Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1848-01-15


lances of long standing, embracing The terms Of
several administrations --This has, in many in.
stances, produced cases Of extreme hardship
uioB bail, smne Of whom have been compelled
10 pay the balances found due, with the accu.
mulatcd int rect, afler The insolvency of their
principles and co.surtties.
] am gra''fed in being able 10 say, that the
hOsinees imposed upon the accounting officers,
by Especial act OF assembly. in coliectipg these
old debts. has not only oeen faithfully performed
but that the current business has been prompt
ly attended TO-, and kept up To enable the
Auditor Gennral, however. TO continue to do
full instice TO the interests oft S,aie. and all
concerned. in liberal provision should be n,ade
to pay additional clerk hire. .......t
While on this subject. would respectfully
invite attention to the organization OF the off.
cps Of the Auditor Generai and State Treasurer, :,
to ascertain whether the regulations and checks
existing. are sufficient in ell respects, to secure
proper accountability, aat protect the in,e.
rests o! the Commonwealth. IL is true, that
the public has for many years sustained no los.
ses by the Treasury, but, apprehend that the
faithiulness OF the agents, having charge of
these departments, and not the checks provided
by the law. has produced this result. THIS is a
propitous period for insti,nting an examination
Of the subject. particularly ne the present wo..
Thy officers hold so large a share OF the public
confidence. Since the establishment Of The
present system, the fnsnces of the stale have
increased from a few hundred thousands. to near.
iy four millions Of dollars. annually. The tcgu.
latone and checks which were then considered
sufficient, may now be inadequate to protect the
interests of the Common wealth, in lie enlarged
and increasing financial operations. 't,.f
The Auditor Generals office, to be on eff.
cient check upon the Treasury. should be so
organz,d. that the Auditor General might
know, at all times, the condition of the Treasu.
ry, from the books n. his own Office, wthou, be-.
ing dep nd' nj on those Of the Treasury. lf
errors or omissions exist in the Treasury. the
Auditor Generals books should detect and cor.
rect them. This is not the case under the pre-
sent organization and mode of doing business,
in the two Offices.
Il also occnls IN me, that greater secarity a.
ginst the miscpplicauon of moneys in the Trea.
sury. and no deposit in the banks To the cvedit
of the Treasurer, should be provided by the TO-.
stiiuiion Of some check upon his drafts and pay
ments. The moneys OF the Commonw al,h. on
dpposite 10 the credit Of the Treasurer, varying
in amount for snme months in the year. from
four hundred Thousand, To near million OF dol.
lars, are subject to his draft alone, while he Is
only required 10 give security in the sum of
eighty thousand doilnrs. Thus u very great md
dangerous power is corfided 10 one man.
]. therefore, suggest the propriety Of requi-
ring the Auditor General to countersign nll
drafts for the paymen, OF money drawn 10y the
Treasury, on the repositories, or for transfer
ring monies from one depository to another
The report of the Adjn'an, General, exhibits
the number o. the militia of the Commonwealth,
as well us the arm, and military stores.
This detail shows the elements Of military
power Of the Common nwealth-,he strength o'
Republican Government. The experience OF
the last few years, has added proofs 10 the value
of this institution, and presents the subject. as
one OF great Importance, 10 the care and super
vision of the Legislature.
The report of the Superintendent Of Common
Schools. exhibits fnlI view Of the progress and
steady advancement, Of our admirable system
Of Common School instruction. which is diffn
sing it's bl. ssings to the rising generation, and
strengthens all our free institutions. The man
who loves his race cannot find more delight
fui subiec, Of contemplation, than this univer.
sal provision for the education Of oil the chill.
dren Of the Commonwealth; and thus armine
them with knowledge ard power, and fitting
them for maints ming the rank and dignity o
freemen. The perfection OF the system, ia one
NJ the noblest objects OF legislation md will Sc
cure the early and continued attention Of the
General Assembly. af ~H 1i .a.a.
Y"u are respectfully referred 10 the report o.
the Surveyor General, for information in rela
tion 10 The operations Of the Land Office. during
the past year. by which II will be seen, the re
ceipts into the Treasury, from that source, have
been increased. r a.aa. .
The fiual Geological report. now finished sno
ready for the press has been deposited by Hen
ry ID. Rogers. Eco. The State Geologist, will
the Secretary OF the Commonwealth. This re-
port is represented 10 contain general and sci
entlfic view Of ell the Rocky strata, md thei
oontents--heir order OF arrangement, and tn,
| region ot country they occupy. and representing
in detail. the situation OF every layer ot Ccal
every important vein and bed of iron ore, an,
every other mineral tepositc, of utility, within
the state. The state has expended large sum
in collecting the materials, and information
contained in this elsborate and extensive re
port, which will be in great degree, lost, unes
| Il is published. ] therefore, recommend III
subject Of publication to the early attention G
The Legislature. "a s5.t.. r...- r
The rights OF properly Of married womer
present, in my opinion, a proper subject of IL
gisative consideration. BY our laws. the hu.
hand upon manisge. possesses the power OF bs
coming the absolute owner of the personal e'
tate OF his wife, by reducing it into possession
and when he thus acquires this ownership, b
may dispose of II by will, at his death, To who'
he peases. She has the privilege, by law.
renounciug the estate or property devised {
bequesthed 10 her by will; and upon snch T,
nuncia,ion, she is entitled TO dover OF her hu
: bands real estate, OF which he died seized. TT
: wife has no control of her own personal es;a'
or ot hist Of her husband during the marriaP
unless 1t be an ex,or,ed allowance Tor nscess