The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-01-11

General Assembly. The volume oflaws
for 1874 contains no acts of this charac-
tor Each law embraces but single
subject, and that indicated by its proper
title. ~.
The 55th section of the act providing
for the expenses of Government for 1893,
authorized and required the Governor to
sell the State arsenal at Philadelphia, and
apply the proceeds of such sale towards
the purchase Of another site and the erec-
ton of new building; and restricting the
expenditure to the sum received for the
old property. The building and lot were
readily sold for $4,000. The selection
of new location, and the erection of an
other building, presented far more diff
icult task. readily discovered that the
sum thus appropriated was entirely mad
equate to accomplish the end in view
The price of similar location would
leave but a meagre sum with which to E.
rect the building. Under all circum-
stances, l have not felt authorized to at
tempt to carry out the law, and would
respectfully suggest the propriety of in
creasing the appropriation for the pur-
pose.
The report of the present able and encr-
getic Adjutant general will inform you OF
the condition of the military affairs of the
State. This department of public affairs
regret to say, has been in a confused and de-
cining condition for several years.
The public Librarian has called my atten-
ton to the fact, that the law reports OF twen-
ty-two other States have been regularly re-
ceved by this, and that no provision has ever
been made, on our part, to reclprocate thls
courtesy and generosity. ! respectfully sug-
gest the propriety of authorizing some OIL
GERS oc the Government to procure the neces-
sary copies of the Pennsylvania reports to
supply those States who have so generously
added to our library.
The registration act, | respectfully sug-
rest. has essentially failed to accomplish the
end designed, and should be repealed or d
mended. record so incomplete and inPer-
feet can DO no good; but may really do harm
1t has already cost the State about sb20,OUU
to which there must be annually additions
The object is a desirable one, but | am con-
6.Ient It can never be attained by the mode
contemplated in this law. 1t is subject Of
constant complaint by registers and physl-
clans, and only such registration is made az
is compulsory, in order to legalIze letters ol
administration.
By the 9th section of the appropriation
law of last session the Secretary OF the Com
monweulth was authorized to continue the
publication of the Archives to the year 17SO
Under this authority the selection OF docu'
ments from 1888 to 1880 has been made, and
the tenth volume, containing this matter, vii
{ be ready for distribution before the close o.
the session. Two additional volumes vii
complete the work as originally designed.
The councils of Philadelphia, by au ord
nance passed in October, 1852, dedicated the
necessary ground in Independence Square, tt
the erection of monument commemorative
of the Declaration Of Independence; and ten
dered the possession of the premises to the
/ representatives Of nine or more Of the Crlgln
: al States.
Since that time, the States Of New York
| New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island
u Connecticut Georgia and Pennsylvania have
signified their willingness to accept the prop
: osition OIL the terms indicated by the councils
] and to participate in this patriotic work
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the tw'
Carolnas, have taken no action on the sub
, ject
r | canno. refrain from again expressin.
: my unabated solicitude for the success o
D this movement. If American history fur
: nishes single event worthy of common
! Grafton by monument, the Declaration o
independence is that event. In mora
y grandeur it is without parallel, an
0 stands above all others for the mighty in
Rucncc which it has exelted upon the Pc
litical, religious and social condition c
: mankind 1t has been Justly said, it ush
cred in a new member into the family c
nations and electrified all Europe. 1t G
/ pened new revelations of liberty, an
: changed the relations of people and gov
= ernment, by teaching the one how to re
> sist and conquer oppression, and the 9th
= er the absolute necessity to It's own con
tinuance, of recognizing and respectln
the rights of humanity. From that tim
. forth, new, vital and quickening spiri
~ has pervaded the world. Thrones hav
, been shaken, empires have been over
i turned, society has been convulsed, bloc
and carnage have desolated the eartf
= but still the intelligence and souls OF tn
:, people of all Christendom have been S
yiviticd, elevated and expanded, to com
prehension of their rights, as will neve
be obliterated or forgotten; but will ad
vance, enlarge and increase, until tha
- moral and social preparation for the az
;, probation and enjoyment of liberty sha
be effected, which, in the divine econom
- is so indispensable to the permanence c
free institutions.
te As the third generation of that poster
ity, for whom the men of the revolutio
d chiefly labored and suffered, and died,
r is peculiarly fitting that we should ere'
l. such presentations of their great an
IS controlling acts as shall speak to our ow
l hearts, to our children's hearts, and sha
at testify to God and the world, that we al
preciate and reverence, and would cult
IN vate and disseminate the mighty trutl
ls and principles which brought our natio
r into existence, which constitute its ver
m life. and of which it seems DESIGNATED b