ais.4
the IGth of April. 1838, to continue ano
ther year unpaid at lour per cent. The
farmer of these 1611 tall due on the 15th
of October, and the latter un the 6th of
June, 18S9.
By these loans, the only control over
which allowed to the Executive was that
or keeping down the rate of interest, the
State Treasury, in spite of calculation.
and estimates to the contrary, has contin
ued and still dues continue to discharge ,
all claims against the Commonwealth.
The whole amount of the receipts into
the Treasury, during the year ending
with the 3 tst of October last, including
the balance from 1837, was four million
nine hundred eighty-nine thousand two
hundred and twenty-three dollars and
three cents, and the whole amount of pay
ments for alt purposes, was four millions
eight hunrWed and eighty-nine thousand
eight hundred sixty-three dollars and sev
erity-three cents—showing a balance that
daj of ninety-nine thousand three hun
dred fitty-nine dollars and thirty cents.
Among the disbursments are included
one hundred fifty-seven thousand six hun
dred twenty-two dollars and eighty-nine
cents paid as expense, in part, of the
Convention to propose amendments to
the Constitution. During the preceding,
year seventy-one thousand seven hun
dred thirty-nine dollars and sixty-seven
cents had been paid on the same account;
and it is supposed that a balance of fifty
thousand dollars is still or will heroine
due, so that the whole expense of the
Convention, and its incidents, will be two
hundred seventy-nine thousand three
hundred sixty-two dollars and filty-7:1
cents.
The piobahle amount of income from
all sources during the present year, will
be three millions tour hundred fifty-three
thousand eight hundred thirty-eight dol
lars, viz:
Canal and Railroad tolls,
Bank of United States lor Com
mon Schools, 100,000
Land and Land office fees, 62,000
Auction duties and commissions, 90,000
Dividends on Bank stock, 160,000
Tax on Bank dividends, 115,000
Dividends on Turnpike, Bridges
and Navigation stock,
Retailers licences,
Tavern licences,
Collateral Inheritance tax
Tax on writs,
Tax on certain officers,
Tax on Loan coinpanies,
Hawkers and Tin and Clock Fed,
tars licences,
Fourth Instalment Surplus Rev-
enue,
Balance of Loan per 3d section
act 14th April, 1958,
Miscellaneous,
$3,453,838
The probable demands on the Treasu
ry, exclusive of appropriations to be made
during the present session, and of loans
which will be due during the year, will be
three million three hundred twenty-three
thousand nine hundred twenty-seven dol
lars and ninety-one cents, viz:
Balance of appropriations for Inter-
nal Impro4 - ment purposes, by act
of 14th April, 1838, 532,057 01
Do. do. to Turnpike State roads
and bridges, 95,670 90
For motive power,
Interest on State debt, salaries
of Collectors; Lock keepers,
&c. 1,180,800 00
_
Expenses of Government, 290,000 00
Balance of expense of Reform
Convent!on,
Militia expenses,
Pensions and Gratuities,
Education,
_ .
House of Refuge.
Penitentiaries,
Geological survey, 1r.,000 00
Interest on Treasury loans. 99,000 00
Cost of repaving Juniata Ca-
__
Interest of Temporary loans, 40,000 00
--- - - -
Miscellaneous,
$3,323,927 91
This will leave a balance at large du
ring the year, of only one hundred and
twenty-nine thousand nine hundred dol
lars and nine cents, which would have
been two million one hundred thousand
dollars at least, if your pre.lecessurs had
not been so liberal of the public funds,
and if the yield of the pul.lic works had
not been reduced by the breach on the .Tu
niata. But it is to late to remedy past
profusion or misfortune. The future is
now to be provided for.
It will be your first duty, in reference
to the public works, to provide necessary
Repair fund for the present )ear. The
immediate appropriation of a sum sutlisi
cnt for that purpose is strongly recom
mended, as a means of ensuring. their
continued use, and consequently, the lar
gest return from them, during the next
season.
