REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOL. XII.-NO. 24. PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 14, 1833. NO. 310

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE,

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Com-
monwealth of Pennsylvania.
Fellow Citizens:

In the course of your deliberations, but few laws of a general nature will require your attention; such, however, of that description, as will present themselves for your consideration, will be of general interest to our ed, if their enactment should be neglected or postponed. With few exceptions, our civil and criminal codes are sufficiently copious already, and contain provisions and sanctions abundantly comprehensive, as well for the just and equitable administration of the government in all its departments, as for the protection of the citizen in all his rights. The former is under a course of revi sion by commissioners appointed under a resolution of the General Assembly, who so far as they have progressed in the difficult work, have given ample proof of a determination, as well as the ability, to give the State a code of laws as perfect as human indu-try, laborious research, and legal skill combined, can make it, and which will, it is believed, require but little more of the action of the General Assembly to give it effect, than its sanction and approval. Several reports have heretofore been made by the revisers, in part, accompanied by bills, some of which still remain to be acted upon by the Legislature; and being for the most part of much general interest, it is believed, that their enactment into laws would conduce to the public good. A further report, from the same source, of other important bill-, may be xpected shortly.

of the General Assembly, to elect a Senator, to represent this State in the Congress of the United States, for six years from the fourth of March last, the duty wil devolve upon you to fill the vacancy which was thus In communicating to the General Assembly, informa- occasioned and now exists; and as the State is but par tion of the state of the Commonwealth, I rejoice that I │tially represented in that dignified branch of the nationam enabled to congratulate you on the propitious ciral Legislature, now in session, your early attention is cumstances under which you have met to perform your respectfully invited to the subject. Legislative duties. Our country still continues to be the abode of peace; the home of freemen; the favored spot of earth to which the nations of the world continue to look as to the only abiding place of rational liberty. To the American patriot, when he contemplates the pre-constituents, and public expectation will be disappointeminent advantages his own country possesses over those of every other, in its universal prosperity; the extent, variety, and fertility of its soil; the salubrity of its climate; its physical strength and resources, and the unspeakable amount of human comfort and happiness it imparts, the reflection must be peculiarly gratifying, that the government under which he lives,and by which he is protected, so mild in its measures; so simple in its structure; based upon the will and the affections of the people; noiselessly, but effectually, operating upon and controlling more than twelve millions of citizens, native or adopted; its power no where seen or felt, except in the administration and the execution of just and equitable laws, righteously administered, and mildly, but firmly enforced, continues, after the lapse of little short of half a century, to unfold the appropriate energies inherent in its constitution, to withstand all the trials and difficulties with which it has been destined to contend, and that our anostentatious republican institutions, emanating from the people and sustained by their virtue and intelligence, have emerged from every onset, whether of foreign war or domestic disaffection, with such healthful manifestations of undiminished energy and vigor, as to inspire renewed confidence in The promptitude with which crime is detected; its their stability, and to encourage a belief in the perpe- efficient and certain punishment; the checks and retuity of their endurance. A prudent course of admin-straints imposed upon criminals by the provisions introistration, extending its fostering care and protecting influence into every part of the Union; that will continue to cherish the great national interests of Agriculture, Commerce, and Manufactures, preserving them as much as possible in a condition of prosperous equality, neither fostering the one to the exclusion of others, nor withholding aid and encouragement from either, when it is needed, will contribute greatly towards pro ducing so desirable a result.

t

duced into our penal code, designed as well for the reformation as for the punishment of the convict, it is believed will always furnish as much security to the lives, the persons, and the property of our citizens, as can be reasonably expected from human enactmen's. It may not be improper here to state, for the information of the General Assembly, that our plan of penitentiary reform, as practised in the prison at Philadelphia, denominated "The Eastern Penitentiary," continues to elicit In our own Commonwealth, we are in the enjoyment the approbation of all who have had an opportunity of of every comfort that can reasonably be desired to m-witnessing its salutary influence upon the unfortunate nister to the wants, or to gratify the wishes of rational convicts, and to answer the just expectations of its most creatures. The health of our citizens, with the excep- ardent friends. On the first day of November, last, tion of a slight visitation in a single quarter of the State, there were one hundred and thirty-two convicts confinhas been marvellously preserved; abundant harvests ed within the cells of this prison, of which number, one have richly rewarded the toil of the husbandman, and hundred and twenty-eight were males, and four fea prosperity, as universal as it is grateful, is the portion males. Fifty one of these were received into the priof an industrious enterprising people. In appreciating son since the first of January, last. In the management these blessings as we ought, fellow citizens, it becomes of the Institution, and the enforcement of its discipline, us to be mindful of our obligations to the beneficent great praise is due to those to whom the supervision source from whence they are derived, and to adore, and care of the establishment is confided, and to none with grateful hearts, the goodness of Him who so boun-more peculiarly so, than to the prudent and intelli tifully supplies all our wants, and graciously dispenses to each of us so many unmerited favors.

