certainly in this respect, is attended with deleterious consequences, and productive of derangement in ihe practical operations f the system. Whatever is calculated to , romote the causegof popular education, s worthy your most serious and earnest attention. On it depends, in an eminent degree, the honor of our Commonwealth, the distinction and happiness of her citi zens, and the perfection and perpetuity of our political institutions. The report of the adjutant" General will be submitted to you, and will exhibit par ticulars in relation to the militia system. During the last. session of the Legislature, an act was passed to reduce the expenses of the militia system, and provide a more rigid mode for the collection of militia fines. The provisions of this act are found to be highly beneficial in their ' operation, and, it is believed, will enable the system to sustain itself without having recourse, as heretofore, to the Treasury of the State for aid. The amount of fines assessed the last year, for non-performance of militia duty, is mbrej than sufficient to defray the expenses for the same thim. The brief period from; the enactment of the law, until the col Sectors were required to accomplish their duties under it, was not sufficient for them to complete their collections. The out standing fines of the past year, however, may be collecied with those of the pre fcnt,and thus a sum obtained sufficient to meet the expenses of both. I cannot too strongly recommend to your care and encouragement, the volun teer troops of our Commonwealth. They will lose nothing when compared with the troops of ibis or any other country. Their courage and efficiency as soldiers have been tested and established, and they have "deservedly become favorites with the people. In cases of exigency, we must chiefly depend upon them to protect from injury end destruction our individual property, our national honor, and our political liberties. Under the provisions of the act of 29lh April, 1844, entitled "An act to reduce the State debt, and to incorporate the Pennsylvania Canal and "Railroad Compa ny," the question of a sale of the main line of improvements, submitted to a vote of the people at the election in October last, was decided in the affirmative. The re quisit notice was given by the Secretary of the Commonwealth to the commission ers named in the act, and they have pro ceeded so far in the performance of their duties as to advertise that the sale of the fctock of the proposed company will com mence, in the city of Philadelphia, on the 20th of January inst. The time has,there fore, not )et arried when the practica bility of disposing of these improvements, on the terms specified in the law, will be tested. I am not aware that any legisla tive proceedings on this subject are called for at the present time. The proceedings of the commissioners named in the act of the 1 3th April, 1844, entitled "An act to authorize the Govern or to incorporate the Delaware Canal company," will appear from a report ac companying mis message, setting forth their inability to dispose of the Stock. It will be for the Legislature to determine what further action, if any, on this subject, is necessary. In my last annual message I informed the Legislature that in pursuance of the act of the 7th March, 1843, a charter had been issued to the Erie Canal Company, and possession given to it of that portion of the public improvements from the town of New Caslle, to the harbor of Erie. Oa the 18th December last, the necessary proof having been laid before me, that the work had been completed, and was in actual use for the transportation of mer chandize throughout its whole length, 1 directed, in conformity with the terms of the act, notice to be given to the superin tendent of the line, to deliver the compa ny possession of the Beaver Division,from the mouth of the Beaver river to New Castle. The district Court of the City & coun ty of Philadelphia,exercising a jurisdiction in all civil demands above the sum of one hundred dollars, will expire during the present session of the legislature, by a limitation contained in the act erecting it. 1 his court, on which, from the nature of itsjunsdiction, it necessarily devolves to determine the majority of (he more im portant cases arsing in that judicial dis trict, has been laboriously engaged in the discharge of its duties, fora space of near . ly ten ) ears. The manner in which these duties have been performed, besides se curing the confidence of the bar and the community, would teem to have produ ced the very general impression that this tribunal is indispensible to a due adminis tration of the Jaw in that city and county, i uould therefore, respectfully recom mend the passage of an act continuing the court in its present form, and securing to it, in every proper manner, the"service6 of a:thful and able judges. Fortunately for Ihe Legislature and the people, the subject of the public printing,': for a long time a topic of just complaint, on account of the unreasonable amount expended for that purpose, was put to rest during tne last session, by allotting it to the lowest bidders, after the just precau tion of exacting security for its faithful execution. The parties to whom it was given, fixed their own rates of compensa tion, and have no doubt made ample provision against all hazard of loss: and we may. therefore, hope that this item of the public expenditure will not be swel led to its usual alarming amount, by de mauds for extra compensation. v Before i conclude this communication, I will call your attention to a subiect in which, I believe, the State of Peunsvlva- nia has a deeper stake than iu any other now pending, or likely to be brought, ei ther before her own Legislature or the Legislature of the Union. I refer to the maintenance, in all substantial points, of the existing revenue laws of the Union. more generally known as the tarifF laws. ine great variety ano complexity ot in- terests in tne different quarters ot the Union, render the adjustment of any tariff ystem, an extremely difficult and delicate undertaking. Could Ihe people of every eclion of the Union, survev the entire circle of national interests, with a perfect ly cool and unprejudiced eye, this difficul ty and delicacy would almost entirely vanish. But while certain sections of the Union are wedded to certain notions. without regard to their foundation in rea son and in truth, it will be almost impos sible to expect from anv bodv of men. as- scmbled in Congress, a perfectly free and unprejudiced examination of this exciting question. We must deal with men and things, as we find them, and not as we would desire to have them. In a conflict where prejudice and self-interest bias the judgment, it behoves the representatives ot every section, while they yield a due regard to the claims of others, to stand firmly by their own. I have, from year to year, in addressing communications to the Legislature, referred to this subject, not so much for the purpose of inducing action in the National Legislature, as to keep it before the citizens of this Com monwealth, to familiarizejt in their minds and to prepare them to unite in maintain ing their own interests, whenever those interests might be endangered. I was as sailed when I first took this high ground in defence of the welfare of Pennsylvania, from various quarters, and denounced for advocating doctrines to which the majority of the people of this State were asserted to be opposed: but, regardless of these idle and futile assaults, 1 have reiterated the same sentiments, -and have the satifaclion of knowing that, in the recent Presidential election, in which the tariff was believed to be involved, both political parties, nearly to a man, assumed the same posi tions, I had taken, and advocated the same doctrines which 1 had endeavored to en force upon the consideration of the Legis lature. I advert to this matter now, not so much to justify myself, as to prove, whatever has been alledged to the contra, ry, that there is but one party on this question, in Pennsylvania, and that oartv is nearly the entire mass of her ciliznns. 1 hazard nothing in asserting that neither of the Presidential candidates could have hoped, for a moment, to get a majority of the votes in this State, had not his claims been based upon the assurance that he was friendly to the continuance of the present tariff laws, substantially as fhey stand. The iron and coal interests in thi stale, great as they have been considered to be, are yet in their infancy. Deposits of these minerals, scattered throughout almost ev-i ery hill and valley in the Commonwealth, are exhaustless, and are so peculiarly dis tributed, in all quarters, as to create a di rect interest on the part of nearly every citizen, in the developement and encour agement of every system of policy which can render them available. The owners of the lands in which they are embedded, the agriculturists who furnish the work men with their supplies, the merchants, mechanics and artiziiis of all descriptions, look to these resources ultimately, a the great fountain from which State and indi vidual prosperity must be derived. IJere, it is believed, must be rounded and sua tained the great counterpoise to foreign importations of all species of iron, ra'w and manufactured, with which the whole American people sue to be supplied. Here, too, is lo be found a depostte of fuel for the family use of the poor, as well a for the more extensive use in the manu facturing purposes of the rich. Possess ing such advantages, how can any ralsonal man consent to relinquish and-forego them, to gratify the caprices of those who cer tainly mistake their own, and are incapa ble of appreciating the interests of others? We seek no unreasonable prohibitions! We ask not the protection of the govern ment at the, expanse of the rights of our sister Slates, but we do ak, and we think we have a right to ask, that the system of encouraging and protecting the domestic interests of this couuicy, (he corner stone of which was laid in the act of Congress of 1st June, 1789, should not be abandon ed without some more substantial reason than the empty notions of visionary theo rists. We believe that the tariff law of 1842, now in force, making reasonable al lowance for inaccuracy and inconsistency iu its minute details, is founded iu a spirit of compromise and fair dealing, equally just lo the great national interests of the dillerent sections of the Union. To dis turb it now, except to correct its minor details, is lo unsettle the whole system, to weaken its stability, and to destroy ihe confidence, at home and abroad, in the wisdom and consistency of the National Government, and to break down, now and forever, all hope of competing with for eign rivalry in the interests to which this law extends some cherishing protection. The great interests of Pennsylvania do not ask for additional protection, or for new sale guards ; but. small as the discrimina tions are iu their belnlf, lo let Ihem re main as they are, with a certainly that they shall not be changed without substan tial reasons, and the concurrence of the citizens of Pennsylvania. 1 here seems to be a disposition among some members of the National legislature to interfere with this subject, and 1 think the present a proper occasion lor the Le gislature of Pennsylvania lo speak out in decided terms, aud announce to those who represent the people of this great Com monwealth in the councils of the nation, what course it is expected by their con stituents they will pursue. If the issue is to be distinctly made between the coal and iron interests of Pennsylvania, and those of foreign nations, the sooner it is known the better; and I trust whenever such an issue is to be determined, every citizen of Pennsylvania, whether in office or out of office, will be found on the side of his country. " For my own part, in such an emergency I shall not hesitate in resol ving to take my stand on the same side where i have always been found, when ever this subject has been agitated. It will aflord me pleasure during the few remaining days of my administration, to co-operate with you in the adoption of any measures, which we mutually believe lo be conducive to ihe public good. I do not doubt lint we shall fully harmonize in opinion on this subject. I have had frequent occasion to employ the veto power entrusted to the Execu tive, by the constitution, to arrest the suc cess of measures which appeared to me fraught with evil ; but, I have, on no oc casion, resorted to this great power of preservation, until all other hope of res cue had failed. In such emergencies, 1 have appealed lo it without scruple or re servation, and I have yet lo learn that the acts defeated by its operation have been regretted by the people. Confederacies lo thwart Executive recommendations : u:...: & tuiiiuiiiauoiis 10 promote particular per sonal or political interests, have, it is true, clamored loudly against hxecutive tvran ny, and imputed motives to me. which existed only in the imaginations of those whose objects were frustrated : but the vast body of the enlightened community has looked on, not only without murmur ing, but with unequivocal commendation. I find abundant reason to be satisfied in this manifestation of popular opinion. I f 1 retire from the cares and solicitude of office, with feelings of no ordinary salis faction, and with a heart grateful to the honest and intelligent yoemanry of my na tive stale, lor Ihe cordial and undeviating support which they have given me, in the midst ot the worst difficulties it has been my fortune lo encounter. On this support I have steadfastly relied, as the guarantee that, come what might, Pennsylvania would speedily regain the confidence she had lost nrove to the world, ihe falsilv of the reproach heaped on her integrity, and rise wilh renewed vigor, to run her race, from Ihe temporary depression that had borne her down. My confidence has been realized ; the day of her redemption is at hand, and every true hearted Penn sylvanian must rejoice, to see her proud escutcheon purified Horn the only stain thcl had ever eflaced it, since the landing of her founder upon the shores of the Del aware. DAVID R. POUTER. Executive Chamber, ) Harrisburg, January 8, 1845. The Time Fixkd, at Last. In the "Mid night Cry" of Dec. 5th we find a letter from Mr. Miller, which contains the following: " I have fixed my mind upon anothor tune, and here I mean r siand until God gives mo more light and that is to-day, to-day and today, until ht comes.1' A Solemn Calculation. The aggregate population of ihe suface of the known habi able globe, is estimated at 895,300,000 souls. If we reckon with the ancients, thai a gener ation last 30 years, then iu lhat space, 81)5, 300,000 human beings will bo born and die; consequently 81,770 must be dropping into eternity every day; 3,407 every hour; or ibout 56 every minute! How awful, is the reflection ! JEFFERS ONIAN REPUBLICAN Thursday, Jauunry 10, 18-25. Terms, $2,00 m advance: $2.25, naif yearly; and $2,50 if not paid bcfoic the end of the year. iT?- V. B. Palmer. Esa.. at his Real Estate and Coal Office, No. 59 Pine street, below Third, two squares S. the Merchants' Exchange, Phila., and No. 100 Nassau street, (Tribune buildings,) N. Y.,is authorised to receive subscriptions and advertisements for the Jejfersonian Republican, and give receipts for the same. Merchants, Me chanics, and tradesmen generally, may extend their business by availing themselves of the op portunities tor advertising in country papers wnicn his agency affords. To all Concerned. We would call the atiention of some of our subscribers, and especially certain Post Mas ters, to ihe following reasonable, and well set tled rules of Law in relation to publishers, to ihe patrons of newspapers. the" law of newspapers. 1. Subscribers who do not ghe express no tice to ihe contrary, are considered as wishing to continue their subscriptions. 2. If subscribers order ihe discontinuance of iheir papers, ihe publishers may continue to send them lilt all arrearages are paid. 3. If subscribers neglect or refuse io lake their papers from the officers lo which they are directed, they are held responsible till they hare settled their bill, and ordered ;heir papers discontined. 4. If subscribers remove to other places with out informing the publishers, and their pnper is sent to ihe former direction, they are held re sponsible. 5. The courts have decided that refusing to lake a newspaper or periodical from the ofiice, or removing and leaving it uncalled for. is "pri ma facie" evidence of intentional fraud. R. Smith, Esq. will please accept our thanks for several public documents. The Governor's Message. We publish the last annual Message of Gov ernor Porter, eniire in to-day's paper ; and un hesitatingly pronounce it the best public docu ment that ever emanated from its author. It is true it contains several matters which are not only in very bad lasto, but which actually represent facts in a different light from which history reflects ihem ; but the greater part of the Message is so good, that wo are willing lo pass over these small matters, with a mere pro test as to their accuracy. The' are the attack he makes upon the Banking Institutions during the three years immediately preceding his ad ministration, and the financial policy in general of Gov. Rimer's administration. That the Go vernor is wrong, every candid reader will at once acknowledge on perusing the Message and with this remark, we leave it. The fair and candid statement of the Stale finances, is worthy of all praise. We have been ao accustomed to exhibitions on this sub ject, made for the purposes of parly effect, that it is quite cheering once mors-lo see a plain exposition like the present. It represents our monetary affairs in a flourishing condition, and affords us tho assurance thai the interest on the Slate Debt, and the other liabilities of the Com monwoalth will be promptly met hereafter. But what pleases us as much as anything else, is tho manner in which the Governor speaks out on tho subject of tho Tariff. He is plain and explicit, and uses language which cannot easily be misunderstood or misconstrued Ho does not waste time and paper in discus sing Revenue Tariffs, and Incidental Protection, but boldly proclaims himself in favor of the Protective Policy and tho Tariff of 1812. And he speaks truly when he says "that in tho late contest neither of ihe Presidential candidates could have hoped for a moment to get a major iiy of the votes m this State, had not his claims been baaed upon tho assurance that he was friendly to ihe continuance ol tho prcsont Tariff laws, substantially as they stand." We hope ibi liniely hint may not be lost upon James K. Polk and, his anti-tariff friends. The other statements and minor recommen dations of the Message, are good. As the Go vernor's lime is about to expire, ho refrains from making any recommendations of a gene ral nature, and leaves ihem entirely to his suc cessor. A Duel. The all engrossing subject of conversation at Washington, at present, is ihe probable duel be tween Mr. Clinguian.of N. C. and Mr. Yancy, of Alabama, boih members of Congress. Tho difficulty between them arose out of words po- Ken m uenateny Mr.Tt. They left Washinf?. ton, on Thursday last for Delaware; where, un cus an amicable arrangement was effecied. ilmr have probably fought ere this. Pennsylvania Legislature. Tuesday tho 7ih inst. being- the lime fixed by the Constitution, for the meeting of ihe Le gislature at Harrisburg, both branches mot and organized. In the Senate, Wm. B. Wilcox.of Bradford county, was elected Speaker he re ceiving 22 votes, and Mr. Daraie 7. In the House, Findley Patterson, of Armstrong coun ty, was chosen Speaker the vote being for Patterson 49, Trego 36, Brewster 7, scattering 3. Since then a large number of private and local bills, have been introduced, by different members as also several of a general charac ter, among which we notice one to repeal the Act of July 12, 1842, which abolishes Impris onment for Debt. Mr. Bright, of the .House, in accordance with the recommendation of the Governor, has introduced a joint Resolution, in siruciing our Representatives and Senators in Congress to oppose any alteration of the Tariff. The Governor has also returned, with his ob jections, two Bills passed at the last session of the Legislature one of which authorized the redemption, by the State, of the over-issue of Relief Notes, by ihe Berks County Bank, and ihe other related to the business of the Susque hanna Canal Company. Congress. The House has at length. got to work at the Texas question, and the discussion is now un der full way. Charles J. Ingersoll, led the way in the debate on Friday a week, and has since been followed by some half dozen members :i both sides. There are twelve distinct plans if annexation before the Mouse, and ip to tin time no considerable nu'inbcr of ihe loco atinx- atiouisls have been able lo agree on either of them. They are in ihe mean while dtbaiing the simple question, " ihall Texas be annexed" upon which they are quite unanimous the lug of war, however, will come when they are called upon to vote directly upon one or the other of the plans proposed. The leaders of the parly are very anxious to have the question disposed of this Session, so that it shall not embarrass Mr. Polk's administration and Gen. Jackson has written a letter :o the Globe, urging ener getic action. What effect it will have, remain lo be seen; but the better opinion is, that there will be no annexation bill passed this session. In the Senate, nothing of importance has transpired. Whig Papers. Notwithstanding ihe unfavorable termination of the late political campaign, tho Whig pariy is as strong as ever, and measures are daily la ken to strengthen it still more. As an evidence of this, we need merely allude to the spirit wilh which ihe Whig Press is conducted, and the means resorted to, to improve its tone and char acter. Since ihe election, several new Whig papers have been established, aud important changes aud improvements made in a number of those previously in existence. We have on ly time at present to allude to the following: The Whig Journal, at Easton, has been enlarged, aud appears in an entirely new dress. Trie editorial departmeni has also been strength ened, and the paper otherwise improved. The Whig is an excellent paper, and has a high rep utation throughout the State. The Daily Forum, at Philadelphia, has been greatly enlarged, and is now published under the title of" The Morning Post ," at $6 per an num. The Forum was one of the most spirit ed party papers we had during the late cam paign; and did good service. It is Yery much improved now, and as staunch Whig as ever. The Berks $ Schuylkill Journal, at Reading, has changed editors, and will hereafter be un der the control of Jacob Knabb, Esq., who so ably edited the Clay Bugle, at Harrisburg, last summer. The Journal ranks high as a party paper, and has a large circulation. The Country Mirror is the name of a new Whig paper, started at Carbondale, LuzetijS; county. F. B. Woodward is the editor, uad he, gives promise of making it a useful acquisition io the pariy in that region. We heartily wish him success. Division of ihe IttelUotfisJ Chnrch. Our readers no doubt are all aware that thero is a proposition on fool, to. divide, the Methodist Lpiscopal Church of the United States, nn two General Conferences, instead of ihe one which has heretofore existed. This proposi tion, has had its origin, from the circumstance of Bishop Andiews being suspended from ihe exercise of his official duties, on account of holding tdaves, by the General Conference of the Church which met in New York iu Mav last. The proposition is to create a Southern General Conference and for that purposo n Convention will be held at Louisville, Ky., on iho 1st of May next. The Mississippi, Arkan sas, and one or .two other State Conferences, have already chosen Delegates lo this Conven tion.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers