The WHOLE ART OF GOVERNMENT CONSISTS IN THE ART OF BEING HONEST. JefTerSOn. VOL o. MMnmWUmil.UH.LfcUm1 1 I I I I inn PRINTED AND PUBLISHED UY SCHOCII & SPJGRING. nrni; Two dollars per annum In advance Tuto dollars -. i- lmif -:irir mm ii thh n'lii: nnifirn inn nni t vcar Two dollars and a half. Tho-c who receive Uieir for? uill be charged 3r 1-2 cts. per year, extra. .i.f.miitinnnfi until nil nrrnnpv rr rvaui nvpAnf JVO papula uiu"""4 t-.. . ,......0v v,vv,vj at tlie option 01 iuu iiuuwa. t -n be inserted three weeks for one dollar : twenty-live cents IptsX discount will be made to yearly advertisers JOB PRINTING. ' Harms a general assortment of largo elegant plain and orna- description of Cards, Circulars, Kill 12 cutis, Rotes, Blank Iteccipis, JUSTICES, LEGAL AND OTHER BLANKS, PAMPHLETS, &c. PnnteJ with neatness and despatch, on reasonable terms AT THE OFFICE OF THE Jcffcrcouiaii Republican. ANNUAL MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR. T tj-c Senate and House of Representatives of the uommonweaun oi rcnnsyivania. Fellow-Citizens: The term to which my eli gibility, as the Chief Executive officer of the Com inomvealth, is restricted by the Constitution, being about to close, 1 submit to the Legislature my last annual message, which the duty of my station en joins upon me. In the performance of this duty I cannot refrain from invoking your devout acknowl edgements, with my own, to the Great Author of All Good, for his constant care and guardianship orer the interests and welfare of our beloved Com monwealth. Upheld by His paternal arm, we have been rescued from the most distressing embarrass ments and difficulties to which, in a time of peace, any people were ever subjected. Good has sprung out of evil safety from danger wisdom from fol- iy and justice.from a spirit ol ungenerous detrac tion. The clouds that for several years past, have hung upon our horizon, are breaking away; and the sunshine of prosperity once more begins to beam upon our path. Within ten days after my induction into office, i felt myself called upan, by the highest consid J- 1 . . I . I , - . 1 erationsoi amy, to commumcaie 10 ine iegisia-. ,e,n full and frank exposhion o ,ha s.a!e of our , neasmarv anairs. upon a careiui examination, lcu 1 ... . ' t ncpprtfiinpfl thnt thp nmnnnt nf the niiblin ! debt, including surplus revenue from the United i was received trom the tax assexed lor tail, iea States, was a little upwards of thirty millions of , ing outstanding, for that year alone, over S00,000 dollars, and t!:e deficit in the Treasury during the 00. The receipts from this source, for the present year 1839, beyond the income, from all sources, ! year, may theretore be estimated at about $1,260 vas about four millions of dollars. To meet this j 000 00. amount, immediate-provision had to be made; and, ! The acts which have been passed upon the sub to add lo the perplexing embarrassments, the great ject, and which are now m force, provide lor the commercial convulsion, which has since reached imposition ol a tax, which, taking the valuation for lis height, was then just beginning to be felt in its 1813, ofthe real and personal property as a basis, operation. For more than ten years immediately I will annually amount to the sum ot 1,4;3,000. proceeding tliat period, the State of Pennsylvania,' That valuation, it may be remarked, was consiu irom her well known punctuality and great natur- " erably below that of 1842. If, therefore, the pro al resources, had experienced no difficulty in pro-1 visions ofthe act of 1814 be iairly carried into ef curinT upon loans, on favorable terms, any amount ' feet, in the valuation of property, and the collec of money she needed, to extendand carry on her 1 tion and prompt payment of the tax be enforced, stupendous system of internal improvements. j the annual revenue hereafter to be derived from Uotli Foreign and American capitalists were com-! that source, will amount to at least 81,500.000. pernors for the acceptance of her loans; and there 1 This sum with the other resources of the Com deemed to be no limits to her credit and resour- monwealth, will be-entirely adequate to furnish the ces, except those which her own discretion im- j necessary amount to discharge the interest upon posed. She made large loans Tor the undertaking ; the public debt, and thus ensure the fidelity of the and completion ol her various lines of improve- j State to her engagements. menu, and paid the interest upon these loans by j Without expressing the opinion that the details oiher loans. Stimulated