I.JWJ1! ' ' - H . . . . i '!. '
novcnxoii's imsic;.:,
To the Senate and I finite rf llcpnxrtil,itivr
vfiht Vommonmalih of Pennsylvania.
Elllow Citizens -The first und most ini
p.wtmit duty that dsvcrlvps Upon the Lrgislatur..,
v. dl be to examine into the financial embarrass
ments of the Wate., ami to make suitable pro
vision for the discharge of her liabilities. The
vritire nmeiont of the funded debt of th" Slate is
t:-J,ti$4,000 40. Thit debt is rsiiiiljut-s-nble a
t allows :
Iri thn year 1S41,
" - 184-1,
" 1S41,
Mil, .
1S5U,
18.13,
1S54,
1S5C,
" 1859,
1339,
1800,
19C1,
1803,
18C3,
isnt,
" 1C5,
' una,
" 1570,
Loan payable ut the expiration
of certain bank (barters,
II2..VM1
a.os(;.3-t2
T.'.iir.
1,0(10.000
j.ooo.ooo
3,000,000 (p0
!?,7Sn,lCl fe
7,1J70,nGl 41
1,250.000 00
,(il5.r,S0 00
100.00(1 00
2.or.,,j!!ioo oo
20(1.000 00
3 MM. 070 CO
l.SOS.OiiO 00
2.52 1.000 00
l,91rt,215 G5
500,503 50
Sa'l.ilCi'.JyS S7
Interest due 1st Align --,t, 1542, !'..r
winch certificates of stock
were issued, redeemable in
lsn,
Interest due 1st February, 1643,
reibernal.de in 1 ? 10,
1-iterest due 1st August, 1613, re-
tl.oniable in IS 1 U,
6C0.C20
873,083
673,089 00
$39,PS4,000 40
Upon this di-lit tlm annual interest to be paid
unour.ts to S 1,04 1,827 23, to wit :
Permanent loan at (i per cent., $ 1,0 40.91 1 33
" loans at 5 per cent., 3'i,i;83,180 P
loan at4J pci cent., 200,000 00
IlAiei notes at 1 per cent , 1,-U:7,C29 OS
do at C per cent., 171,630 00
Arrears of interest duo to our
loan holders iu August, IS 12,
tir.il February mid August
lS-13, at G per cent.,
2,014.001 53
$39,054,000 40
There is also due to Domestic Creditors, on
i ..-rtilicates issued by the Auditor General, the
sum of ?20n,401 00
For the interest annually accruing, and for the
t inporary debts and liabilities of the State, pro
v.sion should be immediately made. The re
sources of the State ore abundant, and all that is
required is the right disposition, and a judicious
and proper select ion of the mode in which these
ipsoui ces are to be rendered available.
The amount of taxes levied and paid into ihe
Slate Treasury, under existing tax laws, was as
follows: In the year 1811, the amount levied,
was $410,701 85 therc was paid into the Trea
sury during that year. S33.292 77. Ja 1S-42. the
t.ix levied was 5059,512 47 the amount paid in
the same year, was $486,635 85. In 1M3, the
amount levied cannot be ascertained with accu
racy, in eonsequence-of failures on the part nftbe
County Commissioners in several counties to
make returns to the proper office ; but making an
estimate from the best data that can be obtained,
it will not fall short of $045,000 00. The tux
paid into the Treasury the past year, was $5.'.'l,
011 39. The assessment for the ensuing year,
may be fairly estimated -at what it amounted to
the past year, provided the Legislature repeal
the proviso to the 16th section offhe Act of 27th
July, 1S42, entitled "An Act to provide for the
ordinary expenses of the Government payment
of the interest upon the State debt,'" fcc, w'uich
limits the assessment of the increased tax to one
year. I'nless provision be immediately made
ior continuing the assessment and collection of
that tax, our financial dilficulties must he increas
ed, and tlv: consequences be most disastrous to
our State credit.
It will be seen from the foregoing statement,
that nearly a million of dollars, arisini; from tax
ation, remains unpaid ; and there is no authorit y
vested in the Executive, by law to enforce its
collection. I have repeatedly rucommendeJ to
the Legislature, the adoption of some legal meth
od of compelling County Commissioners, Collec
tors and Treasurers, to perform their duties but,
Ihus far, no legislation has been had upon tho
subject In the present defective slate oftlw
Jaw, every temptation is lu-ld out to delinquents
to presevere in sening i uauui us iiijuiieiiiinn.
Permit me again to call the attention of tho Le
gislature to this subject, and to express the hope
that this evil will be remedied.
The whole receipts from our public improie
luer.ts, beyond the payment for repairs, uud the
xP'-Mises of their charge and management, during
the past focal year, amount to S-lb2.ti.V7 34.
The current expenses ef government, including
flie permanent appropriation to Common Schools
and other purposes, maybe estimated at about
575'l,0OO 00. The resources of the State, inde
pendent of taxation, and the receipts from tho
public improvements, at about 54,000 00. Fi aiii
an examination of all tbestj receipt and liabili
ty of the State, supposing the tax levied, under
rx'Sttng laws, to be punctually collected and paid
ovor. there would b'i sn annual deficit ol about
iS50,Oi;0 00, jud 'pem'ent of the balance duo to
liomestic Creditors ; for the punctual pajuvnt
of all which, the Sts'e is bound by every obliga
tion of iiiith and honor. After a most careful
consideration of the whole subject, 1 have been
unable to d.-vise any other mode af mei t nig this
responsibility than that ofaugmenlcd fixation.
