V" w i i fiiinii'ni i ii talMM'- - -
it, irTCiiissosr,i)ir0JjS.
rD. '
r
lYOLUME 9.
ffTILLIAM KITTELL, Attorney at
y( Law, Ebensburg, Pa.
August 13, 1868.
TOHN FENLON, Attorney at Law,
j jaf Office ou High street. augl3
KOIIGE M. READE, Attorney at
IT Law, Ebensburg, Pa.
ja- Office ia Colonnade Row. aogl3
TTTILLIAM H. SECHLER, Attor-
j- Office'in Colonnade Row. aug20
In EOllGE W. OATMAN, Attorney at
jJ( Law ana uiaim Agent, uu kuh
'Sutes Commissioner for Cambria county, Eb
Uiburg, Pa. Lau83
ITOHNSTON & SGANLAN, Attorneys
! KS'f" Ofice opposite the Court House.
I. I., jvuiaivai I. ""! J . -
QAMUEL SINGLETON, Attorney at
1 Law. EbeosbUrjr, Pa.
JEST" Office on High street, west of Fos
ter's Hotel.
4 -
TAMES C. EASLY, Attorney at Law,
I r l . i .- T
Architectural Drawings and Specifi
cations made. fug13
j7VATERS, Justice of the Peace
, and Scrivener.
p-sr Office adjoining dwelling, on nign si.,
Sburg.P aug 13-6m.
" . . . v v -w- aa a.
tr a KHiiuai Aivrjiv. auuiucy i
'14 .
Particular attention paid to collections.
t&" Office on High street, west of the Di-
a rrt An1 I
I a n rr i a
i. KOPRLIX.
T. w. DICE,
jonnatoxcn
Ebensburg.
TrnpELlN & DICK. Attorneys at
lV Law, Ebensburg, Ta.
prf- Office in Colonade Row, with Wm.
K-ttell, Esq. Oct. 22.
JOSEPH S. STRAYER, Justice of
J the Peace, Johnstown, Pa.
:x- nftr on Market street, corner of Lo-
J.U " "
Jcuit street extended, and one door south of
ihe Ute office of U m. -M Jvee. augia
RDEVEREAUX, M. D., Physician
and Surgeon, Summit, Pa.
Office east of Mans'on House, on Rail
road street. Night calls promptly attended
to, at hU office. augl3
Tl. DE WITT ZEIGLER
I J Having permanently located in Ebens
burg, offers taia professional services 10 ine
citizen of town and viciritj.
Teeth extracted, without paw, wuu niirout
CiUt, or Laughing Gat.
tM" Rooms adjoining Ki. nunviey oiurc,
Kfh itreet. augla
'AENTISTRY.
f ti. nni1i(rni!. fSrA.lnftte of the Bal-
more College of Dental Surgery, respectfully
;:ers nis proieosionai services 10 iuc tmv"o
,f Kh.nihnrir 1 1 hAfl Knftrea DO means iu
boroughly acquaint himself with every im-
roTenient in bis art. lo many years 01 per
sonal experience, he has sought to add the
imparted experience of the highest authorities
ia Dental Science. He simply asks that an
opportunity may be given for his work to
?eak its own praise.
SAMUEL BELFORD, D. D. S.
Ipj-Will beat Ebensburg on the fourth
Monday of each month, to stay one wjek.
August 13, 18C8.
T LO YD & CO., bankers
j Ebensburg, Pa.
Pay-GoU, Silver, Government Loans and
other Securities bought and sold. Interest
allowed on Time Deposits. Collections made
on all accessible points in the United States,
and a Gcnernl Banking Business transacted.
August 13, 1868.
WM. LLOYD & Co., Bankers
TT Altooha, Pa.
Drafts on the princioal cities, and Silver
nd GoU for sale. Collections made. Mon
eys teemed on deposit, payable on demand,
without interest, or UDon time, with interest
at fair rates. augl3
HVIE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
X n Jarkktowk. Pensa.
1'aid up Capital $ C0.000 00
rrictlfye to incrtaie to 100,000 00
We buy and sell Inland and Foreign Drafts,
Gold and Silver, and all classes of Govern
toat Securities ; make collections at home
ad abroad; receive deposits; loan money,
tsi do a general Banking business. All
tineas entrusted to us will receive prompt
Mention and care, at moderate prices. Give
" a trial.
Directors :
D.J
... -
lsAC KLVrMAX,
.ob M. Campbs
John Dibebt.
Jacob Levsrgood,
Euw'd. Y. Townbsd.
LL,
eorge Fritz.
DANIEL J. MORRELL, rretident.
n. J. Robeuts, Cathxtr. sep3ly
,J m. i.LorD, Pret't. joum LLOYD, Caihier.
plllST NATIONAL BANK
L OF ALTOONA.
GO VERNMENT A GENCYt
DESIGNATED DEPOSITORY OF THE UNI
TED STATES.
Corner Virginia and Annie sts., North
Warl, Altoona, Pa.
JtTHOMzED Capital $300,000 00
" Capual Paid in 150,000 00
All business pertaining to Banking done on
kvoraUe terras.
'emal Revenue Stamps of all denomina
l'n3 always on hand.
T purchasers of Stampp, percentage, in
JifmP3' wiU be allowJ. as follows : $50 to
2 P" cent.; $10C to $200, 3 per cent.;
dupvards, 4 per cent, augl3
gAMUEL SINGLETON, Notary Pub-
0 lie, Ebensburg, Pa.
tel 'ce on High street, west of Foster' Ho
L augl3
J0IJ WORK of all kinds done at
11IE ALLEGIIANIAN OFFICE,
Hmk St., EaiMSBCBO, Pa.
l .
EBENSBURG, PA., THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1869.
THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House of Representa
tives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl
vania :
Gentlemen For the harmony and
general relations of comity and friendship
existing between Pennsylvania and all the
other States and Territories of the nation
al Union ; for the present prosperous con
dition of the Commonwealth ; for the glad
signs of coming political tranquillity, and
for the success which attends the progress
of our free institutions, we owe a heavy
debt of gratitude to Divine Providence.
In view of the favorable circumstances
under which you are assembled, it becomes
my province and duty, as it is my pleasure,
to offer you my hearty congratulations, and
to tender you a cordial welcome to the
Legislative halls of the State. This, in
deed, affords me a higher gratification be
cause I participate with your constituents
in the confidence manifested by them in
selecting you to represent their individual
interests as well as those of the Common
wealth. On your wisdom, integrity, judg
ment, and discretion all vail undoubtedly
rely for the correct determination of every
question affecting the largest interests and
gravest responsibilities, and for a continu
ance, and even att increase, of that pros
perity 'which has hitherto been so signally
enjoyed.
It is not without a consciousness of the
great responsibilities resting upon me that
I undertake the performance of a consti
tutional duty, requiring that the Governor
"shall from time to time give to the Gen
eral Assembly information of the state of
the Commonwealth, and recommend to
their consideration such measures as he
shall judge expedient." In conformity
with this requirement, your attention will
be called only to such matters of public
interest as in my judgment deserves care
ful consideration and action on your part
during the present session.
The following is a carefully prepared
statement of the financial condition of the
State for the fiscal year ending November
30, 18G8 :
The reports of the Auditor Gen.
and State Treag- show tbat
the balance in the Treasury
Nov. 30, 1367, was ...$4,661,836
Ordinary receipts during the
fiscal year ending Nov. 30,
1868 5,216,049
Depreciated funds in the Treas-
'Trryy-nnavailiible 41,032
48
55
OO
Total in Treasury for fiscal rear
ending Nov. 30, 1868 ..$9,918,918 01
Payments, viz :
Ordinary expen
ses during the
fiscal year end
ing Nov. 30, '6S$2,454,50G 09
Loans, fcc, re
deemed - 4,417,463 64
Other payments 12,800 00
Interest ou Jonns. 1.979,690 91
Depreciated funds
unavailable .....
