MESSAGE
OF TIIB GOVERNOR. k.
To the Honorable tic Senators- and HiTemlers
of the House of Representatives of the Gene
ral Assembly:
Gentlemen: A beneficent' Providence has
favored the people of our Commonwealth
with a high degree of health and general
prosperity during the year just closed, and
with many other causes of pleasure and grati
tnde. Humbly acknowledging these Mess-
iocs, let us ask His divine direction in the
discharge of our official obligations.
It affords me unaffected delight to wel
come the representatives of the people to the
seat of government, and rely for a time, upon
the aid .of their combined wisdom in the ad
ministration of nublic affairs: as'it is also a
creaiful task to perform the constitutional in
junction tfiat requires the executive to "com
municate to the General Assembly informa
tion of the. state of the Commonwealth," and
make such suggestions and recommendations
ns the welfare of the people and the exigen
cies of the times may seem to demand: and
to the discharge of this obligation I now pro
cecd.
The receipts at the treasury for the year
1S53. exclusive of loans, and including the
actual balance in the treasury on the first
day of December, 1S52, (being $67 1,037.72,)
amounted to thesum of $5,9o2,44 4.
The payments for the same period, cxclu
fOve of loans and other extraordinary expen
ditures, make a total sum of $4,134, 0-1 S 47
being $1,818,326 10 less than the receipts.
Of this excess, $305,057 55 was paid to the
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, and
$589,000 towards the payment of old debts
and the constr action of new work on the JY
Branch Canal and Portage railroad, being
part of the temporary loans authorised by the
act of the nineteenth of April lest: which,
together with the balance in the. treasury
applicable to the redemption of outstanding
loans, reduc,the actual balance on the first
day of December last, to the sum of About six
hundred find twenty-five thousand dollars, to
be used iu the payment of the February in
terest. The receipts for the year 1S54, including
the balance in the treasury -on the first of
December, 1S53, may, in my opinion be safely
estimated at $5,846,4 17 3-1.
The expenditures for the same period, in
cluding $250,000 for the payment of old debt
on public works and $300,000 for the sinking
lnul,hould not, aud if proper care be taken,
will not. exceed the sum of $4,500,000, leav
ing a balance in the treasury on the first of
December, 1854, of $1,340,417 34. Deduc
ting from this $625,000, the amount that
fuouM remain in the treasury to meet the in
terest due February 1, 1855, and we have a
surplus revenue of over $700,000.
It is thus made apparent to my mind, that
the trea?urv will have the ability, during the
-coming rear, to redeem the entire amount
;fthe temporary loans now outstanding, and
par the debts to which 1 have alreadv refer-
td. Bat no actditional drafts should be made
upon it without provision being first made for
their payment. fe
At the time of my induction into office
the liabilities of the State were as follows,
10 wit:
ti per cent, bonds
Xie do do
Four and and one half per
cent, bonds
.Relief notes, per act of 3Iav
4, 1841
Certificates for unpaid inter
est on the public -debt,
provemcnts: t .
FoiCrelavingthe northitrack of ; :Sjr" - $
the Colnmbiarailfond, BcfSfoOO 00.'
For the construction of a new
road to avoid the inclined
planes on the Allegheny . , ; ,
mountains, -656,034 90
For the completion of the Wes
tern reservoir, ' "52;380"4T
For the North Branch. canal, 1,000,000 00
For the new -lofcksron.tlie: Del
aware Divislou, 80,000 00
ation before me, and even
adding
a larger
$2,314,023 oJ
36,704,45S 03
198,200
650,163
00
00
for the years 1843, "44,
'45, with their accumula
ted interest
Domestic creditors' certifi
cates Total liabilities, Dec. 1, "51
Add loan of April, 1852,
for the completion of the
North Branch canal
204.6S0 20
82,932 74
$40,154,457
48
Total, . $2,143,915 31-
From the foregoing figures it is apparent
that the operations of the treasury have ex
ceeded our riiost sanguine expectations, yield
ing over a million of dollars annually above
the ordinary charges and expenses; and
showing, that if uo new improvements had
been in progress, two millions, at least, of the
public debt could have been paid during the
last two year. In addition to these extra
ordinary expenditures, there was paid out of
the treasury during said period, in pursuance
of laws passed prior to 1852: for the State
Lunatic Asylum, $70,700; for the publication
of the Pennsylvania Archieves and Colorua
Records $23,163 52: for the improvement
of the State penitentiaries $35,000; for the
publication of Proffessor Rogers' geolgieal
surveyor $16,000; for the preparation of reg
istration books $12,190 19; to the Sugar
Valley and Deer Creek Turnpike" company
$8000.
