GOVERNORS "MESSAGE, IN 'RE
LATION TO THE PERMANENT
LOAN, &c.
To f7:c Semite and House of Representa
tives of the CommoniveuUh of Pcnnsyl
Varna. pursuance 'oV tlio act
of iTie general assembly of tins common'
wealth passed the 20th" January last, cnti-
tcd "an net authorizing a loan ' public no
tice was given by the Secretary of .the
commonwealth on the lih day of Fcbr'naVy
last, that nrono.sals would lie received at
his office until two o'clock P. M., oT Tucs
day the fifth day of MarchlSGP, for loan
jog o r.e million two hundred thousand dol
lars to the coin'monwealin for the purposes
"feet forth in said "act, reimbursable at any
time after twenty years from the first day
t)f July nest, and bearing an interest not
exceeding five per cent per anum payable
semi-annually. A co'pv of .which notice is
herewith communicated
I regret to say that no proposals have
been received in pursuance of this invita
tion, and this too at a time when it is cottcc
ded that money is not scarce, and the -credit
of the State is unimpaired.
Ilow long the representatives oT h Free
fieople will snbinit tb a stute of things man
ifestly brought about bv a combination a-
Tnbng the institutions of their own creation
it is for the legislature to determine, but
there is certainly a manifest impropriety in
permitting the monicd resources of the
Commonwealth td be used to her owh inju
rv. She owns of the capital 3tock of the
hank of Pennsylvania 3750 shares at $100
amounting at 'their par value to $1,500,000
5233 shares in the Philadelphia Bank
at $100 523,300
l708tliarcs til the Fnrmcts and Mc-
chanies bank at SCO 85,400
Arriounlirig In the whole to 82,108,700
And which aro believed to tie worth a con
siderablc advance. Every day s experience
"strengthens mc in opinion long since formed
that ail connection should be dissolved be
tween the commonwealth and the banks in
which she holds stock, and thus relieve her
from tlio Humiliating attiludo she occupies
of being the holder of three fifths of the
whole capital stock in one of said banks
and unable to control the direction of a sin
gle dollai of its loans. Believing firmly
'that SUch n divorce will be beneficial to the
interests of the commonwealth, 1 earnestly
fcccommCnd the immediate passage of a
'law authorizing the 3ale of the bank stock
held by the commonwealth as aforesaid.
This administration has been but little
bver a month in power.and has been obliged
to ask loans to payoff engagements which
it had no Jiand in contracting, and finds
iiseir emoarrassed in usr outset ror wanr or
means to meet the engagements of tho com
monwealth So far as it has the ability, its
exertions will continue to be steadily di
rected to discharge the public liabilities, and
maintain unsullied the public faith. If in
its efforts so to do, difficulties arc interpo
sed by attempts at combination among mon
icd men and monicd institutions, they most
hssuredly w'ill discover, that so long as the
executive power remains in the hands in
which it is now placed they shall never
Control either its political or fiscal opera
tions: but that this great commonwealth
must, and will rise superior to all such at
tempts. All experience goes to show that the evils
Anticipated by many of tho best and most
sagacious statesmen, from tho grants of
corporate power to monied institutions have
teen mere than realized, and should admon
ish us to be cautious in continuing to make
such unrestricted grants.
With no desire to create distrust or a
larin, t cannot but feel that it is the misuse
and abuse of the powers thus committed to
such institutions that have more than once
led to tho embarrassments in the monetary
concerns of tho country. I cannot close
this communication wilhout'appealing to the
legislature, and calling upon them by every
principle or patriotism, to take such action
in this matter as will enable the state to vin
dicate her character and ciedit, and to take
immediate measures for separating the state
from all connection with a set of institutions
that have so repeatedly disappointed the
just expectations of the public, and on
which no reliance can bo placed when tho
exigencies of the state may require a call
upon them.
DAVID It. POUTER.
Executive ChAmdeii,
March 7. 1830.
GETTYSBURG RAIL ROAD VETO
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR.
