GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. Te> the Honorable the Senators and Membere of the House cf Representativee of Ike General Aetmhty: G rtiTLem cu -Whilst the events of the year just closed, present many cause* of,joy ami congratulation,and afford abundant rea son forthank fulness ton benificcnt Provi dence for hit goodness and mercy—our prosperity and happiness, as a people, I re gret la cay, lias net been unalloyed. The general growth of the country, the progruss of the arts and sciences, and other causes of moral and social comfort, have not, it is true, been interrupted ; but the loss of valu able live 6 aptl property, by tho casuaiilins of the elements, has been unusual, both in nomberniid extent; end in certain sections of oaf Commonwealth the afflictions of pesti lence and disease have also been sorely fell. Nor shoud we estimate lightly the suffering that manifestly exists amongst the poor in our cities and towns. The drought of the season deprived the husbandman, to some extent, of the anticipated rewards of hia la bor, and lessened the means of human sub sUtence ; whilst the depression in monetary and business affairs, hss deprived many la borers ami mechanics of their usual earn, mgr. The means of subsistence are thus greatly euhar.ched in value, at the same time that the oppmtunitjes of earning them are much diminished. The field for charity is consequently wider than usual; and to mort ita reasonable demands ort the part of these blessed with an abundance, will bo to sus tain the christian character, and measurably to merit the continued bounty of Heaven. The operations of the Treasury for tfie last ijear, will be presented to you in detail, by the bead of that department. The results are highly satisfactory, showing a steadily in creasing revenue from nearly all the ordina ry sources. • The aggregate receipts for the fiscal year of 1854, including loans and the balance in the Treasury, on the 30th ot November, 18- 63, amounted to the sum of #6,665.912 01_ Tfce gross payments for the same period, to lha sum of 85,421,983 29; leaving a balattcu on the 30th of November, of 81,240.929 72. The extraordinary payments consisted of the 'following heme, to nit.- loans repaid. #235,888 40; to the North Branch canal, #206,552 86 ; to the construction of the new railroad over the Allegheny mountains, £ #461,921 03; to the payment of debts on the public w0rk5,8389,9 !0 38. Of the bal ance remaining iu the Treasury, a portion is applicable to the payment of the Staie debt, >and remainder to current demands. The simple, or ordinary operations of the Treasury for the satna period were as fob lows, to wit : the receipts, exclusive of loans and tho balance in the Treasury on the 30th cf November, 1853, tealixed from perma nent sources, amounted to ihe sum uf #5,218,- 099 00. The ordinary expenditures, inclu dingtho interest nn the State debt and ali the payments on the finished lines of the public works, •xaJuJing (ho payincuts on nctv works and loans, amounted to #4,116,744 84 ; being #1,1111,490 !5 less than the receipts. This statement may be regarded as the workings of the Treasury simplified; and as establishing the gratifying fact, that the pre sent reliable tevetioes of the State, exceed Ihe orJiitary or unavoidable expenditures, over a million of dollars ; and that, relieved from the demands for the construction of new improvements, the Treasury could pay a million or more o! lha public debt annual ly.. It-will also be. perceived that tho in come from these sources is steadily increa sing. For instance 1 in 1846, with tho State lax at preasant rates, and tho same extent of improvements in use, with nearly all the present sources of revenue in operation, the gross receipts amounted to but little over three end u balf millions. No mote re liable estimate of the opera lion of the Treasury lot 1855 can be made, than ia furnfibed in the results fur 1854. Tfie ordinary receipts inay be safely estima ted at a million ol dollars above the una voidable expenditures. A portion of this excess will h<v required lo complete the new Portspo railroad, and Ihe North Btsnoh canal; and the remaiudar should bo faith fully applied towards the payment of lire State debt. The aggregate recei pi# on the public rworks for the past year, as reported by the Canal Commissioners, amounted to tho sum ol 51j870,f78 88; and lire expendltnioe to ibe sum of 31,101,570 54 ; leaving a bal.tnce of #774,508 34; from whicb, however, should be deducted tho sum of #37,9u0, properly chargeable to lite year, lor new locomotives and other unavoidable expendi lures—thus reducing tha net profit# to #736.