i
BY S. B. BOW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 18-59.
VOL. 5. NO. 20.
ON KISSING.
If kisaing were not lawful,
The lawyer s would not uso it ;
' And if it were not pious.
The clergy would not choose it;
.And if it were not a dainty thing,
The ladies would not crave it;
.And if it were not plentiful.
The poor girls could not base it.
iOTIS CLARKE'S FORTUNE.
BY MttS. X. A. DFM30X.
"Never mind the house, John, we've got
one of our own," whispered John Clarke's
wile.
She was a rosy little thing, only twenty sum
mers old. Ilow brightly and bewitehingly
she hhonc a star amid the sombre company.
"But what in tnu world lias he left me f"
muttered John Clarke. "1 believe he hated
mc I believe they all hate me."
"IJuih, dear !"
"I bequeath to John Clarke, my dearly be
loved nephew," read the grim attorney, "us a
reward ot his firmness in resisting temptation
the last two years, and his determination to
improve in all acceptable things,uiy one-horso
shay, which has stood in my barn over twenly-'
live years, requesting that he shall repair it, or
cause it to be repaired, in a suitable manner."
That was all. Some of the people gathered
there tittered, all seemed to enjoy the confu
sion of the poor young man. His eyes flashed
fire, he trembled excessively; poor little Jen
ny fairly cried.
"To think," she said to herself, how hard
lie has tried to be good, and that is all ho
thought of it !"
'Wish you joy," said a red-headed youth,
with a grin, as he came out of the room.
John sprang t:p to collar the fellow, but a
little white hand laid on Lis coat-sleeve re
trained him.
"Let them triumph.John, it won't hurt you"
aid Jenny, with her sunny smile; "please
don'i notice them, for my sake."
'Served hint right," said Sns in Spriggs,
the niece of the old man just dead, and to
whom he had left all his silver, "served him
right for manying that ignorant goose Jenny
Brazier. I suppose he calculated a good deal
on the oM gentleman's generosity." To
which she added, in a whi.-per th;it only her
own heart heard, 'he might have married me.
no nau wie cuauce, uim i iui tu iiiiu icin.-i ui.iu
any one else better than that pretty little fool
Jenny Brazier."
"Now we shall see how deep his goodness
is," said a maiden aunt, through her nose;
"he stopped short in wickedness just because
l.e rspecfed a fortune from my poor, dead
brother. Thanks to tuassey that he left me
five hundred dollars. Now I can get that new
carpet ; but we"ll see how much of a change
there is J: John Clarke he always was an imp
of wickedness.'
"Well, I guess John Clarke '11 have to be
contented with his ten feet shanty," said the
fnthcr of Susan Spriggs to good old Deacon
Joe Hemp.
"Well, I reckon he is contcrt if he ain't
"he ought to be, with that little jewel of a wife ;
ahe's bright enough to make any four walls
hino," was the deacon's reply.
Pshaw! you're all crazy about that gal.
Why she ain't to be compared to my Susan.
Suxan plays on the forty-pi no like sixty, and
manages a house first-rate."
"Bless you, neighlor Spriggs, I'd rather
have that innocent, blooming tac to smilo at
me when I waked up in the mornings, than all
the forty-piano gals you can scare up 'tween
here and the Indies fact.
"I'd like to know what you mean !" ex
claimed Mr. Spriggs, tiring up.
"Just what 1 say," replied good old Deacon
Joe, coollv.
"Well, that John Clarke '11 die on the gal
low yet, mark my words," said Mr. Spriggs.
spitefully.
That John Clarke will in ke one of our
test citizens, and go to the Legislature yet,"
replied old D.-acon Joe, complacently.
Doubt it !"
"Yes, may be yon do ; and that's a pretty
war to build tip a yonnjr fellow, Isn't it, when
! is trying his best. No, John Clarke won't
lj a good citizen if you can help it. People
that cry 'mad dog,' are plaguey willing to
atone tho critter whilj he'srunnin', 1 take it;
and if he ain't mad they'ro sure to drive him
o. Why don't you step tip to him and say,
John, l7m glad you're right now, and I've
got faith in you, and if you want any help,
why come to me and I'll put you through.'
That's the way to do business, Mr. Spriggs."
"Well, I hope you'll do it, that's all," re
plied Mr. Spriggs, sulkily.
"I hope 1 shall ; and I'm bound to, any way,
if I haye a chance. Fact is, he's got such a
umart little wife that he don't really need any
help."
