Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-01-14
Governors Annual MESSAGE:

! 90V0r201S 8 annual MeS6d&6;
To the Honorable the Senators and Mem.
bers of the House of Representatives Of
the General Assembly of Pennsylvania
Fellow Citizens In the abundance Of
our harvests, the universal health Of cur
people, and the maintainance cf peace
and individual and social prosperity, arc
to be found new motives Of gratitude tc
the Father Of Mercies, who holds our des-
TIMES in His hands That grateful homage;
the acknowledgment of our dependence on
His almighty will, it becomes US most
cheerfuly to render.
Never in the history Of our Commonw'ltk
has there been period of more prosperous
tranquility. The citizens of the State, aside
from other sources Of contentment, have AZ
last realized that 4 cause Of disquet, which
has for the last twenty five years oppressed
them, is about to be removed A beginning
has been made in the practical Equidasior
of the public debt.
On the Is; Dec 1913 the amount
of the public debt was $40, 81, ,379 81
On the lst Dec 1851 the
public debt was $40, ,114,236 SO
Thus, within the last three years, there
has been effected reduction of upwards Of
seven hundred thousand dollars Of indebt-
edness, without impairing the efficiency Of
the public works, or retarding any plans
of practical beneyoleuee, such - tho
Legislature, according to policy Of wise
economy, have thought proper to authorize.
/ do not hesitate to attribute this impor-
tant result to the successful operation Of
the efficient and real sinking fund system,
established by the act of the 10th April,
A. D. lSf5. The detailed Transaction. Of
the commissioners Of the fund will appear
in their report, to be submitted to the
Legislature.
This system, copied in its leading fea:
lures from that which was established in
the early years Of our history, for the
extinguishmen; of the national debt, has
worked admirably. While there car bs
no precipitated cancellation Of public
securities, such as would derange and disturb
our monetary relations, neither can there
be, under the present law. any such accu-
mutation of stocks il the hands Of the
as to tempt or permit the
application of the fund, under any scciden.
tai emergency, to other purpose tkau that
for which it is set apart. Pledged to che
payment of the public debt, i. must BE-
sacredly regarded. The creation of thie
fund, and the adoption Of the system of
making no loars. unless provisions for
their liquidation be made iu tho laws
them, have already exercised
, moral influence on the public policy
Like the protective system m national
legislation, though by another process,
hey prevent the Representatives Of the
people from heedlessly incurring new debts;
hey make the payment Of the public debt
part of the fixed policy Of the State;
which no one will be willing to disavow or
,isturb they interfere with 20 extensior
If public improvements or expenditures
or bene6cen. purposes. The first appli-
,ation of surplus revenue is to bay Z
portion of the State debt, tho next to
'xtcnd and maintain such objects of public
Improvement as will, when completed.
Increase actual revenu, and diffuse sctusily
he greatest good. To maintain that sys--
en- Of financial policy, which has for its
'bject the cralual ard certain extingrish.-
nent Of the public debt, is as well the.
!uty as it viii be doubtless the earnse,
lesire of the General Assembly.
Believing that the revenues of the
Commonwealth, if properly guardej, are
ldequately sufficient for both objects-ths'
OF the debt and the completion oi
be public improvements-I again ans
aruestly press on the attention Of the
legislature the claims of that great section
f the State lying on the North BrancL, o.
he Susquehanna. The North Branch Canaa
ught to be finished without further delay.
is completion would insure Increased
evenue to the Treasury, and would &c .
imple ac. Of justice to large portion of
he people interested IL its construction
The propriety Of calling upon the
National Government for portion Of tbs
ublic lands in aid of the several great Enss
f railway communication within or bor..
ers, is again suggested and urged srsw
our fsvossbls considerstion..