It will be for the Legislature next to
decide whether the works now in progress
shall receive appropriations for the pres
ent year; and if so, from what scource
the means shall be derived. And also to
provide funds to pay the loins that will
fall due.
I once thought that no combination of
circumstances could cause me even to hes.
itate in advocating the speediest means
that could be devised, for the completion
of oar nlble system of Improvements.—
llnt the experience of the past two years
has, I confess, shaken my confidence in
the attainment of that desirable end,
within any reasonable period. I have be
held the l'reasury amply supplied with.l
means, and yet the Session terminate
without any provision for the prosecution
of the works, because the terms dictated
by Companies and sectional jealousies
could not be complied with. The next
year, the Executive has been compelled,
for the sake of obtaining a Repair fund,
without which,•even the portion already
in operation would have been thrown idle,
to sanction a bill, pouring almost the last
dollar of the public into the coffers of the
private companies, and into new channels.
Thus has it come to pans, that, notwith
standing a succession of circumstances
the most fortunate, and of receipts the
most ample and unexpected, the Com
monwealth is lelt without means to con
tinue her own works, and redeem her
,own faith. Her contractors—her citizens
—and the public generally, are, I fear,
about to possess good cause of complaint
that she has entered upon undertakings
that she cannot accomplish; or, as the only
,alternative, the means to complete and
render productive the projects of private
speculation, which have already proved so
burthensome to the Treasury, and so in
satiable in their demands, must continue
to be granted without!, yard to consequen
ces.
If I could believe that the lesson, thus
far, would be sufficient to produce refor
mation, f could even compel myself to
recommend an increase of the State debt.
to meet the urgent wan.ts which are bow
around us, P.'dt I cannot, The same
spirit it. yet at work. The same tax will
"mill have to be paid by the State for per
mission to apply even her borrowed funds
to her own works. All I can do, there.
fore, is to commit the matter to the Leg
islature, with a statement of the sums
that are required, and the scource from
which they may be obtained, if resort to
l it be thought advisable.
1,600,000
The Erie Extension will need five hunt
dred thousand dollars; a similar sum will
be required on the North Branch Canal;
three hundred thousand dollars will be
the least that will effectually commence
laying the tails on the graded portion of
the Gettysburg Rail Road and continue
the grading of the remainder; two hund
red thousand dollars will be necessary on
the West Branch Canal; one hundred
thousand dollars on the Wisconisco Ca
nal and Allegheny feeder, each; three
hundred thousand dollars for ordinary
repairs, and one hundred thousand dol
lars for damages, Locomotives &c. togeth
er with one million to pay temporary
loans, making in the whole three million
oue hundred thousand dollars.
45,000
80,000
50,000
23,000
25,000
2,000
4,000
6,000
955,838
The only means left for obtaining this
large sum, is that of borrowing; and the
only scource. without paying an unreas
onable interest, is the Bank of the United
States, which, under its charter, may be
compelled to lend the money at tour per
cen t.
125,000
3,000
If money be at all appropriated for the
continuation of the works under contract,
less than the sum just designated for each
will be of little avail, and double the
amount, named should be given if it could'
be afforded; and if it is obtained it must,
be borrowed. I wish however, to be dis
tinctly understood as not recommending
that course. But in communicating to
the Legislature, the condition of the va
rious interests dependent on their action,
it is my duty to omit none.
Connected with the finances of the
State, another subject of importance
should receive your attention, six hundred
and ninety thousand dollars of the State
permanent Loan will fall due in 1839,
and one hundred and filtf thousand dol
lars in 1840. I have no hesitation in rec
ommending that a sufficient amount of
money to pay off their five per cent loans
when they become due, be borrowed from
the Bank of the U. States at four per
cent, and applied to that purpose in the
mode desc► ibed in tl►e annual message of
1836. It would also appear advisable to
offer to redeem such of the other five per
cent loans as shall become due within the
next few years in the same manner. By
adopptin; this expedient the annual draft
on the reasury will be lightened without
any increase of the principle debt.
59,000 00
25,000 00
50,000 00
350,000 00
5,000 00
21,200 00
380,000 001
50,000 00
It is presumed that Capitalists who hold
stock in the five per cent Loans about ex
piring. will not be unwilling to dispose of
it now for more permanent investment.
The monetary confusion and distress,
through which the country has been made
to pass by the experiments of the Gener
al Government, seem about subsiding, and
confidence between man and man and in
public faith and institutions is returning.
This then will not be an unpropitious mu.
ment for Pennsylvania to offer her credi
tors their money, that they may apply it
permanently in aid of some of the nume
rous projects of improvement that are in
contemplation or only awaiting the means
of completion.
During the year just closed a most
'healthful chang- has been accomplished
in our currency and a correspondent im
provement is new developing itself in all
the varied relations and interests that de
pend on the credit and confidence which
forms the true basis of the circulating
medium. The commencement of the
year saw the State covered with paper is.
sues in open violation of the plain words
and meaning of the law, but which the
necessity of the case seemed to justify.—'
They were taken almost without reluc
tance in all the dealings of the Comu,}uni•
ty, and no move was made towards in•',
tiding the enacted penalty on those who'
emitted them. At the same time the
Ranks had locked up the hard money or
the State to await as they said the mo
ment when it might be again paid out wi
thout danger of total withdrawal from us,
and without risk of injury to the Institu
tions of their debtors. These reasons
for th% course pursued seemed sound, and
the people acquiesced. The end has jus
tified the confidence reposed.
The work of this law of necessity —the
law above all law in the hands of au hon
est and intelligent community were watch
ed with intense interest. It was a glori
oue spectacle to behold a whole people,
as ons man, waiting calmly and patiently
for the safe moment of disenthralling
themselves—not vindictiveiy, one upon
the other, but the whole for the good of
the whole—from the grinding and gratui
tous inflictio.i. It was a noble proof of
the fitness of Repbublicans for self Govern
I ment, and was even enhanced by the fact
that the people were laboring to abate the
nuisance, not only unaided by, but in op.
position to the efforts of those whom they
had placed at the head of the Nation to
guard their interests.
The duty of the Executive of this State
was plain. It was to encourage the peo
ple in their patient course of suffering till
the moment for effectual self relief should
arrive, :and Ito sustain the monied institu
tions, so long as they li seetned to act ior'
no other object thsr u►e minion good. In
this attitrt•; e the rising of Congress an
tbunced that the people might once more
I ti.ke measures for their own relief without
danger of mischief or counteractions
from their public servants. A call was
at !once made on all to restore the safe
empire of the Law. It was nobly respon
ded to, and has proved perfectly effectual.
Never was there a Inure praise -worthy
instance of moderation exhibited by any
community than the clitzens of this state
at the time of the suspension of specie
payments and during its continuance,
nor of patriotic devotion to Law and pub
lic good then that displayed by their mo
nied institutions in the Resumption. The
consequence is that our currency is now
restored to its former soundness and all
distrust has disappeared.
Though I feel bound to bear this just
tribute to acts that have been so fullysus
tained by their results,;yet I cannot con
ceal the opinion that some part of the dif
ficulty arose from defects in the organi
zation of the ibanks themselves. I shall
not now occupy your time in recapitula
ting the remedies which / these defects
seem to indicate. That duty I attempted
fully to pertorm In the last annual Mes
sage, to which you are respectively refer
red, with the remark that the changes then
recommendedlare still deemed proper and
requisite•
In other reaps eta the public concerns of
the State have exhibited their usual order
and prosperity,lwith the exceptioh of a
disgraceful riot in the city of Philadelphia
on the 17th of May. Ths particulars of
that outrage are too generally known to
need repetition or comment here. So
flagrant however, was it, as in my opin
ion to call fur the interference of th
Executive ,to aid in the apprehension of
the preperataors—a Proclamation of re
ward was accordingly issued. I hope
this may be the last attempt, on the free
soil of Pennsylvania, to molest a peaceful
and ordinary assembly of citizens. Those
who counsel such violent proceedings,
should bear in mind that if tlidir oppo• I
nents are in error their cause will only ac
quire additional notoriety and permanence
from any opposition which takes the ap
pearance of oppression; whereas, if its
claim on public opinion be left wholly to
its own merit, it will soon sink into oli
vion unless there be something in it real
ly worthy of favor.
Some of the sister States that border
en the Canadas were in the early part of '
the year, the theatre of occurrences that
at one time threatened to lead to unpleas
ant
consequences. These scenes have
been recently rewarded, but the character
and true object of the persons engaged in
them, are now well understood, & scarce
ly any danger exists of collision between
the British and United States Govern
ments. The chief feature that bears an
apperance of importance in these procee
dings, arisen from the nature of the or
ganizato3 made use of. It has been coin
inunicated to me from a source entitled
to unlimited credit, that numerous Ma
sonic Lodges embracing many thousand
of sworn members, have been recently es
tablished in the frontier States, with the
express object of attacking and revolutirn
izing the adjoining British Provinces.
Those who know the perfect adaption of
sworn Secret Societies to such an object,
anti the reckless character of many of the
persons probably engaged in the enter
prise, can credit the statement. It is to
be hoped that no citizens of Pennsylva
nia will be found concerned in an under
taking so injurous to the rights of a friend
ly nation, and in such direct contraven
tion of every principle of international law
The fact however, presents one more and
a most convincing reason for the enact
ment of severs and effectual laws against
the administration of extra judicial oaths.
1 have frequently brought this subject
to the attention of the 'Legislature. it is
again presented with the ardent hope that
the necessary Legislation may take place,
and that the stumbling block may be at
length removed.
In reviewing our own domestic history
for the past year, many useful suggestions
present themselves.
The Geological Survey authorized by
the session of 1835-ti, is steady advancing
—Fully one half of the State Chas been
traversed and examined, a considerable
part of it with all the minuteness requisit
to a final report. I have not been infor
med that further aid will be necessary to
complete this valuable and interestinr , un
dertaking. When brought to a c l ose,
important information highly
with certainty he expected from the gener
al report. The publications of the discov
eries and results of the 4 investigation thus
far, lies been very properly excluded from
the annual communications to the Legis
lature. It will require the whole term of
the survey to enable the geologist to
give them that certainty and precision,
which will form their most valuable fee
!tare, and which can alone grow out of re
peated and continued examinations analy
ses comparisons and inquiries. The wis
dom of this course will be fully admitted
when flee whole results shall be laid be
fore the State.
The bearing of the survey on the the at
ticles of coal and iron and upon the large
and varied interests connected with them,
imparts its chief interest. For several
years, heretofore, little importance was at- 1
tached to the exact deductions of Geolo
gy, Mineoalogy and Chemisty as connec•
ted with these staple coinmoTicies. This
was the ,case more especially with regard
to the former. Large tracts of coal land !
(::ere known to exist, but little desire was p
manifested to ascertain with exactness,
their boundaries, or the relative qualities!
of the mineral. Those were the days of!
speculation in coal land, and the projects!
of the speculator not pnfrequently shun-,
ned the unerring decisions of science.. But
they are passed as the days of actual op
erations in the mine have have succeeded.
It is now for thr interist of all to dive' il
lusion, and to subject every proje.ct and
every hope to the full light of sc ience and
truth before capital is invested or labor
expended.]
In this point of view the Geological Sur
veyor is of vast and increasing importance
to the whole litrte, and should be regard
ed and promoted accordingly.
The successful experiments that have
been made at Karthau & Farrandsville
to melt Iron with Bituminous 4 .30a1, and at
Manayunk, • Maunch Chunk and Easton
with anthracite, add new interest to this
subject: So perfectly satisfactory have
they proved, that large Furnaces in which
Anthracite Coal alone is to be used as fu
el, are now in progress of construction at
several points in the State. This success
ful union of stone coal and iron ore in the
arts is an event of decidedly great mo
ment to the prosperity of our State, than
any that has occurred since the applica
tion of steam in aid of human labor.
The trade in Coal and Iron will us.,
doubtedly form the main business of the'
vast, but yet half accomplished system of,
works in which the State is embarked,
and the chief hope of paying ofr the debt
of their cost. The transporting of produce
from the interior and merchandise from
the seaboard will, no doubt, be great,
and Pennsylvania will always possess
her due portion of it. But it is not neces
sary for her to desire its monopoly, Her
people as citizens of the nation. are satis
fied to see sister States embarked in the
noble rivalry, and, while they are convin•
ced of the many advantages of their own
routs, can rejoice to know that there is
room for the full success 'of all. But
when her coal and her iron descend from
her Mountain regoins into New York, and
the vast Lake country, from the North
Branch Canal.—are discharged at Erie
and Cleaveland, as well as at Pittsburg
! and Beaver from the same canal boat ,
!whioli loads at the mine or iron works are
!poured through the widned locks of the
Union canal, :and the completed 'ride
Water canal as well as the Deleware and
Schuylkill canals, upon the 'wharves of
her own commercial metropolis—the mag
nitude of the trade beyond that of the
mere carrying ofproduce and merchan
di7e will then only be tally appreciated.
If to these channels of wealth be added,
continuous rail roads to the Eastern and
Western Emporiums travelled by at least
one thousand busy passengers daily, and
an uninterrupted water communication !
between the Delaware rand Lake Erie for
the heavy trade, the cause which enables!
Pennsylvania to look without fear or jeal-',
ousy on the works of other States, is ap
parent. _
In such view of the subject, the neces
sity fur opening, widening and deepening
'every channel, and the policy of retain
ing the great leading avenues and outlets
in the immediate ownership and control
of the Commonwealth, become evident.
Hence the early enlargement of the Union
canal ~to the size and capacity of those
of the State, is a project of much inter
est to the public. Hence also the uniti
mate possession of the canal from Colum
bia to the Maryland line should never be
lost sight of, as a measure indispensable
to the perfection of the grand system.
The State now posseses the right to ac
quire this work at a time and price fixed
in the law authorizing its construction,,
and the legislature should be cautious
not to grant any privileges that may post-'
pone the one or add to the amount of the
other.
That all these desirable events can be
accomplished ,is as certain as that the time
of their arrival, will be postponed by pr
sisting:in the samecourse of squandering
the public resources, which has surround
ed our condition ut the present with so
much difficulty.
A joint resolution 'was adopted by the
Legislature on the 16th of last April, ma•
I king it the duty of the Secretary of the
'Commonwealth to obtain, through the a
'geucy of the assessors of county tax, gen•
eral satistical information relative to the
agriculture, manufactures , commercial
mining operations of the State. The res.
elution being adopted of er the period
when the assessments were actually coin-,
menced for country purposes, the queries
directed by it, were consequently not is
sued until recently. This afforded more;
time to make them full and comprehen
sive, and to prepare the proper instructions
They were issued in the early part of last,
month, though the medium of the differ
sot Boards of County Commissioners,l
with directions to have the information
collected during the present month, so
that it might embrace one full year.
It has been recently ascertained that
the Commissioners of several counties de
cline distributing the queries to the As
sessors, and enjoining on them a compli
ance with the liquirements of the resolu
tion, on the ground that they are not ex-'
pressly required to do so by its terms.
lint the resolution could not be well car
;•ieii into operation without their rgency.
The names and address of the different
Assessors were not in possession of the
Secretary, neither did it seem proper for:
him to employ them, in performance of a
duty far which the resolution expressly
declares that they are to be paid out of the
respective County Treasuries, without
the knowledge or concurrence of the
Commissioners. It therefore becomes,
proper for the Legislature to take soma
further action on the subject, without de%
lay, if a report is •desired at the present
session. The queries or tables have been
carefully prepared and distributed at con
siderable expense. The postage alone
amounting to upwards of a thousand dol
ars, thoug the packages were sent to all
he nearer counties by private conveyance.
Circulars have also been issued to the
sheriffs of the different counties calcula
ted to elecit information relative to Coun
ty prisons, under the resolution adopted
by the House of Representetives on the
19th of December 1837. It is expected
that the replies will all be received du.
ring the present month, so that a report
can be prepared and submitted early in
January.
A Circular was also sent to the Direc
tors of the poor of each county, that has'
la house for the support and employment
jot* the poor, calling their attention to that
Iportion of the 34th section of the act of
13th June, 1836, entitled "an act relative
to the support and employment of the
Poor,"
" which makes it their duty to for
ward annually to the Executive, for the
use of the Legislature, statement of the
accounts of their respective Institutions.!
This duty has been very generally ne- 1
glected heretofore, and the Legislature
thereby deprived of much useful infor
mation.
Occasions was taken at the same time
to etecit from the Directors and Sheriffs'
full information of the number and mn.!
dition of lunatic or insane persons in each
Poor House or Pris On. It is stated, by
many humane persons conversant with
the subject, that much wretchedness and
suilering of this discription exist, especi
ally in Poor Houses, which might be alle
viated, if not wholly avoided, if the mei
ancholly extent of the evil were general-,
ly known. When the desired informa
tion is received, it will be laid before you,
that the proper corrective may be applied.
This most probably will be found to con
sist in the establishment of a Public Asyl
um for deranged or insane persons.—
Such an Institution is wanting as a com
panion to our Deaf and Dumb, and Blind
Asylums. I feel that it is unnecessary
further to urge this subject upon your fa
vorable consideration.
The encouragement given by the Legis
lation of last session to the growth of the
mulberry tree. and the production of silk,
has thus far proved efficient, and promises
to include the silk business among our
chief subjects of industry and sources of
wealth. Many hundred thousands of
mulberry plants have been sent out and a
large quantity of cocoons produced. The
reeling of silk has also been regularly
practiced at many places and silk looms
established at Philadelphia, and Economy
in Beaver County. The business seems to
have gained such a footing among us, as
to promise permanence and profit. It
seems to be a branch of industry admira
bly adapted to the habits and strength of
the inmates of our county Poor 1 - louses.
It is worthy of enquiry whether a slight
encouragement, say a small donation an
nually to the Steward of each Institution
who shall produce a given number of
pound: of cocoons, might out have the ef
fect of substituting a light and pleasant
employment for the more laborious occu
pations in which the paupers are now en
gaged, and accelerate the permanent es
tablishment of the hunness hn the State.
In accordance with the provisions of
the act of last session on the subject,
Messrs. A. D Bache and F. Fraley, of
Philadelphia, and W. P. Alrich of Wash
ington county, were appointed Commis
sioners to examine and report to the Leg
islature, at its present session, on the
subject of a revision of the map of the
State, so as to correct the errors in its
topographical delineations, and to repre
sent the Geological and Mineralogical
features of our territory. It is under
stood that the Board will shortly report.
The result of their examinations will be
laid before you, and will of course Lee
ceive due attention.
•,The act of 1834, relative to Weighte
and Measares, which was continued is
force by an act of last Session, has not
yet been carried into operation. But a
prospect is now presented of speedily ac
complishing part ul• its requirements.. 1
have recently been informed by the pro
per Department of the General Govern
ment, that the standards of weight provi
ded under the acts of Congrsis for the
different States are ready for delievery.
They will eliortly . be• placed in the Secre
tary's office at this place, and copies will
be made for each of the counties. In
fulfilling the latter duty, the aid of the
Franklin Institute has been promised,
and will be relied on.
Until the standards • fur the different
counties • were procured and furnished, it
was not thought expedient to appoint a
regulator in each calmly, as directed by
the act of I£434.—Under the new Consti
tution it will now be the . duty of the Leg
islature to prescribe the mode of appoin
ting those officers.
The attention of the Executive was, a
short time ago, called by Col. Pleasanton
of the Ist Regiment of Pennsylvania Vol. ,
untcer Artillery, to the fact that the
State possesses a number of pieces of old
brass ordinance of various patterns and
calibres, scattered over the State. with a
suggestion that it would be proper te have
them recast, and thus recdered really
useful and valuable. It was also stated
that the work could be done well and rea
sonably at a foundry established near
Springfield, Mass. The prop ,sition was
approved of, and the Adjutant General,
with the aid of Col. Pleasanton, (which
was liberally offered,) instructed to have
them collected at the different Arsenals.
The communications of Col. Pleasanton
accompany this message and will explain
this subject fully. I concur in the propri
ety of the measure, with the hope, howe
ver, that the changes may not be made to
embrace pieces of cannon with which are
associated any of the glorious events cf
the Revolution.
Commodore Elliot of the United State.
Navy, not unmindful of his native State,
while bearing the Flag of the Nation over
distant Seas, has made me the agent of
presenting to the Legislature, in his naive,
a beautiful and appropriate gilt. It con-,
sista of a likeness, in oil, of Christopher
Columbus, the discoverer of our Conti
nent, and another of Americus Vespucius,
from whom it receives its name. To these
is added the figure of the American Fa
4le, carved by an American citizen, in
marble, from Alexandria Tons.
The Commodore's letter accompanies
this message• The presents are now in
the executive Chamber, subject to the
disposition of the Legislature, and will, I
feel certain, be suitably received and .
preserved.
On the 17th of September, being the
anniversary of the glorious sortie film,
Fort Bile, it was my agreeable duty •to
present to Brigadier General Hugh Brady
of the United States Army, the Sword
unanimously voted to him by the Legit;la,
tore of his native State. The veteran
soldier now bears the token of his coun
try's approbation. It was my•desire that
it should not be unworthy of the Common.
wealth. It is indeed a beautiful spec imen
of the artists taste and skill, and appro.
Ipriately commemorates the deeds inten
ded to be rewarded. It is the work of
Fletcher and Bennett, of Philadelphia,
and cost one thousand and ninety dol
-1 at s.
Permit me to call your attention to a
matter connected with the official arrange
ments of both !louses of the Legislature;_
but in which the public at large have an
interest. It frequently happened, during
the Summer recess, that citizens of the
Commonwealth require for use in Courts
of Justice or in the. progress of claims for
Pensions from the National Oovernment,
either original papers or exemplified co
pies of papers in the possession of the
Legislature. The Clerks have no power
to give the orig,inals nor are they posses
sed of an official seal with which to au
thenticate copies. The only mode of
producing the desired documents in court
is to subpcena the clerk and cause him to
carry with him the paper desired. But
even this troublesome expedient fails bee
tween the second Tuesday in October an
nually end the day on which the Legisla
tore assembles, for during that period the
Clerk's functions cease. It would pro
mote the public convenience if the clerks
were authorised to keep a seal and give
certified copies of documents file to be
used in evidence. The trouble of makmk,
and forwarding the copies might be paid
for by a reasonable fee in each case; and
the official character of the clerks of each
session might be extended by expresa
enactment till the commencement of thu
The contingent fund of the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth is gener
ally insufficient during the year in which
the Governor's Election occurs. Out of
this fund are Paid the Postage Meissen
ger's Salary. the price of fuel printing
Stationary &c. both for the executive
cnamber and Department of State. The
Postage on election returns for Governor
and on the large number of letters whic
are addressed to the executive during tic
first six months of his term, generall .7 - ex
haust the fund before the first of Aprfi
which day the year commences. 'tit
fund of the present year will be quite in
sufficient. This is caused by the largc
number of circular lettere sent out (inclu
ding the Statistical tables before alluded
to) in accordance with the directions of
the Legislature and in performance of the
duties of the office. It will be ,necessary
to make some provisions to meet the de
mands now existing. and those which will
become due before the first of April. The
amount allowed annually is'two thousand
seven hundred dollars. This sum is
more than enough for the second and third
'J.:~.d