A. J. ot.RR/TSON,'PUB!..ISHER.
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
Tike Honorable the Senators and MemNra
Vac Bosse V Representatives of RAs Om-
Wterauvalikof Pennsylvania:
thootto the restjesteloseqi
has been ime Of great Icl.r scion in the busi
ness and tueitetstry affeirs of the country, 1
- ant happy tobe ai.le to announce to the Ri
r,sents lava bribe People, that the filmed of
'Pennsylvat.i4 are in a roust selisfactory con
dition. .
The nevi - pis pit the Treasury,. from. alb sOur
cei.l.l the 6.sei(l veer, ending on, the 30111
day of November, 1858, were 84,139,778 83;
and the eipen(ll.uo-s, for all par t ) lies, duvtog
the same time;were 83,776 867 06. leaving
ate"eitiess - of - rdci i - k!s' over etpendi:utelh of
8363,021 29.
This exhibit shows eiat there was actually
• .
. • ,
113 the 'loess:my on the Ist (lay of .December,
1858, the sum of $383 921 29, more than
there' was on on the la? day of December,
1857. In-addi inn to thii,,among the expen
ditures for the year, were
Lo‘ns rrdermrd
Wliof Not, s Redeelned.
lutert on Cr.tatcates,
Making dithe public.. debt fund
ed and(onfunded prid during
'the rear ; 421,49 i tb
If we , add tothir be eietas of
money. onitand,:rd the end of
the &.:a1 year, over what re-'
trained irt" the Treasury, at the -
'Woe time lust year, •iz t 303.921 29
We hare the sum of • • $785,415 /4
I3dt trat not all, The *tweet&
paid on the public itnprAre. '
merits. Including detneges end
• old eleims„ doting the fiscal
rear, ' $311,036 58
While the amouht of r.e mute
fren' the slum r the
smue,pet ial, 'erne 031)
Making an elm - us of
over r-cript•, which happily
we wilt be relievd Irom iu the
fut.ra, of - $245,9Gri 52
This shotil.l, credited t•J the °pieta
fiuns of the tres,s-sry during the Itesr, for is w as
estrsorditutry expeuditnre, aide') cannot
nvin censor; And was, in Aut, rt._ reduction of
the ituli ities of the Copsnonweslth Us that
xatrnc
If we add thiesorn to the amount of debt
pail, and the excesi - orcash on hand. we have
f‘.l- the year a totlanee in favor of the receipts.
over the ry litori,atnosnt:n.g tn
mtM.g
the a!rgr, r‘zate. t0t1.031,35t •
But frbm ha , huviet-(1...b0u1d V'eilefluett-d
the ex ro r .ie .ry re. vphieh were '
The asnonnt panl by the _
Pennsvlvati is Dread Cotnnanyi -;
.on the iris ipa! of debt due
by said company, t the Cora l
motive filth, re
the NI de L'ne
V. The t rec. i.edir..m
the Gir plank, 1. r lo:ths of the
Gontrnottureaal sold by-that b ,uk
A't hi-fi &Aunt from the •titht...ing
vt......0f #1,91;382 36, leaves the irae bat
eau.* the r ipts twee onli
n: ry es s lendithr4 fart4e fi4ca! yea' at 1903,-
862 30. t
.The fdrideri and • unfunded dell of
on the Ist day of Dtcetu
18.57, vvis. es foil.'ms:
Ft 1cD!.71) T>EIIT
G p r cert. loin „..
5 tti.r cent. I,,sn
eet t t. Ivan
4 per cent
To..t'ii..ttultl be addwi 5 per
Cel/t. Volliron liun , is SC;!(1 by
Gir,rd Or., nut ben.re re
pvrtttl
Total funded debt
L'S rUSD ED DELr
Rei-f lq, , t "It 0140*n - dine... .$140A21
'lttierest Kertiiirales 23.47;
Do. - tmetra , tire.
,-. .4,41
Dunrest vreL;l7-, • • 80
Tntal.enfundeti debt. $175,14
ida l ine the . eiiti.e Belt c.f :he Gm, (m
-irea\
th at the period named. t , 39 903,738 22.
T 4! funded;led taafuteleti .lePt .J 1 the S ht..
at tl e close of the h:st fis,:al year, December
lit, 1838, !WWI Us 11.4 lON E::
rtNDED, Dgfrr
6 per cent...loans—.
S prr tent. 103114.
41 11cr rent. 11:00/6 .
4 per cent• loans...
.. .
1 Total finuied debt J. . it 39,354,2135 67
I
\ C Icrwe DEO' DIEM:
B e li e f no tes outstanding - $ 105.34 00
loierwt crytiltat te4 ' '23.357 12
Do. dg unniaimed 2.448.38
Domestic treili:ors
Total unfunded debt
if:acing the public ri«bt of the Ist o f I
cestnbef Itt , t. $39,488 2.43117. Since the e i
of the 8-cal. vemr:t..e o. , unnisst•tnets of
Fund lave retketto..l of the five
cent. tuna, the t.um 011226;132 51. rem
. the real dell of the Colo-matt men th at
time, fued . e.i.sn4 unfunded, $33,268,1111
To. In..et this, iresi.lts the - ordinary ou
of publi• revenue. Lite Strtes OW/IS bonds
eeived fr.in the sale of public works,
which I luiVe evrry reefer' to telieve.