"No J it's a pity, then, that brother Jacob
left him that onc-horsc shay."
"You need'nt laugh at that ; old Jacob nev
er did nothing without a meaning to it. That
Id shay may help him to bo a great man yet.
Fact is, I thi:k myself if Jacob had left htm
money, it might have been the ruin of him.
Le?s things than a one horse ihay has made a
man's fortune."
"Well, I'm glad you think so much of him ;
I don't.
"No," muttered Deacon Joe, as his neigh
bor turned away, "but if he had married your
raw-boned darter that plays on the forty-piano,
he'd & been all right, and no mistake."
"A one-horso shay!" said tho minister,
laughing ; "what a fortune !"
' And so it went from mouth to moutb. .None
,of the relatives some already rich had of
'fered the poorest man among them the owner
of the one horse shay a dollar of the be
.queathmcnt left to him or to her; but they
(had rather rejoiced in his disappointment.
The truth is. everybody had prophesied that
John Clarke, a poor, motherless boy, would
come to ruin, lie had, in his youth, been
wild and wayward, and somewhat profligate in
the early years of his manhood ; but his old
uncle had encouraged him to reform held out
, hopes to which ho had hitherto been a stranger
and tho love of the sweet young Jenny Bra
zier completed, as it seemed, bis reformation.
Jenny never appeared so lovely as she did
on that unfortunate day of the reading of the
will, as they bad returned to the poor little
bonse that was Jenny's own.
"No matter, John," she said, cheerfully.
yon will rise in spite of them. I would'nt
. let them think I was in the least discouraged ;
that will only please them too well. We are
doing nicely now, and you know that if they
lo cut tlii riiIroa4 through our bit pf land,
the money will set us up quite comfortably 7
isn't our home a happy one, if it is small ;
And oh ! John, by and bye !"
An eloquent blush a glance toward ber
work-basket, out of which peeped the most
delicate ueedlework, told the story that ever
new story of innocence, beauty and helpless
ness, that bring cares akin to angels' work.
For onco, John Clarke stopped the gossips'
mouths. He held his head up manfully work
ed steadily at his trade, and every step seemed
a sure advance, and an upward one.
Baby was just six months old when the cor
poration paid into John Clarke's hands the
sum of six hundred dollars for the privilege
of laying thAjrack through his one little field.
A baudscme baby, a beautiful and indus
trious wife, and six hundred dollars," thought
John, with and honest exultation, "well this
is living !"
"John," said bis wife, rising from her work,
"look out."
He did, and saw the old one-horse shay,
dragged by a stalwart negro.
."Massa says as how the old barn is gwine
to be pulled down, so he sent your shay," said
the African.
'Thank him for nothing," said John, bit
terly; but a glance at his wife removed the
evil spirit, and better one smiled out of his
eyes.
'John, you can spare a lit tie money now to
have the old shay fixed up. can't you You
ought to, according to the will," said Jenny.
'The old trash !" muttered John.
'But you could at least sell it for what the
repairs would cost," said Jenny, in her win
ning way.
"Yes, I suppose I could."
"Then I'd have it done, and, bless mc, I'd
keep it, too. You've got a good horse, and
can have the old shay made quite stylish for
baby and me to rido in. Shan't we shine f"
"Well, I'll send it over to Ilosmer's to
morrow, and see what he will do it for."
'Look here! Mr. llosmer wants you to
come right over to the shop!" shouted the
carriage-maker's apprentice, at the top of his
lungs; "old Deason Joe "sphere, an'says he's
right down glad golly, it's hundreds, and
hundreds, and hundreds, and hnn "
'Stop, boy ! What in the world docs he
mean, Jenny V cried John Clarke, putting
the baby in the cradle lace downwards.
"My patience, John, look at that child
precious darling! I'm sure I don't know,
John. I'd go right over and eee," s;iid Jen
ny, by snatches, righting tho baby ; "its bis
tun, I suppose."
"'Tain't any fun, I tell ye," said the boy,
while John hurried on his coat and hat ; "my
gracious; guess yon'll say it ain't fun, when
vou como to see them 'ere gold things and
the bills."
This added wings to John Clark's speed,
and in a moment he stood breathless in the
o!d coachmaker's shop.
Wish you joy, my fl'io fellow!" cried
Deacon Joe.
"Look here what'll you take for that old
shay J I'll give you four thousand dollars."
'Four thousand !" cried John, aghast-
"Yes; jest look at it ! You're a rich man,
sir; and by George. I'm glad of it, for you
deserve to be." Tho carriage-maker shook
his hand heartily.
What do yon suppose were the consterna
tion, delight, gratitude the wild, wild joy
that filled the heart of Clark, when he found
the old shay filled with gold and bank bills I
I mean the cushions, the lining, and every
place whero they could be placed without
danger or injury thieves never would have
condescended to the one-horse shay.
Five thousand five hundred dollars in all !
Poor John! or rather rich John his head
was nearly turned. It required all the balance
of Jenny's nice equipoise of character to keep
his ecstatic brain from spinning like a hum
ming top. No he could build two houses like
the one his uncle had bequeathed to his red
headed cousin, who had wished him joy when
the will was read the dear old uncle ! What
genuine sorrow he felt as ho thought of the
many times he had heaped reproaches upon
his memory !
Imagine, if you can, dear reader, the pecu
liar feelings of those kind friends who had
prophesied that John Clark would come to
grief. At first Deacon Joe proposed to take
the shay just as it was linings stripped, bits
of cloth bangin and upon a tin trumpet pro
claim the glad tidings to the whole town, tak
ing especial pains to stop before the house of
Mr. Spriggs, and blowing loud enough to
drown all the torty-pianos in the universe; but
that was vetoed by John's kind little wife.
"La! they'll know of it soon enough," she
said, kissing tho baby ; "1 wouldn't hurt their
feelings."
They did know of it, and a few year? after,
when John- Clark lived in a big house, they
all voted for him to go to the "legislator."
So much tor the old one-horse shay.
Santa Anna, ex-Dicator of Mexico, resides
In St. Thomas, W. I. He has a beautilul villa
and said to bo worth including all his posses
sionsabout $10,000,000. lie seldom goes
out and then in a gig of no pretentious.
A showman giving entertainments In Lafa
yette, Ind., was offered by one man a bushel
of corn for admission. The manager declined
it saying that all the members ot his company
had been corned for the last six weeks.
An editor ot Indiana was attacked by a man
for seme personal grievance. Tho editor
says: "To avoid injuring him, and prevent
bis injuring us, we got out of the way !" Sensi
ble man that.
True goodness of heart nourishes itself on
the good which it does to others. The good
loves htm to whom he does good, as tho bad
hates him whom he has injured.
In Schuylkill County, Pa., there are fonr
hundred and twenty steam engines employed
in raising coal, draining mines, manufactur
ing, and other purposes.
Dr. Syntax is of opinion that in Cuba the
heat of the weather must be greatly modified
after the introduction of so many coolies.
Relieve misfortune quickly. A roan is like
an egg the longer he is kept in hot water, the
harder he is when taken out.
It is bettor to have a clear conscience and bo
threatened, than to have a bad one und be
flattered. -
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
To the IIoHoraUf the Senators and Memltrs of the f
House of Representatives of the Uommon
weallh of Pennsylvania :
Gentlemen : Although the year just closed
has been one of great depression in the busi
ness and monetary affairs of the country, I am
happy to be able to announce to the Represen
tatives of the People,that the finances oi Penn
sylvania are in a most satisfactory condition.
The receipts of the Treasury, from all sour
ces, for the fiscal year, ending on the doth day
of Nov. 1858, were $4,139,778 35 ; and the ex
penditures, for all purposes, during the same
time, were $3,775,857 07. Leaving an excess
of receipts over expenditures of $303,921 29.
This exhibit shows that there was actually
in the Treasury on the 1st day of December,
1858, the sum of $393,921 29, more than there
was ou the 1st day of December, 1857. i In ad
dition to this, among the expenditures for the
year, were Loans redeemed $380,306 8-5 ; lie
lief Notes redeemed $41,071 00; Interest Cer
tificates redeemed $116 70; making of the
public debt funded and unfunded paid during
the year the sum of $421,494 55.
If we add to this the excess of money on
hand, at the end of the fiscal year, over what
remained in the Treasury, at the same time
last year, via : $363,921 29, we have the sum
of $785,415 84.
But this is not all. The amount paid on the
public improvements, including damages and
old claims, during the fiscal year, was $341,
03G 53 ; while the amount of revenue from the
same source, for the same period, was only
$95,070 0G ; making an excess ot expenditures
over receipts, which happily we will ba reliev
ed from in the future, of $245,966 52.