- 608 34. If we add to this #131,00 00 r*- -oeived from the Pennsylvania railroad com pany for tha three mill lax, which is claimed by soma cs a part of the income from the public works, we find a net revenue of #867-000 ; a sum equal to tire interest on seventeen millions of the five per cent, debt of the State. The aggregate receipts were #57,121 lass than for the year 1853, and the reduction in expenditure amoumed to over #159,257 80. The withdrawal of the busi ness of the Pennsylvania railroad from tha Portage road, readily accounts fur this dif ference. Viewed in every aspect, this exhibit is gratifying. Few similar systotns of improve nieut in the country can present a mora fa vorable picture. Some of them, in other States, have recently been reduced to a con dition of virtuai insolvency. The increase of business on the Slat* works for the last two years, has exceeded our anticipations; . and but for the necessity whicb seemed to exist for a reduction in tolls to meat su rroun. ding competition, the rcvenuo would have been largely increased. The general move, meat now on foot amongst railroad compa nies, to advance these rates, may perhaps, relieve the State to soma extent in tbia re pccL The #eleware division makes a most gratifying exhibit. The gross receipts coun ted #366,328 07, and the expenditures $59,- 738 67, ehowiug a net profit of #305,588 40; • sum equal lo the interest on aix millions of thp public debt, and in 20 pur cent on the original coat of tha work, including the ex- j pendituree for new lock. The North Branch canal and (ho Colum- I bia railroad also present favorable results.— | The business and tolls on the former have increased with marked rapidity: and the management nn both these branches bear the marks of skill and economy. The ex penses on the Allegheny Portage road have been largely reduced, and the business bet ter regulated than at any former As a whole, I feel constrained to say, that the condition of the public works has been im proved during (lie last year; in no other particular, to so valuable an extent, as in the matter ot contracting debts, which it secrns has been almost entirely avoided.— The officers on the respective linos report that thoy have paid all expenses ; an I eome j of them have gone so far as to say to the Ca nal Board that they will be personally res ' possible for any debts that may hereaffer be discovered. This is truely a great reform— for nothing has cost the State so much, as lha pernicious practice of making debts on the public works, —I still think it should be interdicted by positive law. In my hist message I gave my views at length, as to the printiples and rules that abould control in the management of the State improvements, and I need not repeat them in this. I would respectfully suggest, however, that so much of the law as binds the Canal Commissioners to a fixed rate of lolls for the whole season, should bo tepeai \t. me uotoBTS directing tfie operations ot the public works should, it seems to me, be left free to meet the exigencies ia trado and commerce, as they may arise. The wotk on the Mountain railroad has progressed slowly, and it is obvious that it will not bo fully completed before the sum mer of 1855. I must confess myself sadly disappointed as to the time and money Con sumed in the construction ol this work. The expenditures since I cama into office, have greatly exceeded the whole amount estima ted as necessary to complete the line; and yet, it is but justice to say, that the Penn sylvania railroad, lying parallel with i*, has cost a still larger sum per mile. I have endeavored, during my service, to guard against the commencement of schemes of this or any other character, to entail fu ture liabilities on the Treasury. This ought to bo the settled policy of the State. No newr improvements should be undertaken, upon any pretext whatever. The payment of debts and that only, should absorb the sur plus revenues of the Treasury. If this poli cy be pursued, r.o other financial scheme, to pay the debt, will be uecessary. The largo annual surplus will reduce the State's indebt edness witn sufficient rapidity. I regret, exceedingly, the necessity of an i Pouncing to you that the North Branch canal ii not yet in full operation. It is now more than a year since the Canl Commissioners directed the water to be lot imo tho mam trunk cf that improvement, and declared their confident belief, that it would be in successful operation by tho middle of last stjtntuei ; but their sanguine expectation.-*, Us wil (tfi ol Ote hare, in tliia ! re-pecf, I eon sadly disappointed. A variety j of unforseon difficulties presented them I selves tr. the way of tho attainment of this I end. The old work, constructed some j twelve or fifteen years since, as well ns soma sections of the new, located on the hill side, near the margin of the river, when tes ted by the admission of water, turned out to be porous, and totally insufficient in its ma terial ard formation. In same instances rock", roots, stumos. havo bean concealed under tho bottom of the channel, covered only by a few inches of earth; lltus presenting but a slight obstruction to the passage of the water out into the bed of the river. This is especially the case in much of the old work. In all such sections or places, no remedy, shorl of a reconstruc tion of the bottom of tho canal, could prove sufficient; and this was necessarily a tedi ous and expensive process. There is still a considerable portion of the work to remodel in this way; but it is confidently believed that it will be ready for use in the early part of the coming seasou. That the utmost skill and vigilance has at all tirnos been exhibi ted by the agents ot the State, on this line, I do not belive; but lha deficiency, in this particular, on the new work, has not been so palpable as alleged by some. Indeed, since May-last, great energy has characterized the management on this line ; the President of the Canal Board having devoted much of his time to a personal supervision of the work But it is obvious, no degree ol ca pseity in the Slate's agents, for the last year, could havo overcome sll the difficulties that I w cje encountered, with sufficient eelarity, to have entirely satisfied public expectation. At the time t came into office, the sum necessary to complete this work was estima ted at #772 000. Since that time the sum of #l/06 552 72 has been expended, and it will still require, as estimated oy llys Cartal Beard, #60,000 to put it into complete oper ation. Whilst I regret this nnforseen cost and de lay, I cannot refrain from repeating my un faltering confidenoe in the wisdom of the policy that dictated the completion of this work. The largo increase of business and tolls for the year just closed, on the older portion of the lino, indicates what we may safely anticipate from the new ; and, I can not doubt, that the gross amount of business it will command, and tho revenue it will yields will exceed the raot sanguine expec tations of its advocates. Tho inexhaustible mines of coal with which that section of the Stale abounds, the products of which are des tined to pasf through this avenue to a limit less market, will furtiish for it a never fail ing supply of business and lonnags. Besides, its completion will bo an act of justice to the industrious and enterprising inhabitants of that part of the Commonwealth, who have heretofore willingly contributed towards the construction of the other improvements of theSta;-', from which they could derive but little advantage. It will, also, add to the general prosperity of the adjacent country ; to tho value of properly, and consequently to the revenues of the Stale. At the time of my induction into office, the funded Oebt, inc.tid ing accrued inteuist, amounted to the sura of i 10,151,457 48 Add to this the loan nf April, '52. to complete the iti. B. Canal, 850,000 00 $41,004,457 48 Deduct payments as follows: Interest on outstanding certificates, $50,063 39 Receipt* to the sinking fund up totiiis time 1,057.856 15 Total funded debt, $:)b'900.537 94 The floating debt and unpaid ap propriations ni the period al ready indicated, 81,421,090 13 Deduct i he available balance then in the Treasury, 75.000 00 £671 COOT'S The floating debt, temporary loans, unpnid appropriations, * except for repairs alter the Ist December, 1834, 1,630,000 0O [ Balance in the Treasury Novem ber 30, 1854, after deducting the amount applicable to the . old publio debt and the relief issues then oil hand, 865.929 00 Balance, #766.929 00 During the *ame period (he following ap propriations and payments have been made towards the construction of new improve ments, to wit: For the re-construction of the Co lumbia railroad, #514.407 66 For tho now railroad over the Al legheny mountains, 1,117,955 93 For the completion of. the West ern reservoir, 52.388 00 For tho North Branch Canal, 1,206,332 76 New stock on tbe Delaware Di sr.iiuny- ioo,ato aa Sundry special payments, 95 353 71 S3 086,778 05 Tho foregoing figures exhibit thu a-toiusli ing tact tbat ihe Treasury has been annual ly paying over a million of dollars towards the construction of new improvements, and at the same time accomplished a small re duction of the public debt. As mad* my duty, by an act of the Leg islature, approved thu 27th of April last, providing for lite sale of the mailt line of the public works, sealed proposals for its purchase were invited, up to the first Mon day of July last. No offers were made un der this invitation j and publio notice was again given, on the 14 h of November las:, in accordance with the 2£Hh section of the act, for proposals, to be submitted to the General Assembly ; but nor.e have been re ceived. Tliie improvement Is, therefore still ihe properly of lha Stale, subject to such disposition as the Legislature may deem necessary. My mind has undergone no change, on the subject of selling the public works, since the period of my last message. 1 think the policy of the measure depends maiuly upon the price that can be obtained, and the con ditions which purchasers may be willing to hold these works for the use of the public With a full and fair consideration, and on terms amply protective of the rights and in terests of the people, in the future enjoy ment of these highways—a sale might not |flrve injurious to the public weal. But it is certainly neither wise nor politic to as j sumo that they must be sold for whatever : can be obtained : or that they should, in any I event, be given away. Nothing coul.t have j a more prejudicial effect upon the interests ] of the State, as involved in these improve ments, than the avowal of such d determi nation. Nor is it less unwise to disparage the value of the Commonwealth's property, at the very moment of pullir.g it in market for sale. No intelligent private citizen would so act, in reference to his own estate. He would hardly give notice to capitalists, in adrance, that