seenrcd. amounting to eleven mill 4 P ,
one hundred-sed eight.-one d CORN? lle l ct
log thi. fr..)ni the outstanding debt, it 1, yea
to {be ottuawi s e weld led fee Ake eu of
t tventy-t itthL milice 6 eight y•eeiren 'thou nd
one :hundred and Eleven dollars end *le
cent=. , 1
It is believed thit with the existing sou ees
of revenue, and tit/ obeervance of strict e o n _
this fum may_ be redw•ed. darin g th e
current year at le4t one million of•dolhu
•
The pre‘ent woaiJ seem , to be the AVi
Otte LI - Intr.—when our nation is at peso l
and when health and reashasble props
prevails within our bUrdets.—to greatly
dune the public debt. We have but tv c
"fully 1/n.lOlO :our resources, situkling est
spot end • unrieeessory appeopriitiont%
practiiing s, proper economy in the
partments of Government, ro render the en
extinguishment orpur debt a fired (set w
in a very brief period.. TO - carefully toloatd
the public treasury 'at this interes ing epoch
be out financial tistory, ta,s • inateestly the
ditty of the public autlo.ities„that I cannot
f..r one nmient believe that any other poliq
‘Ol be prop teed. If there be mai, who, re-
I
ing Upon.' the improved' condition of the fi
nances of the State, would encourage the
adoption of nes* schemer for depletinithe
Treatory. or 'would cut off the 'sourees of our
Preovnt *vain. and tiles rerie..e it, let all
'web efforts,' coining (torn whatover quart r
they may, be sternly resi-tal. Let Pennsyl
vanit bejust before she is generous. Le! our
good .elutonple be a light in the pa:bway of
our ii-ter'Ststes, as %fell is an admonition'
to our own loyal government.; This is due
alike to the farms which Providence has tr,
bountifully to-rowed upon us,; and to that
high character for honesty, end int..gritv
which has atter distingitisheid peeple of
this good old Comuonwealib:
-Iu pursuance of the kat endiled "An Act
fur`tbe.s the'Stote Cansie appr..ved oh
the 31st day of April last, I did, as Governor
of the Commonwealth,- on Vol 19th day of
?day, 1853, convey to the Sunbury and. Erie
Railroad _Company. all the Priblie Works
belonging to the Commonwealth, then r.--
%Joining unsold, souls ing of the Debuts e
Division—the Upper and Lower North
lit:belt Divisions—the We llrsneli I.hei4-
ion—ahti . the Susquehanna Dl+ision - of the
Pennsylterols-Caoal; wills all' the proper. y
thereunto larlouging. of In anywise appet
taitoing, and all that estate, ilght, title and
interest of this Commonwealth! therein, for
the sum of threeitillil - Ons five' hundred thou
sand dolrers.-_ To secure the payment of this
sum, the Surobety and Erse Railroad Compa
q paid to the State 11ensuref its bonds, se-.
(Alm] by a mortgage, as sliroetrol by the get,
Ct. the - amount of tire porch...ft 'nullity. The
company, also, cotnpii-d with the provisions
of the net whin h required it, as' aditionsl_ se
curity, to secure and deliver to the St ate
Treasurer a turdtgage on the Delaware is
ion for one mot gage on the Sus
quehanna and West 'Minch pluisi.ins for
half a million—and a mortgage on the Upper
And - Lower.Notili $P inch 14.isiona fin -I half
on'lion of dollsts. The deeds and m• I gages
'rem all execuTpd under the iantriedi.te super
vls.pn of the Attofuey Oeueral., pod were
s• tint coonforlui.y with the tequieatents of the
w.
.3380,996 85
41,071 CO
1115 to
95.070 fir,
—After - the convevanCes we e duirezenuted
.an.i delivered. pus - session of the Canals grits
givert tti the railroad thattpahy•
The act further provided that;tbe Sunbury
and foie Railroad Company shouid n,ot re
thy Cwwwl 4 ; or any watt of them; without
the consent of the Governer; lartd,th.t if a
re-sale were Made r,,t , a greeter sum, in the
aggregate., than three and a half rtddion' of
doilnrs. seventy -6,ve per cer.tum of the exc'eslt
should be pal i to Vie Ceontnonrveirith, in the
.bonds of the purcintsets. 'alio p ai r i l e d
that Upon aTe-eille, a ortgages giver' by the
Sunbury and Eri-2 14)1r:ad Company the
"COinon wealth; updli the Casein, Should hi
cancell-d by the: State Treasur.-r and sorrel,-
d• red to the vompany by the Oovernor. , in
tieptsits nook by s.i 1 company:in the ttflice
t of flie StatiTreasurer, &f en equal amount of
gran'ees , tectped by tho mortgage of the
canal or canals ttrhl as NfOteg2ll6 ' %—e I it a
coot istun that no transfer of securities s°ton ld
be made until the Governor should be sati,fied
that the new reentitien to be given were auf
i fi: •nt to protect the Tnterf eta of the ,11,•tq e :
am.' that ht.; Witten approval of the cluingtt
-boob.] lie filed in the-office of the Seuretatv
of the Cetttttonlyealth.
$128,000
Sd.-s lore made by the Sunbury end Elie
r Compiny, nral reported to me utt.ler
oath of - the iliesadent, of the .liffdreat lines, a.
futkrus:
t44:1,18 ,
38.773.212'
388,200
1u0,0841
00
52
00
00
The Uppe; - and Lower fill
Branch Canal. - to the Notth
Canal Company, for... $1.600,000
Wei.l Branch and
'mum; Divisions, to ;ho We=t
Branch and Sara eltantot Canal
Company. for.. ...
The Delaware Division, to the Del,
Rotate Division Canal Company,
of Pennr•ylvania, for
$39,734,.59
00
82
88
50
In all the tem of
Upon' inves ization -and inquiry, hating
become siti-fied that•these voles, ;vete made
for fsir pticea, and, upon such terms, und'ut
.tick lu_rsons composing the vations psreltaZ
ing association, as ro in-tire the payment of
the purchase money, they were saverally ap
.
, .
