Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1848-01-15
GOyEnNoR,s MESS AGE.
To The Senate and House ef Representatives
?Cthe Commonwealth IF Pennsyipania.
(COucludedl

The policy Of ipco rporating mining, manufac.
turing, transporting and other companies, for
purposes appropriately within indiv idnal compe.
tency, has been fairly discussed and. guided by
the, uHerring demonst rati0ns, that theee enter
prises are most successfully and ben. .ficislly ly
conducted, under the control Of individual re-
spons'bility. ;he public opinion has been expres-
sed IN the spirit Of the see in which we live, a.
ganst the policy. 'ooo. oHo fM 10
While all the great departments Of bnsiness
in the Commonwealth are prosperously conduc-
ted, under free, and equal competition. there
are yet some men, who eeem TO stand still,
while the world ia going onward around them,
and who cherish the ontiquated notion. that the
timid, contracted and selfish aggregation Of
| wealth. under the protection Of corporated pr.
vhegrs, is preferable for the transact on Of bus.
ness. to the tree ardent and bounding capabilities
Of Individual enterprise "a power since vii.
fmm Penn arrived on these shores, in 1852 has
changed an immense wilderness into fruitful
fields. and hss, in this march of civilization and
| improvement, provided for the wants, :he com.
fort, ttre education and refinement. of two mil.
lions of free people. What have corporations
done in this great achievement! Where are
1hc trophies Of their generous spirit, their voluc
or their utility! They arc behind the times
they belong to an age that is past The time
/ vi
tbe penple were usurped bv tespotic govern
mpnts. when grant by the king 70 portion Of
his subjects Of coroporsie privileges. IN carry
on trade. or tor municipal purposes, was a par.
tiaI enfranchisement, and made the means of re.
suming some ri their civil rights. Then ard
there corporations had merits and were cher.
ished by the friends Of l.beriy. But, in this age
and country. under our free system. where the
people are sovereign 70 grant special privileges,
il ia an inversion of the oF.ier Of things II is
not TO restore, but to take away from the people.
their common rights. and give them to q few.
1t is 10 90 back to the dark ages for insvnc ION
in the science of government. and having found
an example, to wrest it from it's original purpose.
and 10 make it the instrument Of restoring the
inequality and despotism, which its introduc
tion tended 10 correct
The talacy that where large investments
are required to carry on profitable business,
(and corpnr ators do not associate fnr that which
is unproft ablc,) individual means are made
quste, is everywhere refuted in this happy
country. .Hg .tt.s.. i..
Further. by cherishing any particular busi.
ness. and surrounding II with special privileges
the natural law, which secures 10 every branch
OF business it's appropriate encouragement and
reward, is violated. Cnder this law, so kindly
provided by II m who rules all things, every nd.
vldual man, untrammeled BY the curses Of bad
government, guided by his moral and inellectu.
al powers and his religious principle. advances
his own happiness and improves his own condi.
tion and. thus, the happiness and prosperity of
all are promoted. Every effort TO modify or
subvert this sovereign law, by placing classes.
professions or callings beyond its control, has
hitherto, and ever will, like every other trans.
gression. be destructive Of good If our free
INSTITUTIONS are right-tf it is right that all men
should be he'd equal--if this is the law OF our
nature, enstamped by Him who made ia. then
every human law which imPairs equally, is
radically and n,rnsically wrong.
The Report Of the Canal Commissioners will
furnish infora,ston, in detail, in regard to the
public works. notwithstanding the interrup.
tons OF business experienced during tie year
the gratifying result is presented. OF large in
cresee oftolls over any preceding year. The
increased and increasing value OF these grea'
works, render them an object worthy Of pc
cullar care and protection; aud must, forever
! negative the ides Of the State surrendering th.
control over them, TO a corporation.
The Pennsy lvania railroad company. have
commenced the construction of their road, be
tween this place and the city Of Pittsburg, un
der very favorable auspices. The Eastern di
vision is now under contract rs far as Lewis
town. and il is expected the remaining PORTO,
OF 1t, as tar as H"lldaysburg. will be put nnde
contract during the ensuing Spring. The com
pletion Of this great public work, even to Holli
davsbUrg. will augment the trade and trave
upon the Philadelphia and Columbs road. Thi
prospective increase of business, urges the ne
: cessity Of considering the means of ayoidiu.
the inclined plane, at the Schuylkili.
As the Philadelphia and Columbia railroad
! ia In ttx,nn mt NIB
: line OF our public improvements, as well as ih
: North and West Sraach canals, with the CON
merciai metropolis Of the state. and upon IN
control aud mansgP cement OF which the value G
cur canals mainly depend, every thing whic
relates to it. lis o the highest concern to the in
teresI Of he rmmonwealth. IN adopting mea
sures Ia change its route, eo as to reach th
. city without passing the inclined plane, th
greatest circumspecton and care should be oil
! served, to secure the best location pract;cabl,
: and to protect the State against exor5itar
|. claims im dsmsges. M change OF locato
should he ssuct,ohed, until the " hole aues,io
]. is carefully examined, by one or more OF ih
y most competent engineers, who are en,ire'
:. free from al interest in the decision. Und,
b no circumstances, shonld any plan ar srrsng
= ment be entertained, by which the States won
>. for a single moment, be deprived Of the owne
Is ship and entire control Of the road.
, The report Of the Auditor General, and Sta
Treasurer. present, in detail. the financial ope
:" atoms Of the yeur; and itake pleasure in sa
;. ing. that the industry, ability, and fidelity, wi
of which these departments have been admlnisie
:, cd. are deserving of the highest connnendsia
Of The Commonwealth has heretofore sustsin,
~ many losses, by the delay OF the settlement
accounts. and the omission 10 enforce the pa
ment Of tho balances found due when settle