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Bcuotci to politics, literature, Igricnlturc, Science, ittoralitn, anb cucral intelligence.
VOL. 27.
STROUDSB UR G, MONROE COUNTY, PA., JANUARY 14, 1869.
NO. 41.
Published by Theodore Schoch.
TERMS Two dollars a year In advance and ifnot
p.ti.i before the rnd of the year, two dollars and fifty
tents Mill be rhaipecl.
No jviprr disron;inueil until all arrearages are paid,
except al trie option ot the Editor.
IE7A Jvertisemcnts of one square of (eight line) or
less, one or llife insertions 31 5(1. Each additional
ttiM-ttinii, 50 cents. Longer ones in proportion.
jois ii:iti;,
OF ALL K1T1DS,
Executed la the hiplxvst style of the Art, and on the
kiosC icasoiiiblc terms.
IMS. I?. D. S.TUTII,
Surgeon Dentist,
Office on Main Street, opposite Judge
Stokes' residence, Stroi'dsbvro, Pa.
OCT Teeth extracted without pain.J0
August 1, 1SG7.
Drs. JACKSON & B1DLACK,
PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.
DRS. JACKSON & BIDLACK, are
prepared to attend promptly to all calls
of a Professional character. Office Op
posite the JStroudsburg Bank.
April 23, 15G7.-tf.
C.W. SEIP, M.D.,
Physician and Surgeon,
tiTll O UDSB UIi(, PA.
Office at his residence, on Main Street,
nearly opposite Marsh's Hotel.
All c:i!!s promptly attended to. Charges
roasomlde.
Strouch-burg, April 11, lS67.-tf.
A Card.
Dr. A. UEEVES JACKSOX,
Physician and Surgeon,
BEGS TO ANNOUNCE THAT 1IAV
ing returned from Europe, he is now
prepired to resume the active duties of his
profession. In order to prevent disappoint
ment to persons Jiving at a distance who
may wish to consult him, he will be found
nt his office every THURSDAY and SAT
URDAY for consultation and the perform
ance of Surgical operations.
Dec. 12, 107.-1 yr.
YCH. MT. PAIL. 3. D. HOAR
CHASLES W. DEAN,
WM. W. PAUL & CO.
Manufacturers and Wholesale Dealers in
BOOTS & SHOES.
WAREHOUSE,
623 Market St., & GU Commerce St.
above Sixth, North side,
PHILADELPHIA.
March 19, ISG3. tf.
Itch! Itch! Itch!
SCPwATCII! SCRATCH! SCRATCH!
USE
JiOLLIASHEAD'S ITCH i SALT BliEDi OINTMENT.
No Family fhoul J be without this valua
ble medicine, for on the first appearance of
the disorder on the wrists, betwecu the fin
per?, &.C., a slight application of the Oint
ment will cure it, and prevent its bing ta
ken by others.
Warranted to give satisfaction or money
refunded.
Prepared and sold, wholesale and retail,
hr W. IlUL.LlA&tlL.Ai,
Stroitd.bnrg, Oct. 31,67.
Druggist.
31. I. COO&.AtJH,
Sign and Ornamental Painter,
SHOP ON" MAIN STREET,
(typosile Woolen Mills,
STISOL'DSBCKG,
Respectfully announces to the citizens of
Stroudsburg ond vicinity that he is prepared
to attend to all who may favor him with
their patronage, in a prompt and workman
like miri'irr.
CHAIRS, FURNITURE, &c, painted
and rpaired.
PICTURE FRAMES of all kinds con
stantly on hand or supplied to order.
June II, ISG3. ly.
BE S F ,
IP.OH AND PURE BRANDY,
BY Dlt. II ART. MAN,
Regular Graduate of the University of Penn
rylvania. 07It will positively cure Consumption,
Couple end Colds, ard all diseases of the
,uce or Uronchial Tubes.
ft Ue U-?n the means of RESTORING
'THOUSANDS Lo health who have been giv
en up beycud tha rc&eb of medical afsist
ance. It docs mure to relieve the Consump
tive than any thing ever known. Unequal
led strengthcuer fbr delicate Ladies and
Children. & Lvi -u fcoTTte costain the hu-
TRITJ018 PORTION Of TWO POVXV8 OF CHOICE
Uklk.