Your predecessors having failed, at the last session
VOL. XII.

47

gent warden to whose acuteness and sagacity, the sys ́em owes many of its valuable improvements, and to whose energy and firmness in carrying it into execution, it is

frailty of human nature, which give occasion to the necessity for supporting such institutions amongst us; it requires no extraordinary stretch of sagacity to trace their causes, in a great measure, to an entire neglect of mental culture and of moral and religious instruction, which is so alarmingly conspicuous in some parts of our (in other respects) flourishing Commo wealth; and to discover a remedy which, if not sovereign, will at least contribute to a more healthy state of the public virtue and morals; in a suitable attention to an enlightened cultivation of the minds of our youth; to a more gene

greatly indebted for its efficiency and success. That Whilst we lament the depravity, and deplore the the depraved and reckless inmates of one hundred and thirty-two cells should be reduced to obedience and submission, without the infliction of stripes, or a more rigorous punishment than solitary confinement without labor, and a diminution of food for the refractory, and separate confinement with labor, the ordinary discipline of the establishment, for those who are not so, is not a little extraordinary; but that the punishment, thus inflicted, should be so far efficacious as to reclaim the hardened offender, as would seem to be demonstrated by the remarkable fact, that of fifty-two convicts discharged from the prison since it has gone into opera-ral diffusion of knowledge, and to an enlarged, liberal, tion, not one of them has been returned, is truly asto- and extensive int llectual improvement; capable of ele nishing. From the organization of the establishment vating the undertanding above the degrading influence until the first of October, last, its avails, arising princi- of the passions; the seductive blandishments of vice; or pally from the profits upon the labour of the convicts, the deceptive delusions that mask the infamy of crime. have exceeded its current expenses to the amount of UNIVERSAL EDUCATION, if it were practicable to eneight hundred and fifty-seven dollars and sixty-four force it every where, would operate as a powerful cents; but there has been an excess of the latter, over check upon vice, and would do more to diminish the the former, for the ten months immediately preceding black catalogue of crimes, so generally prevalent, than and ending on the same first day of October, last, of any other measure, whether for prevention or punishfour hundred and eighty-six dollars; this is accounted ment, that has hitherto been devised; in this State, it is for, partly, upon the ground of the depreciation in the not only considered as being entirely practicable, but value of cotton goods manufactured at the prison, of is enjoined by the constitution as a solemn duty, the which there was a heavy stock on hand when the de- non compliance with which, has already stamped the pression took place; partly from the want of capital to stain of inexcusable negligence, upon the character of pay for the raw material, of which there was purchas the Commonwealth, which nothing short of prompt and ed on the credit of the institution, and used in the ma-efficient measures in compliance with the constitutional nufacturing department to the value of ten thousand dollars, upon which sum, after the usual periods of cre dit, interest accrued, the payment of which necessarily reduced to a certain extent the proceeds arising from that source; and lastly, from the receipt into the establishment of a large number of convicts who were not mechanics, and whom it was necessary to instruct in some mechanic art before their labor could become profitable to the institution, and whose earnings until then were not equal to their subsistence. It is believed by those whose opinions are the result of experience, and are consequently entitled to respectful consideration, that if a moderate fund should be appropriated by the Legislature of the State, and placed at the disposal of the persons having the charge of the manufacturing department, thus enabling them to purchase the raw material at cash prices, the advantages resulting to the institution would be found to be of sufficient moment to justify the measure. Without, however, expressing an opinion on the subject, I submit the suggestion itself for the consideration of the General As sembly.

requisition can remove. The Legislature has the authority of the constitution to act efficiently, and without control in this matter. And "to provide by law for the establishment of schools throughout the State, in such manner that the poor may be taught gratis," is one of the public measures to which I feel it to be my duty now to call your attention, and most solemnly to press upon your consideration. Our apathy and indifference in reference to this subject, becomes the more conspicuous, when we reflect, that whilst we are expending millions for the improvement of the physical condition of the State, we have not hitherto appropriated a single dollar, that is available, for the intellectual improve. ment of its youth: which, in a moral and political point of view, is of ten fold more consequence, either as respects the moral influence of the State, or its political power and safety. Let me not be understood, howev er, as objecting to the expenditure of money in prosecuting the public works-far from it; but I would respectfully urge that whilst the one is being successfully done, the other should not be left undone; indeed, judging from the flattering indications already given by In pursuance of the authority and directions contain the former, there is reason to believe that, from the reed in the act of the twenty-seventh February last, "rela- dundant and progressively increasing revenue, which tive to the Western and Eastern Penitentiaries, and the may with great certainty be expected to flow into the Philadelphia County Prisons," the Inspectors of the treasury from that source, much aid may, at no distant Western Penitentiary have been actively engaged in day, be derived to the latter, shou'd it be found expeeffecting the alterations in the structure of that estab-dient to resort to that branch of the public revenue for lishment, contemplated in the first section of the act; such a purpose. and of the one hundred and eighty-four cells authorised According to the returns of the last census, we have, to be constructed, the stone and brick work of a block in Pennsylvania, five hundred and eighty-one thousand consisting of one hundred and four cells of two stories one hundred and eighty children, under the age of fif in height, adapted to the discipline of solitary confine- teen years, and one hundred and forty-nine thousand ment with labor as practised in the Eastern Penitentia- and eighty-nine, between the ages of fifteen and twenty ry, is nearly completed, and the other work pertaining years, forming an aggregate of seven hundred and thir to them is also considerably advanced. It is confidently ty-thousand two hundred and sixty-nine juvenile per believed that with proper exertions this tier of cells will sons of both sexes, under the age of twenty years, be fit for the reception of convicts early in the month most of them requiring more or less instruction. And of April next. Other important portions of the work, yet, with all this numerous youthful population, grow forming essential parts of the contemplated alterations, ing up around us, who in a few years are to be our rol consisting of structures of various kinds, are in a state ers and our law givers, the defenders of our country and of active forwardness, and will, together with the cells the pillars of the State, and upon whose education will above mentioned, be roofed and closed in, during the depend, in a great measure, the preservation of our li present season. When both these establishments shall berties and the safety of the republic, we have neither have been entirely completed, and the system of disci- schools established for their instruction, nor provision pline intended to be enforced throughout, shall have made by law, for establishing them as enjoined by the gone into full operation, it is not doubted that a consi- constitution, How many of the number last mentioned derable revenue will be derived to the State from these would be entitled, within the meaning of the constitu tion, to be "taught gratis," I have no means of ascer

sources.

taining, but am inclined to the opinion, that four hun-mirable nurseries for bringing up and qualifying young dred thousand would fall short of the true number; men for the business of teaching. Moderate appropri about twenty thousand of these, as appears from the re-ations in aid of those literary institutions that have not turns made to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, un- participated of the Commonwealth's bounty, might der a resolution of the House of Representatives of the place them in a condition to furnish the State with a ninth of January last, are returned as charity scholars respectable number of well educated young men, inwhose tuition is to be paid for out of the county funds, structed, as some of those institutions propose to do, in leaving, according to this assumption, three hundred the business of teaching as a profession, in a short time and eighty thousand entirely uninstructed. and at a comparatively trifling expense. These sug gestions are thrown out for your consideration, should they elicit a more eligible or better plan for attaining the end desired, it will afford me much gratification to unite with the General Assembly in carrying it into effect.

I have said that there has not hitherto been an appropriation made that is available for the purposes of education; this is literally true, but the Legislature, by the act of second April, eighteen hundred and thirty-one, have made provision for creating a fund, in prospect, for that object, by setting apart for common school pur- The opinion is entertained by many of our citizens poses, the proceeds arising from unpatented lands, fees and not a few of our statesmen, that individual enterin the land office and all moneys received in pursuance prise, in Pennsylvania, has been greatly dicouraged, of the provisions contained in the fourth section of the and in some instances entirely depressed, by the too act to increase the county rates and levies, passed the general and indiscriminate conferring of corporate pritwenty-fifth day of March, eighteen hundred and thirty-vileges, creating monopolies in branches of industry one, which, it is estimated, will, on the fourth day of which ought to be left to individual exertion alone. April next, amount to a sum not less than five hundred Our statute books exhibit a spirit of liberality, in the and forty six thousand five hundred and sixty three dol- legislation of the State in that respect, which it might lars, and seventy-two cents. This sum, with the amount be prudent, in some measure, to restrain. The true annually accruing from the increased county rates and line of discrimination would seem to be this, that in all levies for the use of the Commonwealth. whilst the act great and important undertakings or enterprises, having continues in force, and that arising from a continuance for their object the advancement of the public conveniof the avails of the land office thereafter, is chargeable ence, accommodation or interest, to the accomplishupon the internal improvement fund, at a compound in- ment of which individual effort and capital would be interest of five per cent. per annum, until it shall produce adequate, acts for the incorporation of companies or one hundred thousand dollars annually, after which, the associations of individuals, may be safely, and, in many interest is to be distributed at the end of each year, and ap-instances, beneficially granted; but, wherever a branch applied to the support of common schools throughout the of business or enterprise of any kind can be successfully State. Estimating this fund in its most unfavorable aspect, and advantageously conducted or carr ed on by citizens the interest will amount to the sum contemplated for dis in their individual capacities, there ought to be no leg tribution on or about the first of April, eighteen hundred islative interference; but the enterprise, whatever it and forty-three; in the mean time, however. there are may be, should be left entirely to individual exertion, no available means for commencing this much desired and to that spirit of competition which never fails to be measure of State policy, this true system of republican awakened and rendered sagacious by personal interest equality that will level all distinction between rich and or the alluring prospect of gain. Another objection, poor; that will place the child of the most indigent ci- | of much force, is made to the privilege of voting by tizen of the Commonwealth upon a level with that of proxy, peculiar in this country, I believe, to corporahis richer neighbor, both in the school room and upon tions alone, as being entirely at variance with the genius the Campus; will instruct the rising generation in their and principles of our government. This scion of arbiduties as citizens; enable them to appreciate the senti- trary power, it is believed ought not to remain engraftment of acquired freedom; and secure the perpetua- ed upon our institutions, inasmuch as it is often perverttion of civil and religious liberty to our country, by ed to the basest of purposes, by the individual who has t-aching them what civil and religious liberty really im- address enough to procure a sufficient number of prox. port and mean, It is to this all-important measure, ies to control the elections of the institution of which both as regards our happiness as a people and the se- he is a member: the provisions of the acts of Assembly curity of our invaluable political institutions, to which on this subject, being either entirely disregarded or I would earnestly invite your immediate attention, and shamefully evaded. The tyranny displayed by indiupon which I would solicit your prompt action. viduals, resulting from this privilege, is not unfrequently severely felt by the members of the corporation themselves, who become objects of displeasure with him who wields the power, but the whole community within the reach of its influence, is often i juriously af fected by it Other reasons might be advanced to induce legislative interference; enough has been said, it is presumed, to elicit inquiry.

It is time, fellow citizens, that the character of our State should be redeemed from the state of supineness and indifference under which its most important interests, the education of its citizens, have so long been languishing, and that a system should be arranged that would ensure, not only an adequate number of schools to be established throughout the State, but would extend its provisions so as to secure the education and instruction of a competent number of active, intelligent teachers, who will not only be prepared, but well qualified to take upon themselves the government of the schools, and to communicate instruction to the scholars. Some of our colleges that had been abandoned either from mismanagement, or the want of sufficient encouragement, are about to be resuscitated under encouraging circumstances; most of these have partaken largely of the liberality and bounty of the State, and would doubtless willingly extend their aid to accomplish an object so desirable. Others have but recently been established and gone into operation, and have as yet, received no share of the Commonwealth's munificence; some, if not all of these last mentioned, have adopted the popular and approved Fellenberg system of uniting labor with study; these, it is believed, would make ad

Complaints are general throughout the State, in reference to the laws now in force, denominated "the Militia System," and the burdens and exactions in which they involve a large portion of the most industrious and useful class of our citizens Many of these complaints are doubtless well founded, and require a corrective; but whatever may be the defects and imper. fections of the system, a question worthy of grave consideration presents itself at the very threshold of the inquiry,-to determine as to the nature and extent of the remedy to be applied, and how far it is within the competency of the Legislature of a State to apply it, The Constitution of the United States his expressly delegated to Congress the power "to provide for organizing, arnung and disciplining the militia;" reserving to the States "the appointment of officers and the training of the militia according to the discipline deescribed by Con

fifty eight cents, in premiums, or as bounties paid for the loans thus made.

gress." The act of Congress of the eighth of May, seventeen hundred and ninety-two, entitled, "An act more effectually to provide for the national defence, by es- In my last annual message, I stated upon information tablishing an uniform militia throughout the United derived from a source in which I had entire confidence, States," has made provision for the organization, and that most of the new works, then under contract, would prescribed the rules of discipline aecording to which be finished in the course of this season. It appears, the militia is to be exercised and trained; and has also however. that the expectations then entertained will designated, with sufficient elearness and certainty, the not be realized to the extent anticipated. Various causdescription of persons who are to be subject to the dis- es, not within their control, as I have been informed, cipline prescribed. That there is a much grea'er num. are assigned, for their non completion, in the reports of ber of militia enrolled and obliged to submit to the al- the agents having immediate charge of the works. As ternative of training or paying fines, than there is occa a statement of the causes that operated to produce such sion for, or than will be needed or could be usefully a result will be exhibited in detail by the board of canal employed for the defence of the country, will not. I commissioners in their report, I respectfully refer you presume, be disputed; but, whether that number could to that document for the necessary explanations. Whilst, be reduced to the extent desired, without running however, it is to be regretted that any portion of the pubcounter to the provisions of the paramount act of Con- lic works alluded to should, from any cause, remain ungress referred to and disturbing the uniformity intend finished, it is nevertheless highly gratifying to learn, that ed to be established by Congress throughout the United although only seventy-two additional miles of canal and States, is a question worthy of consideration. The sys-rail-road have been in use during the present season tem, as at present existing in Pennsylvania, is not only the tolls have been increased to an amount in that time grievously burdensome to the people, but is a drain, to nearly threefold that of the preceding season The tolls a considerable extent, upon the public treasury, and received upon our public improvements during the year its radical reorganization could not be otherwise than ending on the 31st of October, eighteen hundred and acceptable to the community. To make the militia ef- thirty two, amounted to fifty thousand nine hundred fective as a military force, its reorganization must be en- and nine dollars and fifty-seven cents; those received tire, and to accomplish that, Congress alone, according for the year ending on the thirty-first of October, last, to my impression, possesses the power. The Legisla- amount to one hundred and fifty one thousand four tures of the States may administer palliatives, but do hundred and nineteen dollars and sixty-nine cents; and not possess the competent means to effect a radical this too before the works had become connected, or the cure. I think I am borne out in this opinion, by the people were prepared with the necessary means for course recently pursued by the Legislatures of several transportation upon them. It is confidently expected of our sister States, instructing their Senators and re- by those whose means of information enables them to questing their Representatives in Congress, to use their calculate with some degree of certainty, that the tolls exertions to procure the passage of a law for the more to be received for the current year (1834,) will fall little perfect organization of the militia of the several States short of, if they do not exceed, a half a million of dollars. of the Union; evidently questioning their own compe- Should that be the case, of which there is scarcely a tency to arrange systems for their respective States, in- doubt entertained, the public improvements will at once dependently of the acts of Congress. A communication, have relieved the people from the payment of the incontaining resolutions to this effect, has been received terest upon ten millions of dollars of State debt, and to from the Governor of the State of New Hampshire, that amount, the debt contracted by the State for intersince the adjournment of the Legislature, copies of nal improvements, may be considered as neutralized if which are herewith transmitted. I take great pleasure not virtually paid; the improvements being to all inin informing the General Assembly, that from informa- tents andpurposes equivalent in point of value to the tion recently received, I am authorized to state, that the sum upon which their proceeds pay the interest. It is board of commissioners to revise the Civil Code, have proper, however, to remark that in order to realize this prepared a bill in relation to this distracting subject, sum from tolls, as well as to secure the trade of the West which may be expected at an early period of the pre- much will depend upon the enterprize and exertions of sent session; and from the able manner in which the individuals. The State at a vast expense will have comgentlemen composing that board discharge their duties pleted, early next spring, an entire line of communica generally, and the thorough exam nation the subject tion between Philadelphia and Pittsburg by canals and upon which each bill reported by them is predicated, rail-ways; upon these merchandize and produce can be undergoes before it is submitted to the Legislature, we transported from city to city, in the short period of may expect to derive much valuable information from eight days, and that too, at a rate of freight so much reits arrangement and provisions, and the views taken duced, as to enable us to enter into successful competi of the subject by the commissioners, in their report, tion with our rivals for the Western trade. But this if we should not approve of the bill itself in all its de- trade, so important, as well to the revenue of the Com tails. monwealth, as to the future wealth and prosperity of our principal commercial cities, is not to be secured but by timely and vigorous efforts. The Commonwealth, so far as she was concerned in the general welfare, has done her duty in the construction of the public works; but it is not to be expected that she will line them with boats, or cover them with cars; this must be done, if done at all, by individuals or companies. The importance of securing the trade of the Western States, has for years past, attracted the attention of two of our most enterprising and prosperous sister States,the one on the North and the other on the South, nor have the most strenuous and persevering efforts been wanting on their part to monopolize so important branch of commerce. A policy on our part that would induce us to remain idle spectators when so much is at stake, would be altogether indefensible, especially, when we have all the advantages of a central position: the shortness of our route: the advantages of earlier and later navigation of our canals: our mineral wealth

The loan of two millions five hundred and forty thou sand six hundred and sixty-one dollars and forty-four cents, authorized by the act of the sixteenth of February last, after the usual notice had been given, was taken by Doctor Jesse R. Burden, he agreeing to pay one hundred and thirteen dollars and fifty-one cen's in mo ney, for every hundred dollars of stock, bearing an interest of five per cent per annum. And that of five hundred and thirty thousand dollars, directed to be made by the act of the twenty seventh of March last, was taken, after similar notice, by Messrs. S. & M. Allen of the city of Philadelphia, at one hundred and fourteen dollars in money, for every one hundred dollars of stock, bearing a like interest; they having previously become possessed of the first mentioned loan, by transfer from the original holder. By these several transactions, the State will have realized, upon receipt of the whole amount borrowed, two hundred and fifty one thousand three hundred and fifty-seven dollars and

a

and agricultural productions, all presenting a superior-resorting to a loan, or any other measure for that purity of advantages and facilities in accomplishing the pose. It affords me much pleasure to assure the Geneimportant object, which if early embraced and vigo- ral Assembly, that such are the cheering prospects in rously improved, will not fail to secure to our Common- regard to the future redundancy of the revenues of the wealth, a complete ascendency. To our merchants State, and the flattering evidences of continued accre and others interested in securing a commerce so exten- tion and increase, as to leave no room to doubt of the sive as well as profitable, the necessity of prompt and entire ability which will thus accrue to the Treasury, efficient measures to have in readiness all the facilities and enable it to meet the ordinary demands upon it as and means for an active and energetic transportation they shall hereafter arise. upon our public works early in the spring, must be manifestly obvious.

For the amount in detail, of the appropriations that will be required to complete the unfinished works, and finish the rail roads with the necessary appendages to put them in operation, I must beg leave to refer you to the report of the board of canal commissioners.

With prospects so flattering, fellow citizens, in the very infancy of our public works, the friends of the internal improvement policy may rest satisfied that the day is not far distant, when Pennsylvania, encouraged by the success which has attended her public improvements; their continually increasing productiveness; the overflowing treasury, for which she will be indebted to the redundant revenues derived from that source; and threatened as she is, on all sides, to be deprived of that commerce which the God of Nature seems to have destined for her use, wil in her own defence force the waters of Lake Erie to mingle with those of the Allegheny and the Delaware; the Ohio canal to become tributary to her own extensive improvements; the waters of the Cayuga and Seneca lakes,by means of the Elmira canal, to unite with those of the Susquehanna; and will cause the wilderness countries, drained by the improvements by which all this will be accomplished, to smile and blossom as the rose." This may be regarded as fancy now, but it must become fact before long; and, judging from the signs of the times," it would not be surprising if it should all happen in our own day and generation, and be achieved by the force of public opinion itself.

As it is more than probable that the commissioners for revising the civil code will prepare and report a bill for the organization of the several courts, I shall forbear from urging the subject of the Judiciary upon your attention at this time.

I received, during the recess of the Legislature, a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, in relation to the act of the last session, ceding to the United States jurisdiction over certain grounds and buildings belonging to the Naval Asylum, near the city of Philadelphia, to which I would ask the early attention of the General Assembly. Copies of the communication will be laid before you.

I have also received from the Governor of the State of Massachusetts, communications accompanied by an act and resolution of the Legislature of that State, on the subject of lotteries; also a report and resolutions in relation to the public lands of the United States; also a report and resolutions relative to a proposition for a convention of the States, to revise the Constitution of the United States; also a report and resolutions in relation to certain resolutions of the State of Georgia on the same subject.

A letter from the Governor of New Hampshire, enclosing a resolution of the Legislature of that State, relative to an exchange of law reports.

A letter from the Executive of the State of Connecticut, enclosing certain resolutions of the General Assembly of that State, relative to the Tariff laws, and amendments of the Constitution of the United States. A communication from the Governor of Maryland, enclosing certain resolutions of the General Assembly relative to the South Carolina ordinances.

In closing this communication, allow me, fellow citizens, to advert once more to the happy condition of our beloved country, and its incomparable institutions, and whilst I exhort you to watch with an untiring vigilance over the political rights of our own Commonwealth, reserved to her by the great charter of our liberties, permit me to invoke your patriotism and your zeal, and through you, that of our common constituents, in behalf of that unity of government which constitutes us one people; to implore you and them to rally round the Federal Union, as the palladium of our political safety and happiness; watching, in the language of the father of his country, "for its preservation with jealous anxiety, discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned, and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link to

The finances of the Commonwealth should always claim the attention of a vigilant Legislature; and a rigid scrutiny and examination into their condition, and the Also a communication from the Governor of the State conduct of those to whose control and management they of Mississippi, enclosing the proceedings of the Legisla are entrusted, will not fail to be attended with benefi- ture of that State, upon certain resolutions of the I.ecial consequences. The reports of the accounting of- gislature of the State of Georgia, in relation to the call ficers will be laid before you, and will exhibit a most of a convention of the States, for the purpose of amendhealthful and prosperous state of the revenue for the ing the Federal Constitution: Copies of all which, will fiscal year, ending on the first of November last. The be laid before you. receipts into the Treasury arising from the ordinary sources of income, will be found to have exceeded those of the last year to the amount of fifty-seven thousand, seven hundred and forty-four dollars and fifty-four cents, and after defraying the current expenses of the Government, a large amount of local appropriations, and restoring to the internal improvement fund the sum of one hundred and thirty-five thonsand eight hundred and ninety-seven dollars and eighteen cents, which had been authorized by law to be taken from that fund for the payment of interest due in August, eighteen hundred and thirty-two, have left a balance in the Treasury, on the first of November last, of three hundred and sixty-seven thousand, four hundred and twenty three dollars and thirty cents, to meet future contingent and other demands upon the Government It is proper that I should state, for the information of the General As sembly, that three hundred and eighty thousand dollars, part of a loan of six hundred thousand dollars authoriz-gether the various parts. ed by act of thirtieth March, eighteen hundred and twenty-four, will he reimbursable on the first of May next: such, however, are the gratifying assurances received from the heads of the financial departments, as to leave no doubt of the ability of the Treasury, without materially interfering with the numerous other de mands upon it, to meet the occasion, and to reimburse to the holders of the stock, the amount of principal and interest that will then be due, without the necessity of

Finally, in the discharge of your legislative duties, let me assure you of a hearty concurrence, on my part, in all constitutional acts and measures tending to the public good; and that you may be guided, in your deliberations, by that wisdom which cannot err, to the adoption of such measures as will do honor to yourselves and advance the prosperity and happiness of the people, is my sincere and fervent prayer.

Harrisburg, December 4th, 1833.

GEO. WOLF.