After the contr Mt, for the ade of the Dela
ware Diti-ion hat! been enteted into, and I
my Ounstott‘ had been vettrally, given, anti
-events-five thousand (loiters of the purchase'
moueshad been actually paid by the put
eha-er., 'upon the faith of the contract and
my assent thereto, I tytrs infoqueci that a
higher, l'rive had heen offered, by rettpousilde
per , ons, fur the canal. But, under the
cumstances, opini ut was that the offer'
came too Intr . ; tam! as the Rai road Company
c.obsi tared its e lf bound to consummate th e
ag,T T neut by delieery'uf the deed and-p ,
s ,. s g . n o f the L rop c ity to the first Pufehisers,
could not, it; good faith, airhimid my a---
sent; The .fforth lirtncli Canal, Cornisinv,
s u bsequent to rite putcloom of *hitt Di isiou,
weld that pottion of the canal king be tween
Wi'kashaore ,and Northumberland to the
Wyontintr Canal Compatry, for the - . sum of
nine hundred and eighty-five thousand dollats.
On thel3 t uf Septetu ber. 1858, bonds of the
Carious compsit'es oiCni tag t fret.tt toren! canals,
secured by mortgages, were, in putatienceof the
act; and by my approval, depositud ritr.ft the
State Treasurer, to the amoufnt of two mil
lion of dollars; and the mortgages given by
the Sunbitry• iked *ere can
celled by Sttle Treasurer, and surrendered
by the
,to the company, in accordance with
therfireclorisfif the law. At the time time
a settlement wasmadibeiween the (.mninen.
svewlih and LIM R.,i'4.tati Company, by *blob
;lie barer paid- to -the State asvenly-five per
rent of tbeprtxmcdeoftbe re-sale over and aboTe
the contracr_pice or three and a
This etnotintitl to two hundred ;And eked).
one tie Diana two hundred and Ely tiollar4,
sad was paid ;tribe following disinter, viz:
$445,18d OtV
38,420 904 67
388 200 00
. 100,000 00
soi 50
$133,05. CO
per
isq
• hi
-16.
Ronde of of the Wyoming Cenal
Cotntwoy,l43coreti hr morgnge ow
the eannl frOm liVilkesbnfre •to • .
North II mberlotod.poyatble in twenty
ceati+!ith inton:est at six pet Oenturn . " •
pncible semi-annunT1y........... s ' 2 8 1,000
• . 250
"Wt JON/ • OMMILVES TO NO 'PARTY THAT Dna wori,canitt tun 3%AD me tuft* IMP VD 'l!w Myhre or *nil innoiv..
These bonds are well sneered, and the ste
cruing interest and principal, when due, will
doubtleoi be promptly pail.
Prom inf. rmation of a reliable clientele} I
'recently comintaLloated to me by the Pr4...i- I
dent of the Sunbury and Erie Railroad Coin-!
pray, it. appears that th@ prospects of an i
early completion of that great puliic high- !
way are verieteouraging. A large amount _I
of work lint been done ore the line' of the
r during the pinit reason, nod at this time,
refit cousiderable..porrions of the road are
graded and rapidly appoaching'completion.
It is the opinion Of the President of the
company that, within two years, the work
sill be entirely finished, PO that cars will lie
running ditectiy from the city of Philadel
phia to the harbor of Erie.
When this greatentert riseihall be COlifillar.
mated. and the desire of its friends finally ac
complithed, the payment of three million and
half of mortgage bonds, which the State.
-lies received in exchange fur the cabala, will
%toque& ionably be well secared—whilst the
road, itself, will prove of incalculable ad
montage to our, great commercial emporium,
as well as to the lei whim botiong neglected
region through which it pesees. Its construe-
dun will undoubtedly add to the value,of the
real estate of 'the Cumulonwealth many times
be cost, sod developestud bring. into use the
rich,resourcesof a country which have hitherto
remained as they were lavishly smelt by the
hand pf nature: I have - an abiding confi
dence that the result will abundantly prove
the wisdom of the measure, which, white it,
guaranteed the completion of ono of the
greatest improvements twerpniected by the
Com Mon wealth, it, at the aims time, divorce 1
the S ate from the tint rofitable and demoral
izing management-of her s rai broads and canals
Whriteverdifference of opinion may, at. son
+lle, here been eatr-rtained iii revard to the
propriety of she legislature rut hor icing the sale
of the main line. or the branches, it can
scarcely be doubted that the public welfare
will, in every respect, be early, promoted
by the transfer of the totsenectert of the nub
& woiks from the State to heti. ideal owners.
The short experience we hare had already.
proveb corteltisively that the Commonwealth
is greatly the gainer, in a dnaneinl pint of
vi e w, and it has been equally demous rated
that the people at large hare been as well,
if not better, accommightted, by. t be change.
would, in my judgment, be a public
calamity, if, by the happening of any con
tingency, the Cumitionwealth should be con
strained to agsitiliecome the owner, and re
sume the management, of any portion of the
panic
The power of the General Assembly to Oars
the act of the 41st of April. 1858, relaive to
sale of the State canals,..was a question be
fore the Supreme Court of. the State, sirroe
she transfer or the canals; and, after full al.,
gement, the constitntionality of the net- was
sustained by the, onanimous judgment of the
Court.
_
Since the sale of the puhlio works, and the
retilernent . of the principal outstanding
against the Slate. it is t.brious that there i 4
1:6 further necessity . for a Board of Canal
Comtuissioners. or- a Canal Department. I
therefore recommend the abolition of the
13. raid, and that provision be made for the
transfer of the records to the Vince of the
A -, itlitor General. _
In view of the foregoing exhibit of our re
sources and financial coodiion, it is 'tripe
tent that the 'twit intetesrthg era has been
reached in the hi-tory of the Commonwealth.
Relieved from the etit ogli t embarrassments
of an eaten-ire systsin of internal irnpoove
trrentri, the means of the State are now ample
for all legi imam purposes. nod her public
&hi is,gradually but cermittly dierppearieg.