It will readily be perceived, therefore, that
should the appropriations hereafter be confin
ed strictly to the ordinary expenses of gov
ernment we shall have an annual surplus rev
enue exceeding one million of dollars, appli
cable to the payment, of the funded debt.
That such should be the policy of the State,
after the completion of the works now in pro
gress, will not be doubted. The importance
of such economy in view of the great end to
"jo attained the liquidation of the public
debt and consequent releif of the people
from taxation for State purpose, is too mani
fest for argument. Entertaining these views.
1 could not give my assent to any new schemes
of improvement bv the State.
The operations on the public works for the
year just closed do not present a very flatter
ing picture, so far as relates to net revenue.
The aggregate amount of business was lar-
twenty per cent, than that of any for-
ycar, and the gross receipts amouuted
to the sum of $1,932,495 33, being an excess
of but $35,683 91 over the receipts of 1S52.
This increase of tonnage without a corres
ponding increase of receipts is the consequen
ce of a very great reduction in the rates ol
tolls, a measure, in the opinion of the Canal
Commissioners, demanded by public policy:
and it may be said that whatever has been
lost to the treasury was given to extend com
merce and trade. The expenditures for the
year, according to the report of the Canal
Commissioners, amounted to the sum of $1,
177,742 75; but as this sum does not include
any portion of the costs of new locomotive en
gines and the erection of farm bridges, the
proper proportion of these will lenve thesum
of $704,652 58 as the acjuai net balances.
The receipts and expenditures and general
operations & the Columbia railroad exhibit
an enconragm state of affairs, as thev also
do on the "North Branch canal and Dela
ware division ; on the. other divisions of
the canal they are tolerable; but on the
Allegheny Portage railroad, the condition
of affairs is entirely unsatisfactory. The
svstem of management heretofore practiced
on that complicated and difficult work, would
seem to demand a speedy and radical chancre.
But the Executive, under the laws as thev
now are, having no control or direction over
the public works, it is right and proper that
I should leave the explauation of the details
of their workings and management to the
people's agents, wholiavc charge of the whole
subject.
1 am, however, still entirely sanguine that
with the necessary change 1n the svstem of
ger
by
mer
amount for errors, in theestimates, and the
Indrmous expenditures of; the old road in full
View, I could not doubt the expediency and
economy of tlic measure. But the unusal ad
vance in the price of labor, material and sub-
sistence, audeet to the obvious errors m trie
estimate, has changed the entire aspect ol
this-etitertfriScT The sura of S650.000has
been appropriated since. that time, and over
six hundred thousand dollars is still required
with the value of the old road to bring the
line into use.
The estimated cost of completing the aSorth
Branch' canal, a't the period already named,
was 772,000. Une million ot dollars has
since been paid, and a sum exceeeling one
hundred aud fifty thousand dollars isstill re
quired to pay for its completion. With such
unexpected demands upon the treasury with
in the short space of two years, it would not
be unreasonable to expect an increase of the
liabilities of the State; but "it is ahko grati
fying and astonishing to know that this has.
not occurred.
The Junction canal, extending from the
New York line to Elmira, will be ready for
business during the present month, and the
State work from Pittston to the dam at Ath
ens, a distance of ninety-three miles, has been
completed. The only unfinished part of the
work lies between Athens and the State line
a space of about two and a half miles, the
construction of which was delayed by an ef
fort of the Canal Commissioners and the Gov
ernor, under an act of Assembly, to negoti
ate with the Junction canal company for its
completion. But even this section, 1 am as
sured, will be ready in ample time for the
spring trade.
