The io hi m Is i a llemocral I havo sworn upon the Altar of fiort, olernal hostility to ovory form of Tyranny ovor tho Mind of Man." Thorn" JeiTorson II. WEBB, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. ISLOOXtlSMTRC, COLUMBIA L'OlMT, PA. SATURDAY, .1ABTVARY 18, 1845. Number Volume VIBB. OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRAT oi'i'osm: St. Paul's Cmiuoii, Mais-st. The COT. UiMBIJl DEiMOCllJlTwill b published every Saturday morning, at TWO DOLtilllS per annum payabh hiiif icarh in advance, or Two Dollars Fifty Cent a, if not paid within the year. No .subscription will be taken for a shorter period than nix months; nor any discon tinuance permit led, until all arrearages arc discharged. J1D Vlilt TI SEMENS n ot exceeding a square will be conspicuously inserted at One Dollar for the first ihrceinsertioni, and Twcnt'ij-fivc cents for every subsc niimt n.ier'lion. BiT libc ral discoun vutde to those who n-lvrrtisc by they ear LETTERS addressed on business, must be post paid. GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE- To the Senate and House of Ilcprcscnta tivts of the Commonwealth of Pcnn sylvania Fkllow-Gitizhns : The term to which mv e'lgilnlliy as ( ho Chief Exe cutive officer of llie Commonwealth, a restricted by tin Contilution, being a hoot to close, 1 Miboiit lo tins Legist, lure, the List ann.ial ni'j(i! which tin duly of my station en joins upon mo. L the performance of this dtry, I cannot refrain from invoking your devout ac knowledgements, will) my own. lo tin Great Author of All Good, for His con stant care nnd guardianship over the in terests and welfare of our beloved Com monwealth. Upheld by His paternal arm, wo hive been rescued from the most distressing embai r issmenis and difliculiies to which, in a lime of peace, nny people were ever strbj -el ed. Good has sprung out of evil afeiy from dan i;it wisdom from folly .mil justice from a spirit ol ungenetous detraction. The clouds lhat for several yens pist, hive hu ii k upon our horizon, aro break ing away; and the sunshine ot prospcri iy once mote begins to beam upon qui path. Wiiliin Inn d iys after mv induction into office, I fell myself called upon, by the higin ijt consideration of diry, lo communicate lo the Legislature, a full and frank expo-dtion nf the slate of our pecuniary afTiirs. Upon a careful ex animation, it was ascertained that the amount of the public debt, including s-npltis revenue from iho I'lnted Stales, was a little upwards of thirty millions of (Itilt.ii and I In; deficit in the Treasu ly dui ing the year IS3.9, beyond llu income fiom nil sources, was about four millions of dollais. to meet this a- mount t immediate provision had to be made, nnd, lo add lo the perplexing em hot rassmonls, the great cnmiuerr.ial con vulsiou, which has since reached it? begin, was then just beginning to b felt in its operation. 1' or more than ton years immediately preceding that ppii. oil, the Stae of Ft tiny I vania,fi om hei well known punctuality and great nalu ral resources, had experienced no difli cully in procuring upon loans, on favor able lerms, any amount of money she needed, lo exieuil and carry on her sin petnlous system of internal improve ments. Holh Foieign and A un pe n capitalist!) were cumpcliior-1 for the ao eeptance of her loans; and there seemed lo bo no 11 in i is lo her credit and resour ees, except those which hei own discre lion imposed. She made large loans fo the undertaking and completion of he various lines of improvement, and pai tho interest upon these loans by other loans. Stimiilaied by these facilities and forgetting tho day oyer would an ive when her interest must bo paid, not by loans, hut by taxation, n system of im nrovemeuls, by railrnail and canal: was undei taken, tar more cnmprebnusiyi than her necessities1 required, and far beyond her means to complete. The same reckless spiiil which ue.ituled th H0vcrnnu'nt,liad seized upon her private eitiz'ins, ami iudueed iln-m to engage in undei Inking' rqmlly indiscreet anil un a'tatnable. Within a very lew yeai immediately piecctltng the comincnce irn.Mii of my adminisiraliun, banks werr eieated to an extent, ami wilh capital unheard of in IhisC'ommunwoalth at any lormer period. Ihese banks, conlrolh by men moved by such impulses, very speedily exploded, ami, as every rational man ought lo pave ioicscoii,ovci wiieim ed, in their downfall, lliu enlire busi 11 bs of liic community. Williiu abou two years