From these and other minxes, governmental
He ion has beeorie greatly , . imp itied, and
the L nature of the subjects o f I opmerroeb;t4
changed in a degtee no le , s rernmkable.
The almost e di•posal of tjto lands
Ice! nged_to the Sate , has already di -
pcnsed with`one of the Departments created
for 'lt -i+ elite, and will, ulimately, render the
other tienecessirv. except for preserving the
est s of their. trritsfer.
The s-tle of the public works has
,relieved
the Exeentive branch of the Goverment of
many of its most responsible act' perplexing
dui-s.. rind in effect, disrpris4l ai h one ill
i-s mast formidable. and riiffietilt departtnents.
In the satne proportion, the action of the
legislature will, if the representatives of Ate
people be true to the interrgAreposed, and
sternly term% to entangle the public a ith
diose numerous lacier-is and enterprises
which are continually seeking its alliance, be
simplified - -and ecouotnised, purified' and
st reng hened.
500,000
1.775,000
$3.87,000
And it is as remark able as it is per , pitiouk t
an era' hits dm. relieved the State authoti i«s
ofl„„then,,11„1 ii , her of mere ma.
pert tl interests, or tho care of local a (mild - -
tot im—cointoi•ting the one to the local
amen ii.tity of the people, and the other to
private or assoriated enterprise—should also
prevent fur coreideratim and pioniroimi in
tellectual and moral claims, of peculiar hit.
portance.
It, is at this period in our historv,that
the system, of public -education challenges
the attention of the most um.b4ervoint. 4 . 1(14.1
I shall he touch mistaken in the catitious but
...iertdfa-t character of t he people of Penns3l.
yards. if their rep.eeentativea do not make it
the first of j..ct of their rolicitude.
The apbu4 report of the Superintendent
o f comm o n eArhooti will lay before rid the
present condition of the Common School
System, and of its operations during the past
tear. Your close and ,scrutinizing att'etnion
is invited to the dettOts of that (Imm - dent.
Including, the city of Philedelphisi; it will
be obsetvect, that there were NT the p' hhti
schools of the Bode, during the year which
ter m inat e d on the first Monday of last June,
628,201 pupils; these were instructed during
ten-average tent of is Mlle over five rovntbg,
in ff 581 wr , oof-, by, 18,858 tembers aft a
total cost $2,427.832 41.
here is a public ineorest, which, whether
we regard its ramifications into every portido
of air felu ie. its !aide east, the inmsrii.
ant towers oter the present which it, wields.
or its inealeufalle influence upon the future
—undouluedri transcends all others commit
ted, to the 606 of the secular anthmitiei.
This beieg the ease, 1 hare no - hesitation in
soksertioit that the time has arrived when its
full importance should be recognised, and
that its due adMinistration aboulti be made
the duty of ii folly organized And effective, as
' well as a sopirate department in the govern.
went.
.181,250
But tb• Imi 4576 anal rtfnlotinn o f MIT
iViiiNtROSE Ic iiiirJANLIARY 13,1859:
systein of Ciontnon Schools—important Rod
extensive as it obviously is—lahould not be
the ante object•Wf snob a departloeht, If it is
true that the power to punish crime includes
also the tight the prevent it, by pro;,•iding fur
the - proper intellectual and moral ruining of
the people, it would seers to follow that the
department charged with the latter Moment
ous duty; should. also be in possession of all
the sources end subjects of information cal
culated to shed light upon; thn ohledt of its
nation. Bence the collection, arrangement
and practical ckductious from population and
ludo-trial statistics; from Mauls! defects,
such as deafneitrand dumbness, blinduess,and
lunacy ; from crime in its various forms and
developments ; together • with such control
over all the literary and licientilic institutions
in the Stare•ataball bring their full condition
into view, should also belong to the same des•
psrt mem.
Therefore, I moat - respectfully, but earnest
ly, tirgempon ydur favorable consideration,at
the present propitious moment, the organis
ation attach a Department, in the room of
done for the care of mere matter whose
agency 1/113 been or soon will be discontinued
try the onward and upward progress of the
Commonwealth.
A suitable Department of PuhHo Instruc
tion will not, however, of Itself. effect all that
is needed in this-direction. • The general re
sults of the Coalition School system, already
cited. show the importance of be nature, and
'the mignittideetheeperatlons. If we look,
also;into Its epecial- statistics, the conclusion
will beequal Wear that certain improvements
in its working machinery are equally indis
pessibln.
It is ceedless.to attempt to prove the truism
that the properlyiquidiged teacher is the life
modem:cc:sof the school. Bat the facts a e
startling, that of 12,828 teachers of our pub
lie schools. ezelirlve of These of Philadelphia,
only 5,087 she reported 111111'qualitla for their
important trus i t ; stilts 6387 are returned as
'medium,' or stfeh as are only tolerated. till
better can be obtftined i and 111st - 11,315 are
stated to be 'unlit: In other words : of the
569 680 children attending the schools out of
Philadelphia, unl ,about 230;000 c,less lilac
one half) are on f paper' insults:6oo and
training ; w hill- ut 240,000 are receiving
insufficient instrutition from litre4pr teachers;
100,000 are actually in charge of potions
whay ucfirfur the task: i
This presents the sulject in a light that
cannot be shut e t ; stud though the- great
and commendald efforts recently made -by
theleachers of P nsylvauia, for their own
itnproeement,a:aully recognized. it cannot
lie' iienteatect ttrat=lebe.se tr. et ....It yrs , t 1 OS
done, in this relation, which would seem to
be beyond their unaided power to accum
plish. ~
When, towever, we look further into the
i •pecial statistics of this branch of the systetn,
i the mateiial for Nprovemeut is found to be
lof the most Pri , Mrsing kind. s Of the 'l2 828
i teachers of our ersmation sehools, 10,880 are
I ender tbitty yenitt of age, and 10,946 are na•
I IVei of Pennsylvania ; and a larg er propor
tion thee in most of the other States are
permanently detitted to the profession of teach
ing. To render these fit for the position to
which they aspire—nndoubtedly.one of the
most useftil and honorable in the world—
and to raise up a cumulus, supply of well
Tor - Hied successor. * is the work to be done.
