The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-01-14

becS Ot tie HOUSe Of Re22yeSehtat5gcS oj
tie General Assembly.'
GENTLEMEN: BY the suffrages Of your
fellow citizens, you have been charged
With the duty of representing them, and
the interests of the Commonwealth in the
legislative branch of the GoyernWent--
The responsibilities you have assumed,
and the duties to be performed, should
ever be regarded as paramount to every
selfish or partisan consideration. The
prosperity of the State and the general
welfare OF the people should receive your.
earnest attention, and be the aim and end
of your legislative action. To promote
these objects | will cheerfully, in every
legal aud constitutional manner, during
the continuance of my official term, CO.
operate with you.
The past year, with the exception OF
recent financial embarrassment, has been
one of general prosperity. No foreign
wars, no fraternal strife has disturbed the
peaceful quiet of our homes. Uuvonted
health, with its blessings, has been vouch-
safed to Us. Seed time and harvest have
not failed-the earth hath yielded her in
crease, and richly rewarded the labor of
the busbandman. The art. and sciences
have been advanced, and the great inter-
ests of education, morality, and religion
literally encouraged and sustained. Our
nation in its unity--our free institutions
in their integrity, with our rights and
privileges, civil aud religious, Eave been
preserved. Recognising in these bless
ings the goodness of Almighty God, We
should render 10 Him the homage of
grateful hearts, and the devotion of sin
cere praise; and whilst hnu5ly ackDowl-
edgiDg his mereies to us as a people. let
US still further express our gratitude to
Him by acts of individual charity and
kindness 20 the poor aud bel pless IN our
midst. Sorrow DOW fill, the hearts, sd
adversely darkens the homes, If many of
our citizens. Our iberality should BE-
geGerons; our benefactions punifcent; and
thus, whilst the wants of the poor and
suffering are relieved, the generous giver
xill find rich reward in the pleasure
that results from conn nunieatcd good.
The finances Of the Commonwealth are
in vary satisfactory condition. During
the past year every demand upon the
Treasury has been promptly paid from
the reseuues derived fro,u the ordinary
sources. The operations of this depart
meDt will be presented to you, in detail,
D the report Of the State Treasurer.
For the fiscal year ending November
30th, 1857, the receipts at the Treasury.
including balance in the Treasury on 'be
first day of December. 1855. of 81 pa
i795,42, we're S5 1885, 3S3 20 The ag-
grecate expenditures for the ssme period
we're s5,4O7 .27679. Balance in the
Treasury December l, 1857. S52S. 1854.
Excluding the balance in the Treasury or
the 6rsl day of December, 1856, the re-
ceipts from all sources were $500 5>1.-
S4. The ordinary expenditures for the
same period were S3.992 .31O29, exhiti-
ting an excess Of receipts over cxpeudi-
lures of S699 9,2l7.55. The extraordina-
Iry payment for the yesr were II ,4l4,-
906. so, as follows, to wit: To the com
pIetion of the Portage Railroad, Sl9, ,O6l.-
81; to the North Branch extension. Sl3S
79s. IS; TO relay the south track of the
Columbia r. r. SGl ,405.46; to enlarge
the Delaware Division, SAC. .263; for mo-
tive power in 1856, Ssl ,60424; for re-
pairs in 1855 and 1856, S49. .56t.7s; for
the redemption Of loans, $500 ,097O3;
damages on the Public Works. $40, ,552.
65; old claims on the Main Line adjust
ed under the several acts of Assembly,
SAC, ,548.57; and for the new STATE Arse
nal and Farmers High School, sl5, 900.
The interest on the funded debt, due
| in February and August last, was then
promptly paid, and that falling due in
/ February next will be paid out of availa-
bic means now in the Treasury By vir-
tue of the provisions of the act of the 18th
of October, 1857 entitled "Aet providing
( for the Resumption of Specie payments by
/ the Banks, and for the Relief of Debtors
the State Treasurer will be enobled to
pay the interest due in February. in pc
Gle or its equivalent. The credit Of the
/ Commonwealth has been fully and bor,
orably sustained The Promptness with
which every legitimate demand upon the
. q treasury mas UCCu mas MS piltO pu liV
confidence in cur securities; and although
recent and financial revul~ion nay en-
barrass the operations Of the Treasury,
and reduce to some extent the revenue,
yet the ability of the State to meet her
engagements and maintain her credit. uu-
der ar honest AID economical administra
ton Of her finances, is undoubted The
honor aud credit of the State must ana
can he preserved intact
The Commissioners Of the Sinking
Fund report the suu of S4i4,e2O29 as
now iu the Ti,asury to the credit of thst
Fund. This amount will be applied to
the dedemption of relief notes yet in cir
culation, and to the payment ofthe fund
sk debt Of the Commonwealth.
The Commissioners Of this fund 90 the
9Th day of September last reported to ne
that the sum OF 81 .4i2 ,S57 ia Of the debt
of the Com o. opwealth ya> held hy them.