OFFICE OF THE BTAR, f .
tRAMBERS-RURO, STREET, A FEW DOORS
'WEST OF MR.. FORRY'S TAVERN.
ADV EATISEMENTS
Conspicuously inserted FOUR -times for ONE
boixsa per square—over four times, TMENTY-FIVE
e xp Erg per quer° will be charged.
o ata s- 2)Wa112in) 3 . 1.3
At ti per' ~, halt 6 yearly in advance.
The Governor's Olessage.
• 11AR1tISBURG, December 7, 1831.
This day, at 12 o'clock, the Governor transmitted
to bath branches of the Legislature the following
MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of Pennsylvania:
Fitssow-CiTizssiesAmong the many arduous and m81)01181-
'1)10 duties enjoined upon the Executive by the constitution,
there is none which, in its faithful perfdrmance, calls for more
careful consideration and serious reflection than thatofarrang
nig the details which, that it may answer the design intended,
ought to enter into the annual message usually transmitted to
the General Assembly et the opening of its session. It was
doubtless the design of those by whom it was deemed to he of
*sufficient importance to make it a subject of constitutional di
rection, that every such document should be so framed ended
justed RR to contain a succinct s but faithild narrative ofthe true
state of the Commonwealth, exhibiting distinctly and without
disguise, to the representatives of the people and to those whom
they reptesent, all such prominent acts and measures adopted
and transacted in the course all») administration of its affairs
us immediately affect the public interests or require legislative
action, and recommending the adoption of such measures, for
their deliberations, as in the opinion of the Executive will best
tend to promote the general welfare and to ensure the prosperi
ty and happiness of the people.
In approaching the performance of this difficult undertaking
_ .
I feel myself relieved from much of the embarrassment which
a-different state of' circumstances would have occasioned, bithe
consideration, that whatever aspect the state of the Common
wealth may present to the views of others, I feel ,myself war
ranted in declaring it as my deliberate opinion, that there has
,not been a period in the history of Pennsylvania, taking into
consideration its present prosperous condition and its inagnifi
' deist future prospects, when there was greater cause for mutual
' congratulation, and for devout aspirations of gratitude to the
great Dispenser of every blessing, than that which the unex
unipled state of prosperity of this rich and flourishing common
wealth now presents. What citizen of Pennsylvania does not
feel the honest gin of patriotic pride awl unfeigned satisfac
tion in the contemplation of the eminent advansagespossessed
by his native or' adopted State—in its abundant reatiiirvi—the
elevated position IL occupies among its sister States'sasits
roux benevolent and charitable institutions--its extensive pub
• lie improvements, finished and in progress towards completion,
giving an assurance of an ample and speedy return, sufficient
to compensate fur all the disquietude and uneasiness which the
'unavoidable delays, the heavy expenditures, and the many dill
ficulties and embarrassments, that occurred in the course of
their construction, have occasioned—its cast and almost unli
nutted agricultural, commercial, manufacturing and mineral
healthffil climate, its rich, luxuriant soil—its ex
tensive and well established credit, and its citizens enjoying
'every where in rich proffimion all the necessaries and convotii.
elides of life. With advantages such as these, and in a state
of unprecedented prosperity, such as is distinctly seen and felt
- in every section ot' this highly favored commonwealth, the tan.
gunge of complaint ought not -to be heard, and poverty and
wa.tit, the consequence sometimes, indeed, of accident or pecu
liar casualty (which the humanity of our citizens will not suf.
for to remain long unrelieved,) lett more Goquently to be traced
to indolence and vice,ought rarely to be seen within our borders.
Extending our views beyond the limits of our own State, we
have ahuhdant cause for unaffected felicitation and prawn:::
gratitude in the contemplation of our increasing greatness as a
people, whose progressive improvement has been rapid and ex
tensive-beyond the eurapple seamy other nation. nmi -ft..
