Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-01-09

i
sold Sealed proposals for the sale or lease OF
the main line,'' Were subsequently invited, as
directed by the 18th section OF the said act,
and the proposals received are herewith sub
mitted to the legislature for their action and
final disposition.
Having on former occasion presented my
views of the propriety and policy of sale of
| this branch:of our public improvements, a re-
] petition of the sentiments then expressed be-
| comes unnecessary. In relation TO this sub
| iect my opinion has not changed. The ex-
! perience of the past and careful examination
| of the question in its c Inomical and political
/ relations, have strength tned and confirmed it.
That the State should, long since, have been
| separated from the management and control
of these works, the history of their construc-
tion and management clearly demonstrates
| Public policy and public sentiment demand
| this separation and every consideration OF
| present and future interest requires their sale.
| The late financial e II nbarrassments ofthe coun-
| try-the imperfect character of some of the
| provisions OF the bill anthorising the sale, to-
/ gether with the adverse influence of rival in
| terests defeated the recent attempt TO SELL
| These difficulties have been, or can be, reno
we'd; aud sale yet effected OF terms amply
protective of the rights and interests of the
people, and at the same time just and liberal
/ to the purhasers.
To reduce the State debt and relieve the
! people from taxation, objects worthy the
| earnest anu anxious CONSIDERATION OF tue be-
gislature. To accomplish these objects spec
| dily and certainly, a sale of the whole or part
! of our public improvements becomes impor-
| tant and necessary. The revenues of the
| State under the present system of management
| of the public works, are but little more than
| sufficient to pay the interest of her debt, and
| the ordinary expenses of the government. a
| sale of these works, for fair consideration,
and upon terms just and LIBERAL would consti-
| tute beginning in the process OF liquidation,
| that would free our Comm monwealth from debt
and her people from consequent taxation. In
| every measure calculated to produce these de-
| sirablc results, / will cheerfully cooperate
with the Legislature.
! The currency of the State, in its relation to
banking institutions, and their increase, is
| subject that demands careful and intelligent
consideration. From the notice given of nu-
merous intended applications to the Legisla-
| ture for new banks, and an increase Of bank
| ing capital, this subject will doubtless he PIE
| sented to, aud strongly urged upon your at
| tention. Shall the number of banks and the
amount OF banking capital be increased and
| if so 10 what extent, and in what localities
are questions of absorbing public interest.
Without desiring to assume general and
uncomprom ising hostility to all banks, or to
an increase of banking capital, l cannot dis
cover the necessity that requires, or the cir
cumstances that would justify the incorpora
| ton of all that may be demanded from Legis
| lature. The incorporation Of new, or the re-
| charter Of old and solvent banks, when lndiS-
| pensably necessary and clearly demanded by
| the actual business wants OF the community
in which they may be located, should not be
refused; under no ether circumstances should
| their incorporation be permitted.
! The necessity of increasing the number of
| banks should be determined more by the actu-
! al wants Of legitimate trade, than the number
| of applications and the wild fancies of stock
| oh nd SuilaU n
| necessary expansion of the currency should
| be avoided, and whatever tends to produce
! such a result ought to be disceuntenanced and
| prevented. In the creation of banks the true
interests of the State and people should be
consulted; and just and honest discrimina-
ton, as to number, locality and the demands
| of trade, be exercised By their representatives,.
Public sentiment does not demand, nor do
public or private interests require, the crea-
ton of numerous banks.
In the present condition of the finances, and
! in aid Of the revenue of the State, Gin addition
to the taxes imposed by law,) 4 reasona-
bic premium should be required to be paid by
| all banks saving institutions that may here
after be chartered or re-chartered by the
Legislature.
As appropriate to this subiect, and intimate
| ly connected with it, | cannot forbear to express
my disapprobation ofa practice, that has here
tofore obtained to some extent, Of using the
| names of members of the Legislature corpo-
rators in bills pending before them for the iEcor-
poration of banks and other companies. Such
practice is perncious, and cannot be too
strongly condemned. 1t perils the ndepend-
ence of the Legisator-exposesh him TO unjust
suspicious, and stamps with selfshneSS, at
least, his Legislative action in the PREMISES
Legislation should be free, even from uhe ap-
pearance of improper motive; and every un-
due and corrupting influence, inside or out
side of the Legislative Halls, should be resist
sd and condemned.
1t is cause of more than ordinary congrat-
ulation, that agriculture, the first as it is the
noblest pursuit of man, has in its progress
of development, vindicated its own importance
and assumed, in public esteem, the honorable
position to which 1t is so justly entitled. Con-
stitutlng, as it does the substratum of our
great mechanical, manufacturing and CONNER
cial interests, it should ever be regarded as the
chief source of State and National prosperity.
| First in necessity, it is the highest in useful
ness Of all the departments of labor, sustain
ing and promoting, in their varied and multi
piled relations, all the other industrial inter-
estS of the country. Our financial and COM
mercial prosperity is largely dependent upon
the success of agricultural industry.
An interest so important should receive the
encouragement of all classes of society. No
longer mere art-an exertion of physical
strength-it has reached the dignity of sci
ence and to its progress and Improvement
| the people and their representatives should
cheerfully contribute. State and county
| agricultural societies have done much to pro-
mote this cause, and through their agency
much valuable information has been collect
ed and diffused. Much yet remains to be
done. More information is demanded. More
| efficiency in the collection and diffusion OF
| useful knowledge is required. To secure this
result, the establishment of an agricultural
| bureau, in connection with some of the de-
partments of State, would largely contribute.
The importance of such a bureau, properly
| organized, as an aid to the advancement of