The ure of Consumption was first effect
ed by the use of RAW BEEF and BRAND V
in Rufcsia, afterwards in France, in which
countries I have travelled for year6.
I have used it with perfect success in my
own family. In presenting this preparation
to the public I feel confident that every af
flicted f;!ie who reads this (even the most
fckep'ica!) nviy become convinced, by a sin
gle trial that it is truly a most valuable med
icine. Circu'ars and medicines pent to any ad
dress. Trice 81 per bottle ixfor$5.
Laboratory 512 Sjuth Fifteenth Street,
PHILADELPHIA.
Wholesale Agents. French, Richards &
Co., Tenth and Market streets; Johnson,
Jlolloway & Cowden, 602 Arch street; R.
Shoemaker &, Co., Fourth and Race streets,
Philadelphia.
fjy Sold by Druggists Everywhere.
Cheap Feed.
RAIN AT 23 CENTS PER BUSHEL.
Jf Apply at the BREWERY, ,
July c'J, lSG-.-tf Eatl iSiroudslurj. t
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
To the Senate and Jiouse of Representa
tives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl
vania :
Gentlemen' : For the harmony and
general relations of comity and friendship
existing between Pennsylvania and all
the other States and Territories of the
National Union ; for the present prosper
ous condition of the Commonwealth ; for
the glad signs of coming political tran
quility ; and for the succes which attends
the progress of our free institutions, we
owe a heavy debt of gratitude to Divine
Providence. In view of the favorable
circ'imst.nnces under which which you
are now assembled, it becomes my pro
vince and duty, as it is my pleasure, to
offer you my hearty congratulations, and
to tender you a cordial welcome to the
Legislative Halls of the State. This, in
deed, affords me a higher gratification be
cause I participate with your constituents
in the confidence manifested by them in
selecting you to represent their indvidiual
interest as well as those of the Common
wealth. On your wisdom, integrity, judg
ment, and discretion, all will undoubted
ly rely for the correct determination of
every question affecting the largest inter
est and gravest responsibilities, aud for a
continuance, and even an increase, of that
prosperity which has hitherto been so
signally enjoyed.
It is not without a consciousness of the
great responsibility resting upon me that
I undertake the performance of a consti
tutional duty, requiring that the Gover
nor "shall from time to time give to the
General Assembly information of the
state of the Commonwealth, and recom
mend to their consideration such
measures as he shall judge expedient."
In conformity with this requirement your
attention will be called only to such mat
ters of public interpst as iu my judgment
deserve careful consideration and action
on your part during the present session.
FINANCES.
The following is a carefully prepared
statement of the financial condition of the
State for the fiscal year ending Novem
ber 30, 1SGS :
The reports of the Auditor General and State
Treasurer show that the balance in the Trea
sury, Nor. 30, 1S67, was $4,GG1,S3G 46
Ordinarv receipts during the fis
cal year ending Nov. 30, 1 SGS 5,21 G,049 55
Depreciated funds in the Treas
ury, unavailable, 41,032 00
Total in Treasury for fiscal vear
ending Nov. 30, 1SG8, " $9,918,918 01
Payment', viz :
Ordinary exenscs during the
fiscal vear, ending November
30th, "1SGS, 2,454,506 09
Loans, &c redeem
ed, 4,417,403 C4
Other pavments, 12,S00 00
Interest on loans, 1,979,090 91
Dcpreei ated funds
unavailable, 41,032 00
3,905,402 G4
Bal. in Treaty, Nov. 30, '03. ? 1,01 3,4 15 37
SINKING FUND.
Fy an act approved April 10, 18GS,
the transactions of the Commissioners of
the Sinking Fund were ordered to be
thereafter reported annually to the 30th
day of November. Their last report,
therefore, includes, a period of one year
and three months.