Led and enviable supeVilLpf whose government, institutions
and laws, in compariapith those of every other country,
furnishes a subject for universal admiration and respect abroad
and in- Tires a laudable patriotic pride, veneration and 'C'Orni
s.
deuce at home. Blessed with peace and tranquility, and a dis
position to cherish and preserve them—with an extended com
merce rendering tributary to us the resources of other nations,
and enhancing the value of our own productions; a rich profu
sion of agricultural products, commanding generous prices,
li
berally rewarding the toil and labor of the industrious farmer;
a sound currency circulating freely and without impediment'
or toss in every section of the Union; an overflowing treasury,
and a public debt nearly extinguished ; our domestic industry
encouraged and protected; and possessing a sufficient guaran
tee in the opinions heretofore entertained and expressed, by the
vendable patriot at the head of the general government, that
internal improvements, of a national character, will not Wper
mated to languieh; we may indeed appreciate with becoming
confidence, and with feelings of patriotic exultation, the unex
s
ainplo success which has attended our republican form of go.
vernment, formerly considered an experiment of doubtful effi
cacy, to sustain itself against all the variety of changes and mu
harrassing perplexities to which, in the course of its manifold
political probations, it would necessarily be exposeil; but Since
proved by the unerring test of time, and the experience which
a combination of adverse circumstances, the consequence of
occasional popular commotions, but more recentlysof a protrac.
ted and tindietive war yv WI a powerful foreign nation; has fur.
;fished, not only to possess the capacity to secure Mita citizens
a greater amount of true happinesut mid-enjoyments and of tem
poral bliss and prosperity than ia contifferently-con
arituted governments olsew here,but also to combine the strength
and energy, necessary for national security and protection,
with the firmness arid stability whicireminentlysfit it for every
vicissitede which governmenta -are exposed-in-the-ever-vary.
big course of events.
But whilst we are indulging in congratulations with regard
to the general prosperity ofollr common country, and adverting
to the extensive artificial improvements constructed and in
progress in our own conunonwealth, may I not be permitted
at the same time, with the sensations of unaffected exultation
and delight, which the deep interest all must feel in the subject
cannot tail to inspire, to direct your attention to, andlo congra
- s tulate you upon its recent extraordinary moral hnprovement,
exemplified in the gradual, but cloarry perceptible, decrease of
crime of every grade and description, and especially in the ma
nifest diminution 4the number of' victims to that most degra
ding co,c4,yiltes, intemperance, the genetrix of' crime; and to
v01;111 ineiSt flees °See their depraved origin; but' upon whicli
thtsithilittrithr r t . ipic efrorts of .the wise and the good evelit' where,
aided force of public opinion, have stamped the seal of
reprobation and (loomed it to such an overwhelming measure
ofodium and ineffable contempt, as oven the unfortunate
vota
ry, with habits the most inveterate and confirmed, cannot as.
sumo the hardihood to brave or resist. the entire prohibition
ofthe use ofardent apirits to persons employed upon the public
works, now constructing by the State, would, there is reason to
believe, greatly aid in still further extirpating this loathsome
and disktructive moral Contagion froth amongst us, be attended
With the moat happy consequences to the individuals them.
Pelves, and produce results highly beneficial to their employers
and to the State. ,
A kindred evil to that of intompOrance, however, equally ru.
Hong to the morals and destructive - of - the comfort and happi.
slogs of the counnunitx; is the practice of sellingforeign lottery
tickets, and the draWing oflotteries within'this commonwealth
which has been permitted to progress fbr many years,und is still
tolerated amongst us ;• no successful effort. having been made
to arrest it. And so long as we shall have a lottery drawn with
in the State, by authority of law, we must expect a continual
inflitx•nf tickets upon us from other States, the sales of,whick
- will be cloaked and connived- at; under the legalized sales of
• tickets of' the Union Canal lottery. And such is the inCatua
, thin produced upon the community, by this fuseinating and al.
Intim( enticement to adventure, that until them shall no long
bo.ts vestige of a lottery authorized - by law, tolerated in. t
State, the ansteral acts-of assembly, providing severe penalt
tightest theStenders of foreigliiieunanthorized lottery tickets,
• will remain a dead totter, and will not be euforco4 against. of:
,t — feuders.. The •Union-Caniil esimpany having transferred the
• "right - accruing to them, under the deveral acts..ofassembly,en.
thorizing
_the lottery; - to Atchibald Mclntyre, a citizen orate
alma of York, and the contracLof trsuispir having 'recent
lyhaen-renewed with the transferee fbr twalcits the lit
day.'oflanuary.next, I would'recommend that after thaexpi,
' Um of ttiat period, Or sooner if iiractica arrrge.
Amu
atiaitt ill
o county tpublicatt likinsttr.
•
: -- - -; weivewsa itarrweAcaassee - - . • c
ott
_
•
•
LIC I T AMOR PATR I P RODESSE CIV IR IIS---tintE Lovit OR MY•COOPaTRY I.P:A DE MP: TO ilk OF AlralliTAOß TO MY Fra.Loyr-erryzxxs,"
sanewlreantrzte9 zpag• terutazkazi, 102a.ltalL.W.WM 809 azeace
ments with the company should, if possible, bp made; consia.
tent with good faith, as would relieve the commonwealth from
a groat and apparently interminable moral evil. It is believ
ed that by expunging front the statute book the last act to be
found therein favor of lotteries, a grout and lasting beilidit
would accrue to the community at largo, as the foundation up.
on o which l the .mischief rests would then be entirely eradicated;
and by_ providing for a , rigorous prosecution of the laws already
itt force against the ienders of foreign.tickets, and ticket is
sued in our own State, without authority of law, an end would
soon be put to a grievous and growing moral malady, and the
community would be relieved front a species oftaxation *Melt,
although voluntary, is of the Mast onerous, oppressiv e and
ruinous kind. . '1
As a grain groviing State, Pennsylvania is not excelled by
any of her sister States; and tench has been dune by former
legislatures to encourage an increase of. her agricultural pro
duet ions,lby making liberal appropriations tiff opening avenues
to market, by means of artificial or turupikekronds, and for the
erection of firm and substantial bridges ; andtlimeli is still in
progress to 1:6 done tiirrher to Meditate the intercourse between
the interior of the State and its principal cities, by means of ca•
nals and rail-roads; which will not fail to have a benficial ten
dency in favor of e x tending and diffusing the business of agri
culture more generally throughout the State, and of infusing
into our farmers a spirit of laudable ambition to excel as woll
in finality as in the quantity of their produet ion ; by means of
which the general wealth Of the State, as well as that of indi
viduals, will he greatly increased. It is believed, liowever,
that the condition of our agriciffluralists, might he still liurther
improved by lasfering :mil encouraging, by judicious legisla
tive enact tnents, the culture of a greater _variety of productions,
and the intpruernent, as well in the art and manner at' prods
, eing as it: theltind and quality of the thing produced. It is
generally supposed, that neither the soil nor the clithate of
Pennsylvania are adverse to the culture of the vine m mulber
ry tree, and that both wine and silk might, in a 'short time,
with proper attention and the aid oflegislatlyckenconra gement,
he raised in such sufficient quantities as to fernish, it' not. a
part ofour staple for exportation, et least an adequate supply
for home coesemption. 13esides, there is reason to believe that
the farmer, it successfully cultivated, would, in addition to the
advantages it wrth d confer upotothe producer, have a salutary
moral in fluence upon society, by lessening, in a great measure
the mu of human .misery in the diminution of the use of ar
dent spirits, as a substitute for which it would in all probabili.
ty be used, and thus aid the philanthropic efforts of the friends
of Pemperance in speedily iemoving from.threcommunityour__
of the most 'deplorable and destructive calamities with which
the human family ever was afflicted.
Would not the encouragement of societies in each county,
to give effect to the objects I have mentioned, and to be (brined
upon such principles and under such regulations as the legis
lature should prescribe, give a healthful and vigorous inipettis
to agricultural enterprise, and stimulate, in the industrious
practical farmers of our State, a laudable spirit of emulation to
surpass each other in the art of producing, and in the variety,
the superiority and abundance of their productioris? To awa
ken an interest upon . this subject, small annual appropriations
might be made, to be distributed among the several societies,
and by them dealt out in the shape of premiums to such as
should merit them, which would not fail to excite a whelosome
emulation among a valuabto class of eitizeuti, a n d add to the
wealth and prosperity of the country without injuriously afTec
ti the public treasury.
The improvement of the mind should he the first, care of MI
merican statesman, and the dissemination of loaruing and'
knowledge ought to form one of the principal objects of tits am.
bitten. - Virtue and intelligence are the only appropriate pillars
anon Whirl) 9 . thrps.-61ionm awor 1111 l one can securely rest: with
out these, liberty itself would soon degenerate into licentious .
ness, and our free and liberal institutions, so highly cherished
by ourselves, and so much admired and respected by the wise
and the patriotic of' other nations, would be engulphed in an;
achy, and become the reproach of' their friends aid the deri
sion of the enemies of the eqintl rights of mutant in every guar
torof the, globe. Under these impressions, no opportunity has
been omitted earnestly to press upon the attention of the legis
lature, the :ndispensable necessity of establishing. by law a
general system of common school efflication, by means of which
in the language of the constitution, "the poor may be taught
gratis," and that the benefits math° blessings resulting there
froin may be extended to the rising generation, indiscrimin
ately and universally.
_. _ ._ .
It is cause for no ordinary measure of gratification,
that the legislature, at its last session, considered this
subject worthy of its deliberations, and advanced one
step towards the intellectual regeneration of the State,
by laying a fiamdation for raising a find to be employ
ed hereafter in the righteous cause of a practical gener
al education; and it is no less gratifying to know, that
public opinion is giving strong indications of having un
dergone a favorarde 'change in reference to this momen
tous measure, and by its gradual hut powerfid workings,
is fifsf - dispelling lhe groVellinu lidlacie - s, hot too long
prevalent, that :gold' is preferable to knowledge; and
that. dollars and cents are of higher estimation _than
EP•I ming. This powerful lever, by which the action
of men are principally regulated, is fast apptoachirVa
crisis in 'relation to this much agitated ,question, and
there is every reason to believe, will speedily induce le
gislative action in reference to itl - not, it is Itoped -- how;=
ever, too speedily for maturing a-well digested system,
possessing that degree of perfection by which it will be
rendered generally acceptable to the people, and • have
a tendency to realize the ardent hopes and fondtantici
pations of its many.warm and zealous friends. ,A sys
tem that would not have such a tendency, but would be
received with dissatisfaction by the people, would-have
the unhappy effect of blasting for a time the anxious ex
pectations of the advocates of general education;lnf re
viving former. prejUdiees,• and of retarding for; many
years the progress of intellectual improVelnent. j• In -
In
der thereforethat a system, the most perfect di l a'
be devised, and one that will be best - adapted to the vi a
and wishes of our constituents, may be projected in , he
. first instance, should any difficulties occur, in the coilrift
of your deliberations-in relation to the'subject, or in, Th
gard to the most eligible plan to be adopted, I woukl
suggest for your consideration the propriety of appoio
ing a commission, to consist of' three or more talental
and intelligent individuals, known-friends of a liberal
and enlightened system of education,. whose duty It
should be•to collect all the information, and possnis
themsqves of' all the filets and knowledge, that auk*
obtained from any quarter, having a . bearing upon, pr
connection with, the subject ofeducation, and to arrtute
and embody the same in a report, to be transmitted, o
the legislature at their next session, for examinatbri
and 'final action thereon. • Such a course there is reinon
to believe, would tend more Than any other to eliit
much valuable information that could not. otherwiSebe
obtained, would facilitate the progress , and final - con
alction of this much desired work; and 'would not til
to secure • for 'it a greater measure of perfection thn
could'under other 'eltiCumlitanco be,,attaiped; ' • )
1 11,The policy of A i protecting tariff, and thiiiicotitaf
inent given to works of internal impeovement, of . a a
tional character, by the generatgovernment, are fiimr
ite measures with the peopleiif Pennsylvania, turd he
(miner: is - esteemed by' them ;as being identified - with
their best. interests: The constitutionality -of thee
measures is nor is thereimv (1 , 114
, • hero,
.
entertained of their entire expediency; and much as I
we may regret that complaints, with regard to the_sup
posed oppressive character anti bearing done of those
measures, should obtain elsewhere; yet from the univer
sal
prosperity that is admitted to abound in every part
of our happy country, there is reason to dents Whether
the prevailing discontents are well founded; and wei
are udinonished to restrain our - sympathies in behalf
of our complaining brethren, lest in lending ourselves
to aid in relieving thenrfeem an imaginary oppression, 1
we put ourselves in a condition to be seriously oppressed. 1
Upon these engrossing questions of national policy, the
voice of Pennsylvania has-been - repeatedly expressed
through her State legislatures, as well as by her repre
sentatives iii congress, and long as - she shall contin
ue to place a proper estimate upon her own prosperity
and the success oilier influit maneflicturing establish
meets, she- will not cease to cherish the 'same senti
ments in favor of measures indispensable to the success-
fill fostering and encouragement of her domestic indus
try and entetprise: .
The policy of abolishing imprisonment for debt is a
subject ,which has for some time past occupied the at
tention of the humane and philanthropic portion of our
citizens, and awakened a deep interest in many parts
of the Union, to have this harsh feature eradicated
from .tp jurisprudence of our country. Pennsylvania
has always been remarkable for the mildness of her
laws, and has unithrmlv been in advance of her sister
States in all legislative enactments founded upon the
principles of humanity, or having for object the securi
ty of personal liberty—hence it is, that she can lay a
rightfull claim to the proud distinction of' having been
the first State in the Union to have virtually abolished
imprisonment for debt by the mild provision of her in
solvent laws: A. citizen of Pennsylvania, who has not
been guilty of fraud, and complies with the provisions
.of the sewnl acts made for the relief of insolvent debt
ors,_eannut mos , be imprisoned for debt in, this State;
with this legislative amassment, both debtor and
creditor appsar to be satisfied; and
.how far a further
exemption of time person of the debtor, from execution
or imprisonment for debt, would really benefit the in
digent class or, our citizens, is a question worthy of
grave and serious. consideration.' - Short credits are, it
is' believed, essentisl . accommodation's, without %Oar
the Coinforts of the poor man would begreatly curtail
ed, and although by exempting his person from execu
tion altogether in certain cases, his-Immunity from re
straint would be enlarged, yet it can scarcely- be- doub
ted, that, from that very cause, his difficulties to obtain
credit fiir even the necessaries of life would not fail to
be greatly increased. To guard the public against
frauds and .to confine the provisions of the law to the
ithonest poor, would be attended with no inconsiderable'
difficulty: should the subject, however, be presented to
r your"cousideration, it will doubtless receive the atten
ttion to which its importance will entitle it.
AlthOugh our State can boast of as mild, as perfect
and as efficient a code of laws as an enlightened course
of legislation could produce, or as a well regulated
community could reasonably desire; yet there are com
plaints and it is believed ninny of them are well foun
ded, not indeed of any defect-in the laws, but of vexati
ous delays occurring in the judicial administration of 1
them; not ascribable to any want-o -ability, fidelity,.
or zeal in those whose duty it is to administer these;
but owing principally to a defective organization or ar- I
rang,ement of' the Judiciary System itself, and au inju
dicious
distribution of duties to be performed s and of
the public business to be transacted, among the several
tribunals charged with their connexion. This is a sub
ject of too grave a character altogether too important
in its consequences to every one of us, to be passed
over lightly or treated with itidiflerence. The highest
judicial tribunal io4l,te s State; the court in the last re
sort; tram WhOse decreeSlind judgMents there is no ap
peal; and whose decisions and the principles establish
ed_by,themsare seseonsfitute she laws _of slastaud s sual
_to cohtinue to be binding_ upon us and ourstesterity to
- the remotest - geriemtions . hags - become so - completely 1
surtharged with 'busineas, arising from the nature of
We duties that have been heaped upon it by the revi
val of the circuit court .systenoitheaturalincrease of
litigation consequent upon a rapid .and extraordinary
sihcreasing populatien s and. the, MD nifola andslivetsified
pursuits in whisli that population is engaged, that the.
