The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-01-15
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
70 the Honorable the Senator's and Members Of the
House Of Representatives. cftts General assembly;
FELLow-CIrIzExs In the abundance Of the
larvests. the universal health Of our people, and
die maintenance Of peace, and individual and
s2cial prosperity, are to be found new motives
# gratitude to the Father of Mercies, who holds
our destnies in his hands. The grateful homage,
the acknowledgement Of our dependence on his
Almighty VIII, it becomes US most cheerfuny TO
render.
Never in the history of the Commonwe ealth,
has there been period of more prosperous
tranquility. The citizens of the State, aside
from other sources of contentment have at last
realized that q cause of disquiet, which mas for
the last twenty-five years oppressed them, is
shout to be removed. A beginning has been
made in the practical liquidation of the public
debt
Ulthe lst Of December, 1848, the
amount of the public debt was, $40, s42, ,379 81
1851, 40, III, 23G 80
Thus, within the last three years, there has
Ueen effected q reduction of upwards of seven
hundred thousand dollars of Indebtedness, with
out imPairing the efficiency Of the public works,
Or retarding any plans of practical bencfcence,
such as the Legislature, according to policy of
wise economy have thought proper to authorize.
l do not hesitate to attribute this important
result to the successful operation of the efficient
and real sinking fund system, established by the
oct Of the 10th April \. D., I849. The detailed
transactions Of the commissioners of the fund
vii appear in their report, to be submitted to
the Legislature.
This system, copied in its leading features
iFom that which was established in the early
years Of our history, for the extinguishment of
the national debt, has worked admirably While
there can be no precipitate cancellation of public
securities, such as would derange and disturb
our monetary relations, neither can there be,
under the present law, any such accumulation Of
Stocks IN the hands of the Commissioners as tc
Tempt or permit the application of the fund
under any accidental emergency, to other pur,
poses than that for which it is set apart
1'elged to the payment of the public debt, i
must be sacredly regarded. The creation o
lis fund, and the adoption of the system o
making no loans, unless provision for their liqui
-uon be made in the laws authorizing them
nave already exercised a moral influence on pub
~' policy. Like the protective system in nation
legislation, though by another process, they
prevent the representatives of the people from
Jol4-
payment Of the public debt part of the fixed
P'-cy OF the State, which no one will be willing
uSa'oW or disturb; they interfere with no
''''sloh Of public Improvements or expenditures
OsAencent purposes. The first application
P'us revenue is to pay portion of the
ueoN The next to extend and maintain such
'''.S ol public Improvement as will, when
- t-e'eu' increase actual revenue and diffuse
e'e1'est good. To maintain that system OF
--'llI policy which has for its object the
LA ana certain extinguishment of the pub
ueof Is as well the duty as it will be doubt.
d. earnest desire of the General Assembly
''iiS that the revenues of the Common.
to-. II properly guarded, are adequately suf.
an5a. 'O'h opJects-the payment of the deb
Io,,t- p4euon Of the public improvements
bsTo..- -o earnestly press on the attention o.
of - slsa'ure the claims of that great section
S1s,,,.1 '''e lying on the North Branch of the
ba -'Lna' The North Branch Canal ough
ple,ioa '--2leo without further delay. Its com
Tre,sn. 'Ould insure increased revenue to the
toaI.-! toI!' and would be simple act of Justice
egDstrn. portion of the people interested in it.
Govsr.t -Opllety Of calling upon the Nationa
aid ofI 'sii' Tor portion of the public lands il
uluDo... several great lines of railway com
gestas LII within our borders, is again suc
ton anu urged upon your favorable considera
Prove existing and completed internal i'm
of,bs. ofeh'S Of the State, or rather to the mod
Tbc,a :, administration, invite special attention
4 II some radical defects which ,oo