& - Lu m.1,11(0 rANri VA_ IE3 Pam. Cl/4Vie Office of the Star 61, Banner COUNTY BUILDING, ABOVE THE OFFICE OF TIIE BEGISTEII AND BECOBDEB. I. The STAR & REPUBLICA:A BANNER it published at TWO DOLLARS per annum (or Volume of 52 numbers,) payable hot e l:yearly in advance: or TWO DOLLARS & FIFTY CENTS, if not paid until after, the expiration of the year. IL No subscription will be received fore short er period then six months; nor will the paper be discontinued until all arrearages are paid, un less at the option of the Editor. A failure to notify a discontinuance will be considered a new en gagement and the paper forwarded accordingly. HI. AnvsnTisanrsa•rs not exceeding a square will be inserted Tunny. times for $l, and 25 cents for each subsequent insertion—the number of in sertion to be marked,or they will be published till forbid and charged accordingly ; longer ones hi the same proportion. A reasonable deduction will be made to those who advertise by the year. IV. MI Lettereand Communications addueeed to the 'Editor by mail must be post-paid, or they will not be attended to. watt casittmara. , . , 1- ---.4* -- • t ).* ' • ' --;1• , ,,,... P f - .0m 2 Mil=7 t;: . 7 . j g - 1 ii,- - • ;l b -.--.-.: • ••'!;..s• . Z•V; -;1•- , ..- 7. j fMentaiky ~.'„. . , . .2 ; -;, • -.!7:. _. ,vg = ,„dbirf5.....?... 7 , ' ,`": '•,% ,-- ...._ . - ,•,......,....---176. • • ',•• —"With.sweetest flowers corich'd From various gardens cull'd with care." VIM TWENTY-FIVE. 'Twas wondrous 'orange, how great the change Since I was in my teens, Then I bad beaux and billet deux, Anil joined the gayest scenes: But lovers now have ceased to vovi, No way they now contrive To poison, hang, or drown themselves,— Because I'm Twenty-five ! Once, if the night wore e'er so bright, I no'or abroad Could roam, Without the bliss, "the honor, Miss, or seeing you safe home." But now I go through rain or snow, Peheise, end scarce alive, Through all the dark, without a spark,— Because' I'm Twenty-five! They used to call end ask me all About my health so fraii; • And thought a ride would help my side; But now, alas ! if I am ill, None cares that I revive, And my pale cheek in vain may speak,— Because I'm Twenty-five ! 'Now, if a ride iinprove my side, I'm forced to take the stage, For that is deemed quite proper for A person of my ago. And the 6 no hand is °freed me To help me out alive, They think it won't hurt me to fall,— nocause I'm Twenty-five Oh I dear, 'tin queer, that every year I'm slighted more and more, For not a beau pretends to show His head within our door. Nor ride, nor card, nor soft address • My spirits now revive, Anil one might neer as well be doad Twonty•Gvo. MI,2,B.WE6aI(ARI&DOC3o WANT OP A LATCH. --The following an ecdote related by M. Say, a French shows the importance of Dr. Franklin's maxim "a such in time eaves nine." "Being in the country says ho, had ar, example of one of those small losses which a family ie exposed to through negligence. For the want ofa latchet of small value, the wicket of a. barnyard loading to the fields was often left open—Every ono who went through drew the door to—but as there was nothing to fasten the door with, it was left flapping; sometimes open and sometimes shut. So the ducks and hens and the chickens got out and were lost. One day a fine pig got out and ran off into the woods--:,and after the pig ran all the peo ple about the place—the gardener, first caught sight of the runaway, and hasten ing after it sprained his uncle; in cnnse• quence of which the poor man was not able to get out of his bed for a fortnight. The cook found when-she came back from pur suing the pig that the linen which she had left by the hre had fallen down and was burning; and the dairy maid in her haste, neglected to tie up the legs of one of her cows, the cow had kicked a colt which was in the same stable, and broken its leg.— The gardener's lost time was worth twen ty crowns, to say nothing of the pain he suffered. The linen which was burned and the colt which was destroyed were Worth as much more. hero then was caused the loss of forty crowns, as well as much trouble, pleitgue and vexation for the "suet an latch which could not have cost three penc e . M Say's story is one of tho many ex ampler of the truth of the proverb—' For want ofa nail the shoe was lost, for went ofa shoe the horse was lost, for want o a horse the man was lost." Ii is said that 810,0b0,000 nre derived in Europe by way of revenue on Ani or i erm tobacco, the coat of which here is only $7, 000,000. -...e • 11*.. If you wish to be wise, it is wise to wish From the Baltimore American. THE MIDDLE STATES AND THE SOUTH If the Southern people have any of that chivalric generosity upon which they pride themselves, it will not be difficult for them to perceive when they come to look at the subject, that their hostilities to an equable Tariff Is unjust and without good , cause.— I t is unjust because it indicates a graping disposition7a selfish desire to appropriate to themselves the chief benefit of national legislation in respect to trade, and to deny a fair participation therein to other per- Lions of the country. It 'is without suf ficient cause, for the reason that their own pectiliar interests would suffer under the operation of a Tariff such as other interests require. In reference to the first point, which we have alluded to on previous occasion,lhe Frederick Examiner remarks: "Can any one ti n the peculiar notions of the Southefn people would be tong maintained, if their staple production were shut out, of the English ports as are the productions of other pails of the Union? They beim the benefit of free trade, but are not willing. that measures should be resort ed to for the purpose of securing equal privileges to the productions of a different latitude. If the same favor Were extend ed to the productions of the articles of flour, tobacco arid pork, that is afforded to cot. ton, it would open a source of unbounded wealth to the'people, oftlia'States producing these articles.. 'the only way whereby the British and turdpean governments can be brought to terms in regard to this matter; is by retanatink upon :heir manufactures, their one t rons impositions upon the produc tion of our soil." Whit would be the effect upon the cot • ton growi 1 ng interest if a proper Tariff were laid including discrimination and, the Principle of retaliation—the whelp b eing adjusted in a spirit or moderation and with a politic regard,to the wants of every sec tion of the Union? As to the" foreign market for the cotton—that could not be affected; because Great Britian, France, and other manufacturing nations, take our cotton from necessity. To impose a hen vy duty ou it at present, When they can not get Supplies, from Other quarters, would be to distreSa their own manufac turers. IfGrent Britain . dould be supplied withraw cotton from 'tithe', and' France from Egypt,"they might then Meet! lay restrictions upon our ariicle;-and with re rfte Ate, sodused^kingdorie it may the sere y assumed that whether we increase our Tariff or not, she will cut ofr A rnerican cotton the very moment it is ascertained that she can by any Means do without it. The effects of a Tar;ff in respect to a horins Market for cotton, would he decided ly faVorable to the South. Even if the conditions under which our cotton finds access to British Parts were not precarious. as they certainly are, it Would be good policy to take measures for the gradual en• largernent of strengthening the home mar ket. That will he alwals accessable in limes of war an well as in tunes or peace— always a sure resort to the full extent of its capacity. We have a population ot seventeen millions—and in twenty years, it will be - nearly double that amount. This vast pnpulation must be clothed, and the South will supply the means in so ler' as cotton is concerned. Why should not our own manufacturertThe employed to wink up the" material? By extending doe" pro tection to them, the foreign trade of the South would not be sacrificed. But if that trade should injuriously be affected by the action of foreign governments, then would the judicious"nature of our home policy be duly appreciated. • It`was not :hciwever in reference to the manufacturing interests particularly that we intend to speak. The movement going forward in favor of a discriminating Tariff •is mostly from the producing Middle States. ; Such man ufacturing establishments 'as can get along with a twenty per cent duty are 'riot especi ally anxious for any further protection in their particular line; becawie if it were ex tended, there would be a domestic com petition which would put .down their pro fits as low as they are kept by. foreign com petitors.. But the producers of wheat, pork and tobaCeo, the great agricultural interests of the Middle and Western States, embarrassed and restricted by the imposi tions of foreign nations—these are moving; and with remonstrances and expostulations and powerful arguments, they are directing their appeals towards the Capitol; and call. mg upon the Government for that protec tion which is justly due them. The South, satisfied with the facility with which her chief staple finds access to foreign markets, would repress this.movement- But it will not'do The mechanical interests of the Industrious of all classes in our towns and cities, will soon . be joined heartily with those of the farmer and the tobacco planter. It will be impossible to stay the progress of things in this matter. If there is a new compromise to be had, the South must ask for it, and make the first tender—but we are willing to believe that the mutual interests of all sections will be found in reality to unite so harmoniously, that no compromise will be needed that shall involve the essen tial surrender in any quarter. 'Excuse haste and a bad pen,' as the hog said when he got out. In adversity.tho real principles of men appear. G. 771..CHINGTON 8077.7.11, Min on. & rncipairacn. liberty to know, to utter, and to argue,' freely, le" above all other liberties.”—MlLTon. (521te Wlta 421(iPUS U;ocit/ oa u 4 tifb a a ,rD flair aQam)r4arawaa, aaascb • GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. To the Senate and Rouse of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: I have recommended to three several legislatures the propriety of selling the stock which the State owns in the Bank of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Bank, and the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, and used every argument that I could bring to bear upon the subject, to convince them of the propriety of separating the Common. wealth from the Banks, and of disposing of the stock she holds in them. I recommen ded it in a message, communicated on the 7th. March, 1839, on which day the market price of the said stocks were, for the Bank of Pennsylvania, sum for $4OO paid; Phil adelphia Bank, sloB'for $lOO paid; and the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, $62 for $5O paid. Tire same recomnriendation teas again made on the Bth January, 1840, at which time the-following was the price of said stocks—for Bank of Pennsylvania $410; Philadelphia frank s99i; Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank $3O. A sirnilar recommendation was made 6th January, 1841, on which day the follovving sales were made, viz: for Bank of Pennsyliania SAI2; Philadelphia Bank $100; Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank ss2i, making the said stocks, held by the Commonwealth, worth 82,157,970. By the last sales made during the present month, the market value of those stocks are, for Bank of Penn sylvania $160; Philadelphia Bank $4B; Formers' and Mechanics' Bank $3O; making the present total worth of t:tose stocks $902,424; by which it is seen that by - the course pursued by the last legislature in refusing to authorize, a sale, the Wes sustained by the State, on those stocks, amounts to the formidable sum 0f.10,25,. 546. I renew ,the +tame recommendation to you, for the reasons given, from time to time, in my several communications on that subject. Before,l dismiss the subject touching the banks, I desire to call your attention to the policy of re-chartering banks, by the legislature, duriug the, present seseion, at all. N'V hen a charter for a bank has been granted to a number of individuals, for a fixed period of time, .there is no express or implied , obligation to renew tt. On the contrary, the very limitation shows that its existence is to be . terminated at the time designated. Its stockholders know - ibis, and cannot complain if held to their bar gain. The condition of banks never is known till they are wound up and closed. Their mode of doing business, enables them to defy public scrutiny, and to acquire a credit and Standing to which they may not be justly entitled. Frauds and irregulari ties of years perpetration, are concealed from the eye of the public, till a final set tlement of the concerns of the bank is made. Little knots of persons confederate and gather round' these institutions,—reap the benefit of their existence,— monopolize their advantages; and perpetuate their power. We seldom find among them the energy, intellect and enterprise of the corn mutiny, but those who derive their conse quence from their combinations sanctioned and invigorated by the law. I cannot think such a system as this of perpetuating these corporations, congenial to our free institu• lions. It establishes monopolies of the most odious kind, because not limited in duration. If the business (tithe commu nity really requires the aid of a bank, in stead of renewing the charter of the one about to expire, establish a new one. Let its subscription books bo open to all, and it it be advantageous, let all share in its en joyment, who may choose to do so, and if not advantageoua let all participate in bear ing the burthen. Besides, it is not a fit time to renew bank charters, or to establish new ones. The public mind is not settled on this subject, nor can we fully appreciate the soundness or unsoundness, of the banking system, until a resumption of specie payments takes place. Let the recommendations I have now sub• mated to you, he adopted, and lot us wait a year at least to judge of their results.— this experience will essentially aid future legislation, and perhaps rescue us from fa tal errors. The history of the legislation of this Commonwealth, in regard to hanks, is a succession of plausible theories; let us hereafter rest it on the solid basis of en• lightened experience. Then may we hope to escape the rock, on which all our banks are now temporarily shipwrecked. I hope and trust most, if not all of them, are able to resume specie payments; but it is tm -1 possible to know this, or to confide in their abilty and disposition to do so, until we have the proof; which they alone can fur nish. The public has ceased to yield its credit to any corporate pretentions, which are not supported by corresponding acts.— I have appended several tables connected with this subject, as affording matters of convenient refetence. The general subject of creating and re• guluting corporations, is so intimately blended with that of the banking institutions of the Commonwealth, as to cfann a place next in our consideration. I have remurk• ed in former messages, that the creation of corporations for all purposes, has been carried to a fearful extent in this State. Year after year they have been springing up around us on all sides, and are raqidly becoming competitors with individuals in all sorts of business. When confined to their legitimate purposes, such as the eon [CONCLUDED•] struction of canals and rail roads into our fertile interior, and rich mineral regions, I shall not utter a word of complaint; but to this limit, strictly should they ho restrained. The increase of corporations is a growing , evil. I have again and again cautioned the Legislature against the granting of corporate privileges; I cannot ton strongly iinpress this caution upon yr'ur minds. On referring to the acts of the last legisla ture, we find the grant of corporate privile ges to hate been free and almost indiscrim inate. So much so, that of 147 laws .en• acted, mere than one third were either acts of incorporation, or acts supplementary thereto. 1 adhere to the opinion, heretofore expressed, that corporations ought never to be created, where the object to be accom plished is within the probable reach of indi- 1 vidual exertion. They absolve men from personal liability, and may tend, by undue combinations and concentrated action, to embarrass the operation of government, l and interfere with the popular sovereignty. Let the present Legislatiire set the exam ple of resisting these monopolizing en• croachments. lf the propriety of this course was ever doubtful, the experience of a few years post has dissipated all doubt, and clearly marked out he path of duty. On this subject, there is another matter which has been repeatedly brought under my notice. I allude to the extension cube authority to create corporations for various purposes, conferred on the courts of com mon pleas; by'the 13th,, 14th, 151 h and 16th, Sections of the act of the 13th of October, 1940, entitled "An act relating to Orphans' courts and for other purposee."— Chatters of incorporation are procured un der this law, on application to the respec tive courts of common pleas, without being subjected to any other restraint or control, than their own hasty perusal. Notice, to be sure, is directed to be given, but that is of little avail. There is no common stand ard for the whole State, as was the case when these charters were to be approved by the Attorney General, and the judges of the supreme court, and enrolled in the depart ment of State, at the seat of Government. Under the old system, there was unifor mity in the provisions "contained in these i charters, but now, under this new law, the I discretion ofdifferent courts may esiehtially differ, and ultimate o canfusion and disorder cannot fail to ensue. These domestic cor porations, as they may be called, are of great service to the public, but it may be fairly questioned whether it will not detract from their uses,' to-render 'their creation a molter trio ready and unchecked. I invite your attention to this subject, and if you should agree with me in opinion, it will be easy to remove all ground of complaint, by restoring the power of granting these charters, to the hands in which it has been safely lodged, for upwards of half a century. The delay and inconvenience of the old system, were fully counterbalanced by the certainty, consistency and uniformi ty of the corporate powers and privileges enjoyed by the corporations created. The Legislature,by the , act of 16th June, 1836, conferred equity or chancery pow ers on our Supreme Court, courts of com mon pleas and district courts, in certain specified cases. There are also certain other enactMerns, on the same subject, in the 39th section of the act 011301 June, 1840, and perhatos in other acts. It is stated that some of the provisions of these various laws are incongruous, that the jut is diction conferred is not expressly d. fined. and it has been decided by the Supreme Court that the parties aggrieved have no redress by appeal from the inferior tribunal to the Supreme Court, or by writ of error from the latter to the former. If it be deemed advisable to retain the features of these enactments in our jurisprudence, it would seem requisite that the evils com plained of should be removed by leg,ative enactment. I would also recommend an examination into the state and condition of the extent and business of the several judicial districts of this Commonwealth, so that the amount of labor of the several President Judges, some of whom are at present overburdened, may be in some measure equalized. There are complaints of the aceumula tion of business in the courts of the . city and county of Philadelphia, and especially of the difficulty ofreaching, in a reasonable time, the trial of causes at nisi priva in the supreme court. This laid is said to arise from the time that the court is neces• eerily obliged to devote to the business in bank, where they have to decide appeals, and writs of error. Whether such com plaints be well founded or not, I rim not prepared to say. A careful examination into the whole subject, and such enactments as shall be found necessary to meet any evils that may exert in the administration of just ice, and give to every one an oppor. tunity of speedily trying his cause, is re spectfully recommended. Iris often made the subject of complaint, that the decisions of the supreme•court are not published under the supervision of a Reporter, appointed by authority of law.— I think it is worthy your inquiry, whether the public interest would not be promoted, by proViding fir the appointment of such a Reporter, who shall be responsible to the public, for, the manner in which ho dischar ges his'duty.' Complaints continue to ho made in many enmities of the manner of selecting jiir.re. Unless some additional guard be thrown around this inestimable right, public colifi• denco in the trial by jdry will be much diminished. Thin mot wine, and vermrn- ble of all human find social institution., must be guarded against the possibtlity of encroachments, and this long boasted bul wark of liberty, protected from prostitution 1 to purposes not intendedby the constitution. I therefore recommend that the jaors be annually selected by the judges of the i court o f common pleas, or some two of 1 ' them, together with the sheriff, and that 1 they be drawn by them in open court, or that some other provision be made, that the trial by jury may be respected and effectually secured. The laws relating to collateral inheritan ces imperatively call for revision, in order to insure the collection of money. from that : source. 1 respectfully recommend the adoption of the amendment suggested in a former communication, to enjoin it upon the registers of wills to inquire of all execu tors and administrators on oath, at the time of granting letters, whether the estate of their testator, or intestate, will be, in their opinion, the subject of the laws refs. tive to collateral inheritances, and•Ahat the Register give notice of all such to the Attorney General, or. his deputy, : whose duty it shall be to make a record thereof, and eider e the collection, • from time • to time, of HI moneys arising therefrom, an d hand ov r his record to •his successor in office. The eight section of the. sixth article of the constitution, provides, that• all officers, whose election or appointment is not•there in provided for, shall be elected or appoint.. ed as shall be directed b} law. There has • been no legislative actiotr.:on this subject, so far as regards the officers of Surveyor General, Secretary of the Land Offiee and Auditor General, since the adoption of that instrument. As the commissions of the present incumbents• will expire on the 10th day of May next; it would seem •to be'. a suitable time, for providing by law,• for the tenure of those offices. They, with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, constitute what is usually. denominated, the' cabinet; and the Executive is answerable to public opinion for the manner-in which' they per- firm their duties; yet under the existing laws he possesses no power , of ' , removing them, even fur the most palpable derelic tion of duty, during the thud fur which they are commissioned.. I reipectlully.com mend this subject to your attention, and that those officers be•placed, as lo , 'tenurei on the same footing as the ttenstittition , hits placed that •of the Secretary of the Com. monwealth. So far - as respects the nffice2of 'Attorney General, it seems proper that the tenure should remain as it is. It is in truth a com• mon law office—the incumbent is the legal adviser of the Governor, and heads of de• partment, and is the legal hand by which the Executive functions are performed. The duty will probably devolve on you to make provision for the election of rep resentatives, to represent this State in the Congress of the United States. As soon as Congress shall have decided on the ap• portionment, according to the last census, no time shall be lost to lay the same before you. The report of the Superintendent of Common Schools will put you in' posses sion of the state and condition of our col legeb, academies, female seminaries and schools. The general evil, of which we have just cause to complain, is the incom petency of many of those employed as teachers. The compen.ation to them is generally low, and vet it is generally more than many of them can earn as teachers, if the possession of knowledge and the caps city to impart it, be requisites of those entrusted with the moral and mental train ing of the rising generation, Upon this, and upon all other subjects connected with this important work of education, I must refer you to the report and documents which the superintendent will furnish, and shall only remark, that I will most cheer fully co.opperate in any and MI measures, which shall place the means of acquiring a sound and practical education within the reach of ell the children of the Common wealth—elevate the character, and improve the qualifications of our teachers, and en. large the usefulness, and increase the ben efits to be derived from our colleges, acade mies and semimaries. A sound education, under proper moral & religious training, is the best legacy a parent can bequeath to his child, and the best provisions a patriot can make to secure the permanence of tepubli canism in its ` • purity. To our system of common schools, alone, can we look as the means of imparting this education; and on this system, at last, as the corner stone, roust we rest our free institutions, and our best hopes, to see them descend unshaken to those who come after us. The duties of the Superintendent of Public Schools have become so onerous, as to occupy almost the entire attention of the incumbent, and to leave him but little time to devote to the other duties of Sec retary of the Commonwealth. I respect fully recommend this subject to your con sideration, and whether a regard to the public interest does not require a separation of the duties of Superintendent, from that of Secretary of the Commonwealth. I cannot but reneut what I said in my first annual message, that we are in need of a proper system of school books, to be used in our schools, and which should be com• posed by competent persons for the instruc tion of the youths of Pennsylvania; such a course, ss would tend properly to impress oit youth with a due regard for our own Commonwealth, and endear her to- their henna. I-1 r pnuifinn, wealth and intent 77 4 X(02a,c0'itc• Mil(da goner; the admirable and free system of her. lama; her unwavering patriotism ,and, de votion to republican principles; her (liege; gukhed philatithrophy and benevolonce, , entitle her, i a pre.erninont degree, to the love and veneratiou.of het' children, wlo. should be 'early taught to estimate her great charactpristica. The twenty-third section of the first era tirle•of the constitutten of this Common wealth provides that ( 'every. bill which shall have passed both Houses shall be pre sented to the Governer. If he approve he shall sign it, but if ho shall not approve" he' shall return it, with his objections, to the house in which it originated, who shall enter thj, objections at - large upon their jonruals and proceed to reconsider it."— The section then proceeds to provide, that such bill, so returned, shall not become a law, unless two thirds of each house shall, on n call of the yeas and nays, sweet to paste the bill. This provision was inserted in Our Constitution of 1790, and retained in that of 181174, from a.conviction of . its use,. as well as necessity .. ]t, was int e nded, for the protection of the people against:•hasty,, improvideot and improper legislation: The constitution, while it gives to the Iwo hetises the - righf to prepare, to amend and pass the several bills, still maketi the EX ecutive an active constituent part of . the legislative power. Tliis , concurrence ,. in acts of legislation, is required to be expyfts ., sod in an approbation of the act prolicieed: When ho conecientiously•holieves that' the proposed measure kvvrong-, he' would. be repri3hensible, were 'be to .give apProba tion.„he' cannot feel. Deriving • his . , poWer 'and'auttioritY directly from 'the people' of the whole State, his interposition' of_ the veto power; may be' essentialty:necestiary, to preserve the interests 'of the . Cinth oon wealth, from the operation oflaeal catisesii Whatsoever reasons, hoWever, induced the :inpuSition of this diey_tMon the Executive : originally,' it is enough' to tay; that the duty itrenjoined - in Our 'orgnnie law, and I believe wisely. been my 161;' ett well . ns that' of all 'my - predecesimrs: l'he lieve; on several' oceasionS' to exercise the power thus conferred. I have always Jona so with duedeltbdration, : aed'enly When the exigencies of the Occasion' furnished to me Satisfactory and corieltisitte mations, far -se It is, however, a' - power . which I have netierheeitated,'to exercise, when du ty required it Si My 'bands: 'During' the last session' of the - Legtelatiire,' I was Obliged to exercise thie'pevver oftener than theretofore. 'I did so, at a 'time, wheb triV conduct was about le' undergo the Ordeal Or public opinien,.aed there' seeriled' 1 - 8' he a - disposition to make' the 'exercise` Of :this power; ap important iesee'; befilie the - peo ple. That issue wad had;' - and the' result has expressed the voice of the .pUblic upon it in a way not easily-to be. misunderstood. Had the duty, thus enjoined* the con stitution upon the Executiye, been.-freely and fearlessly performed, in the early leg islation upon the subject of our internal improvements, I,we should not now be in volved in debt to . the extent we are and there would not have been millions of dol lars expended upon works of doubtful utili ty, or of minor public importance. Our Main and leading avenues efintorcommuni catien alone, would have been constructed, and the State saved Irmo all ilfitterr of be ing dishonored by tailing to meet her en gagements. Far be it from roe to reflect on my predecessors, but it is our duty to wittier wisdom Flom experience, and to avoid, as far as eossi*ole, the repetition of error. In the months of Jute and Auenst, next, the commissions of the mi!itia officers within this Commonwealth will expire by their own limitation.. It would therefore; seen, to lio u fit time to take up that very important, but much adused subject. One of our must important duties is to cherish and encourage the true military spirit among our citizen soldiers. In war, and in all trying emergencies, on them we must rely, chiefly, to protect our homes and firesides from aggression,—our nation al honor from insult,—and our liberty from destruction. It is too much the habit of some, who should know better. to decry and underute our militia end .volunteers.— Those who remember their services in the revolution, mid late war with Great Britain, entertain a very different opinion. Let the organization of volunteer compan ies be promoted,— let them be furnished with arms and accoutrements,—let them devote all the time they can spare, to the acquisition of military discipline, and they will speedily silence the voice of censure and of prejudice, and strengthen the erne of our national defence. A convention was held within the last season for the purpose of devising- aid recommending a more effective military system, and the result of their labors will shortly be laid before you; in relation to which I take occasion to say, that the o pinions of that convention, combining as it does, much of the talent, experience end military knowledge of the country, will be entitled to, and doubtless will receive at your hands, the most respectful considera tion. American freemen should never lose sight of the solemn injunction of the father of of country, "in time of peace prepare for 'war." The geological stirvey of the State is nearly cotnpleted,— the past season having brought the explorations to a close. As seen as the &fel work can be reduced to shape, the State geologist will, this winter, enter upon the preparation of his general re port, intended In embody tl,o reFalt• of the
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