GOV GEAtnIiESSAGE.
- To the &nate anfit House of Rifiresentatiees
of the :Commonwealth - of Pennsylvania:
GEtraniami : For the harmony and gen
' eral relations of comity and friendship ex
' 'sting between Pennsylvania and all ;the
other States and Territories of the National
Tinian; for the present prosperous Icondi
tion of the - Commonwealth. for the glad
signs of coming political tranquilitY; and
. for the success which attends the progress of
our free institutions, we owe a heavy debt
of gratitude to Divine. Providence,,in view.
of. the favorable circumstances under which
you are now assembled, it becomes my
province and duty, as it is:my pleasure, to
offer you my hearty congratulattms, and to
tender von a cordial welcome to the Leg's - -
lative Halls of the State. This,, indeed, af
fords me a higher gratification because I
participate with:' your constituents , in the
confidence manifested by them in selecting
you to represent their indi r cual interests as
well as thole' c , the Co onwealth. On
your xisdotivi egrity, judgment and dis
cretion,
cretion, all undoubtedly rely for . the
correct detero ' tion of every question of
' fecting the larg st interests and gravest re
sponsibilities, and for a continuance, and
even an increase, of that prosperity which
has`hitherto been so signally enjoyed.
It is'not without a consciousness of the
ereat reiponsibility, resting upon me thatj
undeftake the performance of a constitu-;
tional duty, req uiring that the Governor'
"shall Iran - ci. to time give to' the General
tw i l
Assembly ;info ation of the state of the
Commonwealt , and recommend to their
consideration such measures as, he 'shail
judge expedient." In conformity with this
requirement, your attention will be called
only to such matters of public interest as in
my j tidgement deserve careful consideration
and action on your part duritig the present
session. _ - a -,-,- -i:-
,•,,_,
- Pnvences. = '- ` •4" -
The following is ate - carefully prepa r e
statement of the financial condithiff of the
State for the fiscal year ending November
.10, 1868:
The reports of the Auditor General and
State Treasurer elbow that t e balance
In the Treasury November 30. 1807 r" ,
was - $4,661,,46
Ordinary receipts during the Sica I year
eliding November 30,1801. 1116
5,2 - 16,049.53
Depreciated funds In Ise Treasury, un
available . . ... ... 41,0r.,00
Total in Trea•nry for fiscal year ending
November 33, 18,E . $9,913,918,01
i PAltate,wrs, viz .
Ordinary expenses during
fiscal year endlug--Noe.-- - -
le, 188 , .454,516.09
Loans,'&e., redeemed - 4;417,463,64
Interestyments - 1.2„600,00
on loans •
.1,979.600,91
Depreciated (duds unr , lnle , • ' 41 032,00
Balance in 'Treasury, Nov. 3+3,ltetweip
• in ki ng By'-2 T—
et approved
April 10, 1868, the transactions orthe Com
miEsioners of the Sinking Fund.were or
dered to be thereafter reported annually to
the 30th day of November. Their last re
port, > therefore, includes a period of one
year and three months.
The following is the "recapitulation" of
the operations of the sinking- fund, from
September_ 3, 1867, to. November 30, 1868:
kalance In hind, Sept. 3„ . 1867 81.737,412 41
.uecelpte In InniLlt: 4lesq.,/, ,3,867
Nov. 30; ..... .. ..to .... .. . 3,418,442 In
- - Paid interest 5,16,904 72
.
- - $1,938. co§ 4
Premiums paid as equivalent - . ' • 8
for coin
Loans redeemed
Balance In fund Nor, 33, Thas - $ 93444 76
By the sixth section of the act of Kay 16,
1861, a special tax of one-half mill:on the
:dollar wakespecially-set apart. for the-pay
ment of the interest and redemption ‘).f the
. interest and.redemption of the loan created
by an act allay 18, 1861, entitled "An Act
to create a loan and provide for arming the
state."
Bats:ice on hand Sept. 3, 1867 .. .. .. ...• 0111,933 17
The rectiats from said tax an d . tax on
!uses receipts home:fent 3. 1 11 ed• to.:;
Nov.
IWS, amens t 0...
Total
Interest paid In Janauiry and July, 1668
Byline° In fund N0v..30, uss....
Condition of Balancer.
Balance In sinking fund No
venther 30,1863 • ex 4 on 76
Balance In sinking fund N0vember30,1833......
vember30,1833...... .......... 574.687 97
------ $1,503,700 13
Drdoe! balance in Treasury NoYespliir,r
duct
.30, 1868.
Balance in favor of sinking fluid--
•
Reduction of the State e
Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund for the year ending Septem
• _• 1 ber 3, 1867, tlie "loans redeemed" amounted
• 1 to $1,794,669.30. and •by their from
September 8, 1867, to November 80, 1868,
the "loans redeemed" amounted to $2,414,-
816.64, making a total reduction of the State
• • - 1 deb t , in two years and three months. of four
million two hundred and nine thousand
• ;
three hundred and eighty:six dollars and
• fourteen cents.