The following is the "recapitulation"
of the operations of the sinking fund,
from September 3, 18G7, to November
30, 1803 :
Balance in fund, Sept. 3, 'G7, 1,737,912 41
Receipts in fund from Sept. 3,
'G7, to Nov. 30, 'GS, 3,418.992 31
5,150,904 72
Paid interest, $1,808,003 S4
Premiums paid as
equivalent for
coin, 49 98
Loans redeemed, 2,414,816 64
1,222,871 9G
Balance in fund Nov. 30, 'OS, $934,032 7G
By the sixth section of the act of May
10, 1861, a special tax of one-half mill on
the dollar was especially set apart for the
payment of the interest and redemption
of the loan created by an act of May 18,
1SG1, entitled "An Act to create a loan
and provide for arming the State."
Balance on hand Sept 3, 'G8, $319,933 17
The receipts from said tax and tax
on gross receipts from Sept. 3,
'07, to Nov. 30, '08, amount to 423,979 20
Total, 743,912 37
Interest paid in Jan. and July, 'GS, 1C9,245 CO
Balance in fund Nov. 30, 'G8. $574,067 37
CONDITION OF BALANCES.
Balance in sinking fund Nov. 30.
18G8, w $934,032 76
Balance in sinking fund Nov. 30,
J 868, 574,007 37
$1,508,700 13
D&Iuctbal.inTreas.Nov.C0.'GS, 1,013,415 37
BaL in favor of sinking fund, $495,284 76
REDUCTION OF THE fcTATE DEBT
Dy the report of the Commissioners of
the Siuking Fund for the year ending
September 3, 18G7, the "loaus redeemed"
amounted to $1,794,5G9 50, and by their
report from September 3, 18G7, to No
vember 30, 1SG8, the "loaus redeemed"
amouut to $2,414,816 04, making a to
tal reduction of the State debt, in two
years and three mouths, of four million
two hundred and nine thousand three
hundred and eighty-six dollars and four
teen cents.
The assets remaining in the Sinking
Fund are as follows, viz : Uoud of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, six mil
lion, four huudred thousand dollars, aud
bods cfthc phili Jclphia, aud Kric lUil-
road Company, three million, five hund
red thousand dollars. These are non-interest
bearing bonds and will not mature
for many years. I, therefore, recommend
to the consideration of the Legislature
the propriety of the passage of a law,
authorizing the Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund to sell these bonds at pub
lic sale to the highest bidder, and direct
the proceeds to be applied to the liquida
tion of the State debt.
TUBTIC DEBT.
Public debt outstanding Dec. 1,
1SG7, $37,704,409 77
Deduct amount redeemed at State
Treasury during the fiscal vear
ending Nov. 30, 1SG8, viz :
5 per cent, loan?, $4,354,253 64
4.1 por cent, loans, 03,000 00
Relief notes cancelled, 210 00
4,417,403 G4
Public debt December 1, 1SG8, $33,286,940 13
Statement showing the condition of thn
indebtedness of the Commonwealth on
the first day of December, 1863.
Funded debt, viz :
G per cent, loans, $25,311,180 00
5 per cent, loans, 7,749,771 56
4 J per cent loans, 112,000 00
Total funded, $33,172,951 50
Unfunded debt, viz :
Relief notes in circu
lation, $96,415 00
Int'st certificates out
standing, 13,0S6 52
Int'st certificates un
claimed, 4,448 33
Domett, creditors cer
tificate, 44 G7
Total unfunded, 113,994 57
Total funded and unfunded, $33,2S6,946 13
Which is the amount of the State debt
as before stated.
During the last eighteen years there
has been carried upon the accounts of the
Auditor General and State Treasurer,
and in their several public statements,
"depreciated funds unvailable" to the
amount of forty-one thousand and thirty
two dollars. I recommend the appoint
ment of a joint committee, by the Le
gislature, whose duty it 6hall be to ex
amine the said depreciated and unavail
able funds and dispose of them to the
best advantage of the Treraury ; or, if
found to be worthless, to cancel and de
story them, so that the accounting officers
may be relieved from the necessity and
responsibility of annually accounting for
them.