whole of the judges is indispensably devoted to - the
hearing and hurried decision of causes-4 say the hur
ried decision of causes, because from the interminable
mass of business before them, which- is continually in:
creasing, and upon'Which their unwearied industry and
untiring efforts Can make no impression, there is no I
time . for research, examination or reflection—the sups'
plicating, anxious appeals of the suitors impel the judges
to an exert ton of' all, their energies to rid the docket of
its cumbrous atids oppressive loid, and decisions are,
and necessarily must lie, hastily made, ts) enable
them to progress with the celerity which the iielessi
ties of the country and a desire to despatch the public
business requires. Hence -the frequent difference of
opinidh that but too often manifests itself upon the
-bench, tehding t tascreate doubt and Uncertainty as to
what the law really is, and which: will, it is to be fear
ed, ultimately lead to- a want of confidence in our judi
cial decisions. It 'is due to the judges tliOd they should
be measurably relieved from an excess of labor; it is
due to their reputation as jurists and to the character of
their decisions, that they should have some leisure for
reading and reflection; but above all,, it 'is due to the
good people of the State; in reference to . the security
and protection of their persons, their reputations and
property, that the Judiciary branch of the Government
should be so constituted, as to afford them that security
and protection by a prompts vigorous and wholesome
administration of the laws. It is to the General As
sembly that the people anxiously look for relief in this
important particular—some of the existing evils,have
ken attemptr:ll2 he pointed out—and there is every
'confidence ttinVie remedy will he applied. .
Standing armies have always been considered tut be
ing dangerousqb libortyand will not be tole - mietk in a
free counfia , l - _well regulated militia, is the only. kind
-gt ,
of Military le Whith freemen should liesiort for de.
--4 8
fence upon any taldeq entergeney,‘eittier of invasion :
or . rebellion: - Nit Akeillfe that siweif's of for - 4e effect ist*
J
in Pennsylvania, wool4...toqUire a , rboior — ittiter zani
e,
•
r Two
Doipaterper,
pa} half-yearliln *think& .Nth b.
scriptions taken for 16'68E11in sin
none discontinued until-al • :
faill)e to notify a diseontinianee,
be considered a new engagement and 'the
paper forwarded accordingly.
putic,Qellebo Otto
Whole Number, 89.
•ration and the manner of its discipline, entirely
ferent from those which now exist. • It is 'universalty.
adniitted that the present systeM is greatly defective in
its provisions and in its .details, and oppresiVeli bur&
ensome to those upon whom it operates, without atcom'
plishing any adequate, useful purpose.
Volunteers should be encourage d by every honors=
`ide incitement tending to induce an increase of that
valuable and efficient portion of our military strength
—inamtniities should be granted, privileges conferred
and every facility afibided and provision made for the
_prompt organization and complete military ettqipment
ofall who arc willing to enrol themselves in corps of that
description.
It is altogether questionable, whether any tiring can
be done to render the militia;-as such, a better disciplin
ed or more formidable force than it already is, without
the sacrifice of more time and the introduction of a more
rigorous enforcement of military tactics and discipline
than in a state of peace would be either useful or wee , '
sary. More. knowledge of the military art, it is be
wid,- would be acquired in one week of actual service
than is obtained in years by the ordinary militia train+
ings as.nt present practised.
It is gratifying • however to learn thal a Military
spirit honorable to our citizens, has recently been as
wakened .inmany parts of the State“uid - thatalattderi ---
ble•desire to invigorate this arm of out defence, and td
cause a more perfect system to be prosided than has
hitherto. obtained, has been generally manifested. •
Much valuable information will in all probability be
speedily elicited.from that soureei-ond-shOuld-theßret&C
-ml Assembly feel disposed to apply•the panacea of le ,
gislative reform, in accordance with public expectation
in relation to this subject, it will give me much pleas ,
ore to co-operate with them in any measure that will
tend to relieve the system iron' its objectionable Tea--
tures and those who are embrifeed within its provisions
from its present onerous find useless exactions.
In compliance with the directions contained in the
sixth section of the act of the 21st March last, entitled
"an act to continue the improvement of the State by
counts and rail roads," public notice .was givenin news-
papers published at the seat of government and in the
cit ' of Philadelphia ; that proposals would -be received
at t he
office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, ,
until a certain day mentioned in.the noticefforkitinlng .
to the commonwealth for internal improvement parpo.,
Eats the sum Of 0,483,161 88, (the sum autheritedbr
the act aforesaid to be borrowed,) -reimbursable at any
time after the expiration of twenty-five years from and
after the first day of July then next. Among the sev
eral proposals received (copies of which will he laid
before you) that of the
,benk of Pennsylvania, Contain ! ..
nig agllder to take the entire loan it a premtumofsiic
per..c.nlit, or $lOB in money for every $190: of stock to ,
be . created under the act, bearing an interest of s,per
cent. was accepted, 'by which . transaction ilib'Stato
will receive the very liberal bounty of $148,989 , 71.-'
Of the loan thus made, the sum of 61,692,2114 72 has
been received and applied to the payment tithe tdm ,
porary loan authorised by act of 12th Jan. 11331—for
the relief of certain turnpike roads, as directed by the
act of 21st March last—towards payment of interest
which became due on loans on the first day of August
last, as authorised and directed by the last mentioned
act—in disbursements for work done under old cons
tracts and for payment for labor performed under new
contracts, in pursuance of the directions contained in
..the satueitat., __Thareporlaetthe commissioners of the
internal improvement fund, and of the board - of canal
commissioners, will shortly be laid before you, and wilt'
exhibit, in detail, the several disbursements, made out
of the sums drawn on account of the loan aforesaid,
from which it will appear, that the paynients on con.
tracts, authorized prior to the passing of the act of the
21st March last, amounted to alarger sum than lied --
been anticipated, which will induce theipecessity of ir
_pro_t_tita dedu_ction from_the s.everaapecitc,aoproiiiiiiS
tions authorised by that act..
- The loan of s3oo,ooolifithoriSed6rtheitet - of2Oth -
Msrch last, entitled "'An Act iiithorising a loan of !be
llies to be invested hi the internal improvement fund to
be applied to the payment of repairs, damages and oth•- ,
or demands upon
.said fund 'and - for - other purpases,' e
was, after due notice given, also taken-by.the Bank2oc-
Pennsylvania, that institution agreeing to pay $lO6 in
money fur every $lOO of stock to be created under the
said act, bearing an interestsof five per cent.. That
being the best offer received for the entire loan was
accepted, yielding to the Common - Wealth the further
suxtt of $lB,OOO in the shape of a premium or bounty
tttbiti applied in aid of the general interest fund. The , .
whole amount of this loan has been drawn and expend
ed upon the several objects and for the , several purposes
to which by the act aforesaid it was directed to - be ap
'l'he season having been unusually hurbid and
breaches in the canal, where the banks had not
yet become firm, were more frequent than would have ,
been the case—in an ordinary season, besides some of the
streams were raised by sudden freshets to such height,
as to cause great injury and destruction, not only to
the works in their immediate neighborhood, but also
to the dams erected upon them, whielicalled for a tar.
ger expenditure of money for repairs than would oth
erwise have been required. As there is no fund left
therefore to meet the claims for repairs, or for damages
along the several lines of canal and rail way, or for the
payment of wages of superintendants, collectors, su
pervisors and lock keepers,
nu immediate duty will de
volve upon the General' Assembly to make such pro
vision to meet the several enumerated ebjeets as in
their wisdom they- shall find to be expedient and neces
sary.. •
The finances of the commonwealth deritedilem thef
ordinary sources ofievenue established forthe htmmt.
of Government, and those pledged for the paymebt of
.the interest accruing upon loans, do not vary material.:
ly from those of the kW_ year.' By an ROA of.Asseanbly
passed 4th April last; the Auditor General and State
Treasurer are required to close their O'baniebil year on
the last day of October, instead of , the last day of No
veinber 'of each year,las had Reran thereof:in* establiith.
,ed by law, in conseqdence - of which alteration Iketie
bousts transmitted to the Clerk ofthe House i:O o
resentatives, at the. present session, mll'o4oll.t
[kr Carried ores to the luat Pagel
U