41,032 00
8,903,492 64
Balance in Treasury Nov. 30,
1868 " $1,013,415 37
By an act approved April 10, 1S68, the
transactions of the Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund were ordered to be thereafter
reported annually to the 30th day of No
vember. Their last report, therefore, in
cludes a period of one year and three months.
The following is the "recapitulation" of
the operations of the sinking fund, from
September 3, 18C7 to November 30, 1SG8:
Balance in fund Sept. 3, 1867... $1,737,912 41
Receipts in fund from Sept. 3,
1807, to Nov. 30, 1868 3,418,992 31
5,156,904 72
Paid interest $1,808,005 84
Premiums paid as
equivalent for
coin 49 93
Loans redeemed.. 2,414,816 64
4,222,871 96
Balance In fund Nov. 30, 18C8 $ 934,032 76
By the sixth section of the act of May
1C, 1861, a special tax of one-half mill on
the dollar was especially set apart for the
payment of the interest and redemption of
the loan created by au act of May 18, 18
61, entitled "An Act to create a loan and
provide Or arming the State."
Balance on hand Sept. 3, 1867, $319,933 17
The receipts from said tax and
tax on gross receipts from
Sept. 3, 1867, to Nov. 30, '68,
amount to - 423,979 20
Total . 743,912 37
Interest paid in Jan. and July,
1868 169,245 00
Balance in fund Nov. 30, '68. $574,667 37
Balance in sink
ing fund Nov.
3U, 1868 $934,032 76
Balance in sink
ing fund Nov.
30, 1868 574,667 37
$1,508,700 13
Deduct balance in Treasury
Nov. 30, 18i8 1,013,415 37
Bal. in favor of sinking fund-$ 495,284 76
By the report of the Commissioners of
the Sinking Fund for year ending Septem
ber 3, 1867, the "loans redeemed" amount
ed to $1,71)4,569 50, and by their report
from September 3, 1867, to November 30,
1868, the "loans redeemed amounted to
$2,414,816 64, making a total reduction
of the State debt, in two years and three
months, of four million two hundred and
nine thousand three hundred and eighty
six dollars and fourteen cents.
I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT THAN PEESIDENT. Hxh&y Clat.
The assets remaining in the Sinking
Fund are as follow, viz: Bonds of the
Pennsylvania railroad company six million
four hundred thousand dollars, and bonds
of the Philadelphia and Erie railroad com
pany, three million five hundred thousand
dollars. These are non-interest bearing
bonds and will not mature for many years.
I, therefore, recommend to the consideration
of the Legislature the propriety of the pas
sage of a law authorizing the Commission
ers of the Sinking Fund to sell these bonds
at public sale to the highest bidder, and
direct the proceeds to be applied to the
liquidation of the State debt.
Public debt outstanding Dec.
1,1867 -$37,704,409 77
Deduct amount redeemed at
Stat9 Treasury daring the
fiscal year ending Nov. 30. I -
1863, viz:
5 per cent. loans$4,354.253 64
4 per ct. loans- 63,000 00
Relief notes can
celed 210 00
4,417,463 04
Public debt Dec. 1, 1868.. -$33,286,946 13
Statement showing the condition of the
indebtedness of the Commonwealth on the
first day of December, 1868 :
Funded debt, viz ;
per ct. Ioans-25,311,180 00
per ct. loans-.. 7,749,771 56
4i per ct. loans. 112,000 00
Total funded.. 33,I72,S51 so
Unfunded debt:
Relief notes m
circulation...-$ 96,415 00
Interest certifi
cates outstan
ding 13,086
52
Int. certificates
unclaimed...-. 4,448
38
Domestic cred.
certificates...- 44
67
Total unfuad.
113,994 57
Total funded and unfund. 33,286,946 13
Which is the amount of the Stato debt
as bclore stated.
During the last eighteen years there has
been Carried upon the accounts of the Aud
itor General and Stato Treasurer, and in
their several public statements, "deprecia
ted funds unavailable" to the amount of
forty-one thousand and thirty-two dollars.