The large cash balance remaining in
the Treasury on the 30th of November,
1SG7, has been used for the payment of
the twenty-three million loan and for the
liquidation of outstanding claims against
the State. The investment of the funds,
in one of the modes recommended ia my
last annual message, has, therefore, in a
I great measure been rendered unnecessary
lor inc present. iut m tne event or large
accumulations of mosey hereafter, the re
commendations therein given are respect
fully referred to, and renewed. When
ever there may be surplus funds in the
Treasury, they can, with safety and bene
fit to the State, be employed in the pur.
chase of its outstanding bonds, and in
saving the interest on them which would
accumulate prior to their maturity.
I regret to state that the last Legisla
ture, although fully forewarned in regard
to the insecurity and want of proper and
sufficient guards for the safe keeping of
the money of the Commonwealth, failed
to determine upon any mode by which
the Treasury may be effentually guarded
against the possibility of loss. The pre
sent Legislature has it in its power to se
cure for itself no ordinary houor, by the
enactment of such a law, strong and ef
ficient for the purpose iudicated, and the
enjoyment not only of the approbation,
but the permanent gratitude of every cit
izen. Notwithstanding the srtisfactory reduc
tion of the public indebtedness, as shown
in the foregoing statements, and immense
State debt is still upon us, requiring near
ly two million of dollars to be collected
to pay the interest accruing upon it an
nually. Its extinguishment at the ear
liest practicable period, not inconsistent
with other public interests, is of the
highest importance to every tax-payer.
I cannot, therefore, too strongly urge the
strictest economy in respect to every ex
penditure and the utmost retrchement in
every department.
Retrenchment is emphatically demand
ed by the people, in legislative expendi
tures, as well as in every other branch of
the government. Their eyes arc open to
investigate every transaction, and by their
ballots they are ready to strike down
those who will not take effective action
in favor of positive and radical reform.
The money paid into the Treasury is the
property of the people, every one of whom
has a just right to hold his representa
tives to a strict accountability for every
dollar that may be appropriated or ex
pended. I here renew the remarks made last
year on the subject of "annual appropria
tions," to which you arc respectfully re
ferred. For four successive years the
general appropriation bills have been
signed on the eleventh day af April, be
ing about the time of adjournment. The
Governor has been forced either to sign
the bills without proper investigation,
notwithstanding any objections he may
have ; suspend the means to defray the
operations of the goverumeut for the en
suing year ; or call an extra session of the
Legislature. I repeat that "it is earn-
'estly desired that the appropriation bill
be taken up, discuhscd and passed at a
EuCicieutly early period duiiuj the ses
sion to enable it to receive that thorough
examination which its importance de
mands." EDUCATION.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The annual report of the Superintend
ent of Common Schools exhibits the con
dition of that department in a highly
satisfactory manner. Within the State
there are 1,91S school districts; 13,766
schools ; 2,382 graded schools ; 11,693
school directors ; 73 county, city and
borough superintendents; 16,771 teach
ers : and 800,515 pupils. The cost of
tuition for the year was $3,273,269 43 ;
of building, purchasingand renting school
houses, $1,991,152 55 ; of contingencies,
$854,253 21. These three items, with
expenditures for all other purposes con
nected therewith, amount to the aggre
gate sum ot $6,206,537 96.
These facts are exhibited with great
satisfaction, as they show the average an
nual cost for the tuition of each pupil to
be about seven dollars and seventy-four
and a half cents. The average amount
paid to each teachor is about $195 17
per annum. This, in my opiuion, is too
small a salary to secure the services of
competent teachers; and I am fully justi
fied in urging the necessity of increased
compensation. It is but just, and it will
have an elevating tendency not only up
on the teachers but the manner in which
their duties are performed.
Your attention is called to the fact that,
notwithstanding the amplo provision now
made by law for the education of all per
sons between the ages of six and twenty
one years, large numbers of children,
principally in our cities, do not attend any
kind of school. Over twenty thousand
of this .class are found in Philadelphia,
and the number in the state is estimated
to be not less than seventy-five thousand.
These children grow up in ignorance, fre
quently without employment, and many
of them contract habit3 of vice, which
eventually cause them to be committed
to houses of refuge, county prisons or
penitentiaries. Humanityand sound pub
lic policy demand that something be done
to remedy this growing evil, and also that
of the neglected condition of considerable
numbers of children in the alms and poor
houses in many of the counties.