This sum should, also, be credited to the op
erations of the Treasury, during the year, for
it was an extraordinary espcnditure.which can
not again occur; and was, in fact, a reduction
of the liabilities of the Commonwealth, to that
amount. If we add this sum to the amount of
debt, paid, and the excess of cash on hand, we
have for the year, a balance in favor of the re
ceipts, over the ordinary expenditures, amount
ing in the aggregate to $1,031,382 36.
But from this, however, should be deducted
the extraordinary receipts, which were, 1st.
The amount paid by the Penn'a Railroad Com
pany, on the principal of the debt due by the
said Company, for the purchase of the Main
Line $100,000 ; and 2d. The amount received
from the Girard Bank, for loans of the Com
monwealth sold by that bank, $28,000 in all
$12S,000; which, deducted from the foregoing
aggregate of $1,031,332 36, leaves the true
balance of the ordinary receipts over the or
dinarv expenditures for the fiscal year at
$903,382 36.
The funded and unfunded debt of the Com
monwealth, on the lstdav of Dec. 1857, was,
Funded debt, $39,731,592 52 ; Unlunded debt,
$175,145 70; making the entire deLt of the
State at the period named $39,909,738 22.
The funded and unfunded debt of the State
at the close of the last fiscal vear, Dec. 1st
1S53, was, Funded debt, $39,354,285 C7 ; Un
funded debt, $133,958 00 ; making the public
debt on the 1st of Dec. last $39,488,543 57.
Since the close of the fiscal year, the Com
missioners of the Sinking Fund have redeem
ed of the five per cent, loan, the sum of $220,
132 51, leaving the real debt of the State, at this
time, funded and unfunded, $39,268,111 16.
To meet this, besides the ordinary sources
of public revenue, the State owns bonds re
ceived from the sale of the public works, and
which I have every reason to believe are well
secured, amounting to eleven millions one
hundred and eighty-one dollars. Deducting
this from tho outstanding debt, it leaves to be
otherwise provided for, the Mtm of $28,087,-
111 16. It is believed that, with the existing
sources of levcnue, and the observance of
strict economy, this sum may be reduced,
dining tho current year, at least $1,000,000.
The present would seem to bo the appropri
ate time, when our nation is at peace, and
when health and reasonable prosperity prevail
within our own borders, to greatly reduce
the public debt. We have but to carefully
husband our legitimate resources, avoiding
extravagant and unnecessary Appropriations,
and practicing a proper economy in all the de
partments of Government, to render the en
tire extinguishment of our debt a fixed fact
within a very brief period. To carefully
guard the public treasury at this interesting
epoch in our financial history, is so manifestly
the duty of the public authorities, that I can
not for one moment believe that any other
policy will bo proposed. If there be any,
who, relying on the improved condition ol
the finances of the State, wouhf encourage the
adoption of new schemes fur depleting the
Treasury, or would cut oil the sources of our
present revenue, and thus reduce it, let all
such efforts, coming from whatever quarter
they may, be sternly resisted. Let Pennsyl
vania be just before she is generous. Let our
good example be a light in the pathway of our
sister States, as well as an admonition to our
own local governments. This is due alike to
the favors which Providence has so bountiful
ly bestowed upon us, and to that high charac
ter for honesty and integrity which has ever
distinguished the people of this good old Com
monwealth. In pursuance of the act entitled "An Act
for the Sale of the State Canals," approved
on the 21st day of April last, I did, as the
Governor of the Commonwealth, on the 19th
day of May, 1858, convey to the Sunbury and
Erie Railroad Company, all tho public works
belonging to tbe Commonwealth, then remain
ing unsold, consisting of the Delaware Divi
sion the Upper and Lower Branch Divisions
the West Branch Division and the Susque
hanna Division of tho Pennsylvania Canal,
with all the property thereunto belonging, or
in anywiss appertaining, and all the estate,
right, title and interest of this Commonwealth
therein, for the sum of $3,500,000. To se
cure the payment of this sum, the Sunbury
and Erie Railroad Company paid to the State
Treasurer its bonds, secured by a mortgage,
as directed by the act, for tho amount of the
purchase money. The company, also, com
plied with the provisions of tho Act which re
quired it, as additional security, to execute
and deliver to the State Treasurer a mortgage
on tho Delaware Division for $1.000,000 a
mortgage on the Susquehanna andWestBranch
Divisions for $500,000 and a mortgage on the
Upper and Lower North Branch Divisions for
$500,000. The deeds and mortgages were all
executed under the immediate supervision of
the Attorney General, and were in strict con
formity with tho requirements of the law.
After the conveyances were duly executed
and delivered, possession ot the canals was
given to tbe railroad company." - . -
The act further 'provided that the Sunbury
and Erie Railroad Company should not re-sell
the Canals, or any part ot them, without the
consent of the Governor; and that jf a re-sale
were made for a greater sum, in the aggregate,
than $3,500,000, seventy-five per centum of
the excess should' be paid to tbe Common
wealth, in tho boi.ds of the purchasers. It
was also provided that upo- Te-sale, the
mortgages given by tlw .'Sunbury and Erie
Railroad Company .to the Commonwealth,
upon the Canals, "should be cancelled by tbe
State Treasurer and surrendered to the com
pany by the Governor on "deposite made by
the said company tn' the office of the State
Treasurer, of an equal amount of the bonds of
their grantees, secjufe'd by mortgage of the ca
nal or canals sold as.aforesaid" with a provi
sion that no transfer of securities should be
made until the Governor should be satisfied
that tbe new securities to be given wete suffi
cient to protect tbeMnterests of the State ; and
that his written approval of the change should
be filed in the office of the Secretary of tbe
Commonwealth. -
Sales were made by the Sunbury. and Erie
Railroad Companey and reported to nie' under
the oath of the President of. Ihe different
lines, as lollows: The Upper and Lower
North Branch Canal, to the North Branch
Canal Company, for $1,600,000; tho West
Branch and Susquehanna Divisions, to West
Branch and Susquehanna Canal Company, for
$500,000; the Delaware Division, to the Del
aware Division Canal 'Jompany, of Penn'a, for
$1.775,000 ; in all the sum of $3,875,000.
Upon investigation and inquiry, having be
come satisfied that these sales were made for
fair prices, and upon such terms, and to such
persons composing the various purchasing as
sociations, as to insure the payment of the
purchase money ,they were severally approved.
After the contract for the sale ot the Dela
ware Division had been entered into, and my
conscent had been verbally given, and $75,000
of the purchase money had been actually paid
by the purchasers, upon the fai'h of the con
tract, and my assent thereto, I was informed
that a higher price had been oflered, by re
sponsible persons, for the canal. But under
tho circumstances, my opinion was that the
oiler came too late ; and as the Railroad Com
pany considered itself bound to consummate
the agreement by a delivery of the deed and
possession of the property to the first purchas
ers, I could not, in pood faith, withhold my
assent. The North Branch Canal Company,
subsequent to the purchase of that division,
sold that portion of the Canal lying between
Wilkesbarre and Northumberland to the ny
oming Canal Company for the sum o I $985,000.
On the 13th of Sept., 1858, bonds of the
various coinpaniesowning the different canals,
secured by mortgages, were in pursuance of
the act, and by my approval deposited with
the State Treasurer to the amount of $2,000,
000 ; and the mortgages on tbe canals given
by the Sunbury and Erie Railroad Company,
were cancelled by the State Treasurer, and
surrendered by me to the company in accord
ance with the directions of the law. At the
same time a settlement was made between the
Commonwealth and the Railroad Company, by
which the latter paid to the State 70 per cent,
of the proceeds of the re-sale over and
above the contract price of $3,500,000.
This amounted to $281,250, aud was paid m
the following manner, viz: Bonds ol the
Wyoming Canal Company, secured by mort
gage on the canal from Wilkesbarre to North
umberland, payable in twenty years with in
terest at six percent, pavable semi-annually
$281,000; cash 250; total $281,250.
These bonds are well secured, and the ac
cruing interest and principal, when due, will
doubtless be promptly paid.
From information of a reliable character
recently communicated to me by the President
of the Sunbury and Erie Railroad Company,
it appears that the prospects of an early com
pleiton of that public highway are very eucour
ageing. A large amount of work has been
done on the line of the road during the past
season, and at this time, very considerable
portion of the road are graded and rapidly ap
proaching completion. It is the opinion of the
President of the company that within two
years the work will be entirely finished, so
that cars will be running directly from the
city of Philadelphia to the harbor of Erie.