after I entered upon the dis charge of the Executive functions,bauks the aggregate capital of which amounted to more than two-thirds of tho entire banking capital of the Siaie,and furnish ing more than that propoition of its cur- ency, were compelled to wind up their (l.i i is; and, in doing so, not only extin guish! d this amount of the osiensibli oapilal of the Slate, but crippled the re maining hanks, compelled them to witli hold facilities from the business men ol the community, nnd, by forcing i hei i dehluis, constituting a large class of men engaged in various pursuits ol hi.', to discharge their liabilities, almost crushed the large and nourishing class of busi ness men in all parts of the Common wealth. To udd still faiiher to ihes perplexing evils; the condition of th. pecuniary affairs of Eu opo bici ,ie al most ns deeply etnh.in a-s-d as our own. mil foreign capitalists, who had sough for opportunities to make invest nicnls it Ins country, were induced lo wihhold their uu:il loans, During a whorl period previous to my entering upon the duties of my office, our internal improvement system, con ssedly incomplete, was very laigeh extended by making amironriations to wards Ilia construction ol' the North ami West Uranch and Erie Extensions, Wis- onisco L inal, Allegheny I eerier and Geltybutg Itiilroad, besides guarantee ing llie interest upon loans made to pn- ite companies, engaged in .the con ruction of works leading into the im provemenls ol the Slate, llie amount which has been paid by tho State lor these ami other improvements, which iro wholly unproductive, is nearly nine mllions of dollars. Flic most strenuous excitions woro re quired lo obttin, during thn first two ears, a sufficient amonnl of money to pay Uic interest upon the blate debt lefray the expenses of the government; nid to rny oil the large class of domestic creditors, naturally and justly elamorotn for the discharge of their demands upon liooiale. uigid economy was recom iiended, and enforced in all Iho publn xponditures. The extended Iinc3 ol improvement, winch might have been completed a few years earlier by loans, vero suspended in consenuenco of thi inability of the Stale to raise the neces sary funds; and finally the interest upon lie puiilic dent tailed to be paid from he same cause, and the want of time requisite to mature a plan of taxation winch would produce the necessary sum Ibis source, fur iho present year.rnay.llinro- This bahnee embraces iho sum of $50,000 foro, bo estimated at about St, 200, 000 00 of relief notos, which the Stato I reasinei I'lic acts whiv.li havo been passed upon withheld Irom cancellation on llie 31st Ue iho subject, and which arc now in force, cembcr, and which, if needed, may bo ap provide for tho imposition of a tax, which, plied by tho Legislature lo iho payment ol taking the valuation for 1811, of t!in real interest oil the public debt. From tin ind personal properly as a tiasis. will anyacis nere presenieu, n is cviuenl thai llie nually amount to tho sum of $1,-153 000, iCominonealtli will bo prepared to meet bci I hat valuation, it may bo lemaiKed, was interest lulling mm on llin lsl ol februarv considerably below lhat of 1811. If. there lore, tho provisions ol the act ol toil ue fairly carried into effeel, in the valuation of properly, and iho collection ami prompt payment of tho lax, bo enforced, the annual revenue hereafter lo bo derived from thai source, will amount to at least St 500 000 I'll is sum, wilh Iho other resources of the (Jominonwaalth, will be entirely adequate to furnish the necessary amount lodischarge tho interest upon the public debt, ami thus m-iire the fidelity ol the totaio to lie r cn 'auenmnts. Without expressing tho opinion that the letails of these laws are, in all their minute particulars the most equal and just, in tin objects selected for taxation, and tho rales imnnsed. I will remark lhat. thoy seom lo 'to substantially conformable to public opin ion. There is a defect in providing for the punctual enlorcomcnt ol llie laws imposing mil collecting the taxes, and I beg leave to recommend to llie consideration ol ill e t,eg islaiuru. toe adoption of some moro efficient niodu of attaining llie end. This might be done bv indicting penalties on Iho col lectors, or other officers, found delinquent in llie discharge of their dulies. That clrss ol individuals is as Intle entitled to indulgence or sympathy as any olbcrs engaged in tin execution of the