? - - , THE JEFFERSONI AN WcvoUb to politics, literature, mgrtculture, Science, jnoialtiu, aub encral Intelligence. as iS in. VOL. 23; Published by Theodore ScIlOch. (man found herself with a caved bonnet, .TERM3-Two dollars a year in ndvance-aml If no Sitting in the middle of a mud puddle, fcKnibVcrg?df theyc,u'lw0 dolIa"andfiify and the horse was flying home in a cloud N paper discontinued until all arrcatages are paid. ' of dust. x&tiXitoJStr ceightimoor1 Beri7 lked the remainder of the dis IiH, omor three insertions $t so. Each additional tance, and that night the horse was sent Urti.n.SOcents. Longeroninpropo.Uun. JdoWQ tQ b;m fromb pinkhams MthQT jfc JOop AIIKG, i 1J"o, Pinckham was greatly ela SiateiU the highest style or the Art, and onthe! leCl Wltn ,us cow Which was a UCry hand most icasoritbie terms. some animal, a deep red, with a white A Pair Trade. "Get a new beast there. haiut you, Jake V "Yes the best horse I ever owned." "She ? - Don't look very remarkable, 'sposs you paid seventy or eighty dollars for him ?" "llumph 1 lo matter what I. paid. But I wouldn't look at less than three hundred and seventy-five for him !" .i?;rl.i!ct;nL- ' nn th .n,nn tn 1,; left hiiid leg, haiut he V 4. iw www w w w w . w k.'f'U 1 114 1U a 1 I w 'Not a spavin l" Well, his left hip lower than the is other by two inches." "No, sir. That's all in your eye IIe.3 tho best horse 1 ever owner :d, that's sayimr tfrcntle won't d perfectly safe considerable. Spirited, but l.nnr tlf will n tlinmrli imrl npffAtlv for women folks to drive. My wife went to Concord with him last week." ,' "Indeed !" with an appearance of in-, tcrcst. "Guess I'll get iu and try the ' reins." Jake Piukham drew iu the reins over the back of the showy looking grey, with a ureat exhibition of strength, sundry 1 comuiauds to "whoa." and "be easy." and Tom Berry sot into the bu" ! l?nlli p.iitlftiiip.n were notor ous horse iockies. and each was continually tryinir : to overreach the other. The horse went well fmelv. in fact. n .i ii i t i i ecretiy, uerry was oetter pieasco witn t; ., " ? , i,. thJ nn,(l,i,r irti,o i-;,,,!' her with such effect that the cow,fled he had seen for many a day, aud after a trro.at dp.nl of IiH""!!!". ivhiph would f:il to interest the reader, a bargain was : inu UI "JUU s"oltJ uuvei iuspeaiv to struck. inny other woman as long as be lived. Mr. Berry had a celebrated cow that ! Tlle C0Tr Provod tobe a confirmed "kick he was desirous of selling, and Mr. i en" was utterly imposible to milk her, Pinkham happened to want to buy, so aland PKliam s only consolation cousis trade was concluded on these terms. j ted 1,1 the thought, that bad as she was, Pinkham was to give Berry one hundred , that horse was full3' hcr quaI n fiftr dollars for tliP pow. nnd IWrv A few da3s afterward, he was met by - . c ' . . was to give him three hundred and fifty dollars for the horse. Berry took the beast home with him, and Piukham's hired man came down and drove up the cow. ! llotli prP hifrhlv deliirhted with their exchange, and each thought himself the j gainer. We sua see which was nearest 1 li-ht After tea, that evening, Mr. Berry who j was quite a last young man, aud very much of a beau, thought he would try his horse. lie would ride down Hawlcy street, and cross to Jefferson, for just then he was deeply enamored of a fair milliner's girl on the latter street, and most of his peregrinations set that way. The animal behaved splendidly. Perry began to think himself the most fortunate inau in existence. Just opposite the milliner's window he reined up to speak to a friend. The horse pricked his ears, lifted his fore feet, and commenced baclciug. Berry exerted all his skill to subdue him, but it was thrown away. The horse was bound to go back. Down through the gutter up over the pavement bang, nm?ili and rattle 1 and the next thincr The apothecary flew at him with uplifted pestle, and the assistant pelted the horse with jars and jugs, ad libitum but the brute kept on with courage undismayed, j. glass scicuu t ran al ou; i,oi- r Berry knew, be was living through the! m? conndencc s, and you shall not lose by windows of an apothecary shop, scattering j11; ousccI traded with a neighbor V,1,,p hotilns in everv rlin.pfjnn! of mine the other day, and got took in the stove, dividing it from Mrs. Apothe-!Pie cary's private parlor, where that lady was, at that moment, engaged in the very iu - tcrcsting employment of spanking a tow - beaded juvenile. A crash, and "the buggy went throng aud Mr. Berry was pitched headforc - most into the lap of Mrs. Apothecary's sister, who was making hor a call. The cider lady sprang to her feet and i t.: i - . i ' in-aummary vengeance on the unexpec-. i-5 u.,f u ;fvrm,l i ,'a ... Oo Afrc .-rT.- ii..i v ir -a nt.,nof hot wnter fc the. horse. Wllicb so enraged the animal that he I , That .rn101on there cam e"P a ST PlP3red h.mBelf from the buggy, andiower. Pinkham wen out to put his Wpded away into the street. new horse in the stable ! and behold . lnn.lppr1 ,mnur' there stood the identical grey "backer" two dollars to catch him, nmuu was ac- -T H1AH pomplished after a smart run, and having . . . i t it pidden the young lady wno naa savea mm . from fate, on affectionate good night,! Berry got into his buggy and started ior home, promising to call next day to set tle damages. They proceeded in fine style for a cou ple of miles j and then upon a dreary Heath the horse came to a stand still, and refused to budge Not an iqch would h.e go either backward or forward taxing and whipping, alike.' availed no j&rin'ff. Berrv cot down and nulled iipi by the bridle, stuck pins inhim,itbm- , , , pushed behina at thp wagon, but without The out,wltied "P pocketed thoir An old woman came alopg with an umbrella. Berry cot her to flourish thatj at'him, but he was immovable. "Yer bound to stand till yer take yer feat, haint ye ?" and she let him have the'whole contents of her snuff-box full in the face. TJie effect was astonishing ! Berry f aa laid ou.t on a rock heap the old wo- etnp in ner lace and of the Leicester , - urcecL .f mi. i iiuvuani s wiic was a pretended inynu, ana J'mkham had a very pretty girl, who acted as a milk maid. Mrs. i ink ham vas tearfully jealous of Jenny inn I in !-ho tia ot-rA - i 1 1. , . . , luuu 1,1 i iiorrur ui his wife's anger, whir.li was more terrible than an army with banners. So he very rarely said anything to Jenny in the- . nouse. ut when she wont to the cowyard ' to "i)k, he sometimes stole in. and talk-! i . 1 cd over the "might have beens," provided' ! Mrs. Pinkliam never existed. ' ""c lrst t'mc JeQr)J went to milk the Berry cow, Mr. Piukhm happened alon just at the right moment, and as Jenny fook sea,t ou a sto1 beside tho COflr. Pink- 1 t00 anotncr stool and sat down by 'lcr' nc, rs- Piukham was watching UlB,n ,ron' behind ihe stone wall. "0h ! Jenny!" cried Pinkhatu "If I wasTulj single, we'd ily " Up went the heels of the cow in the air-over went the pail ; over went Jen-1 and ovcrwent Mr. Tinklum, trampled j bcnc;jt the hoofs of the bellowing quad-' vuped, who seemed to consider herself the injured parly. 1 111 k bam was the firt to recover, and 4UB 1Ml,,:Jl "u um 3U uuw lo eunj. . 4re 3'0UJlurt- i you are I'll be jthe death of that cow !" ! 31 rs- l'mKnam bounded over the wall .TTlfll fl cfnnl In lior linnrl nml liirl oVirnf 1 from the yard Jenny hid in the hay - mow, and 'Piukham, on his knees iu about I ' f p 1 I. ,lleriX' . Avho facetiously inquired how he liked his cow, aud was lold that she was attentnig for beef. And Berry informed , J. In : iam tnat ,,e ,,ad Put tue ll0rsc aaJ !And both concluded to make the best or; h considering both had been -sold." coupie 01 weews aucrwaras, a sty lish looking stranger, riding a dark chest- nu.1 horse, stopped at Pinkham's to in- quire the distance to the next village Pinkham's eye was on the horse at once A conversation about the beast ensued, and the stranger affirmed him to be the ; best nag in the State. Pinkham offered to buy him. but the stranger indignantly refused. It was his wife's horse and nothing would tempt him to a sale. This only made Pinkham the more anxious to purchase, and he urged the man to name his price. "Three hundred dollars ! not a cent less !" said the proprietor. Pinkham considered a moment "I'll give it," said he, "on one consider ation. I see that you are an excellent hand to crack up an article and get a good price for it; and I want you to do me a little favor. I must take you into tremenuousiy -uougnc a cow oi mm ior a a 7 aoimrs, ana tne oeasi "u L """i 1 " , b"1' '1: w changed from red to brown, and if you 11 sell hcr to JLom jierry dowu here a cou 01 IU"es ior a nunarcu aonars, i u 1 Slv-c 3'ou three hundred for your nag, and jtcn hilars, for your trouble." ' TJ,C soger's eyes sparkled, and a j curious expression shot across his face. ,Sut Pinkham was too eager to outwit , Berr)' to Pa? rauch amotion to mere '00s- I 'Iho Granger agreed to perfrom his Par,1 01 "e hus ness-reccivea me money took the cow before lnra, turned the horf lnt0 1,.nK.n trudged off. And lam s barn -yard, and And two hours afterward, Berry was the owner of the cow he had isold Pinkham. and his pocket was the , l'ghter by a hundred dollars. 1 III, J10.il QUI VI fc-W w mm w I , . , , , , r. i previous ; tmn non previous: he had Deen coioreo, ana tne ,rain had wasuea or me paint : -. , , 1 1 l.L, ..! And about the same time, Berry was looking at his new cow, and had little I difficulty in recognizing hcr us the same quadruped he sold to Pinkham I And that night each of the gentleman I receivee a note which let the cat out of the bag. They ran thus : "I have sold the horse to Pinkham, and the cow to Berry and am well paid r doinS 'lt- The proceeds are in my . pockets. Wouldut you like to hnger ! aged never to trade with each other gam A Dutchman ..a Jew days.ago picked up a ound volumeof public documents, on the back of which was stamped "Pub, Docs." "Tuyfel ." said he, what kinder books will dey brint nexfe. As I lif, here is one on gup togs." STROUDSBURG, MONROE GOVERNOR CURTXFS MESSAGE. To the Senate and House of Represen tatives :- During the past year the peo ple oi tms commonwealth have had reas on to be grateful to Almighty God for many blessings. The earth has been fruitful, industry has thriven, and, with the exception of the injury suffered by the citizens of some of our border coun ties, through the disgraceful barbarity of tno Jteoel torces which ravaged parts of them, and burned the town of Chambers- i 1 mm va bviru ui viuiuucia rini-o- lio nn ki:-",:-ft.- i- ment. The year closes with a train of brilliant successes obtained by the armies of the United States, inspiring hone in j'eTery loyal mind that the accursed Re- L t II! ii i . -. oemon win soon he crushed, and peace be restored to our country. The balance in the Treasury November 30, 3863, was 82.147,33170 Receipts during: the fiscal year - ending- November 30. 1864 4.733 313 09, - - j-w w w Total in Treasury For fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 1864 S6,880,644 72 The payments tor the same period haVe been 4,938,441 09 Balance i ber30 in Treasury Novem- 18G4 Sl.942,203 63 The operation of the Sinking Fund du- ring the last year have been .shown by my proclamation of the 27th day of Sep- tember last, as follows : Amount of debt of Common- wealth, reduced '$268,569 50 As follows viz: Five per cent loan ui wic vyuiuiiiuii- wealth 268,308 03 " Interest certificates redeemed 261 47 r 268,569 50 The fiscal year accounted for in the statement of the Treasury Denartment ,l,. v r t P t embraces the time from the 1st of De- cember, 1863, to the 30th of November, r864, The slnkinS fuud year commenced il. . C. 1 fl . t f -inin i uie nrsi. monuay in ccptcmocr, 00,aua closed the first Tuesday in September, 1SG 1. This will explain the discrepancy between the statement of the Treasury Department as to the reduction of the public debt of the State, and the state ment embodied in the proclamation rela tive to the sinking fund. Amount of public debt of Pennsylvania, as it stood on the 1st day of Dec. 1863 $39,496,596 78 -Deduct amount re deemed at the State Treasury During the fiscal year ending with Nov.30, 1864,viz: Five per cent stocks $104,722 73 ' Four and a halt per cent stocks 10,000 00 Interest certificates 2.270 11 116,992 84 Public debt Dec. 1, 1864 $39,379,603 94 Funded debt, viz : Six per cent loans ordinary $4063000..,. Five per cent - loans ordi- ': ' ' nary 35,605,263 72m .; ' Four and a half per cent loans ordinary 258,2WG0 ir . : 36,264,093 72 Unfunded debt viz: Relief notes in circulation Interest cer tificates out standing Interest cert's unclaimed Domestic cred- $97,251 00 i - ' .' 13J036J52 4,448 38 itors' certifi cates . 724 32 115,510 22 .$36,379,603 94 3,000,000 00 Military loan, per act 15th May, 1861 Total public Dec. 1, 1864 30,379,603 94 ed from the sale of Public Works amoun-' j-w vvuiiuvuH uuiiu wuiuu ww.. www. ting to ten million three hundred thous-! nd dollars (810,300,000),. as follows : i . J i ennsylvania Railroad Com- pany bonus J5,touuuuu uu . Philadelphia Railroad Com- pany bonds 3,500,000 00 10,300,000 00 These bonds are in the Sinking Fund and reduce the public debt to $29,079,- 603 94. The tax on tonnago imposed by the acts of 30th April and 25th August 1864, has yielded something less than 200,000 a much less sum than was anticipated. I recommend a revision of these acts for the purpose of rendering the source of revenue more productive, and amending other defects in those bills. The revenue derived from the tax on banks during the year amounted to 539, 606 67, but under the enabling act of the State so many of our banks have become National banks, under thp act of Congress, that this source of revenue may be con sidered as substantially extinguished, and it will be necessary in some way to make up the deficiency from other sources. The National taxation is heavier, and the local taxes authorized by unwise le gislation, and paid by our people, are ex cessive. In view of these circumstances, we should endeavor to avoid increasing their burdens by making undue appropri ations for any purpose. ' The act of Congress authorizes the tax ation by the State bfithe stock in the Na: COUNTY, PA. JANUARY 12, 1365. tionil banks in the hands of the holders u"u wcuiuS nic mtoui iai.aiiuu liupuaeu on other similar property, and part of the deficiency may be thus provided for. 11. i0111 of debt extinguished by the Sinking Fund during the year is un- usually small, which is accounted for by the extraordinary expenses which have been incurred. Seven hundred and thir- teen thousand dollars have been naid to refund to the banks the money to say that the appropriation by Congress advanced by them to pay the volun- was vigorously supported by all the mem- teers in service during the invasion of the hers from this State in both branches. State in 1863. One hundred thousand Having done everything in my power to dollars (100,000) have been distributed procure the payment ofthe just claim of among the inhabitants of Chambersburg the State. I now recommend that the suffering by the Rebel destruction of their Legislature take the subject into consid town. About two hundred thousand dol- cration, with a view to induce proper ac lars ($200,000) have been expended un- tion by the President and Congress, der the acts providing for the payment of By the act of 22d of August, 1864, 1 extra military claims, and in addition to was authorized to cause an immediate those extraordinary outlays, the amount enrollment of the militia to be made, un appropriated to charities was last year less that recently made by the United larger than usual. States should be found sufficient, and to be In my opinion this matter of donations raised, by volunteering or draft, a corps of to charities is fast running into a great a- fifteen thousand men for the defense of buse. Houses of Refuge and Insane, our Southern border. The United States Blind and Deaf and Dumb Asylums ap- enrollment being found very defectvie, I pear to be the proper subjects of State directed an enrollment to be made, which bounty, because their objects are of pub- is now in progress under the charge of lie importnee j and to be useful and well ( Colonel Lemuel Todd whom I appointed and economically managed, it seems to bo j Inspector-General. A draft by the Uni- . .1 1111 l . . uucub&ary mac mey snouio oe more ex- tensive than would be required for the wants of a particular county. But in our system ordinary local charities, and to give the public money for their sup port is really to tax the inhabitants of all the couuties for the benefit of one. It being alleged that the Atlantic and Great "Ve3tern Railroad Company has not in various particulars, obeyed the law by wnicn it was incorporated, the Attorney General (on the suggestion of parties claiming to be thereby injured) has filed an information in equity against that com pany, seeding an injunction to prevent a continuance of its past, and the persist ence of its intended illegal course. Since my last Annual Message, on the report of John A. Wright, Esq., that the Sunbury and Erie Railroad was finished, I ordered the bonds remaining in the Treasury to be delivered to the Company. It is. a subject of just pride to the peo ple of this Commonwealth that this great work is completed, and whilst it opens a large and wealthy part of the State to the commerce of the seaboard, and unites capital and enterprise within our borders it secures to the Commonwealth the pay ment of sums due her from the Company. In my special message of the 30th of April last, to which I refer, I communi cated to the Legislature, in some detail, the circumstances connected with the ad vance by .banks and corporations of the funds to pay the volunteerinilitia of 18G4. It is not necessary here to recapitulatfc them at length. The case was peculiar, and it is believed uone quite like it has occurred. The call for volunteers was made by the authorities, of the United States; but it being found that ineu could not be got under that call, the form of a call by the State authorities for the de fense of the State was, with the assentof the President, substituted. The United States, agreed to furnish the arms, subsis tence and supplies, but it was alleged that j Congress had made no appropriation covcr ' ingthe pay. In this state of things, the emergency being great, the Secretary of War telegraphed me thus : Washington, July 22, 1863. To His Excellency, Governor A. G. Curtin : Your telegrams respecting the pay of mi litia, called out under your proclamation ofthe 27th of June, have been referred to the Presideut for instructions, and have been under his consideration. He directs me to say, that while no law or ap- propnation authorizes the payment, by have reason to ocnevc mac many are sun the General Government, of troops that ignorant of that fact, and are greatly ira have not been mustered into the service posed upon by the exorbitant commis of the United States, he will recommend sions charged by private claim agents, to congress to make an appropriation for i Under the act ofthe 6th of May, 1864, the payment of troops called into State I appointed Hon. Thomas H. Burrowes service to repel an actual invasion,, iucl.u- to take charge of the arrangements for ding those of the State of Pennsylvania the education of the orphans of soldiers. t o a1 - j.: . : ,u U1B "'"""u. u -'au necessary amount, as n uBu . u 0 ief ?calcrs' PP7 V'' j plied to refund the advance to those who raa(je it. Measures have been taken for the -navment of troops mustered into the . . . ? . . . United. btates service as soon as the mus I ter and pay rolls arc made out. The an- swer ot this department, to you as uov- n r t . . -lit l t ernorot the estate, win oe given directly to yourself, whenever the Department is prepared to make answer. (feigned) .EDWIN Jl. oi AiN JLUiN. Secretary of War. The banks. and other corporations re- fused to loan the money unless I would pledge myself to ask an appropriation from the ' Legislature to refund it. It will be noticed that the pledge of the President is clear and distinct, but not- withstanding the money was paid and the accounts settled and placed in the hands of the President before the meeting of Congress, no such recommendation as promised me was made, and for that reas- F . mi 1 1 - on the ni l introduced tor that purpose failed, The men were raised and placed under the command of Major-General Couch and the other United States offi cers in this Department. The troopswere held in service longer than the emergen- r.r- for whink ihftv wp.re called outreuuired Several of the regiments were marched wer such purposes, they should be amend immediately into the distant parts of the ed and perfected. State by order of the officers of the army If auy company desires to be incorporated stationed in Pennsylvania, against my to- with greater privileges than are conferred, j : v "V ' . . . monstrances; niww.rprfitiiined. as was alUced. to preserve - the ipeace and enforce the draft. Nearly, if not quite, one-half the money was paid to troops thus held and alter the emergency had expired. Finding that the appropriation was likely to fail in Congress, I laid the matter before the Lesislature. inut nn'or fn th',r ,-nnm. meut, in May last, and an Act of Assem- ble was immediately passed to refund the money out of the State Treasury, which, as above stated hna han Annn V j ted States was then m progress, and it was noi mougnt aavisaoie to narrass our people by a cotemporaneous State draft, even if a draft had been practicable un der the present law. Yoluuteers could not be obtained, there being no bounties, and the men not being exempted by their enlistment in that corps from draft by the United States. Fortunately the United States placed an army, under General Sheridan, between us and the enemy, and thus provided effectually for our defense. With such adequate protection, as proved by the brilliant campaign of that array, I did not think it right to incur the expense to the State of an independent army, and the withdrawal of so many of pur people from their homes and pursuits. Mean while arrangements have been made with the authorities at Washington for arming, clothing, subsisting and supplying tho corps at the expense of the United States, and an order has been given by the au thorities ofthe United States to furlough such volunteers in the corps so privileged not to exceed 5000 men. It is my inten tion to raise 5000 men during the winter, and I have already adopted measures to that end. There may occur irruptions of irregular bodies of the Rebels, and it is well to be provided agaiust them. The number proposed to be raised and put into actual service will, in my judg ment, be sufficient, aud a regard to due economy require that no more than are sufficient should be placed on pay. The remanining 10,000 will be organized and ready for service in case of necessity. I invite your immeditate attcution to the very able report of the Inspector-General, which sets forth the defects in the law which he has discovered in I113 prcpar- 1 . 1 II 1 tion for carrying it into practical effect. 1 he otatc agencies at Washington and in the Southwest are in active and suc cessful operation. I communicate here with the reports of Colonel Jordan, at Washington, and Colonel Chamberlain, agent for the Southwest. The provisions of the law requiring agents to collect moneys due by the United States to sold iers, have been beneficent. A reference to their reports will show tho magnitude and usefulness of this branch of their service. I disirc to invite the attention of all our volunteers, officers, soldiers, and their families, to the fact that the State agents will collect all their claims on the Government gratuitously, as I t i :ii. x i comuiuuuaie i.b.il.. oFy u, u ie- po on cue auojecu uc nan u.scnargeu US QU T commcruuauie zea, nae" ity and (Smcicncy. I earnestly recom- mend that a permanent and liberal ap- nronriation be made to sunnort this iust r . ... rr and worthy scheme of beneficence I recommend that an appropriation De raade tor pensions to the volunteer .... - ..... ..... 1 militiameu (or their lamihes), wno were killed or hurt in service in the year 1862 and 1863. As soldiers sometimes arrive here who are insane, and who should be protected and cared for, I recommend that provisiou be made for their being placed iu the State Asylum for the Insane, at this place, and kept until notice cau be given to the authorities of their respec- tive counties who should be required to remove aud care for them. m I feel it to be my duty to invite your serious attention to the evils growing out of the system of passing acts ot lncorpora- tion for purposes which are provided for by general laws, n e have passed aots ii i tli.irtnra f n ha nnt'iniad witn uuinoriziuK """"" out special legislation. These acts have hpp.n ireneraly prepared with some care and contain the provisions which the Legislature thought necessary to protect the Commonwealth aud hec citizens. If these general laws are not fouud to aus- or 10 oe renuvou uum tions-imposed by these acts, it appears to ( me that it should be required ht to ob KG. 46 tain a charter under the general laws, and then apply to the Legislature for an act making the changes which are desi red. The attention of the Legislature will thus be drawn to the specific object, and a judgment can be formed of its pro priety. I would also observe that great evil results from the habit of granting privileges to corporation by a mere ro ferenco to some former private act rela ting to other corporations, sometimes, without even giving the date of these acts. All these practices are bad, and al though thcyvmay sometimes be pursued by parties haviug no bad intentions, yet they certainly originated in the design, of surprising the Commonwealth into, grants of privileges which it was know could net be obtained if their extent were understood, and they are often followed now for the same fraudulent purpose, , Pstrongly recommend the repeal of the act passed the 18th day of July, A. D. 1863, entitled "an act relating to cor porations for mechanical, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying purposes' Its provisions are found to be practi cally so inconsistent with the due protec tion of the citizens and with the just policy of the Commonwealth, that it ought not to be allowed to stand longer on our statute books. I approved the act in question with great reluctance, and subsequent reflection and observation' have satisfied me ofits mischievous char acter. I also recommend the repeal of an act passed the 22d day of July, A. D. 1863",r entitled "A further supplement to an-act to enable joint tenants and tenants in common, and adjoining owners of miner? lands in tlm Commonwealth, to manage and develope the same." This act allows foreign corporations" ttr hold three hundred acres of land in this Stato for mining purposes. It was passed it is believed, for the purpose of enabling companies near our border, engaged in the manufacture of iron, to hold lands aa ore banks. But under the idea that the sinking of an oil well is mining, it is believed that companies have already been organized under the laws of other States, and that more will be, for the purpose of holding land and carrying on the oil business in this State. It would be better to remove all doubt on this question by repealing the act. These companies, being foreign' corporations, are not within the control of our laws to the exteut that they ought' to be for purposes of taxation aud regula tion. The immense development of wealth in some of our western counties, by the dis covery of oil, has added vastly to the re sources of the Commonwealth. I have made efforts to ascertain the value of this product during the last year, but have failed iu procuring infor mation sufficiently accurate to justify me in estimating its amount. It is already vast, aud is rapidly increasing. The productions and manufactures of the State have become so diversified and abundant that some measure should be taken for accurate ascertainment of them, so that their 'extent may be generally known, and also that the necessary taxa tion may be intelligently imposed. I re commend for these purposes, the creation of a Bureau, of which the Auditor-General and State Treaurer shall be members, and the head of which shall be a new. officer, to be styled Commissioner -of Statistics, or designated by any other ap propriate title. The act of 25th August, 1864, proyi ding for the voting of soldiers, should be carefully cxamiued with a view' to its a-, mendment, and, indeed, a revision of our whole election laws would seem to be de sirable, with a view to the essential ob jects of 1. The admission of legal and-, exclusion of illegal votes at the polls'; and" 2d. Faithful aud correct returns of the votes actually polled. I communicate herewith the opiniou of the Attorney General on the conflicting returns for the Sixteenth Congressional District, which will show some of the practical difficul ties which arise under the existing sys tem. Without undertaking to recommend the adoption of any partiuular plan, I submit the whole subject to your careful and' earnest consideration in the hope that in your wisdom you will be ableYto devise some measure which will produce the result so esseutial to the existence of a free Government that votes shall be' fairly taken in the first instance, and fair- Jy counted aud returned aitenvurds. I have endeavored siuce I came . into offict to exercise as cautiously as possible the power confided to the Executive. .and avoid usurping any. 1 shall endeavor" to persist in this course to the end. A new call has been made by the President for three hundred thousand raea. This reuders it proper that I should' invito your attention to the evils which' have resUtted from abuses of the system of local bounties which was beguu iu the emergency, by the voluutary aud gener ous loyalty of our citizens, before the pas sage by Congress of the EurollmenLiact, and has sineo been contiuued by suudry acts of Assembly The result lias been to the last degree i( prussive to pur, citizens, and unpro ductive of corresponding benefit to, , the' Government. Iu some couutiesand town-' ships it is believed that the bountyax' during the last year exceeded tha average .ncome derived from the land.. The bge sums offered in some. places iu the epmpe- . anion for uiuii have deaiyralieU uianj o "
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