I recommend the appointment of a joint
committee, by the Legislature, whose duty
it shall be to examine the said depreciated
and unavailable funds and dispose of them
to the best advantage of the Treasury ; or,
if found to be worthless, to cancel and de
stroy them, so that the accounting ffjr
may be relieved from the necessity and re
SDonsibilitv of annually accounting for
a -
them.
The large cash balance remaining in the
Treasury on the 30th of November, 1867,
has been used for the payment of the tWen-
ty-three million loan and for the liquida
tion of outstanding claims against the
State The investment of the funds, in
one of the modes recommended in my last
annual message, has, therefore, in a grc;
measure been rendered unnecessarv for the
present. But in the event of large accu
mulations of money hereafter, the recom
mendations therein given are respectfully
referred to, and renewed. Whenever there
may be surplus funds in the Treasury, they
can, with safety and benefit to the State
be employed in the purchase of its out
standing bonds, and in saving the interest
on them which would accumulate prior to
their maturity.
I regret to state that the last Legisla
ture, although fully forewarned as to the
insecurity and want of proper and sufficient
guards for the safe keeping of the money
ol the Commonwealth, lailed to determine
upon any mode by which the Treasury
may be effectually jruarded asrainst the
possibility of loss. The present Legisla
ture has it in its power to secure for itself
no ordinary honor, by the enactment of
such a law, strong and efficient for the pur
pose indicated, and the enjoyment not on
ly of the approbation, but the permanent
crratitude ot every citizen.
Notwithstanding the satisfactory reduc
tion of the public indebtedness, as shown
in the foregoing statements, an immense
State debt is still upon us, requiring near
ly two millions of dollars to be collected to
pay the interest accruing upon it annually
Its extinguishment at the earliest practi
cable period, not inconsistent with other
public interests, is oi the mghest impor
tance to every tax-payer. I cannot, there
lor. too strongly urcre the strictest econo
my in respect to every expenditure, and
the utmost retrenchment in every depart
ment. Betrenchmcnt is emphatically deman
ded by the people, in legislative expendi
tures, as well as in every other branch of
the government. Their eyes are open to
investigate every transaction, and by their
ballots they are ready to strike down those
who will not take effective action in favor of
positive and radical reform. The money
paid into the Treasury is the property of
the people, every one of whom has a just
right to hold his representatives to a strict
accountability for every dollar that may be
appropriated or expended.
I here renew the remarks made last
year on the subject of "annual appropria
tions," to which you are respectfully re
ferred. For foursuccessive years the gen
eral appropriation bills have been signed on
the eleventh day of April, being about the
time of adjournment. The Governor has
been forced either to sign the bills without
proper investigation, notwithstanding any
objections he may have ; suspend the means
to defray the operations of the government
for the ensuing year j or call an extra ses
sion of the Legislature. I repeat that "it
is earnestly desired that the appropriation
bill be taken up, discussed and passed at a
sufficiently early period during the session
to enable it to receive that thorough ex
amination which its importance demands."
The annual report of the Superinten
dent of Common Schools exhibits the con
dition pf that department ia highly satis
factory manner. Within the State there
are 1,918 school districts; 13,766 schools j
2,382 graded schools j 11,698 school direc
tors ; 73 county, city and borough superin
tendents; 16,771 teachers, and 800,515
pupils. The cost of tuition for the year
was $3,273,269 43 ; of building- purchas
ina.'i;: renting school houses, $1,991,152
55 ; of contingencies, $854,253 21. These
three items, with expenditures for all oth
er purposes connected therewith, amount
to the -aggregate sum of $6,200,537 96.
These facts are exhibited with great
satisfaction, a3 they show the average an
nual cost for the tuition of each pupil to
bo about seven dollars and seventy-four
and a half cents. The average amount
paid to each teacher is about $185 17 J per
annum. Ihis, in my opinion, is too small
salary to secure the services of compe
tent teachers; and I am fully justified in
urging the necessity of increased compensa
tion. It is but lust, and it will have an
elevatinsr ' tendency not only upon the
teachers but the manner in which their
duties are performed.
