Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-07
PENNSYLVANIA.

The Legislature of Pennsylvania met and wa
organized on Tuesday last. E B. CHASE was elect
ed Speaker of the House Of Representatives, anC
Mr. McCAsLIN President of the Senate.
The Message of Governor BIGLER was laid be
fore the Legislature yesterday In relation to the
Railroad troubles at Erie the Governor takes ground
in favor of the people of Erie, and asks the Legs
laure to take the subject into immediate consdera
ton. The Governor says:
alt must be clear impartial observer that the Le
pature never contemplated intended to authorize the
construction of the railroad between Erie and the Ohio
line The highest judicial tribunal in the State has
pressed the opinion that such authority be found
in the charter of the Franklin canal My opinion is the
grant should hereafter be made such conditions only
as will protect and advance the interests Of the people
Pennsylvania far they may be involved in the sub
ject 1t happens that Pennsylvania holds the key to
this important connexon between the East and the West
and most unhesatingy say, where principle of
merce violated is the right and the duty of the State
to turn her natural advantages to the promotion of the
views and welfare of her people. 1t may be said
that the restriction that would require break of rail-
road gauge at the habor Of Erie would be the Of
illbera principle The is, the necessity for the
break of gauge between the Ohio line and the seabosr
exists as consequence of difference in width of the New
York and Ohio roads The only question be settled
relates to the point at which it should occur l have
been able to discover reasons well founded why the
break should be fixed at Buffalo that do not apply with
equal force in favor of Erie Tonnage and passengers
city"
The Message then goes on to speak Of the finances
and public works 1t shows that the total funded debt of
the State to $40 22 235 The receipts at
the treasury for the year ls5 exclusive of loans and
eludng the actual balance in the treasury the lst Of
December, 1882 beng 67l ,0s7, amounted to the sum
Of &c. 474 The payments for the period, ex-
elusive Of loans and other extraordinary expenditures
make total of $il3404S, being 81, ,SlS325 less
than he is
the commissioners Of the sinking fund and $685. to-
wards the payment Of old debts and the construction of
work the North Branch Canal and Portage Rail
road -a"
The receipts for the year 1854 including the balance
in the treasury the 1st of December 1853 may be
safely estimated at $5 S46 AL The expenditures for
the PERIOD including $3.50 900 for the payment of
old debts the public works and 100000 for the sink
ing fund.- should exceed the Of S4 5OO0O leay
ing balance in the treasury the lst Of December
1854 of ST. 340417 Deductng from this $625, ,COO the
amount that should remain in the treasury to meet the
interest due February 1855 and there will be surplus
revenue of over 100000
The operations the public works for the year just
closed do not present very atterng picture far as
relates to nett revenue The aggregate amount Of bust
was larger by twenty per cent than that Of any for
year. and the gross receipts amounted the sum of
932 495, being of but $34 CS3 the
cepts of 1852 This increase Of tonnage wthou, cor
responding increase of receipts is the consequence Of
very great reduction in the rates of tolls ....
The message fully discusses the sale and management
of the public works The effect is to show that nothing
can be made by sale, except the difference between the
expenses of individual and State management and as
that with proper management the nett profits
be made equal to twenty millions Of the State bonds
On the currency the message assumes the ground that
the banking capital is sufficient that small paper should
be gradually withdrawn the greatest practical reform
that be applied to system of currency and sug
gests the idea of National Convention to promote the
object .m, .... @~.a a..
The Governor says positively that he could not give his
assent to the of improvements by the
State and urges that all surplus should be ap
piled toward the payment of the debt.
The common schools and all the charitable and bene-
VIOLENT institutions commended to the of the Le-
ria nt1ra