CHRONICLE. LEWISBUKO, PA. THUESDAY, JAKTTAEY 5, 1360. GOVERNOR'S JIESSAGK KXKtTIVH'HAMurX I Habmsbi'BO, January 4, 1M.0. ot" Rtyrettihiliw f Oonmmfttkk or i'itvTLi : In complying wit" ,b:lt V" . .. . i'.,..ut;inli..n .f Pennsylvania. itofc mak il Ihcduty of the Governor, fro... , Urne to lime, to give to the General Assembly in-, formation ol the suite 01 tue .ui u.. .......... , i anTrm happy, ou this ocasroti agaui to congratulate the Mmtatmn ..I the i.ple. up,,, the highly favorable condition ot the finances of the State. The receipts at the State i rcasuiy, ;J1 sources, for the fiscal year en. mil the uOth . November, ItsW. were So.bJvwO 14, to which add IsUance in Treasury. Urfvinlwr 1. 18o8, $82,027 70. ana it will l- seen that il.c whole mm available tor the year, was -77 yo The expenditure, tr all purposes, during the same period, were :i b.u.lW SI. Leaving an available balance m the luas.iry on the 1st day of l.r f j-.l Included in the expenditures lor .he l.sc,d year, are the following sums. z Ijans Redeemed..... 4, K.-lief note tancvllcd. . " Intererest certificates iu.l " Matins of tlie public debt act rally raid, during the year, tlie huh of The fnnded and unfunded debt ol the C.wii monwealth, on the lit .lav of l-ce.-ml.er. is., was as follow : 6 per cent, loans 6 Do $41 .,1b.) :i.4-Ji"i,W"i 7 4 Do Do 100,000 U0 Total funded debt. INFlMfcI Mlti. lichei" notes outstanding Interest certificates Do .1 unclaimed llororetic creditor Total unfunded debt V.i.So4.2R" 67 l:i.:.H0S 01) Making the entire debt ..f the Common wealth, at tlie period named, !$3t',4S8,24;i C7. The funded and unfunded debt of the Slate, it the clone of the last fiscal year, DeccniU-r 1, 18iS, stood as follows : b per cent, loan i 4u0.'J 5 iiu .'!7,0i".l.Vi B7 4 do 8SS.S m j 4 do UW WJ w Total funded debt. . . . 38..113.9S3 :t7 tntFCXDW PEBT. Relief notes in circulation Interest certificates o..tt 111 line. Do unclaimed. . Domestic creditors S101 213 00 H018 82 4 448 3 802 CO Total unfunded debt. .. 12I.W7 TO Making the public debt on the first dav of December last, $ i8.C38,9Sl 07. Since the close of the fiscal year the Com. niissioners of the Sinking Fund have redeem ed, ot the live per cent, loans, the sum of $100,000, leaving the real debt of the Com raonwealth at this time, funded and unfunded, $38,478,901 07. If we deduct from this sum the amount of the bonds recehed by the State, from the sale of her public woifcs, and now held by her, as follows : 0&ds of ProDAylr. railroai Co... . tkroda r SuitburranJ Fji railrcwl tkjUJi of a 'yointug csnal io r,..:i.i o; TMal U,Gil..l W we have $27,397,901 07, the remaining debt of the Commonwealth, the principal ami i:i lerest to be provided for, from the ordinary ourcei of revenue. It will be observed, that from the 1st day of December, 1858, to the 31st day of Decem ber, l&j'J, a period of thirteen months, besides meeting all the ordinary demands upon the Treasury, there has been actually paid, on the principal of the public debt, $1,009,282 tiU. Whei. it is remembered, that during this period, the law reducing the State tax upon real and personal estate, from three to two and a half mills, has been in full force, and that nothing for the last year has been receiv ed from the Pennsylvania railroad company, on account of tax on tonnage, making the re ceipts, from those two sources of revenue, less by four hundred thousand dollars, than they were for tlie preceding year, it is a source of congratulation that, under such cir camstancea, a result so lavorable has been produced by the ordinary operations of the Treasury. For nearly two years past, the State has been entirely free from the ownership or management of canals and railroads, and the gratifying result, thus far, is, that her public debt is now less than it has been since the year 1842, and is decreasing at tiie rate of nearly one million of dollars per annum. Jt is bow morally certain, that nothing but the grossest mismanagement of the financial in terests of the State, can prevent its sure and speedy extlnguisnuient. tv ay snoum 001 Pennsylvania press onward until she is en tirely tree from debt ? She is no longer en gaged in the construction of great works of internal improvement, nor is she the proprie tor of railroads and canals. Relieved of these, governmental action is greatly simplified, and is now happily limited to subjects of a pure ly governmental character. Having ceased to be interested in ordinary business pursuits, it is her plain duty to devote her best ener gies to relieving her people from the burden of an onerous debt. IVhen this great result shall have been accomplished, the necessary expenditures of an economical administration of the government, can be readily met witfif out the imposition or a State Tax on real or personal estate the remaining sources ol revenue being more than sufficient lor all le gitimate purposes. Until that end, so anx iously looked to, Is secured, true wisdom, as well as sound policy, dictates, that our re sources shonld be carefully husbanded that none of on r present sources of revenue shou id be cat off, or diminished that ail deuart- seals of government should consult a prop- cluduu v LiiaL ail eiinLVflrai.T Ini n,i- ' appropriations should be avoided everv niw scheme for era!iarnuiiiiir asury should meet with msrked con- n. iS'OR, as arc the result of the nast ss oommeocvii tlie paymiit of the AH - -1.. . I .1 . outinoaDce of its reduction, Irom EXTRA. Hm.:!,0 00 4.4 IS ::S S"2 o() year to year, is manifestly the Dr4 duty of those I'Uced by the Constitution in charge" of the Public Treiuiury, and to whom txbaijis the ex cluMve riiht oi r:diuir,' economizing and ap proprialiu.: the public revenue I earnestly commend this whole subject to the careful at tention ot the L..