To the,Stnate and House of Ilepreicnta
tives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl
vania. Gentlemen: It will always be with re
iuctance that I shall feel myself constrained
to refuse the Executive asucnl to any mat
ter of legislation which hrs passed the rep
resentative and -senatorial hranches of the
legislature. I would not, however, bo in
the line of duty to approve of a measures
in the justice or expediency-of which I nan
not concur. Afwr mature reflection and
deliberation, 1 have decided that I cannot
approve the resolution entitled, -'Resolution
relative to the Gettysburg rail road," pre
sented to rno on the 27th ultimo, and I ac
i ordinglyrelurn it to the Semite in which
' nriirinated with the following reason for
o doing.
The constitution provides that, 'no mon- (
ey shall bo "drawn trom tlio treasury unii
consequence ol appropriations "made
by law." To preserve tin salutary provi
sion in its spirit, we should never permit
that to be clone indirectly Winch it prohibits
from doing directly. Hence we havo seen
the constant 'care and attention of the leg-
Mature to prevent tlio Canal Commission
ers from incurring debts beyond the appro
priations from lime to time made. This
would be altogether nugatory H, when a
distinct and specific amount is appropri
ated, the canal commissioners by continu
ing the contractors at work after tho appro
priation to the object is exhausted, could
involve the state in further responsibilities
without sanction of a legislative enactment
By the act of the lBth February, 1830,
incorporating the bank of the United
Stales, the 0th Section of which authorizes
the canal commissioners to survey and lo
cate the road in nucstion. and to put not
less than 20 nor more than 30 miles there
of tiuddr contract, the sum of two hundred
thousand dollars specifically appropriated
to this work, and the 12th section express
ly provides that, "the canal commissioners
shall not bo authorized to incur any debt on
tile failh of the 'commonwealth, in any way
or manner beyond the appropriation afore
said," vfce. ilerc the original act by which
this road was introduced into the public
improvements of the state, without previ
ous survey or examination, and with noth
ing to rccorrlmend it to public favor but the
influence which its friends could bring in
support of an act of legislation, since re
peatedly and constantly disapproved by the
people, prohibits the expenditure ot money
upon it beyond the specific appropriation
On the 19th December, 1837, ail act
passed both branches of the legislature, ap
propriating forty-live thousand dollars to
wards thb construction of the Gettysburg
rail road, to be applied iti payment of work
actuallydono prior to the 1st day of January
(thcn)next and directing the canal comrnis
sioncrs to irive notice to the contractors to
suspend their work upon said road, from
and after the' said 1st day of January. By
a course wholl unexpected, and which, for
thcxharacter and reputation of tho com
monwcalih, it is hoped will never be consid
ered a fit example for imitatioUj this Is
day of January 1838, was made in poin
of law to mean the 1st of January 1839
and thus the intention of the legislature
solemnly expressed by both branches, was
lor a time frustrated.
By the act of the 1.1th April, 1838, the
further sum of one hundred and ninety-five
thousand dollars was appropriated to tin
rail road) to bo applied to tho work already
under contract and the resolution which
had previously passed the legislature
belore stated, and which became a law on
the 9th of January, 1838, was repealed.
ISul by the Cth section of this act, it la pro
vided, that "the canal commissioners shall
not be authorize'd to incur any debt on (the
"failh of) the commonwealth in any way
"or manner beyond the appiopriation afore
"saidi and no part of the aforesaid appro
priation shall be applied to any other than
"the several specific purposes to which it is
"appropriated by the preceding sections of
"this act, nor shall any contracts be entered
"into for any new lines of canal, or rail
"ioad, not mentioned in this act, or for any
"extension of the lines herein named, bc
"yond the limits prescribed by this act.'1
It was therefore the duly of the canal com
missioners to have stopped the work on the
road the moment the specific appropriation
thereto was exhausted. But it appears this
wa3 not done, and the subject was brought
to il;c attention of. the legislature in the
previous part of the present session. By
a resolution passed by both houses and
approved on the 19th of February, last,
past, it was declared that from and aftci the
1st day of March, 1839, the work on the
Gettysburg rail road 3hould be suspended,
and a temporary loan of one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars was authorized for
the purpose of paying the contractors on
said road for work done, or that might be
done, previous to that day including tho
retained per ccntage, the accounts of the
contractors to be settled by iho Auditor Gen
eral and Stato treasurer, in die usual man
nor, according to law. In ten days after
improving this resolution, I am called upon I
to approve another resolution, providing
that the contractors on this road shall he
permitted to continue their work, until the
first day of May next unless thoy should
sooner be paid the amount due them.
