Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-01-14

refer with much satisfaction, TO the reports
ef the Auditor General and State Treasurer =
They exhibit in detail the condition of the finan
eqs Of the State, and show the laudable indus
try and intelligent care which these officers have
employed in the discharge of their important
and laborous duties
Before the passage of the act Of Assembly o.
last session, which transferred to the county ir
which the crime may have been committed. paw.
naeni of expenses for arresting fugtives from
Justice, the State had become liable to various
agents, duly authorized, To an inconsiderabe
amount This liability could not be met, be-
cause no appropriation was made for that pur-
pose. The individuals interested in this matter
are Justly entitled to remuneration. and | res
recifully recommend that an appropriation be
made 10 liquidate their claims. The amount
will be laid before YOU bv the Auditor General.
In consequence of the engagements of the
Adjutant General in the organization of the VOL
uneers for the service of The United States in
The war with Mexico, his annual report upon
our military affairs has not yet been received );
as soon as it comes TO hand il will be transmit
led to the General Assembly.
The Act OF the Goth of March, 1886, provided
for the appointment and compensation of State
Geologist and his assistants, and a competent
practical, analytical, and experimental chemist
for the purpose of making accurate geologi-
cal and neurological survey of the State, with
view TO determine the order, succession, ar
rahgemeni, relative position, and the dip or in
clination, and the comparative magnitude of the
several geological formations within the State.
and to discover and examine all deposites of
ores, Goals, claws, marbles and such other min
eral substances as may be deemed useful or val
liable The State Geologist was required 10
make annual reports of the progress OF the sur
yey--lo cause 10 be represented on the map of
the Commonwealth, hy colols aud other appro-
PIRATE means, the various areas occupied by the
different geological formations in the State, and
10 mark thereon the localities Of the respective
ceposiies of the various mineral substances dis
covered. 1t is made the duty of the chemist to
make full and complete examinations, assays,
and analyses of all such rocks, ores, soils, min
era substances and mineral waters, as may be
submitted to him by the geoogist. and to fur
mish him with detailed and complete account
of the results so obtained. 1t was also made
the duty. among other things, of the State &C.
ologist, upon the completion Of the survey, to
compile memoir Of the geology and mineralo-
gy of the State, comprising complete account
OF the leading subjects and discoveries embraced
in the survey.
In pursuance Of this act. a State Geologist
and his assistants. &c, were appointed, who
proceeded with the work, and the State eXpen-
ded upon it the sum of S76,657 81. A number
of annual reports were made, as provided by
law; but the main object of the Legislature, the
publication of complete memoir of the survey, |
exhibiting the results of the examinations, and |
embodylng for the use of the public the vast |
sum of information. for which so large an
amount of public money was expended, has not |
vet been accomplished. 1t appears TO me that
this subject is of sufficient importance to secure
Legislative consideration
Frequent complaints have for years been
made by the people, of the time consumed in the
Legislature by the passage OF private and local
bills, which greatly increase the business and
create subjects for repeal and amendment
MANY laws arc thus enacted which appear to be
regarded as of little conquence or value, for of
The acts of the last session; forty three remain
in the Office of the Secretary of the Common
wealth, which have neither been enrolled nor
printed, because of the small amount of tax to
which they are subject by the act of the 10th of
April, ls45, has not been paid into the State
Treasury Thus, after the time in preparing
and passing these bills has been consumed, and
the cost of printing and transcribing them has
been incurred, they are suffered to remain in the
office, useless and neglected. This proves that
much private Legislation could be proitably dis
pensed with, and the time il occupies devoted
TO subjects of general legislation, by which the
duration of the session would be shortened. and
the expenses of the government greatly dimn-
ished.
The progressive increase of the number of
divorces granted by the Legislature, forces this
subject upon the consideration of the General |
Assembly. 1t appears 10 be the settled policy
of this State, to provide by law for the dissolu-
ton of the marriage contract for other causes |
than adultery. These causes are enumerated |
in the Act of the 18th Of March, 1915 They |
embrace wide range, and seem to provide for |
all the grievances that may arise in this inter- |
estng relation, which require legal interposi- |
ton.
Special acts OF the Legislature for disturbing |
the contract between husband and wife, are cal |
culated to arrest the attention Of every good cit
izen, when it is remembered that the disregard |
of marriage vows, and facilities for releasing |
parties from their obligation, are Justly regar-
ded as strong indications of degeneracy in pub
lie virtue and public morals; and that high re-
gard of martial rights, and a sacred observance
Of marriage contracts, are among the strongest
proofs of the progress of civilization and of the |
influence of true religion.
The preamble OF the act of 1915, commends |
itself TO our approval by the wisdom and apt |
ness for which il is distinguished. The Legis- !
lature there say, "Whereas. the divine precepts |
of the Christian religion the promotion OF the |
hest interests of human happiness, the design
of marriage, and the object of parties entering
into the marriage state, require that it should
continue during their joint lives"
These salutary truths, so well expressed, pre-
sent, in imposing terms. the duty of extreme
caution in interfering with the sanctity of the
marriage contract.