The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1841-01-16
Governors Megsag ge,


senfatsves Of the Commonwealth Of
Pennsylvania.
FELLow C1rIzENs:--Among the va
rious duties enjoined by the Consti,u-
ton on the Executive magistrate, none
is more important and more frequent
ly perplexing, than that of"givng TO
the General Assembly information Of
tke state Of the Commonwealth, and
recommending 10 their consideration,
such measures as he should judge ex-
padient." On this occasion am hap
pily relieved from much of the ankle
ty and embarrassment attendant upon
the discharge ofthis duty, by referring
your attention TO the annual message
which | had the honor 10 transmit to
the Legislature on the Sth day Of
January last In that messuge, felt
it to be my imperative duty, to enter
into full and elaborate exposition of
my views on several deeply interest
ing subjects connected with the public
welfare, and especially on the subjects
Of the internal improvements Of the
Commonwealth, the public debt, and
the reformation of the banking system.
In regard 10 these leading questions of
vital interest, and the numerous suber-
dinate matters intimately associated
and blended with them, can add very
little to the opinions expressed, and
the commentators made in the mes
sage TO which have just referred you.
The experience Of the past year, has
not only confirmed, but strengthened
my conviction Of the justice and pro-
prie,y of those opinions and recon-
mendations; the people at large with
unexampled unanlmity have approved
them, and | earnestly invite your care
ful deliberation. as did that of the
last Legislature, upon those portions
ofthe message, to which you will find
convenient access upon your journals.
So far az respects the reform Of the
banking system, Iperceve no nreeesi'y
for changing or modifying, in any es-
sential particular, the recommendation
therein contained; and | now here res
pectfnlly, but earnestly recommend
the adoption Of the recommendation
! then made on this subject, and trust
that the present Legislature will not
separate, until they shall have made
searching and thorough reform of the
imperlections and manifold abuses of
the present system. To me it had
been subject of deep regret, that my
recommendations on that subject, did
not meet the appreciation Of tine last
Legislature, persuaded as am, that
the most beneficial influences would
have resulted from their adoption. 1t
is not, however, too late to apply the
remedy still, and again recommend,
with anxious earnes.ness, those meas
ures for reforming the abuses Of the
banking systsm, to your early alten-
,on.
The assumption of specie payments
on the part Of the banks, which con-
stituted year ago such formidable
portion Of the difficulty in the way Of
efficient legislation, is about TO be con-
sutnated, without your active interfer-
ence at all. Under the resolution pass
ed on the Sd day of April last, those
institutions are required on and after
the 18th day of January inst. to pay
on demand all their notes, bills, de-
positcs, and other liabilities, IN gold or
silver coin, on penalty Of the forfeit
ure Of their charters, upon certain con-
dtions set forth in said resolutions. 1t
affords me great pleasure to state, that
although the day fixed fer the resump-
ton was more remote than wished at
the time, yet the period Of indulgence
has nearly passed away, aud there is
uow good ground to believe, that the
banks of this Commonwealth will, as
they are required TO do, be prepared
again to discharge their liabilities in
specie. Should they do so, by con-
tinulng strictly 10 observe the law, ana
by fulfilling the just expectations of the
y public, they may regain the confidence
which they have hitherto lost, and
more particularly may they do this, if
proper measures be adopted for the
better regulation aud control of their
operations. One Of the most imme-
date advantages resulting to the COM
munity, from The resumption Of specie