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VOLUME XVII.
BALTIM ORE LOCK HOSPITAL
WHERE may be obtained the most speedy re•
tnedy for
SECRET DISEASES.—GIeets, Strictures,
Seminal Weakness, Pain in the Loins, Affections
of the Kidneys, and all those Peculiar Affections
arrising from a SOCKET HAM, particularly the
youth of both sexes, which if not cored, produces
Constitutional Debility, rendering Marriage impos
sible, and in the end destroys both Mind and
B Y O UNG o
MEN Especially, who have become
the victims of Solitary Vice, that dreadful and
destructive habit which annually sweeps to an un
timely grave thousands of young men of the most
exalted talents and brilliant intelect, who might
otherwise have entranced listning Senates with
the thunders of eloquence, or waked to testacy
the living lyre, may call with full confidence.
Married persons, or those contemplating Marri
age, being aware of physical weakness, sholtld
immediatedly consult Dr. J., and be restored to
perfect health."
DR. JOHNSTON, Office No. 7 SOUTH
FREDERICK STREET, SEVEN DOORS
FROM BALTIMORE STEET,East side UP
THE STEPS. Cr BE PARTICULAR in ob
serving the NAME and NUMBER. or you will
mistake the place.
A CURE WARRANTED, OR NO CHARGE
MADE, IN FROM ONE TWO DAYS.
Take Notice—Dr. Johnston's Office is in his
dwelling, UP THE STEPS. His very extensive
practice is a sufficient guarantee that hcris the on
ly proper Physician to apply to.
DR. JOHNSTON, Member of the Royal Col
lege of Surgeons. London, graduate from one of
the most eminent Colleges of the United States,
and the greater part of whose life has been spent
in the Hospitals of London, Paris, Philadelphia,
and elsewhere, has effected some of the most as
tonishing cures that were ever known, many
troubled with ringing in the cars and head when
asleep, great nervousness, being alarmed at sud
den sounds, and bashfulness, with frequent blush
ing, attended sometimes with derangement of
mind, were cured immediately:
A CERTAIN DISEASE.—It is a melancholy
Each that thousands fall Victims to this horrid dis
ease owing to the Unskillfulness of ignorant pre
tenders, who by the use of that deadly poison
Mercury, ruin the Constitution, causing the most
serious symptoms of this dreadful disease to make
their appearance, such as affections of the head,
throat, nose, skin, etc., progressing with fright
-1 ul rapidity till death puts a period to their dread
tal suffering, by sending them to that Bourne
w',ence no traveler returns .
TAKE PARTICULAR. NOTICE.—Young
rneu who have injured themselves by a certain
practice indulged in when alone—a habit frequctit
ly learned front evil companions, or at school—the
effects of which are nightly felt, even when asleep,
and if not cured renders marriage impossible, and
destroys both mind and body. ,
What a pity that a young man, the hope of his
country, and the darling of his parents should he
snatched from all prospects and enjoyments of life
by the consequences of deviating from the path of
nature and indulging in a certain secret habit.—
Such persons before contemplating.
MARRIAGE, should reflect that a sound mind
and body are the most necessary requisitsts to
promote connubial happiness. Indeedi without
these, the journey through life becomes a Weary
pilgrimage. the prospect hourly darkens to the
view; the mind becomes shadowed with dispair,
and tilled with the melancholy reflection, that thd
happi-ness of another becomes blighted with our
own.
CONSTITUTIONAL DEBILITY.—Dr. J.
esh resses young men, and all who have injured
themselves by private and improper indulgence.
IMPUISSANE.—These are some of the sad
and melancholy effects produced by early habits of
youth, viz: Weakness of the Buck and Limns,
Pains in the head. Dimness of Sight, Loss of
Muscular Power, Palpitation of the Heart Dys
peps itt, Nervous Irritability, Derangements of the
Digestive Functions, General Debility Symptoms
of Consumption, &G.
Atentally—Tho fearful effects on the mind art
much to be dreaded; Loss of Memory, Confusion
of ideas, Depression of Spirit, Evil Forbodings,
Aversion to Society, Self Distrust, .Love of Soli
tude. Ise. are some of the evils produced.
Thousands of persons of all ages, can now judge
what is the cause of their declining hetith. Los
ing their vigor, becoming weak, pale and emacia
ted, I ire a singular appearance about the eyes,
cough and symptoms of consumption.
Married persons, or those contemplating marri
age, being aware of physicist weakness, should
immediately consult Dr. J. and ho restored to
perfect health.
Oh FICE, NO. 7, SOUTH FREDERICK
STREET, Baltimore, Md,
AL SU RGICAL OPPERATIONS PER
FORMED.—N. B. Let no false delicacy pre
vent 1011, but apply immediately either personally
Or by letter.
Skit Diseases Speedily Cured.
TO STRANGERS.—The tansy thousands cur
ed at this Institution within the last ten years,
and the numerous important Surgical Operations
performed by Dr. J., witness by the Reporters of
the papers, and many other persons, notices of
which have appeared again and again Indere the
public, is a sufficient guarantee that the afflicted
will find a skillful and honorable physician.
As there are so many ignorant and worthless
quacks advertising themselves as Phisicians, ruining
the health of the afflicted Dr. Johnston would
say to those unacquainted with his reputation that
his Credentials or Diplomas always hang in his
011 ice.
WEAKNESS OF THE ORGANS immedi
ately cut ed, and full vigor restored.
eir ALL LETTERS POST PAID—REME
DIES SENT BY MAIL.
Jan. 8,1852.—1 y.
Watch Repairing.
Persons desirous to have their watches repaired
in a neat and substantial manner, will do well by
leaving them at Ed. Snare's Watch Store, as he
has secured the services of a workman, who, hav
ing worked in all the principal cities of Europe
and America, is perfectly acquainted with every
branch of the business, and he challenges this sec
tion of cotyttry to produce a superior.
All work warranted. Jan. 29, '52.
Are you Insured ?
t. not, insure your proputy at Once in the Cum.
berland Valley Mutual Insurance Company.
Apply to Gnu. W. SPEER, Agent,
Bridgeport, Pa.
OILS,GLUE, TOWENTINE, Sand, Paints,
Paint Brushes, Saud paper &c. & &c., at the
cheep store of BRICICER & LENNEY.
QLX DOLLARS and Fifty cents for the largest
13n1r1 Vanrila. at
Eft7 0 (I) 0 CD
nEWAHD
For the Man what Struck Billy Pat-
terson.
FALL AND WINTER GOODS.
I'M) attention of the public generally is invited
tb the fabt that
Si & W. SAXTON
halt jilet received one of the largest assortments
cif Fall and Winter Goods ever brought to this
place; all of which they offer at prices so greatly
reduced as to make their store
READ QUARTERS FOR BARGAINS !
Their supply embraces all the usual variety of
Cloths, Cassimeres, Settinets and Vesting;
Muslins, Prints, Flannels, &c. &c., to
gether with the latest styles of
LADIES' DRESS GOODS,
Consisting of Silks, Merinos, Par
metto Cloths, de Lanes, Ginghams, Ho
siery, &c.; and a very largo assortment of
Ladies, Misses and Children's Shoes;
and also of MBN'S AND BOYS' BOOTS AND
SHOES Of every description: They also invite
particula'r attention to their stock of
QUEENSWARE AND GLASSWARE,
And the best stock of HARDWARE iu town.
They have also
FRESH GROCERIES,
of the very best quality, which they will sell at
it very small advance on cost. Call and exam
ine for yourselves. They have also a beautiful
falai If
(b3eiaapas a
Carpeting, end every other article usually kept in
country stores. CfinVe will receive and store
grain, and also pay the highest market prices for
it and it is admitted by all that we have the
most convenient place to unload grain in or about
town. Oct. 6, '5l.
J. D. WILLIAMS. JOHN HAFT, JR.
J. D. WILLIAMS tit Co.,
TV holesale Grocers and Commission Merchants as
Dealers in Produce and.Pittsburg
Manufactures,
No. 116, Wbbd Street, Pittsburg':
rj AVE NOW IN STORE, and to arrive this
_a *telt, the following gtidtls, of the moat re
cent intObitations, which aro offered on the most
reasonable terms:
115 catty Ilexes plinth Green Tea.
45 half chests do do
46 " Oolong and Chaim.
100 bags Rio Conon
15 " Lagiiirii and itivat.
60 boxes l's, s's, and Ilb lump tobacco.
35 'ibis. N05..1 and 3 Mackerel.
20 and 4. do No. 1 do
2 and #do Salmon.
50 oxes scaled Herring.
1300 lbs extra Madder.
I bales Cassia, 1 bale Cloves,
6 bags Pepper & Alspice, 1 Uhl Nutmegs,
2 Übls Ground Ginger, 1 bbl ground pepper,
1 lib! Ground Pimento, 10 kegs ground Mustard
10 kegs groitttd Cassia, 10 do do Cloves,
2 bbls Garret's Snuff; 45 bxs Stearin Candles,
20 bxs Star Candles, 10 do Sperm do
100 do. Masons Black'g 100 lbs sup. Rico Flom,
100 lbs S. F. Indigo, 20 doe Ink,
150 do. -Corn Brooms, 125 do. Patent Zinc
50 bxs , extra pure. Starch, Wash Boards,
25 do Saleratus, 75 bbls N. 0. Molasses,
15 bbls H. Molasses, 10 do Golden Syrup,
25 do Loaf, Crushed, 550 lbs seedless Raisins,
& Powdered Sugar, 50 drums Stityttia Figs,
Aare Bordeaux Prunes, 50 lbs Sicily Ptfirtesi
5 boxes Hoek Candy, 2 boxes Genoa Citrolis,
10 do Cocoa & Chocolate, 5 do Castile & AlmOnd
12 don Military Soap, Soap,
bbl sup. Curb. Soda, 1 btil Cream Tartar,
1 case Pearl Sago 2 cases Isinglass,
2 cases Sicily & Refined 1 case Arrow Root,
Liquorice, 150 Bath Brick,
1 bbl Flour Sulphur,loo gross Matelies,
100 doe Extract of em. 5 ddi Lemon Sugar,
on, Rosh & Vonilla, 1 cask Sal Soda,
Glass, Nails, White Lead, Lard oil, &c.
Refer to Merchants Thomas Rend & Son,
Fisher & M'Murtrie,
41 Charles Miller,
" Honorable John Ker,
Huntingdon.
May 15, 1851.—1 y.
BELL, JOHNSTON, JACK, &CO:
(LATE BELL, JOHNSTON, & 00.)
OFFICE OF
•
Defithit, Discount Si, Exchange, _
.57 Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
James M. Bell, Robert B. Johnston, and Wil
liam Jack are the ACTIVE PARTNERS, who alone
transact the business of the firm.
TILE OTHER PARTNERS ARE
• A. P. Wilson,Wm. Dorris, Jr., Wm. P. Orbi
son, of Huntinlonk T. C. M'Dowell, Wm. M.
Eloyd, James Deuniston, R. M. Lemon, Geo. R.
M'Furlane, Samuel W. Rhodes, Samuel Calvin,
Thadeus Banks, John Cromwell, Jr., David Wat
son, Joseph Smith of Hollidaysburg, Alek M.
Lloyd, Baker & Watson, of Gaysport; John Mil
ler, of Temperuncevile, Blair county; E. Shoema
ker, of Ebensburg; Thomas White, of Indiana; S.
H. Smith, Jno. Crouse, of Johnstown; John K.
Nell; Samuel Dean, Jas. M. Johnston, of Wil
liamsburg, Pa.
14" OTHERS MAY AND WILL lIE ADDED.MI
Collections made in all parts of the United
States. Drafts furnished on Philadelphia, Pitts
burg, &c. &c.
The usual rate of Interest, in such cases, paid
on Deposits for 3,6 and 12 months, Other De
posits received payable on demand.
Hollidaysburg, March 11, 1852.-4 t.
SCOTT TMUSIPIFIANT !
PLENDID stock of WATCHES, CLOCKS,
10 aid JEWELRY, at Philadelphia prices.
Just received at Scot's Ciwap Jewelry Sore, three
doors west of Read Si. Bon'a Store. The public
arc respectfully solicited to call and see.
LAST NOTICE I
All. persons indebted to Neff & Miller by note
or book account, are requested to call on the un•
dersigned and make payment before the April
Court. By so doing YOW will save cost.
It. A. MILLER.
HUNTINGDON, PA., THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1852.
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House of Representa
tives of the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania : .
GENTLEMEN :-I had intended, imme
diately after my induction into office, to
communicate with you on the subject of the
public debt, and to exhibit the actual fi
nancial condition of the Commonwealth at
that period. After the necessary exami
nation, however; I discovered that I could
not do so with that precise accuracy which
should characterize the statements of an
official communication. There are out
standing debts on the public works; unpaid
claims; and balances of appropriations for
last year; the amount of which could not be
ascertained in time for this purpose. lam
therefore, I regret to say; compelled to
forego the performance of this duty, until
the meeting of the next Legislature. I
cannot, however, refrain from expressing
the views I entertain, and the anxiety I
feel on a few subjects connected with the
financial and other ['gabs of the State.
There is now due and unpaid two mil-
Iloilo four hundred and ninety-one thousand
two hundred and fifty-five dollars of the
bonds of the Commonwealth, bearing an
interest of six per cent., and a balance of
near one hundred thousand dollars due to
domestic creditors, bearing a like rate of
interest, besides one million three hundred
and ninety thousand dollars, at five per
cent.; over two millions will fall due iii
1853, and about three millions in 1854.
I respectfully suggest to the Legislature
the propriety of making provisions for the
cancellation of these matured bonds, and
such as may fall due during the coming
year, by authorizing the State Treasurer
to negotiate loans for that purpose, and is
sue the bonds of the Commonwealth, re
imbursable at the expiration of ton or fif
teen years, at a rate of interest not exceed
ing five per cent., with interest certificates
attached, of in the tidual form as may be
deemed proper: The present reduced rates
of interest 111 Europe, and the abundance
of money in the principal cities of this
country, afford ample assurance that suoh
loans can be negotiated at a rate of inter
est much below that which the State is now
bound to pay on those bonds. lam fully
satisfied by information which has reached
me through private, as well as public
sources, that the bonds of the State ex
empted from taxation, could be negotiated
at such rate of interest, as to make a very
desirable saving to the Treasury. It is
not so much the present rate of tax on the
bonds that would injure the value of new
ones, as the sensitive apprehension enter
tained by capitalists, that such rate of tax
ation might, at some future time be in
oreased: Besides these inducements to
cancel the matured bonds, we should not
forget that it is not befitting a great and
prosperous State like Pennsylvania, to have
a matured and unpaid debt resting upon
her. Such a state of affairs is not consis
tent with her dignity and her pride, and is
well calculated to have an injurious effect
upon her credit: Her ability to pay can
not be doubted, and the fidelity with which
her people have ever responded to every
reasonable demand to sustain her credit,
has excited unlimited confidence in her
integrity amongst the capitalists of this
country and Europe. I therefore, most
respectfully, submit this subject to your
consideration:
The receipts into the Treasury for the
year 1851, deducting the temporary loan
of $98,200, amounted to $4,472,393,93,
and the expenditures for the same year to
$4,780,667 53, or $508,363 40 more than
the whole receipts. In this expenditure is
included $185,138 91 which was paid to
the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund,
and cannot, therefore, be properly regard
ed as an expenditure, as it was used to can
cel a like amount of the founded debt,
leaving an actual balance against the Trea
sury of $123,225 49.
After full consultation with the financial
officer of the State and a careful examina
tion of the data which he has kindly placed
within my reach; I have arrived at the
conclusion, that the receipts and etpendi
tures for the current year may be estima
ted as follows, to wit :—Beccipts $4,325,-
000, expenditures $4,027,000, leaving a
balance of receipts over expenditures $298-
000, including in this expenditure an esti
mated payment to the Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund of $220,000. Butit should
bo observed, that in the expenditures for
last year, there is included the sum of
$442,196 applied to the North Branch ca
nal, and $30,000 for the inclined planes on
the Portage road and the Western reser
voir, making in all $472,196 expended on
new work during the last season. It will
be seen, however, by reference to the State
Treasurer's report, that the balance iu the
Treasury on the first of December, 1850,
was $754,252 81, whilst at the same peri
od of the year 1851, the balance was but
$513,979 21, being a difference against the
Treasury for this year, of $210,252 60,
which sum, together with tho $300,000 of
temporary loan, to be paid out of the re
' nainta of the nresent year. amount to $510,-
252 60, being $38,155 69 more than all
the payments for new work, and on this
data the balance in the Treasury at the end
of this year, is reduced to $259,844 40.
Thus it will appear, that Pll ould no accident
occur to the public works during the pre
sent season, we may reasonably anticipate
a surplus revenue of between two and three
hundred thousand dollars. Should the
improvements, however, be visited by any
thing like the extent of damage which be
fell them during the last year, this balance
would be reduced to a sum too meagre to
deserve notice. It is, therefore, apparent
that we cannot rely upon the surplus rev
enue of the Treasury during the current
year, for the means to prosecute the work
on the North Branch canal and the Portage
railroad with that vigor which the interest
of the State seems to demand.
I remarked at the time of my induction
into office that I regarded the speedy com
pletion of the North Branch canal as con
sistent with the truest principles of econo
my. The examination which I have given
the subject since that time, has tended
greatly to increase my confidence in the
truthfulness of that declaration. In this
view, I seem to concur in opinion with my
able and experienced predecessor, who took
occasion to recommend this subject to the
favorable consideration of the Legislature
in his last annual message. The policy of
resuming the prosecution of this work is no
longer an open issue, and need not now be
discussed. This question was settled by
the Legislature of 1849; since which time
about $650,000 have been expended on
the work; all of which, together with two
and a half millions originally expended,
and the amount of retained per oentage,
and the usual damages to the contractors
on the abandonment of the work, must be
entirely lost, unless the canal be temple-
Ited.
Tbd whole length Of this imprevement ie
ninety-four miles; fifty miles of which are
fully completed and the remaining forty
four are under contract, or ready to be put
under contract so soon. as the Legislature
may make provision for the payment of the
same. According to the estimate of Wil
liam B. Foster, the experienced engineer
on that line, $772,000 will be sufficient to
complete it; and that should the means be
promptly furnished, the whole line may be
broughtinto use in the early part of the
next season. Can it be doubted, for a mo
ment, that the next annual receipts on this
work will largely exceed the interest on
this meagre sum? I am confident that
those who have given the subject the least
attention will not hesitate on this point.—
I confidently believe that they will be suf
ficient not only to do this, but also to pay
the interest on the $650,000 expended
since 1849, and on the two and a-half mil
lions expended prior to 1841, and leave a
balance to go into the Treasury besides.—
I need not give you my reasons in detail,
for this opinion. The data on which it rests
has been presented to you in more forcible
terms than I could employ. It requires
but a glance at the operations on the com
pleted part of that improvement—at the
vast district of country which would be
supplied with anthracite coal through the
medium of this canal—the rapidly increas
ing consumption of this article wherever it
has been brought into use—to satisfy the
most incredulous mind that the tonnage on
this improvement must, in a few years, be
almost equal to its capacity. Some twen
ty-five counties of the State of Now York)
rich, populous and growing, embracing a
number of incorporated cities, now paying
high prices for fuel, would be supplied with
this article for domestic, wechauidel and
manufacturing purposes; in return for which
the canal would, to some extent, be freight
ed with salt) plaster, &e.; &e. The growth
of the anthracite coal business in the State
is almost incredible. If we may be allow
ed to take this increase as a data on which
to base an estimate of the future business
I of. this canal, it will more than equal the
lexpectations of its most sanguine friends.
We can scarcely realize the fact that the
'operations iu this article have grown from
80,000 tons in 1840, to near 4,500,000
tons in 1851, and iu all probability the
amount will exceed 5,000,000 for the cur
'rent year
If, then, it be so apparent thdt the in
come from this work will pay the interest
on its cost and leave a surplus for the use
of the Treasury besides, wise policy would
seem to dictate its speedy completion. I
most respectfully urge upon you the favor
able consideration of this subject at the
earliest day possible. The thus for doubt
and delay, it seems to me has gone by.--
This work must either be finished or over
three millions of the people's money, alrea
dy expended on it, must be thrown away.
To depend upon the present means of the
Treasury, would I am confident, lead' to
vexatious and injurious delay. The sum
necessary to complete it should, and I am
assured, can be obtained on a loan at a rate
of interest not exceeding five per cent., re
inibursible at such period as the -revenue
therefrom shall have reached the amount
of the interest and principal. lam aware
,&
-odiioont 1(m,
that there is a proper sensitiveness in the
minds of the people on this subject of bor
rowing Money; and I am sure that I should
not recommend any measure that would
have the effect of increasing their burthens.
But I altieerlil3 , believe 'that the tendency
of this measure will be to lessen rather
than increase them—thaf it is the best fi
nancial measure the Legislature can adopt
—that its ultimate tendency will be to aid
the Treasury in the liquidation of the pro
sent debt; certainly much more so than the
alternative of allowing the sum already ex
pended to be lost. The completion of this
work Rill also give an impetus to the growth
and prosperity of the northern portion of
the State; would invite men and money in
to that rich section of the Commonwealth;
and would be an act of justice to the peo
ple of that region who have ever; with a
true spirit of loyalty and generosity, Con
tributed their proper share towards sus
taining the honor and dignity of the State.
The importance of prompt and efficient
action on this subject cannot be overrated.
The citizens of the State of New York, who
intend to construct the connecting link be
tween our improvements and the Cheutung
canal; in that State, should have early as
surance that our improvement will be com
pleted. Business men, who desire to ope
rate on this line, will not make the proper
arrangements to do so until ample provision
is made for its completion. Every consid
eration of interest and economy, it seems to
me, dictates prompt and efficient action on
this question.
The avoidance of the inclined planes on
the Allegheny Portage railroad was also
commenced under the late administration,
and in my opinion, is a necessary work, and
should be prosecuted to completion as rap
idly as the means of the treasury will per
mit. It is an important link in our main
line of improvements, and has ever been
(and unless the planes aro avoided, will
continue to be) a source of heavy expendi
ture, great delay, and danger in the trans
portation of tonnage. The annual expen
diture to keep these planes in order has
been extremely heavy. It is estimated
that near a hundred thousand dollars
would be saved yearly in the expenses of
this railroad were the use of the planes dis
pensed with; One hundred and eVenty
live thousand dollars were appropriated for
this purpose by the last Legislature. The
old material on the road is counted at a
value of $248,650. This, with the addi
tional sum of $591,350, it is estimated by
Mr. Faried, the engineer on that line, will
accomplish this desirable end. lam also
assured by the same officer, that with the
necessary appropriation, four or ten planes
may be avoided during the coming season.
In connection with this subject, I need
scarcely remark that our male line of im
provements is about to encounter a most
powerful rival for the tonnage of the West
in the Pennsylvania railroad, which work
will probably be completed during the year
1853. The avoidance of the planes will
do more I am confident, to strengliten the
main lino against this competition than any
other improvement that can be made. I
respectfully recommend this subjeot to your
.favorable consideration.
The absolute necessity for the expendi
ture of largo sums of money to complete
the improvements to which I have referred,
will, I am confident, admonish you of the
propriety of confining the appropriations to
the lowest possible point that the public
service and the interests of the State will
permit, including nothing for which she is
not legally and morally bound to provide.
Rigid economy in the expenditures is indis
pensably necessary to sustain the credit of
the State, fulfil the engagements she has
already made, and meet the reasonable ex
pectations of the people. The public im
provements of the State are ono of our
principal sources of revenue, and should,
at all times, receive the special care of the
Legislature. Every proper effort should''
be made to increase the receipts and lessen
the expenditures on these works. 1 have
not had the opportunity of giving the sub
ject of their management that thorough
examination which is indispensably neces
sary to the formation of a correct opinion
in reference to the details of their opera
tion, but 1 have long entertained the opin
ion that no action of the Legislature could
have a more salutary effect upon their man
agement than the adoption of the cash sys
tem in paying for the labors and materials
necessary to keep them in successful opera-;
tion. It is, in my opinion, to the system
of contracting debts now in practice, as
much if not more, than to any other defect
iu the present policy, may be attributed
their failure to meet the expectations of the
people as a soul cc of revenue. The most
vigilant efforts of the officers could not pre
vent the payment of exorbitant prices for
labor and materials, if obtained on credit.
The State always pays dearly for such cc
conunodation. Besides, this custom affords
the opportunity of most palpable impositidn,
if not actual frauds upon the State. The
very idea of a set of officers being allowed'
to throw the credit of the Commonwealth
broadcast, to be taken up at some future
NUMBER 14.
period by somebody else, is almost start
ling. 1 regard it as a most danggroui
licy, calculated to beget a.epirit of,careless
prodigality in the management Of puhlie af
fairs, and to invite ituriition ?pen the
treasury. It should, in my Opinion, be
abainlimed at thg earliest day possible. 1,,
therefore, respectfully suggest the propri- .
epy of fixing a peri,od by law, after which
the officers on the public works shall not
be allowed to contract debts for any pur
pose whatever, directing the disbursing of
ficers to make monthly statements of their
accounts to the Canal Commissioners show-,
ing the amount of money disbursed and
the materials purchased, and requiring all
outstanding accounts to be presented to
the Canal Commissiontiffi or Auditor Gen
erSl for Settlement. Under a cash system,
the actual indebtedness of the State could'
at till tinia be readily ascertained, which
would be a great convenience foi; the Leg
islature, as well as a satisfaction to the peo
ple. In the introduction of a new system
of this kind, care should he taken to place
at the command of the proper officer the
necessary means to carry it into operation.
.It might be well, also, to take sonic ac
tion on the subject of claims for damages
incurred in the construction of our public
improvements. This subject should be 11- .
nally disposed of. Although many years
have passed by since the construction of
these works, every year brings out some
new item of this kind. Much of the time
of the Legislature, and the Canal Commis
sioners, is occupied in the examination of
these claims, and for the last ton or twelve
years they have absorbed the means of the
Treasury to the extent of from fifty to eigh
ty thousand dollars annually. I am in
formed that claims are now being pressed
for damages, which, it is alleged, the Com
monweal incurred more than twenty years'
since. It must be a most difficult task fir
the Canal Commissioners to ascertain all
the facts in cases so long deferred. I sug
gest the propriety of disposing this subject
by some summary mode of proceeding.
In conclusion, I beg to be indulged in a
suggestion on the subject of Special legis
lation. I am hozifident that the General
Assembly will agree with me, that some re
form eh thid Subje6t is much needed. The
volumes of our laws for the sessions of 1850
and 1851, compared with those of previ
ous years; show that our legislation is in
creasing to an alarming degree. By ref
erence to these volumes' for the years I
have named, it will be seen that but a com
paratively small portion of the lriws they
contain are of a general character, being
mainly for local or private purposes. These
volumes when compared with the statutes
enacted, eight or ten years since, or with
those annually enacted by Congress; or
any of our sister States, swell into an as
tonishing magnitude. This evil is on the
increase, and iy seems to me that a remedy
is imperiously called for. Much may be.
done to arrest this evil by the adoption of
a few well digested general laws.
For the purpose of attaining this desira
ble end, I respectfully suggest for your
consideration, the propriety of constituting
a commission of two or throe ciper/eneed .
legal gentlemen, whose duty it shall be to
prepare general laws to meet this object,
to be submitted to the consideration of the
next Legislature. I know from experience
how difficult it is for the representatives of
the people, after their arrival at the seat
of government, to find the necessary leis
ure and privacy to enable theni to prepare
and digest intricate general laws. Each
day Seems to bring its labors upon them;
and a session runs by before a subject of
this kind can conceive the necessary con
sideration.
The subject of regulating, election dis
tricts, naming election houses, which an
nually occupies much of the thee of the
Legislature, and many pages of the Jour- .
nal and Statute Books; might be safely
confided to the commissioners of the re=
spective counties.
The subject of divorces should, it seems
to me, be felt entirely with the courts ; as
well, also, as the whole subject of selling
real estate by trustees, guardians, and
those acting in a representative capacity.
These measures, together with a few more
general statutes, on the subject of corpors
tions; would I think, have a most saluta4
effect on legislation. As far as possible,
our laws should be general ; and those;
that are so, should be sternly maintained
against special innovations,.
WM. BIGLER
ExEcunvs CITAMBER,
Harrisburg, March, 25, 1852. 5
CONVIETION OF A COUNTERFEITER.-
John Williams, alias Shaeffer, wits found
guilty in Philadelphia of passing counter
feit $2O notes on the State Banks of Indi
ana and Ohio. About a year ago, when
arrested at Carlisle, (when he subsequent
ly escaped front jail) he had $5OOO in'
counterfeit notes in his possession. At
'another time ho was arrested at Leesburg,
'Pa., with $2,000 in counterfeits on his
person, but was suffered to compromise
the matter.