T"tJL"yj"- - ifw
Btvokb to IpoRtirs, literature, Olgrintta, Same, iWcraI an General Intelligence.
VOL 20.
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY, PA. JANUARY 23, IS62.
NO. 52.
I
Published by Theodore Schoch
TERMS. Tworiollars ncrannumin advance-Two
dollars and a quarter, half yearly and if not paid bc
fora the end of tlie year. Two dollars and a half.
No papers discontinued until all arrrcarages aro paid
except at the option of the Editor.
IOAdvertiscmcnts of one quaie of (ten lines) cr
less, one or thiee insertions. $1 00. Each additional
insertion, 55 cents. Longer ones in proportion.
JOB PRINTING.
H.tvins a general assortment of large, plain and or
onicnt-.uTypc, we arc prepared to execute every dc
scription of
Oirl. Circul.irs, dill Heads, Notes, Clank Receipts,
JiKtir.c. Le5.1l and other Illanks, Pamphlets, ice, prlu
ted with neatness and despatch, on reasonable-terms
at this office.
Dirge for the Year,
BY PERCY B. SHELLY. .
Orphan hours, the year is dead,
Come and sigh, come and weep!
Merry hour, smile instead,
For the year is but a leep,
Sec, it smiles as it is sleeping.
Mocking your untimely weeping,
As nn earthquake rocks a coarse,
Injts coffin in the clay,
So white Winter, that rough nurse.
Rocks the dead-cold year to-day.
Solemn hour! wait aloud
For your mother in her shroud.
As the wild air stirs and sways
The tree-swung cradle of a child,
So the breadth of these rude days
Rocks the year; be calm and mild,
Trembling hours; she will arisn
With new love within her eyes,
January grey is here,
Like a sexton by her- grave;
Februnry bears the bier,
March with grief dolh howl and rave,
And April weeps but, O ye hours,
Follow with May's fairest flowers.
Important Correspondence.
The Worcester Palladium prints the
following as "Official:"
Complaint of John Bull to Brother Jona
than. Brother Jonathan: My goose-pen
stands in the road. Two of your go-lings
got into it in a storm. Your son Wilkes
came muttering a.ong-iurew a none to-
ward, the pen-burst open the door- j
got in and tookput your two ceilings, and
nnrrinfl rriom nit nir .Innftfhnn I fltn
pn, 1 II ei nrc 10 your uaru auu ium
all your buildings! lours with Hl be as folloWfl: for the rural di5rictSf
consideration, John Bull. j02 aUy, anJ for Alegheny 92
Rcspo?ise of Brotiirr JonaOian to John T!ie (aspnyCrs Bro, of course, greatly dis
Bidl. j tressed at tho prospect before them.
Brother J. Ball, E-q : What my son ! This great debt was incurred by sanguine
Wilkes did, was all on his account. I official, who believed that the dividends
didn't tell him to throw a stone at your on tho railroad bonds would so far ex-goose-pen,
or get into it. Nor did I tell eeed all expenses thot a surplus would
him to take out the goslings. But," John; , flow into the county and city treasuries
as you seem to determined to "pick a sufficient to meet the current expenses of
fuss" about the two goslings, you tnny both, and thus do away with taxation al-
take tham in wclcomel lve got aplenty
more at aomef
Yours to serve,
Brother Jonathan.
Scene in an Irish School.
Class in Scripture History will Uke the
flure. Now then, .lira Murphy hould up
yer bead and be afther lookin sharp to
the questions 1 11 ne ax:n : , t
Master-What dumb baste was that
apake when the angel of the Lord ap-
peareu 10 -'lainaun
Tim Saro an' 'twas n whale!
Master Well, what did he say!
Tin Thou almost persuadest me to
be a Christian!
Master To whom did ho say this!
Tim To Moses in the bullrushes.
Master What was Moses' reply!
Tim Thou art the man.
Master That'll do; now go and cut
some torf for the fire.