-lHtnr entirely battolicd, tlmt, a it i them.ait vita) i f all the inlircsts cnmn.iitcd t 1 bechance ol the Uenerai Asaem My. it will p-ceiva that consideration which it importune so en.iurtitly demands. In my lust auiiu.d luespae, I communicated to the licueral AfcKtntbly all that, up to that jvriod. bad bt-n dune under the act, entitled "Am Act lor ti:e nile of the Statu cabals,1' ap proved Apiii 21, 1NS. Siuce the adjournment of the laot Legislature, satisfactory evidence hnvio li-i-ii given to me. of the compliance of the Suubory and Krie railroad compaiiy, with the oiiditions meutione.1 iu the third section of the act rcicnrd to, the State Treasurer, under idv di.eci.on. hss delivered to the company the c.n;ii b..u.ls for two millions of dollars, dt poa ited in the InuMiry under the provisions of the said art. 'lite rni'ro.'id couipauy has also become en tiikd ti, and has received, one million of dol lars of the mortiraire bonds referred to iu the bixth section of the sioie act; Icttviug mortae Unds amounting to two and a half niillicuso! .iolli.rs, still remaining iu the Treasniy of the Coniuioiiw-nlth, to be delivered to the compa uy. "from time to time. f&ri passu, with the proKr.ss of the work, as ascertained by the re turns atid estimates of the chief enpiceer ot the n.ia i-onipany. When the bonds Ust lueuiioned, shall have been surrendered to the companv. as directed by law, the S.ate will still hold, as absolute owner, three and a half mi'.Lt'liS of dolluD of the morteaffe Iwnds of the company, paynble In the year 1872, and in the six succc. ding years, as mentioned in the act of A-'sembly. with Interest, at the rate of five per centnm, per annum, payable semi annually, on the thirty-nret dys of January and July 01 each year. Interested, as the Com monwealth is, in the early completion of this important thoroughfare, it affords me preat pleasure to be able to inform the Ceneral As sembly, that the proircs of the woik, for the p;itt y.-nr, hus been hrphlr satisfactory. The Kudcm division of the road, rxtendin; from Sunlmry, in the county of Northumber land, to Whetham, io the conntv of Clinton, a di&tince of eirhty-oue miles, is finished ; pas senger aud Ireii'l.t tudns passii.tr over it daily. I i.e Western diviion, exteiidinj; from the city of Erie, to the boronah of Warren, in Warren county, a distance uf sixty-six mil. s, is, also, completed, with recular passenger and freight trains i.-w r.inuin over it .liily. Making ue hundred and foity seven mihs of railway, along the line of the roii'.e, that have been already brought into practical operation oue hundred and seven miles of which, exclnsive of sidings, were linifLcd during tli- prist year. On the in termediate pinion of thr line, between the borenzh ol Warren and Whetham station,' a distance of one hundred aud forty miles, ninety-live and a half milrsiir graded, leavinc but f.rly f.M.r and a half miles yet to be graded, to place the whole ol the unliuUh'Kl portiuu of the road ill a p.ition to receive the superstructure. If uu untoaaid event shall deUy its vig irous pnvecntion, anothor year will lint iass lieforc the entire line of the road will be finished uiid iu use ; thus ailur.lini a direct and continuous coniiiiuiiit ti'n, by railroad, from the city of Philadelphia to the harbor of Krie. Hv the twentv secoud section of the act ap proved the 13ih day of April. lS4"j. entitled "An Act to incorporate, tin1 Pennsvlvania rad rond c.n.pny." it is provided, ' that ail ton nage, i'f wb-itsodver kind or description, except the ordinary bagsae of pssscngers, loadeit or received at Hanisburg, or I'lttrliurg, or at any intermediate point, and carried or conveyed on or over said railroad, more than twenty miles, b-'tween the 10th day of March an I the 1st day of December, in eacti and every year, shall be subject to a toll orduty, for the useuf tbeCaro mouweaith, at the mte of five mills per mile, for each ton of two thousand pounds; and it shall I tlie duty of s lid comrnny, between the 20th and liOtli days of July, and between tiir ltt and loth .lays of December, in each and every year, after thirty miles or taoru of said railroad shall have b.eu completed, and in use, tocaiibeto be mado our, nDd filed with the Auditor General, c true and correct statement. j rxbibiliuy the amount of siid tonuag?,so loaded i or received, and the di-tance so orried and 'conveyed, doriitg the respective periods inter ! veniriif between the said 10th day of March, and i the 20th divof July, and betwexn the said Mh lav of July and the 1st d iyof Decembor, in each uud . very year ; which said statement rhail he verified by the oath or affirmation of the receiving or ti rnarding a$ent or agents, or other proper ofiicr or officers, of said company, having knowledge ot the premises ; and at the time of liiing said .Hti-uient, or on or before the 6aid :;oth diiy of July, and the 10;h day of December, in each and every year, the said coiniiany shall pay to tlie State Treasurer, the amount of said toll or duty, so accruing tor tlie useol theCommonwealtli, during the respective intervening periods before meutioned. Aud, in a supplement to Uiu act just referred to, Dassed on the same d .v, it is further provided. "that in c.ise the said company shall, at any time, fail to pay the toll or charge on tonnage, which may accrue, or become due to the Com monwealth, under the provisions of said act, the same shall be and remain a lien on the prop erty of the said company, and shall have pre cedence over all other liens or inenmbrances thereon until paid. Br toe act of the2ith of March, 1848, the tax on tonnage of five