Vaiious modes of effecting this object have
been suggested or ttierll but, after mature
tefleettoo, I sin led to prefer that devised by
the Act of May 20, 1858, entitled, •An Act
to provide for'the due training off teachers fitr
the Common Schools - of the S:a'e.' It place..
in relation to the State, the teacher on the
same footing with the members of such, of the
-other learned professions as hare been recog
nited by public nut hotity ; and it is to he re
w , etted that the prostration of Istisine-s and
sCareity of money; that-3n soon followed the
;insole of the act, had the effect of checking
many laudable efforts to put its provisions in
to operation. Under these circurrttancee,
does It not become the duty of the State to
afford snob aid; or at least hold out tuck in
ducements as this 3 enable this measure to be
fairly tested I .
the tra.4age of R law guitar teeing the
payment of a moderate stlfil to one 're:where
Schorr? in each of the 'ist• leas created by the
a.ct of 1857, would no doubt 'r•au,o a sUft/ttient
number to entablish the efficiency and pract•
icability of the plan, to be completed in a few
year.; the money not to be paid till the
whoold were in full and approved operation.
It is not prolooltle that this graph would cause
any cohsiderable draft oh he treasury; but.
even if the whole twelve schools should ulti
mately larestrodolinited,the boon would neither
be out of propottioh to that which has been
conceded to other literary institutions, nor
the number of graduates beyond the wants of
the community. Op to the - present time.
Pennsylvania has appropriated about $OOO,
000 in aid of her colleges and acadeintes,aud
this mainly in the hope of obtaining from
them teachers for the_ common milord*.
Though the benefits of this munificence have
been, in miter !,erpects quite equal to the
amount given, at will be as<erted by no one
that the avowed of has been to any con
siderrsble extent effected. It would therefore
iniear t o tgl . time that the aid of the State
should be brought directly to,ttear in fact:lcor
the emit ohjetiso long contemplated.
I Iraqi thus briefly laid before yoh the con
dition of our noble edtfcational system. it
will affori ma sincere pleasure to concur in
the adoption of thee, or any other measures,
fur its perfection, that the wisdom of the
Legislature may devise.
In this count q, the want of a school which
I shall cotrolyiwe floe elements of learifing and
agrriculttrat labor, end thus adopt itself to
the education of the farmer. has been motit
seriously felt ; for, whilst our many colleges
well fill the measure of usefulness in . their
apitraptixte sphere of intuitive, it must be
coodeded that the training they , impart. is
hardly adayettb the sirb of prettiest add
c
utture. 'nuayfeattia that interest is so
importint as to demand at all times our
antmeho attention and activo support: "The
Farmers' )l. High of Pennsylvania" lately
projected and planned by a few pettio spirit
ed individtrthri and sibieh has fettetved. to
some, extent, Ike pationage of the State, dud
the conitibations of a number of our patriotic
citions, it destined to a ffu!d a place where
young Mee May lot. educated at an expense
commensurate with. their mess* and to a
condition queffying theta for the pursuit of
the business of the tarn.
Hera,: Whilst. daily occupation will train
the in* to the ability to labor. and give to
the student the enviable feeling that he con
tributes to his own support and education, it
will instruct tied enlarge hiy otind,that it may
give force and effedt to-all his future efforts.
The design of the institution is to afford a
school where boys may be thoroughly edu
cated ih all the brooches of natural science,
and, at the same time, be inured to the per
formance of labor ; so that at their gredne
lion they may return to their parents lamed.
antly prepared to join the domestic circle, to
given right direction to the busineto of agri
culture, and act well their part in eery. de
partment of Ilfe. An olject so fritight wiih
ugefulaess is entitled to the highest commend-
atiop.
The application of scientific principles to the
Practical parpo-es of life, is but reediting the
full benefit of those 'Wiser nature, to discover
and to profit by which, is undoubtedly one of
ihe great ends of human reason. The more
this important object is held in view and
effected by our higher institutions of learning:
the mum valuable and useful *ill they be
come. The Polytechnic C
is
of Pennsyl
vania, at Philadelphia, s founded on this
basis; and its attempts to-popularize science,
and connect high acgitirements with practic
al ability, is presented to yet ... tr favorable con
sideration.
Under a resolution of the last House of
Representatives a committee was appointed
by the Speaker of the noose, to examine the
state and condi•iun of -several Banks chart
ered at the session of 1857. The resolution
directed the commi tee to report to the I
Governor the result slits examination within
ninety, days after the adjoutnranit of the
Legislature. On the 2Cith of July last, the
report of committee, trigether , with the
accompanying evidence,was Sled in the Office
of the Secretarr of the Commonsrealthie copy
of which will be laid before the liclule
Representative?.
In view of the facts reported by the com
mittee, in refeitmee to the ittganization and
subsequent management of the Tit ga County
stank, the Crawford County Babk, abd the
lAte,k of Shamokin, I wou'd recothinend a
careful inquiry into the pres-ntbonditien of
these institutions, and if it shall be ascenain
' est that the public is ltkely to suffer injury
rum the further existence of eittir, a speedy
'and certain remedy may be found in a legis
lative repeal of the nghts and privileges great
l' hy the acts of ineorpontion. ' , The power
to alter, revoke, or annul. the charter of a
bank whenever its continunbee mey, in the
(Onion of the leg;slature; be inju , ious to 'he
citizens of the Common wee It h. is expressly
given by the Constitution to the General A.-
sentoty.—to be exercised, however. in •oweb
manner as that no injustice shall be done to
the cotporaters.
