X " ' . ' . ' - - ! gT Ilavng hccn conuected with the legis lation which brought this company into existence, and clearly cognizant of the motives unci purposes which governed the Lt'&islnturc In imposing this condition on the grant, I can discover no reason, in MiWquent events, to justify the relin quishment of this valuable reservation; but i,inny on the contrary, to sustain its just ice and utility. The discussions pending the incorporation of the company, will best indicate the object of thisiestriction. Ttw roust ruction of :i railroad from Har- rsburg to Pittsburg, parallel with the State works, was very properly urged as indispensably necessary to meet the wants ..f the traveling public, and to enable our metropolis to compete successfully with other commercial cities. The very first and moj-t formidable difficulty which pre sented itself in the way of this enterprise, was the prejudicial effect such a work mhrht hare upon the the business and profits of the main line of the public im provements. It was urged on the one hand, that the State works had been con structed at the expense of the people ol the entire Commonwealth that those re siding in the extreme portions of the State as well as those of the interior, had, an nually, contributed towards the payment of the interest on the debt which had thus been contracted: and, therefore, the Leg islature could not, consistently with the princip'es of justice and equity, make t. grant that would depreciate the value ol property which belonged to all, for the purpose of fostering the growth and pros perity of a particular portion of the State. Good faith and correct moral principle forbade such action. On the other hand, it was alleged that the iucrcased business which such an improvement would throw noon the Columbia railroad, and the en- rharccd value of property adjacent to tki proposed road, from which the State vkou.'d derive increased revenue in the f.wui of taxes would constitute an amplt reinuiit ration to her offers, and thus d lull justice to the people as the owners ol tho works to be effected. But a majorit ol the Legislature concluded that some add.tionai benefits were demanded, and Ik nee the adoption of the provision tt which 1 have referred. The tock was subscribed with a full knowl r of this reservation, and the acceptance oS the charter by the company, was the consuma f on of a soleinn agreement between them and the State. Yet, under the speciouf pica that it impose? s tax on trade, the Commonwealth is now asked to r licquish ibis condition; and the case is ar-j."u-d a though it had been the policy of thi la.v. that the company should impose this charge or l!ii e mills per ton upon every species of prop erty which may pass over its road; and in this; way it is very readily shown that on coal. iron, lainbtr and other cheap 'tonnage, this chargt we-ul-i le too creat. But the companv are not r!liged to assess this tax on all kinds of ton- vsjio: nor was it the intention of the act that th- v should do so. The desicn was to make an c A.u-i:on from the nett profits of the company '-.-r the use of the public coffers, as a compensa tor) Ur a valuable grant, aud thereby protect tV p'ibl'c improvements from the competition . ? this !.ew rival. The tax on tonnage, there " r . was intended to indicate only the mode oi a r-Ttaiainc Ihe sum to be paid, aud not the spe- t ' c tannage on wtiicn it should oe cnargea. V u ,i the sum is in this way ascertained, it uiat t -j. :i.t to the State how the company obtains i" ' n.oiicy; -whether it be by charges on freight, rr )'i passengers on local, or on through tou T u. Should, therefore, certain kinds of ton c ' improperly oppressed, the fault is with i"i oo.r.paHy. not in the law. And surely it w ".1 irt be contended that the protection thus u.ro mi around the works of the State is unne ! .try: so far from this, the wisdom and ;3til:fy of this feature of the company's charter b already been made manifest. The very ex i,;e.icy anticipated by the Legislature has art'en: the competition of the railroad is alreadv sri- i.jply f It by the main line. Relieved from thlt- r.-Mraint. but a meagre portion of the carrying trtde Would be left for that branch of our im provements. Nor will it be contended that the Common wealth does not need this source of rev ' 'if. B it, viewed alone, as a matter interesting to ili? o-. n-rs and transporters of tonnage, what r:iratitee would they have that the rates ol transportation would be reduced, were this tax taken off? None whatei er. The company could c Large as heretofore, and thus realize the a 130 nt of tie tax in addit'jn to their present proiits. If they should not do this, their action wnnMrfi O'er from that of similar corporation.' under 1 ke circumstances. But to admit, what is claimed, that a reduction in the charges ol transportation to a similar extent, would take r.la.e, it must be perceived would duplicate the J ir to the State: lor bhe ould not only there by lose the amount of the three mill tax, but be deprived of a very large portion of tonnage wh.cb would be attracted to the company's road -y tV? reduction in the rates of trau-portation. IVo are thus brought to the simple inquiry, wh.tLur the State shall retain this valuable in-cx-jp, to which the is s iustly entitled, or wheth- rr -U shall give it to the railroad company. Me t c rtainly the latter alternative should not ! - ad ipted, so long as the question of selling ly Mate improvements remains uuueciuca As a mere revenue measure, this tax consti tutes an important aud increasing item in the anuaal receipt of tbe Treasury. In the year 1o3, it amounted to the sum of $74,000, and for the year 1834, to S13I.000 'J hat this amount will be materially increased hereafter, s bell-evident. If this important item be withdrawn from the sinking fund, there will be but ittle left to sustain iu? operations. I am aware that these views may be met with the plausible argument that trade and commerce thyill not be thus burthaned that the effect is pr judicial to the business of the Mate. This is true to a certain extent; and should have its full weight in the adjustment of a question of thi character. But it will scarcely be contend ed that trade and commerce should be sustained by contributions from a needy Treasury. On this 3 riaciple, it could as reasonably be maintained' that the State should make no charges whatev er for the use of her own works. The administration of Governor Shunk com menced the cancellation of relief issues; and that cf my immediate predecessor arrested the pro ccss,"Wving $C50,1C3 00 of this unsightly cur rency in circulation. In the spring of 1853, the policy of cancellation was again resumed; up to tills date, $485,384 88 had been received into tbe sinking fund, applicable to that purpose leaving the meagre sum of $154,778 12, to pro vide for. The gratifying fact isapparcat, there tore, that, without any further legislatiou on this subject, the entire outstanding balance of relief notes can be withdrawn from circulation and destroyed during tue current year, It is true that these issues have not come into the Treasury as rapidly as the funds for their can cellation have accumulated,and that,consequeut ly, a portion of the receipts have not been inves ted; but this difficulty will be obviated in June next , when the law will go into operation which jorbids the banks and receiving officers of the Commonwealth to pay out these issues, and re quires them to be presented at the Treasury for cancellation, My opinion on all questions that concern the currencv, have been so often expressed, that they jaust b well known to the .egislature, and need not be triven. at length, in this communication. Without, at any time, assuming it would be wise for this Stuttf, regardless of the policy of other Commonwealths, to dispense suddenly and en- h M that thoauivuut ofbankini: capital as a ba- sis for paper circulation, should be closely imi- tea to mc urgeni wains ui. v , If the experience of the country is wortli any thing at all, it ban demonstrated the correctness of this policy; and that the use ot small bank notes should be discouraged and iorbiddcn In 1' m,P, with this view of the subject, I have on past occasions. rcfuscd to sanction any extcn- sive increase oi t""''. Every commercial country is liable to alter nate season of excUement and depression; to pe ri'ods of extra vagaht over-trading, followed by ruinous revulsions. The reaction now felt is she inevitable, if not the natural counterpart ol .in undue expansion of credit, in ihe form of bauk paper, railroad, State and corporation bonds and individual obligations. In those States where the free, or stock-banking system had stimulated the expansion, the workings of the reaction have been disastrous. In our own be loved Commonwealth the shock has been sensi bly felt, though far less severe than in other parts of the country. Her partial escape, it is beieved, is mainly owing to her prudent and rpsh-irtive unliev in the use i Thank credit, It is, at least, very clear, that bad the free, oi stock-banking plan, at one time so zeamosiy au vocated. been adupted in State, or had our pres ent system been greatly expanded, tho position of affairs in our commercial metropolis vouin not have been so favorable as at present. Had the natural tendency to speculation received this artificial stimulant tlie limits ol salety. liKe me lessons of experience, would have been passed unheeded: as it is. some good men. in the pur suit of useful enterprises, been prostrated, Jt is most unfortunate, that under tins lnuucncc, n must sutTer alike. Those who profit least by tot expansion, are often clVcctc d most by the con traction. This is especially the case with Jauoi which uniformly the last to be elevated in times ofprospcritv, to go down in those ot depression, The l ankF, ns a general rule, make tlie most out of the convulsions. It is often their error to flatter the merchant and trader when the tide of prosperity rum hic-h and to forsake him on the lirst ap pearance of its ebbing. Even sound bmik and of good repute, it is said, are SQtkiug to make money out of the present crisis, by sharing their capital and its benefits with brokers and jobbers', instead of aid biff ihe business community at legitimate rates How far those allegations are war ranted, it is difficult to decide; but it is to be hoped that few, if any of our banks are justly liable to this charge, for such a prac tice would be highly improper, and well calculated to excite discontent. Such r departure from legitimate business would demand a nrompt remedy nt your hands. It may be difficult to cu.iline these institu tions to their proper business, with the prospect of bctv.r profits in other quar ters; but they suouid be made to leel that thev have been created lor a higher pur pose than merely to enrich the stockholder.' I he crisis is a trymg one, but there ls still reason to hope that the credit aud trade of the country will never suffer as much as it has done on similar occasions, in time past. There is now no National; Bank to mislead the mercantile class, and and to embarrass the commerce which it professed to aid. Still the shock will be great enough to lead the public mind to enquire after a remedy for these periodical convulsions. And surely, we may be per mitted to hope, that the good sense of the people will never again be imposed upon by those crude experiments which have, on some former occasions, so fearfully ag gravated the evils they were intended tc remedy. respectfully advise the tjeti eral Assembly against all such experiments The remedy, to be permanent, must be a natural one; artificial means may add to present derangements; but cannot cor rect them. An extensive increase of banking capi tal and other expedients will doubtless, be pressed rpon your attention: but it is hoped that no such fallacy may fiud favor. Xor is there any sufficient reason for tin alarm and sensitiveness manifested in cer tain quarters; the real wealth of the coun try still exists, and tlie natural elements of prosperity are no less than heretofore. It is the shadow, not the substance that ts passms avrav. the business commum- tv should look the danger in the face, and by their energy, honesty and enter prise, overcome it. Mutual confidence and forbearance should be cherished by all, as a means of accomplishing this de- sirable end. In accordance with the provisions of a ( law passed in April last, a vote of thuix-o-' pie was taken, at the October election, on the policy of prohibiting the manufac 4 A ' j ture and sale of intoxicating liquor6; loo- 342 votes were cast in favor of the meas ure, and 168,510 votes against it. The proper regulation of this subject greatly concerns the moral welfare of the people and for that reason will claim your anxious consideration. Perhaps no other moral question within the range of your authority, so deeply interests the people of every class, race and condition. In deed, the immoderate use of intoxicating drinks is an cil that has left its fatal mark in every vicinage. Its progress, fortunate ly has been steadily resisted by individ uals and societies, who have employed the power of truth and reason against it. These efforts have done much, and may do more hereafter to mitigate the evil Avoiding all vexatious encroachments up on the rights and privileges of cverv citi zen, there is clearly no reason why the in fluence ot a well designed law regulatnnr and restraining the sale of intoxicating li quors, should not be brought to the aid of these individual efforts. Although the vote of the people would seem to iudicate their aversion to the particular measure ol reform proposed, it is not to be inferred, for that reason they arc averse to all at tempts at reformation. Such an inference I am confident would not be a true reflec tion of their sentiments. So far from this they acknowledge the existence of the c vil an 1 the necessity of proper remedies. Our present license laws, to this end, might in my opinion, be usefully revised tne olnect of such revision being to lessen the vice of lntemporcnco That those laws need such revision, is conccudc. "bo tar as relates to the city of Philadelphia, they are peculiarly prejudicial to the public morals, aud seem to have been construe ted to promote the convenience of drink ing, far more thau to restrain its evil con- sequeuccs. The subject is worthy of vour eany and deliberate consideration. The report of the Superintendent will exhibit to you m detail, the operations of the Common School system for the year just closed; and respectfully recommend the suggestions of that officer to your carelul consideration. The general law of 1849, with amend meats and modifications. ws re-modeled by the last .Legislature. The most mate- rial parts of the old law, which were o- nutted m tlie new, were the sno-aisiricis, the endowment, and sectarian features The former was rejected because ot the i . necessary multiplication ol omces wincn it authorized, and the conflict which perpet ually arose between the committees and directors; and the latter, because in man ifest hostility to the true intent of the common school system. These provisions which seemed to contemplate a separate school establishment, under sectarian pat ronage, although controlled by the com mon school directors, were originally en grafted upon the acts of 1S36 and 1S8S, and were again re-enacted in 18-19. They were very properly stricken from tlie sys tem by the law of last session. Should efforts be made in the future, at similar innovations, come whence they may, it if hoped thev may be promptly rejeced. The system to be effectual, must bo simple and uniform in its operations Special legislation inconsistent w.th the general lA. applicable to particular localities or districts to answer temporary or partial en always has, and always will embar rU the administration of the general vltcm, and should for this reason, be carefully avoided. The integrity ot its forms, not. loss than the means to sustain iK oneralions, should be constantly main tained, and scarcely cherished by the gov ernment. A new feature in the svstem, adopted in the law of last session, creating the of fice of County Superintendent, has not, as yct, been fully tested: and there evident! exists some diversity of opinion as to the wisdom of tlie provision. Jt is already very obvious at least, that its beneficial workings must depend mainly upon the character of the agents selected to enrr ( it into operation. Competent, and faith-1 ful Superintendents may produce the hap-! piest results; whilst the agency of the ig norant or inefficient will be attended by the reverse consequences. In order to give this new feature of the law a fail Trial, it will be necessary, therefore foi tlie directors, in the respective counties, to select Superintendents with sole refer ence to their adaptation to the duties oi the station. Of the many obstacles in tlie way of the complete success of our Common School system, the one most prominent, aud most difficult to remove, is the want of compe tent teachers. In some communities, 1 re- grct to say, the s'stcm lias latien nut comparative inefficiency, because good teachers cannot be found; and in others, the most vexations consequences have a risen from the employment of the illiterate and incompetent. Nothing cdiH exer cise a more prejudicial influence; indeed, between a very bad teacher and none at all, the latter "alternative might, in man instances, be preferred. This deficienc is already manifest, and hard to obviate. Some of the best minds of the State have been occupied and perplexed with it; aud until recently no general and practicable plan for its removal had been devised. Tlie plan of granting permanent pro fessional certificates, by officers skilled in the art of teaehimr, and eminent iu litera ry and scientific acquirements, to teach ers who satisfactorily pass a thorough ex amination, in tin several brandies oi stuuy wh eh the act of May, 18fJ, requires- to be taught in every district, and also in the art of teaching is already obviouslv effecting decided improvement in this re irard, and it is believed will do much to wards placing the profession upon a high and firm basis. Normal schools, it is urged could in addition, to some extent supply tlie deficincy, but tlie expenses of such an institution would be heavy. The source of this difficulty, it is clear, can be traced, in a great measure, to the want of a proper appreciation in the pub lic mind, of the position and business of a teacher. The profession for this reason, in addition to the absence ot la!r compen sation. has not been attractive-. Indeed, i - it has scarcely been regarded as a pro fessiou at all, but as a preliminary step to s-onie other pursuit. Well directed el- 4 forts have recently been made to change the general sentiment on this point, and 1 rejoice in the belief that these have not been in vain; and the day is not far dis tant, when the profession of teacher will be equal to the aspirations of the most ambitious ol our people; wnen its distinc tions, dignitcs aud pecuniary rewards, win command the time and attention of the most gifted. I can see no reason why this state of feeling should not prevail; why the profession of teacher should not rank in honor and profit with the other learned professions; why Ihe science of developing the human intellect of giving scope and force to mind of elevating the moral faculties of our race of controlling the passions aud tempering the desires, should not be esteemed as highly as those professions and callings, whose ornaments have received all their capacity at the hands of the comparatively humble and illy rewarded teach r. I earnestly recommended the common school system to your guardian care, as the most sacred of all our institutions. The offspring of it constitutional injunction on the Legislature -the extension and perpetuity of its usefulness, is the plain duty of all. Resting at the very founda tion of the government, its practical work ings should be a true reflection of our re publican system, and its blessed opportu nities matle available to all, regardless of rank, condition, or persu.ision. It should aid the poor, advance the rich, aud make the ignorant wist1. 1 confidentially anticipate for it, a day of greater perfection and wider influence. No better object can engage the attention of government, or consume its means, than the education of the people iu the most comprehensive sense of the term; embrac ing the nse ol letters, the cultivation ol tlie moral faculties, and the diffusion of christain truth. In this we have the sur est guarantee for the perpetuity of our republican government, and for the en joyment of civil liberty and religious lree dom. Such an education may be safely claimed as the potent means of prevent ing crime of increasing individual happi uessjtnd national dignity of promoting Christianity and civilization of extirpa tintf moral aud political evils of eleva ting, dignifying aud adorning our social condition, Our various charitable and reformatory institutions so creditable to inc ciaie, and which, in their, practical operations, have done so much for the reiiei oi suuei ing humanity-will claim the continued care and bounty of the Commonwealth. MM. int T.mintic Hospital at liarns- ifc liresent emcieno cuuwui nucf management, meets the just antidpa dous of its wise and benevolent advocates reju"r.rn institution rise above liellLllln ui buvh n.. estimates. J ts purpo tXs to the best and no blest feelings of our nature, ana can u,y be rated at the price of human-hope and Iminoii rniiSOIl. A nnmnn'tlilt. dissimilar, tho' not less -V tU"- ' meritorus institution has recently been es tablished in Philadelphia, for the mental training of the Idiotic and the Imbecile The astonishing results it has already a- chieved in developing and .invigorating the weak and c'.oudedmtellect, should se- cure for it public confidence and patron-: are. It commends itself to the bounty and care of the State. The institutions for the education of the Deaf and Dumb, and Blind, will also need as they justly merit, the usual annuity from the Sta'te. They are in a flourishing condition, and continue to bestow number less blessings upon the unfortunate beings committed to their charge. As a scheme for correcting and reclaim ing wayward and offending youth, the House of Refuge stands pre-eminent; and is everywhere gaining public., confidence Its general influence upon this class of er-rin"- creatures is far more effectual and than that of the ordinary modes of punishment. It takes charge those whose offences are oltcn tne resuii of circumstances rather than criminal in tent- who fall by the influence of bad ex ample, of wicked association, of idle hab its or animal necessities; or who sin be cause of tlie utter want of moral and men tal perception: who do wrong, rather than right because they have not the power to distinguish between them. For such un fortunate beings, tho House of Refuge possesses the advantages of restraint and correction with moral and intellectual training, as well as of instruction in the usual pursuits of life, without the disgrace and chilling influence of prison confine ment. The results, therefore, often arc, that its inmates-go back to society, cured of all moral defection, r.nd competent to fill the place of correct and useful mem bers of the community. Durinir the past summer, the magnifi cient structure erected under the super vision of certeiin benevolent gentlemen of Philadelphia, as a new House of Refuge, was completed and thrown open lor puo tic inspection. The capacity, order, and arrangements, in every particular, of this admirable building, are tuliy equal to tne ,iesirnf its founders. It is an honor to them and an ornament to the beautiful citv in which it is situated; and its good cfic ts in future, under the same system a tic and wise discipline which so eminent ly distinguished its past management, will not be readily over-ratcee The Western House of Refuge, situate on the banks of the Ohio river, a short distance below Pittsburg, I am gratified to say, is also completed and ready for n.mfiips Thoiifb less imnosincr. as to size and capacity, than its stately compeer of the east, it possesses all the order, e eonomy of space, and perfect adaptation to the purposes designed, that character ize the more costly structure at Philadcl phia; and it is also believed to be cpnte adequate, as to size, to present wants, while it is built with express reference to fntiirn nriditious. siioukl thev become r.e- - - - cessary. Neither of these buildings have, l prc- ! sume, been erected without involving ttien ! i-.rritoni r,i's hi nri'mnn i".' llnhilit.V Hill! liei'- li UJVlUtd H ww. ...... j , - - - haps loss. The entire State has a elecp interest in such truly meritorious institu tions; and whatever relief can be given to them by the Legislature, consistently with the condition of the Treasury or our public engagements, should be cheerfully extended. The interests of Agriculture are ar dently commended to your care. Extensive and energetic efforts have been recently made to disseminate correct information concerning this great pursuit, and iu this way to confer upon the farmer the advan tages of a scientific as well as a greatly refined, practical understanding of the no ble pursuit in which he is engaged. The utility of a College, devoted to Ag riculture, with a model farm attached wherein the principles of a scientific culti vation of tho soil, and manual labor in that pursuit, would be joined to the usual ac ademical studies has been strongly pres sed upon my attention. It is believed that such an institution can be successfully or ganized, under the auspices of the State and County agricultural societies. The practice adopted aud maintained by the last General Assembly, in refer ence to omnibus bills and special lcgiala tion, is an improvement of such value as to commend itself as a settled rule; and I confidently trust this salutary precedent may not be disregarded. Obscurity, confusion and inaccuracy iij tho construction of our laws, in roadd upon private rights, and unguarded cor porate privileges, litigation and confusion in the interpretation and administration of our statutes have been the fruits of a loose and unguarded system of legislation. The evil has been one of the greatest mag nitude, and the remedy should be cher ished with unyielding tenacity. Special legislation has so little to recommend or sustain it in principle, it is surprising it ha3 been so long endured. Althougl much was done by the two preceding leg islatures by general laws, to obviate any supposed necessity for special acts, there still is much to be performed in avoiding a return to this unsafe practice. It is be lieved that general laws can be so fram ed as to avoid in most cases tho necessity for special acts, and the proposition is most earnestly commended to your tavor able consideration. The omnibus system a pornioious i mode of legislatiou, by which the most Us humane and benignant age.. t:nw.n,MMtion of the unfortunate niiuiauiiii L11Vj "..v. class for whose relief it was designed, can no nrflinarv stauuaiu. j-"-- are thrown togetuer iu out: um u ii .i : wl nnrior one title was, l rejoice to say, u , broken down and discarded by the last General Assembly. The volume of-laws for 1354 contains no acts of this charac ter Eaohriaw embraces but a single subject and that indicated by its proper The 55th section of the act providing rnr tbe exDcnses of Government for 1853, authorized and required tho Governor to sell the State arsenal at Philadelphia, and apply the proceeds of such sale towards the purchase of another site and the erec tion of a new building; and restricting the expenditure to tho sum received for the old property. Ihe building and lot were rcadilv sold for 8:30,000. The selection of a new location, and the erection of an other building, presented a far more dif ficult task. I readily discovered that the sum thus appropriated was entirely iuad- equate to accomplish the end in view. The price of a similar location would t leave but a meagre sum with which to e- rect the building. Under all circum stances, I have not felt authorized to at tempt to carry out the law, and would' respectfully suggest the propriety ot in creasing the appropriation for the pur pose. The report ol the present able anu encr- irctic Adjutant general will inform you ol the condition of the military affairs of the State. This department of public affairs, I regret to say, has been in a confused and de clining condition for several years. The public Librarian has culled my atten tion to the fact, that the law reports of twen- tv-two other Stales have been regularly re ceived by this, and that no provision has ever been made, on our part, to reciprocate uu. courtesy und generosity. I respectfully sug gest the propriety of authorizing some offi cers of the Government to procure the neces sary copies of tho PonnvlvanLv reports to supply those Stotes wtio nave so gcucruuoi; added to our library. The registration act, I respectfully sug gest, has essentially failed to accomplish the end designed, and should be repealed or a- mended. A record to incomplete and imper fect can do no good; but may really do harm. ft has already cost the State about iZa.UUU. to which there must be annually additions. The object is a desirable one, but I am con fident it can never be attained ey tne umue contemplated in this law. It is a subject ol constant complaint by registers and physi cians, and only such registration is made ab is compulsory, in order to legalize letters oi administration. By the 67lh section of the appropriation law of last session the Secretary of the Com monwealth was authorized to continue the publication of the Archives to the year 1790. Under this authority the selection of docu ments froio 1783 to 1700 has been made, and the tenth volume, containing this matter, will be ready for distribution before the close ol the session. Two additional volumes will complete the work as originally designed. The councils of Philadelphia, by an ordi nance passed in October, 1852, dedicated the necessary ground in Independence Square, to the erection of a monument commemorative of the Declaration of Independence; and ten-, dered the possession of the premises to the representatives of nine or more of the crigin al States. Since tint time, the State3 of New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Georgia and Pennsylvania have signified their willingness to accept the prop osition on the terms indicated by the councils, and to participate in this pitriotic work. Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the two Carolinas, have taken no action on the sub ject, I cannot refraiu from again expressing my unabated solicitude for the success of this movement. If American history tur nishea a single event worthy of commem oration by a monument, the Declaration of Independence is that event. In moral jirandcur it is without a parallel, and stands above all others for tho mighty in- na,tn measures, eoou auu uau, fluence which it has exei ted upon the po-j treasury of talent and wisdom to tho litical, religious and social condition ol Congress of the Colonics, were not sur maukiud. It has been justly said, it ush-j passed by those of any other State. It creel in a new member into the family of .va3 her b0ns who . crossed the Delaware nations and electrified all Europe. It o-j;u the dead of whiter, under the lead of pened new revelations of liberty, and j Washington, and for a time turned the changed the relations of people and gov-i(j(eof war. Again, in the struggle of eminent, by teaching the one how to re-j 1812 for the rights of American citizes- tdst and couqucr oppression, and the oth- er tne absolute necessity io iu uu uuu tinuancc, of recognizing and respecting the rights of humanity. From that time . . 1 X 1. . n n forth, a new, vital and quickening spirit has pervaded the world. Thrones have been shaken, empires have been over turned, society has been convulsed, blood and carnage havo desolated the earth; but still .the intelligence and souls of the people of all Christendom have hccn so vivified, elevated and expanded, to a com prehension of their rights, as will never be obliterated or forgotten; but will ad vance, enlarge aud increase, until that moral and social preparation for the ap preciation and enjoyment of liberty shall be effected, which, in the divine economy is so indispensable to the permanence of free institutions. As the third generation of that poster ity, for whom the men of the revolution chiefly labored aud suffered, and died, it is peculiarly fitting that we should erect such representations of their great and controlling acts as shall speak to our own hearts, to our children's hearts, and shall testify to God and the world, that we ap preciate and reverence, and would culti vate and disseminate the mighty truths and principles which brought our nation into existence, which constitute its very life, and of which it seems designated bT providence to be the special defender and protector. I believe we sUould have a monument to perpetuate the remembrance of the great event, from which such manifold and inestimable blessings have sprung; some imperishable memorial of our grat itude to the authors of the Declaration of Independence; to the heroes who partici pated in the mighty struggle; an endur ing witness of the great things done a mongst us and for us; an embodiment of the origin and principles of our govern ment; some distinguishing mark of the place of the nation's birth; a consecrated temple of liberty, about which unborn generations of America may meet and renew their assurances of fidelity to the principles of the Declaration and to their natural offspring the. Constitution and the Union. I am for this work most earnestly; and I trust that Pennsylvania will not permit it to fail; but that it may be pressed upon the attention of the orig inal thirteen States, until each and all shall evinoe a willingnesa and determina tion to participato in tho erection of this glorious structure. To this end I re spectfully suggest to tho General Assem bly, the propriety of again calling the at tention of the original States to the sub ject, by resolution or otherwise. In closing my last communication to thcGeneral Assembly, and terminating my official relations with the people of my native Commonwealth, I may be indulged in a brief and general reference to her present proud position as a member of the great family of States, and to the pa triotism, integrity, and general prosperi ty of her citizens The advantageous geographical position of Pennsylvania, with a fine harbor open to the Atlantic, and another connecting her centrally with tho magnificent chain of western lake nav- Ration her long branching rivers, spreading their arms and arteries through every portion of her territory all add ing to her fertile soil and exhaustless de posits of valuable minerals present a combination of the natural elements of greatness, scarcely equalled in our own or any other quarter of the globe. These have made her an attractive field for the science, industry and enterprise of man; and all her natural advantages have been cherished and cultivated, until she has reached a condition of varied wealth and positive prosperity. Her system of in ternal improvements will safely compare with those of any sister State, whether in regard to completeness in construction, or the extent of country which they trav erse. Nor have the higher hopes of hu manity been disregarded by our states men, and the people at large; 33 the lib eral provisions for common schools, A caderaics and Colleges, and our numer ous crowded Churches attest: while, at the same time, the various Asylums for the insane, and for the unfortunate of all classes and conditions, and Houses of Refuse, for the reformation of the way ward and erring, silently, yet surely,bear witness that the cause of benevolence has always found effective advocates within her borders. Iu physical improvement and popula tion her progress has been steady and rapid. In the days of Government Sny- ter, tne erection oi a muge over tue Susquehanna river, and the construction of a turnpike road was the subject of ex ecutive exultation, and a matter of con gratulation among the people. Now her whole surface is checkered over with rail roads, canals and other high-ways. Then the whole revenues of the State amount ed to but $450,000. Now they exceed five millions. Of the four large States, her per centage of increase in population, since 1840, is the greatest; and Bhe has besides excelled the best of her sisters in the production of wheat, iron and coal. Her population numbers not leas than two and a half millions; nearly as large? as all the States at the time of the Revo lution. The present value of her real and personal estates exceeds 950,000, 000. Her annual production of cool is worth in the market over twenty millions. Her great interests of agriculture, manu factures and commerce aro rapidly ex tending. She has, in addition, a history, of whicli we may well be proud. Within her lim its is found the birth-place of Indepen dence that sacred spot where was first declared those great truths which lie at the foundation of American nationality. In the maintenance of those truths, she bore a glorious part. Her contribution of men to the held, and money to tno nd money to th j ship, and iu that of 1S4G, for American honor and progros?, she contributed with p A ji n't.- . x a prorusc generosity. j ue couicm a mongst her sons was not as to who should have the right to stay at home, but who should have the privilege of going into the field. Rearing this honorable part in matters of foreign war she has bad a no less enviable participation in allaying domestic strifes. Whenever the exigen cy seemed to rcquiro it, she has stood firmly by the Constitution and the Union, and ever contended for the rights of all sections of the cdnntry, and all classes and denominations of the people. Such is our State. To live and die within her limits, and tc- have borno even a very humble part in her civil service and iu her history, I shall ever esteem as a proud privilege one that, as it draws nearer its close, swells my heart with gratttudo to her people, at the recollection of tho numerous proofs of confidence I have ex perienced at their hands. The fullness of my exultation in tho character and hapyy condition of our be loved Commonwealth, and of the grati tude I have expressed, leaves no room in my bosom for even a lingering regret at a decision of my fellow-citizens, which is soon to relieve me from the cares and la bors of a public life. Its transoicnt excite tneuts have already been forgotten, and its alienations, if any, forgiven. I shall, resume my place in the ranks of the peo-i. pie, with a calm consciousness of having always sought to advance their interests to. the extent of my ability; and of never hav ing yielded my convictions of regct, either in subservience to any selfish purpose,, or any narrow and unworthy prejudice. Having adverted to various subjects, of congratulation, in regard to the public affaris of my own State, I may be indulg ed in a brief reference, also, to tho happy aspect of our common country, and tho elevation it has reached among the na tions of tho earth; in the light of liberty, and through the works of its benign in stitutions. Who amongst us, and through out this broad land, does not experience at this moment, and at every moment, in his own condition, and tho condition of those who surround him, the influcnco 4 car
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