The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-02-05
VERITAS
CO3s YKgJNRq}ATaON
From the Sarreyor General, reiati0e 10 the arreq-
RACES due on lands purchased from tie Com
7g0DqcegHb


From the Surreyor General, relntioe 10 the arrea-
rages due on lands purchased from the Com
m0aWenItH.
Hon. WV. H. WELSH, Speaker of the Senate:
SIR:-l respectfully beg leave to make YOU
the medium through which TO call the attention
OF the Representatives of the people TO the i'm
portance OF early and Saiutary legislation in re-
lallon to the arrearageS due on lands purchased
from the Commonwealth. The graduating act
OF 1888 having expired by lts own Limitation
in December last, further legislation viii be re-
quirrd, unless it is designed to throw lis back
upon the statute existing prior to the passage of
the act OF 1888.
The act OF 1916, requiring the compromising
OF the principal and interest, and the charging
OF interest on the aggregate thereafter, which
has been revived by the expiration of the grad
uatlGg act, would, If continued and enforced,
give great distress to many good citizens OF the
Commonwealth On the other hand, the re-
enactment Of the law Of 1888, would revive
system which not only-lails to do equal and ex-
act justice TO all who have purchased lands
from the State, bot also cuts OFT all hope OF ac-
complIshing the collection of the moneys due
tIou that source within the lifetime Of any man
now living.
As stated in my annual report, the amount
now due the Commonwealth on account OF
lands, in the opinion Of those most conyersant
with the business OF the department, is about
SIX millions OF dollars. The interest on this
sum, at SIX per cent, per annum, would be three
hundred and sixty thousand dollars, and vet
the receipts from lands ;or The year 1857, amount
TO but little more than twrnty-one thousand
dollars And this is about the annual average
of receipts from that source for some years past
In the ten years Immediately preceding the
passage OF the graduating act of 1888, the re-
ceipts were S6S7,00 whilst the succeeding
twenty years yielded only S472,0 200.
lftne graduating act OF 1888 is incapable Of
producing better results than these, would It
not br folly TO return to 1t Would it not b.
wiser 10 strike out five of the six millions OF
dollars due, and collect the remaining million
within reasonable time But there is no rea-
son why the Legislature should relieve the
debtors Of the Commonwealth, on account of
lands, OF five slXths oi their Indebtedness. Un-
der the peculiar circumstances Of the case, they
should not be harShly dealt with, but IN my
Judgment sufficient ienlency would be extern
ded to them IT the recommendations Of my an
nuaL report, IN regard TO the calculation OF IN
tereSt and the enforcement oi payment, were
carried into effect.
OF late the public mind has been directed,
with more than ordinary soctude, to the re-
ductlou OF the public uebt. The people have
fixed their hearts upon wiping ont the burden
under which the Commonwealth has groaned SO
long. Every department of the government
should respond to the patriotic wish OF the peo-
hi A
i've service in this BEHALF than the one over
which have the honor TO preside, but TO de-
veloPe its real resources, an act of Assembly
combining librraIity in lis provisions, with
stringent clause for their enforcement, is abso-
lutely required. Without some act ofIhis char
acter the business OF this department will DRAG
lis slow length along for centuries TO come adj
ding the Insignificant sum above stated TO the
annual receipts OF the Treasury, and constantly
getting farther from d final settlement of our land
affairs.
Whatever law the Representatives of the
people, with the sanction OF the Governor, NAV
lay down tor my guidance, | shalt faithfully
follow but / confess TO some anxiety TO see
law passed that will unlock the wheels of this
department. and enable 1t to make an important
annual contribution to the Treasury. With
six millions OF dollars outstanding in the
hands OF debtors OF doubtful responsibility, but
all secured, 50 TO speak, by first mortgages on
real esiate-wbai, bat intrinsic inSutIiciency in
the law, OF gross neglect of duty by the officer,
Is to prevent The land Office from contributing
several hundred thousand dollars Annually to
the Treasury Of the Commonwealth!
Ii it Is Aot intended to let the arrearages on
lands run on and accumulate forever, the
work OF collecting them may as well be COM
mencrd now IN earnest 1t their collection is
difficult, time will only increase the difficulty.
ICit should give rise 10 complaint, the longer
the matter stands and The larger the arrearages
grow, the louder viii be the outcry. But the
difficulty Of collection, @. the iust,ce of com
plant Is not easily perceived. The claim Of
,nr Commonwealth is 100 clear 10 be disputed,
aud all viii admit thai her Legislature has the
power to eniorceit. That she has heretofore
indulged her debtors, when sorely pressed by
her own pecunlary obligations, is no reason why
she should hencelorth abstain from the assertion