Ohedienee-to this constitutional injunction
would regnini that in the event of a repeal of
the chart-t of a lank, care timid be taken
that the tights of the f iocithol dvs to the sit!.
pi WI assets ut the hank, after payment of its
del t+, were piotented ; and that suit:Jae
provisions should be wade for settling its
nffiirs. ' - •
The injunction contained in the Constitus
don. Nat the repeal, or revocation of a bank
charter shall ha in inch a manner as to work
nn injustice to the - corphrators, is not a quali•
fieation of tbe.power to revoke or annul the
charter ; but it is silkily a requirement that,
in lAkille away the charter,' the riglite of the
stockholders shdl he protected, so far as is
consioent nit , ' the act of wren! It-elf Ido
not doubt that the leZiOntllte may alter, re
voke. or annul. /Mr existing hank charter,
wh ene v e r h, its opinion the toile:mance of
the charter mar he injurious to the citizens
of the Com toonwenith. Any other construc
tion of the Constitutional reservation would
Make the intete.ts and safety of the public
suhsel‘ient to the gain of the stockholder.
lletievine. therefore, that there it. no want of
power, T cannot refrain from expressing my
derided opinion that'whenever it is dear that
a hank is insolvent, or in great danger of be
coming so. or whenever. its privileges are so
need nr abused as to teflonsly, juejturlice the
interests of the public, it is the duty of the
law making power to protect the people, by
deo roving its coiporate existetice.
• In thi, connentiop 1 deem it my duty to
reiterate the view expressed in my inaugural
address. I ttm atatia. as my decided opin
rim. t hat there should he no Anther increase
of hanks or bankingcniital under the present
arstem--expressed a decided hosts sty to the
is-ne of notes of A Mill denomination—and
recommended such a change in our laws ro.
ir e 'to h a nks, their organizatlon And MO6-
nEement as would at least secure beyond all
question the prompt re:lei-option ,of all hills
or notes putt in circulation by the several
binkingt ins•itutions.of the commonwealth.
Well satisfied Of the imnerfection n 7 . 2 ;0..
inff laws relative to hanks and hankine. T
deem 1. a duty to inform the (lettere! A.-
'tenably that I certnnt give the Everittlye Ar
ornval to any bills , ehatteting additionnl
Lanka radie.pl nhar.ge in its "entire
sv"tem. It is but inst to state that in mv
nninion a large majority of the ba7•ks in Jim
Commonwealth AM walltana safely menamet,
and in a perfectly s'onna enndi•ion; hut tbitt
is doe to the honesty and intelligence nt tilos°
having charge of them. rather than to the
of the laws. Under the mango' ,
ment of ineapable or dishonest men. exne k ri.
once has shnwn that there is really hot little
if any *Pewit, to the pnltlin in the re'nla•
and tworiotions now fn he fonnd in nn►
hankirer code. tun wisdoin dictates a re
fnrartatinn. •
The ruinona !owes which have fallen upon
,ho people during the financial pressure o
the past eighteen mon ths, suggest the neves- '
tilt, of preventing. their repu t mune. Although
matey ceases mai , have cointoided to produce
!belie disasters, li is too plain to admit of
doubt that our banking ay e t e ln has p een one
of the nwet prominent. The value of the
precious metill—the pi•ice cf properlyt—and
the wages of hibor—are always effected by
the abundance or scarcity of the paper medi
um teceived as a sub touts fur gold and
silver coin.--The power of the State to
authorize a
_paper curtenur, though the
agency of banka, ball been so long exercised,
and sanoiledged, chit:tugboat the Union,
that it is no longer an open question. ut
it must be acknowledged ,that the power ,{h.sa
been greatly abused. The delegation of this
eiiribute of eoreteignty to a number of jut
aponsible corPotatiuns, without proper checks
to limit the eiercitte, , and , without providing
any wieeittsr whatever fur the redemption of
the issuiris thus authorised, bas been attended
with evils of the most, alarming ttbaraaer.
These corporations:Tere practically' made
the excluSive judges of tE6 Amount .of paper
currency to be furbished to the people, and
have the exclusite. power to contract. or ex
pand their circnlat bin at pleasure. Deposit
ors end ordinary creditors-of'llanks, need no
leolilation for their profec , ion.—Etery obe
r!tio has direct dealings with the institutions,
Atha'. RS , depositor or otherwise, enters into
eache'bgagernetits voluntarily, fur his own
advantage, and May be safely left to his own
vigilance, and the ordinary remedies of the I
law, fur his protection- But, th e millions of I
people engaged in industrious. pur-utts, the
farmer—the mechanic—the merchant - and
the laboring man—Are under en impetious
geceraity to receive forth& member:clue and
their labor, the erdinaryl,..paper currency of
the country. It is immaible for persons of
this deseriptiois to investigate . the concerns
of every institarionfwhose awes are 4 . 11 cireu-,
laden. But no investigation could save them
from the hatient omitting from the defaults and
frauds of bank officers and the.ineolvency of ,
bank borrowers. ,
The note holders of- banks have peculiar
claims to the protection of the government.
They are involuntary creditor+, who are forc
ed to receive tho notes authorized by the
governinerii. Tbry have tio direct dealings
with the banks—They do not trust the banks
from any hope of gain. They hare no profit
in Passing the notes which they would not
bevelled in passing gad and silver coin.
They combine almost the entiracemmunity,
and the humble and ignorant are always the
greateit atiffoore wheo-a hank fails to redeem
its notes. The whtile people ere thtrefure
I dee* interested in the security of the dice
! nation chatted _by law; although .many of
Oen+ may ne4i. have had a share of bank
stook, or been within a huildred Miles of its
place orttitdneck. The Government that
aittlimires the issue of a paper currency I.
under a high moral obligation to r.-qvi , e
ample and asailahle security for its redemp-
thin,
The cei.ificates of loch iisued by the Gen
eral Government, or by thi4 Cumuinnwealth,
at a value to be Bxed upon, ;with the power
to require additional deposits of secuti , y,
from time to time, as the loans deprecia'e in
the marke , , wodlti be as safe and available
as any Other guarantee sada could be pro
vided,
A law requiring all issues of bank - here
after organized, to be secured by the pledge
of these lortos,would enhance the value of the'
present lobs, and thus give the holders a
premium not contemplated when they be•
came purchaser., and for which they never
gave any valuable eonsiderttion. This en
hanbed {Mould be derived from a privt;
lege granted by the State, and the State
ought, therefore, todiave 'the benefit of it, as
far as this may be secuieti - by legidation.
The te.-eut atnendlnent of the Constitut on.
circumscribes the poser of the Legislature in
treating State debts, with an 'exception in
lava of 'debts contracted 'eo releein the
Present out-tsnding indebtedutss or the
State." A law authoriang new State' onns
for the purpose of redeeming the present over
due debt,' would be w 'lbw the con‘titntional
exception, and would be free from of
.on constitutional grounds.
The new losins thus authorized, redeethable
at the expiration of twenty yeah', with the
banking privilege-'attached to them, would
undoubtedly sell dt }tier premium. The
proceeds of their isle should be applied to
the payment of the present State debt, now
ovettue, amounting to more than seventeen
millions of dollars. ender this system the
Siete loans would no longer be held by for
eigners, - and the semi-soma) shipments
of eproie, to '.psy inure -t, would therefore
cease.
As the t urreney would be limited to the
amount actually secured, the danger from ox, ::
pensions, which have sheretuford s'irnulated
the incautious to embark in, 'piton.' (Mut
t in bvertrading, and in eitr•rvagacce in
dui, expendimres, would be gMatly les.ened,
if not eutirele overcome. Ac the •eeitirit'es
would be in the hands Of y high mu& reloon.-
ible officer of the State, with euthotity to Fell
them for the purpose.of redeeming the cireu
litionobe power of the banks t?arn-s' specie
pirmeys et their own pleasure e at
ao end.—The system propo.ed is as near an
approach to a specie basis as the condition
and laiiits of the people ei•'S at present pre
pared for.' The dots' of securing the, corn
inimi , y from losses continually tinting from
unsafo currency, cannot be longer delayed
wit - tont a magnificent ditregsfl of the public
interns!. The subject thetefore couttnend
ed your early attention.
The repoit of the Commisiioners appointiid
to contact Cut and superintend the erec
tion of a ttionitment to the'rnemory of citizens
of Pennsylvania, who were slain or It st their
lives in the late war wi:h Mexico, will inform
the Legislature of the proveedings-had ou
that gubject.T, After noosing propo-da fit
the erection of the monument, and, the
doptiOn of a plan", it was determined, in iiew
of the limited and inadetpotte approprittion
made for the accomplishment of the .. purpose,
by the last Legislatore, to Potpope the cant
inencetnent of the wort: until fulthertegida•
thin 'should bo had. _ It is the opinion of the
Commissioners that such a moittocent at i
would do credit - to the :Sign, and honor to
the lising.un 1 the dead. cannot he built for
a less stun than thi ty tl ousand . If
the Legistature should concur iu that opinion,
the appropriation should be increased ac
cordingly,
The report of the State Lihraian nill in
form you of the prowys+ made In the cats
logue authorized hy. the lag tep,Natore. and
' the•genaral condition of. the Library, which
has grown to b'e an institution that deserves
your fostering seta. I would commend to
yoursttention the suggestions of the Lib
' rarian.
The report of the Attorney General, which
will ,be.laitl before yea,. will exhibit the ope
ration of the 1 4 ,aw Department of the Govern
ritent for the last•year. The Act of the %Tat
of April, 1857, which 'requires the -Attorney
General to keep an office at lintricbrirg. and
which provides that all debts due to the Corn
monwerilth shall he - collected by that officer.
has ° proved to be a highly 14 . 3itencisl enact.
, ment. tJn.ler its provisions large awna . are
saved which' were formerly paid fur corn.
mi?sions and-counsel fee.. And the improv
ed state of our finances is id no inconsider-,
able degree owing to the prompt manner in.
*ilk+. oundidding'ohdind are collactixt
paid into the State Treasury. '
I • The Adjutant General's report, which will
before yoti, wilt show in detail the
VOLUME XVI, NUMBER 2.
pitsent coOditiop of the Military. Department.
I would teapectfully call the attention of
the Legislature t..) the recoottnetifiation of
LIDA etne..r..
'Tile Mi:i(ia Law of 1868 hasoot been fully
tested; but it is believed to-be,. in She
an hnpnreinent on the laws in force at the
time of its passage. One of itslest features,
and one that shoulT be strictly enfurced, is
that the system is selkupportigg, In no
contingency should that department . tte a
charge upon the public T?easuty in time oy
peace.. ' -
• Iwo:ter' ing the attention of the Legislature
to the elabn•r:{te repcut of the Audit.nr qen-'
eral and State Treasur,r, relating to the
Finauees of the State, which- will be laiirbe--
fore. you, I cannot refrain from giving -ire
prev-Ittion to toy views on the impOrtance of.
change in the mode of keepingand disbursing
the public moneys. -
- t •
The State Treastirer rtieiv:eti and dilharsev
between font; and gee Millions Of dollats.an
nuaYty
; stud it not unvrequently happens that
there is n balance in file Trenvury exceeding ,
one million of duitax.,.. The bond of the
Thasitreri4 but fur eighty thonannd
lie depLiti s the looney of the Stile . where
ever he plem•es, and ti is paid exclu..ivoly on
his own check. The monthly settlements
with the Auditor• General atf.r..ll some F•ecuri-
tr dint thr4.'tt i 14 of the ,Commonwealth can
not be ii)ilspplied ; but it is entirely' insdo
sitate to
~ t4te .coin p e o
lutepsutectiof the public
~..: - • - :
toterese.--::. - .:-.. , .
