The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-01-12


ances is in no inconsiderable degree owing
to the prompt manner in which outstanding
claims are collected and paid into The State
Treasury.
The Adjutant Generals report, which will
be laid before you, will show in Gs,aif the
present condition OF the Military Depart
ment. would respectfully call the -.sseen-
tion. OF the Legislature TO :he .Iscommenda-
tions of that officer. .,
The Militia Law of 1858, has not been
fully tested; but it is belieNed1o be, in The
main, an improvement ON the laws in force
al the time OF its passage. Que of its best
features, and one that should be strictly en-
forced, is that the system is self supporting.
In no contingency should that department
be charge upon the public Treasury in
time of peace.
In referring the attention of the Legisia.
ture TO the elaborate reports of the Auditor
General and Stale Treasurer, relating 10 the
Finances OF the State, which will be laid
before you, cannot refrain from giving ex.
preston 10 my view on the importance of
d change in the mode OF keeping and dis
bursting the public moneys.
The State Treasurer receives and disburses
between four and Ave millions of dollars
annually; and it not unfrequently happens
that there is a balance on the Treasury ex.
ceeding one million of dollars. The bond
of the Treasurer is but for eighty thousand
dollars. He deposits the money of the Stale
wherever he pleases, and il is paid exclu-
sively on his own check The monthly set
Elements with the Auditor General afford
some security that the funds of the Com
monwealth will not be misapplied; but it is
entirely inadequate 10 the complete prolec-
ton of the public interests.
Until the State shall adopt different sys-
tenn for the collection, safe keeping and
disbursement OF her revenues, the money
on hand must be kept either in the Treasury
vault or deposited with the banking institu.
tions in the State. For many years the
latter mode has been adopted. | respectful
ly recommend that provision be made by
law that no money shall be deposited in any
bark by the State Treasurer without reauir-
ing security 10 be first given 10 the Com
monwealth forthe re payment of The sums de
posited-that all checks issued by the State
Treasurer shall be countersigned by the
Auditor General before they are nsed-and
that daily accounts of the moneys received
and paid shall be kept in the office of the
Auditor General as well as in the Treasury
Department.
The Commissioners appointed 10 revise
the Criminal Code of this Commonwealth,
are progressing with the duties of their ap.
poiutment, and will report the revised code
before the adjournment of the Legislature.
The various charitable and reformatory
institutions, which have heretofore received
peeuhiary assistance from the State, such as
the State Lunatic Hospital, at Harrisburg,
the Western Pennsylvania Hospital, at
Piltsburg, the Houses OF Refuge, at Phila-
delphia and Piltsburg, the Pennsylvania
Training Schools for idiotic and ieeble-
minded children, the Asylums for the Blind
and Deaf and Dumb, at Philadelphia, the
Northern Home for Friendless Children, at
Philadelphia recommend to your foster.
hibiing a detail of the operations of these
noble and excellent charities, during the
past year, will be laid before you. can
Associations of a purely local character,
however pralseworthy the objects and mo.
tives of their founders and supporters, or
however usefu. they may be 10 their par
ticular localities
The present condition of the revenues of
the GeneraF FGovernment, demonstrates the
urgent necessity of increased duties upon
foreign importations. The people of Penn.
syivania have ever taken lively interest in
the proper adjustment of tariff; and they
have with singular unlmlty, at all times,
favored such an assessment OF duties, as
would not only produce revenue, but fur
nish the lOrgest incidental protection to the
great mineral, manufacturing, and industrial
interests OF the country. Had their voice
hitherto been more potential i'll the councils
o! the nation, II is no longer problematical
that much of tue pecuniary distress lately
experienced by all classes and conditions
OF business men might have been 10 great
extent averted. The necessities OF the gov
ernment and the people, now alike demand
a change-an increase OF duties-and take
great pleasure in indorsing the views of the
President of the United States as expressed
in his last annual message, relative 10 the
change proposed His advocacy of specific
duties oil all commodities which are gener-
ally sold by weight, or by measure, and
which from their nature are of equal or of
nearly equal alue,-such as iron, of differ
ent classes, raw sugar, and foreign wines
and SPIRITS" has met with hearty response
from the great body of the people of this
State. II is 10 be hoped that his views on
this question will be favorab.y regarded by
Congress, and that the action of the federal
government may correspond with the sug-
gestions of the President.
When was called upon to assume the
Gubernatorial chair, nearly one year ago,
in Difference 10 public opinions, and my
own feelings, after rapid review of events
in Kansas, started, thai "to the people of
Pennsylvania the admission of new State
into the Union-into that Confederacy of
which she is a member-must be at all
times subject of high interest. And be-
lieve express their sentiments, as well as
my own, ia declaring that all the qualified
electors OF Territory should have full and
fair opportunity to participate in selecting
delegates 10 form constitution preparatory
to admission as State, and, if desired by
them, they should also be allowed an un-
qualified rightto vote upon such constitution
after it is framed"
Subsequent events have confirmed me in
these sentiments. The deplorable disputes
in the first session of the present Congress,
the popular excitement resulting from
those disputes, together with other proceed
ings in their nature novel and alarming,
would all have been averted, had the peo:
pie been secured in "the unqualified right"
TO vote upon their domestic institutions. |
regret TO be compelled to say, that, under
various pretences, this sacred franchise has
been virtually withheld from them. When
they refused 10 accept the Lecoinpton Con-
stitution, made for them by delegates repre-
seRting the minority, they were explicitly
denied the privilege of making their own
constitution, unless upon condition not