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,