Four Normal Schools are now re
cognized as State institutions. The num
ber of students attending them during
the past year was 2,115, of whom eighty
graduated. Two additional Normal
Schools will probably go into operation
during this year, one located at Blooms
burg, Columbia county, and the other at
California, Washington county. The
value of these institutions to the common
schools system cannot be estimated. Onr
schools are comparatively worthless with
out qualified teachers, and such teachers
can most easily be obtained from the
Normal institutes, where the art of teach
ing Is made a specially.
A meeting of the presidents and other
authorities of a number of our pincipal
Colleges was held in Ilarrisburg last win
ter, the object of which was to bring
about a closer union of all our educa
tional institutions, andconnect by a bond
of sympathy, if not of organic structure,
the common schools, high schools, acade
mies and colleges. The establishment of
such an educational department seems to
be desirable.
There is no subject more worthy the
deliberations of the Legislature than the
promotion of the welfare of our common
schools. They immediately underlie the
characteristic features ot our social sys
tem ; they arc fountains of that wide
spread intelligence, which, like a peren
nial vitality, pervades the nation, aud are
nurseries of that inquiring spirit to which
we are indebted for the purity and pre
servation of our free institutions. In a
republican government education is a sure
basis of power and public prosperity.
I5y it the people are taught to discern
and estimate the value of their own rights;
to distinguish between oppression and the
exercise of lawful authority ; to discri
minate between liberty and licentiousness;
to preserve an inviolable respect for the
laws, and exercise "eternal vigilance"
against any encroachments upon them.
It is admitted that a thoroughly educated
people alone can be pcrmaueutly free.
by cducatioual culture patriotism is ex
panded, and the principles, manners and
Ecntiments of the wholo people are as
similated. Many of the sources of ical
ous!yand prejudice are diminished, social
harmony largely increased, and the struc
ture of our free and happy system of
government cemented, strengthened and
adorned.
soldiers' orphans' schools.
In his report the Superintendent of
Soldiers' Orphans' Schools exhibits the
total expenditure for their support from
December 1, 1867 to may 31, 1863, to be
$236,970 26 ; total numberof pupils ni the
schools 3,431 ; average cost per pupil $69
06 for six months; and the average
weekly expenses per pupil $2 65. The
fiscal year of these schools, like that of the
common schools, termiuates by law on the
last day of May of each year. The pre
sent report of the Supcrinteudeut, there
fore, embraces only six months, aud re
ports will be made up to the 31st day of
May, annually, hereafter. The special ap
propriation of Febuary 25' 1863 made in
accordance with an estimate of the Sup
erintendent, presented in my last annual
message, exceeded the actual expenses
$6,001 J i '
Notwithstanding every possible effort
123 beta, aud .vrijl coutiuuo to be piaJc,
to economize in the expenses of the pre
sent year, and to keep them as far as pos
sible within the appropriation made by
the last Legislature, it will readily be ob
served that there will be a deficit for the
year ending May 31, 1869, the amouut
of which will be carefully ascertained aud
presented to the Legislature prior to the
close of the present session.
The schools are all in good condition
and improving, and their usefulnes is
daily becoming more manifest. They are
among the most philanthropic institutions
of the age, and reflect high honor on the
patriotism of the Legislature by which
they have been so liberally endowed and
upon our people by whom they are sus
tained. The children who are the re
cipients of their benefits are the offspring
of brave men who voluntarily endangered
their lives in the cause of their country
in the most trying hour of its existence,
and who, glowing with patriotic ardor,
fought as bravely and as heroically as the
noblest men in the worjd's history.