by these facilities, and ( of these laws are. in all their minute particulars, forgetting the day ever would arrive when her in the most equal and just, in the objects selected for terest must be paid, not by loans, but by taxation, ' taxation, and the rates imposed, 1 will remark that, z system of improvements, by railroad and canal, ' they seem to he substantially conformable, to pub was undertaken, far more comp:-hensive than iier j lie opinion. There is a defect in providing for the necessities required and far beyond her means to 1 punctual enforcement of the laws imposing and complete. The same reckless spirit which actua-' collecting the taxes, and I beg leave to recommend ted the government, had seized upon her citizens, to the consideration of the Legislature, the adop ,8,1)3 induced them to engage in undertakings, equal- tion of some more efficient mode of attaining this )jy indiscreet and unattainable. Within a very few end. This might be done by inflicting penalties years immediately proceeding the commencement on the collectors or other officers found delinquent .of my administration, banks were created to an ex- , in the discharge of their duties. That clas3 of in- tent, and with capital, unheard oi in mis oommon- wealth at any former period. These banks, con : . - ' . . .... , trolled by men moved by such impulses, very; speedily exploded, and, as every rational man nought to have foreseen, overwhelmed, in their uuwnfall, the entire business of the community. Within about two years after I entered upon the discharge of the Executive functions, banks, the aggregate capital of which amounted to more than two-thirds of the entire banking capital of the State, and furnishing more than that proportion of its currency, were compelled lo wind up their af fairs; and in doing so, not only extinguished this amount of the ostensible capital of -the State, but crippled the remaining banks, compelled them to j withhold facilities trom tne ousiness inun oi uie community, and, by forcing their debtors, consti tuting a large class of men engaged in various pursuits of life, to- discharge their liabilities, al most crushed the large and flourishing class of 1'usiness men in all parts of the Commonwealth. To add still further to these perplexing evils, the condition of the pecuniary affairs of Europe be came almost as de ply embarrassed as dur own ; and foreign capitalists, who had sought for oppor tunities to make investments in .this country, were induced to withhold their usual loans. During a short. period previous lo my entering upon the duties of-my office, our internal improve ment system, confessedly incomplete, was very largely extended by making appropriations to wards the construction of the North and' West Branch, and Erie Extensions, Wisconisco Canal; Allegheny Feeder, and Gettysburg liajjroad, be ides guaranteeing the interest upon loans inacle ' private companies, engaged in thVconstructi'on "f wurks leading into the improvements ofthe Statej 't'li Uicae and other improvements, which are wholly STROUDSB URG. MONROE COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1845. IMJJJ.J unproductive, is nearly nine millions of dollars. The most strenuous exertions were required to obtain, during the first two years, a sufficient a mount of money to pay the interest upon the State debt, defray the current expenses of the Govern ment, and to pay off the large class of domestic creditors, naturally and justly clamorous for the discharge of their demands upon the State. Rigid economy was recommended, and enforced in'all the public expenditures. The extended lines of improvement, which might have been completed a few years earlier by loans, were suspended, in consequence of the inability of the State to raise necessary funds; and finally the interest upon the public debt failed to be paid from the same cause, and the Want of time requisite to mature a plan for taxation which would produce the necessary sum for that object. Not a single dollar has been ap propriated, or paid, under any administration, to wards the commencement of any new work" what ever. The state of affairs was "such, at its outset, as to forbid any such undertaking, however meri torious in itself, and I have strictly adhered to this rule of conduct. Shortly after I assumed the Executive duties of the State, I became satisfied that the procrastina tion of the evil day, when resort to taxation was demanded by the most imperative obligation of du ty, could no longer be indulged. Painful as was the alternative, 1 felt