In this viaw of the subiecl. 1 have now
little doubt but that the Legislature may
vith perfect safety fix an early date for the
$35U"mplionf5fspecio5paymcnt3. The sound
ness of her Banks and of her general cur
rency,, will, necessarily place Pennsylvania
foremost in the attempt to accomplish what
ever is in the powcr'of Slato legislation on
'the subject.
But thcroj is ono view of tho 'subject
which presents tho strongest reason for the
carlicst'possiblo resumption. The gener
al circulation of irredeemable promises to
pay, by and"thiough all portions of society.
is not merely a discaso of the currency. It
auuiui uvii ugruui moral laini which,
mi long uncorrected, will undoubtedly Have
inc most deleterious muuenco on our char
acter and happiness as a people. Pcnn
sylvania h3s heretofore been characterized
by steady good faith' ah'd adherence to prin
ciple. It behooves her public agents now
to guard this brighest jewel in her casket,
by restoring its usual unsullied purity lb her
public character. This can ouly bo done
by adding actual performance to "the private
promises 01 ncr citizens.
The only branch of the snbject yet re
"mainmg untouched is the flood of small
notes, which has so suddenly and general
ly covercu uie state, i no odious name
by which they have been branded the at
tempt made by each political party to stig
matize its opponent with, tho blame of their
origin, and the ntter dislike with which
they have been received by the public gen
erally, though a great proportion ol them
proceed from sources of unquestioned sol
vency, from additional strong proofs of the
linsuitablencs's of small Tidies of all kinds to
our wants and circumstances. No lcirisla'
tion is rcquired to rid us ofthosehat now
infest the State. They are every one of
them clearly in violation of the act of As
sembly of 12lh April 1838 on tho subject
and wilMisappear as soon as the imprison
ed coin of the country resumes its usual
office. Then without regard to tho time of
redemption set fortli on the face of them
be it one, two or ten ydars, with or with
lout interest, the holders, will either demand
instant payment or sue for and recover Hie
penalty of five dollars, and interest inflicted
on their issue by the existing laws:
liut, alter all, the thorough and permn
nent remedy lor the whole evil must com
from Washington. Until Congress shall
devise and adorit some means which will
a'gaiiiffivous.a c'tirrdncy equal over the
whole, and to tho wants of tile whole U
nion; anil until tho national government
shall consent to allow the people to judge
or its suitableness to their own wants, there
can be no general and permanent confi
dence in the currdncy no fixed value for
property no enlarged spirit in commerce
and trade and consequently little encoura
gement to laudable enterprise or improve
ment of any kind.
Having thus fully declared my view on
ihis exciting subject, I shall proceed to the
other matters which require notice. In the
annual Message to the Legislature at the
commencement of the last session, occasion
was taken to declare at legth my views on
all subjects ol importance, nitlie hope that
future communication might be hereby r'eri
'dcred more prie'f, Permit irto now respect
fully to refer you td that docurricnt for my
opinions on the matters therein embraced,
except so far as some of them may be more
at large explained in this message.
I must, however, again urge' upon the
Legislature the necessity of a law toprohi
dit the administration of all extra-judicial
oaths.
The financial condition of the Common
wealth is, at present, most cheering. By
reference to the Auditor General's llcport
it will appear that the amount of actual re
ceipts into tho Treasury during the fiscal
year just closed, including three dividends
of the national surplus revenue, and the bal.
ancc on hand at the commencement of the
year, was, $8,394 870,00: and that (he ex
penditure during the same period, including
all the expenses of Education and Internal
improvements, was 4,173,910 2d, leaving
an unexpended balance in the Treasnry on
the 1st November", 1830, df $3,220, 135,71.
The following estimate of the operations
of tho Treasury, during the present year,
is partly based on tho calculations of the
State Treasurer , and partly on similar op
erations during the past year.
Here follows l statement, in which his
Excellency estimates the receipts for 1838
at $2,101,700; and (he expenditures at $2,-
592,125 13, to which surplus must bo ad
ded $2,220,135 74, the amount remaining
in the treasury, and tho oxcess will be $2,-
119,710 01."