These works will complete the last link in
a continuous water communication between
the Chesapeake bay and the northern lakes.
or tins acheivement has been
and
ter ot a century. tint the triumn h is still a
tions,
feeling
and. varied resources, and. the influence of
these upon transportation within her limits;
the increasing demand for facilities to trans
mit licr prodiicts'to market; the endless con
sumption tmd unlimited supply of her great
staples of coal and iron, and "their proximity
to 'her works at all points; th'e enlarged pro
ducts of agricultural, and the rich variety
rof manufactures, sb"rapidlymultiplymgiircy
crv part of the State, constituting at once a
home business, with ages of duration before
it, which no human agency can disturb, and
which must contribute at all times a fair in
come to the government. In addition to
these considerations against :asale, may be
nro-ed the necessity which would be presen
ted for the creation of a number of corpora-
having a community ot interest anu
with similar bodies already in exist-
tmrp. and the danger ot thus inducing tne
oamnization of the controling power in. the
Commonwealth.
But it is said that companies can manage
these works with greater skill and economy
than the State, aud for that reason they
would be most valuable in the hands of the
former, and that the State can realize this- ginccrs and suprevlsors to take charge of
difference by a sale. It must Ue conlcssed, other improvements. This instability rc-
that it is to these considerations, and these suits trom the recognition or places on the
onlv, that we can look tor arguments to sus- States works, as political offices, instead
tain the idea that the State can gam any
thing, pccuniaril', by a sale of her improve
ments. That the difference in the expenses
of the management of th'e works would a
mount to a fair per ccntage, in the estima
tion of some capitalists, I have no doubt ; but
it is not so great as estimated by some. In
deed, certain portions of our own works are
now well managed, and it is hoped and be-
actual fraud upon the -treasury, the idea
that officers for the time beings should be
allowed to scatter the credit of the com
monwealth broadcast to be discovered and
redeemed at some future period by their
successors, is a monstrosity ln;. the eeono
mv of nublic affairs.
There seems to be some plausibility, if
not actual truth', in the allegation that
the State's management of these works is
expensive and inefficient; and yet it is not
clear to my mind, that treated as a mere
business affair, her supervision would not
be as cheap and efficient as that of corpor
ation and individuals. But the instabili
ty "of her agencies renders accuracy and
economy exceedingly cumcuiu. tier peri
odical change ot olhcershas always depriv
cc her of the benefit of experience in this
work; and this, in any business, you will
agree with me, is equivalent to a fair pro
life, and that it is eminently so in the re
pair and general supervisioirof railroads
and canals. This shifting practice has had
L. - i f V 1 1
me euect oi maicing ner work's a species
ot formal schoolsior the education of en
The struggle
long
brilliant one, and must be cause of gratifica- this, it must be readily seen, will demand
tion to tiic people ot the entire state. mucn caretul examination. Aud in reference
.Most auspecious and promising it is for en- to this point the wisest and best may honest-
tcrprising inhabitants of Northern Pcnnsvl- b differ, for the issue belongs mainly to the
i ...i. J. 'if i I c.i .... ,i i a i ii
vania, to whose untiring eltorts its final con
summation may be mainly attributed. Thro'
this channel, m the early part of next season
and during each succeeding year, Pennsylva
nia will send greeting, to the people of a
neighboring State the evidence of frater
nal affection the assurance of political fi
delity, and the blessings of an extended com
ol scientific and mechanical work-shops;
and bringing to bear on their control
and direction, our notions of rotation
and short tenure m. office. These idea
are sound and republican, and should
never be disregarded, in reference to
the offices appertaining to onr political
organization as a government, but it must
I. T 1 i 1 t t .
oc conceded mat a mere business - opera
tion to make money, in competition
the creatures of government and the
forts of individuals, was not contemplated
as an olhce in the organic law of the State
and hence, it is not strange, that the prin
ciplcs proper for one do not apply useful
ly to the other. What, 1 would inquire
would be the condition of the Reading
railroad, the Pennsylvania railroad and
other similar works, were they required
to change their engineers and suprein ten-
future, and can only be anticipated from the dants, at short periods, and bring strnn-
lievceHhat such changes can be made in tlje
system of direction now practiced by the
Stac, as to lead to general skill and ccono-j
my.
But the main question will be the mini
mum price that shall be fixed on thes im
provements; and the proper disposition of"
Willi
cr-
To these we may look
gers into their employ? The answer mav be
1 I 1 T .1 ri . , . "
reaciuy discovered in tne state's experi
ence. 1 have long been of opinion that in
reference to all the subordinates of the
Canal Commissioners, changes should not
be periodical and prefixed, but should be
made as demanded by the
exigencies ol
SoO-000 00 management, the public "improvements
Frm which take the follow
ing payments:
To slaking fund $681,469 S3
Interest on ont-
$41,004,457
management, tne public improvements can
7 be made to yield a very handsome revenue to
' 4S the treasury; indeed, even for the last year,
t landing certi-licates
50,752 91
732,222
41
funded
Total amount" of
oebr, at tnisttime $40,272,235 01
T meet this apparent increase of $117,
7r7 53 of the public debt, it should be ob-
feryed that, by the cancellation of six per
-P!,t. bonds, we have a saving of $20,000 an
nually to the treasury, which is equivalent to
n vrtual payment of 400,000 of the 5 per
c-nt. bond?. The amount thus saved will be
si permanent resource.without making any ex-
action lrom uie people, and constitute a sub
statical addition to the sinking fund. It will
be a virtual reduction of the public debt te
the amount of $2S2,222 47.
The floating liabilities aud current demands
urcn the treasury, at the period I have indi
eaten, were as follows:
Damages, balances on contract--, and for la-
i or and materials on the public works.
prior to January, 1852, and since paid, as
appears on the books of the Auditor Gen
eral,
Tfmporary loans
Unpaid appropriations
Total
Ti? floating liabilities of the
Commonwealth and cur
rent demands upon the
treasury at this time, are:
R. R. and canal
debts $327, 734
Temporary loans 590,000
XTr.paid appropria-
t-oiis 305,695
$381,752
39S,000
621,338
15
00
00
$1,401,090 15
St, ZofVt
"1,22341900
$177,061 15
Difference between the two
periods ...
ii . "ii ,t . .. r '
ih win tnus appear wiat the floating liabil
ities are $i i i,ubl lo less than when I as
k lined the duties of my present station. It
saould be remarked that floating debt, as a
boye stated, is no new thing. It has always
existed to a greater or loss degree, but has
not usually been exhibited in this form. A
balance of unpaid appropriations is unavoid
able, and has not been so Small for many
3 ears as at present.
During the years 1S52 and '53, the follow
ing appropna tions, and paymAiitsliaye been
made towards the j'niuGXion 1$ ;n.ew ,im-
i ii , . a:
u;iu luu iwpenues on tne mountain cm'ision
oeen connneu to a reasonable sum, the next
revenues would have reached near one mil
lion of dollars. Relieved from these absorb
ing demands by the construction of the new
road, or in some other waj-, aud we shall re
alise, by the year ISoo, a net profit eoual to
the interest on twenty-two millions or more of
tne public debt.
The work on the railroad to avoid the in
clined planes on the Allegheney mountains
has not progressed as rapidly as had been an
ticipated. It is the opinion of the eniriuecr.
however, as will appear on reference to his
report, that should the necessary means be
promptly furnished, the entire line could In
completed during the coming year. The
grading for a double track is finished with
the exception of four miles, and the cost of
this balance, together with the expenses of
laying down a single track'' is estimator! nf
$600,005 in addition to the value of the old
track. The engineer also estimates the annual
saving, as compared with the expenditures
on the old road, on the business equal to that
of 1S52, at two hundred and ninety thousand
dollars. He also states that te road be
tween plane Xo. 4 andIIolIidarsburr. with n
double track, will cost about eight hundred
thousand dollars less than the Pennsylvania
railroad, for a like distance.
lewed in every aspect, it must be con
fessed that this branch of "the public affair'
presents an embarrassing alternative. The
,iu.upt v-uai.n;i.uu ui uie new woni will in
volve the expenditure of more canitnl limn
ii.. oi l.. . . . a
i-nu oiaie can command without resorting to
iartuer temporary loans; whilst, on the other
hand, the maintenance of tho old mnd .if o
cost of four hundred and fifty thousand dollars
per annum, is quite out of the question. Its
exhausting demands on the treasury must ho
speedily obviated, and for my part I can see
no inoae or doing this except bv the com-. .In-
tion of-the new road.
At tho time J" assumed the duties of my
present station, I found this work in progress
of construction, the western slope up to the
summit having been placed under contract
during the summer of 1851. On roiorimr tn
the report of the Canal Commissioners and
the engineer, the only data which I could
properly consult as to the policy of the meas
ure, I found that the total cost of a single
track was estimated at $1,015,000. The
war,aJs on the old road were valued at
-48,GoO, which together with the appropri
ations previously madereduccd the amount
w wjvuvjuea to complete tirn work-to the
-I,m 01 W ,350. With these calc'a-
rcsults of the past
for a moment.
For the years 1852 and 1S53, the net re
ceipts may be put down as equal to the an
nual interest upon, about fifteen millions of
the public debt; and lam inclined to believe
that, without any increase of trade except
merce,in the shape of inland vessels, ferighted 0lJ the North Branch, the net profits for the the public service. The delinquent in any
with her richest minerals, and receive in re- ensuing year maybe estimated at a sum one of the obligation of duty should be
turn, as she certainly will be offered, from equal to the interest on seventeen or eighteen dismissed at once, and the only guaranty
the vast valleys of the Empire States, now milions of the debt, and that the completion of continued employment should be found
ot the road over the mountains, or relict in m the superiority ot tne -services rendered
some other way, from the leeching demands. the'State. All' other rules for appoint
or that portion of our improvements, will see ment and dismissal should be speedily ob
thc net revenues, from this source, swelled to literated from the system. The present
a sum equal to the interest upon twenty-two practice deprives the State, to a great ex
millions of the State bonds. " tent, of the benefit of that incentive tocx
If it be desirable to sell the public works, eel which actuates all men where charac
we should not underate their importance.iior ter, position and emoluments are at stakes,
is it just to disparage the w'sdom of their Of course, my suggestions in reference to
founders. "We arc prone to murmer against the importance of experience will not be
the policy that dictated their construction, understood as applying to all the agents
because ol the debt we have thus incur
red, and yet, if the proposition were sub
mitted to cancel this liability by their de
struction or disuse, we should be compell
ed to reject it. .
At the time of its adoption, this policy
was necessary and proper. Avenues of
teeming with wealth in all its variety, assur
ance of full reciprocity, in affection, fidelity
and commerce. And in due time the coffers
of the State, I am confident, will receive an
ample reward from these new relations of
trade. Indeed, on this point, the large in
crease of profits on the old line, for the year
just closed, furnishes the most reliable indi
cation from the new. The constantly increas
ing demand'for coal, outrunning, as it has
done for years past, the means ol supply, jus
tifies, if it does not force upon us the con
clusion, that so soon as boats can be con
st ructetl, and proper business connexions
formed, this canal will be patronized up to
:t- c.tt i -i. ii.. i t
il ma u;i:tuiL) . giuuuu ill uie vast, l'lCi)
and populous section of country which it will
be called upon to supply with coal, for every
imaginable purpose, . (lomesiic, mechanical
and manufacturing, and at the facilities offer- to convey her vast productions to market, short the management wants the apnli-
ed by the ew lork canals af!d the lakes, are as niuispensauic to ner vigorous growth cation ot business organization and prm
io reaen an puiuis oi mat country must sat- uuu p.a.-iu umt'iupiuuui as. are tne veins cipics. i. system or dooks snouid sup-
isfy the most sceptical as to the value andim- ad arteries to the human system, to give plant the use of check rolls and the oper- ject belongs most legitimately to the courts.
on the works; for instance, it requires but'1
little experience to make a collector, but
it has aud always will require this to ren
der an agent efficient in the construction
and repair of railroads and canals, to fore
see exigencies and give harmonious direc
tion to the current opperation of this com-
this kind through the body of the State, plicated branch of public service. In
forced to pay tax on Jaws in.which they have
no m'tcrest,dnordef HoWai! themselves of
.what the Begislature had expressly gran-
ieet. -ouuu a- iiiuiu vi -uuaiia is sciuueijr
consistent with the dignity of a great State
anclcertainly demands an efficient remedy.
Some of my pretlccessors have urged the
General Assembly to change this system,
and in several previous communications, I
have suggested the propriety and justice
of passing each proposition seperately, at
least so far as the objects where dissimilar.
Out the evil still exists, and I am deep
ly sensible of the difficulty which the appli
cation of the prompt and effectual remedy
must always present to the General Assem
bly. After much reflection on the magni
tude of this evil its vexatious inroads up
on private rights, and its demoralizing
tendency upon the interests of the people,
aud the more elevateel purposes of legisla
tion, I have detcrminetlto co-operate with
the General Assembly in the application
of the most efficient meats whkh their
wisdom may devise for its removal; but in;
the mean time, as a restraining part of the
law-making power, I must beg to be indul
ged in chiming the privilege of consider
ing each subject of legislation seperately,
and on its own merits, as contemplated by
the spirit of the Constitution. Henceforth,
thereforc,bills containing a variety of sub
jects of legislation, dissimilar in their char
acter and purposeSjCannot receive the sanc
tion of the prcssent Executive.
Another branch of the evil, and if pos
sible a Still greater one, consists of special
and local legislation. It is to this prac
tice that wearc'inaiulvinelebtedfor an an
nual volume of laws of most unseemly di
mensions, and for a separate code for near
ly every locality iu the State. The reme
dy for this must be found in the adoption
of a few more general laws, and the rigid
administration of those already in exis
tence. Special acts, you will agree with
me, should in no instance be passed where
the object car. be reached under general
laws.
The law of 1791 and its several snplc
ments make provision for the creation aud
amendment of corporations for literary,
charitable and religious purposes, and to
create bcuefidiary societies and fire engine?
and hose companies, through the instru
mentality of the Attorney General and the
Supreme" Court. Tho act of the ! 3th of
October, 1829, extended this power to the
courts of the several counties. The acts
of 1836 and 1888 make provision for the
association of individuals, through the in
strumentality of the Attorney General
and the Governor, for the purposoof man
ufacturing iron from mineral coal. In ad
dition to these acts, the law to encourage
manufacturing, passed in 1849, audits sup
Iiments, provide for assosiatior.s for the
purpose of mannfactureing woolo, cotton ,
llax and silk goods, or for making iron,
glass, salt, paper, lumber, oil from rosin,
mineral paints, artificial slate, and for prin
ting and i u'dislr'ng; and the supplement
of 1853 extcuds its provisions, m a modi
fied form, to the bnsmess ot mining ol al
most every description.
On the subject of erecting new township
and incorporating boroughs, the courts
haye unlimited power; and in the matter
of selling real estate, the property of mi
nors, guardians, executors or others, acting
in a fiduciary capacity, the act of last ses
sion on this subject will, in my opinion,
reach every imaginable case. Its pro
visions should not be infringed, for the sub-
portance of this improvement. -
I congratulate you, therefore, upon the
consummation of an enterprise which will be
thus profitable to the State, and bencfical to
the people.
The expediency of selling the public works
has been a topic of discussion in the press of circumstances should we entertain the pro
the State for some months past, and without position to part with the public works by
indicating a policy for the General Assem- tuc creation of a-joint stock company, as
bly, or intending the slightest discourtesy to heretofore repeatedly proposed, by which
circulation to the blood and consentient
health and vigor to the body. To stop or
clog these, in either case, would produce
stagnation and ultimate destruction.
"Without reference to the abstract ques
tion of a sale, 1 may say, that under no
ation be so systematized that the receipt
and expenditures of each month, as the
season passes by, could be announced to
the public.
Confusion, obscurity redundenev in our
annual volume of laws vexatious inroads
upon private rights attempts at the usur
pation of power and consequent strivings
and litigation, are in my opinion, the leg-
r can see no reason why the power to
designate election houses should not be
confined to the commisioners of the several
counties! These ofiiccis arc usually famil
iar with the localities and can readily de
termine what arrangements would best
subserve the convenience of the electors.
In addition to the fact, which will not
be disputed, that this business receives but
the people's agents to whom the management
of this branch of public affairs has been con
fided, I have deemed it my duty to discuss
some of the considerations incident to and
growing out of the proposition.
Indeed, it would be unreasonable to as
sume either the affirmative or negative of
the question, and expect to be properly un- present condition of the money market, it
derstood, without some explanation as to the should be based on the idea of a bona fide
price of the works and the conditions of sale. sale fr a full compensation, in exchange
It is fair to presume that those who advo- bonds of the State, and under such
the Commonwealth is to remain a large
shareholder, but the direction to be in the
hands of individuals oa corporations, asso
ciated with her in the ownership. 1 have
always regarded this as a most dangerous
and insidious measure. If the proposition
to sell be seriously entertamcd, under the
itimate fruits of our system of special and partial consideration in the Legislature it
omnibus legislation. Indeed, the truth of is objectionable, because of the great space
these propositions is too palpable to ad- it annually occupies in the journals and
mit of argument. It is manifested in eve- laws. 1 am aware, however, that it has
ry year's experience, and in some instan- been suggested that the laws of the Uni
ces the government, as a consequence, has ted States provide that the places for hol
bcen forced into the humiliating position ding the elections for "Members of Congress
the
.f1 i .t
ot becoming a litigant against ner own
I T" i i 1 rt
creatures, its demoralizing liiiiucnce is
I T 1 1i-l 111 1 -
mariieu aiidacimitted on an nanus and im
periously dcmanels au efficient remedy
That the present General Assembly mav
be distinguished and blessed for applying
shall be
Of
therefore, the
salutary reservations and restrictions as
the interests of the people may demand.
But it is urged by many that the State's
system of managing the public works is
susceptible of improvement that much
can be done by judicious reforms to aug
ment the receipts to the treasury, and fac- entirely dissimilar in their characteristics, sessi
ilitate the busiuessof transportation, and, in the same bill, or in what is familiarv rate
as mucn ot this system results lrom positive
ia, it may not be deemed olhcioiis on inevitable, and indeed the frequently la-
my part to make suggestions on the sub- incnted effect of this mode of legislation.
j i
has been to facilitate the passage of bill
through the General Assembly, and to sc
cure the sanction of the Executive without
fixed bv the Legislature
several States, and, that,
eiui in view cannot be attained, in an-
sVcr to this objection, it may be remarked,
that the Legislature having in other instan
ces dcligated doubtful powers, such as the
cate the affirmative have distinct ideas as to
what the price should be, and that unless
t t i i ... . l
sucn considerations can be realized they would
not agree lo sell.
The first inquiry therefore is, why should
these works be soldr The answer usually
given is, that the measure is necessaVy to re
duce the State debt and to relieve the peo
ple from taxation. These arc great jobjects
indeed, and should, as I have no doubt they
will, receive your earnest consideration; their
realization however, must depend mainly
upon the price obtained.
Should the interest of the public debt li
quidated by the sale be less than the net pro-
ins arising lrom the works, then it would be
taise economy to sell. In that case the mea-
ure would not be one of relief to the people, creation of debt by the officers on the pub- which the practice impose upon this branch derstood by all and within the reach of
jeet
In a special message, communicated to
the General Assembly, soon after mv in-
the axe at the root of the evil, and mark- right to make paper moncv, it is scarcely
ing the era of its final termination, is my necessary lo raise the question of the right
sincere hope to delegate a function so expressly confer
A prolific source of mischief consists in red.
the practice of passing a number of laws A large number of the laws of the last
session consist of special acts to incorno-
companics to construct plank roads.
. .,... r-. ttfl. X . 7T TIM ' ' lit n tinnf ik.m k n... ....a I J If " 1
iiuuuii us uiu umuiuiib ovbLt'in. J.I101 xiiib juiaiiiiii ami utunur in iiseii.mifr nr.
it seems to me, be reached bv a general
law, authorizing the. association of any
number of citizens to construct these high
ways on proper conditions.
in lormer communications, I have held
duction into office, I" advocated the.policy the critical examinations sojndispensable Hie doctrin, that but iitlc legislation of any
of making cash payment for labor and ran- to a clear comnrohension oft.hoir trim ?m. kind was essential fol.lio. Mnfmnrnim".
- - I 1 - ------ I w..w -wJvrAtK.A.OK UO
iwwuh, aim uie interdictions by law ot the port. In illustration of the difficulties Mcss enterprises to promote obiects un-
I-
Unnagi
but must necessarily increase their yearly bur- lie works, and made allusion to other rad-
tuens. - ' ical defects in the svsl
l -'-J . . . . . nivu VVUIU
And what reason is there to suppose that scarcely be reached by the Canal Board
more can be obtained Capitalists it will be
conceeded, when weighing the question of a
purchase, will make the net profits on their
investment the basis of all their calculations.
They will look at the past oonerations of
works, in connexion with their pros
in the future carefully considering
fact and circumstance bearing in their
these
pects
every
,.nl,. : i " ,
laiuc, anu, iv i &caiceiy necessary to re
mark, will only buy when perfectly satisfied
that they have the best of the bargain. Iu
attempting to determine the question of val
ue, it will be preceived, therefore, that the
inquiries, examinations and motives .of buyer
and seller, must necessarily be identical.
It is apparent then, that the effect of com
petition on the value of these works: the in
roads which may be made by science and me
chanic arts on every description of transnor-
lj? n i j .
tauon iacintics now in existence; the casul
ties that may result to them from the ele
ments; in short, the mutabilityof human struc
tures, aud the propirety ot simnlifvincr the
duties of government, must constitute, mainly
the considerations in favor of a separation
ofc'een the State and her improvements. -.
On the other hand will be presented the
lopes ot future business and increased nro-
Bts to the treasury, predicated upon the rap
id growthof the Commonwealth: her vast
rIo some of these I shall nowhrinflv
j
iuue.
Tn the first place, it i? impossible to
avoitl the creation of debts, if the appro
priation be insufficient to meet unavoida
ble expenditures. The business of trans
portation and travel on these highways
must be kept up, whatever the expenses
be paid or not. These circumstances have
defeated, to some extent, the administra
tion of the law of May, 1852, requiring
cash payments and prompt settlement by
the officers on these works, and prohibi
ting the creation of debts. This result,
I regret, for I am still decidedly of the
opinion, that no othpr change iu the sys
tem is so likely to beget economy, purity
and efficiency in their general direction. -For
the hist year, however, th-s law was
strictly carried out on some of the divis
ions, and it is sincerely desired that here
after the practice may be extended to all.
I need not discuss ihn nonspmirm e
-r--w VXUWVI UUlll.li III
me, is in strict accordance with the man.
dates of the Constitution. Great inconvc
nience also results lo the people, under this
system, in the payment of tho onrolront
tax upon private laws. In bills, such ns
-r i i
l nave aireaay described, may bo found n
number of items, some taxable, and others
nof. nnrl flin lull mimt K ... ii-.i i
ii , n i . -. . -m " i "u iiiuot uiiiuuuu iiiinpr
tne custom ot making debts on tho -.nnhlin if a
works-its errors are too nnlnahl LT'm ol' " X"m l .
5 ..-
of the government, it is only necessary to
hsate- that within two days prececding the
Iinal adjournment ot , the last Legislature,
no less than one hundred anu. six bills
where presented for Executiue considera
tion, containing three
four different subjects.
contained as many as twenty dissimilar
items of legislation; and of these, some
where not even indicated by the trans
cribed title.
In addition to the difficulty of comprehen
ding the import of such a hetrogenious mass
ot matter, the Lxccuttve frequently finds uabic only because it is speciahthan is found
unwell imutu uilu wiu uuuuiuiii ui higutng in us own nistorr. f. w f hP.Mmihnr,i
l 1t11 1 . I. " ..... -vv. vwtuutUUI
u uuv wmcu nis judgement rejects, or rc- by many of you, that during the adminis
tnrning another which he really approves, tration of Gov Sh
Neither alternative, von will aeroe with ontionc u-Lm ,wi fiin',:i
io ill cri'inf nnnnrlminn ,.,41. r.... i .
cuiporate mannlactunng. companies and
moderate means-; and that most certainly
1. L .'1.1 I J '
wmiccver mignt be deemed expedient
should be general in its character. That
the Legislature had no moral right to grant
special advantages to one citizen and de-
nindrcd and hlty- ) inem to anotner; and l have declined
Some of these bills to approve any act on the subject, where
the corporators wore not madu liable in
their individual estate for the debts, of tho
corporation.
"No clearer evidence, it seems "to me.
can be lunushed to show that mmh r,r
- V VJ l
this special legislation is sought and-is val-
reiutation by argument; and I shall only
repeat wnat i substantially said to the
General Assembly on a former occasion,
that in addition to the opportunity it af
forded for extortion off rthVS"talc if not
be first paid. One party interested in this
legislation may pay his share, another will
refuse to do so.mid a third, on seeing tlm
amount of the tax, concludes that he can
live without the law; and thus it-has been
110 Uncommon t liny for nm-sn-na i. 1...
that the Govcnor refused to srivA his assent
to their passage. In 1849, a general law
to encourage manufacturing, liable in its
provisions, was adopted, and voq will be
astouished to learn that at this time there
are not a dozen companies in existence un-iQ-L
DurinS the sessions of 1S52 and
lbd, much time "was consumed in the con
sideration of special acts to incorporate
mining companions. Near the close of
the last se;s3ion a general law omtlirt snL
'.ieet, applicable to all the counties in the
State except six, was passed; and although
this law is ns favorable iu its terms as the