I took occasion in my annual message trans
mitted to the Legislature on the Hh of January,
Is 10, to Eueik upon this subject in the fullowii.-'
pointed and unequivocal wonls. 1 beg leave to J
quote them, because I have reiterated, in every
annual message to the Legislature since, sub
stantially the same sentiments ; and I dn-iie
the people of Pennsylvania, and the whole world,
to know if th"re be ground to charge remit sness of
duty, to whom the fault is to be juelly attribu
ted :
''In expressing mv own opinion in favor of a
resort to taxation, 1 do it with no inconsiderable
degree of reluctance ; but it must be obvious to
wi-ry citizen of the Commonwealth, that bin
house, his firm, and his property, are all pletlgi d,
beyond possibility of release, to the ult imate pay
ment of the fetate debt, and the int. -rest thereon
accruing, agreei.bly to the stipulation with the
loan holders. Nor is this the worst iew of our
situation. The State has been actually com
pounding for years past, from a million to a mil
lion and a half of interest, annually ; and the
question is now submitted, whether ve arcthu
to cor.tim'.?'U!:nf , uau yeany, m -niunmu u
uionnt of interest to the principal of our State i
debt, and continue iu this pusilanimous course of
policy, from vear to year, of shuttling oll'the evil
day, and entailing this frightful legacy on poster
ity. It is a ttpruachori the people of lVnnsyh a
nia to suppose they ran be longer kept in th.
dark, in refrard to ihe miii.il ou in vhich We find
them. All ikey want to know, to ensure a rea
dy compliance Vv t'i ibis inihspr-nsibb-cull uu
their patriot nsm, is to know the necessity of the
measure. 1 he xprrb m-c of mote than half a
century, foltilies me in the le lief, that the pood
sense of the people ol thi- freat Conmn nw calth,
is rarely aifa'.ed to in vain In assuming the
responsibility of recommending this measure. I
am fully sensible of w hut is to lu encounter .'A,
and aware oftl;- oons-eqenres that are t follow ;
and if, in this expression of the honest convic
tions of my own mind, and the fern h-s .d'scfiarge
of the duties incumbent on nie, I shall not be
botite out by my fellowcrtireii. 1 shall ot bast
have the consolation to know, that 1 have done
that which I conscientiously believe to bo right,
and v, hiih 1 think will bear the rellection of alter
years. The time for evasion is pone ; the pub-'
lit mind has been too Ion;; fed will, miserable ex
pedients, The trine for notion is nt hand. Our
country cxert cvety man to do 4iis duty, iinil
he that has not nerve enough for the crisis, should
give place to those better fitted for the emergen
cy. Neither the present Legislature, nor myself,
had anything to do with contracting this debt
it is lix"d on fis by those who have gone he
fore ns ; and the same rule of prudence and
sound policy, that would govern the conduct of A
private individual, holds equally good in the case
ol I No I cmnxmwcalth. under tins state ol Hung.
Tin; private iitdiv iduul would tax his industry of ,
thedi'bt, andth" interest noon it. that was con
sinning the avails of his imhistry and his sub
stance s . also, it seems to me. should the re
presentatives of n wise ami judicious people.
Taxation would pay the interest ft would e
ventually -constitute a sinkinji fund to "pay oil' the
principal of the State debt, and should be contin
ued till the income of tho public improvements
would render lonner taxation unn.cssary. The
cri.-is demands the exercise of the most far-rea-chinil
sagacity the culmot judgment and the
most fearless patriotism. 1 am sure the Legis
lature will meet it in the right spirit, to disarm
it of its perils. Coming;, as yon do, from all
quarters of the Stat", and possessing a more inti
mate knowledge, of the circumstances and wants
of the people than I ran. I most cheerfully sur
render this important subject to vnu, satisfied
that prudence and justice will direct your action !
r.pon n. "
I used strong terms in speskmir to Kie J.e
jjislature on this subject nt that time, because j
it was nn hour of darkness uncertainty and a
larm. The explosion of ihe 1' iiiks, the paraly
sis of business energies nf ihe country, and the
nuiirutirings of those whose ambition seeks no
higher aim than (hat of linding- fault, wen; all
calculated to deter even honest men fiom faith
fully performing their duty, far as 1 was
concerned, I mis resolved that holh my opini
ons, and my course, should be openly avowed
and clearly umb rvtood. Four years have now
elapsed ; time has been given Ni the excited to
become cnlin, to Ihe timid to become self-possessed,
and for factiuis partisans to see the er
ror id their way. look back with pleasure on
my course, hern use, as 1 mid no ilouht ironi the
bepinninjr, I have been triumphantly sustained
by !"? honest y omanry of Pennsylvania. They
have borne, wilhout repininj.', every l-urlhen
that was necessary to maintain tin.1 honor of the
IStati. and they are ready to endure yet greater
rncrilkcs, if they bo neeessaiy, (or the fame
cause.