In addition to the above na'rriod receipts
into her Treasury, the State should, in jus-
tico, receive tho fourth instalment of
the surplus rcvon'ue of tho United States,
the payment of which was postponed by
the" action of the extra sessipn of Congress-.
Though tho appropriations hereafter recom
nionded, are not apportioned on the certain
expectation of receiving it, yet if it should
be paid, as it ought, with tho year, the ad
dition of another million of dollars to tho
sum at the disnosal of tho Legislature will
materially aid our public works. In that
event, I would advise an increase of all the
appropilation's about to bo named.
The chief dom'ands on tho Surplus moans
of tho State Troasury, aro thoso for Educa
tion and Internal Improvement.
Tho report of 'the Superintendent of
Common Schools, wlwn laid before you
will exhibit a most 'cheering condition of!
that" System. The first Tuesday of last!
May, was tho day which, under" the present
School law, the fifet triennial vote of the
citizens of accepting Districts was taken, to
ascertain whether the system should rbo
continued or not. Though that question
was submitted to tho people in alaigo num
ber of Districts, yet the. Superintendent has
not been olhcially mlormed ot the rejection
of the system, by a single accepting Dis
trict. Doubtles there arosomc. t'but thnfr
proportion must bo small, inasmuch as 725
of the 1000 districts in the State, have since
the hist Monday m June, entitled them
selves to the receipt of the State Appropria
tion lor the present year, oy levying the
necessary tax, and have actually received
their money. Of the rcmaing Districts
75 were accepting last year and had thesys-
icm in operation then. 11 one-third ol
these, and that is a large estimate, rejected
tho system in May, still 50 remain, which',
added to tho number ol paid accepting
Districts, will give 775 as the whole pres
ciltnumUcr ofacccptmg districts, leaving
225 still opposed to the system, Of the
number which have been paid, 80 have now,
for the first time; accepted. It will thus be
perceived, that the Common School Sys
tem has more than maintained its ground
through the test of the triennial question df
its continuance or rejection, by tho districts
which have tried the experiment.
One part of the school law is much com
plained of. A mere majority of the votes
polled 111 a district, no matter how small the
number of persons voting, has the cll'cct of
accepting the system and fastening it upon
the District for three vcars tho' on the other
hafid it rcquircs(a clear majority of all the
qualified citizens of the district to discontin
ue it when once in operation'. This Is
wrong. I would therefore recommend that
the law be modified that the system shall
not go iiito operation at all hereafter, except
with the conseiit df a clear majority of all
the qualified citizens of tho district.
The appropriation of tile school house
fund of last session has had a most salutary
oiicct. rcrmit me to lcitcralc the reeoili
mcnuaiions men mauc 111 lavor ot a per
manent addition oI10U,000 a year to tho
! - 1 . f .
orumary annual appropriation lor the pur
pose 01 instruction. 1 his sum will raise
the permanent appropriation to $300,000
and will enable directors during the next
three years to tarry on their operations,
and to test the experiment fully without hca
vy taxation. If, notwithstanding this adi-
lion, the system be discontinued by tlie
people; at the end of that time, the Louis
laturo will not have to reproach themselves
with its failure. If it be admitted that
wholesome cultivation .of tho moral and
mental faculties, not only raises the char
acter, increases the happiness, and pcrpct
uatcs the liberties of a nation, but actually
adds to its wealth, by bringing the best en
ergies ol the mind and all tho stores of ex
periencc and science to aid the practical
busincssof hie, no other appeal need be
made in favor of a Common School Educa
lion. Additional appropriation, if it be gran
ted, should be so made that a correspondent
increase 01 school tax shall not bo iieccss.-v
ry to obtain it.
ror further iritormation and plans" for the
improvement ol the system, 1 would re
spcctfully refer the Legislature to the re
port 01 the superintendent, which will be
submitted at the proper time. It will be, I
trust unnecessary to bespeak your favora
ble attention to the suggestions of that otli
cer.
The system of Internal Improvement has
heretofore been the chief draft upon the
1 rcasury. It is now about becoming its
man rdliancc. Fortunately, owing to the
I ust though incomplete distribution of the
National fcmrprus means among the states
and to the failure of tho overgrown appro
priation bill of last session, which would
not only have exhausted the Treasury, bu
as events have turned out, would have ad
ded another million to the State debt, th
Treasury, is now in a condition' to can
on the public works with all necessary v
gor,, and without resort to permanent loan
or taxation.