What circumstancos havo transpired to
change the determination expressed in the
resolution of the 10th of February, I have
not been informed, and being left to gather
the reasons for adopting tho resolution,
now returned to your body, from its lan
guage, I infer that thoy consist in the fact
of the funds not being forthcoming on tho
1st of March, to pay the contractors the
amount claimed to bo due them, and, there
fore, the state is to incur a further debt in
pursuing this work already suspended.
Whilst tho commonwealth is bound to
meet all her lawful engagements, persons
entering into contracts with her through
her agents are bound to ascertain and know
the extent of the authority given by law to
such agents. In the present instances the
contractors were bound to know tho amount
of tho appropriations made, and that it
was unlawful for tho canal commissioners
to expend any further sums or to involve
the staic beyond such amounts.
If they continue tho work afterwards it
was at their own risk, and to permit them
now to go tin, in the embarrassed stato of
Vhe public treasury, arid Sncrcaso Ihc cxpen:
i!.. ... i ...I. ;u.:n f
uuuru on a worn wiu jii u tuum-msB ui
your body, after a personal examination,
declared to have been begun in folly, and
the prosecution of which would bo madness
would not in my jugilement ho promoting
tho interests of the commonwealth, but
would bb a useless waste of the public
moriov, and a legislative recognition and
sanction of acts done in positive violation
of existing laws.
Aram expressing the sincere regret i
"feel in being constrained by a conscicncious
senso of duty, 10 disagree with the repre
sentatives of the people in this matter, I re
return the resloution to the senate for their
further action thereon, according to the Con
stitution of the commonwealth. , ,
DAVID R. PORTER
THE PUBLIC
A message was rccei
WORKS.
received from thb Gov-
ernor vesterdav bv both branches of the
Legislature, transniiting a report ol the ,La
nal Commissioners, with acenmpaning doc
iimcnts, showing the actual condition of the
finished lines of canals and rail-road, and
the airiount of money which is absolutely
necessary to nut them in good order and re
pair. Shortly after the organization of the
canal board, the report states, that engin
eers of the highest standing and most ex
tensive experibnee, were appointed tit make
an examination of the several divisions of
canal and rail-road, and to estimate the a
mount which would be required, to "restore
them to a sound and efficient business do
ing stale. ' The following are the estimates
of tho enginers, viz :
Columbia rail-road
Eastern division
Susquehanna division1
Juniata division
Portage rail-road
Western division
Beaver division
French creek division
West branch, division
North branch division
Delaware division
51,212
50,887
71,570
170,000
17,500
83,031
47,880
230,500
102,555
178,221
70,309
Total amount .
51,123,701 00
" To these estimates" tho
board say " may be added
the following items of ex
penditure's on the Columbia
and Portage rail-roads, re
quired to put them in a fit
condition for public use, as
will appear by reference to
the reports of the engineers,
viz."
551,231 00
Makimr altorrcthcr SI, 070,992 00
To this startling sum will have to be ad
ded outstanding debts, not yet ascertained
which the board say they have taken slept
to know, and will as early as possible lay
before the legislature.
Tfic board very properly remark that the
question before the legislature is not the
" ncxlizrcncc, hicojnnctcncu, or wilful mis
management that has produced this stato of
things." but it is to provide a remedy whicl
for the honor apd interest of the stale they
hope will be ample and speedy. 1 hat ques
tion has been determined by tho people al
ready, and this expose will only confirm
them in the opinion which they expressed
on 2d I uesilay ol (Jctober last, that Itov
ernor Rituer and his officers were totally in
competent to discharge their duty to the
state, and wilfully blind tn the interests of
the people. Hurrisburg JlcporlW.
COMBINATION OF THE BANKS
Governor Pouter's message to the Legis
laturc, communicrting the fart that the loan
of $1,200,000 was not taken on the 5ll
instant, incidentally attributed this failure
to a combination among tho banks. A
this intimation, the organs of the bank:
take fire; and assail the Governor with the
same virulence as, they always manifest in
speaking of an honest man. men tlio Alle
i r. . in mi: . rt 1
gncny wenaior, mr- tviiuams oucreu
resolution in the Senate, calling on th
Governor for iho evidence on which h
founded the charge of a combination. The
banks aro themselves as chary of their rep
illation in this business, as so many vestal
virgins. .Let there oe no uneasiness no
flinchming or fits of hysterics, on the
part of these pure and uncontaminatcd in
stitutions. This is not tho first ti.no they
have been suspected ol forming combina
tions, to plunder the State in her loans, nor
is it the first time when the fact could be
clearly proved.
Not far from tho year 1831, a like gam
to the present one was played off admirably
and tho loan to the btate, taken at a prot
ty liberal advance. Some of the principal
banks in which the State is a largo sloe
homer, might perhaps give the public im
portant information on this head. It would
not be very difficult to prove, if we are not
misinformed, that several persons desirous
of taking tho loan in the year referred to
were induced not to offer any bids, by th
representation ot tho banks, that more
could be mado by declining to bid, and
leaving the loan in tho hands of a certain ban
to bo obtained on its own terms, and to
subsequently divided: and the fact has been
proved in a judicial proceeding in the city
oi J'mladelnnia!
If the banks havo once played this game
it is easy to see that they will do so again
and the facts connected with the late fail
nre to take the loan, show mcoutcstibly that
it is the caso now. If they want all the
villainies they have practised laid bare, let
them procsod call on the Governor for
his evidence of n "combination," and wc
'doubt not, they will find more liinn they
can answer, explain, or deny. Let tho
truth come out in this business, scotch
whom it may. There is nb hostility to tho
banks, on the part of the democratic party
and the Uovcrnor, but neither is thcro a dis
position to be insulted and trampled under
foo't, by those greedy speculators. It is
time tho question was settled whether tlio
people or the stockjobbers shall rule. Let
the government and banks bo divorced
lot each pursue their legitimate duties let
each execute their just authority, and we shall
soon sco the salutary lnllucnco on all the
operations of the govennnelitt tho banks
and the community. 1 he benefits ol the
partnership, have always been hitherto on
tho side ol the banks associated with the
State let the people havo their equal
hare let the adulterous marriage be dis
solved. Keystone.
MAJOR DOWNING.
Wo bclicvo tho following concise Letter
embraces tho cnlirc outline of the vexed
question'. W'e have every confidence in its
correctness and disinterestedness, for we
have heard the Major say, that ho has from
boyhood Understood the matter; and has ev
er since weighed it welt. Wo congratulate
the Ccneral liovcrnmcnt, that it, by the lol
ly ot the JL5rHis.il Government, a serious
matter is made of tho Boundary'qnestion,
tho "2nd Jlrigudc" will bo to a man on
the side of right. We dont know the ex
act number of the "2nd Brigade;" but we
feci sure it will stand "2nd" to none for
patriotism and noble daring. .
x. X . l;xnrcss.
To the Editors of the New York Express
the same paper my old friend D wight
printed a spell ago.
Washington, 25 Feb. 1839.
Mr. Editors. I tell'd vou in my last that
I would say something in mv next Letter
about matters Doivn East. A short horse
is soon cuiried and as this matter is in a
nut shell, I'll crack it for you after iriy fafili
ion and then if you don't understand it;
you may look at the maps and read over
treaties, letters and reports about it, and see
if vou can get any more light.
This " Disputed Territory," they talk
about is a considerable of a sneak of Land
kiver'd tho most on't with everlasting big
Trees, where our folks go a logging. We
say wo claim by a Treaty made in 1783,
and England says that she agrees to the
same treaty. Now that treaty marks tho
line as clear as a whistle it says nort to
the " ng7t lands" that divide the waters
running one way and iho waters running a
nothcr way, and then away West and South
West back to, another pint. Wo then go
Notth to that pint where tho waters run as
the Treaty says, that is whcie the streams
on one side run to the St; Lawrence River,
and where they run down to tho Bay of
Fundy on tothcr side, and there we stop.
But England says there aint no high lands
there at any rate, that there is high land
further South wero wc ought to stop but
at these highlvnds there is no stieam run
ning into the St. Lawrence, for thb streams
all run South there. , Wc Say tho treaty
dont siy " how high" the lands are; but to
the " high lands" that divide the streams
running North and South that is a pint
and that Land can't be low land, for then
the waters wouldn't run nary way. And
besides this, there is another explanation in
the same treaty that marks out the spot wc
claim to, as true as a line; and if any man's
farm was mark'd off by a deed like this
any Court in creation would give it to
him.
Now the hull nub of the business is this,
England finds that if we claim by the old
Treaty, wo cut off all her roads between
New Brunswick to Canada, and in winter
time, when tho river St. Lawrence is frozen
up, there is no sending acroS3 lots from
Novo Scotia and New Brunswick to Que
bec, or any pari of Canada. A few years
back it was agreed to leave the matter to
some old king (a Dutchman, 1 believe)
to say where these highlands was. He Con
sidered a spell, and seeing what his brother
king's notion was, he fix'd on a line north
where there warn't no highlands at all, but
jist far enough north to allow this Passage
across jist as tho' the Treaty said, "the
North Pint shan't bo so far north as to cut
ofi' this Passage way." Now here tho mat
ter rested all wo ask is, to go by the Trea
ty, and now thai our folks have got riled up
about it, and now what tlio treaty is, they'll
make a spoon or spilo a horn and I don't
see any other way of settling on't. If Eng
land sends troops there, it will bo " a Dis
puted Territory," for I would jist about as
soon think of going down in a Wolf Cave
to coax out tho wolves with biead and but
ter as attempt to drivo out them longarm'd-hard-fisted-woodchoppers
fiom the forests
where they know they havo got Law on
their side. Wo found it nrctty tuf work to
rout out the Seminoles down South but
that is cream and custards to rousting out
the Down Eastcrs, if thoy git their datuler
up. They are amazin civil folks if you
dont attempt to drive or scrouge 'em and
considerable liberal in a bargain too if you
dont try to pull eyo teeth for then it would
be dog eat dog.
Now I dont see only ono way of settling
this matter, or at any rate quieting on't for
a spell for thcro is no other way of set
tling on't but by tho Treaty or somolh'iig
worse; but I go for (juieting on't, England,
1 suppose, dont care how long it remains a
Disputed .Territory and I suppose our
fulks dont nather, provided tlisy aint losers
by it.
Now for the sake of Unhinfi. U.u .
-let all the timber that is cut W
putcd Territory be allowed to go to Knga "j
as free of duty oh one side' as tm,PrT
matter who cuts it, there is enuf ,', r ' i
creation to cut till the Queen cm ... l ,
grandmother, and by that tilne Folks will i
chopping other mattersand as rpiraJ. j
Passage across wo dolit cal-n mif ... "
Uiaf, lor it is about as likely that n
folks will in time go one way as tothcr, hrf
so long as ihcy do.nl trouble us or lik,'k. ,
troume us wo wont complain. We lik '
seb fulks moving, especially in tho
1 rade, it keeps matters brisk and snrv
as for sdgerlng, except on .til, r'. 'i .7
some such day In ten years from this tmv
wins win ue asuaineii ou't
Now my advice is to our folks to kceri
cool, and make no stir about tt IP niAtu. .fit
Giiieral Government i
'"in iiu. u t as
iimgtbn- Tlid
iUIlt aslrrm ik. .
all are Wide awake Coiifrrpit.! .;n H
matter as strait as a nine loir. nn,i i..i..
- '" me
will see flic advantage of doing rWuLu
V..J.UIUUI3 on ooin sines fortha
sake of a flourish, lead their folks imoU
blood, they may find they havo becunw
carve the meat before It is eook'd and hav
a poor dinner on't. This is afi evcrlastW
Country In a real fight; when all takeholj
then wfa shall be sure to inrlkc clean worlt
and to git what we fight lor: But if anf
part on't Undertakes a fight afore the other
part knows what the quaitol is about it
may make a muss and dirty Wbrk only.'
