Lancaster Examiner and Herald

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THE EVEKnffQ HEABTHSTOHB.
GladlTBOW m gathar toimdH,
For.thetoUlagdayladone, And tha gray and Mlemn twilight
Follows down tbe goldea »na- ghadewB lengthen oa the pavem«t- Slalk like glanU th»' tbe glfoja- Wanderpait the dusky caiemont-     - Crwparonndtbeflrtlltroom,
Dniw the eartalnt! oloie tbe ibBtte** I
Flaee the sllppen by the ftra! Though the mde wlnda lotldly mutter I What care we for wlnd-eprite'i ire ?
What care we for outward MMsiog?
Fickle Fortiui«'sfrowtt.or*mU«T If around ua lore U beatoifig.
Love ean human UUrbegnlle. •Heath th«C8ttiif*rro<rf.MdpaU«e,.' .^
Fromlbe peUant to the kihg.' AUareqaftflairl^onUk'».<A^leo .\ Bubble* that enobanuBest onng. ¦   aratea.ataglowiag—invoke Oowlsg From the Up* wslnre tbe be<t; 0, the Joy, theblti* of knowing ¦  TheraanheartawherMatoreetti
HeartB that thjvb with eager gladaeM.
Dearth tbat echo tooor owa. While grim care and bauDtlng sadoe(i.s
Hingle ne'er In look or tone. Care may tread the balli of daylight.
Sadness haunt tbe midnight hour. Bat tbe weird and wltiblng twilight Biiogt the glowing Hearthstone dower. Altar of our holiest feelingn!
Childhood's well remembered sbriD*! Sptrit-yearolngH, soul-reyeallo^fl, Wreatbt Immonal round thee twine!
Wl'SIE  WOODVII-LS.
LANGASim, Pii., WEDJVESDAY, JAOTARr 13, 1858.
No. 7.
Thrilling^ Incidents of theKcvolntionary
Id speaking of tUe horrors of oiTiI war. few people realize the indiridual stiffering and fearfal peril to which thousands of lives are exposad; hutorj only treats of great events In wbich the prominent actors of tha time were engaged, while the fireside and domestic tragedies which were far more deeply and in¬ tensely dramatic are left unrecorded, and only live as traditions in the minds of a few *d«6cendAats of the performeri.
AmoDg the TsiiouB spots aboundiug with ttories of terrible iuterest, none have wit¬ nessed scenes more frightful than the valley of the Mohawk during the revolutionary war; and it is one of the mosX extraordinary and exciting of these incidents that we propoBO to relate.
It waa in the year 1780, that an old farmer named Sammons live I iu the neigtborhood of the village of Johnstown, and near to the old Johnson estate, which had beeu seques¬ tered in oonsetiueuoe ofthe former owner, Sir John Johnson being a commander of  the Britisli foroes.   Mr. Samm,ons was of Gorman extraction, and a native of Marbletown, Ulster connty, whence he  had immigrated  to  hia present   abode.     This family   couBistod of three sons and one daughter, all handsome, Btardy, fearless, independent, and stannch Whigs, like their father, who waa a member of the Committee of Safety, and held a lieu¬ tenant's commission in the American army. The whole family were well known to Sir John, who had several times experienced pro¬ tection from them iu timea   of imminent danger; but this did not prevent a moat dastardly and   fleudish attack   upon their home and persons dariog one of his marau¬ ding excursions to tbe vicinity of hii former residence.   .He was always accompanied by a band of Indiana, who, like a pack  of wild beasts, sprang npon and tore to pieces what¬ ever he marked as his prey.   On  this  occa¬ sion, however, with a remnant of humani ty, he detached them,in various  direotions, aud proceeded stealthily to surround tha  house with. Ma own immediate troops, desiring to capture the family alive and  carry them off as prisoners. It waa very early in tho morning, and the first gray dawn had hardly began, to streak the horizon, when the farmer's youngest soni Thomas, a very handsome yonng man, abont nineteen, opened the back door ofthe  farm house and commenced taking an observation. He wafl   only   partially dressed,  and waa rnminatlng on the cbances of safety in ven¬ turing out before daylight, as he desired, on urgent business; for in those times stray In¬ diana were always prowling about, and wife and f&mily coald never count od the safe re¬ turn of the beloved ouea, even though  they went abroad bat for a short distance and in broad daylight.     Gonoludiog   it would be safer to wait antil the sun rose, he was about retreating, when a hand was placed  on his ahoalder, and the words "I arrest you in the King's name," informed him that he waa a prisoner.   The whole family were asleep np Btairs, or in the act of rising, and the old mau and his two eldest sons were  soon secured. the females, oonsisting of the wife of the eldest   son   Jacob, and a young girl,  the ooly daughter of the old man, were left an- molested by the order of Sir John.
Thomag begged for an   opportunity of get¬ ting his clothes, or at least  his shoes   and Btookinga, which was brutally refused  him, accompanied by the thrust of a bayonet, whioh would have killed him had not his fair young sister thrown herself between and warded off the blow.    Her complaint brought a reprimand to the soldier; and permisaion to finish dressing, while the .fierce  troops  ran¬ sacked and plundered the hoase and  out¬ buildings of everything they contained which could be carried with them, ^including seven horses belonging   to Mr. Sammons.     The whole party were then marched off, the father aud sons closely pinioned and placed between files of soldiers, their coarse  being directed towards the river.   Here they were joined by the Indians, and traversed several miles of the Mohawk Valley, suffering the keenest torture from the sight of the desolation aud misery around them.    Wherever there   wa* a buUding, it was burnt and sacked ; sheep and cattle were killed,  horses appropriated, homes   laid   bare,   husbands   and fathers slaughtered, wives and daughters shamefully abused, and then left to return to the hearth¬ stones which had been made desolate.    To¬ wards night they returned towards Caughua,- waga, which they burnt to the   grouud, and took all the meu prisonerB, and then retra¬ cing their steps to Johugtown, took ap their quarters at the old hall, which waa the home¬ stead of Sir John.
Here the fine figure and handsome face of Thomas Sammons attracted the attention of Sir John's daughter, a young lady so gentle and amiable, that is was a matterof surprise Uow she could have been bom of such a fa¬ ther. She immediately contrived a piAu for bia escape; interceding, with all the eloquence and persuasion of which she was mistress, on behalf of two or three persona to whom she had formerly been under obligations for safe conduct, and finally obtaining an order for their release she managed to smuggle Thomas Sapimoas in among them, aud with kind words and a look which stirred new and strange emotions in his heart, he was per¬ mitted to return.
The next morning old Mr. Sammons re¬ quested an interview with the commander, when he reproached him, for his treacherous conduct, briefly reviewed the various aots of kindness which had been bestowed in the past, and asked if this was a fitting return.— His remonatrauces produced auch an effect that an order for his release was signed but all efforts on behalf of hia sous proved una- Tailing.
Jaoob and Frederick were therefore Uken to the fortress of Chamblae, juBt within Cana^ between Lake Champlaln and the St. Lawrenos.
' At'.that post there were about aevsnty prfsooerBj "and not a Tory strong garrison; so that tlie fiM^'tning: to which the young Sam¬ mons uiadenp'iliol^.xt^^ was an escape.— Kndtog, How«Ter; thpIr"r«lIoTr«ptlTeB Indte-
poaed to do anything for tbemaelvM', Jaoob madFrederiok determined to aot" without th© rest;- andj acoordlngly,.' the ^t^.time they ware ta^mbat of. the fort together, to assist in some common service, they .aprongi from the ranks at a concerted algnat, aud "put,' aa the phrase is in th? West.; Thtf gfaards^ startled, uid less fleet of foot}.oonld not«atch them; and though Jacob fell aud sprained hii ankle, he maiiag«d, under oover of the smoke produoed by the" guSBliOts made at them, to hide hiinself iaa olump of bushes, whiob biapursnaradidAottfainkMaeanihing. It had been agreed previously between the brothers, that lu base of separation, they were to meet at a known spot at ten o'clock at night.
Jacob, the lame one, mistook the hour, and having gone to the spot and not.finding his brother there he left it, with the intention of getting as far from the fort as possible before daylight, bis accident making time eapecially Important to him. He aocordingly pnshed up the westsra bank of the Sorel river towards Lake Champlain, intending to swim it juat below the lake, and then flud his way towards the eastern shore. Various events, however, odcuned to prevent his doing this; but after running great risk by putting him- eelf within the power of a Tory, whose chief exoellenoe seems to have been the possession of a most kind and fearless wife, he was so lucky as to flud a cauoe, of which he took, charge, and iu which he made good headway towards home, until, in one of the narrow passes of Champlain, the British fortifioatious, on both sides, forced him to leave his vessel and take to the woods again.
A^t this time he was withoat shoes, food, or gad, and had to find his way to Albany *brough an unknown wilderness along tbe Vv "mont shore. For four days he lived en- tirei/ on birch bark; he then managed to catch a few fish aud a dack, whioh he eat raw; thus he labored on for ten days. His feet meantime, had become terribly cut, and were bleeding at every step, ao that he could hard¬ ly crawl, and if he stopped to rest one mo¬ ment, swarms of musijnitos settled upon him aud stung him into madness.
While thus reduced to the extremest misery making his way as best he could on his hands and knees, nearly blind from swelling and inflammation, and surrounded by voracious Insects, eager for their prey, he heard tbe sharp, hissing sound which indicated the presence of a still more dreaded enemy—a rattlesnake. There was no possibility of escape ; closed in on every side, unable to more, he saw the glittering eye of his scaly pursuer fasten itself upon him without the power to save himself from his fangs. A moment and its sharp teeth were buried dpep in the shuddering flesh, and it had coiled its venomous form around hiif leg. Another mo¬ ment and his jack-knife had despatched tbe reptile, laid open the veins in his limb and cut out ibe parts whioh its poison had penetrated; then with the instinct of heroism, turning to account the most frightful accidents of his position, he cut out the heart, which Ue ate and felt strengthened aud somewhat reani¬ mated.
For a day or two then, he lay beside a log in the forest, in a condition which it would seem few men could sarvire; worn to ft skeleton, his feet torn to pieces, suffering from a terrible wound, he still managed to collect a little dry fungus, aud cooked aud ate a part of the rattlesnake, until hia strength was entirely exhausted, and he was unable to get wood to cook the remainder. It seemed now aa if death could not be post¬ poned. He took his knife aud tried to carve his epitaph ou the log, but while thas enga¬ ged he fell asleep, and dreamed a sweet, delicioaa dream of his old home, his yoang wife and their infant child, and finally of his deceased mother, who appeared dressed in a robe ot flowing white, and stretched ber nrms towards him with a sweet smile, and au inde¬ scribable gesture full of grace and tenderness. He knew not how loni; he slept, but wben he rose it was with renewed strength, and making sandles of his hat and vest, he pro- eeeded on his way once more, taking with him the unconsumed portion of the snake as provision.