how deeply the honor of the State was involved, and recommended the impo sition of a tax, which should supply an adequate fund to discharge the interest on the public debt, committing the details to the Legislature. This recommendation I reiterated, in the most earnest manner, and ultimately it received the sanction of the Legislature. The assessment under the several laws impos ed a tax on real and personal ptnperty, and the a mount paid into the Treasury, are as follows : Am't of tax ass'd for 1841. $116,79185 Do Do Do do 1842, 659,512 47 do 1843, 968,708 40 do 1844, about 968,708 40 Whole am't ass'd for the past 4 years $3,013,724 12 Am't ree'd in 1841, S33,292 77 Do do 1842, 486,635 85 Do do 1843, 555,91138 Do do 1844, 751,210 01 $1,825,050 01 Leaving the amount of tax outstand iruron the first of Dec. last, Si, 188,674 11 suDject to exonerations, commissions, etc., mcu; .. .. .? c u.j r . v i... 1 1 tk DCTI nil TOn "II I II II T1tI J XIll , .- . J. . Tl. 1 1 i 'i in. n inri . . A 11U lUtl41tfVJ presume, wm o ! cuucmjcai. wi v!,. ... . .i c,.n.i ni.. i.n noo nrt ' SUTV durinff the past fisca itai.icaii uiiii vnivt'ij uui rjivuiuais is as iuub emmcu tu iiiuui.ili- wi palhy as any others engaged in the execution of tllG ItlWS The entire amount of the public debt at this lime is: Funded debt, 0 per cent stocks, 64,370,015 21 Do do 5 31,721,53140 Do do 4 1 2 200.000 00 39,292,150 07 Loan (relief issue) per ,actof4thMay.l5il, bearing an, interest of ortG per cent, 1,175.000 00 171,030 0U 91,512 CO Uo six do five do Amount, in circulation Balance due domestic creditors, on certificates issued by the Audit or General, $1,438,178 00 104,384 93 Amounting to the sum of $10,35 013 00 The increase in the State Debt since I assi e duties ofthe Executive Chair, may be pr I assumed U- the duties ofthe Executive Miair, may uu H.uHu.- ly understood, when it is stated tnai me iiuurest which has accrued thereon since u mi F un mounts to SlO.JG-.lBO UU The amount of interest guaranteed tq private corporations, to And the amount of appropriations towards the completion of unfin ' isiied lines of public improvements , commenced prior to that time, about 141,310 00 4,500,000 00 i Antounttng to 615,000,526 00 The annual interest on the "funded debt of flit. State, payable at the Bank of Pennsylvania, exclu-. sive of interest on certificates issued for interest, is $1,747,030 12, falling due respectively on the first of February and August, of which the sum of $873,515, is payable on the first of February next. If it should be determined to pay the interest en the interest certificates on the first of February, then the further sum of $97,880 84, will be re quired. The receipts into the Treasury during the fis cal year, ending on the 30th November last, in cluding a small available balance, from the previ ous year, were $2,511,237 03 The expenditures for the same period, including the amount of relief notes cancelled, were 1,847,385 15 Leaving a balance in the Treasury on that day, of $603,851 88 There was also an available balance in the Canal Treasury, on the same day, of The receipts during the month of De cember, exclusive ol disbursements, were To which may be added the receipts over expenditures, for the present month, estimated at 39,497 00 139,581 23 120,000 00 Making the amount in the Treasury on 1st February, about $963,030 11 This balance embraces the sum of $50,000 of re lief notes, which the State Treasurer withheld from cancellation on the 31st December, and which, if needed, may be applied by the Legisla ture to the payment of interest on the public debt. From the facts here presented, it is evident that the Commonwealth will be prepared to meet her interest tailing due on the 1st ol l'ebruary A . 7B " ? uu.er,B ",uc,u "caie in the pubhc mind in relation to the propriety of paying the interest on that day, leas tnere should be a deficiency in the Treasury on the Is of Au- jnist. But ,t must be perfectly evident that the . . . . first of August next, but also on the first of Febru - ary, 1845. And the very fact that the interest is pai'd on the first of February next, will increase lhe means and credit ofthe State to meet its in- terest in August, and afterwards, when it falls due. Whilp. nn thp ntlipr hnnd. if wlion it is nrlmittprl that enough money to discharge the interest on the first of February, is in the Treasury, applica- hc l.i lint nhiort nnH itle nnt ennnn ipH ivnchnll ble to that object, and it is not so applied, weshall, .ii-fi'i-.-.t.........u...'i'wu.ua.uwu.Hw..wv,wuivw.ww.wb.vw. . a l. L wuu niucii aiJimaraucts u: usiiut:. auu .ii ourscivus II i M n .:,r.,ii.. ,n ZnZO Sft'S'f . the State. With an exhausted 1 reasurv and tar- j nisuea creazi, we couiu meao our necessmes in extenuation ol our violation ol contracts ; but what cessity has ceased to exist! None, whatever,'"- determined position, peace and order were sums have been .appropriated to improve that good old-fashioned integrity does not brand temporarily restored. j and embellish them, aie still m a condi as disgraceful, and unworthy our character as at in the month of July, similar outrages again ! tion not at all creditable to the capitol of sovereign state. reverse of fortune, she hadsteadfastly maintained The claims of all her honest creditors will be punctually discharged, and the gross imputations Jt must be gratilytng to every rennsylvanian lo the county of Philadelphia, and with similar pain-! enclosed, upon the south east side of the roneci ma me creu.i oi mis great, ouue, wnicn lul and bloody results. 1 was again called upon ; cap,loj stands in need of improvement has been, for upwards ol two years, subjected to to interfere, and a second time repaired to the ci-. . ' - . J . , reproach, will thus be restored to the unsullied j ty of Philadelphia, having made similar requisitions d care. 1 his ground was a donation to puruv oi cnaracier wiuuii, uiuu uus uuavuiuuuiu , tinon the volunteers ot rieivrriDorin'r clistncis. anu, me wic uj .v.urv..-- ,i,- which have been heaped upon her name wiped out, j occasions the mob had procured fire-arms of near and the abiding confidence which we have ever j ly all descriptions, and used them both against felt in the disposition and ability ol the State to! comply wilh all her engagements, will be fully re alized. The report of the Canal Commissioners will present to you, in detail, the operations on the public improvements, for the past year. The tolls collected in 1844, amount to 8l,167,G03 42, being an increase over 1843 of $172,199 10. The col- lections for the year exceed the expenditures the sum ot trjy,b&w The report of the State Treasurer will explain, in detail, our financial condition. That officer es timates the receipts at the Treasury, for the cur rent fiscal year ending 30th November, 1845, at $3,005,000 00 To which add balance in Treasury, on 30th No vember last, SGG3,851 88 A.lso, the amount in Ca nal Treasury on same day, . 39,497 00 03,348 88 Making a total of $3,708,348 88 He also estimates the expenditures ofthe Commonwealth, forthesamo period, including interest on pub lic debt, at 3,001,013 56 Leaving a balance in Treasury 30th November, 1845, ol on $047,335 32 There is, therefore, no manner of doubt that, henceforth, the State will be able to meet, not on ly the interest on her public debt, but all her other engagements of every description ; the taxes now imposed by law, (if their collection and payment into the Treasury be strictly enforced,) and the proceeds of the public improvements, with other sources of revenue, constituting a fund amply sufficient-fur that purpose. KCCUrrillg IU U1C Uiaiuiy vm iug 'xoi oia jfc.no, what a satisfactory answer, does it furnish to the objections ofthe enemies of Republican Govern ment, against its stability and its honor. Op pressed by personal embarrassments weighed down by public liabilities reproached for not do ing what the most manful struggles were unable to accomplish, the people of Pennsylvania have still borne themselves steadily in the darkest hour, have submitted to taxation, grievous at all times, and particularly so in convulsions of business, and have at last reached the solid footing which pub lic integrity and public fidelity in the end never fail to aUain The difficulties and embarrassments attending this struggle, will hardly be credited by those who have not shared them ; xwl, I con'e&s, it will ever be to me a source of proud satisfac tion to compare the condition of the State, when the helm of Government was put into my hands, with its condition when I surrender it into the hands of my successor. 1 say not this to reproach those who preceded, nor to diminish the just cred it of those who succeed me ; but as an act of sheer justice to all who embarked with me in the gloomy and perilous voyage we have run since the 15th of January, 1839. It can hardly be possible for such a season of trial eyer to occur again ; but if unhappily it should, 1 trust those who are called upon to encounter it, will find something in our example to cheer and animate them to persevere in the discharge of their duty. Having thus disposed of the financial concerns of the State, for the last few years, a subject of the deepest solicitude, I shall proceed to submit to you but few special recommendations; for, at. the present time, I deem it no more than an act of re spectful courtesy to my successor, to leave entire ly in his hands those recommendations of a gene ral nature, which are usually expected, to emanate from the Executive Department. There are a few topics, however, upon which I feel it to be my du ty to offer some suggestions for your consideration. ine unexampieu cijinnyjuoii ana aisiuruauce . that recently prevailed in the business concerns of the country, have, in a great degree, subsided, and left us in a state to survey the field of disaster m. . j i with a calm and experienced eye. i he throes and convulsions ofthe banking system, tor a time, menaced all those institutions, with speedy down fall, but most of them have now outrode the storm. No man could witness the existing state of things, without feeling conscious that this system was es sentially vicious, and needed effectual reform. To make banks useful without being dangerous to correct the evils without depriving them of all Ill Ill 111! IMII1I1 to restrain them within their nr0per sphere, by rigid regulations, is an object at h h j w k' J . o . fa and J . sl;ould aim , thi3eopinion, j presume, there m be nQ discordance wntever among well in- ; f d men 1 Jny in tne n.ontn oi ftiay last, a series oi tne ( most alarming and sanguinary riots "broke out in ! the, District of Kensington, in the county of Phila - delphia. On the origin of these riotous proceed - ings, 1 do not leel called upon to maKe any panic- ular animadversions. it is enougn to say, mat a T - - 1 . I . targe amouni oi pnvaie property, nweuing nouses . an,d churches, were burnt and destroyed ; and that . " -n, cu. u uitc iiumuoi ui iwiiouic inra oui.i mi,u. 1 1 II .111.11 111 i: A Li: I I L kV LJfc.iliai JIL 1 L, 1 v niiuuii- . . . . r . . ' Qered, that 1 was called upon, by tne prope . . . . . . au ihoriUes of ,he ei.y and county' of Philadelphia, for an adequate force to arrest and quell these dis turbances. I immediately ordered a very consid- "u "u"f . I . io repair to ruiiaueipnia, aim, uy assuming a iirm, were committed in the District of Southwark. in j by the adoption of similar proceedings, lawless outrage was again suppressed, and public tran auiiity. as I trust. thorou2hlv restored. Ou these private citizens and against the military, with deadly effect. I had the gratification to witness that the citizen soldiery, thus called, at an hour's warning, from their homes to the scene of bloody conflict, acted, in ail emergencies, with a coolness, steadiness and courage worthy of veterans, and with a desree of forbearance, without shrinking i from their duty, infinitely more to their honor. t Officers 'mid men all behaved in a manner entitled i to the Inchest commendation. 1 reler you to the report of Major General Patterson, herewith trans mitted, for the detailed operations of the military on the occasions to which I have referred. It is due to these citizen soldiers, to make speedy and adequate remuneration for their services. I sub mit it to the Legislature to ascertain the time to be allowed them, and fix the amount they ought to receive; but I must urge upon its consideration, in the most earnest terms, the justice and propriety of their claims. Men who abandon their daily pursuits of life, leave their wives and children without protection or support, and peril their lives in the public service, either against foreign or do mestic foes, are justly entitled to a liberal com pensation from that public whose laws they have defended. The salutary lesson taught by the ri gid, though considerate enforcement of the laws, liv means ol the military, and the firm and enligh tened course pursued by the judicial tribunals and the officers in Philadelphia, entrusted with the du ty of bringing offenders before them, will doubt less prevent a recunencc of these evils, and guar antee hcreaftor the peace and good order of that community. Although the system of imprisonment adopted by Pennsylvania, some years aj;o, at the establishment of her Peniten tiaries, has hct'ix justly n-garded as the most admirable to be found among all na- r tion?, yet there is one depailment which remains to be provided for, that ol estab lishing, in connection with each of our State Penitentiaries, a department (or the charge of '.he insane inmates. There have been" almost every year, since I have been Governor of the Commonwealth, some unfortunate persons confined in the Peni tentiary, of Ibis description, who, either were partially insane when committed, or became so afterwards. As the law now stands, tlukre is no remedy for these cases, but to pardon them, or confine them in the same manner as other ciiininaU are cotifin- ij - i No. 34 ed. liolh" these modes are often limes wrong, and I respectfully urge it "upon your consideration lo make some provis ion for redressing the evil in future. The Stale debt now consists of thirty seven distinct loans, for each of winch, a separate set of books must be kept in the loan office of the ( bmtnonwealfti. Con stant divisions, sub-divisions, and transfer of slock, are taking place, and the whole system is becoming daily more laborious and complicated. 1 recommend an iiiqui ry into the subject, and, if praoticable,tle consolidation of these loens into some uni form system. The careless manner in which bills are transcribed, is a subject whicn calls fur some remedy. It not unlrequeutly hap pens thai the Executive is compelled to return bills to the comparing committees, for correction, but he can give them lu anuroval. Bills presented durum the last i - houra Qf (,e sessiOl), and, as is usually the ., , r, .. J cnie 0,1 'e daJ afler lhe adjournment, cannot undergo tots correcting proce and are necessarily placed upon the stal ule book, with such errors as they may; contain, It has likewise been discovered, after the publication of the !avs,that whole sections which had passed both Jiouses, had been omitted in the transcribed bill, and sections inserted which had never re ceived the sanction of the Legislatute. I deem it only necessary to call your atten tion lo this evil, without making any re commendation as to the proper remedy. During the lime I have been inollice,no appropriations have been made to furnish ; ine Executive unamoer, in a manner vvhjc) geems Q ,ne (o be 3ujta5ie to the ! cnrac(er 0f .ie slate i,ave oVO;deft r?? i "d waning mc uuwimwu i-.t5i5iaiuic u ' . t I t I I- , . . I j mis sunjeci ior ouviuua reasons; Dill a sense of delicacy no longer restrainsj me from pressing upon your attention, the , . o( SUDUvjnL, the Kvnnflti v . i Chamber with furniture and couvenien- "i i I W " - c, a MU ls unbecoming than those that are found thereat present. The pubhc grounds surroundiriff the ; Canilol notwithstanding that considerable i ' " . , the state; and especially that portion, not risburg, and it is scarcely just to his mem ory to treat his munificence with such negligence. The taste and self-respect of a people are strikingly exemplified in the structure of their public buildings, and in the em bellishments surrounding them. If stran gers were to adopt this as a criterian by ' which to estimate the character of the ci tizens of Pennsylvania, we should have little cause to be proud of the judgment they would form of us. 1 beg leave to recommend that a suitable appropriation -be made lo render our public grounds somewhat more worthy the character of the people of the State. The unfortunate destruction of the bridge ofthe Cumberland Valley Railroad . t r i company, over tne atisquenanna, at war risburg, by fire, has, in a great measuie, cut of the trade and business which that valuable tributary to our public improve ments, supplied. The Slate holds in that company, stock to the amount of $70,000. The original cost of the bridge was $124, -000 and it will probably cost $90,000 to re-build it on the most approved plan. The. condition of the company is such as to forbid the hope of its being able to raise the whole of the funds necessary to re construct it. Many of the numerous bridges erected over that river, has been from time to time, destroyed bv Hoods and otherwise, and 1 believe that the Le gislature, in every instance, has thought it right .and proper to assist in ineir re con struction. I would therelore lecommtMnt (he subject to the frvorablc consideration of the Legislature, and urge the propriety of making a reasonable appropriation to. aid the company in this undertaking. The annual report of the superinten dent of Common Schools, will acquaint you with the progress and condition of Ihese institutions, during the year, togeth er with his views respecting the improve ment of the school system, and the means to be adopted for that purpose. It is high ly pssentml to the success of-our system of- education, that the appropriation Irom v ; . . . Slate should behxedand permanent f
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