jects, as one worthy its special consideration ana favor. T refer with much satisfaction, to the- reports f the Auditor General and State Treasurer They exhibit in detail the condition of the finan- vs.of the State, and show the laudable indus try a-nd intelligent care which these officers have f-inployed in the discharge of their important and laborious duties. Before the passage of the act of Assembly of list session, whicn transferred to the county in which the crime may naveheen committed, nav men! of expenses for . arresting fugitives from jusiice, the Stale had become liable to various agents, duly authorized, to an inconsiderable amount. This liability could not be met, be cause no appropriation was made for that pur pose. The individuals interested in this matter are justly entitled to remuneration, and I res pectfully recommend that an appropriation be made to liquidate their claims. The amount will be laid before you by the Auditor General. In consequence of the engagements of the Adjutant General in the organization of the vol unteers for the service of the United States in the war with Mexico, his annual report upon our military affairs has not yet been received; as soon as it comes to hand it will be transmit ted to the General Assembly. The Act of the 20th of March, 183C, provided for the appointment and compensation of a State Geologist and his assistants, and a competent practical, analytical, and experimental chemist, for the purpose of making an accurate geologi cal and mineralogical survey of the State, with a view to determine the order, succession, ar rangement, relative position, and the dip or in clination, and the comparative magnitude of the j several geological formations within the State. and to discover and examine all deposites of ores, coals, clays, marbles and such other min eral substances as may be deemed useiul or val uable. The State Geologist was required to make annual reports of the progress of the sur vey 10 cause to be represented on the map of the Commonwealth, by colois and other appro priate means, the various areas occupied by the differpnt geological formations in the State, and 10 mark thereon the localities of the respective deposites of the various mineral substances dis covered. It is made the duty of the chemist to make full and complete examinations, assays, and analyses of all such rocks, ores, soils, min eral substances and mineral wateis, as may be submitted to him by the geologist, and to fur nish him with a detailed and complete account of the results so obtained. It was also made the duty, among other things, of the State Ge ologist, upon the completion of the survey, to compile a memoir of the geology and mineralo gy of the State, comprising a complete account of the leading subjects and discoveries embraced in the survey. In pursuance of this act. a Slate Geologist and his assistants. &c, were appointed, who proceeded with the work, and the State expen ded upon it the sum of S7G,G57 87. A number of annual reports were made, as provided by law; but. the main object of the Legislature, the publication of a complete memoir of the survey, exhibiting the results of the examinations, and embodying for the use of the public the vast sum of information, for which so large an amount of public money was expended, has not yet been accomplished. It appears to me that this subject is of sufficient importance to secure Legislative consideration frequent complaints have for years been made by the people, of the lime consumed in the legislature by the passage of private and local bills, which greatly increase the business and create subjects for repeal and amendment. Many laws arc thus enacted which-appear to be jegarded as of little conquence or value, for of the acts of the last session; forty-three remain in the office of the Secretary of the Common wealth, which have neither been enrolled nor printed, because of the small amount of tax to which they are subject by the act of the 16th of April, 1845, has not been paid into the State Treasury. Thus, after the time in preparing and passing these bills has been consumed, and the cost of printing and transcribing them has been incurred, they are suffered to remain in the office, useless and neglected. This proves that much private legislation could be profitably dis pensed with, and the time it occupies devoted to subjects of general legislation, by which the duration of the session would be shortened, and the expenses of the government gieatly dimin ished. The progressive increase of the number of divorces granted by the Legislature, forces this subject upon the consideration of the General Assembly. It appears to be the settled policy of this State, to provide by law for the dissolu tion of the marriage contract for other causes than adultery. These causes are enumerated in the Act of the I3th of March, 1S15. They embrace a wide range, and seem to provide for all the grievances that may arise in this inter esting relation, which require legal interposi tion. Special acts of the Legislature for disturbing the contract between husband and wife, are cal culated to arrest the attention of every good cit izen, when it is remembered that the disregard of marriage vows, and facilities for releasing parlies from their obligation, are justly regar ded as strong indications of degeneracy in pub lic virtue