he would soil his farm for a fair price ; but if unwilling to pay such rea sonable consideration, they could havo it for half iho money. Nor would such a person proclaim, that oi all the farms in' the coun try, his was the least productive. It is certainly the wish of many good citi zens of iho Slate—perhaps of a majority— that the public works should be sold ; but this desiro is evidently based upon the as sumption that the measure would be one of real economy—that it would lesson, with out the hazard of increasing, their annual taxes. The realization of such an object, it must be perceived, then, depends entirely upon the price and terms. Those who de sire a sale, certainly expect the State to be ilia gainer by such a measure. No other important, or sufficient reason lor parting with this properly has been assigned. it is usually said that the works should be sold to pay the public debt and losßon the burthens ef the people; but it must bo ob served, thai a sale might be made at a price far too low to efTecl such purpose ; and if so, to give them away would be still less likely to produco the desired result. Should the gross sum received, not be equal to that on which the net earnings would pay the inter est, then the effect would be to increase, rather than diminish those annual bunhent. This is not what the people desire to accom plish by a sale ; nor will they be satisfied with sucb disposition of their property. The real value of the public works, is a proposition full of difficulty ; and I doubt not the General Assembly will approach the in quiry, duly impressed with its importance. Ten millious of dollars was fixed, by the luw of last session, as the price for the main line. This minimum is said by some to be too high, and (he failure to sell, regarded as the consequence. Others attribute the absence of bidders to Iho condition of the money market—to the stringent restrictions imposed upon the law ; and to the efforts that had been previously made to disparage the val ue of the line. Out it is obvious that more than one of these causes may have operated; and a greater than nil may have been, the hope of getting this property on better terms, at a future time. I feel very confident that the latter consideration was not without its influence. But, be '.his as it mny, it is cer tainly wiser to fail to sell for any of these causes, than to hazard the works in the market, without any restriction or limitation as to price or conditions. A bad sale would assuredly be a greater misfortune, (ban no sale at ail. The benefits resulting to the people from these improvements, have been numerous and diversified. They have facilitated trade and commerce; stimulated productive in dustry in every department; and have not only enabled (ltd farmer to. reach a ready market with the fruits of his labor, but bare furnished convenient out-lels for the rich 1 mineral treasure# of the Slate. Without them, the miner would be deprived of his occupation, the transporter be left in helpless destitution, and the Commonwealth itself be pormiiiod to retain a parsimonious possesion of fast masses ol natural and unproductive richJfeHjfuapredecessor. were wise in o- avenues to trade and com merce : and It wish to be rated wise hereafter, we shall not rashly and hastily throw away the advantages of their future uee. This use, to the full extent, in the event ol s sale, can only be secured by a jealous protection of the right of the people to enjoy .it. The very first conditions of such a measure should he, that the work", and every branch of them, be kept til nil limes in good order and in operaiing condi tion, and remain forever public highways, for the use of all persons who may wish to transport goods or merchandize over them, npon rates not grenter thsn those charged upon other similar improvements. No cor poration should get posession of these 2alu able avenues, on snch conditions as would enable it to impose unreasonable burthens on the internal trade and tonage of the Sta'.o, or in anv way to encroach npon the rights of the individual citizen. To obviate such results, trie powers, privileges and restric tions of any corporation setting the works, should be minutely defined. Past experi nn suggests these prudential counsels, for we have oflsn seen in this State, how difficult it is t i confine the operations of these artificial lodies within the limits pre scribed by the 4w , and we should not fail to profit by the-lesson. By the 29th section of the act of the 9th of May lss!,praaijing for the ordinary ex penses of government and other purposes, Nimrod Slricklsnd, ef Choster comity, John N. Purviancc, of Biitlercounty, John Sirohm of Lancaster county, were named as com missioners to settle certain claims and debts against the Commonwealth. It was also made tire duty of the Governor to supply, by appointment, any vacancy in this com mission which might occur. The gentle men already named having declined to serve, I accordingly appointed William W. Wiliismvn, f Chester county, Wm. .Eng lish. of Philadelphia, and John C. Magill, of Westmorland ceunty, in their stead. After a tedious and laborious investiga tion, these gentlemen have completed the duty assigned to them, and the result will be communicated to you, in detail, in their own report. I regret to perceive that the accounts so examined and setiled, exceed the amount of the appropriation neatly 8150,000. It is well, however, to see the end of claims of this character; and having accomplished this, it will be prudent to guard against the recurrence of a similar state of affairs. In deed, the practice of contracting debts on the public works, should bo at once and for ever abandoned, ft has been a fruitful souice of confusion in the accounts, if not a palpable wrong upon the Treasury. The right to scalier itie credit of iho Common wealth in this unguarded way, is, I venture to assert, without u parallel in the manage ment of public affairs. Of the many defect# in the system of managing tiie State im provements, this has been the most produc tive of evil. In my first, as also in my last annual message, I most earnestly urged the General Assembly to provide, by law, that no debt should be contracted by the officers on the public works ; that the necessary labor and material to maintain these works should be paid for in cash—and that each officer should be compelled te settle his ac counts promptly. The examinations just made, demonstrate still moro clearly the necessity for such reform. The administration of Gov. Shank com menced the cancellations o f tbe relief issues; and that of my immediate predecessor ar rested the process, leaving 8650,163 00 of this unsightly currency in circulation. In the spring of 1853, the policy ot cancella tion was again resumed ; and up to this date, 485,384, 88 had been received into the sinking fund, applicable to that purpose, leaving the meagte sura of $154,778,12, to privide for. The gratifying fact is apparent, therefore, that, without any further legiala tion on tins subject, the entire outstanding balanco of relief notes can be withdrawn from circulation and destroyed during the current year. It is truo that these issues have not come into the Treasury as rapidly as the funds foi their cancellation have ac cumulated, and that, consequently a bortion or the receipts have not been invested ; but the difficulty will be obviated in June next, when the law will go into operation which forbids the banks and receiving officers of the COIUIBO nwealth to pay out these issues, and requires them to be presented at the Treasuiy for cancellation. We shall, there fore, soon see the last of a currency which has polluted the channels oi circulation for thirteen years past; and 1 trust that the les son thus taught has been quite sufficient to waru us against similar errors for all time to como. My epinions on all questions that concern lite currency, have been so often expressed that they must be well known to the Legis lature, and need not be given, at length, in this communication. Without, at anytime assuming it would be wise for this Slate, re gardless ot the policy of other Common wealths, to dispense suddenly and entirely with banks of issue, it bas been uniformly held that the amount of banking capital as as a basis lor circulation should be closely limited to the urgent wants of commerce and trarfe. If the experience of tbo country is worth anything at all, it has demonstrated the correctness ol this policy?; end that the use of small bank notes should be discour aged and forbidden. In accordance with this view of the subject, I have, on past oc casions, relused to sanction any extensive incsease of banking capital. Every commercial country is liable to al ternate reasons of excilenaeut and depression, to periods of extravagant over-trading, fol lowed by ruinous revulsions. The reaction now foil ib the inevitable, if not the natural counterpart cf an undue expansion of credit, ia the form of bank paper railroad, State and corporation bonds and individual obligations. In those States where the free, or stock tanking system had stimulated the expan sion, the workings of the reaction have been disastrous. In our own beloved Common wealth the shock has been sensibly felt, though far less severe than in other parts of the country. Iter partial escape, it is belie ved, is mainly owtntr to ber prudent and re strictive policy in the use of bank credit. It is, at least, very clear, that had the free, or stock-banking plan, at one limo so zealously advocated, been adopted in this State, or had our present system been greatly expanded, the position ol affairs in our commercial metropolis would not have been so fsvora able as at present. Had the natural tenden cy to speculation received this artificial stirn lont—the limits of safety, like the lessens ol experience, would have been passed un heeded ;as if is, some good men, in th e pursuits of useful enterprises, have been prostrated. It is most unfortunate, that un der this influence, ail must suffer alike- Those who profit least by the expansion, are often affected most by tiro contraction. TLis is especially the ease with labor, which is uniformly the last to be elevated in times of prosperity, and the first to go down in those of depression. The banks as a general rule, make the most out of these convul sions- It is often their error to flatter the merehant and trader when the tide of pros perity tuns high, and to forska him on the first appearance of i'.s ebbing. Even sound banks and of good repute, it is said ure seek ing to make money out of tbe present crisis, by sharing their capital and its benefit* with brokers and jobbers, instead of aiding (ho business community at legitimate rates, i How far these allegations are warranted, it is difficult to decide ; but it is to be hoped that few, if any of our banks are justly liable to this charge, tor such a practice would bo highly improper, and well calculated to ex cite discontent Such a legitimate business would demund a prompt remedy at your hands. It may be difficult to coufine these institutions to their proper business, with the prospect of better profits in other quar ters ; but they should be made to feel that they have been created for a higher purpose than merely to enrich the stockholders. The crista its frying one; but there is still reason to hope that the credit and trade of the country will never suffer as much as it has done on similar occasions in time past. There is now no National Bank to mislead the mercantile class, and to embaras9 the commerce which it professed to aid. Still the shock will be great enough to lead the public mind to enquire after a remedy from these periodical convulsions. And, surely, we may be permitted to hope, that the good sense of the people will tievei again bo im posed upon by these crude experiments which have, on some lormer occasions so fearfully aggravated the evils they were in tended to remedy. Respectfully advise the j General Assembly against nil such experi ments. The remedy to be permanent, must bo a natural one; artificial means may add to present derangements, but cannot correct tliem. An extensive increaso of banking capital and other expedients will doubtless, be pres-ed npon your atleniion ; but it is hoped that no such fallacy may find favor. Nor is ihere any sufficient reason for the a ' larm and sensitiveness manifested in cer tain quarters ; the real worth of the country still exists, and the natural elements of pros perity aro no less than heretofore* It is the shadow not the substance that is passing a way. The business community should look tlie danger bravely in the face, and by thoir' energy, houesiy and enterprse, overcome it. Mutual confidence and forbearance should be cherished by all, as a means of accom plishing this desirable end. In accordance with the provisions of a law passed in April last, a vote of the peo plo was taken, at the October election, oil the policy of prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors ; 158,342 votes were cast in favor ol the moasure, and 163,510 vote* against it. The proper regulation of this subject great ly concerns the moral welfare ol the people, and for that reason will claim your anxious consideration. Perhaps no other moral ques lion within the range of your authority, so deeply interested the people of every class, race and condition. Indeed, the immoder ate use of intoxicating drinks is an evil that nas left its mark in every vicinage. Its pro gress, fortunately, has been eteadily resisted by individuals and societies, who have em ployed the power of truth and reason against £ These efforts have done much, and may do more hereafter to mitigate the evil.— Avoiding all vexations encroachments upon the rights and priveleges ot every citizen, there is clearly no reason why the influence of a well designed law, regulating and re straining the sale of intoxicating liquors, shoull not bo bought to the aid of these individual efforts. Although the vote of the people would seem to indicaie their aversion to the partioular measure of reform proposed, it is not to be inferred, for that reason they are averse to all attempts at reformation. Such an inferanco, lam con fident, would not be a true reflection of their sentiments. So far from this, they acknowledge the existence of the eyil and the necessity of proper remidies. Our pre sent licenso laws, to this ead, might, in my opinion, be usefully revised—the object of such revision being to lessen the vice of in temperance. That those laws need such revision, is conceded. So tar as relates to the city of Philadelphia, they are peculiatly prejudicial to pubho morals, and seem to have been constructed to promote the con-1 venience of drinking, far more than to re- j strain its evil consequences. The object is worthy of your early and deliberate consid eration. The report oftbo Superintendent will ex hibit to you in detail, the operations of the Common School system for the year just clo sed , and I respectfully recommend the sug gestion of that officer to your careful consid eration. (CONCLUSION NEXT WEEK.) THE Know-Nothings in Virginia are in a bad fix—the laws of that State requiring all elections to be held viva VMC. SfM Of THBNBRTE' ft . W. WEAVER, EDITOR. Illooinsltiirp Thursdny Jnn. 11, 1855- t3T TIIE GoVF.RNon's MESSACE reached NS too late lo appear complete this week. We give the first uud most interesting part The rest will appear next week. rV ON THE FOURTH dav's balloting the Pennsylvania Senate organized by tho elec tion of Wm. D. IIEISTER, Democrat of Berks, as Speaker. Mr. Darsie'a vote elected him. tF WE are pleased lo learn that Mr. Buck alew, the Senator elect Irom this district, has returned to Harrisburg from his trip to South America, and is in good health. W The New Jersey Legislature assem bled at Trenton, on Tuesday the 9th. Wm C. Alexander it was thought would be elec ted President of the Senate, and the speak- I ersLip would lie between Parry, Holmes, I Perry, and Logen. Correspondence of the Star. -From IlimUbuig. HARRISDURG, Jan. 4, 1855.—These tre dark day B for the Democrats, and they only know that lltey are defeated. The Spartan band in the Mouse is very small, and only twenty one members attended the Democratic cau cus. The Know-Nothings claim that one hundred and two members of the Legisla ture belong to their order. The whold man agement of affairs is dictated fromMte Know- Nothing Council, and no man outside can tell what to-morrow may bring forth. There is no clue to these men's motives, anil neith er reasoning nor argument will be resorted to by toy of them to influence the character of legislation- They will Jeal with no such weapons. TltadJpns Stevens is here busy lo see that no crumb falls to any man but an ultra Know-Nolhtng. The utikindosl cut is to see tho members from Berks county (except Mr. Sallade) vote with the Know-Nothings. Af ter that you need not be surprised Rt any strange event. The Betks members, before the election, all issued their "cards" declaring that they were not members of the lodge, and were opposed to the creed or the or der—after tho fashion of the guerrillas in your county, except that the Berks cards were much stronger than that of the "blood stained" hero with a "rising family." Mr. Maxwell is highly respected here, and is among the reliable members. The State Know-Nothing Council is now in session at Fittsburg, hatching a U, S< Senator, and Cameron's friends boast that he will bo the man whom the Council will di rect the Legislature to choose. Judge Co-t --rad and Prof. Tiffany aro lite ether ptomr nent candidates. A State Treasurer is to be elected next Monday week. Mr. Bailey, I think, ts much j too honest for these times, and will stand a poor chance for a re-election. PENN. DECISIONS, EXPLANATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS BY Tit E STATE SUPERINTENDENT. — Directors not compellable toe pen Schools unless they think them necessary.—School Directors can h re quired to afford every pupil of their disitrirta reasonable oppoitunity to attend school at loaA four months, and as long as such opportunity is afforded othar pupils ol the district / but they cannot be required to open and maintain a school in any designated school house, unless the public interasts would b materially pro moted thereby. Payment of tuition in other Schools. —Under lite present School law, the Directors have no authority to pay for the tuition of pupils jtt any other school* excepting those estab lished by its authority. RBMAHEADt-a Ctst. —The Rev. Dr. Potter, the new Kpiicopsl Bishop of New York, has voluntarily relinquished SI,OOO of tho (6,000 voted by the Diocesan Convention as his an nual salary. The Bishop says be has done this from a conviction of what is right. He thinks ht can get on in New York city with (5 .000 per annum and rent free. SPECIAL NOTICES. IMPORTANT NEWS FOR THE SHAREHOLDERS IN PEKHAM' THIRD GIFT ENTERPRISE ItVill be seen by rele-rence to advertisement in our paper of to day, that the Commille appoint ed by the Shareholders at their last meeting, have issued a call for a final meeting of all interested, to get their instructions in refer ence to the distribution of (he Gift property. hVe are pleased to find the matter so near a consummation, and hope tha Mr. Perhain will receive the patronage lie so well deserves for the liberality and energy displayed in getting up and prosecuting lhi stupendous enterprise. Orders for tickets should be sent in immediately. There aro fo.'luues in re serve for somebody. HENRY'S INVIGORATING CORDIAL. -.The mot ite of this purely vegetuble extract for the removal and cure of physical prostration, genital debility, nervous alftclions, &c., Sir., are fully described in another column of this paper, lo which the reader is referred. $2 per bottle, 3 bottles for 95; six bottles for 98 ; sl6 per dozen. QTObserve the marks of lite genuine. Prepared only by S. E. Cohen, No. 3 Frank lin Row, Vine St., below Eighth Philadelphia Pa., to whom all orders wast be addressed. For Sale by all live respectable Druggists attd Merchants throughout the country. T. W. DYOTT a SONS, Nq. 132 North 2nd St., Philadelphia, Sale Agents for Peaiisyl vania. TIIE MAJORITY OF THE PKOPLK of Pennsyl vania, and all the people of Philadelphia, know that there is no place in this or any other State that can turn out as handsome, pood, fashionable and Cheap Clothing as Rockhill If Wilson's great store. No. 111 Cites nut Street. Go and see their splendid slock of fall and winter clothing. £2 j£Ll£i 3i2J IBlfifa On the 3 Ist ok., by Rev. W. J. Eyer, Mr. JACOB Y EAGER, LO MISS SALIKDA I.EHK, both of Roaringcreek, Col. co, Pa. On Tuesday the 9tlt inst. by ttie Rev. D. J. JAMES BLKE yt Derry, Montnur county, to Mi-s SARAH ANN SpitoUL.duUgliter of the lata Jama* C. Sproul, E.tq., of lh SAME place. Private Sale ! RPHE eubiciiber oilers at prirato IAL two etory frame house ami half acta LOT OF GROUND. in the town of Urntcn. A good WELL OF WATER is at the porch of th house, uud there are on the premise* a stable and a chop suitable for a wugon-maker or other mechanic, to which a WOOD SUED is attached. Terms will be mude known by ISAAC LAUBACH. Benton, Jan. 9, 1814. TRIAL LIST for FEBRUARY TERM. * 1. Rertholemew Huber vt. Peter Bilb myor ami Nathan Seely. 2. Uenj P. Frtok, Adm'r of Clias, Wil son, dee'd, vi. Charles F. Menu. 3. Jacob Manning vi. Robert Montgom ery. 4. Levi Miller t ul vi. William Rittsna house. 5. Samuel Rosell vt, Geo. Dodson. 6. Isaac Rucknlew vs. Wesley Huwi.ntn. 7. Win. Nathan Ex'r ol Daniel Shuita vs. J aim Shultz. 8. JIIIIII K. Muyer Onmmitis of Peter Melick vs. S. F. Ilcadley and James Kester et at. 9. Daniel llawer e. Jones Reminder. 10. Andrew Larisli vs. Benj. Daymen. 11. Nathnn Scely vs. Sebastian Scybr-ri. 13. Joseph Sltarplesa vt. Jamison Ilsr vcy. , 13. Sarslt Ann Ross i>. Wat. Coleman. 14. David Stettlnecker vt. Jatob DeiiTen haclicr et al, 19. Siehlneckcr & Deifietibjcher vt. Ja cob DeitTeiibacher el al. 10. Samiut Seybsrt vs. Geo. B. Seyben Executor of Nicholas Seybert dse'd. 17. Amoa Spade vt. Win. Cnmstock. 18. Jacob Grnfim el al vs. Samuel L. Bet lis. Bloomsburg, Jan. 11. 1994. SHERIFF'S SALE. Bv virlue of a writ of fieri fiiiti lo me directed, there will be to publie sale on Mcnday, Feb tlh. 1855, at 1 o'clock, P. M., at the court houne in Bicornsburg, the following described real estate, to wit: All thul certain tract of laud situate in Lo cust township, Col. county, bounded and de scribed ns follows, to vrit:—on the north by land of Henry Kelterman and Benjamin Fet terman; on the east by land of Jesse Wil liams and John Lee; on ths south-east by lapd of Lennaid Adams and Elijah Pries : on the suuih by lands of (>. Kline and other.; on the west by land oi Mr. Lendimute ami Nathan Lee; containing one hundred and eighty acres, he the same more or les, whereon are erected one 1.015 DWELLING HOUSE St two frame DWELLING HOUSES, one Batik Barn and other out building witu lite appurtenances. Seized arid taken in execution as the prop* crty of Emanuel Kerns. JOHN SNYDER. SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ) Sheriff. B.uotiinburg, Jan 11, 1855 ) Sheriff's Sale. By virtue of a venditioni exponae there will he expospd to public sale at the house of F. Nicely. In Berwick, on Friday, the 2d day it February. 1885, al one o'clock, in the after noon, the following described raal eaiate, to wi: All the defendants interest and life Estate I in all that certain tract of land situate ta Briarcre-k township Columbia County boun ded ai d described n. follow., on the Ibe north by lands of William Brittain, on the east by lands of Sanmel Smith and 0 Fow ler, on the south bythe North Branch Canal, on the west by lands of William Clecr, con taining one hundred acres more or iese, whereon is erected a two story frnme dwell ing house, a frame barn and wagon house, nearly all cleared land. ALSO, anothertract of land in Foundry vide, in said county, bounded on the west by lands of John L. Hostler, on the north & east by lands of Mil ler & Dayman and by lands of Jaraet Boylee and others containing fifteen acres ba the ..ante more or less, whereon are erected three frame dwelling houses, one frame store Houae, * Foundry, a Furnace Stack and a Machiuu Shop, with the appurtenan ces. Seized and taken in Execution ai tke property of Charles Kslbfus. JOHN SNYDER. SA/jt/, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, j Blttornsburg Dec. 28, 1854. | Private Sale. "\Y7TLL he sold at private sale the follow * V n,z property, now occupied by Henry Faus, nt Buck Horn, Columbia co., Pa., via; Jbm/L A LOT of GROUND, on which M|[Mre a two story agm Frame Houses a Storv and a half building suitable either for a dwelling house or a shop; a stable, a good well of water, and oilier necessary oat buildings. Will be sold at a bargain. Ap ply soon at the above place, to Dec. 21, 1854. WM. FAUS. EXECUTOR'S NOTICE. NOTICE is hereby given that letters testa mentary upon the estate of John Creasy, late of Mifflin township, Columbia county, deceased, have been granted to the under signed residing in Mtfllinvilie. All persons having accounts against the estate are re quested to present them to him for settle ment, and those indebted to the decedeul to make payment without delay to SAMUEL CREASY, Executor. MifQinville, Nov. Bth, 1854:—tiw. NEW Q RIST-MILL AT HIILL GROVE! THE subscriber has refitted hie Grist- Mill at Mill Grove, near Light Street, Columbia county, and is readv the do any and all kinds of grinding. He has three run of stones, and lite Mill will work to gen. eru-1 satisfaction. A competent miller has has charge of the establishment, and the patronage of the public is respeotfully so licited. THOMAS TRENCH. Mill Grove, Sept. 9, 1854. Fancy Papers Envelope*, Pens, Ink, Writing send, ke an be found at the oheap Book store ol* JOSEPH SWARTZ,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers