fawn th sit of -.Erie .' to /the: phia -.
State line'. .:•The deciliter'. of the. c . etur(iva
against the'ebmpany• on -the main ',Point Po
_opinion ' .Justice• El A 'slios - ' -
the- of • !Chief , at . ...•
1 • trucen -of thor •
most clearly the 'the cons . .
road was without authority of low-,' but .tW
r hY theroir f
preliminary tuiti#etion prayed , • fl
plainant was fernsed, on the, grofuni that
CoininoliWealt.ti jeduld . ,,nnt, un4wl Abe. 1aw...,
give securitY forlcosti, The efirt of tins 4!.. \,
to
eisimi was to •pltee the privilige - claimed,
..
the comp - ay WI: ilia. the Coutro of 141 0 ..3-t ad
.1. ti, Iris-,
hittire•. .In antkipation -of this sult; 4 : _
of
suggeAc4 to. the General' .Ai•Sembly. the .
3 1? T.
pnety_ of taking charge. of,l . thesd vsli, ,P, L . ,`'
..
ht 14• practlC"'"r
rights, and: sn liq..ai inlg ~ , . , .
, i
)le,
without 'the axe eisii. of an illibertalla' n `l :
render this important Ili* of co iitniunitli,
_' .l,
1 between the.seaboard. and -. tlw gree- , 77 -..:
Ilttettier the
:0-eutnsta4.
the adrnit
,2, requiring.
dements by
frolfibitit4
I regret,
,ptuon, butt,'
S) y
likely to
in their : -
'
vent., Itbwey
,
(Int
. on. some'
e~yelesireA
be extended
nship
: hale
Eerkingi
gear-i
;sub
be in
gin-1
)egied