It has of late been fashionable, in certain
quarters, to denounce 1 Ynnsy Ivania, and cite
her, as an example in point, to sanction the re
proach which has been attempted to hi east up
on the American people, of seeking to carry in
to practical operation the scheme of repudiating
their public debts. Those who have circulated
and believed this calumny, betrayed a degree
of ignorance, both of the character ofthe peo
ple, and ofthe course of her legislation, winch
is truly surprising". On every occasion, the 1 i
ability of the State has been frankly avowed,
both iiy the Executive and Legislative llepart
rnents ; and althnno-h the recommendations of
the Executive to make provision for the pay
ment of her interest, have not been adopted to
the fullest extent, yet the legislature has pas
sed laws imposing tax, amounting tho hist year
ton little lessthan a million of dollars, and this
has been ncceeded to by the people, without a
rixrrn.ur from any source entitled to a moment's
consideration. The failure to pay tlio interest
has not result i) from a want of disposition to
do so, on the part til' tho citizens of Pennsylva
nia, but from the perioral drsasters which have
overwhelmed and crippled her, in common with ! " 'n reatter, provision He mn.te tor the
almost everv other government in the com- ' l-"ictual dischnree ol the interest, it will. Ihe
mercinl world. We are rcg-aiiiing- our energies i li,,v' ,,e n "'Uhl r.-usniahly beexjac-
snd recovering from Ihe emharmsnr.enls 1 i ted. by the holders ol .ur loans.
which we have iintortunately been surrounded.
A very tew years will enable us to retrieve all
that we have lost, and to w ipe from our escut
cheon Mery blot with which unexpected mis
fortune has tarnished it. Whatever ihe inter
ested or evil dissised may have asserted to the
contrary, there is not an honest citizen of Penn
sylvania w ho does not feel the proud conscious
ness that her faith and integrity can be held tip
to Ihe world unsullied.
Tho valuation ofthe real and per rona! pro
perty owned bv the citizens ofthe State, ascer
tained by reference to the valuation as taxed
for -county pnriMrscs, amounts to about four hun
dred and sixty millions of dollars. TIip average
of the rate of this valuat kin is, no doubt, consi
derably below the actual value ofthe property
of the State.
Among" Ihe receipt of the Trpanry durin! the
last year, there were from tolls, exclusive of
Motive Power, ijs7.".l"i H'.l
Auction duties,
Tax on collateral inheritances.
Dividends on Tlridge, Turnpike
anil Navigation Slocks,
Escheats,
rilUWil 7
iM,Iiy7 (1"
10,101 'JO
1,010 00
K:j,911 S8
To w hich add Ihe State Tax re
ceived, fcl.lUe-.O P.)
Thi income, ilsrivol from the hIiovc sources,
w as pp' cinlly ajipropnati'd to tho payment of
the interest 'oil our public debt; and on tho
l.iuh ,,f il i SuteV adherence to its solemn en-
mii, ii.. r,,oi whom the nionev was
obtiiin.d. were ihaibtiss induced to make the
loon. Hut. by Ihe resolmion pissed 7th April.
and th,-sets passed 27l!.- July, and
1,1 i.-i .1.' r.....l. .... noolied In o.
Mh Apr. I, those funds were applied too-
Iher and different purposes, from what was dec
in d, by the I .eo islalure, an imperative necessi-
iv mdiiced bv Iho inoneiiirv t-mbarrassincrits to
vi. hich 1 huve alrrady advei' led. !
It i thus shown that about three and a hulf'i
per ceiit. of the interest could have, been paid 1
the past year, noi ior tins f ur-s qneni legisla
tion; snd that ihe above sum of f.")7,MV.'"i Til,
, ,
togi ther w ith a tax of less than three nulls on
the nssessed value ofthe leal and personal estate
of the cilizens of the Cotniiionweslth, Would
piy 1ho ini r-st on the public debt, beyond all
doiiht, and place Pennsylvania on that proud
rmiiience w hich the true character of her pen-
pie, ami Hip resources she ossesses, ilcsigurd
In r to occupy. Hut to satisfy the people of ll e
ruonrielv of Ibis increase of the tax, assurance
should bo pivr n that it would be applhd ti iho
payinent of iho interest on Ibe Mute debt, to
the exclusiun oft-very other object,
There has been one objection made ajainst
taxation under Ihe present slate of things,
which ttppesis lo be founded in justice nnd li st
is, the manifest in, fi. i I nebs and inequality ol
rate of assessment in the dillrreiit counties.
I tinnex to this mesfne'C a tiibli! showing the as
sessments in the various counties t l the ('mn
iuotvchIiIi, on examination of which, will at
once disclose tin! ev. Is -thai ought to be reme
died. Most of our laws on 4ho fuhjncl-of taxes and
revenue, require revision and amendment.
Those, relating to collateral inheritance, retail
ers ondk'ulers in merchandize, auctions and
auctioneers, and brokers, require revision and
modification to prevent evasions. Indeed there
is good reason to believe the revenue Iroin
these resources mij,ht be doubled. The count)
n.tes and levi-s are not anpmchtcd hylheni;
nor does tho State tax derived thcrdlrmii, hear
anv fair proportion to that exacted from tlio hind
holder. Tho inmpinlily and injustice of the
matter become man f st w In n the proceeds de
rived from each are con-iderod.
The tax necessary for the payment of the in-
tereht on our ilnte di bt, it lias long been appa
rent to me, should ho apportion d ninone; the
several conutii c of the t-Malc, and a liheiul dis
count or drauliack ollowoi! for pronipt collec
tions and ffiVHiient into the Tn'asury. The
members' of the legislature cniniuij; ns they (hi
from thot-oiir.il ootintns and ath wntehlul ol
the rie;ht! and interests of his immediate consti
tuents, wou'd certainly compose a board every
way coinpet'ut to rniili; that apportionment.