Bovel Contrivances in the Churches of
Boston. j
In the new Methodist .Episcopal Unurcn ,
on Tremont street, Boston, the organ I
small stream of Cocbituato being intro
duoed, which does the work admirably,
without getting the "sulks" and quarrel
ing with the orgaoist. All that the lat
ter has to do, is to turn on a stop cock,
whioh lets on the water, and the organ
bellows are put in motion, and supply all
tha wiod desired. Io the new church
pire of Rev. Dr. Grannett, also in tho ci
ty of notions, there is a fino chime of bells
whioh is to be played upon by means of
electricity, so that the performer may
cause them all to sound exactly in the re
spective order he may desire, while seat
ed at a kejboard similar to that of an or-
JJjA charcoal pedler, who was taken
from his cart near Newburyport the other
day in an insensible etato, and apparent
ly dead from cold, on being thawed out
at a neighboring bouse, Bays the Newbu
ryport Herald, opened his eyes, and with
s rnn fnnfld look asked if anvbodv wanted
tn hav eharooal. That was probably the
last thought in his mind beforo bo lost
onseiousness, and on coming to himself
he commenced just where ho left off, and
was ready for a bargain."
flonrlir nhpprved that he had out
a plate of brass upon bis boots to keep
. . ' t 1 1
bim upright. "Veil palanced, by jing!"
said t Dutchman, "prass at both ends."
Cotton and the Negroes.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Ledger writing from Hilton Head, says:
It is estimated that at least 82,000,000
worth of cotton has been secured and ta
ken care of already, aq.d the negroes aro
every day busily employed in piokiog,
baling and shipping moro. On the dif
ferent islands where cotton aboonds, they
are set to work in gangs of tcD, twonty
Gvc, fifty or a hundred, collecting the
cotton in baskets or bags, whieh they car
ry in one hand, or slung from the shoul
ders. They empty the cotton in other re
ceptacles, where it is weighed, and each
picker is credited at the rate of one oont
per pound for his work. Thus tbo ac
count ia kept with the nogrocs. The cot
ton from each plantation is marked with
the initials of the owner of the estate, and
the fact noted in the account; so that if
it can ever be shovrn that the property
belonged tc a loyal man, the oxaot a
mount of carnage can be ascertained.
Perhaps tie idea of loyalty may oause
the readei to smile incredulously, but it
will be onoeded at any rate that tho
prccautioi taken is a prudent one, and
generous, if more than just. -Tho ne
groes nnnifest the greatest interest in
collecting all the cotton they can find.
However dull of understanding many of
tbcra miy be, every one can sec the pe- j
cuniary reason for getting cotton for tho ;
"Yankcis." Mirny tiroei they havo led
small pirtics to distant plantations, se
cured lost loads of the article, and ro- '
turned in triumph, demonstrating their
exultaton by extravagant gestures, songs, '
shouts of hi, i, and rapid successive ele- .
Yotioo,' of heels. Let mo say here that
we bate almost found tho negroes truth
ful in ho t-tatecents thoy have made to
us, aui consequently we have sometimes
relied in their guidance io making quite
cxtcnd;d explorations of the country.
.
-The county of Allegheny, Penn
sylvania,' is struggling under an enorm
ous railroad debt, which, added to that of
the cities of Pittsburg and Allegheny, is
sufficient to ruin any community less for
tunate in the possession of mineral wealth
and indu-trtal resources. The county
debt is $3,3jl,06l; that of Pittsburg 84,
it 4 1 j r aii 1 n: -i
, - - o
part of which was'
, fnr rAA nnrnnsps. Th en-
1111, UiU, iJU'l lllilb Ul illlUgUL'UJ Ultjf 1,' ,
. - - r . .
. , , , - f . ;
together. When this dream vanished
and the roads were found incapable of
j meeting the simple interest on their cost,
I the general indignation was great and le
! gal quibbles were resorted to in order to
evade the payment of bonds. Suits were
I 1 t 4 . L III. iL . 1
un3niajous result of a verdict a.
. gt hQ c flnd cUieg Tbc CouQ.
CoQmif:sioacrs refused to obey tho or-
der of the court, and were put in prison
where they reained till the expiration of
their tcnag Bnt a, thU wag
cruing and cost increasing, eo that now .
the interest in arrears amount to S1.45:,
390, and tho costs unpaid to S5,935.
A Sharp Eoy.