The revenue from the public works fell
3324,519 51 short during tho past year of
tho estimate of the Canal Commissioners
Its actual amount was $975,350,49. But
all who are conversant with the matter are
convinced that it v6uld have been $1,300
000 if the paralysis of last May had not
Ipllen on the energies of trade. 1 lie es
timate of the Board, for the present year, is
$1,400,000 in which I concur: believing
also, that tho' itcannot fall materially short
ol that sum, no matter how adverse tiio
state general business may become, it may
and probably will reach 81,500,000, it til
nsual degree ot prosperity lie restored to
the'country.' The toils of last month alono
amounted to about $130,000 of that sum
In support of this opinion may bo addu
ccd the facts that while the canal and iail
road revenue of tho Slate, has received an
addition ol 8137,514 74 within the past
year,- that a neighboring state sinlcrcd
decrcass of $217,330 00.- This improve
ment in our revenue, in tho midst of gon
oral depression is owing to tho kind of bu
sinoss on the public works. Our Coal am
Iron, and other heavy indispensable arti
cles, all of our own products, must find
their way to market through all changes
while the mere carrying trade of our neigh
bors will always feel the disastrous cfl'cct
of every commercial panic. A clear proof
01 tno irrepressibio growtli of our coal bu
siness, is me iaci mat tho toll this year,
veceivedj'by tho three" griat canal compa
nies of the State the Schuylkill, tho Uni
on and the Lehigh amounts to $847,331
87 up to tho middle of November. On
these, and on all other works, public and
private in the Stale, tho quantity of grain,
Hour, merchandize, &c. transported during
the season, has greatly decreased tho ar
ticles of coal, and iron whero transported,
aro tho only ones that have maintained their
usual progressive advance. Of anllp-acitc
coal alono 1 ,000,000 tons were carried to
market the past year, being fully 1200,000
more than the previous season. . On the
State works tho tonnage of coal and iron
increased fully one third, while most oth
er articles materially decreased. The fu-
ci'easc of travelling was about one fifth.
I bis view of the subject not only ena
bles us to calculate with certainty on tho
increased earnings of tho publio works
hereafter, hut justifies all necessary expen
diture for their completion, even without
taking into account their other incalculable
The operations 011 par'icular portions ol
tho Improvements during the year, also pre
sent the strongest arguments in favoV of the
needy completion of the whole. The
Philadelphia and Colombia rail-road, whose
system of management is ilot exceeded, if
t is equalled, any where, has yielded the
past year, a sum equal to lull interest on its
ost, besides paying all repairs. The mo
live power department, hitherto such a
source of dissatisfaction, has not only been
supported by the motive power lolls, but
lias, in addition, cleared 7 per cent on tho
first cost of all the locomotives ever put on
the road
The whole niaiu line from Philadelphia
to I'tttsburg, has yielded over 3 per cent
on first coat, besides paying the expense of
repairs, which is inninly attributed to the
admirable management of the Portage road,
and the canal portion 01 the route. The
Delaware Division has cleared 5 per cciit.
on cost, and kept Itself in repair. Another
indication ol what J'cuilsvlvaiiia may ex
peel from her coal business, the trade on
the cahal being chiefly of that description.
improvements thus increasing in produc
tiveness under every disadvantage, demand,
because they arc worthy of all the care of
the Legislature,
In making the annual appropriations two
objects are to bo kept in view, viz: The
repair ot the unfinished works: and the
early completion of those yet unfinished
1 here arc two kinds ol repairs, ordinary
and extraordinary. 1 o make the lormer,
the practice has prevailed almost since the
commencement pi the system, of appro
pruning s.iuu.miu per annum. J his sum
lias generally been insufficient, and princi
pauy nccausc it was not granted until so
lute in the winter as lo cause the necessary
work lo be prosecuted 111 great haste, am
consequently, under every disadvantage
and with greatly increased expense, that
the works might be fit fot use, at the. open
ing ol the Spring. $280,000 will be suf
ficient for ordinary repairs the present year,
11 provisiuu uu juauu lor extraordinary re
pairs
Extraordinary repairs have not been usu
ally provided for specifically. That course
is now strongly recommended. The want
of occasional appropriations of this kin
has added much to the annual expense o
the pu
lubhe works. The limited amount o
the ordinary fund, prevented those substan
tial and permanent repairs from being math
which true policy would have required
and has continually entailed much untie
cessary coat on the State, by compcllin
the public agents to make mere temporary
repairs, particularly 10 uams, which were
always to be made over the next season
Tho present year $347,295 00 will be in
dispensable for this object. The principal
items arc $105,000 for the avoidance of
the inclined plane at Columbia; $00,000 to
put tho feeder dam in the Susquehanna, and
other rivers, in such order as to afford
certain supply of water to the canals who
the rivers arc low; $59,000 to renew a par
of the Eastern . Division of the North Tract
of the Columbia, and Philadelphia Hail
mad, which being originally chiefly
wood, is now decayed, and to make other
necessary arrangements on that part of tl
public works; 20,235 for ropes on both
roads, ami fr workshops, &c, on the Por
tage; 7,000 to renew locks on tho Western
Division of tho main lino of canal; 21,000
to construct additional locks on, and
deepen the canal below, Duncan's Islam
so as to admit a full supply of water at all
seasons. Under fhis head may also witl
propriety bo incln'dcd, the annual appropri'
anon lor damages tiu.uuuj and lor new
work on tho finished lines, pay of Canal
Commissioners Appraisers, Engineers, Sic,
(30,000) making the above total
No legislation is now necessary for the
new bridge at Duncan's Island, sufficient
provision having been made foe that.puri
pose uy me joint resolution 01 third April
1837. 1 ho sum yet required to .complete
it, is.inciuucd under the head "Turnpikes
BoacTs, nnd Bridges," in tho foregoing cs
timate of the current demands on the Trea
sury. I he bridge will bo completed
tune to' accommodate next Spring's trad
and will cost 80,000. It promises to bo
strong and durable structure, and has been
urged on 111 a manner crcditablo to all con
corned.
,111 - .. .
1 iiure is anoiucr appropriation claiming
tho instant attention of tho Legislature.
The failure of tho Appropriation bill of last
year, made it necessary for me to resort to
tho authority given by the Reiolutibn of
the use of tiio Eric extension of tho main
ma mtn. in.io. 10 Dorrow :uu. uu mr
inc. and the North Branch. Tho loan
was promptly taken by the Bank of the U-
nitcd States, though the interest was limi
ted by the resolution to -l per cent. The
money was equally apportioned between
the works named, in the resolution. It en
abled the contractors to continue their oper
ations during the summer but the portion
iven to the North Branch is now .exhaust
ed, and that to the Eric extension will also
soon be expended. It therefore becomes
necessary for the. Lpgislaturo to make tem
porary provision lor the wants of these
works, and of the Gettysburg oxtension of
the Pennsylvania Hail-road, which received
no part of the 200,000, and is now much
in want of funds.
Permit mo strongly to urge the prnprioty,
policy', and justice to contractors and la
borers, of passing a bill with as litllo dc-
xy as may be, making a temporary provi
sion inrtiicsc works. I'or ordinary re-
airs 280,000 will bo required; for extra
ordinary repairs 317,295; and for present
id to new works .100,000;. the 1.1st named
sum to be distributed in such a manner as
the hoard ofcoiumissioncrs may think just',
iiiiong tnc works above mentioned.
Alter deducting these indispensable ap
propriations, which I would again most
earnestly urge upon tho iinmcilialo and fa-
orablc attention of the Legislature, there
remains a balance of 1,092,415 01 chiefly
ipphcablc to the other great object, viz: the
completion of ,the unfinished works.
I hesc arc the Lne extension ol the main
line; the North llranch canal; tho Gettys
burg extension of.tlic Pennsylvania Itail-
road,and llic completion ot the West Branch
canal. .They all possess the strongest
claims', and should engross the public re
sources until brought to completion". This
is not only nictated by instico to the citi
zens resident in the several quarters of the"
State through .which they pass, but by the
soundest policy and economy.
lho completion ol the brio extension to
the noble harbour of Eric will give Penn
sylvania the undisputed command of the
Lake trade, and will redeem her' long
plighted, and almost broken faith, to that
quarter of the Stated Including such por
tion of the temporary appropriation before
mentioned, as shall be applied to this work,
the resources of the State will not now af
ford a gi cater appropriation to this line than
100,000. the appropriation of this sum
I would accordingly recommend in the fol
lowing manner: 300,000 to carry on the
work now under contract, and 100,000 to
be applied to the most difficult portions id
the whole remainder ol the route Irom tho
termination of llic work under contract, lo
the harbour of Erie. This course, by caus
ing the early commencement of the' heavi
est sections, will ultimately hasten'' the
completion of the whole work with the
least possible present outlay 16 the state.
100,000 will bo enough for the latter pur
pose, because it will bo late in the cnsuiii!r
summer before the necessary , survovsj lo
cations and contracts arc made, previous to
the actual commencement of operations by
contractors.
The completion 'of tho North Ilranch
canal to the New York line, from the mouth
of the Lackawanna, where the canal now
uas 11s unriiiuiii Humiliation, siiouid lie ur
ged with all possible vigour. The supply'
of New York ami the lako country, with
anthracite coal, will be the va-,t& profitable
business of this branch." The canal also
from Columbia to tide, will draw much of
the "Wyoming, Mahanoy, Shamokin ami
Lykcn's Valley coal to the sonth. along
the lower portion of the North Branch, and
tho Susquehanna canals. There can bo no
(loubt, therefore, of the ultimate profit oft c
whole line of canal from Columbia to Tio
ga Point. A like appropriation as in the
case of the Eric extension of the main line,
is recommended to he applied in tho same
manner and proportions, that is, $300,000
including the temporary appropriation, to
carry 011 tho work under contract, and
$100,000 to commcn'co the heaviest sec
tions, on the whole lino yet to bo located.
The Gettysburg extension of the Penn
sylvania rail road, though little known is
among tho most important links 111 tho
chain , of our internal . improvements. It
will ultimately connect Philadelphia with
the Western waters, by a very direct routo
lying so far south as to bo comparatively
free from obstruction by frost and snow.
About one-half of lho distanco will be con
structed by tho citizens of another State,
tho advantages of which aro secured, by
law, to Pennsylvania. We aro thus saved
millions of dollars in effecting this connec
tion. $300,000 (including tho portion of
temporary appropriation abovo mentioned)
can be appropriated to this work : $225,
000 to carry on work now under contract,
and tho rcmainded to commence tho most
difficult portions of tiio balance of the whole
route.
The amount yet required to complete
the Tangascootack extension of the West
Branch canal, is $34,000. Phis sum
should be given, that fhat work .may at
length be finished. Tho Legislature should
also tako means to asccrtaian the best
modb of connecting tho waters of the West
Branch with those of tho Allegheny, so
that a water comnmnication may bo form
ed between Eastern and Western Pennsyl
vania, when the resources of the State will
bear it. The report of B. Aycrigg, op that
subject, has removed every doubt from my
mind of tho practicability of the protect
but, inasmuch as tho resources of the State
will not now authorize the commcncr ment
of tho wojk, it .wpuld be productive o"f
much benefit to have all tho routo supposed
to be practicable, but not examined by tho
engineer just namcd,,fully cxploicd, so that,
when lho work is really commenced, as it
most certainly will be at no distant day, tho
very best loute may be adopted.