There is alway two eends to astiek-1 we
have in this matter got hold of the dean
eend, and let us keep, it and not in a hurry
or untimely sculllo change cends, and pej:
haps hold the. nasty ono, and that's all for
tho priscilt Froih.vour friend,
. J'. DOWNING, Major,
Downlilgvillo Militia, 2d Brigade.
)
FROM THE MAINE BOUNDARY.
'On the 1st inslanl letters from Houlioj
wore received at Bangor, a distance of 12
miles in 10 hour and 25 minutes, by t!u
lino of vidcttcs established between tKe
iwo places. Ono of them is from Colonel
John L. llodson, and communicates the
important intelligence that a regiment cl
800 Fusilccrs had arrived at Halifax frnn
Cork, and wero ordered to be at Frederick.
I,... "V.l I..... . A
mi, vii tuuuMjajr 1.131 mm 10 procceu ions.
wiui io Die disputed territory.
It also states hat it would he neresfart
to cut a road lrom sevcii to twmtj-fii
miles for the Maine troops to join 5lr. Jai
vis's force, which road intiat at on pout
approaching within a few rods of the dis
puted boundary, at which ppint it was an
ticipated there must be a brush with tl'i
British. It was also supposed that a reia
forcemcnt of American troops, would b!
ordered very- soon.
Sir John Ilarvey had sent an express tt
cur jonn uoiuornc. J hree companies t
regulars wero quartered at Woodstori;
The Maine papers say" the British iroop
were strongly disposed to desert, and that:
strong guard of provincial militia was sla
tioned between Woodstock and Iloulton. tc
prevent the regulars' from slipping otfcrihf.
line.
The Boston Merc'antilo of Monday cii
ning states mat:
It seems to bo the general opinion i:
.Maine, that the Government ol (list Ms:
will not relinquish her claim to the jiirif
diction over the disputed territory but ml
retain possession with a military force
spite of the protocol. The Portland A
vertiser says "we say this and we do bt
speak the language of the wholo State o
Maine', that wo will not yield up the pof
session of the" Aroostdol? to anv earth!;
power."
By an extra of Bangor Mechanic i"
FarmCr, dated 2d March, wo Icam thsti
gentleman from Woodstock reports that
militia are gathering on the frontier. 0c!,'
1-10 regulars wero at Woodstock, wiih'
pieces of artillery.
The Portland Courier savsi
ii r T?..j..t.ii.i. Z. . oi Tflhs
u. i uiicjuiu s answer
Harvey's ldttcr, in which Sir John Har!
claims exclusive jurisdiction over tho (to
putcd territory, created something of a tt.
at rrederickton; m less than an hour aiiCj.
was received, a special messenger was
its way to Washington with despatches i
tho British minister."
A letter in the Boston Atlas, dated iaW
Senate Chamber of Maine, at Augus
March 2d, probably fromi Maine Seaai
" I speak advisedly, when I say tnatui
tne conicmpiaieu visa oi uenerai -j
Maine is only to persuade a wilhuray"6'
our troops from Iho disputed terriio,
rclinouislimcnt of our nresent nositu-'l 'I
might as well stay away. I repeat iW
speak advisedly when I say this. It
uppcar as strong language, but 1 say "&
my heart, that I had rather see our Sta-j
deluged in blood, and every field bleaew
umiIi linnnn if nnr rMlWnns. than that
ulinulil mli-nnn tlm (Vtnlclnnq mill SubW'' '
alnrioUSSJ
and stripes" must wave on the line, ana J
must speak if necessary with tho cannc
mouth to the British minions," thus fartf
luuu i;uiiiu uuu III) itiiuici.
The Boston Transcript nf Monday'
ning savs, " Major General Ecott anojn
left town to-day, at 12 M. far lie,bliIl
Tho General expected to recetvo ue
es from Washington, but in cohsequ"""
.i i i .1.. ....!! ..nllf tlllW
uiu nou-arrivai ur u uuu, v
procaed without thcuu"