Thousands of them who left their homes
in the bloom of health and with the bright
est hopes of manhood, now sleep in death,
leaving their widow? and little ones to the
care of the country in whose service they
fell, and which promised them its protec
tion. Their children are the wards of
this great Commonwealth ; and too much
praise cannot be awarded its people for
the munificent and tender manner in
which they have thu3 far, through their
representatives, discharged the sacred and
delicate trust.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
Before the General Government ap
propriated public lands to the several
States for the purpose of agricultural and
military education and the mechanic arts,
and prior to the time when Pennsylvania
endowed the Agricultural College with
her share of these lands, it wa3 depend
ent wholly upon individual iufluenee,
without any other means for its support
than its own earnings. History proves
that seminaries of learning cannot be
efficiently sustained by their own internal
resources. The education of youth in
the higer branches of knowledge seems
to require the aid of philanthropic con
tributions. This institution had not these
benefits to any adequate extent, and
though the board of trustees bestowed
upon it the most anxious care, their zeal and
labor, combined with those of its friends,
were not equal to a contestvrith the want of
m;ans. llenco the school did not coin-
mand the confidenca of farmers who were !
able to educate their sons, aud who could
not forget that the character of the college
attached to the character cf its graduates;
and that its failure would enter into the
estimate which the world would place
upon the education it bestowed. This
feature has now been removed. The peo
ple, . through their Legislature, endowed i
this institution with the interest upon a
fund of $318,500 00, (invested in
United States and Pennsylvania State six proudest boast. It endows the Amcricaa
per cent,) payable to it serai annually. .citizen with a freedom and a power not
Last year this interest amounted to $25,- possessed by the subject of any other gov
642 78. The residue of the fund, $43,- j eminent. It makes him the peer cf his
886 50, has becu appropriated, under the fellow man, whatever may be his rank..
law, by the board ot trustees, to the
chase of three model and experimental
farm3 ; one at the college, in Center coun
ty, for $3,000 00, ouo in Chester county,
for $17,750 00, and one in Indiana coun
ty for $13,13G 50. The board has also
recently re organized the faculty and
remodeled the course of studies, so as to
adapt them to the wants of the agricultu
ral community. This new order of things
goes into operation at the commencement
of the next sesion, aud it is earnestly
hoped will be a success. There U no
profession, trade or calling in life, where
the value of knowledge and the lights
of science, and the practical application
of both, arc so potent for profitable results
as in their adaptation to agricultural pur
suits. And in this truly practical a:e it
is well worthy of the conisderation of
parents, whether they should not avail
themselves of the benefits of this institu
tion, now so generously endowed by the
State.
MILITARY.
From the report of the Adjutant Gen
eral you will learn the condition of the
Military Department. The inactivity
in military affairs after the cessation of
hostilites and upon the return of peace,
has iu a great measure beeu dispelled,
and an active martial spirt now prevails
throughout the State ; inoro particulary
in Philadelphia, where, by a special legis
lative enactment, the miuimum number
of men required to from a couipauy has
been reduced, and a brigade fund is raised
by a tax opon those who are not members
of a military organization, but liablo to
the performance of military duty. I recom
mend tho passage of a similar law for tho
whole State. For the sake of preserving
the great interests involved, which include
the lives, property and happiness of our
people, this is presented to you as au im
portant subjeet lor your deliberation,
livery possible encouragement of volun
teers has been afforded, and notwithstaud
ing the difficulties iudicated it has result-
ed as follows : In 1SG6 there were eight The commissioners appointed to codify
(volunteer companies in the State; in ; the fctatute laws of tho State have diligcn
! 1SG7, thirty-eight ; and in 1SC8, seventy-ty prosecuted tho work assigned thcru.
seven, and a number of others iu prepara- jand with every prospect that it will lo
tion for organization, fully completed within the time preseri-
By a reduction of tho number for a ' bed by the legislative resolutions of April
'company from that now required to nn8, 1SGS; and in further compliance with.
nggregatQ of fifty officers and men, com-1 them, they will cause to bo laid before
panics wouiu soon be uumbcreu ny iuc;cucu uiauca ui uiu mucrui ...sseuiuiy, at
hundred, auy of which
could easily be
recruited to the maximum
quiied for active tcrvice.
uuutbor if ro-
The State that
always maintains the highest degree of
preparatiou, accomplishes most and suf
fers least in the conflict of arms; and by
being in readiness it often prevents impro
per encroachments upon her rights.
The Adjutant General presents a full
and detailed statement of the disburse
ments in his department during the year
ending November 30, 186S, with an esti
mate for the necessary appropriations for
the current year, and also for such amounts
as have been discovered to be due fromr
the Transportation Department, contract
ted during the war.
STATE AGENCY.
The existence of the Military State
Agency at Washington terminated on the
31st day of July last, at which time the
appropriation for the pajruont of its ex
penses was exhausted. Much benefit re
sulted to many of the soldiers of our State,
and their representatives, from this office,,
in which thtir just dues from tho United
States Government were collected and
transmitted to them free of charge. Ia
August, after the agency ceased to exist,
there still remained a considerable unnv
ber of unsettled claims, and as no one knevr
more about their condition, or could pos--sibly
obtain an earlier settlement of them
than the late agent, Col. Cook, I prcmit--ted
him, upon his own offer, to close up
the business of the office, and to transact -
lany other business for the soldiers of-
Pennsylvania at one-half the fees that are'
charged by any other private agency ia
Washington City. This arrangement
has thu3 far been carried out, and I am
pleased to add, with very general satis
faction. All the books and papers of tho
agency will be transferred to the effice of.
the Adjutant General.
REGISTRY LAW.
At the last session of the Legislature,
an act was passed know as the "Registry
Law," the intention of which wa3 to pro
tect the ballot-box against corruption and
fraudulent voting, to which it has for
many years been disgracefully exposed.
This law seems to have been so defective
in some of its provisions as to have re
ceived the condemnation of a majority of
the Supreme Court, by which it was pro
nounced "incongruous and uaconstitutio
nal." At the election immediately after
this decision, it is alleged that frauds wero
perpetrated, surpassing ia magnitude,,
perhaps, any that have been consummated
heretofore in the history of the Common
wealth. These frauds have demonstrated
the necessity of the passage of some law,.
or laws, tnat will accomplish tne uesireu
object, without being subject to the
exceptionable features pointed out by the
learned gentlemen who pronounced the
opinion of the Supreme Bench.
There is no subject of such vital im
portance to the whole country as the
sanctity of the ballot box, and the protec
tion cf all citizens in their right to the.
elective franchise. Thi3 riht is our
pur-,s'ation, or position in life. To be depriv-
ed of it by any me ins whatever, his boas
ted freedom becomes a sham his especial
and exalted prerogative a mockery and a
farce. What avails it to the citizen that
he is entitled to a vote, if that vote is to
be nullified by fraud ? Such guards, then,
should be thrown around the polls as will,
effectually, if possible, preserve them from,
the taint of a single illegal vote. Not:
only should false voting be severely pun
ished, but false swearing to obtaiu a vote,
be visited with the pains and penalties of.'
perjury and with perpetual disfranchise
ment. The people mut be perfectly free to
regulate their public business in their
own way, and when the voice of the-
majority is lauiy and clearly expressed':
all shonld bow to it as to the voice of God..
They arc the sovereign rulers, and their
will must be the law of the land. Cor
ruption of suffrage in a republican govern
ment is the deadliest crime that can be
perpetrated ; it is assassination of the
sovereignty ofthe poople, and will be fol
lowed by a despotism, the motive power,
of which will be money and perjury.-.
And if this privilege bo tampered with,
sooner or later the sure and indignant,
popular condemnation will be rendered
aud condign punishment administered.
All Good citizens, of whatever political
opinion, should lend their aid for the ac- .
complishmcnt of any and every measure .
that may tend to secure to each voter, not
only his right to the elective franchise,,
but the assurance that his vote will not.
bo rendered valueless by illegality, cor
ruption or fraud.
livery proper facility for the naturalizat
ion of citizens of foreign birth should bo-
afforded ; but tho Legislature, in its com
bined wisdom, can surely enact some uiodo
to prevent the possibility of a single vato
being cast upon spurious naturalization
papers, and thus fully secure tho purity,
of the elective franchises.
KLU31U "1U ,l,t"
! its present session, various titles of. bills,
with brief abstracts of ihcscveral Fcetioua.
of each, which have, leeu t&utu-rtd.
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