A more Hiieqeal one than i hat w liich now ex
ists, cannot bo readily devised. I am nw're
that each ami t'very rbjeet anil nvule of taxa
tion i wori! or less ohjectmnahVe but Hint
should ui t absolve us from oiir thity. I have
submitted to the L.rishitin'e, my views apaln
an nain, on this snlijcct ; ami that it has at
times differed withioe, ih no cause of complaint
that difference -of tipmion hav injr proceeded
font a conw ieutious di-charve ol dutv. 1'ut,
if the ?iij.irestions ,ore mmle, do not seen) rigdit
prI1(7r permit mo to express the earnest
liopi; Hint the I gislature will ifeviro some
other mode, less i.hjt etionahle, and that it will
not sepnnite until full and ample provision le
made for the punctual pay incut of I he interest
en our public di hi, semi-annually, as it becomes
due, and thus smooth the way lor those who
may cciiie after us in the administration ofthe
(lot eminent,
ilcfiire tpi'dtim the r object of taxation, it may
bo well to take a rel.ilm- tiew of the Inxes re
O'ivcd at the Treasury, (or the List three years.
and the amount aniinaly paid rut the several
I l oiiiil irs, for the piit nees of (location. The
! taxes received in
1 - 1 1 . iiiiiouuted lo
1-1-',
f:in.'jo- 77
'IS i.fi".") 't
.r).-;niu ;)
,SI dTS.Mtl (HI
the purposes of
yc.u.J. Bii.onn-
Ss.,;(i."i,7fri (i I
":,l.-.:i7-2 -i:i
it-,(;yi :w
ffl.iM),-:i- 6:i
Tin moneys pniil out Tor
iluc.-ition, ilnring; the tame
ted, in I - II, to
l-i-,
1M:I,
Ko that it nptiears more money has actually
been paid out by the Commnnwcullfi, for edu
cating ihe people, lliiin (he amount of State tax
paid into the Treasury.
It will be enlireW practicable 1o make provi
sion for the payment of Ihe semi-annual interest, I
on and alter the first of Aueust next. And, lo
provide for every possible cont ingency, the
State Treasurer might be authrriod to borow,
if necessary, a snflicierit sum to make up any
deficiency, and Ihe taxes and oilier receipts of
the State, applicable to the discharge of interest,
be pledged specifically for the re-payment of
such loan, and applnd as toon as received.
The arrears of interest doe in 1CJ'J. and
Ftbruary ai d August, lM:i, have been funded
lilt con'orniily wi:i Iho acts of Assembly upon
I that subject. This was the lnot-t that could be
done for our creditors, under the circumstances,
Th
is row due firm the Stide to certain
; banks the sum of 51 . li"7.i'','S rs. on acconnt of
j the issiie'of notes mnler the a t of Ith May. JSI1,
w hi h bears an interest of one per cent. I! y ir-
tin ol the art ol Assembly passed the Silt day ol
April last, entitled "An acj to piovide for the
payment of Poniestic Creditors."' &c, these notes
l are to be cancelled at the rate of one hundred
thousand I'ollais per month. Tin funded debt of
the Mate bears nn interest of five ami six per rt.
payable si ini-annually. Jl this cancellation be
continued ut the same rate, il is very certain this
interest cani ot be paid, as a very large proportion
of laves and tolls will be paid in funds of this de
scription. It istherelore. lor ihe Legislature to
determine v. liich of these measures it is the poli
cy of the State to porsii".
The revenues derived from the public works
during the jt,ist fiscal )ear, although not realizing
th estimates which Were formed at the coui-
! nieneement ol the year, have y lelileil u Vei v hand-
' Sitim. Tll.tl'.t to lh. f 'iiliiiilitli M. 111, ft,.. --
lieuditures n-niiired lor their maiulriiiince. The
I rT"rt ofthe Canal Commissioners, which will
j be laid before vmi, nnd to which your particular
attention is invited, exhibits in detail the re
ceipts and expenditures upon the several lines of
canal and railroad. -v that document, it ap
pears, that, from the earl v closing of the canal bv
ice in lh lulter part of ISII. mnl its late open,
il g from the same cause in the follow rig spiii'g.
the navigable season of IM-'I was rendered about
i eight weeks sl oiter than that of the previous
j j,.ir coinbiuat ion, likewise, took place
among Ihe boatmen on the lYluwuro l'ivi -ion.
! vbich existed lor several weeks, putting a stop to
j transportation, and tausinga los of revenue to
Ihe Commoiiwiitlih of not less ll mi :iu.((iu
Notwithstanding these inp diments. added to
; tnal cxp- riiui-c-
from ti e high floods on the .Inni-
! 'a in S.pteiober last, ihe toll, amount to!.,
! '-" 'r''- e receipts
- o ,,,. "-7 41. An abstiad ,., the re-
! '"'I'" ex-.ditnre on Uie several l.li.s . x-
lill.lt s tin
- follow in;
result
Main Line
I'xi'CM iti ri s. llr or ir rs.
$4-j'.n:ir. s2 $so7.2l2 vl
Pelawarv lliv isrii.
'pjJ'vvJI'ricbeK,
., '...r ,,,,.,,,
22,.'i.''j;i P2
SO. 220 SO
'.' .'iOj 11
f,2,20fi 00
O.KVi 71
...... -
and Ext-nrli Creek, -'',H e2
V'2 .'2H J(l $1.U17H
leduct ex; iiditiin s, .V22.22H
' I-'.xeess of receipts ov er cxpen-
ditmes, $.'.0.612 "f
I JH'duct drawback on flour and pork, 22.4'iO SO
.
j
f F
:t.175
tbtKl :is
And increase of slock en Columbia
K.oliva I,
I
Cb urpir.f.t of all the woiks for
js ;l, SIS-.Vfi.17 31
The increase nnd decrease of tolls on the dif
cut lliii s. as i-oii'i-ari d with lsi were as fol-
(or
the ' low s -
I.nc isr.vsr,
SO 1,202 40
Main Line..
Delaware division,
Susquehanna North and
West !i;inches,
Teavcr, Shciiango and
French Creek,
13,1100 08
o.JG OS 1G.C30 03
Increase in 181.1,
S77.027 43
And, on the same lines, the excess of receipts
over expenditures and ull liabilities, is as fol
lows :
Main Line. $110,220 70
Delaware Division. ('0,711 41)
Susquehanna, North and 'West
brunches, 2.070 20
4 U 1.0 11 l'i
Beaver. Shf nanroan l French Creek,
excess of rXpemlituics over re
ceipts, m
0,9'l 11
Total excess of receipt? over expen
ditures, $l-2.o,-.7 31
From these statements it appears that, with !
the exception ol the small cyrs on the Susque- i
hauii.-i and Noith and West Uruneh liivisious. ;
the profits upon the year's business, have been I
derUod from th- .Main lineandthe I'elawaie Jli- j
vision. 'I he last named division has yielded a I
profit of live per cent, upon thcn-t ot its con-
stinetion. which, but lor the loss of rrxenues;
sustained floin the rniubination uli.oi::; the boat- '
men Iwfnre refern d to. and int"rni -tion from'
bleaches, would have beer, increased to over j
Seven per cent.
The Columbia uud Philadelphia. F.ailina-l ex-'
bibits a very giritifving result. 'I he ch ar pro
fits of Ihe road over expenditures and liabilities f
The I'lisl year amount to s2U2,'.ul h-i equal to
about live p--r cent, on the original cost ofthe
railway and the motive power department. I
In pursuance of the provision of the aetofTtli
March. IS 13, n charter was issued, on tin 101b ;
day of June last, to "The l'.rie Canal Company." ;
Th company is vigorously prosecuting the work. 1
and give lair promise of its early completion, j
That jioi tion of the division from the Ohio cr j
to the tow n of New Castle, according to the terms j
of the charter, remains in tin; possession ofthe!
Commonwealth, until the completion of the
whole line, A large ntion ofthe expenditures
on it during the yur , w as caused by repairs to
the works since frustrated.
It is e ident from tin forefffing abtracts. anil
fi'M'i a review .of the details, eo'-taiiu-d in tie' Ca
nal Commissioners" report, that Ihe ."U.,iu line
and Jielaware Division, can. at all times, he
made sources of pi olituhle revenue to the Com
n nii we.i lilt, by the iM icist of h proper vigilance
over the di si hi i semi nts. Much I. a - been dour to
wards iiitiixhiring a system ,f strict economy.
and dispensing with ollieeis, agi nts and laborers, j
whose services tend only to swell the amount of
expenditures. If the system, thus begun, he car
ried out and perfected, all doubt n nst vanish as
to the nine of these two portions of Ih, public
voiks w hen considered us ur-uus of revenue.
To I lie more geneinl introduction of section
1 oats, in consequence ofthe State having pur
chased trucks lor their cnliva, ancc over the two
ruidroads, may he t lacedthe principal cause of the
increase of 'l oll.- and tonnage on the Main line.
The experiment has fully been tested to lie sa
tisfaction of the most sanguine friends ofthe
system of individual competition in the carrying
trade. These boats din ing the past year have
l'CCliEAsR.
$'3.1!.1 C7
prevented combinations, reduced the price of ; unanswerah'e, there tire some other circuui
freights. increased ihe amount of tolls and ton- j fiances connected w ith that election, w hich
nage, und given to our Main line a character for
cheapness in transportation, which must maki
it the principal avenue to a maiket between the
waters of the West and the Eastern Atlantic ci
ties. A system of tiiinsioitatioti which in its
incipient state, has been pioductic of such gooil
benefits, and which is so closely identified with
the property of the improvements of the Com
monwealth, is entitled to Ihe filtering care of
the Legislature. In IM.'I. the amount of tolls
paid by section boats was ? 1 1 1.227 17 ; ol which
S 1 ".i:."i l (.. was tor the use of the State trucks.
To give ellicii ncy to the system ; to meet the
demands consequent upon the continued increase
in the number of section bouts; uud to prevent
vexatious delays nt the ru'dioad slips, mi increase
inthe number o tiains of trucks has become ab
solut-ly neres.-ary. As tin . add-.tional trains
will be rei-uircd at the pi-meg ofthe sin ing bu-
smrss, t he evpertat ioii is enter ta iiu-d that an ear
ly appropriation w ill he made lo that object.
Such an appropriation w ill give an impetus to the
spring trade, by giving assurance of promptness
iu the delivery of produce, goods, and merchan
dise ; hold out inducements to further incrras"
of section boats ; place the system upon a per
manent basis ; and insure to the Commonwealth
all the advantages which must necessarily result
from this improved mode of transportation over
our disjoined lines of canal and railroad. I
would further recommend that the appropriation
b" in ado direct, and not made payable out ofthe
tolls for the Use of trucks, so as to enable the Ca
rial Commissioners to make the purchase on more i transaction more immediately concerns t lie pu
econornical terms than can otherwise be done. I nlv M( iom,r ot'the Lepisla'ture itself, I need
and to free Ihe rates of toll, ami the method of ra u,r u,,ei ( these circumstances,
keeping the accounts, l,om their piesent com- J n)( ,mv0 J, (I(lllU J(IU u ;U t() vonr
I ,xltVi , . . . , . ! ly to institute a thorough investigation into the
without the I xecutivo siiiu tion. a bill entitled i
-'An Art to Mitlioii.i Ihe Governor to mcoipo-
ate Hie 1 eiin- IViOiKi I anal ami bailio-.ul ( oiii- '
pany from Philadelphia to Pittsburg,'' for my ,
v ievvs in rrlutiou to the inqioliey of selling or j
transferring the public iinpiuvrmrnts to private
companies. 1 deem it however proper to add,
that , iilthoiii.li my own judgement on this subject
is perfectly clear, yet, if u second Legislature j
deem it advisable to concur with the former in j
piovidmg for tl.U sale or liynsh-r. I do not know '
that I w ill consider tin duty incumbent on me
of oM'ering further resistance to this project ; pio
vided sulfu ielit safrgmtrds be established lo plo-ti-ct
the public against frauds und collusions in
ihe sale, and to i nsure a proper regard for the
public interests, ollthe part of those into W hose
bauds they are subsequently to be transtei red.