That nigbt his mother again appeared to him, and pointed iu a particular direction, smiling hopefully. Biaing with a strong faith that he was nearly at the end of his perilous journey, he struggled on until the afternoon, when he saw for tbe first time a human hab¬ itation ; it proved to be the honse of a friend, from whence he proceeded to Albany, aud thence to Schenectady. Here he found hia wife, and child living with some relatives, and the meeting between tbem may be ima¬ gined, bat no pen could describe it. For a long time she had suffered all the horrors of the moat fearful suspense, and it was not until the night upon which he had seen hia mother that she obtained a glimpse of relief. On this occasion she dreamed that she saw him striving to make his way through a dense wood towards her, while a white hand ap¬ peared to be lifting aside the thick branches to aid his progress. When she awoke it was with the firm belief that they would be event¬ ually re-united, as the event proved.
Ketum we now to Frederick, who suffered even more than bis brother.
He had made many efforts, to no purpose, to find Jacob, who, when he fell, would uot permit Frederick to stop and help him, and in seeking him had run many risks. At length he creased the Sorel, killed an ox made some jerked beef, and for seven daya traveled along the eaatorn shore ofthe Cham¬ plain without ill luck. But ou the morning of the eighth day he awoke sick ; a pleurisy was npon him—a fever in hta veins—pain in every limb. It began to rain, also, and there he lay, this other yonng hero, not far from bis brother, who at that very moment, in that very neighborhood, was nuraing his rattlesnake bile; there he lay. knowing not that any one was near him, for three daya on the earth, iu the summer rain, aud his blood all on Are. For three days, we say, he lay thus helpleaa. On the fourth day he waa better, and tried to eat a little of hig beef, but it waa spoiled. He managed, faow- evpr, to crawl to a frog-pond near by, put aside the green coating ofthe pool and drank. He caught frogs, too, and feasted, though net a Frenchman in auy of his tastes, probably. Therft he lay for fonrtnen days and nights, and having resigned all hope of life, he pnt his hat npon a pole, so that it might be seen? from the lake.   It was seen by a ship passing
at the time, and he was found by hia enemies helpless and speechless, and carried back to his prison again, and not only to prison, but to its deepRst, darkest dungeon, and tliere^ for fourteen months, he l.iy in utter darkness, and irons so heavy that they ate into the flesh upou his legs so that it came offto the bone And what did that young heroic spirit do t did it break down under the weight of cap¬ tivity and Buffering T Not so ; it was not of snch stuff that the spiritofour fathers was made. He thought of hia home, of his brave father and brothera.ofhis faireiater, andone not fairer, perhaps, bat still dearer, aud won- dered if they had survived the cruel chances of the long and bloody war. Then be longed to he free, and determined to live and escape from his persecutors.
At last a chance offered; he with others was transferred to an island above Montreal, in the rapids of the St. Lawrence.    There he i The'si
where no oanoe oan live long uuguided, when their paddle broke in. the mid-Btreatn ; and onoe more deistmotion eeeinied certain. A fal* len tree, in the branches of which they oanght, saved them, however; and orosaing .the next day below the falls, they atraok into the for¬ est to seek thft-'Hudaon.
For twelve more days they toiled on,, al¬ most in a state of insanity, dreadfully lacera¬ ted, and living entirely on wild roots. At last they reached Soheneotidy half-naked, and looking like wild aavagesj here Frederick hoped to find a Mias Bills to whmn he had long been devoted, and also *omo members of his family. Bat on inquiix he found that hisfather had removAd back to Marbletown, Ulster county, his youngMt.brother had be¬ come a major in the AmerioAU'army, and Miss Ellis, hia bright, sparkling, beautiful Mary, had gone no one knew whither.
pisappointed and sick at heart, Frederick waited only to obtain olothes and meant to pursue his journey, and then took his way to Marbletown, the Residence of his father, feeling angry with himself at uot experien¬ cing the joy he should, at knowing that bis family were alire and well. The young soldier who had shared with him so many dangers, and from whom he had now beoome inseparable, accompanied him, and together they approached the home of his early ohild- hood. It waa quite dark when they arrived at the village, and they inquired their way to the house of old Mr. Sammons, whioh they found without auy difficulty.
It was an old-fashioned frame building, with low roof, and gable windows, enclosed in a sort of meadow, which atretched down in front of the cottage, and waa shaded with magnificent elms; at the aide was a large garden, then in its early bloom and beauty, and back, the. atables, barns, and out-build- inga, while behind these waa a fine orchard, the trees of which were in full blossom.
The whole aspect of the place was one of peaceful loveliue^a, and afforded such a con¬ trast to their late contemplations and fright¬ ful experience, tbat they involuntarily pau¬ sed to drink in the gratefnl-influence of the scene. Poor Frederick was nearly overcome with the weight of hia emotions ; he leaned against a tree, vhile his companion atood at a little distance unwilling to -intrude npon hia thoughts. At last he opened the gate, aud they proceeded up the gravelled walk to the door of the cottage. They saw then, for the firet time, tbat some anuaual circum¬ stance must have occurred, lights were dan¬ cing to and fro, some of the windows were open, and ever and anon a gay laugh would break upon^the Btillnesa of the evening.
It was not grief at any rate which caused theae demonstrations, and Frederick's heart beat quick as'he tapped at the low door.
It was answered by a domestio, of whom he inquired if Mr. Sammons was at home.
"Which one T" said the man. " Mr. Jacob was at home, and the old gentleman, bat Mr Frederick, Lord love''him, had not been heard from thia many a month."
Frederick aaid the old gentleman wonld do, at which the man hesitated, and finally thought hia master wonld not like to be iuter- ruptud, aa hia youngest son, the major, had arrived that day with his new wife, and they were having a jonifleation like.
His wife! What wife? Frederick conld think of ouly one peraon in the world to marry, and that waa his Mary, and his agita* tion became so great that his friend took it npon himaelf to inform the man that they wanted to aee Mr. Sammons upon important bnsineis immediately. The man disappeared, and Frederick unconsciously leaned against ; the side of the door, the raya of the moon falling upon his face, and giving to its care¬ worn lines a pale, spiritual beauty. At this moment his father came into the hall, and instantly recognizing the features of his long- lost son, called to him by name, and father and son wept in each other's arms. Soon the news Bpread, Jacob re-united to his prett.y wife, and with two babies instead of one, had settled down at the old homestead, and now pressed his brother over and over again to hia heart. Our old friend Thomas, now Major Thomas, and a splendid fellow in dashing regimentals, cleared a way for himself and lovely young wifp, whom he as well as Fred¬ erick barely remembered having seen before. Frederick almost starts from her bluahing, sisterly embrace, aa he recognizes the daugh¬ ter Sir John Johnson.
But where is Lizzie, the darling sister, who was alwaya the first to meet him on his re¬ turn, and whom he longed to introduce to his friend and comrade? Every one says ahe wa» here a moment since, and went into the garden to find a friend who was spending some weeks with her, and in whom, says Major Thomas, with a mischievous look, Frederick will find a friend alao. Search was volunteered for the fugitives, but Frederick declared he would find them himself, and started off with a beating heart, half hoping, half fearing, on hi.^ self-imposed mission.— He entered the garden, and walked down a winding path until he came to a natural ar¬ bor formed by the interlacing branches of some old trees, and where he shrewdly sua- pected the missing girls would be found. A low mumur of voices as he neared the apot proved that the conjecture was right, aud he stopped, arged by an irresistible impulse to hear what they were saying.
*' Do not urge me, Lizzie," said a voice, which hia heart told him could only belong to Mary Ellia. *'I cannot join iu the merry¬ making wheu it recalls all my fears, only, with greater bitterness for the fate of Fred¬ erick ; if he were only here, how he would rejoice in his brother's happiness."
"And in his own alao," said Frederick darting forward and catching Mary, who fell half faiuting into his arms.
poor Lizzie was quite cut out, and, feeling herself rather de trop, thought, as aba aaid, thai it wonld be beat to save her "bagging" till another time, and go and get his supper, andfind out what it all means. A good many jokea came off at Frederick's expense when he came back at the end of half an hoar without Lizzie, but with the happy Mary Ellis halloing ou his arm. What loug explan&tiona had then to be gone through; what tales of frightful adventure and hairbreadth e.^capes, until the dawn of morning made the lights grow dim and pale. Sir John Johneou, the brutal father of the young wife, who uow looked upon Major Thomas'with such proud admiration, waa dead, and the old hall, the I scene of their first imprisonment, which the
OLD BTTSTLE,HALL.
Onrhappybome—old Ba'itli Hall,
'Tirai named Id dayi of yore,   . .        . i
fHien the noisy beat of ehlldren'i feet
iteuunded outhe floor..
*. When obUdhDod'a happy voices blent, And forth )ta Joyoae aplrll aoot,
And allwaateirth and revelry, Th9 merry rout, the laogh, the ehoat,
Till the house waa wild with glea, And the roof echoed with the noi'e Of laughing glrla and romplag boya. That merry din U heard no more; Tbe Bong, thedanae,'tfae'laagb.'are o'«e. And now 'tUeolemn silebce all. Id onr noisy home, old Basils llall.
The father rat la bia old am-chalr, And tbe inotberwaabyhlislde, .With a band of chUdraa gathered tbare, That fftther'a hope sad pride,    . And loTt and Joy beamed la his face As be amilad and bleued bli blooming las*} For sara around-tbat nnrsery hearth Wai the happiest grosp on the face of tba earth.
The old arm-chair, the fatbor'a throne. Is rac&nt now, that group la gone
That filled thehonae with glee, - Ahd the widowed mother'alts alone
la bersllaat QUMry; And every Joyons sound baa ded, Forthebonaa monrna her hallowed dead, And now 'tla solemn allenef all. In our happy horns, old Bustle Hall.
Things to Think of for th© Pnture.
Let a olear conacience approve every aotlou. Do all the good you can and as littla harm aa possible.
Be charitable towards those who may differ' from you—aa all humanity is liable to err, it is best to aioer^ain who is erring before pro nounoing judgment.
Determine on this, the beginning of tbe new year, to make good resolves, and, if pos- lible, live up to them.
Ponder well tbe past and draw usafal lesaooa therefrom. Find out the causes which have produced misfortunes, embarrass¬ ments, &c., in the year just ended, and avoid them in future.
If to accumulate wealth be an object, re¬ member "time is money"—and if to acquire gold—^there is no sorer way than to save it. If fame, honor, virtue, renown, intelli¬ gence, be aocompliahmenta aud qualitlei whioh form the impregnable bulwark of humaa character, learn that they ara aU within your reach. They who neglect theae are treacherous  to their own best interests.
Those prone to dissipate should look at dissipation's practical effects and they will turn from it in disgust.
Curb a bad temper, for, like MoFiagal's g«n,
" When aimed at duck or plover. Kicks and knocks Its owuar over."
leaver use harsh words towards either friend or foe; for, as the Arabian proverb says, " Curses, like young chickens, come home to roost."
In all things exercise approving Judgment and practice sobriety. Water was made for noarishment—an absolute necessity—ardent spirits for medicine in small doses. It is a miataken policy to drink the Old Year out and feel "rooky" the next day.
Thoae who wish to avoid being troabled with the presentation of bills ou New Year's day, which thoy cannotadjnst, shonldhence- forward live within their means, and not go in debt. " Pay as you go" U an excellent maxim.    It gives easie all around.
Recollect that the desire of those in mod¬ erate ctroumatancea to fashion after persons blessed with greater aflluence, is a besetting sin of false pride, and often ends, not only in forsaken poverty, but in a fall from inor¬ dinate ambition to regretful obscurity.