. ..
Until titillate ahall addiut A Jifferent*
tern for the collection, safe-keeping, and die.
bursedient of her . revenue, the money on _
hand ib - ust h 4 kerpt either in the Treasury
vault or deposited with. the batiking;nstitu
lions of the State. d respectfully recommend':
that provision be made by law thatuo money
.hall tie d4aited in any batik by the State
Treaserer without requiting security to be
first given to the Common weal , h\f,,r the re
payment of the sums deposited—that all
checks issued by the State Treasurer shall he
counteiirigned by the Audit iGeileriti.before
the} are used—and that ditily'acchnntsof the
money ret•eived and 'paid shall be wept in the
' office of the Audit•T General, as well tts in
Treasury Department.
The Corinni.isioners spi , e4rtte , ? to revise tire
Criminal Code of dd. Cemunontrealth, are
pritgre.sing with the duties of their appoint.
meet, and will report their retied code be
fore the alaurement of the Legidat are.
• T he various chaditittle and reformatory in
stitutions, which have heretofore received
pecuniary aw-istance fium the Mate,, such as
'the State Lunatic, Hospital. at Her ishurg,
the We.te'rei Pennsylvania atspit el, at Pitts.
burg, the Hou-o of Refug. at Philadelphia
and PiA-burg, the Pennivlcabia 'Training
School fbr .idi,,, is and feeble minded chil
dren. the As lums for tbe Blind and Deaf
. and Dumb, nt Philadelphia, the Northern
Home for Frtendlees ehildrerLat Philadelphia
—I recommend to your fekering ail and
I Cars. The annual reports exiditiling R detail
of the opertatie.us el these noble and excellent
charities, during the past yeir. will be laid
before you. I cannot recommend appropria
ting t.. 1 charitable AsSo.tiations of it purely
' local character, hotifever praisweithy the oba
jests and melves of their founders and sup.
Vetter , . re. however us•tful they may •be to
their partichlar local lea.
The present cons itionTef . the revenues of
the General Government, demonstrates the
urgent}neeiroity of increased duties upon
foreign importations., The people of Penn
sylvania hare ever taken a lively interest in
the proper adjustment of a tare; and they
have with ringular unanimity, at all times,
i favored such an asse,stnent of clatiekres would
I not only produce rev e nue. but furnish the
(largest incidetitsl prettection to he great
mineral, manufacturing, and indtisttial inter
eats of,the country. Had their voice hither
! to been ttiote potential in the- councEs of the
j mni,rit, it is no .longer problematical that
1 inuetr of the pecuniary distress lately ex
"lenienc:id by all 'classeev and conditions of
flatness men might have been to a great 6X
;
. tun t' averted. • ... .
The nece.aties of the government and the
people tr,ds.alike demand a change—an ie.
creast,.44lpties —and I take great &eastire, in
endorsing the views of the President of the
United Slates. as expressed in - his, last B engal
message, relative to the change proposed.
iii. advocacy of specific duties on all "com
modities which are generally sold by weight,
at measure. aid wlikb_front their nature are
of equal or nearly equal value- - -iluell as iron
elf different ela , , , es, raw sugar, and foreign
wines and spirits,' has met with a hearty re
spowe from the great-.body u( the people of
State.—lf is to be, oped thathis viewo
on this question will he formality regarded
by Com ress,anil that the action of the Federal -
Government mar cm ierpond with the sag
gestions of the President.
When I was called up. to assume the
Gebel nut ~it ehair, nearly , one year ago, in
deference to public opinion ; sad my Own feel--
iift-+ a rapid rui,i-w of e.enta in Kansas,
I stated,liiiii "ib too people of Pennsylvania
the admission of a now State into the Union
it to that Confederney of which The is it
meinter , --enust be stall times fie Subject .of
high intetest. And I believe I exprrsa their
sentiments, as well as my. own, IN:Taring
that all the qualigeti elect Ors of it' Tertitory
should have a foil and fair opportunity to
participive delegates to form a
cansiituCion pr e paratory to the admission as
a Staie, and, h-dui•ited by them, they should
also be allawed an ouqualifi.n) right to vote
upon such constitn i,u after it is.frained."
Subsequent °tents have confirmed iirts is
these sentiments. The deplorable divides
in the fir t sea-i in of the present Congress,—
the popular esaiieMent from these
dispute', together with other proceedings in
their nature novel- and alarming, would all
have been livened, had the peoge been se-.
(lured in 'the unqualified tight" to tote upon
their rTorneatio institutions. T regret' to lie
compelled to arty, that; under various pre
tences,thio soured franchise had beeir virtually
withheld from them. When•they refused to
accept the Lecompton Constitution, made for ,
them by delegates representing the
they Werss exiilieitly denied . the privilege of .
making their own oonotitution, unless upon
a condition not previously exacted.. g they
accepted theiLeconiploti Constitution, their.entered the sisterhood of the States at • Oiese,.-
with a -.popdration Coss than cine Of;the
askst:ng ratio Of Congressional repir,sentattonl
but, if they refused that Constittitihn i
could not he admitted into ton :Union; rvitit
the Constitution of their ehOicir; Until:ll4Y
worts 'ready fo otmer by a formal ceinatis'ithat