Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-01-08
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


To the Honorable the Senators and Members Of
the House Of RePresentattres Of tie General
assembly.
Fellow CIrIzESs--fn obedience to the
Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth,
Won have assembled to discharge the impor-
tant and responsible duties that dev0lve upon
YOU. TO protect the rights and privileges of
the people, advance their interests, and pro-
mote the welfare and prosperity of the State,
should be the aim and end of all your legis-
lation. In the discharge of my duties, 1T
will be pleasure to cooperate with you in
the accomplishment of these objects.
! The past year has been one of unusual
prosperity. The bounties of kind Provi-
dence have not been withheld from our Com
monwealth. A plenteous harvest has reward
cd the labor of the hushandman. Honorable
industry, in all its departments, has been
encouraged. No financial embarrassments-
no commercial distress-no political or social
evils, have interrupted the progress, or check
ed the energies of the people. The great in
terests of education, morality and religion,
have been cherished and sustained. Health
and peace, with their attendant blessings,
have been ours. To Him "who rules the
Nations by his power, and from whom COM
eth down every good and perfect gift" are
we indebted for these mercies, and to Him
should be given the homage of our devuot
gratitude and praise.
The financial condition of the Common
wealth is highly satisfactory. Every demand
upon the Treasury has been promptly met
and paid, without the aid Of loans. The op-
erations of this department will be exhibited
in detail in the report of the State Treasurer.
For the fiscal year ending November 80,
1856, the receipts at the Treasury Including
the balance in the Treasury on the first day
of December, 1855 of 81 .243, 500 33l have
been $6,62l ,937 Ga. The total expenditures
for the same period were So, 81, I42 o.
Balance in the Treasury, December !, 1856,
81 ,244,7 ,795 ~.
Excluding the balance in the Treasury on
the first of December, 1855 the receipts, from
all sources, were s., BIS, 240 80. The ordinary
expenditures for the same period. were ST.
ll3, II ~, showing an excess Of receipts
over ordinary expenditures of 81 ,265 ,095 90.
The extraordinary payments for the same
year. were 81 ,263, ,991 10, rs follows, viz: To
the completion Of the Portage railroad, and
for the payment Of debts previously contract
cd on that work, SlSl .i94 ii; to the North
Branch extension, Sl22, 723 50; to relay the
south track of the Columbia railroad, S267,-
600 90; for motive power in 1853, SllS.049 A.
te enlarge the Delaware division of the Penn
;sylyania canal, Sl3, 900 90; for general re-
poirs in lS53I-5, SG3 96j H. to domestic
creditors, Sljl G3; to old claims on the main
line, examined by the commissioners. and
paid under the act Of May 22. 1856. Sl3O.jl2
09 to the redemption of loans, $327 ,S24 II;
and relief notes cancelled, $3S,2l7 90.
The interest on the funded debt which fell
due in February and August last, was then
paid, and that which becomes due in Febru-
ary next, will be paid VITA equal prornptness,
out of available means now in the Treasury
The punctuality with which the interest on
the public debt has been paid and the ability
of the Treasury to meet all Legitimate demands
upon it, have inspired public confidence in
our securities, and contributed largely to es-
tablish and sustain the credit of the Com
monwealth.
The Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund
report the sum If S722, 432 93 as due Lv the
Treasury to that fund. This amount will be
applied to the redemption Of relief notes now
i'll circulation, and to the payment Of the
funded debt. Heretofore the available mcaHs
in the Treasury have been applied, tn some
extent, in payment of outstanding temporary
loans, rather than the funded debt, which
Dear an ahnd II interest ot SIX per centum; 1t
being deemel advisable as matter of econ
omy to pay these loans, rather than the fund
cd debt, which bears much less rate of in
terest. Il is expected that the balance of the
temporary loans will be paid before the close
of the current year. and the operation Of the
sinking fund resumed and continued as d.
rected by law.
The funded and unfundcd debt Of the State,
InPIudInp tnmnOrary Inaus ru tb. 6rst dow of
December 1855, as per reports Of the Audi
tor General and State Treasurer, was as fol-
lows, viz: