Cj?e unburg American,
H. B. MAS8JDB, Editor ft Proprietor.
NU.IHI llY, PA.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11,1868.
Goversor's Meusaqr. We publish
this week Covcrnor Geary 'i annual message,
which is, perhaps, one of the most practical
and satisfactory document of the kind
that baa been Issued for - years. His views,
in giving the Slate the bent fit of the depo
sits 'of the Commonwealth, instead of fa
vored individuals,, will be commended by
every tax-payer, and save over $100,000 per
annum. The same may bo sale', in regard
to the abolition of perquisites of office by
which the Treasury is defrauded. The Gov
ernor does not hesitate to strike at abuses
that have long been tolerated by the hcuds
if departments of every administration
since the organization of the government.
His refusal to contribute money to the An
tictam Cemetery, to raise monuments to
traitors, will be approved by all loyal per
son. His exposition of the assumed author
ity by the Courts In Philadelphia, in rclcas
ing and commuting the punishment of cri-
nilliuis, eili'no U19 Ul'lCIUiiiinuuu v cuivrivi.
the laws. His rebuke of tho treacherous
policy of Andrew Johnson is what might
be expected from a loyal executive of Fenn
ylvania.
53TThe I.eoislatike. The Senate was
promptly organized by the election of Sena
tor Graham, Speaker, and U. w. Hammers
x,y, Clerk. In the House there was no clec
tion. Nino Republicans refused to go into
caucus, and voted for Mr. Camaut, against
Mr. Davis, the caucus nominee, thus prevent
ing his election.
MESSAGE OS
OOVEBNO.t OP rKNSSYWANIA,
To the LcyUlature, January 8, 1808.
To the Senate and Jloxtte of lU'prctentatirts
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania :
Gentlemen : .
One of the most important duties devol
ving upon the Legislature is the consideration
of the public finances. Such action should
bo taken lor the provision of funds to defray
the current expenses of tho Government, the
preservation of the credit of the Common
wealth, and the speedy extinquishmcnt of
tho public debt, as circumstances shall be
found to require. These objects are of the
highest importance and claim tho first at
tention of tho Representatives of the people.
FINANCES.
Tli trp6rt of the Slate Trwwtiirr ahowa
mat tne balance mine ireuiury xvuvetn
ber 30, 1HW, va,
Ordinary receipta during the fipcal year
ending November .10, lr-67,
f,oan fur the redemption of the over-due
Uinda, .
Depieciated lundi m the Treasury, unavail
able, Total in Treaiury for the fiscal year ending
November 30, lfc07,
Payments, viz :
SI, 741,033 S7
5,123,000 07
23,000,000 00
41,032 00
30,203,395 31
Ordinury expeiiaea during the
fiacol year ending November
311, IHJ7, SI, 53,696 fiO
I.aiii, Ac. redeemed, ij0,vl&,fe'2U P9
Depreciated fuiida, unavailable, 41, HM 00
45,513,528 69
Rilance in Tresaury, November 30, 1S67, 4,66l,KjrJ 40
Of which the Trenaurer reporta aa applica
ble to Ihe payment of over-due luana,tbe
. sum of, 3,037,976 55
Dilonse, t,7S3,57 61
Amount of the Stale debt on Nov. 30, ISG3, 83.5,822,032 18
Kuiiiied debt, viz :
per cent.
lm, 825,311, ISO 00
5 per cent.
loana, W,l01.uii S3
4 per cent.
i.'u.n, rs.ooo on
537,580,509 iO
t'nfunded debt, viz:
Relief notra
in circula
tion, r 90, O il 00
Intereat certi
Sottas out-
elanding, 13,05 5S
InVsst certifi
cntee un
claimed, 4:113 39
Domestic cred
itors' eertin-
catea, 41 07
111,201 7
TUI oufHindiiig, 37,7iH,ui V7
r r.nu wnicn ueuuri in am i
in Treaaury applicable to
the payment
ol over dae
roan
9.937,978 55
3t,70r),13t 92
Amount redeemed during Cecal year ending
November 30, 1607,
655,620 91
Thut the operations of tho sinking fund
may be clearly understood, the following
"recapitulation," is quoted from the report of
ttie (Jommissioners tor tue year ending Sep
tember 3, 1807 :
ruiance in unkind fund, Sept. 3, 1907, 82,752.351 77
Iteceipta in fund fur year ending Sept. 3,1(47, 3,345, b(I 09
,103,162 46
Disbursements :
Paid internet.
Loans redeemed,
Premianta,
Ponuaiic creditor,
82.575.130 55
1.7(14,509 50
275 00
75 HO
l,370,i;o 05
llitunue in fund,
1,737,012 41
By tho sixth trction of the act of May 16,
14U1, a special tax of one-half mill on the
dollar was especially set apart for the pay
ment of the interest, and redemption of the
loan created by an act of May 18, 1881, en
titled "An Act to create a loan aud provido
for arming the State."
The roc-'ipts from nid tux and tax on gioaa
receipts amounts to. 8t-9,17S 17
Interest paid ui February aud August, 16ti7, 109,215 00
Balance on hand, 319,933 17
Publie debt, November 30, 1X7, 8H,705.4jI 22
Assets in Tienaurjr, viz :
Honda of tho Pennsylvania
railroad company, 86,500,000, 00
Omnia of Ihe Philadelphia
and Brie ruilruad c nipny, 3,500,009 00
Intereat on bonds of Ihe Phila
delphia and Kite railroad
cnutuny, ' 1.400,000 00
Csli ui Treaaaiy, l,7ii3,B37 01
13,121,507 91
liabilities mi ezceaa of aetata,
21,012,573 31
' The above assets will be available as fol
lows -.
By the act of May 10, 18C7, the Pennsyl
vania railroad company are to pay on the
above bonds, $100,000 a year uutil July 31,
1890, when oue milliou of the rcsiduo shall
fall due, and one million annually thereafter,
without interest, until the whole Is paid,
which will be in the year 1893.
Dy the act of March 7, 1881, the 3,500,.
000 of bond of the Philadelphia and Eric
llailroad were surrendered to that company,
upon the deposit of four millions of dollurs
of their bonds as collateral security for tho
payment of the original bonds, and a mort
gage of four millions of dollar was also
given by the company to secure their pay
luent. These bonds aie to be paid In forty
a I) iwn date of i"uc' ,na nulure
The promptitude with which citizent of
1 ennsylvauia came forward last April and
look the whole amount of the twenty-three
million loan, (the bids being for upwards of
lutrty-three millions.) may be considered a
tnoat auspicious-circumstance in the financial
tmtory of the 8ti, and indicates unbounded
toufldeuce in the good faith and ubatuolial
redii r tUe Common wealth. The forego,-
i-W statement of the finances Uaet forth with
I'liuiiiit, in ifinsequonee of their flourishing
t J...l.t.uii.
In addition thereto, the balance in favor
of the General Government for Pennsylva
nia'! quota of the direct tax levied in the
aeveral States for war purposes and for cash
from the United States, amounting, in all,
to nearly two millions of dollars, has been
settled in lull by the allowance of claims for
extraordinary expenses incurred by the State
during the war.
In consequonce of the lapse of time since
tho remaining claims were contracted, the
want of sulllcient vouchers and explanations,
and the diiliculty of rinding the parties,
some of them being dead by whom they
should be made, render their settlement
difficult, -end in many instances, doubtful,
the accomplishment of which will, however,
be vigorously pursued and the results laid
befoiu the Legislature.
Passing from this general review of the
finances of the State, I cannot permit some
of the most prominent ideas connected with
tliciu to pass unnoticed, because they clearly
indicate the puth of duty in the diechargc of
the Executive trust. It is deemed proper to
call your attention to the fact that during
the entire year a very large sum ol money is
iu the keeping of the State Treasurer. This
sum has not at any time for years been less
than a million ot dollars, and at present
amounts to considerably over lour millions
of dollars. That it is unnecessary that tho
greater portion of this money should be kept
in the Treasury to meet the orttittary de
mands upon it ts obvious ; and that it should
be withdrawn from circulation is certainly a
detriment to the business of the community.
A contraction to the amount of several mil
lions, as at present, cannot fail to make its
impression upon those engaged in mercan
tile, manufacturing, agricultural, mining and
all other kinds of employments. This mo
ney, I am informed upon good authority,
can be loaned, with ample security for its
re payment when needed, for certain speci
fied periods, at a reasonable rate of interest,
and the proceeds placed in the Treasury for
the benefit of the State, which would not
only be beneficial to tho tax-payers, by in
creasing the public revenue, but also enlarge
tho accommodations for business purposes.
If this plan were adopted, the withdruwul
of the circulating medium, by the payment
of tuxes, would be so brief that it would not
materially affect the public welfare. The
fund thus acquired could be added to the
sinking fund, and would materially aid iu
the reduction ot the State ueut.
A glance at the condition of the Treasury
will show that at lea9t lour millions ot dol
lars miL'ht now be loaned, and at four per
cent, would realize the handsome sum of
160,000 per annum. Or nearly the whole
-amount of the balance now in the Treasury
might bo rendered productive by being in
vested in tho bonds of the State, bearing six
per cent, interest, even though purchased at
a premium. Or, it might be invested in
Uuitcd States interest bearing bonds which
would be available nt any moment a ncccs
sity might arise for the use of tho funds. If
that amount were exchanged at par for
United States ten-forty bonds, bearing five
per cent, interest in gold, the product would
be at the rate of $200,000 per annum, in gold,
or, at the present value ot gold, ?2i0,000 in
currency. Besides, the funds would not
become "depreciated nnd unavailable" by
long continuance in the Treasury. A law
for this purpose could be passed, specifying
the method by which the onueeded money
of the Treasury may be loaned, authorizing
and empowering the State Treasurer, and
such others as you may designate, to cxe
cute, or carry out, its provisions.
Your attention is also invited to the fact
that the salary of the State Treasurer, now
only seventeen hundred dollars, is entirely
disproportioncd to the duties and rcsponsi
bilities of that officer, and that the amount
of the bond, eighty thousand dollars, given
by mm to the State, is equivalent to no se
cunty at all, under '.he present system of
placing, unconditionally, tho entire funds of
the State in his bauds. The ouly security is
tho incorruptible honesty and integrity of
the Treasurer. Suppose that when there is
in his keeping millions of dollars the in
cumbent o! that office should be tempted to
becomo a defaulter I How easily could he
secure to his bondsmen the amount for
which they would legally bo liable to the
State and appropriate tho bulanco to him
self 1 For years, it seems to me, the Trea
sury of the State lias stood, as it were, upon
a volcano. Examples nil around us show
the fallibility of man, and how frequently
and easily he is swerved from the path of
rectitude ar.d honor. Even many of those
in the most elevated positions and enjoying
the highest confidence of .the public, are
often found to yield to the temptations that
surround them. The desire for the rapid
accumulation of wealth; the thousands of
schemes presented to excito the cupidity of
human nature, and tho looseness of publie
morals, engendered by the escape of the
guilty from punishment, have so demoralized
public sentiment that it may be considered
a wonder almost a miracle that Pennsyl
vania has so long escaped from tho calamity
that might at any time have happened, or
that moy hereafter happen, by the robbery
of her Treasury, and render the suspension
of the payment of tho interest upon the
State debt, for a time, inevitable
la the performance of my duty, I have
forewarned the Legislature of a danger as
respects her finances, of no common magni
tude. It remaius for it to determine whether
this danger shall be averted by prompt ami
efficient legislation, and the Treasury guard
ed against the occurrence of so great a
calamity.
EDVCATIOX.
At the close of the year tho number of
chool districts in tho State was 1,889 ; the
number of schools, 13,435 ; graded schools,
2,147 ; Bchool directors, 11,534 county, city,
and borough superintendents, 08; teachers,
ia,oaa ; pupi:s, , ou,3B ; tue cost o! tuition,
$3,028,065 00 ; building, $1,202,708 68;
contingencies, $700,673 33 ; tuition, build
ing and contingencies, $3,081,539 71 ; and
tho amount expended for all purposes relat
ing to schools, $3,100,750 17.
Your attention is particularly invited to
tho want of uniformity and constant change
of books in the public schools. These are
matters of serious inconvenience and need
less expense to the poor, and might easily
be remedied by judicious legislation.
The graded schools have largely increased
during the past year. The system estab
lished by the State wag designed, not only
to furnish iustruction to our youth in the
elements of knowledge, but wherever prac
ticable, to impart to them an education in
the higher branches of learnino- Tim
multiplication of grammar and high schools
ahould, therefore, receive every encourage
ment, for they are necewary to perfect the
system and enable the State to avail itself of
that taleut which is born iu the cottages of
tho poor quite as frequently as in the palaces
of the rich.
Good schools cannot exist without good
teachers, and good teachers can only be
obtained by using tho proper means to pre
pare them. Recognizing these facts, the
Legislature of 1837 passed a general Normal
achool law, dividing the State iuto twelve
districts, and looking forward to the estab
lUhment, in each of tbem, of a Normal
achool. According to the provision! of this
law four of these schools are now organized,
the prosperous condition of which is exera-
Elified by the fact that two thousand one
undred and eighty-five students attended
them during the past year, of whom forty,
six graduated. . ,
Vourteeu colleges and thirty-two acade
mies have made ru ports to the (School De
partment during the past year. 8ueh insti
tutions aupply a great publio want, a the
common school vateui is not rmt-..t
Ipciforiathe whole work of popular educe-
tion. A Statu roxiuiret men oi BB
culture in all the walks or lite, aa
the profession of teaching, and he Pff "on
of the .ystem of public school instruction is
one of the wisest and noblest object of
"cgislation. Allofthodiflernt ittntion
ot learning would be strengthened and their
" . , I I, l.rlnrrlno- tlienitO-
usetuiness iDcreu ..-o o ---aether
in a closer uuion, which possibly can
be best accomplished by tho creation of a
general Department of Education.
1 aoLDiKiis' onrnANs' scnoots.
The last annual report of the Superinten
dent of the Soldiers' Orphans' Schools was
made up to include tho 30th of November,
1806. The appropriation for that year,
extending from January 1, 1800, to January
1, 1807, was insufficient to cover the ex
nenses of the wholo veor. and consequently
those of Decern net, 1800, were unpaid. The
next anuronriation. under the present law,
extends from January 1, 1807, to June 1,
1868. It was, therefore, determined that
there was no legal authority to apply any
part of it to tho payment of expenses prior
to January, 1807 ; hence thoBo incurred in
December, 1800, amounting to $31,049 78,
remain unpaid.
Hon. Thomas IT. Burrowcs, who was
appointed Superintendent by my predeces
sor, continued in office until May 1, 1807,
when, under the act of April v, latw, i
appointed Colonel Gcorgo F. M'Farland,
Superintendent, ltev. V. Uorntortu, inspector
and Examiner, and Mrs. E. W. lluttcr, As
sistant, who nt once entered upon the dis
charge of their duties by visiting and re
organizing the schools, correcting, nouses
which had crept into the local management
of some of them, and in settling arrearages.
which was done with zeal, hdelity, and
commendable promptitude.
The present Superintendent reports the
expenditure for the eleven months ending
.November 80, 1807, as toiiows :
Education nnd mnintennnce
$341,889 85
210 00
37,187 H3
0. 8,350 74
6,731 HO
Partial relief
Clothing furnished l.OSS children, in
advanced schools,
Making nnd repairine clothing, freight,
General Expenses,
Total amount, from January 1. toJDeo.
J, 1(K7, uW4,lU VI
The expenses for the six month, from December
1,17, to Juno 1, lmirf, are estimated by the Su
perintendent, ns follows :
Education and maintenance of 1.S50
children, in advancod schools, at
$140 rcr annum,
$129,500 00
Education and maintennnceof 500 chil
dren in primary schools, at SSl-J
per annum,
81,250 00
Education and mnintennnco of 1,050
children in "Homes," at $105 per
annum.
55,125 00
23,125 00
,97a 00
Clothing 1,850 children, at $25 per an
num,
Transferring pupils, salaries, Ac,
Entitnnte for 6 moj., ending Juno 1, 'OS, $212,975 00
Total actual and estimated expenses for
neventeen months, from January 1,
1807, to June 1, ImW. $037,395 02
Or, at the rate of $149,025 80 per annum.
From which deduct total nmount ap
propriated lor seventeen months, at
$350,000 per annum,
495,833 33
And a deficit for seventeen months is
shown of
Or, at the rale of $99,925 80 per annum .
Add the amount duo tor Doo'r., 1S06.
141.501 69
31,019 77
And it exhihits the total deficit from
December 1, I860, to Juno 1, 1808, to
bo provided for by special appropria
tion. '
172,811 48
I do not deem it inappropriate here to
state thut if tho hill which passed the
House at the last session had become a law,
mnking nn appropriation of $450,000 per
annum for tho orphans' schools, it would
have been sufficient to have paid the total
expenses.
The estimates for the year ctnlim: June
1st, 1809, will be found fully set forth in!
the report of tho Superintendent. From !
that report it will aluo be seen that there
are in operation thirty-nine orphuu schools I
and homes, having in charge an average of
two thousand nine hundred and thirty one '
pupils, lor tue year euduig November 3d,
1807, at an average cost of one hundred and
forty-eight dollars and forty-three cents per
annum.
These schools have doubtless reached
their maximum numbers. Sixteen years
being the ago at which the orphans cease
to be chargeable to the State, nsd they will
henet'orwurd decrease in the following latio,
viz: 374 will reach that a-je iu 180S, 3Jf in
1809, 348 iu 1870, 403 in 1871, 479 in 1672,
400 in 1873, 416 in 1874. aud 341 in 1873,
after which there probably will not be more
than GOO remaining iu the schools. Should
tho term be reduced to fifteen years, as has
been proposed by some, fully one fifth of the
number now in the schools would enter
upon trades or business within the present
ytur.
No calculation can furnish nn estimate of
the benefits and blessiugs that arc constant
ly flowing from these institutions. Thou
sands of orphan children lire enjoying their
parental care, moral culture, and education
al training, who otherwise would havo suf
fered poverty and want, and been left to
grow lip in idleness aud neglect. Many n
widow's heart lias been gladdened by the
protection, comfort and religions solicitude
extended to her fatherless offspring, and
thousands are the prayers devoutly uttered
for those who have not been unmindful of
them in the time of their affliction. In
making the generous disposition it has done
for these destitute and helpless orphans,
tho Legislature deserves mid receives the
heartiest thanks of every good citizen, all
of whom will cordially approve a continu
ance of that beneficence. In shielding, pro
tecting and educating the children of our
dead soldiers the Legislature is nobly per
forming it duty. Those children are not
the mere objects of our charity, or pension
er upon our bounty ; but the wards of the
Commonwealth, and have just claims, earned
uy tue uiood oi tlieir lathers, upon its sup
port nnd guordionship, which can only be
withheld at the sacrifice of philanthropy,
honor, patriotism, State pride, and every
principal of humauity.
ALItlCULTVHAL COLLEGE.
The act of Congress of July 2, 18G2,
granted land acript to the several States, to
be appropriated to tho maintenance of col
leges, whoso leading object it shall be to
give iustruction in tho sciences which min
ister to agriculture and the mechanio arts.
By tho rule of apportionment, adopted by
Congress, 700,000 acrjs fell to the share of
this Commonwealth. The act of Assembly
of February 19, 1867, appropriated the
benefit of the whole of that grant to tho
Agricultural College of Pennsylvania, which
has thereby becomo subject to the supervi
sion and guardianship of the State. I there
fore iuvito your attention to the organiza
tion and condition f that institution, as
exhibited by the president of tho board of
trustees, in hi report for the year 1867,
which will bo laid before you. The com
missioner appointed by the Legislature to
sell the land scrip have completed the sales,
which amount to $439,180 80. In accord
ance with the art of Assembly, the one-tenth
of the proceeds has been applied to the
purchase of sites for "Model and Experi
mental Farm," and the residue invested as
follow : $126,000 in United State 0 20
bond ; $20,000 in Pennsylvania war loan.
and $235,000 in the Pennsylvania bond of
loo. -
t MILITARY.
From tho report of the Adjutant General,
it will be seen that there are now but thirty
eight uniformed companies in the State,
comprising ouly about three thousand men,
whilst tho auggeated amendments; which
should be made aa early a poaU,le, would
increase these orcauizatlous to any desirable
ji xtcnt, auii tend to rcuew and keep alive in
our soldier tho prond mcmoriee of the ser
vice, and to preserve the military ardor
born of our recent trugglc for national
existence. "
SEW AR8EHAL.
The necessity for a now arsenal, affording
. ni.M r onfn deDosit for ordnance, ord
nance stores and a magaxine, is to obvious
as to require nothing more on my part than
to call your attention to the subject, and
to ask that authority be given and aa ap
propriation inado'for the purchase of a site
and for the erection of suitable building
for the purpose indicated.
HEVNOLDS MONUMKST.
Agreeably to the requirement of the act
of Assemblv. entitled "An Act to authorite
the Governor to transfer to the Heynold
Monument Committee unserviceable nnrl
condemned ordnance," approved March 7,
1807. I caused the ordnance in tue atsenai
to be inspected and turned over to the com
mittee lor the purpose indicated five con
demned six-pounder brass cannon, weighing
in the aggregate three thousand seven nun
dred and torty eignt pounds.
1IIST011T.
In 1801 the Legislature made an appro
priation for the purpose of having prepared
aud published a complete history of the
military operations of the State in reference
to the late war. My predecessor nppoiutcd
Samuel P. Bales, Esq., for the purpose or
consummating the provisions of that net,
who proceeded to collect the necessary ma
terials and to prosecute the work.
Although the country has again been res
tored to peace, the people continue to feci a
deep interest in all that relates to the strug
gle which so recently convulsed the nution.
In the prosecution ot the war Pennsylvania,
ulways among the first to answer the coun
try's call, gave additional evidences of her
devotion to liberty uud to the nation's glory.
Over three hundred and sixty thousand of
her sous stood in the ranks of the Union
army. Many have fallen, and nearly thirty
thousand by wounds and disease received
in the field, repose in death. To commemo
rate their heroism, to preserve their names
and perpetuate the record of their deeds ore
among tue objects ot the work in progress.
In its pages will be found an account of
each aud every military organization of the
State ; the officers nod men of whom they
were composed ; the name of every individ
ual, with -his place of residence, timo of
muster, date of dischnrge, and special nc Is
by which he was distinguished, as well of
the dead as those who have survived.
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
The Department of Transportation, crea
ted during the war, has accomplished its
purpose, nnd ceased to exist by the deter
mination of the Legislature, expressed in
the appropriation bill, approved April 11,
1807. The report of the Superintendent
shows that for tho year ending November
30, 1807, the whole number of claims settle'd
and paid was eight hundred and eighty-two.
These were for the disinterment of the
bodies of deceased Pennsylvania soldiers on
distant battle-fields and transportation to
the homes of their relatives, and tho total
expenditures were thirty-two thousand Ave
hundred and twenty-nine dollar and forty
cents. There remain unsettled one hun
dred nnd twenty-three claims, amounting
to about four thousand dollars, for the pay
ment of which and some unsettled transpor
tation, an appropriation of four thousand
five hundred dollars will be required.
STATE AGENCY.
During the year ending December 15,
1807, one thousand seven hundred and
eighteen claims have been settled, und three
hundred aud twenty one Treasury certili
cates collected, amounting to $211,009 43.
Two thousand oue hundred and twenty nine
new cases remain unsettled, the most of
which will probably be settled by tho oOth
of June next, at which period the appropria
tion terminates. When this is exhausted,
the Department will have doubtloss fulfilled
its ini.-sinn. and the documents and papers
can be transferred to the Adjutant General's
office.
CJCMETKIUCS.
The reports of the commissionrrs appoint
ed under the act of March 13, 1807, to in
vestigate the transactions relating to certain
cemeteries are herewith presented.
The work at tho Gettysburg cemetery is
progressing, but with less expedition than
was contemplated, in consequence of the
difficulty of procuring such blocks of marble
us were required for statuary.
The appropriation of three thousand dol
lars to the cemetery at Antietam has been
withheld, as it appears from the act of in
corporation by the Legislature of Maryland
and the resolutions of the board of trustees,
that the rebel dead are to be interred with
in the enclosure aud to be honored with
tho same memorials as the Union soldiers
who are there buried.
The custom has ever prevailed to special
ly honor those in death who won special
honor by meritorious lives. The monuments
reared to the memory of departed worth
bear ample testimony that our people have
not been unmindful of this custom. But
where wcro such memorials ever erected for
men whose actions were infamous, and who
perished in an ignoble cause? Who woultl
glorify the treason of Benedict Arnold with
such monuments as have arisen to the mem
ory of Washington t Who would dnro to
insult the loyal heart of this nation by pro
posing to lay, side by side, in tho sumo
sepulchre, the body of the assassin Booth
and that of Abraham Lincoln? No loyal
man would take the heartless Wirz and the
other demons tljat picsided over tho prison
dens of cruelty, starvation aud death, aud
the executed conspirators against tho na
tion's illustrious chief, and deposit them in
the same tomb with the patriotic men who
sacrificed their lives in battling for "the
right against tho wrong," Vet it is pro
posed that the loyal States construct ceme
teries for their heroic dead, and then dese
crate them by the burial therein of those
who prosecuted against the country a war
fare which for its diabolical ferocity is with
out a parallel in the history of civilization,
and even to erect monuments to tlieir memo
ry. Carry out this purpose and what in
ducement can be hereafter offered to the
loyal citizen to fight against treason, when
he feels assured that should he fall in battle
the traitor's grave will bo honored equally
with his own ?
Tho cause of tho Union was a holy one,
while that which opposed it must have
been its couverse. To one side alone tho
glory belongs. This was not a war of na
tions but ot treason against loyalty. It was
a contest of rebels who would" have drained
the life's blood of tho government which
had nurtured and protected them, against
its patriotic sons who fought to save il from
destruction. It was a war carried on by the
defenders aud promoter of oppression
against the friend and lover of liberty and
their country's integrity.
While there is no reasonable objection
to giving decent aepullure even to the rebel
dead, those who consider them deserving of
honorable testimonial may bestow tbcru.
It i our duty to render honor only to whom
we believe honor is due.
MONUMENT TO DECEASED OLDIERS Or TUB
MEXICAN WAS.
The oommiasioncr appointed under an
act of the Legislature, approved April 92,
1858, 'to contract for, and superintend the
erection of a monument to the memory of
citizens of Pennsylvania who were slain or
lost their lives in the late war of Mexico,"
have contracted for the erection of a mono
meat, in a prominent portion of the Capitol
ground, and the work is-' progressing as
rapidly as circumttaoces will permit. The
appropriation of $9,000, to which the com
missioners art limited, is inaaequmw
the contract was $8,200. I Join the commis
sioners, therefore, in requesting an addition
al appropriation ot tnree tnousana uun',
to be meet, or so moon inereoi ujj us
necessary, to complete the undertaking.
BCRIAL OF DECEASED SOLDIERS IX THE
nARRINBUBQ CEMETERY.
A communication from the board of man
aaers of the Harrisbnrg cemetery 1 here
ja ith transmitted, to which your attention
T invited. The subject of wlrlch it treats,
relative to the burial of deceased soldiers
during the late war, is worthy of legislative
consideration.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTION-.
The Pennsylvania Institute for the Deaf
and Dumb, the institution tor tue instruc
tion of the Blind, the Training School for
Feeble-Miuded Children, the Northern
Homo for Friendless Children, the Houses
of Kefuge, several Soldiers' Homes, and
other similar charities, which have received
aid from the State, are, according to the
reports of the principals and superintendents,
all, in their different spheres, accomplishing
much good for tho unfortuuate classes for
w hoso benefit they were established. -'
Detailed accounts of the affairs of the
Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital, at
Pittsburg, will be found in the reports of
the trustees and supcrintcudents. Doth
these institutions, as well ns others in the
Slate for the care of the insane, are crowded.
The infirmaries for the hospital at Harris
burg, for which appropriation was mado
last year, with a large number of additional
wards, have becn.erectcd, and will be ready
for occupation during the w inter. A liberal
appropriation for the Western Hospital was
devoted to tho erection of buildings, on the
Ohio river, seven miles below Pittsburg,
known ns tho Dixniont Hospital for the In
sane. The great increase of population
renders necessarv the establishment of other
institutions of this kind. It is estimated
that the ratio of the insane is one to every
thousand persons, and on assuming the
populatiou of the State to be about three,
millions five hundred thousand, wo have
about three thousand five hundred insane.
The hospitals in the State afford accommo
dation for only two thousand. Hence there
ore fifteen hundred for w hom no provision
is made, nnd many of them arc languishing
in tho country prisons and almshouses.
REVISION OF THE CIVIL CODE.
Pursuant to the first section of a joint
resolution of the Legislature, approved on
the 10th of April last, Hon. David Derrick
son. W. Maclay Hall, Esq., and Wayne
M'Veigh, Esq., were appointed to "revise,
collate and digest al( such public acts and
statutes of the civil code of this State, as
aro general and permanent in their nature."
These gentlemen have haw commenced the
work assigned them, and from which the
following benefits arc hoped to be derived:
Firl. The correction of the redundancies.
omissions, repetitions nnd inconsistences of
the existing statutes.
Second. Tho framing of general laws as
substitutes for the innumerable local sta
tutes, which for many years have comprised
the bulk of the acts of Assembly, nnd occu
pied the attention of the Legislature to tho
detriment of the general legislation.
Third. The conferring upon the courts
many powers now exercised by the Legisla
ture, nnd which, it is believed, will greatly
relieve that body by decreasing the demand
for special legislation and allowing ampler
opportunity for tho consideration of the
public interests.
Tho bilU relating to the poor and to pub
lic highways demand early attention, as the
laws now iu force on these subjects aro so
numerous anil diversified that scarcely any
two comities in the State aro controlled by
1 the same law, and it is earnestly to be tie-
sired that they receive the earliest practica
ble sanction ol tue Legislature.
The commissioners desire to be allowed,
so far as possible, to complcto the work and
present it as a symmetrical whole, rather
than in detached parts, and express their
opinion relative to the time requisite for
its satisfactory completion. They ask a re
peal of so much of the Brut ' section of the
joint resolution as excepts from their labors
"those statutes revised, codified and enacted
under the resolution approved March 2u,
1830," and an amendment of the fourth
section, so as to extend from "two" to three
years, the time allowed for the completion
of the work. The proposed amendments
will give them control of the wholo body
of the statute law, aud such allowance of
time nsis deemed necessary for its satisfac
tory revision. The accumulation of onr
public statutes, during a period, of nearly
two centuries, can hardly fail to present
a confusion which it is eminently desirable
should be corrected ; and the ouly practica
ble mode of accomplishing this, is the one
indicated by the resolution ot the last Leg
islature, and having confidence in the gen
tlemcn selected for this work, it is due to
them, as well as to the publie, that thev
should not bo restricted, cither as to time or
by exceptions, which would prevent n per
fect and desirablo embodiment of public
statutes.
TAX LAW.
The Auditor General, Secretary of the
Commonwealth and Stato Treasurer, ap
pointed by the Legislature at its last session
to revise nnd digest the tax laws of the
State, havo discharged that duty. Their
report will bo submitted at un early day,
and I bespeak for it that careful examina
tion which the importance of the subject
deserves.
PUBLIC NOTICE TO DE OIVEN OF CERTAIN
BILLS.
Your attention is also invited to the acts
of May 13, 1857 and April 2, 1800, (Digest,
page 43,) requiring public notice to be given
of tho application for all private acts relat
ing to real estate and for acts of incorpora
tion. The wisdom and justice of these arc,
manuest, ana liieir eninrcemcnt cannot be
otherwise than beneficial.
LEGISLATION.
Tho Governor condemns tho hasty and
careless legislation to souio of which he
refers and says : It was a matter of com
mon notoriety at the lost session that a num
ber of subordinate officers, in both branches
of tho Assembly, were appointed, to whom
liberal salaries were paid, and who were
never sceu at their designated posts, and
rendered no scrvico to the State. This
practice has been emphatically condemned
by the press and the people, aud will not
bo continued by any Legislature which
means to acquire a reputation for a faithful
pei formance of duty. Your attention is res
pectfully invited to" the law on this subject
as contained in sections fifteen to eighteen
of tho act approved the 7th day of May.
1853. "
I'ERQCISITES OF OFFICE.
It is alleged that valuable, property Las
thu been taken possession of and applied to
personal uses, or told for mere nominal iumi,
and the amouut obtained privately appro
priated. A remedy for this evil is to allow
no perquisites whatever to any of the em
ployees of the government. Salaries, suffi
cient in all cases for tho services rendered,
should be appropriated., beyond which no
other consideration should be allowed. The
adoption of this principle would remove the
temptation for young men in the depart
ments to resort to Improper practice. All
the publio property, of every description, as
well as the buildings and grounds, should
be placed in charge of the superintendent
appointed for that purpose, chosen for his
kaown integrity and ceneral canabilitv. anrl
required to give sufficient bond or the
faitbfil performance of bis dutiee.- All pro -
perty and material not needed for public use,
the superintendent should be required to
sell at puDite saia, ana pay over tiie proceeas
to tue btate 'l reasury. . t
' OEKERAL RAILROAD LAtV.
The subjoct of a general railroad law has
ong been agitated, and although it has.
found opponents, but few objections have
ueen urged against It, whilst arguments ac
cumulate in its favor. It seems impossible
that any person can receive injury from its
adoption, whilst its benefits msv be felt by
all classes of citizents. Even the chartered
companions have no reasonable grounds for
opposition. The intention of the proposed
law is not to deprive them of any vested
rights or franchises ; but to secure to others
the samo privileges and opportunities for j
competition. It will open Daw avenues to
distant markets ; improve the value of pro
perty ; give- new impulse to immigration ;
put additional land under cultivation i
stimulate trade, agriculture, manufacture
and mechanic arts to increased energy; fur
nish greater inducements and facilities for
travel, and add to our general prosperity.
Uther states have tried the experiment with
satisfactory results, and there is no reason
why Pennsylvania should be a laggard in
the grand march of progress and improve
ment. Next to the importance of creating addi
tional railroads on the free principle, is the
reduction of charges fur passage and freight
to minimum rates. This is a mutter that
concerns every individual. Transportation
will increase in quantity in proportion to
tue reduction ot its cost, and as the laci li
lies increase and the costs decrease, the more
vigorous will bo the development of our in
dustrial resources. Railroads will derive
more benefit from low than from exorbitant
charges. The increase of travel and freight
will bo vastly greater than the increase of
expense. Tho transportation of a loaded
car costs but little more than that of one
that is empty. In the matter of passengers
alone, it is reasonable to suppose, that the
lower the rates of fare, the greater will be
the number of persons to avail themselves of
the privilege of railroad transportation. The
same is true in regard to freight : for the en-
gine that draws n half-dozen, cars can wiih
nearly equal facility propel a larger number, j
Moreover, the road that is worked to its !
utmost capacity must necessarily, at very j
reduced rates, acquire greuttr profi:s tlnti !
oue that transacts but a small portion of j
the business for which it is competent. The
adoption of a system nf uniform rates for
passengers and freight, so graduated as to
De profitable to all immediately interested
in the use and couduct of such works.
would be productive of decided benefit in
lessening the prices of food, clothing, fuel
nntl ull tho necessaries of life, to every
citizen of the Commonwealth.
INSURANCE..
Our insaranco laws renuire revision and altera
tion. Whilst a liirge por,in of the in-urancc business
of Xew York is douo in this State, some of our com- j
piinie" have recently aboliflrtd their agencies in I
New York, becnunc, as they say, no ono thero will j
insure in a Pennsylvania cunipany, in consequence j
of the laxity of our insuraneo laws. Tho policies of .
many organizations, under our present laws, are si- j
leged to be worthless; on 1 although they ore con- I
tinuully fuiling, others of similar character are start- :
ine into cxisteuee. Within a few months lire Gra !
insurance companies have faile l, ono of which had I
issued policies to over one million ot dollars, and
other sorious defections aro of frequent occurrence.
In view of these facts and the costly expericneo of
tho people, I would recommend Ihe establishment of
nn Insurance Department, similar to those in New
York and Massachusetts, that shall hare supervision
and control ovor all companies allowed to transact
business within this State. Such enactment is re-
3uircd for the security of our citizens. Millions of
ollarsare paid out by them annually for insuranco
much of it under such circumstances ns to render
ii impossioie lor a private individual to Know wne-
thcr tho compuny to which he pays is or is not rc-
,, In I ,,mI,,I iin.pi-iBinn hv a ii,ori,ilin.,ni,t a:,.
pointed by law, and published reports of the sumo, !
under oath, would prevent much loss and fraud. i
r-ARIS KXDIDITIO.
That Pennsylvania might be officially representor
in the ".Model American School iloui'o," at the i
"Universal ExpoMtion of all Kntious," I caused to
be forwarded to tho Amoricnn CommiMsioner at Pa
ris, in July lost, a box containing a large number of
ltnnkfc mill tliii-n ttients ralnlive ti tlm VHriitna linnari.
menls of the Commonwealth, wilh a request Uiut
nicy be placed in n prominent position, that
in n prominent position, that visi
tors from distant lanls might have an opportunity
to obtain from their pages a correct idea of the pro
gress and importance of the State. Iu acknowledg
ing too reeuipt oi tuis paoungo iuo t-omioisiaoncr
stales that ita contents were disposod of as requested-
And wo are ntfiired that tho representation of
the extent, characteristics, resources, progress and
frivileges of ourcouutry. as made iu the "i'nriner's
loiue.:' aud "Free Common School House," at
tracted crowds of curious and interested visitors,
and would scatter wide nnd permanently, in dis
tinct form, the dectrines of our Republic. 'nnd "re
sult in a rich return to tho United Slutcs lor the
outlay, and a higher appreciation, among tho peo
ple of Europe, of the statutes and institutions of
this land of freedom and equality."
roLirc roa tiir iunikq mstricts.
In conformity to an act of Assombly "fur the bet
ter protectiou of person, property nnd life in tho
mining regions of this Commonwealth, " approved
April 12, 18b7, and on the earnest appeal ot many
citizens, I appointed, immediately after that date,
a mnrshnl of police and a number of subosdinutes.
to give protection to the inhabitants of Schuylkill
and Northumberland counties. In theso counties,
for a long time previous, orimea of a heinous char
acter were ol frequent occurrence. Combinations of
depurate men were formed to overawe the proprie
tors and superintendents of themir.es, nnd to control
their management. Citizens were murdered in
their dwellings and en tho roads ; others, intimida
ted by threats, wero drives from the oouuties ; and a
feeling of insecurity and torror very generally pre
vailed. The administrators of the law seemed pow
erless to suppress these outrages, or bring the guilty
to punishment. Since the appointment of the new
police force a remarkable ohauge has taken place.
All lawless combinations have boon dispersed, the
persons composing them haviug chiefly tied ; not a
single murder or atrooiuus crime is known to have
bocn committed ; an immenso amount of capital
that had been withdrawn has returned; and the
people enjoy the asurnnc of safety and protection.
A similar state of affairs to that which existod in
the counties named is said to prevail in some parts
of the oil regions, and applications have been made
for the benefit of the above named act. It is, there
fore, recommended that its provisions be extended to
thote. or to any other counties, upon the petition of
a sufficient number of oitizens, who shall furnish
good reasoni for dosiring their benefits
PARDONS.
A report is herewith submitted of the
pardons, remissions of fines, forfeited recog
nizance and death warrants, issued by me
during the past year, with a tabular state
ment of those issued from 1701 to the pre
sent timo. ' This report is madu in accor
dance with a senso of duty to the Legisla
ture and the public, who havo a right to be
intormcd.in what manner and to what ex
tent the Kxocutive clemency has been em
ployed toward convicted criminals. It is
also due to the Executive himself that his
action in this regard should be understood.
On no subject has there been greater mis
representation than on that which relates
to the exercise of the pardoning power.
Accusations have repeatedly been published
of its abuse, and cases have Ucn cited in
proof thereof, which were never even pre
sented to my notice. Criminals were li
berated from prison after sentence, and cla
mor raised in relation to their pardon . in
cases in which no appeal for clemency had
ever been made. Upon investigation, it
ha been ascertained that a custom prevail
in tho court of quarter sessions of Philadel
phia, to re-consider, remit and chango sen
tences, week and months after their deliv
ery, and in this, much of the misrepresenta
tion has originated. During the last year,
as many convicts were thus liberated from
tho Moyamensing jail as were pardoned by
me from all the prisons in the Common
wealth. Besides which a number more
have had their terms of sentence reduced.
How, or when, or under what authority,
this -custom originated. It is impossible to
learn ; but that it is liable to abuso, and is
without the sanction of law, aeems evident.
The sentence of a convict is a matter of
crave Importance.' and should ' receive most
sorious consideration before it is determin
ed upon and delivered ) for wbea it has be-
soma a ma.LtAr nf ronrrl that eirtiMlnal naaa..
1 e beyond the jurisdiction of the court, and j
1 tl?tr is no legal $r constitutional remedy, '
even for error thai mat baV?renittcc1. ex
cept turougi, appeal to the iVetutive. , If
a luuge can remit or shorten a tSttit-pce, he
cm increase It, and that is a vmr.r Man.
gerous to allow any one to wield. And
fouthcr, If it be lawful for the judge of one
vumh, vu renin, sentences at pleasure, it fol
lows that judge of all other courts should
be Invested with the same prerogarive t and
it requires no argument to show to what a
dangerous extent it might be used. Hap
pily, tho custom appears to be confined to
the court named, as judges in other counties
disclaim any such authority.'
Former Legislatures have had their atten
tion called to the fact.that persons are now
euuuucu in our county prisons uuder sen
tence of death, some ot them for many years,
whose death warrants were never issued,
and toward whom the several Governors,
during whoso term they were sentenced,
could not discover sufficient cause for the
exercise of the pardoning power. Tho cus
tom has been for each Uovernor to decline
Usuing a death warrant Which had been
withheld by his predecessor. Hence, these
convicts, sentenced to death, for whose exe
cution tho previous Governors did not issue
warrants, nnd whom, it is presumed they
believed deserved a milder punishment,
must either be pardoned or remain prison
ers for life. To remedy thin the Governor
should bo vested with authority to commute
the death penalty in the eases only to which
allusion has been made, to such a term of
imprisonment as his judgment would ap
prove, and to remove the convicts from
county jails to the penitentiaries.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Contrary to the hopes of the great mas
ses of our people, that portion of the coun-
1 try which was lately in rcbclliou lias not
! yet attained complete tranquility. And
! this seems to have been inevitable; for nil
I history teaches us that a people who engage
' in the perpetration of high crimes canuot
i entirely uor immediately escape their con
j sequences. Nor, perhaps, is it desirable .
that they should. However this may be, it
j is certain that perfect repose caunot be se
cured until the insurrectionary States shall
resume their original practical relation
to
the Oeneral Oovernmeut.
Jlvie, when and tirovyh whom this car. be
best done, is the great question of the pre
sent. That the views and conceptions of a sin-
glo individual, however high he may be nc
! cidentally and temporarily exalted, sho'uld lie
allowed to control or determine this ques-
: tion, cannot tor a moment bo conceded.
1 he Constitution provides that the I nitcd
Stutes shall guarantee to every Stat: in the
Union a republican form of government;
nnd, where the will of the people is the
acknowledged law of the bind, it requires
an extraordinary amount oi political iliinn
tery to ussuine that a Chief Executive ol iIm
nation, to any degree or under any circum
stances, is the United States.
And yet in effect or substance, if not in
plain terms, this was assumed flmrtly itfu-r
the surrender of Lee and bis armed imces,
by the President ; nnd he has continued to
act ou this assumption, even in his late an
nual message, iu which, while claiming, in
words tiiiknort n to our forefathers and our
institutions, to be the "elected defender" of
the people, he arroguntly calls mi Congress
to "immediately strike from tho statute
hooka" its reconstruction laws.
That Congress "will surrender its plan of
reconstruction" to this ni.iiiilctstiv despot io
demand, cannot be even imnii:eil or con
jectured. That plan, ciiu-l'uih mat'in-d as
it was, ana lully npprovi.M ic. ii itwe.su
direct issue betoie Hie j
! i ,JHt wise and PulrioW'
pie, is einiiii::,! :t
v . ..
Individual interest, as well us the shut
ul financial condition ot our national till;. its
would be greatly beni-liitcd by the sim;iii
lication of internal revenue luxation, r. i it .fa
cing the number of article taxed and in.-i:r
j ing honesty and fuitlifti!m in ciillecii,,:..
j The reduction of taxes on tho ncci ssniks i t
life and on manufactures that nrc in or,-,
' petition Wltll the product ol
l.uviiiii !aivr
I sliotiicl tic encouraged, wlnle the t:t. on
1 luxuries and imports should lie made i-nf-
fieient to sustain the expenses ol the go,
' ernuvMit.
As regards the taiiiT, the pmifctiun oi
) homo labor aud resources, I need only ie,v:
j to Uie views expressed in my inauuur.il
! Time uud continued icfleetii have stri't'.:h
emit me views therein expressed, l: J
this sul jeet. is committed to the wa'oliiul
care of our representatives in CmigresR. and
it is hoped tlieir labors will be 'cniriutd
wilh the happiest consequences. Sureh iV
United Slates should piotict mid dcii.f 1
her own industry aud kkiil - her own toil
ing millions !
i 1 earnestly invoke tli:i blessing of .VI
mighty God upon your deliberations, an.
that lie will prosper your i xcrtions to pro
mote the happiness ol thu people nnd tli
welfare of our beloved Coniuion wealth.
JXO. W. tlKAKY.
EXKCTTIVU ClIAMDI.H
Uurrmbur'j, January 7, 1S08.
.iioi;.vr vi:i vii s.
X.W'i.ks, Jan 4, 1808. The eruption
Mount Vesuvius, which was described sui
days since aa becoming still more inte'st
grand, is just now quite alarming.
The whole of the volcano is in vioh
action, and flame issues not only from
old crater und many new openings to
air, but it continues to blaze after its e
li)i).
A slight subsidence of tho volcanic
tion had taken place, and on Monday.
9th of December, the mountain reinai
almost quiescent, its sides being cuveiet
a great exteut, with snow A heavy co!
smoke issued from what the iavuns t
the "smoke holes," old und new.
Tuesday night, December 10, tlicerui
was resumed with creat force, and a
' of lava, resembling a solid rock, was
Irom tue crater to a great height, an
seen from this city, rolled down the
pof tho great cone after falling.
A loutl roar, as it of artillery, was
during the entire night.
The mountain was veiled in duiknes
after the hour of daybrcuk next more
I as tue lorenoon advanced a strout
' sprung up from the north und dispell
gloom, ana etuvtus lias been untie
its fiery daily grandeur since.
To day a perfect river of fire is
flow from tho mountain, running in
erly direction.
The fiery flood is ncaiing the
Ccrcala.
Tho upheavings of the volcano ai
ded with shocks resembling tho
earthquake, and loud detonation:'-,
battery of heavy guns in full play, ai
A perfect panic prevails anioup
habitants of all the villages titiiutt
neighborhood of the loot of the n
The New York Tribune says its St
correspondent writes that to the
cember, five hundred shocks of em
had been felt at that Island, and a
man who (ays thst Secretary cv
purchase is no great shakes i cl
taken."
The yellow fever still linitrrs b
leans, causing eighteen deaths i
weeks ending December 13. T
also several deaths from other inah
Cholera also continues there
abatement. There wero aixty-f
from cholera in each of the tnn
ing December 13. v
It is reported by a Western p
agent of a farmers' club in L'ngla
tiatinf far ten thousand acre of
on which three hundred Europi
will immediately settle, inelu
celebrated grape growtrs of the