The assets remaining lithe Sinking Fund
1 are as follows, viz: Bonds of the Pennsyl
vania • Company..six million : roar hundred
thousand dollars, and bonds of the Philadel.
plaia and Erie Railroad Company three mil
lion live hundred thousand dollars.' These
- 4 are non-interest bearing bonds and will not
~1 mature for many, years. I, therefore rec
ommend to the considefation of the Legisla.
.• 1 tare the propriety of the passage of a law,
"authorizing.the Commissioners. the Sink
ing Fund to sell these bonds at ptibliasale
to, the highest bidder, and direct the pro
ceeds to be applied to the liquidation of the
3 1 State debt.
• - Public Debt.- '
'7 .
4 Public debt ontataadrug December 1,
: 1887
409 77 Deduct -mount redeemed at State P7 ' 7o4 '
Treasury during' lb. OKA,
viz:,Year end
la
g Novemberllo,'.l6ss,
&per cent. loans $4 364.263 64
4)4ser cent. loans %CO 00
/teller notes caner:ll,d 1 0 00
Public debt December 1, Ma_ ~ ~ ‘ 33 . 350 .510 / 3
Statement showing the condition of the
indebtedness ofithe CoriamonwCalth on the
first day of December, 1868.
"..; Funded debt, via:
a p r cent. loana. ...... ... $25.311,180
5 per cent. 7 . 74 5471 55 •-• `,,
per cent. lean.-- .. . 112,000 00
Total funded . .. . . 1183.172.,951 56
• Amount brougbt forward., $13,172,55t
Unfunded r . e,,r. viz: '
Relief no te s in circulation... 6 56 , 4 Z CO
Intermit ceradcates -out- •
standlog
Interest certificates un claimed
-
. . .
Domestic crealtors' certifi
cates .. ....
Total unniziaer 44 ar 4 113,594 67
Total funilfd and unfunded
Which is the 6 33 . 266 , 54 6 / 3
before stated.
amount of. the State . debt as
During the last eighteen years there has
been carried upon the accounts of the Audi
tor. General and State Treasurer, and in
their several public statements, "depreciated
funds unavailable" to the amount of forty
one.thousand and thirty-two dollars. I re- ,
{med the appointment of a joint conz
mi, the Legislature, -whose duty it
shall be to ex mine the said ;depreciated and
unavailable tlinds and dispbse of them to the
belt advantage of the Treasury; or, if ' found
to be worthless, to Candel and destroy them,
so that_the accounOrig, citicers may be re
lieved from4he necessity and responsibility
of annually accounting 'ilifthem.
The large cash balance remaining in the
Treasury_on the 110th of Noyember, 1867,
has been used for the: iayment of the twen-
V-three million lOan for the liquidation of
outstanding claims•against the State. The
, investment of, the funds, in one of the
modes recommended in my last annual
message, I has therefore, in a great measure,
been-rendered unneceimary for the present.
Bat in the, event of large eccumulations of
money hereafter, the recommendations
therein given are respectfully referred to,
and renewed. Whenever there may bestir-
plus funds in the Treasury, they can, with
safety and benefit to the State, be employed
in the parchese of outstanding bonds, and
in saving the interest on them which would
accumulate prior to their maturity.
,I regret to' state that tne lastlegislature,
although fully:forewarned r ift: regard to, the
insecurity and want of proper and sufficient
guards for the safe-keeping of the money of
the Commonwealth, failed to determine
upon any mode by which the Treasury may
beectually guarded against the possibility
of I es. The present Legislature has it in
its d ower to secure for itself no ordinary
honor, by the enactment of such a law,
If
strong and efficient for the purpose indica
ted, and the enjoyment not only of the ap
probation, but the permanent gratitude of
every citizen. _ ,
Notwithstanding the satisfactory reduc
tion of the public indebtedness, as shown
in the foregoing statements, an immense
State debt is still upon us,' requiring nearly
two million of dollars to be collected to pay
the interest accruing,upon it annually. Its
extinguishinent at the earliest practicable
period, not inconsistent with other public
interests, is of the highest importance to
every tax-payer. I . cannot, therefore; too
strongly urge the strictest economy in res-
Pect to every expenditure and , the utmost
rbtrenchment in every department
Retrenchment is emphatically demanded
by the people, in legislative expenditure., as
well as in every other liarich of the gov
ernment. Their eyes are open to investi
gate, every transaction, and by their ballots
they are ready to strike down •those who
will not take effective action in favor of
positive and radical reform. The money
paid into the Treasury is the property of the
people, every one of whom has a just right
to hold his representatives to, a strict ac
countability for every dollar that may be
appropriated or expended.
I here renew the remark made last year
On the subject of "annual appropriations,"
to which you are respectfully referred. For
four successive years the general appropri
ation bills have been signed on the eleventh
day of April, being about the time of ad
journment. The Governor has been forced
either to sign the bills without proper inves
tigation, notwithstanding any objections he
may have; suspend the means to defray the
operations of the government for the ensu
ing year, or call an extra' ession of the Leg
islature. I repeat that "it is earnestly de
sired that that the •appropriation . bill be
taken up, discussed and passed at a suffi
ciently early period during the session to
enable it to receive that thorough ermine
lion which its importance demands."
Entrcsvolf. '
Common &hools—The annual report of
the Superintendent of Common Scliciols
exhibits the , condition of that department in
a highly satisfactory _manner. - Within the
State there are 1,918 school districts; 13,776
schools; 2,382 graded schools, 11,698 school
directors; 73 county, city and borough super
intendents; 16,771 teachers; and 80,515
pupils.. The cost of tuition, for the year
was $3,2'73,269 43; of building, purchaaing
and renting 'school houses, $1,991;152 55;
'of 'contingencies, $854,253.2L , Theeethree
items,, with 'expenditures for all other pur
poses connected therewith, amount to • the
aggregate sum of $6,200,537 96.
These facts are exhibited with great satis
faction, as they show the average annual
cost for the tuition of each pupil to be about
seven dollars and seventy-four and a half
cents. The average amount paid to: each
teacher is about one hundred and ninety_
Ave dollamazuL se,ven teen antia -half cents
per annum. This, in my opinion, is too
small a salary to secure the services of com
petent teachers; and lam fully justified in
urging the necessity of increased compen
sation. It le but just, and it will have as
elevating tendency not only open the teach
ers but the manner in which their duties are
performed. _
Your attention is called to the fact 'that,
notwithstanding the ample provision now
made bylaw for the education of all persons
bet Ween the ages of six and twenty-one
years, large numbers of children, principally
in our cities do not attend any kind of school.
Over twenty thousandof this class are fourid
in Philadelphia, and the number in the
Stete is estimated to be not less than seventy
five thousand. These• children .grow up in
ignorance, frequently without employment,
and many of them contract habits of vice,
which eventually cause them to be commit
ted to houses of refuge,
.county prisons or
penitentiaries. Humanity and 'sound pub.
lie policy demand that something be done to
remedy thisgrowing evil, and also that of
the neglected condittonof considerable num
bers of children in the alms and poor houses
in many of the counties.
Four Normal Schools are now recognized
as State institutions. The number of stu
dentsattending them' during, the past year
was 2,115, ,of ' whom eighty 'graduated.
Two additional Normal Schools will prob
ably go into operation during this year, one
located at Blocinuibtirg, ,Ccilumbia county,
and the other at, California, Washington
county. The value of there institutions to
the common school systera - cannot be esti
mated.. Oar 'schools are comparathely
worthless withoul quali fi ed :teachers, and
such teachere can most easily- be obtained
from the . Normal institutes, where the art of
teaching is made a sPedalitY.
A Meeting' of the presidenti and other
- authorities of a nufaber of our principal
colleges was held in Barriaburg last winter,
the object of which was to bring about a
closer union of all our _educational institu
tions, and connect by a bond of sympathy,
if not of organic strutture, the common
schools, high schoolS 'academies and col
leges: The establishmeint of such an .edu
cational Alepartinent seems to - be desirable.
There is no subject heth e. de
liberationsof the Legislature than e pro
motion of the welfare . of: , our common
schools. They immediately underlie the char
, acteristic features of our social system; they
are fountains of that widespread intelligence,
which, like a perennial vitality, pervades
the nation, and are' nurseries of that spirit
to which we are indebted for the purity and
preservation of our free institutions. . In a
republican government education is a sure
basis of power and pablic prosperity. By it
the people are taught to discern and estimate
the value cif their own rights; to dietiuguish
between oppression and the exercise oflawfal
authority; to discriminate between liberty
and licentiousness; to preserve an inviolable
respect for the laws, and exercise "eternal
vigilance" against any encronchments upon
them. ' It is admitted that a thoroughly ed+
limited people alone can be pernmnently
free.' By educational ' culture patriotism'is
expanded, and the principles; manners and
sentiments of the whole.people are assimila
ted. Many of the sources of jealousy:and
prejudice are diminished, social harmony.
largely increased and the structure of our
free and happy system of government ce
mented., strengthened and adorned.
Salon' Orphans,' Behoots.—ln ' his_ re-
Port the Superintendent of Soldiers' Or
phans' Schools exhibits the total expenditure
for their support from Decembeil,,lB67 to
May 31,1868, to be - $2313,970,26; total num
ber of pupils in the schools 3,431; 'average
cost per , pupil $69,061 for six months, and
the average weekly expensea per pupil
$2,64. The fiscal year of these schools,
like that of the common schools, terminates
by law on the last day of May of each year.
The present report of the Superintendent,
• -8.905.492, 64
SL Oliellt 37
2,414.816 48
.6989
4,=, V 1 90
4.,979".=
1E8,245 iv
$57 . 667 ST
1,013,415 37
1495, 784 78
15,086 52
4,418 88
ffl_ElFfirsrmwmm
111
'••": •=. • v - r - , - e "T .1" '1
sx— • -
.Intsßuitan ooze* - Ijixtr t svAt- -uxu.ox- t - 1869
• --- .
Itherefpre, embraces only six months, and
reports"will be made up to the 31st day of
may, ainuilly. hereafter. The special ap
propriation of February 25, 1868, made in
accordance with an estimate of the Super
intendent, presented in my last annual mei
-004,
Sag 7 e,
4 exceeded the actual
.expenses *6,-
Notwithstanding every possible effort has
been, and will continue tobe made, to econ
omize in the expenses of the present year,
and,f6 keep them as far as possi ble within
the appropriation made by the last Legisla
ture, it will readily be obsery d that there
will be a deficit for theyear ending May 31,
1868, the amount of which will:be carefully
ascertained and presented to the Legislature
prior to the close of the present session.
' , The schools are all in good condition and
improving, and their usefulness is daily be
coming more manifest. -They are among
the most philanthropic institutions of the
age, and reflect high honor on the patriot
ism of the Legislature by which they have
been so liberally endowed and upon our
people by whom theynre sustained. The
endangered
children ho are the recipients &their ben
efits are t e offspring of brave men who vol
untarily their lives in the cause
of their country in the most trying hour of
its existence, 'and who, glowing with patri.
otic ardor, fought as bravely and as herotcal
iy as thepoblest men in the world's history.
Thousands of them who left , their homes in
the bloom of health and with the brightest
hopes of manhood; now sleep in death,
leaving their•widows, and little ones to the
care of thtt.dountry in whose service they
fell, and which promised them its protec
tion. Their children are the wards of this
great Commonwealth; and too much praise
cannot be awarded its people for the munifi
cent andtender manner in which they have
thus far, through their representatives, dis
charged the sacred and delicate trust. •
Agricultural Colkge.—Before the General
Government appropriated public lands to
the several States for the purpose of agricul
tural and military education and the me
chanic arts, and prior to the time when
Pennsylvania endowed the Agricultural
College with her share of these lands, it was
dependent wholly upon individual influence,
without any, other means for its support
than its own earnings. History proves that
seminaries of learning cannot•be efficiently
sustained by their own internal resources.
The education ofyouth in the higher branch
es of knowledge seems to require the aid of
philanthropic contribution& This institu-
tion hid not these benefits to any adequate
extent, and though the board of trustees be
stowed upon it the moat anxious care, their
zeal and labor, combined with those of its
friends, were not . equat to a contest with the
want of means. Hence the school did not
command the , confidence of farmers who
were able , to educate their sons, and
who could not forget that the char
acter of the College attached to the
character of its graduates; and that
its failure would enter into the estimate
which the world would place. upon the ed
ucation it bestowed. This feature has now
been removed. The people, through their
Legislature, have endowed this institution
Twit h the Interest upon: fund of *318,500;-
1 00, (invested is the United States and Penn
siyvania State six percent. bonds,) payable
to it semi-annually. 'Last year.this interest
amounted to 625,642 78.' Tne residue of
the fund, $43,886 . 50, has been appropriated,
under the law, by the board of trustees, to
the purchase ofthree model and experiment
al farms; one at the college, in Centre
County, for $B,OOO 00, one in Chester
county for $17,750 00, and one in Indiana
county for $18,136 po. The' board has also
recently re-organized the faculty and re
modeled the course of studies, so as to adapt
them to,the wants of the agriadtural Item
munity. This new order of things goes
into operation at the commencement of the
next session, and it is earnestly hoped will
be a success. There is no - profession, trade
or calling in life, where the value of knowl
edge and the lights of science, and the
practical application o botb, are so potent
for profitable results as f
in their adaptation to
agricultural pursuits. And in this truly
practical age it is well worthy of the consid
eration of parents, whether they shonldnot
avail themselves of the benefits of this insti
tution, new so generously endowed by the
State.
MILITARY. ,
From the report of the Adjutant General
you will learn the condition of the Military
Department. The inactivity in military
affairs after the cessation•of hostilities and
upon the return of peace, has in a great
• 'measure been dispelled; and an active mar
tial spirit new prevails throughout the
State; more particularly in Phiaderphia,
where, by as. special, legislative-enactment,
' the minimum number of men recpgred to
form a company has been reduced, and a
brigade fund is raised by a tax upon those
who are not members of a military organi
zation, but liable to We performance of
ixilitaiy duty. I recommend the passage of
a similarlaw for the whole State. For the
sake 'of preserving the great interests in
felted, which , include 'the lives, roperty
and happiness of, our people, thi s is pre
sented to you as an important subject for
your deliberation. • ,
Every possible encouragement of volun
teers , bas been afforded, and notwithstand
ing the difildulties indicated it hal resulted
as follows : In 1860 there - were eight vol
unteer companies in the State; in 1867,
thirty7eight; and in 1868, eeventy-seven, and
ll_ number of others in Preparation for or
galization.
By a reduction of the number: - for a com
pany from that now required to an aggregate
of fifty officers and men, companies would
soon be _numbered by the hundred, any of
which could be easily recruited to the max
imum number if required for active service.
The State that alWays maintains the highest
degree of prepa ra tion, accomplishes most
and suffers least the conflict of arms; and
by being in.readiness it often prevents) Im
proper encroachments upon her rights.
The Adjutant General presents a fall and.
detailed statement of the disburgements in
his department during the year ending No
vember 80, 1868, with 'an estimate for the
necessary appropriations: for the current
year, and `also for such, amounts as have
been discovered to be due from the Trans- ,
portation Depithment, contracted during the i
war.
State Agency—The existence of theXili
tary State Agency at Washington termina
ted on the 81st day of July last„at which
time the appropriation for the payment of
its expenses was exhausted. ~Much benefit
resulted to many -of the soldiers of our State,
and *their representatives," from this office,
in which their just dues from the United
Statei Government were collected and trans
mitted to them free of charge. In August,-
after the agency ceased to exist, there still
remained a, considerable number of
unsettled claims, and , as no one
knew more about their' condition, or
could,possibly obtain an earlier settlement
of them than the late agent, Col. Cook, I
permitted him, upon his own offer, to close
up the business of the office, and to transact
any other business for the soldiers of Penn
sylvania at ons•haV the fee they are charged,
by other private agencies in . Washington;
This arrangement has thus far been carried
out, and IBM pleased to add, with very
general satistiCtiert. Allsthe books and pa
pers of the agency will be transferred to
the office of the Adjutant, General.
REGISTRY LAW.
At the last session of the Legislature an
act was passed known as the "Registry
Law," the intention-of which was to pro.
E " i • • ,i .11 ' . ./.....t. ' 1
1 teet the ballot-bOZ - alienist' corrisitTon and
fraudulent voting, towbiebit bas for.many
years been • ally exposed. This law
provisionsto ve been so defective in some of
its as to have received the con
;demnation of a Majority of the Supreme
Court, by which it was pronounced "incon
truous and unconstitutional", At the elec
tion immediately after this decision, ,it is
alleged that frauds were perpetrated, , sus-
Passing in magnitude, perhaps, any, that
have
been consummated heretofore in the
history of the Commonwealth. These frauds
have demonstrated the necessity of the pas
sage of some law, or laws, that will accom-
Wish the desired object, without being sub
ject to, the objectionable features pointed out
by the learned gentlemen who pronounced
the opinion of the Supreme Bench.
There is no subject of such vital impor
tance to the whole country as the sanctity of
the ballot-box, and the protection of all cit
izens in their right to the elective franchise.
This right is our proudest boast. It endows
the American citizen with a freedom and a
Power not possessed by the subject of any
other Government. It makes him the peer
1 of his fellow man ' whatever my be his'
, rank, station, or po sition in - life. ,To be de
, prived, of it by any means whateVer, his
tioasted freedom becomes a sham--'-his espe
cial and exalted prerogative a mockery and
a farce. What avails it to the citizen that he
hi entitled to a vote, if• that vote is'to be nnlb•
hied by ftaud? Such guards, then, should
be throats' around the polls as will effectual
_lY, if postible, preserve them from the taint
of a single illegal vote. Not only should
false voting be severely punished, but false
swearing ' to obtain a vote, be visited with
the pains and penalties of perjury and with
perpetual disfranchisement.
iThe PeOple must be perfectly free to regu
late their public business in their own way,
and when the voice of the majority is fairly
and clearly expressed, all should bow to it
as to the voice of God. They are the sov
ereign rulers, and their will must be the law
of the laud. ' Corruption of the suffrage in a
Republican Gcivernment is the deadliest
crime that can be perpetrated; it is an assassi
nation of the sovereignty of the people,
and will be followed by a despotism, the
motive power of which will be money and
perjury. Andif this privilege be tampered
with, sooner or later the sure and indignant
popular cOndemnation will be rendered and
condign punishment administered. All
good-citizens, of whatever political opinion.
should lend their aid for the accomplish
ment of any and every measure that may
tend to secure to each voter, not only his
right to the elective franchise, but the assu-
rance that his vote will not be rendered
valueless by illegality, corruption or fraud.
Every proper facility for the naturaliza
tion of citizens of foreign birth should be
afforded• but the Legislature, in its com
bined wisdom, can surely enac t some mode
to prevent the possibility of a single vote
being cast upon spurious naturalization pa.
per; and thus fully secure the purity of the
elective franthise. •
=VISION or THE CIVIL CODE.
The .
Commissioners appointed to codify
the statute laws of the State have diligently
prosecuted the work assigned them, and
with every prospect that it will be
hilly -completed within the time prescribed
by the legislative resolutions of April 8.
1888; and in !lather compliance with them,
theywill cause to be laid before each branch
of the General Assembly, at its present ses
sion, varloaa titles of bills, with brief ab
etracts of the several sections of each, which
have been matured.
- ~ INSIIHARCE DEPARTAIENT.
Among the subjects of importan ce
s to the
citizens of Pennsylvania, is the tablis -
l h
meat of an insurance department. Su •
departmenta are in successful operation n
several neighboring States, by means f
which the interests of insurers are guard d
and promoted. So careful a super/is! n
is had over the transactions of insuran e
Companies that frauds are rendered ilmo t
impossible, and spurious companies can
have no existence. The result of the pro
tection thus I afforded, is, that whilst
foreign companies, thus protected, de an
immense business in this State, so
little contideace is _ had in those of
Pennsylvania ithat their business is almost
entirely confined within the State limits:
and lately some of them have withdrawn
their agencies from other States,. beeause'
no riski will be taken, in consequence of
the inadequacy of the laws to afford pro
tection to insurers. To this defeat, more
over, may be attributed the operationa of
the number or worthless companies which
have lately sprung up, without any solid
basis, and as sudenly expired, to the ry
of all whose confidence they obtained, and
to the dishonor of the Commonwealth.
Whilst Peunsylvania insurance companies
transact little businesa outside of the State,
it is alleged that foreign life insurance com
panies alone patd taxes on thrft millions
eight-hundred thousand dollars ofpremiums
received in Petuisylvania, a great propor
tion of which would be confined to this
State if the same, protection was given by
law toots citizens as is afforded by other
States.' The report of the . Insurance De
partmentof New York, , published in 1887,
shows that the companies which were do
ing business in 1868, in Pennsylvania, and
also in New;York, had risks in force for
more than five thousand millions of dollars;
audit is believed that the risks in Pennsyl
vania companies which; for want of a
proper Insurance Department, cannot be
obtained, would swell the amount to over
six thousand million. /
In View of these facts and, of the Costly
experience of the people who haie been
imposed upon and defrauded by ,unsubstan
tial and ephemeral.'companies,/I repeat the
recommendation made to the' Legislature at
its last session, that an Insurance Depart
ment be established. and a Superintendent
appointed by law, who shall have supervis
ion and control over all insurance compan
ies, allowed to transact business within the
State and annually publish, under , oath, full
reports of their tranctions. The commu
nity Is deeply intere s tedinters in this matter, and
demands the protecti on which can thus only
be afforded.
NEW HOSPITAL FOE TEE INSANE.
!'The Commissioners appointed by an act
of the last session to establish an additional
State hospital for the Insane," htve notified
me, that they will present , a report of their
proceedings, sometime during the present
month, which will he communicated when
received.
' DAMAGES BY RAMO. •
I In accordance with an - act of the last ' sea
! sion, providing for an investigation and ad
jucation of the claims of citizens`of several
counties "whose property , was , destroyed,
damaged or appropriated for the public ser
vice, arid in the common defenee in the
war to suppress the rebellion," a cominis.
elan of three competent gentleme4 was ap
pointed, who have performed the allotted
duties, and will soon make a fall report of
their transactions.
PAWS Exposrnow.
I have received, through the Secretary of
State of the:United States, a bronze medal
and:diploma- from the Imperial Commis
sionets for the best specimens of Pennsyl
vania anthracite coal exhibited at the Paris
Exposition in 1807. These tributes to an
IMPortiint branch of the internal resources
of Pennsylvania have begn assigned a place
among the other valuable relics In the Ex
.
ecattve Chamber.
STATE COAT OP ABM.
Dilligent but unsiic cessfut search has been
repeatedly made for the coat of arms of the
State, and tbi "the shthority under which
the present design was established. It seems
that for
,yeara past no trace of either the
original authority or aesign could anywhere
be found, and - it is recommended that the
Legislature take the necessary steps to sup
ply the omission, by such means as they in
their wisdom shall determine.
BUTE RENBFICZARIEB.
- •
A number of benevolent., charitable and
other similar institutions annually receive
appropriations from the State for their sup
port. These appropriations, in most, if not
all cases, appear to have been adequate for
the purposes to which it was intended they
should be&applied, and are as liberal as can
reasonably be expected in the present con
dition of the Treasury of the State.
THE SIISQUEHARNA FISHERIES.
A preliminary report on the .buliquehanna
fisheries has been submitted by Col. James
Worrell, Civil Engineer, Commissioner
under the act of the Legislature in refer
ence theieto. There are, some facts which
should be embodied in the, report, but which
can not be ascertained until early in Janu
ary. Permission has therefore been granted
to the Commissioner, at his request, - to
postpone the submission of his regular re
port until the earliest day practicable du
ring the present month.
Icammis DISEASE. -
The prevalence of contagious or epidemic
diseases among cattle and other animals has
been a prolific source of anxiety and alarm
among the producers and consumers of
meats in many of the States. It was there
fore deemed important to call a convention
of competent persons to take into considera
tion the means best calculated to remedy
this great and growing evil. This conven
tion, composed of three commissioners each
from the fourteen States represented, ap.
pointed in accordance with an agreement
by the several Governors, assembled at
Springfield, Illinois, on the first of Decem
ber last, and an account of their transactions
is herewith presented.
Without legislative authority, but believ
ing my action, would be sanctioned by the
people's representatives, I appointed Dr.
Hiram Corson and Messrs. E. C. Humes
and A. Boyd Hamilton, commissioners to
represent Pennsylvania In that convention.
These gentlemen freely gave their time and
experience, and also incurred a pecuniary
expense of about three hundred dollars, to
defray. which I recommend that an appro
priation-be made.
STATISTICS.
iln view of the vast amount and great va
riety of the products of the State, a desk
for the collection of statistics, relative to
exports and imports, agriculture, manufac
tures, coal, iron, oil, lumber, Ike., might,
with propriety and profit be established.
This could be accomplished by the employ
ment of a competent clerk, under the super
vision of one of the present heads of de
partment, whose duty should be to collect
and publish inch facts as might tend to
stimulate and increase our productive ener
gies, instil 'new life and vigor into our
manufacturing interests, and lead to• more
accurate knowledge of all our internal re
sources and the proper methods for their
development There is abundant space in
the Capitol buildings to be appropriated as
a receptacle for books, papers, mineralogi
cal and geological specimens, and other ar
ticles that might be contributed appropriate
to such a department and which in a few
years would form an invaluable collection.