taws. The entire amount of the public debt o this time is: Funded debt, 0 per cent slocks. SI 37(i 910 at 5 31 721 03 t .Id li 200 000 00 $39 203 450 G Loan (rolieif issue) per act of -1th May, 1811 bearing an interest of one per cent SI 175 000 00 six 171 030 00 five 7l5i:i 00 we have run since tho 1 5th of January, a department for iho charge of llie inann 1830. It can hardly bb possible for such h uiuuhcs. I hero have been utmost every Amount in circula tion, Balance due domes tic creditors, on certificates issued by the Audilur General, $1 138 ICS 0b 101,38-1 93 Attempts, it is truo, have been made to create doubts in the public mind in relation lo the propneiy or paying Iho interest on thai day lest there should bo a deficiency in tho Treasury, on the 1st of August, Din it musi bo perfectly evident that the'Trea jury will he in amplo funds, not only on the first of August next, bin also on the first nl I'ounnry, 1815. And the rcry fact thai the interest is paid on tho first of Febiuary next, will increase lliu means and credit of the Slate to meet its interest in August, & fierwaids, when it falls ('.ue. While, on the other hand, if when it is admitted thai enough money t discharge iho interest on the tirsl of I'ebruary, is in tho treasury. pptieauie to mat omect, anil u is not si- pplied, we shall, wilh much appearance ol justice, subject ourselves lo tho reproach ol nur Irauucers. as willully dishonest, -anil re gardless of iho faith and honor of the Stale Wilh an exhausted Treasury ami tarnished credit, wo could plead our necessities b extenuation of our violation of contraels;bu what shadow of excuso could bo offerei when this necessity has ceased to exist'' None, whatever, that groil old-fasltiiiueo integrity does not brand as disgraceful and unworthy our character as u sovereign Slate. Il must bn gratifying lo every Pennsyl vanian to reflect that the credit of this ('tea Slate, which has been, fur tipwaids ol Uv years, subjected lo reproach, will thus In testorcd to the unsullied purity of charade which, uuli! ibis unavoidable reverse o fortune, she bad steadfastly maintained, Flie slairns of all her honest creditors hi'. 'ic punctually discharged, and the grosstiui nutations which have been heaped upon 'ier name wiped out, and the abiding eun lidenne which we have ever felt the dispns ttiun & ability of the State to comply will d! her engagements; will be fully realized The report of the Canal Coinmissrnnert eill present lo yoj, in detail, the operation m llie public improvements, for the pas ear. The lulls collected in 181-1 amount- SI 107 003-12 being an increase ovei 1813 of SI72 199 10. The collections fo he year exceed the expenditures the sun ofS029 058 82. The report of the Stato Treasurer vil xplain. in detail, our financial condition. That officer estimates tho receipts nt tin I'reasury, for the current fiscal year endint Amounting to the sum ofSlO 835 013 GO for lhat object. Not a single dollar ha been appropriated, or paid, under m (1 in im eli at ion, lowaids the. commence ment of any new woi k whatever. The stale ot allairs was such, al Us outset, as oloihidauy such undertaking, how- ever merilonoiu in ns-elf, and 1 havi strictly adhered to lint, rule of conduct. Shortly alter I assumed the Execuiivr lutics of the State, I became satisfied lhat procrastination ot the evil day, when resorl to taxation was demanded by the most impe.ralivo obligation ol of duly, could no lougi r bu indulged. Faiulul as was the alternative,! fell how deeply the honor of the Slate was in- vulved, and recommended the imposi tiou of a tax, which should supply an uli quale sum to discharge the interest m the public debt, committing the de ads lo the L'-g'slaltire. the recommen latiou I icitenled, in the most earnest maimer, and ultimately il rceceived tin sanction of the Legislature, The assessment under the several laws, imposing a tax on real and personal pro perty, and the amount paid into the 1 fea sor y, as follows: Mo lit for tax us- nosed fur 1811 SI 10 781 R5 1812 (iflUfilS 47 181.1 'JG8 70S10 1811 uliout UH 80S t(l The increase to the Stato Debt, since 1 isMimcd tbc duties of the Executive chair, nay be properly understood, when it is slated that iho interest which has accured diereon, since that period, amounts to $10 301 100 00 The amount of interest guar anteed lo privalo curpora lions, to 1-1-1 310 00 And the amount of appropri ations towards the comple tion of unfinished lines of public improvements, com menced prior to that lime, about -1 500 000 00 30ih November. 1815 at I'o which add bat ance in Treasury on .'10di Novem ber last, SG03.851 Also, the amount in Uanal 'I'reasury, on same day, 30,-197 $3 005 000 01 Whole umount assessed fur the past four years S:)013 0; Am'n'. rccei"- edin 1811 $ ! 301 77 1813 18fi li:t.r) 85 IHI3 Q.V1 01 1 28 1811 751210 0. 1 12 -$1 825 05001 Leaving tlui amount of tax outstand ing un the Jirat uf Dtecinbci last. $1 188 071 11 subject to exonerations, commissions, &c, which may be estimated al leu tier cent. The balance, Ills fair lo presume, will be made available the current year. Of llie $701 210 90 paid into lite Treasury during jibe past fiscal year, only 81-13 099 00 win received from iho lax assessed lor 1814 leaving outstanding, for lhat year alone over 9800 000 00. The receipts fron Amounting to $15 000 520 00 Tho annual interest nn the funded debt of the State, payablo at iho Bank of I'cnn sylvauia, exclusive of interest on certificates issued lur interests, is $1 717 030 malline luo respectively on the first of February it August, nf which the sum of $873 515 00 is payable on the first day of .February next If n should be determined to pay the inter est on the interest eenificates on tho Isi February, then the futiber sum of $97 880 8 1 will be required. I he receipts into the I rpasnry during the fiscal year, ending on the 30 ih Nuvem- ier last, including a small available balaiu from 'he previous year.were S2 511 237 03 I'ho expenditures for the sain (i period, including the amount of relief notes can- celled, were 1 017 385 15 88 00 $703,348 88 Making a total of $3,705,3-!S 88 lie also estimates the expen ditures ot the Uuininon wealth, for llie aame peri od, Including interest on public debt at 3,061,013 50 t Leaving a balance in Treasu y on 30th November, 1815, of $017,335 32 hcavinc- a balance in tho 'I'reasury nn that day of $ 005 851 88 There was also an availablo ballanco in the Canal Troae sury, un the same day, of 39 -197 00 The receipts during the months of December, ex clusive of disbuisements, were 139 GS1 2 I'o which may bo added die receipts over expenditures for the present month, es- limited at 120 000 00 Making the amount in tho Treasury on l6t February about 1 hero is, therefore, no maimer of doubt mat, licncclorlli, the biate will bo able in meet not only the interest on her public debt bin all her other engagements of even description; tho taxos now imposed by law (it itieir collection and payment into the Treasury be strictly enforced), and iho pro reeds of the public improvements, with oilier sources of revenue, constituting a fund imply sufficient for that purpore Itecuring to the history of the past six years what a satisfactory answer does il furnish hi the obiortioiis of the enemies nl Kcpuhli can Goveruiucr.t, against its stability and in- tinnnr. Oppressed by personal embarrass uienls weighed down by public liabilities teproaehed for not doing what the most manlul struggles were unable lo accomplish the people of Pennsylvania have still borne themselves steadily in thodirkcsl hour hate submitted lo taxation griovnns ot all limes, and paitteularly so in convulsions of busi ness, and havo at last reached the solid footing which public integrity and pnblie fidelity in the end never fad lo attain Tho difficulties and embarrassments attend ing ibis struggle, will hardly be credited hy thoso who have nut shsred them, and, confess, tl will ever be to me u source ol 3 prnud satisfaction to compare the condition of the stale, wlien llie Helm ol tiovernment was pul into m) hands, with its condition when 1 surrendet it into the hands of my successor. I say tint Ibis to reproach thoee who preceded, nor to diminish llu just credit of thoso uho succeed me; but as $903 030 11 leason of trial ever to occur again: but if unhapily it should, I trust thnsu who are ailed upon lo encounter it w ill find some diing in our cxamplo to cheer and animate them to pcrsevoie in iho discharge of their duty. Having thus dispnsod of the financial con cerns of the State, for llie last few years, i subject of the deepest solicitude, I shall proceed lo submit to you but few special recommendations; for, at the present lime, I docin it nu moro than an al of respectful lourlesy to my successor, to leave entirely in his hands those recommendations of a genoral nature, which aro usually expected to emanate from Iho Executive department, I hero are a fov.lopics, however upon which I feel n lo be my dulv to offer some sugges lions for your consideration I he unexampled cnmin-juun ami distnr hance that recently prevailed in the business concerns of the country, have, in a great legree subsided, and left us in a state lo survey tho held ol disaster with a calm and nxucrienred eve 'The throes and eunvul sions nf the banking system, for n lime -ucnaced all those institutions, with speedy lownfall but most of the in havo now outrode 'he slorm. No man could witness the exis ing slate ol things without feeling conscious 'hai this system was essentially vicious and ie 'ded efieetual reform. To make banks useful without being dan gfrut lo rorreel tho evils without depriv tug them of all power to do gnod-lo restrain iliein within their proper sphere by ngid ro 'illations is an object al which 1 think al intelligent and honest legislation should inn. In this opinion, I presume there will 'if no discordance whatever anion j well in Inruied men Farly in the month of May last a series if the most alarming and sanguinary riot nuke out in the Distiict of Kensington, it. he enmity of Philadelphia. Oil ihelorigin of these riotous proceedings I do not feel called upon to make any particular animad versions It is ruiougo to say that u large iinount of privalo property dwelling houses nid churches were burnt and destroyed; nd that a large number uf valuable lives vere. sacrificed. 'To such an extent wa the public salely endangered, that 1 was ailed upon by llie proper authorities of llu nv and county of Philadelphia for an ade quale force to arrest and quell these distur slices. 1 immediately ordered a very con iderablo numl er of troops from adjoininp .nstricis, to repair to Philadelphia, and, b f sinning a firm and determined position peace and order were temporarily restor d. In the month of July similar outrage, -gain were committed in the District o Souihwark, in the county of Philadelphia nd wilh similar painful and bloody rebuilt t was again called upon to interfere and -ccond tune repaired to the city ol I'liila I el phi a , having made similar lequisitioni- pon (he volunteers of neighboring districts mil by the adoption ol similar proceeding? lawless outrage was agai.i suppressed, am' public, tranquility as 1 trui thoroughly re stored. On these occasions tho mob had procured lite-arms of nearly all description ind Used them both against private citizenc and against tho military with deadly elleci. i nan nn; j-iaiiiicaiion to witness thai llu citizen soldiery, thus called at an hnur't wi.ruiug from their homes to the scene i 'ilondy conflict acted, in all emergencies with a coolness steadiness and courage worthy of veterans and with a degree ol 1'nrbearniice without unlinking from theii duly infinitely more to their honor. Offi. eers and men all behaved in a manner cnii led to the highest commendation. 1 rofei you to the report of iMnjor General Patter sun, herewith transmitted fur the detailed operations of iho military on llie occasions to which I hive referred, Il is due to these citizen so'diers. to mako speedy and ade quato remuneration for their services. 1 -.iibmii il lo the Legislature to ascertain tin time to bo allowed ihem and fix the anioum they ought lo icceivpj but I must urge upon us consideration, in the most earnest terms the justice and propriety of iheir claims, Men who abandon their daily pursuits ot life leave their wives and children without pinteciion or support and peril thoir lives ii die public service eiiher against fuieign oi (brnestic fnes ore justly entitled lo a libera' (ompcnsalion from that public whose law they have defended. The salutary lessoi taught by the rigid though considerate un foreenieni of the laws by means of the mili tary and the firm and er.lighiened eoursi pursued by ihe judicial tribunals and llu officers in Phiadelphia entrusted with tin duty of bringing ollenders before tiieni will doubtless prevents rer.uiieneo of these ovil and guarantee hererfier the peace and guod order of thai community Although the system of imprisonment auopicu uy rennsyivania some years ago at the establishment nf her Penitentiaries has been justly regarded as the most adini rabid to bo iound t ear, siiicp I liavo been liuveruor ol the Giiinmoiiweallh some unfortunate persona confined in the Penilentiaiy of this desert. tiou, who either wcro partiilly Insane when committed or liccamo so afterwards. As the aw now stands thero is no remedy for ihese cases but to pardon thorn or confine them in the same manner as other erimnals aro eon fined llolh iheio modes are often times wrong and I respectfully urge -it upon your consideration to make some provision for redressing the evil in future. 1 he stale debt now consists ol thirty toven distinct loans, for each of which, a separate set of books must be kept ni the loan office of the Commonwealth. Constant divisions) sub-divisions, and transfers of stocks, taro taking place, fc tho whole system is becoming daily more laborious and complicated. I recommend an enquiry into the subject nid, il practicable, the consolidation ot these loans into some uniform system. 1 he careless manner in winch b llu ire slranscribcd, is a subject which calls for some remedy. Il not unfrequeutly happens thai the Executive is compelled io return bills lo the comparing com mittees, fur corrections before he can give them his approval, liills pre sented during the last hours of the ses sion, and as is usually Ihe case, on the, days lifter the adjournment, cannot un dei go this cot reeling process, and aro necessarily placed upon the statute book wilh such errois os they may contain, it has likewise been discovered, ofier the publication of the laws, that whole sections which bad passed both houses, had been omitted in the transcribed bill, and stclions inserted which had never teccived the sanction of the Legislature. 1 deem it only necessary to call your attention lo this evil, without making; my recommendation as lo the proper remedy. Dui ing the timo I have been in office no uppiopriatioiis have been made to furnish the Executive chamber, in a man ncr which seems to me to be suitable to he character of Iho Slate. ! Itavu avoided calling tho attention of the Leg sUiure to this subject for obvious rea son.,; but a sense of delicacy no longer resirains me from pressing upon your Mention, the necessity of supplying llie Executive Chamber wilh furniture and . onveninccs, a little less unbecoming ban these that are found there at prc 'tiif. The ptiblic grounds surrounding the oipitol, not withstanding lhat consider- a ne Minis have been appropriated to im prove and embelisli Ihem, are still in a condition nut al all creditable lo the cap ital of the Stale; and especially thai por lon, not enclosed; upon Ihe south cast side of ihe Capilol, stands in need of impiovement and care. This ground was a donation to llie State by tho luuudir of Harrisburg,and il is scarcely juit to his memory to neat his munifi cence with audi negligence. The lasto and self respect of a peonlo are strikingly exemplified in the stmc turo of Iheir public buildings,and in Ihe embelishmenis surrounding Ihem. It strangers wete to adopt this as a criteri on hy which to estimale ihe character of llie cilizons of Pennsylvanian, wo should have little cause to bj proud of the judgment they would form of us. I beg leave lo recommend Hi at a suitable ppropriation be made to render our public grounds somewhat more worthy the character of the people of the Stale. The unfortunate destruction of ihe bridge of the Cumberland Valley Rail road Company, over the Susquehanna, at ILitrisburg.by fire,in a groat measure cul olf the trade and business which that valuable tributary in our public improve ments supplied. The State hold in lhat company, stock lo the amount of S70,. (JUU. 1 lie original cost of the b r 1 1 1 it ft was S124.000 and it will probably cost $90,000 to re-build it on the most approved plan. The condition of tho company is such as 0 forbid the hope of its being able to raise the whole of the lunds necessary to re.enncinii.i ii. ilany of ihe numerous brii'ges erected over lhat river have been from lime lo lime do stroyed by Hoods and otherwise and I bo lieve thai the Legislature in every instance nas n rrgrn anu proper to assist in their re construction, I would therefore recotn mend llie subject lo the favorable con stderatinn of iho l.egislatuie and u:ge the propriety ot naiuiig a reasonable apprnpn iitton to aid llie company to this umlpnotr ou i on no among all nations vei itmvn io rLhntlirmni ...I.!.. I. .1 no provided lur that ol establt.lung in con 'The annual renoit of the will an act of sheer jusiicu to all who embarked wilh me io tint gloomy pud peiilous voyage ncction with en,ei ofour State Penitentiaries 0f Common Schools, Superlnlender acquaint you,
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