Your attention is called to the fact that,
notwithstanding the ample provision now
made by law for the education of all per
sons between the ages of six and twenty
one years, large numbers of children, prin
cipally in our cities, do not attend any kind
of school. Over twenty thousand of this
class are found in Philadelphia, and the
number in the State is estimated to be not
less than ieventy-fivo thousand. These
children grow up in ignorance, frequently
without employment, and many of them
contract habits of vice, which eventually
cause uiem to be committed to houses of
refuge, county prisons or penitentiaries.
Humanity and sound public policy de
miud that something bo done to remedy
this growing evil, and also that of the
neglected condition of considerable numbers
of children in the alms and poor houses in
many of the. counties.
Four Normal Schools are now recogniz
ed as State Institutions. The number of
students attending them during th ' past
year was 2,115, of whom eighty graduated
Two additional Normal schools will proba
bly go into operation during this year, one
located at Bloomsburg, Columbia county,
and the other at California, Washington
county. The value of these institutions
to the common school system cannot be
estimated. Our schools are comparatively
worthless without qualified teachers, and
such teachers can most easily be obtained
from the Normal institutes, where the art
of teaching is made a specialty.
A meeting of the presidents and other
authorities of a number of our principal
colleges was held in llarrisburg last win
ter, the object of which was to bring about
a closer union of all our educational insti
tutions, and connect by a bond of sympa
thy, if not of organic structure, the com
mon schools, academies and colleges. The
establishment of such an educational de
partment seems to be desirable.
There is no subject more worthy the
deliberations of the Legislature than the
promotion of the welfare of our common
schools. They immediately underlie the
characteristic features of our social system ;
they are fountains of that wide-spread in-
tollurence, which, like a perennial vitality,
pervades the nation, and are nurseries of
that inquiring spirit to wmcu we are in
debted for the purity and preservation of
our free institutions. In a republican
government education is a suro basis of
power and public prosperity. By it the
people are taught to discern and estimate
the value of their own rights ; to distin
guish between oppression and the exercise
of lawful authority ; to discriminate be
tween liberty and licentiousness ; to pre
serve au inviolable respect for the laws,
and exercise "eternal vigilance" against
any encroachments upon them. It is ad
mitted that a thoroughly educated people
alone can be permanently free. By edu
cational culture patriotism is expanded,
and the principles, manners and sentiments
of the whole people are assimilated.
Many of thu sources of jealousy and pred
judiee are diminished, social harmony
largely increased, and the structure of our
free and happy system of government ce
mented, strensthened and adorned.
Tn his mnort the Superintendent of
Soldiers' Orphans' Shools exhibits the to
tal expenditure for their support from
December 1, 1867, to May 31, 186S, to
be $236,970 26; total nmmber of pupils
in the schools 3,431 ; average cost per
pupil $2 65. The fiscal year of these
schools, like that of common schools, term
inates by law on the last day of May of
each year. . The present report of the Su
perintendent, therefore, embraces only six
months, and reports will be made up td
the 31st day of May, annually, hereafter.
The special appropriation of February, 25,
1868. made in accordance with an esti
mate of the Superintendent, presented in
my last annual message, exceeded the act
ual expenses $6,004 74.
Notwithstanding every possible effort has
been, and will continue to be made, to econ
omize in the expenses of the present year,
and to keep them as far as possible within
the appropriation made by the last Legis
lature, it will be readily observed that
there will be a deficit for the year ending
May 31, 1869, the amount of which will
bo carefully ascertained and presented to
the Legislature prior to the close of the
present session.
The schools are nil in good condition
and improving, and their usefulness is
daily becoming more manifest. They are
among the most philanthropic institutions
of the age, and reflect high honor on the
patriotism of the Legislature by which
they have been so liberally endowed and
upon our people by whom they are sustained.-
The children who are the recipi
ents of their benefits are the offspring of
trravu -men who voluntarily- -.endangered
their lives in the cause of their country
in the most trying hour of its existence.
and who, glowing with patriotic ardor.
iougnt as bravely and heroically as the
noblest" men in the world's history.
Thousands of them who left their homes
in the bloom of health, and vrith the
brightest hopes of manhood, now sleep in
death, leaving their widows and little ones
to the care of the country in whose service
they fell, and which promised them its
protection. Their children arc the wards
of this crreat Commonwealth : and too
much praise cannot be awarded its people
for the munificent and tender manner in
which they have .thus far, through their
representatives, discharged the sacred and
delicate trust. -
Before the General Government appro
priated public lands to the several States
for the purpose of agricultural and milita
ry education and the mechanic arts, and
prior to the time when Pennsylvania
endowed the Agricultural College with her
share of these lands, it was dependent
wholly upon individual, influence, without
any other means for its support than its
own earnings. II istory proves that semi
naries of learning cannot be efficiently
sustained by their own internal resources.
The education of youth in the higher
branches of knowledge S3eni3 to require
the aid of philanthropic contributions. This
institution had not these benefits to anv
adequate extent, and though the boards of
trustees bestowed upon it the most anxious
care, their zeal and labor combined with
those of its friends, were not equal to a
contest with the want of means. Hence
tho school did not command th ennfideriee
of farmers who were able to educate their
sons, and who could not forget that the
character of the college attached to the
character of its graduates; and that its
failure would enter into the estimate which
the world would place upon the education
it bestowed. I his feature has now been
removed. The people, through their Leg
islature, have endowed this institution
with the interest upon a fund of $318,500
(invested in United States and Pennsyl
vania State six per cent bonds,) payable
to it Semi-annually. Last year this inter
est amounted to $25,642 78. The residue
of the fund, $43,8S6 50, has been appro
priated, under the law, by the board of
trustees, to the purchase of three model
and experimental farms ; one at the col
lege, in Centre county, for $8,000 00, one
in Chester county for $17,750 00, and
one in Indiana county for $18,136 50.
The board has also recently re-organized
the faculty and remodeled the course of
studies, so as to adapt them to the wants
of the agricultural community. This new
order of things goes into operation at the
commencement of the next session, and it
earnestly hoped will be a success. There
is no profession, trade or calling in life,
where the value of knowledge and the
lights cf science, and the practical applica
tion of both, are so potent for profitable
results as in their adaptation to agricultu
ral pursuits. And in this truly practical
age it is well worthy of the consideration
of parents, whether they should not avail
themselves ot the benefits ot this insti
tution, now so generously endowed by the
State.
From the report of the Adjutant Gen
eral you will learn the condition of the
Military Depirtmerit. The inactivity in
military affairs after ths cessation of hos
tilities and upon the return of peace has
in a great measure been dispelled, and an
active martial spirit now prevails through
out the State, more particularly in Phila
delphia, where, by a special legislative
enactment, the minimum number of men
required to form a company has been re
duced, and a brigade fund is raised by a
tax Upon those who are not members of a
military organization, but liable to the
performance of military duty. I recom
mend the passage of a similar law for the
whole State. I1 or the sake of preserving
the great interests involved, which include
the lives, property, and happiness of our
people, this is presented to you as an im
portant subject for your deliberation.
Every possible encouragement of volun
teers has been afforded, and notwithstand
ing the difficulties indicated, it has resulted
as follows : In 1866 there were eight
volunteer companies in the State; in
1867, thirty-eight ; and in 1868, seventy
seven, and a number of others in prepara
tion for organization.
By the reduction of the number for a
company from that now required to an
aggregate of fifty officers and men, com
panies would soon be numbered by th
T S R M S : " L'Kll
12.00 IIV ADTAHCE.
NUMBER 23.
Inrrfured, any of which could easily be re
cruited to the maximum number if requi
red for active service. The State that,
always maintains the highest degree of
preparation, accomplishes most and suffers
least in the conflict of amis ; and by being
in readiness, it often prevents improper
encroachments upon her rights.