No report has been nude by the Commission
ers named ill the act entitled An Act to author
ize the Governor to incorporate the Oehtware
Canal Company." passed l ith Apul lust; nor
am I iu possession ol any oiIici.il information iu
relation to the sMiie.
( In the subject ofthe Tanks I have little to re
reconuuenil. My v iews in relation lo the system
huve herrloloie been Very fully expressed, and
do not now need leitelution. Most if Hot all tie'
solvent institutions have now resumed specie
payments : and, taught by lxist experience, it is
hoped they will so regulate their business, and
circumsctihe their liabilities withm the bound
of pi inlrnce, that we shall noi see a recurrence
ofthe pecuniary embarrassments vv hich have for
some years past distressed the community, 'i he
gradual restoration of public and private Confi
dence, will enable the solvent institutions ofthe
State to furnish a currency as last as required by
the wants of the country, which will be redeem
able in specie on demand.
As no bank charters will expire during the re-
mainder ofthe present executive term, there will
be no necessity for enacting laws lor their re-
urwiij at present. The practice of renew ing aits
of incorporation long Ix-foie the expiration ol the
existing charters, is manifestly wrong, fven
...l : ..i.... ll. 1, i-.nihiitei'eii oioni
to continue them, t'ndn present circumstou- ; , riero is hardly a mountain or valley within
res. I think il would not 1 e li.-d 1 to rmbiiri.is ! her borders, that does not abound in deposits of
Hie adnuiiisiiui'in ef in u n or, I y piema- 'real or iron. Our canals and railroads pene
lure l. rn l. tii u i pun v i ts tjuit will Ulong i trrlc uliuovt tcry one of theno uniaral regions,
to thut p 'iio.1 of tho luhninit'.ialiou of th iroveru- j
mejit. Tie1 situutionof the country and its busi
ness certainly does not refpiirc til' cralitile; of"
any bank chatters, l'.elievjns; that the evils ol
bitu-kini; are corrected by the piod sen; of the
commiiiiity. I roiigratul.ite the Legislature upon
the prospect of being relieved from the immedi
ate eonsiderat ion of 1 he subject lor the present
season at least.
The report of the Sup-nterindent of Common
Schools, will exhibit their condition in detail.
Kvery thing calculated to advance tho intern; t of
this most important of all our public institutions.
J cannot be too strongly commended to your atten
tion. J lie vital interests oi religion, morality,
and civil liberty itself, are dependent upon flie
cherishing aid and enlightened support imparted
to our Common Schools and higher Seminaries of
learning. Here must be implanted the seeds of
virtue, of intelligence, and of ull that confers
distinction upon our citizens.
The report of the Adjutant General will be
laid In-fore you. 1 took occasion, iu my annual
message of IS.'IO. to say that ''our loilil in system
is a tiix. ton considerable amount, upon the Stat"
Treasury, which mii'ht be consiberably lessened
it' the Adjutant (lenerul were churned with the
duty of persoimlly Mipei 'intruding the system in
its details, and properly compensated therefor."
In every annual message since. I have urged the
imp I tani e of some attention to this iiibj ct.
The office of Adjutant (ieueral has been filled lor
several years by a gentlemen of great piaetical
knowledge and experience, wl o has devoted
touch time and attenlieu to the discharge of its
anu atreiilieu to ti.r iliseliar,
duties; Mid it l as been a u;i:tt. r ol ri L'i . t that
bis MH'uestiohs l.ae not had the weight with the
Legislature, to wh'i h they were so jii.-tly en
titled. !y the legiJut io:i ol the last fewjears.
one description of persons alter another las 1.,-cu
i
exempted from the payment of fi
ines. tint 'I Itie a
ihe past '
,, i j'., ! !
mount received at Ihe I reasni v. during
Vear. lulls shoit ol the expenses the sum ol ' -
I IS .V.i. The state of thin
is so lKtm.-ihl v roivj
that nolhing more is required than to hi ing the
facts to your notice, to ensure an early comttioti
ofthe i il.
Penns) Ivania has a force of upwards of ihirt y-fiVethnu-and
volunteers, that w ill compare with
any troops in this or any other country. I can
not too curliest !y recommend them to the fostering-
care of the Legislature.
I'nder Ihe act ol the 2 Ith March last, entitled
"An Act to create permanently the otiice ol State
Plint-r." Isaac G. M Kinh-y and llutti-r Js; I'ig
ler ba ing cliiim-d to be State Printers: the
former to do the I'nglish. and the latter to do the
i Gorman printing, ofthe Commonwealth. The
lai guage of the Art nf Assrii.-bly seem-d to me
' to render the ill id i t V of this ejection doubtful.
: Mid I ciiuseil the question to b? submitted to the i
t Attoirii-y General, w hose opinion on the subject j
' is In-rew ilh transmitted to the L"gilatur-'. I con- I
i ciu reil v. ithhini. iind aceordiiigly declined to;ni-
prove rhe Imiids temlereil, intoi iiiiug the p.nties
that the w hob- matter would be submitted t
th
1 . rnrlv attention ol the Legislature, l'a-1 tl
1 )iar-
ties nit rest 'd roii -Jim to complain ofthe emirs
j pursued by lb'' I'.M-cutive. th -v might have, ap-
I plied to the Supreme Court, during itss--iou iu
Jfarii.-hurg, Corn writ of mandamus, directing the
Governor to approve their bonds, which wa a
' mere ministerial duty, unless he could how some
i . . .. . - , i . , , .
legal reasons lor ins reiiisai. I was ar an rimes
ready to have met this i.-su ' before that tribunal,
and have ut no time eutertuiivd a doubt of the
result, or propriety of my course.
In addition to the legal argument presented
t... lit, A ll,,fnnlr f!L-iniir,l l, liifl, I mffir.l ttC
i t'j j 1 1 m iivj ii,iii iui, i.i.i... .,... t.i
j IIla,e jt peculiarly necessary tint they should
be brought to your most serious consideration.
' 'Ihe election was postponed from time to tune,
i from the 27thday of March, the third day after
i the p-issageot the law, and on which, according
, to its provisions, it should have taken placr, to
I the lith day of April, on whuh, nr c rdiny to
'the certificate presented to rue, it was made,
j Pnrinu thisiuteival ot time, nnd before the day
' on w hich the election was consummated, I have
t been inli'iinul, and have pood reason to be
j lieve, that negotiations wire entered into and
comph ted between the s:iul Isaac G. McKir.-
ley, Hotter &. Hitler and other person,-, snpp-i-i
hcd lo have influence with numbers ofthe Le
gislature, by w lrch lune sums of money were
; j,:, r COtitructed to ! paid, bv tho indiv.dmils
I ,.....,. , , ,.,. ,H. "lor rheir nid nnd
intbirnci! in procuring iheir election.
in some
instances, as I have been as-ured, the sums
paid, or contracted to be paid, depended np.iii
I the number of votes procured by the contracting
parties for the successful candidates; and Ihus
i was exhibited a tceue of scandalous bargaining
i sud selling-, uliko disgraceful to the parties con
I corned, and dnnperous to the purity of elec
j tious. It is riot to lie presumed that this scheme
' of ollice purchasing- was known to any member
! ofthe Legislature ; for, if it had been, the par
ities concerned would, I have no ilouht, been
exposed and consequently d -tentril. As this
frauds, ihus practiced upon tho Legislatute, to
picture an election. Should (he fuels upon ex
uuiinalion, be ti hi nil lo hi, us I have the strong
est reason to think they are, can it Is, tint a sin-
i'le member of tho Legislature w ill reci'Sfiiizi
the validity of an election thus procured ! Let i on parting, ho ventured to kiss her. It not ap
it be known that candidate can resort to such p.-arinr iii.it this intuit icy had p nio any fur
means to accomplish their purges ami I there j a fc. l!i( '(,culoil it nt W()r(i
is an end to all confnlei.ee and respect lor our ; .
I.egisluliires. It is one ofthe elementary prin- ip-M'i ,,r it was, that tin bister of the pay M:i-
ciples ol every enlightened system ol jurispru
dence, that fraud vitiates every contract into
which it enters ; and, in every stape of com-ph-lion,
there contrurts are arretted as sism as
Iho fraud is discovered. There can be no frau
dulent practice iiinic odious tliun one I. he this,
striking at the purity of legislation, and 1 am
confident lire representatives of the people will
apply h thorough corrective iho instant they
are made acquainted w ith the facts.
No inconvenience has arisen thus fir, nor
detriment to Ihe public interest, from my relu
j sal to approve tho bonds offered by the individu
als claiiniiiif to huve U-eu elected. The p.r-
tion of ihe law, therefore, pointing out the mode
; of cb ctinp Stale Printers, not h vinp been
i complied with, the matter rests with y.u to
i make such provision on this subject, as you be
lieve the subject requires, ino irauus prog
, , J uw Bom0 0r thoso persons
i ,t ,,,,,:' .,,;,, the bist few-
vin riif i u iiu r" r -e, - - - -
vpars. are too palpable and notorious to pass un
noticed, and whatever measures the legislature
may think proper to adopt, will, I trust, provide
security against (heir recurrence,
ll is no disparagement to her sister States to
assume, that Pennsylvania, in her peopraphicul
position, and in her mineral and agricultural
resources, is surpassed by none in the Union,
! for ivopulalion, for hardy and effective indus-
try, presents a model worthy of all praise, and
j xi industry, devoted to a constant development
4(( l(,r yut.t mineral wealth, cunuol fail, iu good
' ,: ,0 r,MJuct. t,c most AbtoiUahillll results.
r I .. . .
mid furnish ihcm. with a cheap and ready high
way to market.
I f those cnirusted with the guardianship of
the public welfare, arc but trno to their trust,
the day is not far distant, when Pennsylvania
mn.-t become the great workshop of the 'Ameri
can Union, for the production of coal and iron,
nnd the fabrics constructed from these materi
als. If these great interests are surrendered
to some iningJnary, theoretic, Arcadian scheme
of free trade, we may still continue to serve as
hewers of wood and drawers of water to foreign
capitalists and artizans, and our incalculable
mineral deposits, may lie useless for ages. I
trust, however, the peoplo of this Common
wealth will never, be seduced into a sacrifice of
their dearest rights.
The policy of standing by her own interests,
has bi-en, for the Inst half' century, too deeply
fixed in Pennsylvania, to be abandoned without
a strujfale: and those of her public rervants
w ho would advise tho surrender of anv of her
staple product-Mils, without the fostermrr mo
emir of Ihe iovernment, will soon find imi how
lulshrkrn an estimate of popular feeling they
have relied. It is idle to talk of reciprocity of
trai!'!, win n England will not receive our flour
under a prohibitory duty ol less than three dol
lars per barrel for us to receive her coal and
iron free of duty.
Tree trade and reciprocity of diily, like the
p-o'ib ti rule, are beautiful and benign in theory,
and, if universally carried out iu practice, would
r- ruler in nil. nid Ix'tterand mire acceptable m
j their Maker; hut, unhappily, this obligation
I is vohm'iiry, nnd is assumed only by the less
! cr.ilU and grasping of men and mtiotis who are
! used li.r their own ends by the rest. This fun-
('ani01l,l'-l tri"'' i laught by all history, and was
familiar to our lathers. Come what may, wg
cannot desert the st.indtird of Pennsylvania:
nnd I, lor one, have ball led under it too long- to
see it struck without a manly cflbrt to uplioM
it. if we are true to ourselves, and those who
conn alh-r us hut do their duty without shrink
ing, Pennsylvania will be placed in her truo
position.
Our njrrirn'turists, manufacturers, mechan
ics, and every d iss of citizens, are alike inter
ested in a rtolfasl adh-renco to the ao'iey nf
protecting- and encouraging- our own peculiar
State productions ; tor on this pol cy rest our
hopes of future greatness and independence.
A permanent homo consumption, is, after all,
t lie i in iy m:itl; ton which our farmers and other
producers can always depend tor a steady ile
um nd lor Iheir eommod'ties, without the fluctu
ations of price that will ever attend fbreig"n
markets. It will a fiord me groat pleasure t
co-operate with y.-u. in giving- the m ist effec
tive support In i', both in our domestic nnd na
tional ler slatiuti, s i far as may be comp itiliio
wit li our duty.
I am imt aware nf any other subject llir.t re
quires to he specially brought to your notice, al
t hoiig h ihern are a number of minor importance
referred to in mv former iiifs-n jes rm wliieli
no legislative action has been taken. I Irivu
discherged my duty by siih uiltiiig: them to the
consideration of the representatives of Ihe pen
plo, and shall he ready, at all times, to unito
with them in the adoption of such measures in
relation to Ihrm mid other mailers, as are
deemed conducive to the public good.
DAVID R. PORTEIt.
E.vm-rivr CirAvrnt n, f
Ilarrishurc', January !1, IS II. $
Vvi.ri: of a Kiss. Different persons have
diflerent tastes, and this peculiarity extends
even to juries. One, some time ns'n, jnye a
pptitlcman f.ve hundred dollsrs, because nno-
i ther innn kissed bis wife, hut a jury in Dedhnm,
Mass., ib-cl.ired that one was not worth Ss.'ltlO,
the whole: amount dcmaivlcd. The peculiar
characteristics iu tho latter instance of tha
mouth kissed are not mentioned, and there nny
be some!l".:i!j in the lips themselves which
wou'd prob-.blv justify the jury's decision, but
as the idy is described as twenty-five, and as
he is said to hive kissed her with apparent sat
isfaction, the imputation of bad taste would
seem to rest upon the jury. The. case was as
follow s: a Mr. Horsini, of D irchcster, brought
an action on a prommi-sory note of A'MH) a
cainst I.ydia Withington ; and the payment of
the note was resisted on the ground that it was
given without consideration. It was set up
and proved in defence that the brother of the
defendant had kisse, i,P plaint ilP's wife; and
being- caught in the "catastrophe," lh plaintiff
compelleil him to obtain his sister's rrote for
il;.HI, under threttt of a criminal prosecution.
Miijnr Suniiiel Withington, the man who be
stowed the kiss upon Mrs. Horsain, described
the kiss as lie rrifj my; of puro friendship, docile
' in its nature, and perfectly Inrmless. She was
a perfect stranger to him; h! hid called upon
her at her house, and became so interested, that
jor w.is not the proper person to pay for it ; an 1
they pave a verdict tor the defence accordinply.
The lady of tie; Ib v. Win, Henry Holt, of St.
Albans, Vt. has presented tie Episcopal Church
of that place w ith a splendid oi gall, v alued at
5 l.Vin.
Ilrtnv roR Axythin;- The (icrtmntnvvn
(D. C) Advocate says that one of tho can li
dates for tho I loorkeepprship of tin House, tra
velled all the way fVom M:jh;pin to Washing
ton ta obtain his object, b it being; iiiHuccessful
iu that particular, apain placed his name before
the House as a candidate ror the Chaplaincy
But apaiu failinp, he solicited and optained tho
poat, which ho is now fiilinp, of vwsseugcr ta
one ofthe committees.
Kinvvwix! Mokmoxs, .Intiirinritio't front
Nauvoo says, that two Mormons have been kid
napped front that place, and carried to Missouri.
The Governor of Illinois has been called upon,
to demand the. men of the tlovcrnor of Missou
ri, but refused to do it.
New JtRstv. 1 1 is said, in the Newark
Post, that Mr. Webster has purchased the Wee-
I haw kou House, formerly owned by JndpoRer-
pen, lor tj-'jr,t.KH, biluate about twg luiles. front,
iJobv'keil,