Of all the evils In the world there is none more insidious and mischievous than foolish pride. It turns traitor to itself and ia the executioner of its own follies. Strict watch should be kept upon it, or it will creep even into holy places, deceiving others with tin¬ seled show.
Hypocricy know.t its own character beat, and sometimes may be detected with one hand potting "a penny in the urn of pover¬ ty," whilst with the other it is "taking* ahilling out."
A wholesome rnla of living is to procure the absolute necesiiitiea of life firat, by paying for them, and never indulge in iuxuries «x- eept you have sufficient money to ^are*
Never forfeit the good will of a friend by imposing upon hia generosity. Borrow money only when you are sure of being able to re¬ turn it, and lend wben there la confidence sfficient to know it will be paid back. Con¬ stables and collectors are good in their places, but disagreeable visitors when yon cannot satisfy their wants.
Young Iftdied should .not wear hundred dollar silk dresses, five hundred dollar shawls, and fifty dollar haudkerohiefa, when their fathers are paying two per cent, a month for borrowed money, and the dread of bank¬ ruptcy haunts them day and night. Wires will do well to think of these things with reference to their husbands
Don't be ambitious of living in large houses when there is reason to fear your property may be deatrainad to pay the rent of them.— Better be content with # rdinary comforts in a smaller way, than have the wings of pride clipping as it ia aiming at loftier flights, for in such caae the fall provea fatal.
Young gentlemen, who from extravagance in living, or other imprudenoies, neglect pay¬ ing their tailor's bills, should have pride enough not to be pensioners upon thoae whom they consider but the "ninth part of a man."
To sum up the whole range of economy and prudence, so far as temporary things are oencemed, with regard to good resolves and determinations touching prudential living, remember Franklin's whistle—never waste your substance in that which is uot wanted or cannot be turned to good aooount, however cheap it may be.
(TOYERNOR^S MESSAGE.
Ta lU Bonorabk Senators und X«nU>*rs of the Houjt 'of Repriseniativet ofthe Central Autmbly: 6b»tlbu8k: By the suffrages of your fellow citizens, yuu have bfleo charged with tho duty of repreuentiog them, and tha iaterests of the Com¬ monwealth ID tbe Legislative branch of the Qo- vemment. Tbe responvibilities you have assumed and tbe duties to ba performed should ever bo regarded as paramonnftto erery selflGb or partizan coBEiideration, Tha prosperity of the .State and the general welfare ofthe pei<pTe, should reofliTe your earnest attention, and be the aim and end of yonr legislatirti aotlon. To promote theaa ob¬ jects, I will obeerfnily. in every legal anl oonsti- tutiocaf manner, during the continuanoe of mj official term, co-operate with you. ^
TThe past year, with the exception of recent fl- nanoial embarraemeni, has been one of general prosperity. No foreign wars—no iratarnal strife, has disturbed the peaceful quiet of our homes. Unwonted health, with ita blessings, has been vouchsafed to us. Seed time and harvest have not foiled—the earth hath yielded her inorease, and richly rewarded the labor of the husbandman. The Arts and Sciences have been advanced, and the great, interesta of Education, Morality and Beligion liberally eneoaraged and austained. Oar nation in its unity—onr free institations in their Integrity, with our rigbta ond privileges, civil and religious, have been preserved. Racognizing la these blessings tbe goodness of Almighty. God, we should render to Him the homage of grateful hearts luid the'devotlon of onr sincere praise; 'and whilst hiimbly aekoowledgisg Hia mereies toot as a peo^,^l«t tu still farther express our gratitude .to Him, J)y acts of individual charity and kindness to the poor and helpless in our midst. Sorrow now fltte the hearts, and adversity darkens the hemes of many of oar oitixens. Onr liberality ahould be generoUB ; our benefactions munificent; and thus whilst the wants of the poor and suffering aro re¬ lieved, the generons giver will find a rich reward in the|pleasure that^jesnlts from eommunioated good, ^e finances of the Commonwealth are in a Tery satisfactory condition. During the past year every demand upon tbe Treafiury has beon promptly paid, from' the revenues derived from the ordinary sources. The operations of thia De- partmept will be presented to you, in detail, in the report of the State Treasurer.
For the fiscal year ending November 30th, 185T, the receipts at the Treasury, including balance in the Treasury on the firat day of December 1856, of one million two hundred and forty-four thousand BBven hundred and ninety-five dollars and forty- two cents, ($1,244,795 42) were fiive millions nine hundred and thirty-&ve thousand three hundred and eighty-threedollarfl and twenty-six cents, ($5,- 935,383 26.)    The aggregate expenditures for the some period, were five million four hundred and seven thousand two hundred and seventy-Bix dol¬ lars and sevonty-uine cents. ($5,407,276 79.)   Bal- alncD in the Treasury December 1, 1857, five hun¬ dred and twenty-eight thousood one hundred and six dollars and forty-seven cents. ($!i28,ll)6 47.) Exoluding the balance in the Treasury on the first day   of December,' 1356,  the receipts from al! sources were four million six hundred and ninety thotisand five hundred and eighty-seven dollars and eighty-four eents. ($4,690,587 84.)    The ordi¬ nary expenditures for the same period were three million nine hundred and ninety-two thousand three hundred and seventy dollars and twenty-nine cents. ($3,992,370 29 ;) exhibiting an excess of re¬ ceipts over expenditures of six hundred and nine¬ ty-eight thousand two hundred and seventeen dol¬ lars and fifty-five cents. ($698,217 55.)    The ex¬ traordinary payments for the year, were one mil¬ lion four hundred and  fourteen  thousand nine hundred and six dollars and fifty cents, ($1,414,- 906 50,) as  follows, to wit: To  tha  completion of the Portage Railroad,   forty-nine thousand sixty- one dollars and  ninety-two cents, (49,061 92:] to the  North  Branch  extens^ion   oue  hundred   and thirty-eight thousand seven hundred and ninety- eight dollars and eighty-five oeots;  ($138,798 85,) to relay the South Track of tbe Columbia Railroad, ninety-one thousand four hundred and five dollars and forty-six centa,   ($91,406 46;) Lo  enlarge the Delaware Division, forty-six tboiisaml two hun¬ dred and sixty-three   dollars,  ($46,203 00;)   for motive  power in   1856, eighty-one thousand  six hun-lred and four  dollars and   twenty-foiir centa, ($6I,C04 24 ;) fur repairs in 1665 and 185(1, forty- Dine thousand five hundred and sixty-four dollars and seventy eight cents, ($49,564 7S;) for the re¬ demption of loans,  eight hundred  and twenty thousand ninety-seven dollars and three eents, ($820,097 03;)   damages  on   the   Publio  Works, forty-six thousand five hundred and fifty-two dol¬ lars and sixty-five cent-t, ($46,552 65 ;) old olaim-s on the Main Linej adjusted under tbe several Aots of Assembly, forty-six thousand five hundred and forty-oight dollars and fifty-seven oents, ($46,548- 57,) and for the new State Araeuat and Farmers HigbSchool.forty-five thousanddollars, (45,00000.) Tho interest on the funded debt, due in Febru¬ ary and  August la.ct, was  then  promptly paid and tbat falliug  due  in February  next,   will   be paid   out of available means now in the Treasury. By virtue ofthe provisions ofthe Act of the 13lh of October, 1857, entitled " Ad Act providing for the Resumption of Specie Payments by tbe Banks, and for the Relief of Dehtors," the State Treaaur- er will be enabled to pay the interest due in Feb¬ ruary, in specie or \ia equivalent.    Tbe credit of tbe Commonwealth has been fully and honorably sustainad.     The promptness   with wbich every legitimate   demand npon   the  Treasury has been met,   has inspired public cooSdenoe in onr seourt- tiei; and although rcoont'^uiJ - cxUfriDg financial revulsion may   embarrass the   operations   of the Treasury, and reduce, to some extent.the revenue, yet tbe ability of the State  to meet ber engage¬ ments and maintain her credit, under an hooest and economical  admiDistration of her finances, is undoubted.   The honor  and credit ef tbe State must and can be preserved intact.
The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, report the sum of four hundred and fourteen thousand nine hundred and twenty dollars and twenty-nine cents, ($414,920 29) as now in the Treaanry to the credit of that fund. This amount will be applied to the redemption of Reliet Notes yet in circula¬ tion, and to the payment of the funded debt of the Commonwealth.
The Commissioners of this fund, on the 7th day of September lust, reported to me that tha sum of one million forty-two thousand eight hundred and fifty-aeren dullara and aixty-four oents, ($1,042,- 857 64) of the debt of the Commonwealth, was held by thorn, as follows, vit: LoaoH of l!)th of April, 1S^3, over due, tem¬ porary      400,000 00
Loans of dtb Kay, IS.U, over duo, teoi'
porary    164,«J0 00
Cenlflcateaor Mtock, loans of April 11, 1S48,
6 per cent      C8,M1 03
Certificates of stock, loam of varlnaa dateo,
!> per cent        0,316 64
Relief Notoa cancelled and deiiiro;'piI    .173,040 00
"        "    lu TrQMury, set nelde for can-
celation      30,000 00
reader will remember was destroyed, bad been beatowed upon her husband aa some reward for his services to his country.
It is unnecesaary to dwell upon tbe happl- nesa ofthe re-united family. Frederick aud Mary were married of course, and the narra¬ tive of hia terrible experience served to while away many a long winter's evening in after years. In 1836 he was still living, well and hearty, and was chosen one ofthe electors of President and Vice President for hia native State; the same year Major Thomas Sam- mona was returned as a member of Congress, aud stopped on his way to Washington at the splendid residence ofthe Surveyor Gen¬ eral—^the former friend and companion of Frederick in his hairbreadth escape from the Canadian fortress, and then tbe husband of bright-eyed Lizzie Sammons, and jointly the ! proprietor of brave aons and fair daughters.
How differently the very same thing may be described I The great poetess Elizabeth Browning says :— <»
" First time be klued me, bnt he only klBsed The fingers uf this hand wherewith I write; And, even nince, It grew more clear and fvblta. Slow to world greeting; qniek with Its ¦ Oh. UbL '.' Wben the angele speak.   A ring of aniethyf.t I could not wear ber plainer to my nlitht Than tbat first Tatf'.   Tbe wbcodA piMed In height The flret, andnongbt the forebead; and balf-mlsiied. Falling upon my balr.   Ob. beyoud meed ! That was the chrlcm of love, wbich love's own erown. With sanctifying nweetnees, did precede. The third upou mj lipa waK folded down Iu perfect, purple state !    Since when, indeed, I havdhoen proud, and aaid,'My loTa.iny own."
" Sut. Lovengood," of Tennessee, has ex¬ perienced a limilar felicity, aud deForibes it in tbe followiug stylo :—" I happened to pass next day; ov coura I .^topped to enjoy a look al the tempter, au she war mighty luvin to me ; put wnn arm round mj neck, and tother wnn whar the oircinglo goes 'round a hosB, tnk the * intarn on me with her left foot,'and gin me a kiss. Bayi ahe, 'Sutty, love, I've got sumthin for you, a new senaa- flhun'—an I believed it, for I begun to feel it already. My toei felt as if minners wnr a nibblin at um—a cold streak ran up and down my back like a lizard with a turkey hen after him in setting time, and my atum- mick was hot and on-satisfied like."
.    ,      , . , ... 1 ., •, J   ,      .    ^^'^^ ^^® fortunes of the Sammons
organized a plot for escape which failed, but ; f^^jij. ^^,^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^
finally jumped with a companion from the ; country's history, but of those who suffered, island into the rapids of the great river.— , not all reauUed thus fortunately.
Onr hero and hia comrade swam for four ; 1^
milea Ihiough those rapids, navigating among 1 A leading broker being asked, the other the sharp rocks aud fearful ahoals with their ' day, how his child was? answered almost best skill. Landing on the north side of the 1 in tears, " Very ill^would not give two per St. Lawrence, they fought a club battle with ! cent, for hia life."
a village full of Canadian Frenchmen; con-j Some genius has conceived the brilliant quered; killed a calf; and seizing a canoe,; idea to press all the lawyers into mlliUry tried to oroBa to the south side of the river.' service, in case of war—beoauie their charges They were above the rapids of.the Cedars,   are so. great that no one oould stand them.
A young gentleman who haa just married a little beauty, says " she would have been taller, but she ia made of auch preciouB ma¬ terials tbat Nature conldn*t afford it."
A Caoadiau wag haa discovered that the new ministry is composed of eleven lawyers and one auctioneer. *'It is evident," laya he, " that tbe oooopation of the latter will be to knock his oolleagnea down to the high¬ est bidder."
There has been some tall dying at Cincin¬ nati. The giraffe belonging to the menagerie of Driesbaoh and Co., aud said to be the only animal of this kind in America, died recently. It waa valued at five thousand dollars.
A correspondent writea to know, in ease the Oreat Eaatem steamship can't come over the bara about Bandy Hook, why the poeple don't go and let the bars down !
An Irsh paper, describing a late duel, aays that one of the combatantB was Bbot through the tieBhy part of the thigh-bone.
"SaB-sAW."-r-" Well," .said a carpenter " of all the saws ever I taw, I never saw a saw saw aa I law that saw law."
Total , $1,042,357 61
As required by law, I directed the certificates and evidences of this indebtedness to becanoelled; and on the igth of September, 1857, issued my proclamation deolaring the payment, extinguish¬ ment and final discharge, of one miUion forty two thousand eight hundred aad fifty-seven dollars and sixty-four centa ofthe pablie debt.
In addition to the amount reporied to be in the Treasury to the credit of the sinking fund, and applicable to the payment ofthe public debt, tbe Commissioners of tho fund now hold (he sum of $7,500,01)0.00 bonds ofthe Pennsylvania Railroad Company, pledged by law to tha payment of the funded debt ofthe Commonwealth.
By tbe 4th seotion of the 11th article of the ConstitutioD, as amended and ratified by a major¬ ity of the qualified voters of the State, at the general election held on the second Tuesday of October, 1S57, It is made the duty of tba Legisla¬ ture at its first eesaion after the adoption of this amendment, to create a Sinking Fund, which shall be sufficient to pay the aoeruing interest on the present publio dabt, and any additional debt thereafter constitutionally coDtratted, and annu¬ ally to reduce the principal tbero«f by a sura not less than two hundred and fiftv thousand dollar.'', (250,000.00,) which "Sinking fond efaall consist of the net annual income of tho public works from lime to time, owned by the State, or tha proceeds of the sale of the same, or any part thereof, and of the income or proceeds of sale of stocks owned by the State, together with other funds or resources that may be designated by law. Tha said Sinking Fund may be increased from time to time by as¬ signing to it any part of the taxes or otber revenues ofthe State, not required for the ordinary and current expenses of government, and| unless in case of war, invasion or insurrection, no part of said Sinking Fund shall ba used .or applied other¬ wise than in extinguishment^Z* the publio debt, until tbe amount of such debt is reduced below the sum of five millions of dollars," ($5,000,000.)
This being the first session of the Legislature since tbe adaption of this amendment, tbe duty therein enjoined devolves upon you, and should be promptly and faithfully disoharged.
The funded and unfunded debt ofthe State, in¬ cluding temporary loans, on the first day of De¬ cember, 1856, as per Reports of Auditor General and State Treasurer, waa as follows, viz :
PCBPEB nSBT.
6 per cent loam $     fiil.781 00
5    '*    "       •¦       38.Me,9»4 50
IJi        388,200 00
*        100,000 00
Total funded debt  $39,168,973 50
CNVCh'DBD DKBr.
Relief notes Is circulation 4220,538 00
Interest certiflcateB outstanding 24,691 37 " " unclaimed   4,443 38
Domestic creditors    1,154 00
Balance temporary loon, April
IB, 1853 0 400,000 00
BalaDco temporary loan, Ifay
9. 1854 134,000 «
ToUl nnfuaded debt            834,M» 75
f 10,701,S3.1 IS
Tbe fimded and unfuDder) debt, at tbe clou of the lost flsealyear, December 1, yS-M, -wm aa tdiXovs, vlx.- tvnmv DBBT.
flpereentloan 9     445.180 00
5   "    "     *•      88,773,212 32
¦IK        368,200 00
<   '        100,000 00
ToUl funded debt   tS»,70«,fl&2 «2
CXpcKnXD DEBT.
Relief notes la elrcQlatlon 1146,431 00
Interest cerllflcatea ontstaDd'g   23,473 82
" " anclalmed 4,448 38 Domestic creditors  8u2 so
Total unfunded debt         173,145 70
Total debt December 1, IS.1T	
. »;9,a31,78S 22
Total debt Deeember ], iMfl  »40.701,8S5 '2&
"       " "        1, 1M7....    39,881,738 22
Deereaw during late flse&l year.         820,087 M
These statements exhibit the gratifying faot, that during the past fiscal year, the publio debt hta been reduced eight hundred and twenty thou¬ sand, ninety-seven dollars and fifty-five eents. During the same period large appropriations and payments were made en account of our publio im¬ provements, for old and unsettled claims adjnsted tmder the act of last session, and for other extra¬ ordinary purposes.
The condition of the Treasury prior to the sus- pension of specie payments by tbe bonks, jtistified the appropriation of at least two hundred thousand dollars more in payment of the public debt, and arrangementff were mad* by the Treoaurer, under the direetlon of the Comminoneri of the Sinking f and, to liqnidat* Uiai amoaalif hnt aft«r tliesa*.
pension, and the (jonsequent'financial embarrass* meot of tbe country, the proposed payment, from pradentiftl motivaa, was postponed. Had, tlrispay- ment been mode, in', addition to the payments al¬ ready reported, the statements' aud calculations submitted in my laibanQual Message in relation to the early payment and final extingaishment of tbe publio debt, would thus for have beeo suitalned by their act,i;aJL verification. Tbo causes that pre¬ vented their .icalLtation, it is believed, will, icon cease to affeot^jiiriously the revenue* , of'the. Commonwea1th^' Actuated by that .indomitable energy that has ever characterized the American people-^falteringfor BtaometitVbnt not. disheort- eoed by the adverse oiroumatanoea (hat' larround us—routed to more rigoroui aoilon by'disuter and defeat, our .progress cannot long be checked, nor our prosperity long be interrupted.
Coufidenae, the sensitive, yet powerful agency, that binds In unity and strength the great finan¬ cial, commercial and induetnal interests of cor country and tho world, bos been suddenly impair¬ ed, producing financial and commercial distress, and aflecttng the revenues ;of the Commonwealth; but with tbe advantages resulting from tho rapid development of oar resources during tbe last quart«r^of a century—the immensely valuable in- orease of our agricultural, mining and manufiiotur- ing industry during thesameperiod—the abundant harvests ofthe pa£t year—our completed improve- mente, andall the elements of material wealth in our midst, its restoration at ah early period is not problematical. Keturatng' oonfidence wUl be the herald of rettirniDg prosperity. Notwithstanding, then, tho present embarrassment and gloomy con- : dition ofthe county, after a careful considerotion , of the presentandprospectivacondition of the finan¬ ces and reaouroes of the Commonwealth, I cannot hesitate to reaffirm my. belief, " that the time is not far distant when Pennsylvania will stand re¬ deemed from the oppression of her publio debt, and her people be relieved from a taxation im¬ posed to meat Ita accruing interest and maintain the faith and credit of tbe Commonwealth," and that " by practising strict economy in all depart¬ ments of the QoTemment—avoiding extravngant expenditure—refusing to undertake any new schemes of internal improvement, and holding to a rigid accountability the receiving and disbursing agents ofthe State, the realization of these views may be anticipated with confidence."
As corroborative ofthe opinion now and here¬ tofore expressed, a brief review of tba operatiooa of tho Treasury during the past three years, as connected' With the payment of the debt of the Commonwealth, may not be inappropriate. In my first annual message to the Legislature the fact was stated, that during the three years inter¬ vening between December 1, 1851, and December 1, 1854, the publio debt had been increased one million five hundred and eighty-four thousand, three hundred and fifty-nine dollars and thirty- four cents; and that the total debt at the close of the fiscal year, Deo. I, 1354, was forty-one mil¬ lions, six hundred and ninety-eight thousand, five hundred and ninety-five dollars, and seventy-four oente, ($41,698,595 74.) At tbe close of tbe late fiscal year, December 1, 1857, three years later, the funded aod unfunded debt, as before shown, was thirty-nine millions, eight hundred nnd eighty- one thousand, seven hundred and thirty-eight dol¬ lars and twenty-two centa; ($39,881,738,22;) de¬ crease in three years, one miUion, eight hundred and sixteen thousand, eight hundred and fifty- seven dollars and fifty-two cents,($1,816, 85752.) Thus in three years the publio debt has been de¬ creased, by actual payment and without resorting to the expedient of temporary loans, one million, eight hundred and sixteen thousand, eight hundred and fifty-seven dollars and fifty-two cents. If to this be added the sum of four hundred and four¬ teen thousand, nine himdred and twenty dollars and twenty-nine cents, ($414,920 29) now in the sinking fund, and applicable to the payment of the funded debt, tbe reduction will ba two inillioDS, two hundred and thirty-ona thousand, seven hun¬ dred and seventy-aeven dollars and eighty-one cents, ($2,231,777 81.)
These facts are not only gratifying, bnt en¬ couraging. It has already been stated that there is in the Sinking Fund the sum of seven millions, five hundred thousand dollars— bonds of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, bearing interest at the rate of five per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, and pledg#d to the paymeut of the fanded debt. If this auuL bo added to the reduction before stated, we have presented to us a virtual, if not an actual decrease, of the State debt of nine millions, seven hundred and thirty-one thousand, seven hundred and seventy-aeven dollars and eighty one cents, ($9,731,777.81;) showing the total funded and unfunded debt of the State on the fir.-it day of December, 1S57, to have been thirty-one millious, nine hundred and sixty-als thousand, eight hun- dr«d and eighteen dollar.s aud fovtyoun cents (S31,866,818.41.)
In anticipation of tbe sale of the Maiu Line and the decrease iu the public debt,thoState tax, by aa act of the last regular session, was reduced from three to two andone half mills on the dollar; a reduction equal to one sixth of the tax imposed for State purposes prior to that act. These facts speak for themselves. Well may the pi»ople be congratulated ou auch au auspicious beginning in the process of liquidation, and well may they with con¬ fidence anticipate the day of their deliver¬ ance from Stale laatatiou. Financial .ijid commercial embarrassment may postpone,— nothing but unwise legislation, and the im¬ prudent or dishonest management of our finances, can prevwut the early realization of their well founded anticipations.