After all theso appropriations, enough
will still bo left to enable tho Legislature to
extend some aid to .turnpike and oilier
roads. Whilo, we aro laying out "millions
to send the canal boat and locomotive into
every quarter of the Stale, wo should uot
forget that Pennsylvania for a long time
owed her prosperity mainly to the five
horse team"; and that though her wagoners,
as a distinct race, ,arc rapidly disappearing
from many parts of the Slate, yet that they
arc stiirtho mam reliance of several comi
ties, cither inacccsssiblo tp or yet unreach
ed by canals and rail rnnib. -There arc al
so counties, such as that of Greene, in
which more real good would be accomplish
ed by the expenditure of $10,000 in Mc
Admizing n leading road, than by tho ex
penditure of five times tjiat sum' in other
quarters. The appropriation of $75,000
lo tho turnpikes and olhcr roads of coun
ties heretofore little benefitted by the publio
works,, will be an net of bare justice, and
is, therefore, recommended for the present
year. , 1
II will be perceived that, in allotting the
foregoing appropriations, the estimates, of
the Cahal Commissioners., have not been,
throughout, adhcrrrd to. If the state of lho
Treasury would permit it, I should not un
dertake lo differ from the proper public a
gents on a matter committed to their charge;
but taking into view the whole wants of
the State, in connection with the present
condition of the Treasury, I find it iinpos:
sible fully to concur 111 their recommenda
tions, witiiotu a permanent increase ot the
pubh'c debt. I have, therefore, been com
.pellcd to reduce "the various estimates. I
know that they arc generally less than have
been expected by those connected with tho
different works; and the only reason which
can or need be assigned, is the inability of
the Treasury to aflord more. If the Le
gislature should however think proper to in
crease the appropriations' to the Erio amj
North Branch canals, and thu Gettysburg
rail road, and lho turnpikes, by authoii
ning a temporary loan from the Bank oftl'.e
United Slates, under its charter, at 4 per
cent, to meet the difference when the funds
in the Treasury shall be exhausted, I shall
have no hesitation to concur. Perhaps
under all the circumstances of the case,
this measure may Lo right in another point
of view. It may be that our reasonable
calculations on a restoration of the usual
prosperity of country will be again disap
pointed, and that the receipts into lite Trea
sury will not be sufficient to meet tho ap
propriations recommended. Authority to
uegofialc a temporary loan of a limited a
mount, lo guard against this contingency
might much piimiote the public interest,
and can 1I0 no evil. 1 have no doubt but
that the amount of such loan will be repaid
out of the ordinary resources of the follow
ing year. The good effect of the tempora
ry loan which saved thp character of tip
State during last summer, will prove tho
wisdom 01 111c measure. . .
The non-payment or the fourth hiatal
ment of the surplus icvcnue of the United
States,' oij which our citizens justly counted,
has put it out of my power 'to recommend,
appropriations to other important and de
serving objects. The locks on the canal
from Duncan's Island, should b.e doubled,
as a safe means of repair; and to prepare
for lho increase or business, which must
soon take place on that part or the public
works." Thq capacity of those on lho Dela
ware division, should bo increased so as to.
adapt them to the size of the locks on the
Lehigh Company's works. Tho Union
Canal hps also strong claims on tho Stato
for aid in the comtcni plated increase oftho
size or the locks on that work, so as to
pass the large boats or the Pennsylvania
Canal. Tho decayed wooden locks on the
North Branch, should be renewed. Tho
Beaver and French Creek division, though
iiiuu iiruuiiiHiveuess to ine'Btalo is yet in
considerable , should not be permitted to
....... ..t l. . ...
go to ruin. Those, and olhr similar
claims, must now be postponed, till a peri
od when . the renewed prosperity or the
country shall enable tho Slate to be more
generous.
I havo presented this particular estimate
and plan or appropriations, not with the ex
pectation that the latter will bo adopted
throughout, or with tho determination to con
cur in no other. But to show that the in-,
ijispensible wants or the Commonwealth
may all be supplied from her own nnbor
iowcd resources. It will afford me great
pleasure to aid in giving efficacy to any bet
ter project, which the wisdom of the Le
gislature may devise. But, whilo I make
the avowal of readiness to do so I wish it to
bo distinctly understood, that no force of
circumstances will compol mo to consent to
a permanent Jncreaso of the State debt.
All our' energies should now bo devoted,
to such measures as will ensuro and haston
its decrease.
The accompanying correspondence be
tween the foreign agents of the holders of
Pennsylvania State stock, and tho Bank of
Pennsylvania, will show that considerable
dissatisfaction exists because this State has
not taken measures to pay tho interests of
our debt in specio, or its equivalent. It
is said that New York, Ohio and Indiana'
.V