Two boys of tender age who went by
the nameB of Tom and Jack, became
members of a district school in a certain
New England town. On making their
appearance, the teacher called them up
before the assembled school, and pro
ceeded to make certain interrogatories
concerning their namee, ages, &o.
"Well my fino lad," Paid tho teacher
to the fir6t ono, "what is your name!"
"Tom," promptly responded tho ju
ve-
"Toml" said the teacher, "that does
not eound well. Remember always to
speak tho full carao. You should have '
said Thorn as. Now my son," turning to j
tnc otocr ooy, woose iaco suaaeniy ngot
ed up witb the satisfaction of a newly
comprehended idea, "now, then, you tell
me what your name is?"
"Jack ass" replied tho lad, io a tone
of confident decision.
No Danger.
A "whang doodle" hard shell preach
er wound up a flaming sermon with this
magnificent peroration:
"My brethern and sistorn! ef a man's
full of religion you can't hurt biml
There was the three Arabian children;
tbey put 'em in a fiery furnace, betted
seven times better than it could bo hct,
and it didn't singe a hair on their hcadsl
And there was John tbe Evaogeler: they
nut him and where do you think, breth-
I ring and eietern tbey put himl Why,
thev nut him into a oaladronio of bilin'
! lie, and biled him all night, and it didn't
1 faze his shell! And there was Daniel;
! they put bim into lion's den and. what,
mv fellow travellers and respected audi
tories. do you think ho was put into a
lion's don fori Whv. for prating three
1 times a day. Don't bo alarmed, bretb-
, T 1 fill l f
ring and sietern; I don't think any of you
will over get into a lion s den!
A STEAM BATTEEY.
The N. Y. Herald says tbo Govern
ment is having built at that port an iron
clad vessel, which is to be launchod this
month. The following is the dimensions
of tho vessel: Length 175 feet, breadth
of beam 40 feet, depth 12 feet. Her hull
where protected by the water, will be
formed of wrought iron plates, five eighths
of an inch thick, and abovo the water
mark the plate will be six inches thick.
But very little wood is to be used in her
construction, and the dock will bo pro -
teoted by plates one inch m thickness.
She will bo fitted up with Eroisson's pa
tent stoam engine, which together with
her machinery, now being built at Dela
mator's iron works, foot of Thirteenth
street, North river. Sbo will earry two
twelve or fifteen inch Floyd or Rodman
m t Ml I . 4 a 4
guns, rncse win do mounted inside an
iron fort twenty feet hich. Tbo plates of
whioh it will be built are to be eight inch
.... ...... " . . . .
es thick. I he most peculiar feature con
ncoted with tho battery is tbo faot that
the guns oan bo brought to bear on any
given point, without altering tho position
. - . . . . . - -
of the vessel. This is accomplished by
means of a turn table on whioh tho fort
will revolve; it will bo turned by means
of gearing connected with her machinery.
Tbo steersman will be placed inside the
fort, and when in action all the crew will
be proteoied, as no man will be required
to appear on deck for the purpose of work
ing the vessel. Sho is water tight and
firo proof, and her deck, whioh is but
eighteen inches above the water, may be
swept by the waves from stem to stern
without any damage being done, as noth
ing will bo left exposed cither to tho no
tion of the waves or tho shot of the ene
my. A GIPSY CAKE.
Put a sponge oake into a deep china
or glass dish, pour round it a half-pint of
white wine and a wine-glass of brandy.
Let the cake soak up the wine, and then
strew sifted sugar over it, and pour in
the dish a rich, thick custard. Orna
ment the top of the oake with bits of clear
oarrant jelly, or blanch, and split sweet
almonds and stick tbem thickly over the
top.
JjjThe magnitude of Russia is un
precedented in tho history of nations.
Her vast proportions can only be shown
by a comparative statement. The total
area of the United States, the North, the
South, and the Territories, is 2,936,166
square miles. The area of France (in
cluding Corsica and Saroy) is 207,933
squaro miles. Tho area of tho British
Isles U 120,H50 square miles. Thus the
territorial extent of the United States is
twenty-four times greater than that of the
British Isles, and fourteen times greater
than that of France. Our whole area
could be divided into about 400 States of
the size of Massachusetts. It is moder
ate to say that the territory of our single
country is much larger than that which
constituted tbo Reman Empire when it
was greatest. But Russia is between
two and three times larger than the Uni
ted States. Her square miles, in Europe
and Asia are 7,864,861. From the con
tinuity of the Empire, excopt Rusaian A
merica, it may be regarded as one great
wholo. There is no more interesting
problem than that of the destinies of the
American Republic and tbe Russian Em
pire, which divide between them so much
of tho earth's surface and so many of tbe
possibilities of tbe futuro, and which,
while grounded upon opposite political i
deas, rival each other inentorprise, vigor,
and rapidity of development.
Negroes on this Continent.
It is estimated that tbore are some
fourteen millions persons of African de
scent on this continent. In tbe United
States thoy number 4,500,000; Brazil, 4,
150,000; Cuba, 1,500,000; South and
Central American Republics, 1,200,000;
ilayti. 2,000,000; British Possessions,
890,000; Dutch, Danish and Mexican,
200,000.
Whole or None.
'Miss, will you take my arm!" said an
old bachelor. "La, yes, and you too,"
said the young lady. "Can only spare
my arm," hastily replied tho bachelor
"Then," said Miss, "1 oan't take it, oTi
my motto is to go tho wholo bog or none
at all."
TA. pair of stockings sent by tho la
dies' committee for tbe use of some gal
lant volunteer, was accompanied by tbe
following vorse:
Brave sentry, on your lonely beat,
May these blue stockings warm your feet;
And when from war and camps you part,
May some fair knitter warm your heart."
BgT"Shan't I soo you hum from sing
in' skull to-nigbt, Jermby?"
"No; you shan't du no sich tbm?. 1
don't want you nor your company, Reu
ben." 'P'raps you didn't exactly understand
what I said!"
"Yes, I did. You asked mo if you
mightn't see mo bum."
"Why, no, I didn't; I only asked you
hoio your marm was.
nrinoiour Braa.cvu. ui -!.
to be standiog-col lar9f stove-pipo nats,j'
S?-The four croat evils of life aro said
tight boots, ana tobacco.
Men of the Time Watchmakers.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF
Henry D. Moore,
Slate Treasurer.
READ JANUARY 8, 1862..
To the Senate and House of Reyrescnla
lives of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania'. !
Gentlemen : In obedience to the re- j
quiremonts of the Act of 16th March,
'1832, in refercnoo to this Department, I
' herewith submit the following report for
100 nsoal year ending November 30th,
1861
The disbursements and general duties
of the Department for the past year have '
Deen largely in excess of those of any pre
vious year in the history of our State.
An unholy war and rebellion against tho
general tfovernmont, upon the part of a
numbor of tho Southern States of the U
j . 1 . ..
ciou, renaerea it necessary lor tho Jrres
identto call upon tho loyal States for aid
to assist him in sustaining the Govern-
roenti maintaining the Union, and uphol
' j : .1 1 . . . -w
uiug me uonsmution ana tno laws, in
response to that call, Pennsylvania has
moat nobly done her duty, as is attested
by a hundred thousand of her brave and
loyal ona who are now in tho field, sus
taining her honor and assisting the Gov
ernment in cruflbing out this traitorous
rebellion. Tho arming, equipping and
sustaining such a large force as this by
our State, has necessarily involved a large
expenditure of money, and caused the
vast inorease of labor and expenditure of
this Department to which I have alluded.
Presuming thai it will be more aatisfao
tory to have the ordinary receipts and dis
bursements of the Department shown sep
arate and distinct, from tho war expenses,
I reepectfully report:
Available balance in the Treas
ury at the close of the fiscal
year ending Nov. 30, 1861, $681,433 08
Receipts into the general fund
for the last fiscal year, 3,017,045 57
Total, 3,699,078 65
Payments of the ordinary appro
priations and general expen
ses of the State from Decem
ber 1st, 1860, to November
30th, 1861, inclusive, 3,144,480 34
Available balance of the gener
al fund, November 30, 1861, $554,593 31
By comparing the receipts into tbe gen
eral fund for tho last year, witb tbo re
ceipts for the preceding year, it will be
seen there is a falling off or deficiency of
8461,611 74.
This deficiency is mainly on the follow
ing items, viz :
Tax on bank dividends.
Tax on real and personal estate.
Interest on railroad and canal bonds.
Tbo deficiency on aocount of taxes is
to be attributed to financial embarrass
ments and great depression of business,
caused by tbo war in whioh our Govern
ment is engaged.
On tbe 12th of April last, the Legisla
ture by "An Act for the better organiza
tion of the Militia of the Commonwealth,"
authorized the Governor to negotiato tem
porary loans to tho amount of five hun
dred thousand dollars to carry out the
provisions of that act. Under this act
temporary loans were obtained from the
banks in Philadelphia to the amount of
8475,000. On the 15th of May follow
ing, another aot was passed, "to create a
loan and to provido for arming the State."
By the provisions of this aot the Governor
and State Troasurer were authorized "to
borow on the faith of tho Commonwealth
any sum not exceeding three millions, of
dollars, and to issue tbe bonds of tbe
Commonwealth for the same at six per
ocntum interest per annum, and reimbur
sable at any time after tbo expiration of
ton years' from their date : Provided,
That no certificate should bo nogotioatad
at less than its par valuo." There being
doubt upon tbo minds of somo of the mem
bers of tbo Legislature, as also of the of
ficers of tho. Stato government, whether
a six per cent loan could at that timo be
negotiated at par, the Governor was au
thorized by tho sixth section of the Aot of
16th of May, "for tho payment of mem
bers, &c, to advertise for proposals for tho
loan or any part thereof, and allot the loan
to the highest and best' Udders." On ex
amination of these two acts by gentlemen
conversant with financial matters, as well
as by the Hon. Attorney General of tho
Commonwealth, it was deoided that they
did not confer any power to negotiate tho
loan atlois than its par value. In this
ituation of things, with a civil war exist
iog against the Government, its very ex
istence, as well as the capital of tho na
tion threatened, and Government sixes
under tho panic then existing, selling in
tho market at 15 per oont below par, it
seemed almost useless to undertako tho
negotiation of our. State loan at its par
value. In this emergency, by the on
ecnt of tho Governor, I called npon two'of
tbo prominent Banking Houses of Phil
adelphia, Messrs. Urcxcl, and jay oooko
& Co., and after consultation with them,
thoy agreed, with the assistance of this
Department, to undertake the negotiation
even in tho face of all the difficulties sur
rounding it; and to the credit of Pennsyl
vania be it said, that in this dark hour
of our country's trial, and in tbe midst of
an excitement such as the country had
never beforo known, with the credit of
I . i rs -.1 Hnnnrnm nn t mnirllc fnlUnrr
i "T" ' . 7 rr.l "r 7Ci ':
lh markefc aa it thcn wa, the citizens
cororat0 in8litotions of our Com-
and corporate
monwealth most nobly responded to tbo
fervent and patriotic appeal of thoso gon-
tlemen, and vindicated the lojalty and
patriotism of our people by subscribing to
this loan at its par valuo, and setting a
most noble example for her sifter States,
who were to follow her in liko appeals to
their own citizens. Id this connection I;
cannot forbear expressing tho thanks!
which arc due to the banks of the Com-j collectors among our people would be dis.
monwoalth for tho promptness and liber- j tasteful to our citizens, who would n
ality with whioh thsy responded to tbo j doubtedly much prefer to pay the tax to
call for this loan. But for their subsorip- our own collectors in tho usual manner,
tions the loan never could hsvo boen ne-i Secondly. Because tho adoption of that
gotiated, end I deem it but an act of jus
tice that this acknowledgment should be
made of their valuable assistance to tbe
State in tho emergenoy then existing. I
conceive it also to be my duty to say that
in consequence of a doubt existing as to
tho power of tbe Governor under tbe Act
to pay tbo gentlemen who rendored such
eminent service in the negotiation of this
loan, thoy have never received any com
mission or remuneration for the expenses
or servioes. In view of these facts, and
in consideration of the invaluable servi
ces rendered tho State by them.it is to be
hoped that tho Legislature will make
prompt provision for the payment of their
commission by authorizing the Governor
to draw bi warrant for the same.
Tbe receipts and expenditures for mil
itary or War purposos up to the end of
tho fiscal year, November 30, 1861, are
as follows, viz :
Amount received under tem
porary loan, Act of 12lh April
1861, $475,000 00
Amount received under Act
of 15th May, 1861, 2,612,150 00
Cash refunded by Paymaster
and others,
32,229 45"
Total,
Expended un
der Act 12th A
pril, 1861,
Expended un
der Act 15th May
1861.
Expended un
der Act 16th May
1861,
Amount of tcm
poray loan of 12th
April, 1861, re
paid, 83,119,379 45
474,873 85
1,708,462 63
170,535 51
375,000 00
-$2r723,87204
Bilance on hand unexpen
ded November 30lh, 1861, $390,507 41
A detailed account of receipts and ex
penditures will be found in the report of
tho Auditor Go'neral. Amount outstand
ing agoinst tho Commonwealth, Novem
ber 30tb, 1861, of tho war loans, viz:
Temporary loan, Act 12th April
1861, " S 100,000 00
War loan.Act 15 May 1861. 2,612,150 00
$2,712,150 00
Amount of public debt fun
ded and unfunded, November
30, 1861. 37,969,347 50
Amount paid during the fis
cal year ending November 30,
1861, 101,331 42
Amountof public debt exclu
sive of war loan, Nov. 30th, $37,863,516 03
By reference to the roport of the Com
missioners of tho Sinking Fund, it will
appear that S:00,801 01 of the publio
debt was paid during tho year ending on
tho first Monday of September 1861, at
which time thoy are required by law to
report to tho Governor.
On tbo tbe 12th of September an ao
count was presented to the General Gov
ernment of expenses incurred by our
State for war purposes, op to tho 1st of
that month, amounting to about SI, 515,
000 00.
On tho 25th of November following
S606,000 00 was refundedto the State,
being 40 per cent, on tbe amount of ac
count thus presented.
There was therefore in the Treasury on
the 30th of Novomber, 1861, as follows,
viz : ,
Balance of general fund
Unexpended balance war loans,
Amount , refunded by General
Government,
Cash from the society of Cincin
nati, 554,590 31
390,507 41
606,000 00
500 00
Balance in Treasury, $1,551,605 72
Tho semi-annual interest on the State
debt, which will bo due and payable on
tho 1st of next month will amount to
nearl one million of dollars.
It is gratifying to know that tho Stato
will bo ready and prompt as usual to aeet
tbe interest on her obligations.
How much of tho balanoe in the Trea
sury may yet be required to meet expen
ses of our military operations is impossi
Btblo to say, but the probability is .that tbe
unexpended balance will bo sufficient for
tbe refunded balance in the Treasury will
then be applicable to the defences of our
State, the redemption of our loans, meet
ing the direct tax of the General uovcrn
mont nr atinn nthr nnrnoaes as in the
B.i pr". f " Ti p:: ! an aot was passed "to chango tbo na
took vn ft fntnrfl TRnmsitioR from the uen-, u v" . , . a.. .
.11 .1 -n.r. ..nlnoa ko Kinln nhrinlrf I
.v-w..- ;yi T 'of the Snoburv ana liirio JKaiiroai u
eral Uovernment lor more iraopa. no, aQd tho C0ln lotion of
further requisition Bhall be made upon us, . . Qu.
wisdom of the Logialaturo may scorn most peotivo parties, and the Stato now holds
proper. jail the bonds of tho oompany as spocified
By an act of Congress, approved Au-jin said act, exoepting one million of tho
oust 5th 1861, a direct tax of twenty bonds authorized by the second section,
million of dollars was levied against all 'which were delivered to tho Philadelphia
States' of tho Union. Tbe quota of Penn- and Erie Railroad company on the 9th
sylva'nia, under that Act, is $1,940,719 of May last, under a warrant of tbe Gov
33. Two modes of payment of this tas' crnor as authorized by tho sixth section
to the Goncral Government are presented of tbe aet as aforesaid,
by tho provisions of the Aot. Ono is, that; My experience in this Department for
it may bo paid by tho eitizens of each the 4ast year has satisfied mo of(tbe neees-
Stato direct to collectors to bo appointed
hv tho Gonorul Government: and the oth -
j
; or mode that the Stato naay assume sad
j pay the taxand collect it herself from her
own eitisens.