mills per ton, per mile, from the 10th of March to the 1st ot December, was commuted to a tax of three mills per ton, per mile, during the whole year. Subsequently, by the act of the 7th ol liny, 18i, lumber and coal were made exempt f.om the tonnage tax. In pursuance of the provisions of the several acts referred to, the Pennsylvania railroad com pany has paid into the Treasury of the Com mon wealth the tollowing sums, viz: For the fiscal year ending Nov S, 1SM..V. t:.S!l 1 Do d lo.....lSa2 ltxOSO 4!. Iu do ....do ...18i3.., 0a,2iS H i-o uo t ls.r4.... l:2.sso &o IM no '. do... ..ISM I'JD.xm M Iio do.... ,.eo 1SW.... XJ.UI8 SI Do du do !Si7.... ly.):i3 7.. iki do.... ....do ISM.,., r.',:o i Since July, 1 SoS, the railroad company has refused to p.y this tax, and consequently there is now due from said company, on that account, exclusive of interest, the nam of $300,405 00. On the 21st of February, 1859, an account was settled, by the Auditor General, against the company, for the tax on tonnage, from the 21t day of July to the auth day of November, 18.18, inclaivo, nmoiinting to the sum of $87. 375 22. Prom this settlement, the coroiwnv, on the 19th diyof April, took an appeal to the our! of common pieas of Dauphin county ; and. in the specifications of objections which were til.-d, it was averred that the tax wss un constitutional, and an opinion to that eft.-et, signed by eminent counsel, was filed in the of bee of the Auditor General, at the time the ap peal was entered. In August last, the canoe was tried, and alter a mil investigation ana argu mei.t. the constitutionality ot the law imposing the tax was atiirucd by the court, and a ver dict and judgment reuJer.nl in favor of the Coruniou wealth, lor Hie amount claimed, with interest. . The case baa since been removed, by a writ of error, to the Supreme Court of the State, atujjwili, probably, h beard and deter mined, by that tribunal, in the course of the unseat friti tar : ... . Oo the 2."Ui day of August last, another ac count was settled against the company, fur the tax on tonnaze. from the SOih day of November, lt&8, to the 20th day of July, 1839, amount ing to the som of Slo9,3C8 3, from which an appeal has alto been taken by toe railroad com pany, and which will probably be tried daring the present month. As this question Krgely affects the revenues of the Commonwe dth. aud as the principle in volved is one .f the first' importance, I have deemed it a duty to l ay before the (ieural As senihiy, somewhat iu detail, the history of this tax, and the present condition of the le al con troversy growing out of its imposition and en forcement. It willbeohsetved, tbatthepower of the State to grant charU-red rights and cor porate privileges, to a railroad company, upon the condition that it shall pay to the Common wealth a portion of ir earnings, in the shape of a fixed tax upon the freight carried over the road, is questioned hy the company, and that, too, after the grant hus taken effect, and while , the toroporatiou is in the lull enjoyment of all the beuelits conferred u on it by its charter. The qnccti.m, it is true, is a legal one, and Its decision, therefor, lesis with the judicial de partment of the government ; but, I have not the 8!iirhet doubt, th.tt the decision, when had, will entirely vindicate the light of the government to impose the tax, and to compel corporations of its own creation to oliey the law from which they derive thtir existence. When it is rememl'ered, that the tix was origl ually imposed, in order to iudemoily the State, to some extctir, for losses which she was sure to sustain from a competition, which was in evitable, between the lailroad authorised, and her main line of public woiks; and that this competition did, not only seriously affect the revenues of the Commonwealth, derived from her public improvements, but ultimately in dued the sale of the main line to the railroad company itself, at a piiee many millions of dollars below what it would have produced, in the absence cf such competition, H is certainly not to lie pres. m.ed that the Commonwealth will willingly yield her demand for revenue from this source, nntil s'.e is, at least, folly indemnified for the pecuniary Injury sustained in the depreciation uf her own property, by her liberality extended to the company which now denies her wer to enforce a contract, volun tarily entered luto, upon a consideration en tirely adequate. .... The auiiu:d hV.ort of tlie SuperiuU'iidetit of Con. mon Sl.ools, with the tables and docu ments OAvninpanriiig it, will exhibit the condi tion ot the vast engine ot social improvement to w hich it relates. The numla-rof pupils, in all the public school of the State, is ;S4,6-1 of schools, 11.4Si and of teachers, 14.071. l'he schools havp liccn in oiiemtion, on an aver ae.c over the wlnde State, live utoi.llis and nine :lavs. The average salaiy of male teachers, is $-4 i' 1, and of female teachers $17 and the cost of instruction, T pupil, fifty-three cents wr month. 1 he average tax lor tuition, si is about hie and a halt nulls, and tor building purposes, als.ut three anc; one-sixtn nulla, on the dollar, including the city oi rniiacieipnia, the entire cost of tuition. &c. was $2,047,601- )2 ; the building expenses $5U1.413 85 ; and the whole expense ot the system, in the State, for the vesr. -,o;9.0.a il. Though the school year endins on the urjt .Monday of June last, was oue of unusual aim culty in money fiaairs, yet the system manifests an encouraging activity in all its departments. while the rate ot taxation, both lor tuition and buildings, wonlld appear, from the official re- lort, to have somewhat decreased. Hut, it is by a contrast ot the present condition ot tue sys tem, with tliat of lao4, when the agencies now operating so beneficially, were created, that re sults are most plainly sc?n. Within that peri od, the whole number of pupils has been in creased uearly one-seventh ot teachers, one- tluttecnth and the salary ot teachers, the best index of improvement, of one-sixth the males, aud one-fourth for females These Jesuits, with the others which the official report will exhibit, unerringly point to the du ty, as well as necessity, ot the utmost care aud attention, on the part of all public agents, to this primary social Institution. primary in im portance, no less than in the career of each cit izen, lo strengthen, to retain pure, and to properly direct, this fountain-head of social in fluence, Is, it seems to me, the great duty of the law maker, in his highest and most respon sible capacity, as the fraraerof the future State. itio attention ot the uenerai Asspmblv was called, somewhat at length, to the existing con dition and further requirements of our school rrstcm, in the annual message of Lit year. It is not, tneretore, necessary to repeat the sug gestions aud conchijioris then presented. They are agttin. however; commended to your favor able conrideration ; the events and experience of the iuterwning eriod. having increased the conviction of thtir propriety. This M'esp.'d ally the ease iu regard to the plan devised by the act ol liuln ot May, isoi. lor the due train ing ot tcaclieiH lor the common schools of the State. A full supply of competent teachers, is admitted by all, to be the great need of the system, and the first want to be provided for. Unerring indications, in every quarter, not only establish this fact, but point to tlie general adoption of the'proposed means, at no distant day. The euorfc; of the Uachers, themselves. lor professional improvement, encouraged ana sustained ley all wiio duly estimate the value and intlur-uce gof the b.aciier's office, not only toreteil this, but too strong puidiesentiinent in favor of' institution for the purpose in ques tion, confirms the probability of this result. In every quarter, indication of thia kindjare per ceivedmore or less strong in proportion to the force of local circumstances, in tlie Second Normal ilistrict, composed of the oountiea ol' Umeaster, Vork and l-elninon, mi institution, up to tlie fidl requirements of tlie law of 18i7, has lieen estaldished ar.d officially reoogniseil, jnd is now in siiocesslul operation, as a State Normal school. For its details tlie Legislature is respectfully referred to the annual report of tlie Superintendent ot common scnoou) ; out, i should do in justice to tlie intelligent enterprise which moulded, and the enlarged philanthropy which produced, this noble institution, as well as to my own feelings, were I to fort .ear con gratulating you upon Uio result. It is the first trait of a law which seems to bo as much in accordance with the cautious, yet generous, character of our people, as it is admirably adanted to effect the great end in view. All that seems requisite to give full ef fect and general eucoess to the plan, is, at this juncture, to gnard it from mutilation, or radical change. If the intelligent and liberal minds that are now weighing the project , and contemplating its extension to ojlier parts of tlie State, be assured that this is tlie settled policy, their efforts will be concentrated, their activity increased, and final success bo hastened. Whereas, radical or important changes, will destroy this growing confidence, crush the hopeful efforts now being made, and postpone for years, if not totally destroy, all hopes of - ,i - i , . i success in una essential ueparimenr. oi public instruction. The true course will be to cherish the law, and bring it into general operation, by holding out the cer tainty of State aid to each institution es tabiiscd under it, as soon as a certain num ber, to be fixed by law, shall hive been legally recognized, aud are iu full opera tion. The money of the State, appropriated in this manner, will effect more benefit, in proportion to the outlay, than in any other of the operations of the system. The in struction of the child, is a duty; but the instruction of the teucher, is economy as well as duty, it win probably be advisa ble to make such appropriations, payable only when the schools are legally recog nized and in full operation. This course will have the double effect of guarding against loss by the State, and of stimulating iuto early existence, a sufficient number oi institutions to supply tba existing waut in every quarter of the State , - . Saperintendente is rapidly approaching.and the The period lor toe intra election of County public mind will naturally be turned to the re suits ol the office. 11 own observation, as well as iuformstion Irotn various and relUh'y sources, leads to the opinion, thai this oliice. wheu filled by the uropvr person. and itsdutics discharged iu. full compliance with tlie design and spirit of the law creating it, has been of great advantage to the school. Indeed, no candid person can deny the fact, apparent to even slight observation, that more improve ment has been effected iu the woikings and re sults of the system, since the creation of the oltice ot County Aupenntendent, than iu any previous period of even double duration. . It is true, that when exercised by incompetent offi cers, or crippled by insullkieut compensation, little, if any, advantage has accrued. Hut this is no argument against the oltice itself; and it is to be hoped that th.; directors of counties thus heretofore deprived of the benefits ol this agen cy, will, at the next election, acting under the teachings of experience al home, and the I ght of success from other parts, correct this evil and realize the full beuelits of this provisiouof the law. . Tho increasing eaje and soundness of our financial c.in.ii'ion, will, at no remote period, justify an addition to the common school ale propriation. The general policy of the State has been that each district shall raise within itself the main support of its own schools : but. an annual donation, distributable amuDgst them all, in proportion to population, has also been a part of that policy. The object of this State grant seems to be io l'old : r'irst It is a means of securing regularity in the proceed ings and reports of the several districts, so that the Department of Comtr.ou Schools shall have the requisite iuformatiou for the due discharge of its functions : And second It lightens, in suuie degree, the burden of local taxation, to tne relief ol the poorer and more sparsely eo- pieu aisincts. An increase ot tne annual ap propriation would enhance both these object. and, whenever the finances ot the government will justify it, commends itself to the favorable const.ieration of the Legislature. The aid what the Leukdature hat hithert. exUided to Uie establishment ol the Parmer' High School of Pennsylvania, strongly evinc. their lngliapniciatioiiot tlieadv-iiitag.-s which it is anticipated wUI grow out of that institu tion. Vt hue it must he admitted that know bilge is us essential to tlie art of farming, a it is to all the oilier employmentaof life, we tain not but feel deeply interested, that a.-onimuiii t v so peculiarity auriculuir.il a we are, should have all the ail vantage!) uf an education which combines iu itself, a well the knowledge of the practical art of ugricultun-, a ftieutilic ac quirements in all those branchea of learning which are especially applicable to its prontable pursuit. A school where agriculture is pnicu callv taught, is a new field to which onr atten tion has been called ; and one which, because of its (Treat importance, well deserves our at tention. It embraces the principle, that while youth are taught habit of industry, they arc impressed with tlie proud consideration, that the labor of their own hands contribute to their acquisition of knowledge. And thus, too, education is brought within the reach of many a jbricht genius, who would otherwise struggle aim langiusn lor uuj want oi inn means ot ao II Hiring it. Our school, within it i limited means, has been in successful operation during the past year ; having under its charge one hundred boy, who, while they are carefully in structed in all those branches of science which pertain to a high order of education, are daily engaged in all the practical operations of the farm fitting them to return to rural lite, ana to infuse throughout the State an amount and kind of knowledge which must ultimately pro duce a most beneficial influence upon this most cherished branch of industry. The practical wot kings of tlie school, for the past year.liave im pressed the trustees, who have it in charge, with the highest hopes of its complete success. The great interest which is everywhere felt throughout tlie Commonwealth, in the further extension and progress of the institution, com mends it to our care arid protection. The State Librarian will report to you tb! completion of the descriptive and classified catalocne of the books iu the State Library, authorized by the act of the loth of April, 1858 a work, from the details it embraces, of much labor, but which will greatly facilitate the ieef the Library, it will be seen, from his report, that the origin of the Library dates far back in the history of the Provincial gov ernment, and Chat it received the fostering care of the Commonwealth during tho peiiod of the Revolution. It is gratifying, that, notwith standing tne waste to which it has been subject in past years, owing to the want of proper at tention under the careful supervision of the present Librarian, it has, since he has had the charge of It, nearly doubled its number of vol umes, and now contains in all 22,000 volumes the Inrgest State Library iu the L'uion, with the single exception of that of the State of New York.' The collection of law hooks, ar.d especially law reports, is considered by thrse competent In judge, among the best in" the country. The Library, from its intrinsic value and importance, and Its historic relations, de serves, and 1 trust it will receive, the continued liberality of the Legislature. Iu my inaugural address, as well as io my last annual message. I expressed the opinion that our present banking system was extremely de fective, and that, unless it were radically changed, I should consider it an imperative duty to withhold the Kxecutive approval from all bills creating new banks. Without again giving in detail the reasons which inthienced my action on this question, or repeating the suggestions and recommendations heretofore made to the Legislature, it is proper to remark, at this time, that my convictions have been confirmed, , by time and reflection that my opinions remain unchanged, and that I cannot approve of any Increase of banking corporations under existing laws. If corporate privileges, for banking purposes, are needed, toaccomuio date the business wants of any portion of the State, justice requires, that such institution should be compelled to protect the community receiving its circulation, by requiring that am ple security shall be given for the prompt re demption of its notes, the sufficiency of. which no act of the corporation coutu impair. All experience in this State, and elsewhere, has demonstrated, that the present system affords little or no protection to notehol.lcrs, beyond the personal integrity of the officers controlling the management of the several banks. For a full exposition of my views on this question, I respectfully call the attention of the tleceral Assembly to my last annual message. The reports of the Auditor General, the State Treasurer, the Surveyor General, the Adjutant General, aud tlie Attorney Uene rai, will be laid before you, and will show, in detail, the operations of their respective departments for the past year. : Deeply impressed with the belief that the present mode of receiving, keeping and disbursing thepnblic revenue, is entirely unsafe, and inadequate to the complete pro tection of the' interests of the Common wealth involved, I again respectfully, though earnestly, invoke legislative action on this highly important subject. The re ceipts aud disbursements of the Treasury are each, annually, from three to four mil lions of dollars. At times thee is on hand a balance exceeding one million of dollars. The State Treasurer gives security to the Commonwealth in the sum of only eighty thousand dollars, lie deposits the money of the State when and where he pleases. and it is paid out upon his own check ex clusively. His accounts are settled by the Auditor General, once a month, and this is, apparently, the only safeguard provided by ' ,"w to prevent the illegal Use of the public funds while under the control of the State Treasurer. Tlutt the Treasury of the Com monwealth lias hitherto escaped from dis astrous defalcation, m owhrsr to the integrity of the oUioer, and not to the efficiency ol the laws; ui.d while our main reliance, is the future, intHt tie on the- honesty of the ollirers to whom the department is entrust ed, it is, nevertheless, the plain duty of the trovert'trrent, ly proper legislative en actments, to prevent, as far as possible, the illegal, improper or fraudulent use of the fumla of tin r-Ui!e l.v a faithless or clishon- eht public ageht. 1 rrfpeetfully rocotiiniend that provision be made by law that no money shall bn deposited in any bank, or elsewhere, bv the State Treasurer,' without first re.inirlii"; security to be given to the Commonweal:!! for tho prompt re-jiayment id the. sums deposited; that all checks, issued by t!ie Pute .Treasurer; shall be cuiiutersineil by the Auditor Uenerai, be- lure they arc used; aud that dally ac counts of the moueys received, deposited and disbursed, shall be kept iu the. office ol tue Auditor Oeneral as well asm the Treasury Department; and . that weekly statements: ot tiie balances iu the Treasury, and the p. aces and amounts ol deposits, shall tie Kept in a noon to be provided lor that purpose in Melt department. - Tlie Commissioners appointed In pursuance of the resolutions of the 19th of April, 18-VI. to revise the Penal Code of thM Coaimonwealta, have presented to me their final report, which is herewith transmuted to the Iteueral Asse.n bly. Its impoibiB.ce to our whole community. and the great labor devoted to its preparation. commend it to your eartv and earnest attention. Ihe manner iu which the duties: ot the com mission have been peiforined cannot fail, in my opinion, to receive your aiiprotwtioo, . Jeomim ut to vour losluiing cure t:ie Mate Lunatic Asylum, at liarrisbiirg the Western Pennsylvania Hospital fur the insane, at I'HU- burg the Asylum tor the blind, at Pbiiadel. phia tba Asylum h-r the Deaf and Dumb, at Philadelphia the Pennsylvania Training School for idiotic and feeble minded rbildren, at Media the House ot Infuse, at Philadol phia and the Western House of Kefuge, at Pittsuuig. Ihese excellent, charitable aud re formatoiy State iostitu'.ioiis have done, and are doing, almost inc.ilcul.ihle good, in the relief of Sitl'ering4tuuiautty, and ini he reclamation and reform of theeriiug young. They have strong claims upon the continued bouutv ol thet om monwealth- 'lbe nnuual report ut these noble chanties will be laid netore you, and will ex hibit, in detail, their operations duriB; the past year. I refrain from recomn. fading, as proper ob jects for the bounty of the State, a number of benevolent and charitable associations, equally humane aud bent i.rent in their operations ; be cause they are entirely local in their character, and however meritorious their claims may be, and ui.oUesiouaty are, upon the respectivi communities lor wuoe particular use tbey are t'oniided and condnete.t, in my opuii'.n, they have no iImojs upon the ireitury ot the State, which can be reioiciu;-d with a lust regard to the inter. t$ and lights of oiher section ot the Commonwealth. The editor of t!i" Colonial llecvidi and I'cliu jvlvania Archive has prepared a copious index to the whole work, which will be laid before tlie Leeislature. at an eirly day of the session lius t.ubli.atiuii is now . ouinieied, and it is satisfaction to l.nmy, that the records ol" the colom. as well rs those ot the State, preceding the adoption of the Constitution ol 1790, are now oi easy access to the public, aud in a con dition which renders their entiro destruction impossible. 1 recommend that a suitable sum be ja'd, by the Commonwealth, to the editor of the Kecord-. and Archives, for the work per formed by him tlnce the diicontinuance of his salary. , I have so repeatedly presented my vicw.i to the Legislature, of the evils ariijng from- local and clasi legislation, that it is not necessary anin to repeat them. I desire, however, to call the attention of the Genrol Arsembly to the fact tiiat we haw, on our statute bouki, general laws providing tor the incorporation oi iailroad, turnpike, bridge, piank road, gas, wa ter, insurance and other .similar comrxinics, and that all corporate powers granted by the Legis lature, to such evmpaniea, should ! under these general law:, so that there may be a uni formity in the provisionof similar associations, and tliat th" tioie of the General Assembly may not be occupied in pacing bills of great length, w hen a simple reference to the details of the laws would answer every purpose. The practice of sending to the Executive a large numlicr of biils immediately preceeding the final adjournment of the Legislature, is highly objectionable, and ought, as far as practicable, to be discontinued. Its necessary consequence is, either to compel the Execu tive to approve bills which he baa not fully examined, tosign them after the final adjourn ment, or, if ho disspprovo them, to return them to tho next General Assembly, with his obiections. 1 hus imposing upon a succeed. ing Legislature the final disposition of bills. with the origin and passage of which it bad no connection. To illustrate the evils re sulting from this practice, it is only necessary to inlorm you, that, ot tho large number ot hills presented fur my approval, within a day or two of the adjournment ot the last Legis lature, 1 am constrained by a sense of duty, to return, with my objections, twenty-three to the present Legislature, tor re-consideration 1 1 is apparent from the exhibit of the liaaru cial condition of the Uenerai. Government, recently made public, that the wants of the Federal Treasury will demand a revision ol the existing tariff laws of the United States, with a view to an increase of the revenue derivable from imports. When this revision shall take place, it is greatly to be desired, that a proper regard lor the industrial inter ests of the country will prompt the Congress ot the United Slates, to place her revenue laws upon such a basis, a to afford to our great mining and tnanntacturing interests the lar gest incidental protection. - To substitute specific for ad valorem duties, on a certain class of articles which from thoir nature are of equal, or nearly equal valne or to change the foreign to a home valuation, with moderate increase of the rates now imposed, would I am satisfied, infuse now life and vigor into all the various dnparuncnts of industry, and, at the same time, without imposing bur dens upon the people, afford to the Goneral Government a revenue amply sufficient for all its wants. -'-. ' Th early admission of tlie Territory of Kan sas at. one of tlie sovereign States of the I'nion, under a constitution legally enacted, and fully and fairly ratified hy the direct votes of a large majority ot the people of the lerntorr, will remove from the National Legislature subject which has hitherto, in no inconsiderable degree, attracted the attention of the Nation; and which, from the nature and extent af the dis cussion in Congress, - has been productive of much rTiminatioa and recrimination between the various secttons of our common country.-. Popular Sovereignty having finally prevailed, in the full, free and fair adoption of tfaefuntlamerr tal law of the Territory, according to the wishes of thepeople, this vexed and dangerous ques tion, iu that Territory, may now be considered as satis? factorily and perpetually settled. Copies of the correspondence between the Governor of Virginia and the Governor of Penn sylvania, on the subject of the recent outrage at Harper's Ferry:, are herewith transmitted to the legislature, ihe letter adaressea o tne, Governor of Virginia to the Governor of Penn sylvania, was missent to Harrisonburg, Virginia, 1 and hence was not received until the first day of December, one day before the execution of John Frown ; and. therefore it was impossible : to reply to it, by mail in ri:ae to reach theGov- mor of i fnrinm hcf.-:. the execiiti.sa. lu answ.T was oaiseqneutly sent by telegraph , which will urconnt for its Invyity and srntett-. t tious cluirartcT. ' - The recent seizure of tho pnbl.e property oi the United Sbtles at Harper's Perry, ami the inViision of the State of Virginia, by a small band of desperadoes, with an intention to i cite the slave (.opulation to insurrection, bave-- 4rawn attention to the dangers whica beset our ' federal relations, ft is a source of satistactiou to know that the authorities of Virginia itos' - seated the means and the deterinioatiooi to punish offender with promptness and j.ibtic : that the military force of the UniU-d State wa a power immediately available lo aid in puttin. down the outbreak against the public peace : that the stave sipulauou were contented w.ln -their condition, and unwitting to unite wilfc disorderly white men loaclsot treason and mur der; and that the great iua.-eof the peoplw liave no sympathy, whr.tever, with any attack upon the rights and Institution ot any ot the States, aud have a deep and abiding devotion - to our great and glorious tmon. lo n. a rennsylvanuns. It u gratifying lo believe tual the citizens of this Commonwealth have not. a any manner, paruciiiuted in this unlawful proceeding, and to know that w heu some ol the guilty perpetrator weie arrested, wilh,n our jurisdiction, they were promptly surrendered to lue justice ot the otteiiue.l aud injured Mali: The several State of this 1 oion are tnoenef - ' dent sovereignties, except so for ap thev have 'granted certain enumerated powers to the red era! Govern m nt. In eases no provided toe iu the Federal CoUHlitntien, the several Slates, m their relations lo each other, ought to be guv-. earned by tlie principles which regulate tuecou. duet ot civilized nations, lucse priocipiea forbid, iu all nations, "every evil praciico tendiug to excite ilisturlAoce iu anotuer Mate;" and are founded on the maxim, that "diffeieut nations ought, in time of peace, to do one an other all the good they can, without prejudi cing their real interest).." 'i his maxim, recog- . nized by all civilized governments, applies w.iu peculiar force to the soveitU States ot this Uu- ion, bound together, as they are, by a sacred compact for mutual support and protection ; and, therefor, any attempt in oue Mate, to -excite insurrection in another, is an ouaoctf airaint all the State, because all are bound by the Constitution to put down such disturbance ; and the act of Congress authorise lbe Presi dent of the United status to cull out the militia of the several State k.r the purpose. It u a high oftcnee again-.t the peace of our Cummon weulth, for disorderly persons within our juris diction, to combine together for the purpose ot stilting up insumctioo. iu any of the States, or to IndiK-e tho staves iu the Southern St:ea to abscond from their masters ; and it would be proper, in uy judgment, tor the tienenl Assembly tuuiaidir whether additional legis lation may not lie necessary to insure' the prompt punishment ol such offender., jsirrjt onr peace and secur.ty. In determining our relative, duties toward our sister States, the morality of servitude i not an open question, for we are bound by the legal and moral obligation of th compact of the Uniou, under which wo have been brought into existence, and preserved as in dependent States, as well a-i by the principle of international l iw, to reipeet the institu tions which the laws of the several States re cognize, and in uo other way can we faithful ly nihil our obligations, as members ofthii confederacy. While I entertain no doubt that the great Republican experiment on this continent, so happily commenced, and carried forward to its present exalted position, in the eyes of the world, will continue, under the Providence of God, to be successful to the latest generations, it is the part of wisdom and patriotism to be watchful and vigilant, and to carefully guard a treasure so priceless. Let moderate coun sels prevail let a spirit of harmony and good will, and a national fraternal sentiment be cul tivated among the people, everywhere North and South and ibo disturoing elements which temporarily threaten our Union, will now, as they have always heretofore, assur edly pass away. Peiirisylvaiua, in tec past, has performed her part with unfaltering hrmncss let her now, and in the future, be ever ready to dijcharge her confederate duties with unfiiliching integri ty Then will her proud position entitle ter, boldly ani effectually, to rebuke and asrist in crushing treason, whether it shall rise its crest in other States, ia the guise of a fanatical and. irrepressible conflict, between the Xorth and the South : or assume the equally reprehensible form of nullification. Mvession. and a dissc ra tion of the Union, tier centnd geovrap'iioal position, stretching from the bay oi Delaware to the lakes with her three millions of consei vativo popidation entitles her to say, with emphasis, to the plotter of treason, on either hand, that neither .-ball be permitted to suc ceed that it U not in the power ot either to disturb the perpetuity of this Urnon. cemented ami sanctified, as it is, by theblovlcf ourpatri otic fathers that, at everv sncritice and at ev ery hazard, the const itntiooal rights -if the peo ple and the States shall be maintaired thai equal and exact justice shall I done to the North and to the Siuth and that these States shall he forever Unit-.!. 1 We, as a people; have, great reasoa to ac knowledge the Providence of Cod. who rules over the nations of tho earth. Under His gttardianship. hitherto so signally en joyed, we teel an unabated confidence in the permanency of our free government, and look forward, with cheerful hope, to a future glorious dest.ny. In the blessings that have crowned onr own Com monwealth the past year In the success that has accompauKd all our industrial pursuits la the steady advance ot our educational institu tions. in the quiet and peace oi our domestic homes in all that cau advance a nation's prosperity and happiness wo recognize the hand of the Great Giver of all Good. WILLIAM F. PACKER. ; Correspondence belicttn Ihe Governor of Fir. grata end the Governor of Pennsylvania, tt J erred lo in th foregoing Message. , OOAKaXOR WISS TO C0VKRIIOW PACKER. Richmoxt), Vs., Nov. 25, 183!). ' 7b Hit Eietllenty, the Gortrmr of Prnntntra ia. Dka Sib : I res-nectftiliy send to you the in formation contained in a letter to the President of the United States, of which the enclosed is a copy. 1 submit It to you iu the confidence that you will laithlully co-operate with the authorities of this State io preserving the peace of our coterminous borders Necessity may compel us to purue invaders of our jurisdiction into yours ; it so, you may b assured that it will be dose with uoriisrepect to the sovereign ty of your State. Put this State expects the confederate duty to be observed, of Kuardinir your territory from becoming dangerous to our peace and safety, hy afloruiug places of depot and rendezvous to lawless desperadoes who may seek to war upon our people. . With the highest respect, I ain, sir, yours truly," HENRTA. WEE. oovrxo wiss to jaxss bichasan, Bi5.ru Of TUB CN-lItO STATES. PacaiiOKD, Vs., AdrcnaVr 25, IStA . To b KsMtnrj. Jams Ei chasaV, tresi&nt of the Cmttd k'ttta. Sib : I have Information from various Quar ters,-upon which 4 rely, that a conspiracy, M formMnble extent in means anil numbers, i- formed fa Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Vpf and other States, to rescue) John Brown and his as sociates, prisoners at Charlestowa. Vs. 'lbe 111 formation is ?pecific enough to be reliable. It
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