The condition of tbe public works, their general operation, tha receipts and expendi¬ tures during the past iidcal year, will he pre¬ sented to you Iu detail iu the Report of the Canal Commissioners.
The total receipts at the Treasury, from the public works, for tbe year ending Novem¬ ber 30,1857, including receipta from the Main Line up to the first day of August last, were one million three hundred and eight thous¬ and five hundred and ninety-eight dollars and si.xty-two cents, (S1,30B,598.62). The aggregata_expeuditure5 for the same period were one million three hundred aud twelve thousand seven huiulreii and fifty dollars and sixty-seven cents, ($1,312,705.67) ; the ex¬ penditures exceeding the revenues four thou¬ sand one hundred aud seven dollars and five cents, ($4,107.05.)
The receipts   at   tbe Treasury from  the several Divisions were aa follows, viz :— Main Line, to August 1,1857- • ¦ • S7i)(),550 33 Susquehanna and North aud
Divisions   287,718 95
Delaware Division    224,329 34
The receipts from the Delaware Division are less than those of the previous year.— The completion of rival Railroads and other causes, have leaseued the receipts from this important.division of our public works ; and it is feared will continue to decrease them.— Its management haa been'satisfactory, and compared with other diviaiona of the pnblic improvements, economical. The net revenue at tbe Treasury, was $174,001.87, a decrease of $90,093.53, as compared with the receipts of the preceding year. In addition to the ordinary expenditures, the sum of S46,263, was paid for the enlargement and improve¬ ment of this division.
The North Branch Extension of the Penn¬ sylvania canal, although so far completed in the fall of 1S5G, that boats freighted with coal and other products, were successfully passed through its entire length from Pitts- ton to tbe Junction canal, yet in consequence of a large portion of the " Horse Race Dam" having been carried away by the freshet of last spring, business on the canal was sus¬ pended the greater part of tbe past year.— it was repaired during the summer and in the fall business waa resumed along its entire length. Soon after, the same dam was again extensively injured by a sudden and heavy freshet, and the greater part of the canal rendered useless for businesa. An appropria¬ tion will be required to re-constructthodam. The canal, although useful and valuable, appears to be doomed to failure and disaster. These are the fruits of former miamanage- ment and fraud iu its construction. Every efi'ort has been made to repair the errors of its early management, and to complete aud render useful this division of .mr public works. .Under proper m.inagemi^nt it can be successfully accuuiplished.
In pursuance of the act of the I6th day of May, 1857, providing for the sale of ihe Main Line of tho publio works, after giving the notice required by law, I caused the said Main Line to be exposed to pubticsale, at the Merchants' Exchange, in the city of Philadel¬ phia, on the 25tb day of June laat, and sold the same to the Pennsylvania Railroad Com¬ pany, for the sum of seven millions five hundred thousaud dollars, the highest price bid for the same, aud the minimum price fixed in tbe act.
After a full compliance by the purchasers with tbe conditions of the act authorizing the sale, and the delivery uf their bonds in num¬ ber and for the amounts equal to aud falling due at the time provided for the payment of tbe reapeotlve instalments, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, on the 31st day of July, A. D. 1857, as directed by the act, transferred, nnder the great seal of the State, to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, their suc- cesaora or assigns, the whole Main Line of the public works, between Philadelphia and Pittsburg, together with all the right, title and interest, claim and demand, of the Com¬ monwealth of Pennsylvania, to all property, real, personal and mixed, belonging to or used in connection with the same, by the Commonwealth ; and the purchasers having given notice of their readiness to take posses¬ sion of tbe said works, possession waa accor¬ dingly delivered to the Company on the first day of August last; of which notice waa given to all Superintendenta and Agenta of tbe Commonwealth, by proclamation bearing date the 31st day of July, 1857, as required by the act authorizing the sale.
The bonds of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, in the sum of seven and one-half millions of dollars, were received by the State Treasurer and are held by him for the Com- misKionera of tbe Sinking Fund ; the entire proceeds of the sale being required by the I2th section of the aot to be paid to the Sink¬ ing Fund and applied to the payment of the State debt.
I cannot forbear oongratnlatlng the people of the Commonwealth on the oonanmmation ofthliiole.   FabliaMUtlment,at «3cpr«aMd
tb'roagh the ballot-box, and in other forms eqtially significant, demanded it—publicpoli- oy and the interests of the Commonwealth required it.   It ia done.   The many approve ;
few complain, those most, who have gained an iinenvlable reputation by a reckless dis¬ regard o^the public Interests, as exhibited in the extravagant,'nseleaa and fraudulent expenditnrea ofthe public money for selfish ,or partizan purposes.
The sale of the Main Line has directed ^nhltc attention to tbe importance and neces¬ sity of disposing of tho remaining division.^ of the public improvements. The reasons and policy that required and justified the sale of the one, apply with equal force to the sale of the other. The propriety of sepa¬ rating tbe State from the care and control of the publio works, is not only evident to all who have given tbe subject a candid and im¬ partial consideration, but the necessity is clearly established, by the history of their construotion aud management. They have failed to be a source of revenue to the Com¬ monwealth, and if retained by the State, will require an expenditure in their repair and maaagemeot, largely exceeding any revenue, that pnder the most favorable circumstances, can be derived from them. In any phase of the question, this separation is desirable, but in connection with the payment or the pub¬ lic debt, and the reduction of State taxation, it becomes an object of more than ordinary interest. A sale, at the earliest practicable period, of the whole of our publio works, for a fair consideration, upon terms juat and liberal to the purchasers, and at the aame time amply protective of the rights aud inter¬ ests of the people, should be authorized by the Legislature. Such sale, with the appli¬ cation of the proceeds to the payment of tbe public debt, would 8(?care its still more rapid extinguishment Tbe subject is recommend¬ ed to your unbiaaed consideration.
The law incorporating,the Pennsylvania Railroad Company imposed a tas of three mills, per ton, per mile, on all tonnage pass¬ ing over that road, as an equivalent for any decrease in the revenues of the Common¬ wealth, that might arise from the anticipated competition of the road, with the business of the Main Line of the publio improvements. This tax is not imposed upon the Company, but upon the tonnage, and is paid by the owners of the freight transported over the road; the company acting as ageuta in its collection and payment to the State. It ia virtually a tax upou the trade and commerce of the Commonwealth, and upon the com¬ merce of other States whose productions seek an Eastern market over thia road; and tbus by increasing the rate of charges and the cost of transportation the produce of the West is forced upon the competing railroads of other States and to other marketa than our own.— The necessity that required this tax, as re¬ gards the Commonwealth and her improve¬ ments, has ceased. Its continuance can only be justified as a revenue measure. It ahould be the policy of the State to invite the trans¬ mission of the products of other States through her territory to her own markets, and, therefore, the propriety of relieving tho trade and business of the Commonwealth and country from this tax upon it, is respectfully submitted for your consideration.
In consequence of tbe suspension of apecie payments by the lianka ofthia and the other States of tho Union, and the financial embar- raasmentand general prostration of business I deemed it my duty to call, as authorized hy the Conatitution, au Extra Session of the Legislature? to meet at HarriPburg on the sixth day of October last. Although the re¬ lief provided by this extraordinary seflsion of tlie General Adsombly, was not a.i aniplo a.s the exigency of tho case reciuired, yet it was pruductive of mauy beneticial renultfj, and served to allay the intense excitement aud alarm that pervaded the entire community. By the act providiug for the resumption of apecie payments by the Banks, all banking institutions accepting tbo provislous of that law, woro required to pay into the Treasury one-forth of oue per cent, ou their capital stock ; the amount realized by the payment of this bonus has not only defrayed all the expenses of that session, but wilt leave a baiauce iu tbo Treasury of not leas than thirty-five thousand dollars—a re^^ult cer¬ tainly not injurious to the financed of the Commonwealth.
My views expressed in former communioa- tioii£ on the subject of bauks aud baukiug capital, iu their relations to the currency aud the general interests of trade, remain un¬ changed. However diverse our opinions may be on this suhjdct, it must be admitted by all, that the banking aud credit systems are so intimately interwoven with the buainess aud commerce of the country, that their sud¬ den separation, or a rash innovation, would produce consequences of fearful magnitude. That the prc-^t^ut system of banking is per- feet, is not pretended; that It couM be es¬ sentially modified aud improved, will uot be denied. The preaent derangement of the currency may aud will suggest the necessity of reform, not only in the system itself, but in the management of our banking instita¬ tions.
Unlimited credits by corporations or Indi¬ viduals have aud will ever be an unmitigated evil.    They contribute to bank expansions, rash specalatiou.'i, extravagant living, and ex¬ cessive over-trading; always sure to be  fol¬ lowed by ruinous revnlsious.    What the re¬ medy should be, I do not deem It my province, under existing circumataucea, to suggest; but to be permanent and efiectual it must accord with the uatural and necessary laws of trade. The currency of a country forms uo excep¬ tion to these laws, and should be left to their operation and control, so far as may be con¬ sistent with the public good,    It is, therefore, that system of free  banking, baaed on  un¬ doubted public securities, and coin iu such proportion to circulation and depoaitea  as may be deemed sufficieut to aecure their con version into specie, ou demand, with proper limitations and  restrictions, is deemed  pre¬ ferable to the present system.    Ita introduc¬ tion would correct mauy existiug abuses uot ouly in the system itself, but in the preaen, mode of banking.    These questions, howevert with the remedies necessary to  prevent a recurrence of the evils under which we now sufier,'together with the nature aud extent of the relief, if any, that may yet be  required by the Ranks of the Commonwealth, to enable them to resume the payment of their liabili- tie.^ in specie, are all referred to the  wisdom of the Legislature.   They aro practical aud important business questions, aud as aauh should receive your intelligent conaideratiou. The  pre.ient  condition of   our  Commou- wealth and country deserves at least a pass¬ ing remark.   A severe financial revulsion has occurred, InduclDg a  suspension of  specie payments by the  Bauks, not ouly of this Commonwealth, but of all the Statea of tho Union, deranging the onrreney and aSectiug disastrously all  the great interests of com¬ merce  aud tbe industrial pursuits of   the citizeu.    Labor is without employmeut, and thousands of strong active men are now ask¬ ing for work or bread.    The causes assigned for these evils are almo:it as various as the iutereats  or prejudice^ of tho3e who under¬ take their explication.    To  whatever cause or causes they may be referred, it is neither just, nor proper to charge ail our present tluiiucial aud  commercial   distress   to   the Banka and   their   management.     However much   they   may have   coutributed,  other causes have operated still more directly and powerfully to produce  theae results ; and among the first iu Importauce aud iufiueuce is the present  system of low dutie.s, in con¬ nection with the warehousing system, adopt¬ ed aa the policy of tbe tTeneraLUovfriHiieiit in lS4t>.   The abalidoument uf the protective policy, as embodied in the TariU:" act of 1842, was resisted by Pennsylvania with a unanim¬ ity almost unparalleled in her history.    Her representatives  in boih branchea of the Na¬ tional Congress stronuously opposed tho re¬ peal of that act.    The evils nuder which we are now suffering were predict«d, aa a conse¬ quence of such repeal.    But other oounsela prevailed, the act was repealed, and the in- dn.'itry of the country exposed  to a ruinous competition with the cheap labor of foreign nations.    The disastrous effects of the repeal, were postponed by the operation of causes well understood by every intelligent citizen. Famine abroad produced au unprecedented demand for onr breadstuffs, and the gold of California, although it may have added to the excitement of our progress, and contrib¬ uted its full share  In   prodoeiug existing financial aud commercial embarrassment, in millions, supplied the means of paying the uverwhelmiug  balances against us oa  our foreign importations.    Under   tho   present system of low duties, the e.^cess of imports over exports has beeu beyond the  most ex¬ travagant wants of the country.    They have been euormous aud ruiuoua—des true live of domeatic industry, and involving tho  home manufacturer  and  home labor, iu oue com- mou ruiu.    We have imported more thauwe could pay for, and much more than we need¬ ed.    Penmiylvania abounds iu irou ore.— Iron and ita manufactures are justly regard¬ ed as important elements of her material wealth; and from her abundance, if properly fostered and protected by a wiae national policy, could   supply  the   markets of  tho world; and yet, since the passage of the act of 1846, we have imported of iron and steel and their manufactures, more than two hun¬ dred millions of dollars in value; paid for fn gold or our bonds and stocks, now held by foreign capitalists—the interest on which but adds to the burdens imposed npon ns by onr foreign indebtedness.   The same is true of many other important branchea of home in¬ dustry.   Many millions in valne of cotton and woolen goods have, dnring the same period, been imported, that Bhoold have been mad^ Jn our own worlwhopu, shotild have
been woven on American, and not on British, | French and German looms.
As an example ofthe practical working of tho system, official documents exhibit the fact, that during the past four years the im¬ ports of foreign merohandise, exceeded onr exports one hundred and eighty- fonr millions two tboasand seven hundred and sixty-eight dollars ; and as a consequence, the drain of the precious metals was correspondingly great. The amount of specie sent out ofthe country dnring that period, was two hundred and thirteen millions three hundred and aixty-four thousand three hundred and eighty-four dollars—apecie Imported twenty- aix milHons nine hundred and twenty-seven thousand and four hundred and twenty-seven dollars: leaving a. balance against us on specie account of one hundred and eighty- six millions fonr hundred and thirty-six thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven dol¬ lars This depleting process, aggravated by exoesaive importations, unsettled the cur¬ rency and induced an inflated paper circula¬ tion, resulting in bank suspensions and financial embarrasment. But the evil does not end here. An inflated paper currency, by cheapening tbe price of money, increaaes in this country the cost of production, and tbus, whilst the American Manufacturer, ia exposed, under a system of low duties, to a ruinous competition with the aheap labor of Europe, he ia paid for his goods in a onrrenoy less valuable than that paid to his foreign competitor. As a necessary result the home fabric is driven from the market and the home mauufaoturer rained. The operation of theae oausea, stimulated by low duties, is sufiicient to destroy the industrial energies of auy people.
With theae facts before us, it is no matter of surprise that our mills, factories, and fur¬ naces havo beon closed, and thousands of houest laborers thrown out of employment; that commerce haa scarcely an existence, that bankruptcy aud ruin are around ns, and our general prosperity paralyzed. To avoid these disasters, to which we have been peri¬ odically exposed, reform not only in our system of baufcing, bnt in our revenue laws, becomes indispensable.
If the principle of the act of 1842 had been preserved, even if its rates of duties had been reduced, our specie by millions would not have goue into foreign coffers to build up and sustain the foreign manufacturer; home in¬ dustry would be prosperous, and the cry "we want work," issuing from a thousand lipa, in our large cities and manufacturing districts would not now be heard ; nor would a foreign debt of nearly five hundred milliona of dol¬ lars exist to startle and alarm na. That sys¬ tem that practically prefers foreign to home labor,—;tbat keeps our workshops in Europe, inatead of building aud supporting them here —that takes our gold to pay the,wages of the British laborer, whilst our own are without employmeut and without bread,—that filla the country with foreign merchandize to the exclusion of the home fabric,—that lays the British rail npon tbe road through onr iron districts and by our rolling mills, whilst they are ailent and deserted, and that invitea to Bpeculalion and extravagance, is at war with every true American interest, and should be at once abandoned.
A period of low duties haa always been marked by exct'ssive importations,—large ex¬ ports of specie—overtrading—bank expan¬ sions and suspensions, and fluaucial and com¬ mercial revulsions. Under the protective policy these peculiar and startling character istics of free trade have all been wanting.^ The history of the country establishes these facts. A well regulated tariff, adjusted to jjrntpct the productive industry of the coun¬ try, in uot only the true policy of tbe Gov¬ ernmeut, but is a imtter rtjgulator of the car- reucy, and a more certain security against bank expansions, than any syptem of pains and penalties yet devised for the control of bnuking institutions, or the operations of capital. To this we tihould return. Penn¬ sylvania is yet true to her ancient and long cherislied convictioua of ita propriety and necessity. She may have been misled. Po¬ litical and partizan pressure may have forced her from her true position. Thia was her misfortune, not her fault. She sees aud feela the wroug, and with au emphasis, intensified by her injuries*, will demand redress; protec¬ tion for hen^elf and the great industrial in¬ terests of her people.
The agricultural interests of the country, should ever be fostered and sustained by the State. They are firat iu necessity and use- fulness, and conatitute the basis of State and National property. Upou their progress and development, depend the success of our me¬ chanical, manufacturing aud commercial in¬ terests.
iVj^rlciiIliirc, iu its varievl .tint lauUipllod relatiotin, in tlw unmlliii^ fidun-t; of Nntioti^l wealth, and to itn pro rticllun nil rIkiuM contribute. Inillvlilual enterprise nnd liltf nilit V. i^lnto and Coanty asBocIiitfous, bave doD^ ;iiuidi to Hdviibi-e this Iiiiporlntit l>ranr& of produL-tJre indusfry; hure collected uad circulated much ralualjla Iiirnrniutioii; mid eucouragcd by their honorable exer- liunn, tho |irojrt.>s» efscluutiBc und jirjictiralagriculturt!. ^i-iunup nnd iirt bare nobly prntTurcd their aid—the S'n(f f:)i<iiiIJ lint withhold Iter (jUfuuragemuat aud tiiip' pint.
I hn^e lierutofuro recomueudud the establfshment nf RD Agrlciiltunil Itareau, In conuection with uumo one of tb(5 :^tHto Dep.irtments, ti> ({{ts efliclijocy to tbe collec¬ tion .iml ditfusi^iit of nueful knowledf^e on this Bubjcct. Impn's;"inl with th»* necessity aiid UM'fulnes.f of such a Bureau, I ni^in eHruuatly recommeml it to your fnrora- bin CIiiifiidiT.iti'ln.
"Tlitf FiirmcrK* Illjth Bchoot of i'ennByiranlR,"(in iu- stitutioti iiKorpnratcd hy thu Lugislitture in IS65, is eu- litlcl to tbo f.Kpfcial attoutlon of Ibe friontli) uf Agricul- turu. Lu tbe teachluKS of this institution, tbo scientillc and prnctinil an* united, :ind whilst the art of farming imd all thHt pertnliiR to tho maoajemflut, bnnincss and work of a farm, will ho tho subject of lustructiou, thu natural fcieni'OK. in tbt-ir rflliitioii and applicatiun to practical fiKricuUure, will also bd tauj^bt. The student ot thi.- ia.<<'{tuti«n will bs cnahled to test. In hie dally occtipfitioii, thu truth and Talutf of tbo knowledge emu- niuiiicjtied.
Mu''h 'if ih« l«nd ronnected with thf aclio^M has beeu nucco.«fully culliv.iteJ duriojf the pa.tt year. Orchardu of evuiy variL-Iy of fruit and hudijoti have been planted, and many vnluable impmremttnt-s made.* A double eto- r\t:il baru, larKu and convenient, a.i also thn lArmer'a bou^uMud part t>r the nut-bulldini;K hare Ijeun erected ,t»(i ocnipfi-d.
Kri.iu thd reimrt r.f tbe truBteen we learn thnt *'a con¬ tract huii been uiailrt fur the erection of an edilice culcu- l»teii for tbe residence of rrofesBom, Lecture Ilnllb aud Doi'iiitlorleR for ntndentK, to be bnllt of ntone, fi?ur Ftu rim hifih. two hundred and thirty-three feet In front, with wingE, nod to cost Qfty-five thounaud dollar?.— Tlii.4 building Is already in progrosR, and it is hoped that a p:irC nf it may be put under roof and ho ao fur complo- t<.fl K9 to nnablt] the Uo-trd to make arrangemen tR (» re- coire a. fewstudontahrtforo theclose of the current year." 'Hu? L'-ylrtl.nture, at their last soBsiou, appropriat*;d fifty thnucfind dollura to thin institution, oue-half of wliirb has beeu paid; tbe remaining twenty-fivo thous-ind diillarit to be paid ou cooditlou that an c^iual tiiim be realizi^d from other sourceft, within three Jfars from the pittis.i^t> ofthe act uiaklni; the appropriation.
Thu objects and character of this inEtituttnn—Itt reta- tinii t<i agricultural knowledge, audits the pioneer iu the gront work of vgricultural education, couiniend il tothe Konoruus p.(tntim(^u of the LeKl"''^^ure. and to the conll- denceaud liberality ofthe people uf Uje Commonwealth. Tiiu report to he submitted by the SupcriQlendi-nt of O'mnton SchnolK will proiujut a t-Ie.v and satisfactory stitc'iieiit uf the ifeueral dperatloUKof the system during; the pilKt it:n\:
The separation of the Schiwl from the Stato Bepait- iiirtHt, hy the a<;t «tf the lR*t (weBlon, was » Just trihute to the importauce and value of our Common School system. The great educational Intertiitii of the State, the rare and f;tiardian)>h{p nf the Intellectual, sncial and niortl int- provtiuient of the yimtb of ttio commonwealth, shotihl iii'cuiiy * pr-'iiiinent and ludepondent [Mwltion.linens""* Dupartmimts of tho Oovemment. If the care of the treasure of tbe Commnnwealth, thu development of her uiHtciiil wealth, and the adTanrement of her politico ccc'ii'idtictl intt'restK, hare rKeiroil from ihe (JoTerdmcu t Ibe marked itiid distinctive reco^uiliou uf Ibvir impor- t;ui'e: h.iw iiiui'h more should the mind of her youth— with Us woudrnui .ictivitiea—itK cin-itautly unfoldinp energies, .itid if* intitiite suiwriorltT 1«> the material and pbysiic.il, claim a Htill higher ciuiniileratiou, aud receive (piiii tbe reiiri-f=fnIrttlTe« of tbe i>eopU* a miiro huiionid rt^roguiiinii.
As an ludi'pHiitli-nt Department, greater edlciency will t«^ fjiireii to the i^yslvin—a nipro direct and |mniedi.it<* MiliiTvisiiiu will he secured—the details of Its operutiou m re i-arefully uWerved—lis deliciencieB discovered—It(i error^i c>irrectfd~-the acc&tiiplUliment of Its noble pur- poai'H nml nhjicth rendered mure certain, and tbe fiysteni it>elf.<aved from tbe dangerous and dchanlng influence >>f political excitement, and partizan prejudice.
Tbe County Hnpt-riuteiutency, tested by exiK-riiuce. has iv.iliEcd Ihe ju-:! eX|iectitIoni> of tbe Iriendii of the menf- itrc, mill m.n >ji>»r lie re;{Mrdod a^ a pemuinent und iudis- (>enM.-ihle i^irt of the system. When committed to com¬ petent men. it hanai-ti<mplUheda uohle work ia promoling Mil- i'ui-i'e^!'and iisefuIneHA of our Common H<-h<Kils: nnd wJH'iiever the duties of the oIUm have been I'ulllifnily pcrl'irmed, lho chaiacter of the scUooId has hceo elevated, their number und the number of scliohirs increased, and the cuntldeuie uud eDCOaragemeut uf tbe pnhlic secured. Iu the handi of Incompetent men. theHe reKults'bave nut been obtJiined; ttutoti the contrary, opponilioii bnn lieen provoked, nnd the cKuse of Comtuon cfcbool educa¬ tion retarded. This ofllre sboHld not hu eotnniitted lo any l>uc men throughly qualiSed hy education and esperieiu-e f<ir the perforniHiit'e of itu urdnnUK und rexpoiiyiL^Ie dntien: anil if lhoSch(>ol Directom of uny connty, In dLxrugunl of their obligations, frt>m upposilioa either to theBjslem or tbe ofHce, select an Incompetent person for the place, Ihe I'dium uf the I'^ct, and of failure to secure the bene- lUs ro.-liltiiip fi..m a proitJr.inU iotMint^ut adiiiiiiisJnitiou <if the oftiif. should n).-*t upon them, ami not ui»on the hw jtuthul-iziiig tho appofuiuieiit. Tlie defects of the i-y.-tem when i-learly estaMi.'ihe<i. .ihou'd be ppjmptly 'orrucled; but eliniige ii^ uut alM'uvK reform; and inno v.ttl.in, induced by seIH><hnesii ur prejudice, may emhinger lis permanency and destroy ItselSeiency.
Tho Art of the ^iOth day of .Uay, 1S57, lirovldlug for 111.' dtii' training of teachers for the Common^hools of tbe Stmt-, hy the euivuntgeuient uf Nuriua) Schools wUhlit tho Dirttrlcta deelgnateil In the law, has re<.-etved the corilUl appi-obatioD of all interented Iu the success of our Couimun ^^chooU. The passage of tbat act inaugu¬ rated a new era in Iha history of Common ychool eduni- tion 111 renuaytvauls. it is a moTetnont iu th<! right direction ; full '.f encournsemfnt and hop*! for the groafer perfection aud Usetulness ofthe system. IJtrge nnd vn- ihusiuNtiii meetings of the frlenduof eduedtiuub.-iTehcvu li'-ld, la many of the districts, to promote Ihe ril.-»hllsh- meiit of Normal Schools, Al contemplated by the act; aud liberal sums of money have been subscribed to secure this duHrahle object. A uohle work has been commenced; jtud uiiKlninMl hy Individnul enterpri>v and liberality— encouraged hy tbe State, and Tiudii-ated hy ItK own In trinsiii merit. It iiiu>4l go ou until Stale Normal t>chouln, ill number and elllriency, equal to the supply of nell tniiiied toorherB, rhall become lho Juxt pride and huanl I't I'ennsvivanin.
1 ho on;:niiR t-tructure <*t our system is as perfect, per- liitps, :th huuiuii legblatiou can make it; but it needs Ihe ecnipeteul AUd MtorOUghly trained teacher lo give It greater vii:ilit> aud elllctency. aud secure the fullaccum- piiiibmeit of the purposes oi' ltd ciuutlun. The teacher, the [iruporly oducnted, the well trained, the scientific teacher, i.^ the great want of the syKtem. Wa need the teaching mind, not the iiutouiaton movements of mere phyulcal urganizatlou or antlfjitattHl rutillno, to direct AU'l coutrul thu lub-Ilectual «Qer)j(iee of ttie youth ot the OimmonwfaHh. We re<niire mind, educated mind, in our schools, that knowledgD maybe oomtnuiiicated, not only effectively and practically, but that in training the young, they may ho taught to think—and how to think —to inTe«tig.it*^ and know for them*elTes ; »ad thus he fitted and prepared for the high aud respunaible dntii ofthe man and tbe citizen.
This deficiency cau only bo auppljed by State Normal achooU for the education of teachera. To them wV mart look. The fntnre la full of hope. Much has already been done to provide fbr their eatibHshment and supDort. In countcUou with henormble, iodlTldual Bffor^ more leglsla- tlre encouragement may be required. Itshould begiren choeifaUy and prompUy; ¦ No tahject of greater Interest ean claim jour Rttentlon; nooneaapeals with more re*- WB aud truth, t» duty asd patriotiiro.
Teachers' InitUotea, as aaxIUary to Normal Scbools •hould bo Bided by the Stal-*. Tnrongh tbelr ageiioy •tutalned byuw noble and selManyUig efforts of Iha 1^"^""..°^^^''"''""':^ good haa beeo acoomplished Lm^'if;! °.**'i'*'"^°'''B**«heni, and (a dignifying a fnTi™?.^t  v^"* undervalued by those moiit deeply interested In their uaetm labors I
In the great work of popuiar eduraUon theroihoiad be no retrograde inoremom la t?eansyiVaaia: ho^iaU- lug to the impotent cUmor of l«aofiJ^,i^ihihnStor pr,OuJice, Iu their attempt- lu «t^y iu prigrwi. ThewJ one aiid all, may denounce ana coudomo, bit TlrtuJ palriotisoi Md truth, bid yuu onward. Let the svatam be maintained In Its unity and usefuluosa; let 'u be un¬ proved andperlbcteaiu its details; but latnoaotofyoura impair Its strength, or mar the beauty and h-rmuuT ol ita proportions, j        ^
iiased (ui our iostitutionii are on the will of the peopU —dependent for presorvatiOQ on their virtue and iuteili- geucQ—knowledge with us ahould occupy tha high posl- eitlon to wblch it is bo preeminently eutitledi Knowl- edge, founded upon the pore priuctplea of eternal truth; is the crowning glory ot the citizen—the aajeguard aod defence of the dtate. Education, full aud free to all. Is the boon we ask liir the childruu uf the Commouweaith —It ia the duty, paramount to ail others, rhu Statu omud toher citlceuii. The aid uf the Commonwealth should be liberally bestowed. Thu subject, iu all lt4 relatlonii, is warmly commended to the generous care and patron¬ age of the Lcgialaluro.
Legislation, whilst properly OQCoiiragiug tbe develop¬ ment of thematetiai wealth of the iState, should reooguixe tho still higher obtlguUon to improve the social, lutel- lectual aud moral coudition of tho people. Tho amelio- ratiun of human sulTering the relorniatlou of the erring, and tba correction of youthful vicioueoess, are object* that deserve the atteatlua of the philanthropist and stateeman. To secure these results, the educutlonftl, chariuble and reformatory instltutioua of the Uummon- wealth should be fuBtered aud encouraged hy Uberal legudallon.
The reports of the Stato Lunatic Hospital, at Uarrhi- burg, aud tho  Western  I'enusylvania UoBpital for the iit.""' "' i'ituburg, will he hud  before you, uud wiU exhibit in detail their operatiuna for tbo past year.
These InsUlutiuus, iu their objecls and results, merit and should receive our warmest apprubatioa. Tbe cou¬ dition Dl no cla.-iit of suffering humanity appeals with mere thrilling puwer to our sympathies, ihaaUiatof Che Jusano. Ignorant of the frightful malady that oppresses them, shrouded iu the fearlul gloom of meutal dantuess, aud ahnt out from the social juya uf home and irieuda, tliH uid of tbe benurolent and tbe heuelattleus of Ibu Cuuiniunwealth ithuuid b<] liberally and cheerfully givea to them.
The Uoutfe of Kefugo In I'hiladelphlo, and the Wesieta House of Uefuge near Pittsburg, again ask to share the bounty of the Commonwealth, 't'tiede schools lor tba erring, ueglected and uut-ctut children ol the ;5tate—' those homes where kindneiia rulee and love subduee tbe vicious uud iucurrigible, should not bo denied their re¬ quest.
Thu "Ulind" and tbe "Deaf and Dumb" Asylums ftt Philadelphia, and tbo I'ennsylvanhi Training &buul lor idiuiic uud luuble-minded children, preaent tbcir annual claim fi>r your sympathy and aid. Tbe darkeued eye, (he silent tongue, aud tbe weakened Intettect, lu sorrow aad Duduehs appeal to tbe repruMtututired of the people fur tbls boon.   It cannot t^e refuiied.
ily views iu relation lo ••locul," "spocial" and '•omni¬ bus leginlatiim" have been su ire^jueuily'expreesed, in cumuiuiiicatlona to the Legislature, ttuit their repetition now is imuecesaary. ::uch legialallou, often dosuVTeridve of private rights—ao delrimeutal tothe public interest, and generally bu mlscblevoud io its cousoqueucoe—ahould  ut be encouraged or permitted.
The report of tbe Adjutaoi Ueneiul will ha laid twfora you. Tu its Tuiuabie and lmi>urtanl sugge^tiuns 1 invite your careful conaideratiou.
I must again call tho attention ofthe Legislature to thefiutiject of revlflng the militia lansoftue iitate.— Tliuy ure so crude and imperlcct, In mauy of Uieic pro¬ visions, end obscure Iu souie ot tbeir enacttuuDts, that It is ditticuU to discover the object intended, or cumpreheud the duty etijiiiue<L Tbe potvcrv and dutleii uf tbe renpeC- UTooIhcerscouuucted with the military orgaaizatioa of the Uuutmunwcalth should hu more clearly debned.— Greater encouragement should be given to tUe furmatloo uf vuluutcer c<jmp.iuie8; tbe entire system *bi}uld be re¬ modeled, and placed in a pobition to become alike honor¬ able and ueeful to tbe State.
The &lect aod Common Councils of tbe City of Phlla- dulphla, by au ordinance passed tlie 7tb daj of Aprll, Ibilj, aud utbcially communicated to the L^iaiature at their but general session, proposed toeunvey to Ihe Com¬ mon wealtli of Potiusylvaulu uloCof grouad, lb that city, lor the purpose uferectiug an Arsenal thereon. By tbe act of tbe btb ol May, IBoT, the Uovemor waa authurlxed to ai:cept from the Muyur ut I'hiiadclphi^ under tbe MaL of tbe Curporaliou, the couveyunce in lee aimpie ol the lut of ground proposed to bu donated.tu Uiu Cumiuoa- wcolih, lor tha purpose indicated. Tbe conveyance wag duly executed by the Mayor uu ttiv iiith day of Juutf, lEiOr, and delivered and accepted ou Chemist day Ot July luiluwiui^, as directed by the act. The fourth sectiou of the same act authorized the Uuveruor lo upply the pro¬ ceeds of tbe sale of tbe Antenal iu f hiUdelpbiu [$:iO,utM) (o tbe arwUun ofao AriieoaL on ibe lot ot ground tha^ grouted tu tbe Cummuuwealtb.
In pursuance uf tho authority conferred, a contract was made with a skillful and expericoced Architect, fur tbe erection aad completion uf tbe proposed arsenal; to be large utid eommoiJiumi, and adapted to thu purpuoes tuieudud. iuu buildtiig wod imMivdiulitl) cummeuced under tbe direct nuperviaion ot the Ailjutant Ueuemt, aud Li uow completed aud ready tur ibe rocupliou.ul tbe Arms, JXilicory rttures and w|UipmcuUi of tbe C'omuiuo- wcultb. it id uf brick, Aree aluries high, uue huudrud and eighty-two I'eet frout on Filbert street, and niiy leel in depth. The loundalioD walbiof stone, aro aolid aud ma!i.<]Ve. Tbe cost of cuufitrucliou did not exceed the apprupriatiua. It i.s a substantial and elegant sitiicture und wUl be a bulu depository tor the pubUc armj>—an ornament to the city, and a credit to the Cummuuwealtb. Uue of my predecessors. In bis oaumil comuuoicatioa to tho Legislature, immediately after tbe cluee ofthe late war with Mexico, recomiueuded the erection of a luonuuieut to the memory of thoaeciiizeo soldiers, ftom I'ennsylTania, who died m the service of their country in that war. It is due lo ibem, that aome pubhc ac¬ knowledgment uf their pairiutic service"should be made by thebiate. Concurring In the aeutimeiits expressed in thecumtuunlcatitiu to wbich refereuce has beeu mudOi 1 Would uUo invite your attention to the propnety uferect¬ iug, iu iko public grouud.i uf the ^'apitul, a suitable inuaumeot to tueir memory—and thus houur those who by their undaunted bravery and loviucibld valor, bfin- ored our noble Communureulth.
The publication of the Ueolugical Keport of (be State, under ibe nuiieriuieudeuce uf i'raf. Kugem, is rapidly approaching coinplelion. The engravings aud illuBtni- Uun.t are nearly completed, and the tirat vuluuie now in press, which ho expect^ will be ready for delivery soon Kfter the meeting of the Legislaiure, aud tbe second aad lait volume before ita adjournment or immediately thereafter. The style and general execution ofthe Work will be e«inal, If nut superior, to that uf any similar publlcaiiou by our sister Stale.-(. ll will fully suataiu tbe repulatiou of thu diatim;uiabed tieologist, by wbum the sarfeya were made, uud who has devoted no mudi care and attenlion to its publication. Tbe large geolu- gictl map of the State, wbich will accompany the vul- umes, will uot be tlnlshed before the cloae cf tbo ye.ir. (jreut care has been lakea to make it perfect in all lin daialU. Tho wbole work will be a valuable addiUon to geographical, as well oe geological science, and will bo alike Uaefnl to tbe ciiizeos of the Cuiumunwealih, and bonurablo to iti author.
The reaolulluns propoMNg amendments to the Coosti- tntion of tbo CommouweiUth, were published aa directed by that instrument. In uccurdance with tbe provisions ofthe Act of Iltb ufMay,[S.)7,tbd proposed ameudueut.*> were submitted to the peoplo fur tbeir rutiUcotluu or r«. jeclion, on the second Tuesday ef October laat. Tbe retirus uf said election have been received, and will be delivered to the Speaker of ibe Senate, a» directed by law, when the fact of their adoptioa hy a large miijority will bo officially uacertaiued aud anuuuoced.
The fourth section uf the flrst article of the amended ConLtitution, rei(uirea tbe LeglElature at tbeir lirat ses¬ sion, aficr tha udoplionof thiaumeudmont, to divide (bo CityufFhiladelpbia into Senatorial and Uepreaeutativa Districts In the mauuer provided ia tbat section. This tfuty devolvea ujion you, and xbould ba performed wUb fidelity aud due regard to lho interests and rlghtd of the people of that city.
Kelieved from the impatatioa of selfishness, I canoot forbear pre^ieuting for your cunaiilemtiuu, a eubject ihat should claim your earlieiii utteocluu. 1 refer tu ihe erec¬ tion of a house at the H>at of Government, for the uaa of the Uovernorof the Commonwealth. Tha want of a public uiansiun, has been seriously felt by all who have been culled to occupy tbatoHiciiil station. WbiLsialmust all our sinter States have provided rc^identea fur the ac- commodatiouuf their Chief Magistrate?. I'euusylvnma, for reahOQs net crodltahlato hera.stbQ"KeyatoneState,** has refused to incur tho expense neceaaory fonbe areo- Uuuof buchabuilding. Tbe failure tu pruVide, iu thin manner, for hia accommodatiou, subjects the (ioveruur tu much incunvenieuce, ufteutimea vusatioua aud annuy- ing. A suitable house cannot always be obtained bere, aud in that event he ia comiKsUed to he shut up in tbe rooms of a bote], or crowded wlib bis family intoouue small and obacore dwelltag, alike uutitted (ur dumeaUc cuaifurt, ortbee^bibitiun.of the amenities aod cuuriesles of Bocial life. It should be remembered that thuUovern- or of the Commonwealth Is regarded as tbe representa¬ tive of tbe peuple, socially as well aa poliiicaliy, and therefore he should ba enabled, hy every pruiier appli¬ ance, to represent truly their pociul vtnuea and cuarac- ter. This he canoot do, to the extent desired, on tbe very meagre salary ho receives; and X do not hesitate to attlrm tbatno uue occupying this office can, without drawing largely en his private income, exercise (he huhpilulilies or malDtaio the dignity properly asiMjcialed with the pobiUon. 1 have avuided all useless expendi¬ tures, aad yet the salary received, bus liceu whully In¬ sufficient to defray the expen>es necessarily iucurred. TbU whould not be permitted. Every con»ideralIun of public policy, every hununible impube of proper State pride, rtf<]uire ibnl the Chief Executive Otdcor of tho Commonwealth ahould be pruvided with a suitable rosl- dence, at tbe seat of aovernment, and with a i.alary ad- ciuate to tho cx[)enditure iucideut to his higli official
pUMtioU.
In my Iiibt aonaalcommuoicatloa to the General As- seoibly, my Gentlments were fully expressed iu refereuct to reform in the naturali^ittioo lawn, and the iidmlBsiuo ofnpplicants to the right of citizeDsbiji^tolhe preserva¬ tion of the pnrity of election**, by the preveottun aad puniebment uf frauduleut und illegal vuting; and the enactment of ajudiciuus registry law—to freeilum as the great centre-truth of American Kepublicaoi.'*m—the great law of American nationality—to tbe rights »l the Sintea, us Independent Sovereigoties, und the power and duty uf the lieoarai Goveroment to preveut the exteufioo uf the institution of Slavery tu ihi' free territories uf the Union —to the wrongs of KaoKas, as exhibited in the violation of thS'doctrine of popular sovereignly, by tbe (ieoeral Uuverntneut, in its attempts, by tbe military power of tbe country aud otherwibe, to defeat the will of the ma¬ jority in that territory; wrongs still existing and ag- gravuted by recent uutrai,'es on the righu and privileges of that i>ei<ple, and approved by high XatiouAl lixecutivo authority. To the views then prebested, you are re¬ spectfully referred.
By the expiration of the Constitutional t<?riii, my offi¬ cial cooiiccliOQ with tb« Ouvcrnmeat of the Common¬ wealth will soon cease. The puwerii, under tbe Cuaati- tnUou, verted in me by the people, will be traoafened to another uf (heir own trclecti-iu; and witb my warmest wishes for hi.-; succcmi, 1 will,relieved frum tbe cares aod anxieties uf.ilRcial place, retire to private life, Inthe dischargeof the dunes devolved upuu me, 1 have en¬ deavored t» the extent of my abiUty, to promote the Interests and hcnor of the Cummuuwealtb, and the vlrtoe, (be happioejis aad (>ro^per^ty of barcitizeos. If not Kuccivaful, 1 have at least labored to dei-erve snccess; and io surrendering tho tru.-t commuted to me by a gcoeruufl people, my ooly regret will be, tbat I have not bean able to serve onr noblo Commouweaith with a leal aod ability ei|0al to the Interest I feel lo her progrest and welfare. Whatever uf merit, or demerit may aitach to my atlministratlon, wbutever may be tbe opiuiuus entertained of my c^iodnct ofthe afluirs of Siatrf, I can at least claim from my fellow-ciueurt, with a fnll cuurciuua- nesHuflM right, the awa:d of good inteutiuu. aod will eujuy in my reiiremeut, the proud saiiofaciion of know¬ ing that no act of mine, or my admioleirHiiuu, lo tend¬ ency or lact, iojured or corrupted ihe public morulx, retarded the proi^periiy or tarnished tbe fair fiiffle of my native Slate. 1 will surrender to my successor (he cares aud respuuKlbllities of tbe office 1 nuw bold, with greater cheerfulness ibao 1 aasumed tbem; aod will retorn, without » murmur to tbe society and compaa- ionship of thooe, who can approve without aelfishoeas, and censure only at the bidding uf truth and frieudahlp. Tu the judgment of impartial history I commit my ad- mlnibtrutiou and Its acts, withoat a. fear of the result, ao.i wbeo time shall have eufieued the asperity of part¬ izan feeling—healed the bitterne?i.i of di.-appolntueut and corrected the errors of prejudice, truth will xustaio tho judgmeut and jnstlce approve the record.
Our heluved Commonwealib, rich io all the elements of material grentna'-s, he.- broad aad fertile fields—her lofty mountains, ailed wiih inexbaiistibla mioerat wealth—ber rivers aad her btreama—her internal Im-
provemuni-s, her fnrnaccs, rolling-mills and factorial	
her colleges, academies,'*ud her ouhlenystem of Cotnmon Schools—her churches and charitable institutions ; her popolation, enterprising, energetic, tntelligeat and pros¬ perous—all these are Justly the pride of every true- bearted rennsylvanlan. Ourmighty republic, "the free bean B hope and home," tbe CooBtltutlon aod the Uoiou ofthe Butes—the civil and religioue privileges of the people—the right of conscious and freedom ef worship— tha great and essential principles of llberiy and Jreo govarament, here enjoyed; and oar American Natiunall- ty. founded In a true and single diivuiion to home and country, are objects that fill with pairiutic emotion, tha heart of every American cliltoo. 3Iay ihoy be cberUhed and defended, until patrioii.-'Di ce.•lne-^ to be a virtue aod liberty be known only as a name-
The true glory and KrrtatuesM of a nation consist, not alone in the number, privileges or Intellectual super )ri- ty of her people her m^ieilal wealth or physical streuglh, her pollllcal P>.'>l(bn ..r form of Kovernmeni. "Hlght. eonaness exaltetb a n^lloo, and "happy is that people whoco God is tho Lord." Our fathers trusted ia Him, aod were udi disappointed. Recognizing Him as the a»varelga Kuler o( iValiona and 3fea, lavoklag a eootU- oanea o( H'" watcbfnl care over tho Intacesta of the Commonwealth, and His blessing upon yanr official labors—may yonr acts and the acts of thosa who may focceed QB in the administration of tbe gOTarament, la Ihflfr chanictar aad reaolte, be such ta.patzlotism de¬ mands, and hoBor, tmth and oonsclance can sanction asd approve. JAUES POLLOCK.
EuppTlTfl CHjjattt, Hanlibary, Juaaiy % liOdt