I would respectful urgo upon the Le
gislature tho assumption and payaent. of
tlii tax by our State, for two reasons:-
First. Tbo innovation of Government Uz
course will save about three hundred thorn-
sand dollars to the State, as an allowance
of fifteen per cent. Is made by the Act to
all States who will assume tbc collection,
of said tax.
Under .tbo cupposition that the Stats
will assume the tax, I would respectfallj
suggest a mode by which our citizens may
be relieved from the payment of it for the
coming year. By a proviso in tbe 53i
section of tie Act aforesaid, it is allowed
that this tax may be "paid and satisfied
in whole or in part by tho release of a ay
State duly executed to the United States,
of any liquidated and determined olain
of such State of equal amount agsinit the
United States." It is further provided
"that in case of such releaso, State shall
be allowed tho same abatement of the a
mountof suoh tax as would be allowed ia
case of tbo payment of tbe same in mon-
I would respeotfully prppoao that the
olaim of our Slate against tho General '
Government for military expenses be "de
tcrtzincd" as soon as it can be done, and
that tho Legislature shall authorize a re
lease to bo made of such claim to pay the
amount of our Stato tax aforeiaid.
This would relieve ns from imposing
this tax upon our oitizona for the present
year, and it is to be hoped that by the
time it would be necessary to levy saoh
tax for any succeeding year, that the ex
isting war and rebellion may be crushed
out and the general business of the coun
try will have recovered from its present
depression and financial embarrassment,
and our citizens bo better able to sustain
tbo burthen of suoh a tax.
In this connection I cannot but express
the hopo that our Representatives in Con
gress may bo requested by tho Legislature
to take suoh aotion as shall put tbo ex
penses of this unholy war and rebellion
upon the traitors who commenced and are
now sustaining it; that they be requested
ted to support such measures in Congress
as shall authorize tho seizure and confis
cation so far as it can bo done constitu
tionally, of tbe property of the rebels en
gaged in this rebellion, to pay the war
debt of the Government, and thus relieve
the loyal 'eitizons and their children from
tho onorous burden of taxation whioh thoy
will otherwise have to sustain for years
to come.
Tbe State is holder of bonds of the
Wyoming Canal Company to tho amount
of $281,000 00. Upon the bonds the in
terest was punctually paid up to tho 15th
of January last. In July the company
defaulted in its interest due at that time
and it yet remains unpaid. Being inform
ed that some action was about to be taken
by the bondholders to reorganize the oom
pany byasale of the canalsunder tbsmort
gage I addressed a letter to the trustees
of the mortgage on tho 30th of September,"
requesting that they would take no aotion
in reference to a sale without first notify
ing me as the representative of tbe inter
est of the State in the matter. They re
ferred my letter toC. H. Clark, Eq.f At
torney for tho bond-holders, who inform
ed me by letter that he was "fully aa
thorized by tbe largo bondholder to treat
with tho Stato for tbo bonds she holds,
and that it was bis and their desire that
the interts of the State should be proper
ly protected to the same extent as other
bondholders." I subsequently had an in
terview witb Mr. Clark, and ascertained
from him that in oonsequenoo of suits
having been instituted against tbo compa
ny, a receiver had been appointed, and a
plan matured between stock and bond
holders to reorganize tho company, and
that application woald bo .made to tbo
Court to grant a decreo of sale. The ao
tion contemplated would result in a sub
stitution of stock for the bonds held by
the State, and a reduction or loss of a
bout ten per cent, of tbo amount of her
bonds. I dcolined to act for tbo State in
tho matter, for tho reason, that I bad no
authority to compromise or mke any
settlement which would not realize to tbe
Stato tbo full amount of her olaim. Un
der theao circumstances, I would respect
fully recommend immediate action npon
the part of the Legislature to protect tho
interests of the State in this matter.
At tho last sossion of the Legislature
Be
om-
All tho provisions of this aot binding
upon either State or Company relating to
the issuing, delivery, and cancellation
of bonds, bavo been minucd ny tne res-
ty of a thorough aUerfctionaBareyision
1 of our revenue law.. TholUutthea'df