Under legislative direction, the good re
sults world be almost incalculable, and are
required by the progresalve spirit of the
age in which we lire.
- RESOLUTIONS OP THE VERMONT LEGISLA
TURE.
Your attention is called to the accompa
nying joint sesolutions, passed at the last
session of the Vermont . Legislature bear
ing a jest tribute to late ' Hon. Thlildeus
Stevens. Joint revelations from the same
body are also sent you, which I regard as
worthy of your consideration, relative to
the act of Congress "to establish and protect
National Cemeteries," and recommending
"to the Legislature of the State of Penn
sylvania the passage of an act empowering
the Board of Commissioners having charge
of the Soldiers' National , Cemetery at Get
tysburg to transfer all the right, title, inter
est and care of said Soldiers' National Cem
etery to the General Government, upon the
completion of the same." •
ummonrear.
It has been the misfortune of the State
during the past year to los death two of
her repreeentativett\rin the Congress of the
nation, Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, of the,_
Ninth, and Hon. Darwin A. Finney, of the
Twentieth District. Both were natives of
Vermont,- but in early life selected Penn
sylvania for their home, and identified them
selves with her interests, which they 'were
chosen.to guard in 'the Legislature, and the
people of the Commonwealth/will long re
member with gratitude. their faithful and
efficient services. Tim first went down to
his grave after a long .fife .of public useful
ness and in well matured honors; the other
in the prime of - manhood;: which gave prom
ise of a scarcely , less - brilliant career.
PAEDONS. .
The list of ardon's during the past year
will be found p among the papers to which
your ,attention is called. The principal
reasons upon which they were based, and
the names of some of the prominent peti
tioners are given in every case. That a few
of these pardons may have been unworthily
granted, through misrepresentations of rela
tives, friends, sympathizing neighbors and
other interested parties, there is no doubt,
but in the majority of instances it la certain
that the facts not only justified but demand
ed Executive clemency.
The whole number of applications for
pardons for the year has been sixteen hun
dred and twenty-three. The number of
pardons granted in that time has been- one
hundred and six, which is a little over fif
teenper cent, Of those • pardoned about five
percent. have been again brought before the
Courts in consequence of their return to
the commission or crime.
I am fully impressed with the weighty re
sponsibility, of tbe pardoning power, which
ranks among the most difficult and embar
rassing duties of the Executive office,
Daily beset with powerful and pitiful im
portunities, as well .as conflicting; represen
tations, from those in whom he should be
enabled to place the fullest confidence, in or
der to avoid errors -in the decision of any
case the Governor is compelled to take into
consideration the action of the - Court before
which the convict has been tried; the majes
ty of the law which may or may not have
been violated; the condition of the prisoner;
his temptation to err; the injury that may
be inflicted upon his helpless and dependent
relatives, and the arguments and appeals of
citizens, whose opinions and wishes be is
bound to respect. And however just his
decision, and humane andgenerous his ac
tion, either in favor of or against the peti
tioner for clemency, he must expect to have
his motives Impugned, his name and char
acter maligned, and to suffer virulent at
tacks for the of this moat Important
and merciful prerogative.
The pardon report will exhibit 'that in
many instances in which Executive clemency
has been invoked,youthfulprisoners,c.harged
with their first offences, and thoae of a
trivial character, have been the re
cipients, The object •of punishment, in
all cases, should not be So much to inflict
pain as to reform the sufferer and prevent
the repetition of evil deeds: This fact Is
frequently lost eight of in imposing
pitniaitnient toorilly'
when inexperieneed youths are shut up in
close cells with meh hardened andMe
where its arta are daily taught a ro-
Mance thrown around.its commission. In
stead of being improved, they come forth at
the expiration of their terms of sentence
with the loss of self-respect, their moral
sentiments blunted, and prepared to prac
tice upon society the infamous lessons they
have learned. Such punishments tend to
Increase rather than lessen the quantity of
crime. When houses of correction and re
formatories are constructed, or a proper sys
tem of confinement or prison disciplihe is
adopted, there will be a material decrease of
crime, and comparatively few cases to de
mand the exercise of the pardoning power:
commtirarroN OP SENTEN
the P CES.
There are confined in P hiladelphia=
county prison the following named convicts,
under sentence Qf death, for whose execu
tion warrants have not been issued: Edward
Ford, sentenced May 12. 1851; Jerry Dixon,
May 30, 1863; , Patrick Finnegan, February
9, 1863; Newton Champion, December 1,
1866; and Alfred Alexander and Hester
Vaughn, July 3, 1868. Successive Gov
ernors,
for satisfactory reasons, have de
clined to order the execution of these per
sons. The law requires that they shall be
executed in accordance with the sen tence,tut
conditionally pardoned, or held in close, eon':
finement in the county jail during life. The
latter punishment, with the additional em
bitterment constantly preying upon the
mind that a death warrant may at any mo
ment be issued; is, perhaps, the severest that
could be inflicted. It would be both just
and merciful to give - the Govenior authority
to commute the sentence of death in
the above named , cases to imprison- '
ment, at labor, in the penitentiary,
for such a term of years as the ameliora
ting circumstances may seem to justify
and demand. One of the convicts named
has been imprisoned about eighteen years,
and although it might not be advisable to
set him at liberty, humanity and the ends of
justice require the commutation of his sen
tence in the manner suggested.