When this great enterprise shall be consn
raated, and.the desire of its friends finally ac
complished", the payment of the $3,500,000 of
mortgage bonds, which the State has received
in exchange for the canals, will unquestiona
bly be well secured whilst the railroad, itself,
will prove of incalculable advantage to our
great commercial emporium as well as to the
important, but long neglected region thtotigh
which it passes. Its construction will undoubt
edly add to the value of the real estate of the
Commonwealth many times its cost, develope
and bring into use the rich resources ol a
country flhich have hitherto remained as they
were lavishly strewn by tbe hand of nature.
I have an abiding confidence that the result
will abundantly prove the wisdom of the mea
sure, which, while it guaranteed the comple
tion of one of the greatest improvements ever
projected in the Commonwealth, it, at the
same timo, divorced the State from the un
profitable and demoralizing management of
her railroads and canals.
Whatever difference of opinion may, at any
time, have been entertained in regard to the
propriety of the details of the legislation au
thorizing the sale of tbe main line, or the
branches, it can scarcely be doubted that the
public welfare will, in every respect, be vastly
promoted by the transfer of the management
of the public works from the State to individ
ual owners.
The short experience that we have had al
ready, proves conclusively that the Common
wealth is greatly the gainer, in a financial
point of view, and it has been equally demon
strated that the people at large have been as
well, if not better, accommodated, by the
change. .
It would, in my judgement, be a public ca
lamity, if, by the happening of any contin
gency ,the Commonwealth should be constrain
ed to again become the owner, and resume the
management of any portion of the public im
provements. The power of the Genera Assembly to pass
tbe Act of the 21st of April, 1858, relative
to the sale of tho State canals was questioned
beforo the Supreme Court of the State, since
tbe transfer of the Canals; and, after full ar
gument, the Constitutionality of the Act was
sustained by the unanimous judgement of tho
Cr-nrt.
-'Since the sale of the public works, and the
settlement of the principal outstanding claim
against the State, it is obvious that there is no
further necessity for a Board or Canal Com
missioners, or a Canal Department. I, there
fore, recommend the abolition of tne uoara,
and that provision be made tor tne iransier oi
the records to the office of the Aud itor General.
In view of the foregoing exhibit of our re
sources and financial condition, it is apparent
fiiat a most interesting era has been reached
in-the history oi the Commonwealth. Reliev
ed'from the entangling embarassments of an
extensive system of internal improvements,
tk 4. means of Mur tate are now ample for all
legitimate purposes, and her public debt is
gradually but certainly disappearing. From
these and otherj eauses, govermental action
has become gre"atly simplified, and the nature
of the subjects-of its operation has changed
in a degree no leas remarkable.
The almost eutire disposal of the lands
which belonged to the State, has already dis
pensed with one of the Departments created
for their care, and will, ultimately, render
the other unnecessary, except for preserving
the evidences ol their transfer.
The sale of the public works has relieved
the Executive branch of the Government of
many ot its most responsible and perplexing
duties, and in effect, dispensed with one of
its most formidable and difficult departments.
In the same proportion, the action or the
Legislature will, If tho representatives of the
people be true to the interests reposed, and
sternly refuse to entangle the public with those
numerous projects and enterprises which are
continually seeking its alliance, be simplified
and economized, purified and strengthened.
And it is as remarkable as it is propitious,
that an era which has thus relieved the State
authorities of burthens that consisted, either
ol mere material interests, or the care of local
administration, committing the one to the
local sovereignty of the people, and the other
to private or associated enterprise, should
also present for consideration and promotion
intellectual and moral claims of peculiar im
portance. It is at this period in our history that the
system of public education challenges the at
tention of the most unobservant. And I shall
be much mistaken in the cautiois bnt stead
fast character of the people of Pennsylvania,
if their Representatives do not mako it the
first obiect of their solicitude.
Tho annual report of the Superintendent of
Common Schools will lay before you tne pres
ent condition of the Common School System,
and of its operations during the past year.
Your close and scrutinizing attention is invited
to the details of that document.
Including tho city of Philadelphia, it will
be observed, that there were in the public
schools of the State, during the year which
terminated on the first Monday of last June,
928,201 pupils ; these were instructed during
an average term of a little over five months,
in II, 231 schools, dv 13,oo'J teacliers, at a total
cost of $2,427,632 41.
Here is a public interest, which, whether
we regard its ramifications into every portion
of our social fabric, its large cost, the impor
tant powers over the present which it wields,
or its incalculable influence upon the future,
undoubtedly transcends all others commit
ted to the care of the secular authorities.
This being the case. I have no hesitation in
asserting that the time has arrived when its
full importance should be recognized, and that
its due administration should be made the
duty of a fully organized and effective, as well
as a separate department in the government.
But the mere care and promotion of our
system of Common Schools important and
extensive as it obviously is, should not be
the sole object of such a Department. If it is
true that the power to punish crime includes
also the right to prevent it, by providing for
the proper intellectual and moral training of
the people, it would seem to follow that tbe
department charged with the latter moment
ous duty, should also be in possession of all
the sources and subjects c f information, cal
culated to shed light upon the object of its
action. Hence the collection, arrangement,
and practical deductions from population and
industrial statistics; from natural defects,!
such as deafness and dumbness, blindness and I
lunacy ; from crime in its various forms and
developments; together with such control
over all the literary and scientific institutions
in the State, as shall bring their full condition
into view, should also belong to the same De
partment. Therefore, I most respectfully, bnt earnest
ly, urge upon your favorable consideration, at
the present propitious moment, the organiza
tion of such a Department, in tbe room of
those for the care of mere matter whose agen
cy has been or soon will be discontinued by
the onward and upward progress of the Com
monwealth. A suitableDepartment of Public Instruction,
will not, however, of itself, eHect all that is
needed in this direction. Tbe general results
of tbe Common School system, already cited,
show tho importance of its nature, and tho
magnitude of its operations. If we look, al
so, into its special statistics, the conclusion
will be equally clear that certain improve
ments in its working machinery are equally
indispensable.
It is needless to attempt to prove the truism
that the properly qualified teachr is the life
and success of the school. But the facts are
startling, that of the 12,828 teachers of our
public schools, exclusive of those in Philadel
phia, only 5,087 are reported as "qualified"
lor their important trust ; while 5,387 are re
turned as "medium," or snch as are only tol
erated till better can be obtained; and. that
2.314 are stated to be unfit." In other words;
of tbe 569.880 children attending the schools
out of Philadelphia, only about 230,000 (lesg
than one half) are under proper instruction
and training ; while about 240,000 ate receiv
ing insufficient instruction from inferior teach
ers; 100,000 are actually in charge of persons
wholly unfit for the task.
This presents the subject in a light that can
not be shutout; and, thongh the great and
commendable efforts recently made by the
teachers ot Pennsylvania, for their own im
provement, are fully recognized, it cannot bo
concealed that there is a work yet to be done,
in this relation, which would seem to be be
yond their unaided power to accomplish.
When, however, we look further into the spe
cial statistics of this branch of the system, the
material for improvement is found to bi ot tbe
most promising kind. Of the 12,823 teachers
of our common schools, 10.889 are under thir
ty years of age, and 10,946 are natives of
Pennsylvania; and a larger proportion than
in most of tbe other States are permanently
devoted to tho profession . of teaching. To
j render these fit for the position which they as
pire undoubtedly one of the most useful and
honorable in the world and to raise up a con
stant supply of well qualified successors, is
the work to be done.
Various modes of effecting this object have
been suggested or tried ; but after mature re
flection. I am led to prefer that devised by the
Act of May 20, 1857, entitled "An Act to pro
vide for the due training of teachers for the
Common Schools of the State." It places, In
relation to tbe State, the teacher on tbe same
looting with the members of such of tbe oth
er learned professions as have been recogniz
ed by public authority ; and it is to be regret
ted that the prostration of business and scarci
ty of money, that so soon followed the passage
of the act, had the effect of checking many
laudable efforts to put its provisions into ope
ration. Under thfse circumstances, does it not
become the duty of. the State to afford such,
aid, or at least hold out such inducements as
shall enable this measure to be fully tested f
The passage of a law guaranteeing the pay
ment of a moderate sum to one Teachers'
School in each of the districts created bv the
act of 1857, would no doubt cause a sufficient
number to establish the efficiency and practi
cability of the plan, to be completed in a few
few years , the money not to be paid till tho
schools are in full and approved operation. ' It
is not probable that this grant would cause any
considerable draft on the treasury; bnt, even
if the whole twelve schools shonld ultimately
be established, the boon would neither be ont
of proportion to that which has been conceded
to other institutions, nor the number of grad
uates beyond the wants of the community. Up
to the present time. Pennsylvania has appro
priated about $000,000 in aid of her colleges
and academies, and this mainly in the tope of
obtaining from them teachers for tbe common
schools. Thongh the benefits of this munifi
cence have been, in other resjects,qnite equal
to the amount given, it will be asserted by no
one that the avowed object has been to any
considerable extent effected. It would there
fore appear to be time that the aid of tbe State
should be brought directly to bear in favor of
the great object so long contemplated.
I have thus briefly laid before you the con
dition of our noble educational system. It,
will afford me sincere pleasure to concur in
the adoption of these, or any other measures,
for its perfection, that the wisdom of the Le
gislature may devise.
In this country, the want of a school which
shall combine the elements of learning and
agricultural labor, and thus adapt itself to the
education ot the farmer, has been most seri
ously felt : for, whilst our many colleges well
fill tbe measure of usefulness in their appro
priate sphere of influence, it must be conce
ded that the training they impart is badly a
dapted to the art of practical agricnlture. - In.
Pennsylvania that iuterest is so important as
to demand at all times onr anxious attention,
and active support. -"The Farmer's High
School of Pennsylvania," lately projected and
planned by a few public spirited individuals,
and which has received, to some entent, the
patronage of the State, and the contributions
of a nualier of our patriotic citizens, is des
tined to afford a place where young men may
be educated at an expense commensurate with
with their means, and to a condition qualify
ing them for the pursuit of business of the
farm. Here, whilst daily occupation will
train the body to the ability to labor, and give
to the student the enviable feeling that ho
contributes to his own support and education,
it will instruct and enlarge bis mind, that it.
may give force and effect to all his future ef
forts. The design of the institution is to af
ford a school where boys may be thoroughjy.
educated in all the branches ol natural science,"
and, at the same time, be insured to the per
formance of labor; so that their graduation
they may return to their parents abundantly
prapared to join the domestic Icircle, to give
a right direction to the business of agricul
ture, and act well their part in every depart
ment of life. An object so fraught with use
fulness is entitled to the highest commenda
tion. The application of scientific principles to
the practical purposes of life, but realizing
the full benefit of those laws of nature, to
discover and profit by which, is undoubtedly
one of the great ends of human reason. Tht
more this important object is held in view and
affected by our higher institutions of learning,
the more valnable and useful will they become.
The Polytechnic College of Pennsylvania at
Philadelphia, is founded on this basis; and
its attempt to popularize science, and connect
high acquirement with practical ability, is
presented to your favorable consideration.
Under a resolution of tbe last House of Rep
resentatives a committee was appointed by
the Speaker of the House to examine the state
and condition of several Banks chartered at
the session of 1857. The resolution directed
the committee to report to the Governor the
result of its examination within ninety days
after the adjournment of tbe Legislatnre. On
the 20th of July last, the report of the com
mittee, together with the accompanying evi
dence, was filed in the office of the Secretary
of the Commonwealth, a copy of which will
be laid before the House of Representatives.
In view ef the facts reported by the com
mittee, in reference to tbe organization and
subsequent management, of the Tioga County
Bank, the Crawford County Bank, and the
Bank of Shamokin, I would recommend a
careful inquiry into the present condition ot
these institutions, and if it shall be ascertain.-,
ed that the public is likely to suffer injury
from the further existence of either, a spetsdy
and certain remedy may be found in a legisla
tive repeal of the rights and privileges granted
bv the acts of incorporation. Tho power to
alter, revoke, or anuul, tbe charter of a bask
whenever Jts continuance may, in the opinion
ot the legislature, be injurious to the citizens
of the Commonwealth, is expressly given by
the Constitution to the General Assembly, to
be exercised, however, in such manner as that
no injustice shall be done to tbe corporators.
Obedience to this constitutional injunction
would require that in the event of a repeal of
the charter of a bank, care should be taken
that the rights of trie stockholders to the sur
plus assets, of the bank, af'er payment ol its
debts, were protected : and that suitable provi
sions should be made for settling its arXtir.
Tbe injunction contained in the Constitu
tion, that the repeal or revocation - of a bmuk.
charter shall be in such manner as to work no
injustice to the corporator, Is not a qualifica
tion of the power to revoke, or annul the char
ter; but it is simply a requirement that, in
taking away ' tbe charter, tbe rigbts of ilia
stockholders shall ba protected, so far as !s