The existence of thf Military Stato
Agency at Washington terminated on- tho
31st day of July last, at which time' the
appropriation for the pnyment of its ex
penses was exhausted. Much benefit re
sulted to many soldiers of our State ami
their representatives from this office, in .
which "their just dues from the United
States Government' were collected and
transmitted' .teltezm fr&sot charge. In
August; after tbo Agency ceased to exist,
there still reinaified a considerable nirmber
of;.unscttled claims, and as no one knew
more about theircolt3TtioB,-jr couid-4os-sibly
obtain an earlier settlement of flUsT"
than the late agent, Col. Cook, I permit
ted him, upon his own offer, to close no
the business of the office, and to transact
any otuer business tor the soldiers of
Pennsylvania, at one-half the fees that are
charged by any private agency in Wash
ington city. , his arrangement has thus
far been carried out, and I am pleased to
add, with very general satisfaction. All
the books and papers of the aeency will be
transferred to the office of the Adjutant
General. " .
At tile' last session" of the Legislature,
art act was passed known as the "Registry
Law," the intention of which was to pro-
tect the ballot-box against corruption and
fraudulent voting; to which it has for
many year's been disgracefully exposed.
This law seems to have been so defective"
in some of its provisions as to have re
ceived the condemnation of a majority of
the Supreme Court, by which it was pro
nounced "incongruous and unconstitution
al," At the election immediately aft-r
this-decision, it is alleged that frauds wcro
perpetrated, surpassing in magnituu",
perhaps, any that have been eonsumTm-.!
heretofore in the history of the Cciumon
wealth. These frauds have demonstrate!
the necessity of the passage of some law.
or laws, that will accomplish the desired
object, without being subject to the objec- .
tionable features pointed out by the learn
ed gentlemen who pronounced the opinion
f the Supreme Bench.
There is no subject of such vital impor
tance to the whole country as a sanctity of -the-
Lillot-box, and the protection of all
CltlZcliS 1U lllCit mSjs.lit. iu iL. "1
chiso. This right is our proudest boast
It endows the American citizea with a
freedom aud a power not possessed by any
other government. It mkes him the peer
of his fellow man, whatever may be his
rank, station, or position in life. To ba
deprived cf it by any means whatever, his
boasted freedom becomes a sham his es
pecial and exalted prerogative a niockery
and a farce. What avails it to the citizen
that ha is entitled to a vote, if that vote
is to be nullified by fraud? Such guards,
then, should be thrown around the polls
as will effectually, if possible, preserve
them from the taint of a single illegal vote.
Not only should false voting be severely
punished, but false swearing to obtain a
vote, be visited with the pains and penal
tics of perjury and with perpetual disfran
chisement: The people must bs perfectly fre'e to
regulate their public business in their own
way, and when the voice of the majority
is fairly and clearly expressed all should
bow to it as td the voice of God. They
are the sovereign rulers, and their will
must be the law of the land. Corruption
of suffrage in a republican government is
the deadliest crime that can be perpetra
ted ; it is assassination of the sovereignty
of the people, and will be followed by a
despotism, the motivo power of which will
be money and perjury. And if this priv
ilege be tampered with, sooner or later ths
sure and indignant popular condemnation
will be rendered and condign punishment
administered. All good citizens, of what
ever political opinion, should lend their
aid for the accomplishment of any and
every measure that may tend to secure t
each voter, not only his right to the elec
tive franchise, but the nssurance that his
vte will not be rendered valueless by il
legality, corruption, or fraud.
Every proper facility for the natural! .ra
tion of citizens of foreign birth should l -afforded
; but the Legislature, in its con
bined wisdom, can surely enact some mot. .
to prevent the possibility of a single o
being cast upon spurious naturahzatic
papers, and thus fully secure the purify c
the elective franchise.
The commissioners appointed to codify
the statute laws of the State have dii:
gently prosecuted the work assigned them,
and with every prospect that it will b
fully completed within the time piescriUv
by the Legislative resolutions cf April
1868; and in further compliance nih
them, they will cause to be laid before
each branch of the General Assembly, ai
its present session, various titles of h';!--,
with brief abstracts cf the several set-tic
of each, which have been matured.
Among the subjects of inport:?tu j
the citizens of Penns lvania is t!
lishinent of an insurance Departs vii.
Such departments are in success :'ai v
tion in several neighboring Stntr-r , ly
means of which the interests of i:-u- r -are
guarded and promoted. So careful
i
1
u u