CONCLUSION.
The foregoing subjects have been deemed
of sufficient importance to submit at the
present time for your information and con
sideration. Others may occur before the
close of the session which may be worthy -
of special communications It will be my
constant care and determination to co-oper
ate with you. in the prosecution of any
measures that may tend to preserve and in
crease the prosperity of the State and the •
happiness of its people, with the firm belief
that your united wisdom Will aim constantly
to promote these desirable results.
Many of the events that have transpired
since my last annual communication to the
Legisture have been tinusually interesting
and significant. They have,been infinitely
more than political, and bear directly upon
the great Interests and most sacred destinies
of the nation. Apart from the vindication
of the prineiplea of tbe' party, which sus
tained the government and the army daring
the contest for the preservation of the
Union, and the election to the . Presidency
of the rst aoldier of the age, is the fact:that
the people have by . triumphant majorities
forever settled our controvereyiport certain
Madam - mind principles. Parties may end --
undoubtedly will ar upon other issues,
but there can be n. future struggle about
slavery. Involtm servitude, as a monop
oly of labor is fo - Ter destroyed- The
obstacle oeacle to the national progress
has been removed, d henceforward all the
faculties of our peo.le can - be developed
"without let or fun. rance." -, The fair and
exuberantly fertile • States of the South,
heretofore compared ely retrogressive and
unproductive, retie! . from this terrible
curse, with the in ux of northern im- •
migration and ca ital, will soon be
come
the rivals of air. northern- sister.
States in all the arts of. peace, and addi
tional markets will b: develo pe d in which
to exchange the variet products of the here
tofore hostile sections.
Hardly less magical has been the effect
upon other nations. e eneral Grant's Ise
tion has confirmed the opes of our nati.in'a
friends, and the fears of its foes in tee Oid
World. It supplements and mils the ver..
diet of arms and the progress of Republican
principled. The downfall of the reberwM
in the United States was quickly toll°
red
by the great civil revointion in EilAi md;
the peaceful expulsion of the last of the
Bourbons from Spain; the unrest of, Cuba;
the concession of more liberal principles in
Germany; and the necessary itcquies
cence of the. Einperor of the French in the
Republican sentiments he fears even
as he has betrayed them. What aro these
but the echcies of the dire catastrophe that '
has overwhelmed aristocracy in the United
States?
Notwithstanding the importance of the
issues involved in the late LIMVSSS, and the
bitterness of feeling as well as the , earnest
nem with which it was conducted, its tcr
raillatiell has, happily, met with the acqui
escence of nearly the whole people; and at
no time In the history , of the notion .has
there been opened before usa brighter prcs..
pest of continued peaeeand increasing pros
perity; and we have no greater cause for
universid congratulation - than that no differ
ences of opinion now exist that can msteri.
.ally mar our national happiness, retard our
onward progress, or, threaten the ptace or
perpetuity of our Government.
In conclusion, permit me to remark that
the, voice of Pennsylvania, as well as that of
a majority of the States, has at the ballot
boi proclaimed to the- world that all our na
tional Indebtedness, no matter how heavy
the burdeb, will be paid' according to "the
letter and spirit" of the agreements made -
and entered into at the time the debt was
contracted; and that in this, as in all other
respects, our individual and national honor
"must and shall be preserved;" that we are
determined, by all honorable means in our
power, to secure ample •encouragement and
_protection to each and every branch of Home
.industry, ,and every manly enterprise that
contributes capital, labor skill and in
dustry to our material wealth, social ad-
vancement and political tranquility; that for
all our citizens, the children of the Com
monwealth, being also citizens of the Uni
ted States, we demand the fullest protection,
in their persona; their property, and in'all
their rights and privileges, wherever they
may go within the national Jurisdiction or
in foreign lands; and that whilst our firma- •4
dal policy shall be such as to maintain un-
trammelled our national credit, it is to be
hoped that it may, .at the nine time, be
such as will sanction the construction
of the great railways now in progress and,:stretching out their giant arms to grasp the z
mighty commerce of the Pacific, to develop
the untold , sources of wealth in the inter
vening
territories, and to connect the moat,
distant portions of our country in a CM%
mon union, not only with iron bands; bnt
by the still stronger and • more indissoluble
ties of a common interest and a common
brotherhood.
To lessen the burdens of the people, and
to keep the expenses of the State as nearly, , l
as, possible within the limita of its absolute, '
necessities, will always be among the chief
objects of wise and just legislation. Let us,:
then, with a due sense of our obligations=
and high responsibilities, endeavor so to
charge our duties as to secure the greatest ,
good of the community, and - merit the V'
probation of Him by whom our Common
wealth has been so abundanfly blessed.
JOHN W. GEA.RY. I
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ' I
HARRISBURG, Jan. 6,1869
-
7.