and public morals; and that a high re gard of martial rights, and a sacred observance of marriage contracts, are among the strongest proofs of the progress of civilization, and of the influence of true teligion. The preamble of the act of 1815, commends itself to our approval by the wisdom and apt- ness for which it is distinguished. The Legis lature there say, "Whereas, the divine precepts )fthe Christian religion the promotion of the best interests of human happiness, the design of marriage, and the object of parties entering into the marriage state, require that it should continue during their joint lives." These salutary truths, so well expressed, pre sent, in imposing terms, the duty of extreme caution in interfering with the sanctity of the marriage contract. It may be true that cases occasionally arise nf such extreme hardship, as to warrant the pas sage of special acts of divorce; but such as re quiro legislative interposition can but seldom uccur, unless the wide range of the act of 1815 is extended beyond reasonable limits The signing of bills for dissolving the bonds of matrimonv has always been to me a perplex ing duty. 1 have hitherto given my assent to tru-m, confiding in the judgment and discretion of the representatives of the people, to whom, and not to the Executive, the facts of each case :re submitted. But upon a review of the spe cial divorces granted since the enactment of the act of 1815, it appears that there has been an alarming increase of them, which should, in mv opinion, be arrested. During the first period of ten years after the passage of the said act, Jaws were passed for divorcing the parties of sixteen marriage contracts; during the next ten years, forty-two, and during the last ten years, ninety were passed. 1 know of no change in the habits, manners, or condition of the citizens of the State, in their social relations, or in the increase of their num ber, that accounts for, or warrants this increase of divorces. It is possible that the cause of it may in a degree be found in the facility of ob taining legislation on the subject. Without further inquiry into the cause, the effect is, in my judgment, injurious to the public welfare, and should be strictly guarded against in iuture. Whatever doubts may have been, or are now enteitained, of the power of the Legislature to pass divorce-laws, for any other cause than adul tery, or to pass them under the provisions of the Constitution of the United States', that no State shall pass any law impairing the obligation. of contracts, it seems to be conceded, against the opinions of many wise and good men, that the power may be constitutionally exercised; but in view of these opinions, the extreme delicacy and responsibility of granting these applications, appear in a strong light. Under the marriage contract, important and valuable rights are vested in the parties, and heavy responsibilities are assumed which should not be disturbed, even when the power to inter fere is unquestionable, without legal notice to the party who is to be affected by the proceed ing, and a fair and open trial, the right to which cannot be doubted, and can only be secured by referring the parties to the judicial tribunals. Jn every view 1 can lake of this interesting subject, 1 am persuaded that these special legis lative divorces have a dangerous tendency, and that if the power to grant them is exercised at all, a proper regard for the public welfare re quires that it should be limited to cases of ex treme hardship and unquestionable propriety. The progress of our age in civilization has been distinguished in Pennsylvania, by the ame lioration of the penal code, and her improved prison discipline. The organization of her pen itentiaries, their domestic economy, and the care and attention to the support, cleanliness, industry, and moral instruction of their inmates, have secured the general approbation and con fidence of our citizens, and have excited the ad miration of other States and nations, and fur nished models for their imitation. The Phila delphia society for alleviating the miseries of public prisons, has exercised an efficient agen cy in producing these valuable results. In or der that all the benefits of experience may be had and improved, they submit the propriety of making provision by law for obtaining, annual ly, accurate information relative to the convic tions for crime, the character of the criminals, the condition and expenses of the penitentiaries and prisons of the Commonwealth, and the costs of supporting the convicts. The motives of this sociery are so disinter ested, and the reasons they assign for collect ing the information required, are so conclusive, and so ably represented in a communication which I have received from them, that I take great pleasure in traesmitting copies of it here with, in order that the philanthropic views of the society, and the importance of the subject, may receive that early attention of the General Assembly which they so richly merit. The government of Pennsylvania, and her literary, charitable and benevolent institutions, are among the first and best. The people are industrious, intelligent, and enterprising. In time of peace, quiet and unobtrusive in war, firm and decided. Blessed in her physical re sources and her institutions, and animated by the spirit of her holy religion, her onward course in improving her social condition is rapid. The great element of preserving, enlarging and perpetuating her greatness, is the universal ed ucation of her youth. In this, too, she has for a number of years advanced with the vigor by which all her great efforts are distinguished. The able report of the Superintendent presents the steady and uniform progress of the system of common school instruction. That it is yet imperfect, and to some extent inefficient, may be freely admitted ; but, who can doubt that the wisdom and energy which commenced, will ma ture and perfect it. In conclusion, gentlemen, accept assurances of my heartv co-operation with you in all meas ures for advancing the welfare of our citizens,! and maintaining the honor and dignity of our beloved Commonwealth. FRS. R. SHUNK. Executive Chamber, Ilarrisburg, January 6, 1847. A Lncofoco paper talks of administering "a rebuke to ihe Tories and Cowards of Mas sachuseiis" referring lo those who do not make up a regimeni for ihe Mexican war. j Now, this we call pretty severe language to- j wards ihe fifiy-two thousand, eight hundred and forty-six locofocos of Massachusetts, who voied for Polk and Texas under ihe solemn assurance of thjeir opponents ihat war would follow. And the more especially as Captain Webster whose name has been held un to the wondering masses of the democracy as ; neea ci0 nollllng more lnan refer our readers to synonomous with Toryism was the first, j tnat as a complete refutation of the whole argu and for some lime the only man who could ment. We deeply regret, therefore, that the Gov or would muster a company for the war ! I ernor of Pennsylvania had not discretion enough ; A letter from Camafgo complains of the j ,1 payment of the troops. It says : ; j bat ll i Irno itlal ttiav !..... !..... IT...; ... . : t ' r i r ernor ,,as served up on the Tar ff. .It iS but a re pay our inou in J reasury notes of the fize of , , , r, , , . s uu J re S500-a beautiful com certainly for our men lmsh f ,ho S,ale dCtrmes of the " Kane to buy Urn little luxuries and necessaries of aI)0Ur,d,nS in expressions about "incidental pro the Soldier not supplied by Government. tectI,,n'" "manufacturing, agricultural and com The.se notes cannot be used much short of "errial interests," " ultra protection," ami " hori ten per cent, discount. This deducted from zontal duties." He knows that the Tariff Act of the scanty pay of $7 per month leaves but a,' 1840, has not even the remotest feature of "inci poor recompense for the many privations denial protection" about it, and that instead of pro which our men have suffered since their de- tecting home industry, it actually discriminates panure from their comfortable homes and acrainsi it: VP.t ho. hne'nnt th mnni:nM ind friends At a meeting held in New-York a few eve nings since, to devise measures in aid of the suffering poor of Ireland, nearly a thousand dollars were subscribed, and committees wer appointed to canvass the bity for fur ther suuscriptions. 2 shad were caught at Savannah, 22d ult. JE FFERS 0 NIAN REPUBLICAN Tlmrsday, January 14, &47. imii imujmiiiiii"" mmmi mum -m i iiiini Terms, $2,00 in advance: $2,25 half yearly; and $2,50 if not paid before the end of "the year. FOR GOVERNOR, PETER S. MICHLER, OF NORTHAMPTON. Subject to the decision of the 4th of March Convention. inmrtuitrfl.J1It,r.iMM..r r m Whig State Convention. A State Convention, to be composed of Del egates from ihe city of Philadelphia and the several counties equal to their representation in the General Assembly of this Commonwealth, will be held at Harrisburg, on TUESDAY, the 9th day of MARCH next, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, for the purpose of selecting candid ates for Governor and Canal Commissioner to be supported by the Whigs and the friends of the Protective Policv at the next ensuing elec tion, and to transact such other business as may be deemed important to ihe success of the Whig cause. J. P. SANDERSON", SAMUEL D. KARNS, JOSEPH KONIGMACHER, MORTON McMICHAEL, GEORGE ERETY, H.JONES BROOKE, THEO. D. COCHRAN, JAMES FOX, JAMES MARTIN, WILLIAM BUTLER, J. J. SLOCUM. JOHN R. EDIE, EDGAR COWAN, JOHN B. JOHNSON, Wm. J. HOWARD, Whig State Committee. The Governor's Message. The importance of. the subjects upon which Gov. Shunk treats, in his annual Message to the Legis lature, has induced us to publish it entire in this week's paper, so that our readers may have it be fore them at once. Although not so short as it might have been ; yet its length is moderate, and we trust will not prevent a single friend of the commonwealth from reading it from beginning to end. As is usual on such occasions, the friends of the Governor pronounce the Message to be a non such ; and many others, who have either not taken the trouble to read it all, or have done so in a su perficial manner, and without reflection, join in its praise. We are not of this class. We have giv en the document a careful and attentive perusal, and are satisfied that it is far from being such a State paper, as the exigency of the occasion called for. Of the three absorbing topics introduced in to the Message, viz : the Mexican War, the State finances, and the Tariff", he speaks of but one in a truly becoming manner. His observations on the State credit, are clear, explicit, appropriate and well-timed, and wejhope his favourable anticipa tions, on this head, may be realized to the letter. They are eminently deserving the attention of the Legislature. But his remarks on the War, and the Tariff, are not such as we looked for from the Chief Magistrate of Pennsylvania. Had he contented himself with alludipo- to the requisitions made upon him by the President, for troops, and eulogizing the patriotism of our citi zens for the promptness with which they respond ed to those requisitions ; as well as urging upon the Representatives of the people the propriety of taking the proper action to secure the repayment, to the volunteers, of the expenses they necessarily! incurred in preparing themselves and marching to Pittsburg, we would heartily have approved of his suggestions. But, when, for the purpose of court ing the smiles and approbation of the President, he discusses the origin of the War, and endorses the one-sided argument made use of bv Mr. Polk, in his late Message lo Congress, he descends from his lofty position, and humbles the State, bv assu ming the attitude of a fawning partisan. The or- igin of this War with Mexico, is so ably set forth, and the sophistry of Mr. Polk's arguments so clearly exposed, in the article which we copied last week from the National Intelligencer, that we i t , !to remain silent on a subject which he could not io remain silent on a subjet approve, without incurring VVe havo ,)0 relish f()r su the severest censure. such a dish as the Gov- , r n , . . . . . iu auiuu up jut rtuMisyjvania s interest and de nounce it Mr. Shunk, like Mr. Polk, (in view of his being a candidate for re-election next fall.) is williug to entertain the people of the Keystone, with unmeaning talk about protection ; but he has. not one word to say against the fraud of 1844, bv which we were betrayed and had the advocates of Free Trade imposed upon us. His love of the protection of which he speaks, is moreover so light, that all he can say against the measures of Free Trade is, (we quote from his Message.) " Should the changes made in the rate of duties, by the tariff act of 184G, affect injuriously any of the great in terests of the country, we must unite our efforts to induce Congress, to whose care and discretion the subject is committed by the Constitution, and on whose wisdom and justice we may safely rely, to make all just and reasonable amendments." This language implies that the Free Trade Tariff of 184(5, may afford sufficient protection; but if it should fail lo do so, we must unite our efforts to induce Congress (not Mr. Polk its author) to amend it. Here then we have an ingeniously woven ar gument, intended in the first place to make our people satisfied with the Tariff Act of 1846 ; and failing to do that, in the second place, to draw their attention from its real authors, (the President and his Cabinet,) and fix it upon Congress. Such duplicity as this cannot be too severely rebuked ; and unless the public mind is more warped than we have reason to believe, this effort of Mr. Shunk's, to screen Mr. Polk from merited condemnation, will recoil on his own head. The other topics in the Message are few, and, in the main, good. The IL.egisEa.ture. The Legislature of Pennsylvania met at Harris burg. on the 5th inst., and organized by electing Charles Gibbons, Esq., of Philadelphia, Speaker of the Senate, and the Hon. James Cooper, of Ad ams, Speaker of the House. These gentlemen are both Whigs, and received the unanimous sup port of their party. Mr. Cooper also received the vote of one Independent Democrat. On Wednes day the Gth inst., the Message of Gov. Shunk was read in both Houses. ISlaekwocd's Magazine. We have received No. 3 of Godey's reprint of this far-famed Magazine. Like the two preceding numbers, it is excellent. Concert. The several Singing Schools under the direc tion of " Brooks," will give a Concert of Vocal Music, at the Presbyterian Church, in Strouds buig, on Tuesday evening next, the 19th inst., at 7 o'clock. The Concert is given in order to let the public judge of the improvement made under the instruction of their present teacher. The cit izens of the borough and vicinity, are respectfully invited to attend. The Concert is to be free to all. Important if True. The New Orleans La Patria says : "Accord ing to information given us by a friend in this city, who has seen a letter from San Luis de Potosi, written by an officer of the Mexican army, " General Santa Anna has administered an oath to all the officers of his troops, not to lake the li ves of American soldiers who may fall into their power, but to make them prison ers, to be sent into the interior, where a depot for prisoners is under peparation." The Journal of Commerce says that the Sub Treasury, so far as it hears, is not much besides an object of contempt, and that the government itself is the chief sufferer by it. Letters from Washington state that the Gov ernment will soon resort to the issue of Treas ury Notes lo a large amount, and some as I6w as S10. The Washington Fountain says that Con gress will vote all the men and supplies neces sary to flog Mexico into a peace. The Legislature of Delaware has elected Prestley Spruance, U. S. Senator from Del aware, in the place of the Hon. Thomas Clay ton. The new Senator is a decided Whig. An- Exposition of Locofoco Principles, by a Member of the Party. The Boston Atlas contains the following : Well Jerry,' said a Whig to a leading Lo cofoco in Norfolk county on the reception of the late election returns from New York, what do you think of the news from New York?' 1 Oh,' said Jerry, ' our measures are before the people, and it remains with them cither to sustain or reject thorn.' ' Your measures!' said the Whig, what are your measures?' Why,' said Jer ry, 1 we have reduced the Tariff we have an nexed Texas made war with Mexico, and raised h-ll generally ' The quantity of land owned by the United States, exclusive of lands in Texas and Oregon, is two hundred and forty-two millions of acres. Just Missed. Three men were most killed a few days since at Nesquehoning, by the ac cidental discharge of a rifle. The ball passed through the nose of one, nkinned the eyebrow of another, and cut off ihe ear lock of tho third. A miss is as good as a mile, but we should ra ther be a liule further off so dangerous a wea pon. Carbon Co. Gazette. The Chester, Pa., Republican, says : We learn that a fatal disease, called the " Black Fe ver" prevails in Haverford township, in this county. Many persons think it contagious, and refuse visiiing those who are afflicted. Claims of the Polk Administatsou A Large STANDING ARMY ! An Immense PUBLIC DEBT ! A Magnificent Navy! A Strong Government ! Executive INFALLIBILITY ! SEDITION LAWS ! Territorial Aggrandizement ! r, Wars of Invasion, Conquest and Plunder ! Direct Taxes ! These, justly observes the New Brunswick Fredonian, form present and prospective claim to our fealiy and admiration of the present ad ministraiion. If Alexander Hamilton, or the elder Adams were alive, we should, without doubt, think ourselves under the reign of the most absolute Federalism, instead of the mild and balmy and honied Democratic sway ! The following extract is from Oliver Old school's sketch of a speech of Col. Baker, of the Illinois volunteers, in the Houseof Repre sentatives, in which he has. just resigned his seat, to return to Mexico : " He then referred to the charge that had been made against the Whigs that they were opposed to the war, and to granting supplies, and the manner in which they had repelled this foul charge. He deemed it an unjust charge Whigs as well as democrats rushed into the conflict. A son of Mr. Webster was at the head of a company of volunteers, the gallant Crittenden had two sons in the army ; and he ran over a long list of the most gallant officers men who had distinguished themselves by their bravery, who were staunch whigs. There was no political distinction in the army; Whigs and Democrats were equally hraye and gallant. Davis, who commanded the Missis sippi regiment, as gallant an officer as ever led his troops to battle was a democrat, while Lieut. Col. McClung, the bravest of the brave was an uncompromising Whig. He deprecated ihese discussions in the House ; what was wanted was ACTION, ACTION, ACTION. The army expected it and the country looked for it. All such attacks on the whigs as he had heard since he had came here, he looked upon uith contemnt and scorn. The Present Year. The observer of signs may look upon IS 17 with a fearful face. The year begins with Fri day and ends with Friday that very unlucky day. The fourth of July comes on Sunday very unlucky. For the first lime in the "re collection of the oldest inhabitant," there will be no full moon this year in the month of Feb ruary unlucky month. Our national political day begins on Sunday, the 4th of March un lucky day. There will be no eclipse visible in the year unlucky for siar-gazers. Bui, as an offsett for the whole, January is to be blessed with two full moons, and March wiih a like number this will he lucky, and will perhaps throw light enough over the dark feature of the year to overcome all evil prognostications. Portsmouth Journal. Bricks. The number of bricks made last year in this country, is estimated at 300,000, 000, employing 50,000 men in their manufac ture. The expense of making bricks vane from $2 to $7 per thousand. Save your Sugar. In cooking sour apples and cranberries, add a teaspoonful of sala?ratus. The acid will be naturalized by the alkali. By this means three-fourths of the sugar will be saved. So say the papers. So says science. "It's a fact," adds experience. Reward of Merit. A member of the Sen ior Class of Williams College on Thanksgiving day ran away with and married a young lady of Williamstown, and his class have voted htm a cradle ! PiUburg Elections. Pittsburg, Jan. 6, 1S17. City elections yesterday. Every ward Whig and anti-license by large majorities. Anti-license majority 1200! Whig majori:y over 600! The election was for city councils and other corporation officers. The election for Mayor takes place next Tuesday. Wisconsin. The Conention 'to frame a Constitution for this Stale, was still in session at the last accounts. The following provisions have been adopted : "A provision that the homestead of a family shall not be liable to sale on execution for any debt hereafter contracted. It has also been settled that the property possessed by a wife at marriage, or fairly acquired by her after wards, shall not be liable for the debts of her husband. Judges are to be chosen by the peo ple, at a special election in July next. Tho Cholera is destroying human life by thousands in Asia. . ;.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers