The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-01-19

iduce most bene6ciz4 influence upon this
most cherishsa hranch Of industry. The
practical workings 6f the school, for the
pase~-year lave Impressed the trustees,
who have ! in charge, vita the, highest
hopes of its complete success. Thc great
whichis Everywhere felt through
out the Gqnffnonwealth, in the furi her
e1tension aud progress Of the institution,
comnends it>tu oar care and protection.
The State rTihfariat, will report to you
the completion of the descriptive and
catalogue of the books in the
State Library, authorized BY the act of
TIE 18th Of. April .-185S,--a work, from
the details il embraces Of much labor,
but which will greatly facilitate the use
of the Library Ii will bo seen, from his
report, that the erigin of the Library
dates far back in the history OF the Pro
vinciaI government, and that it received
The fostering care, Of the Commonwealth
during the period Of the Revolution. 1t
is gratifying, that; twithstauding the
waste to whlehsit has ,beenSubject in past
wears, owing to the wantof proper atten-
ton, under the careful supervision Of
the present Librarian, has, since he has
had the charge of it, NEARLY doubled its
number of volumes, and now contains in
all - 900 volumes e-largest State Iii
brary in the Uuion, with the single cx-
ception OF that of the State of New York.
The collection, Of law books, aud especial
ly law reports, is. considered By those
to Judge, among the best Ia.
the country. The Library, from its in
trnsic value and Importance, and Its his
torc relations, deserves, and | trust it
will receive, the continued liberaity of
the Legislature.
In my inaugural address, as well as in
my last annual message, expressed the
opinion that our present banking system
was extremely defective, aud that, unless
it were radically changed, | should con-
sider it an imperative duty to withheld
the Executive approval from all bills eie
ating new banks Without again giving
in detail the reasons which influenced my
action on this question, or repeating the
and recommendations hereto
fore made to the Legislature, 1t is proper
to remark, at this time, that my conyic-
tions have been confirmed, by tlme and
my opinions remain un-
and that | cannot approve of
any increase of banking corporations un
der existing laws.
If corporate privileges, for banking
are needed, TO accommodate the
business wants ofany portion Of the State
justice reanires rhac sach institution
should be compelled to protect the com
munity receiving its circulation, by re-
quiring that ample security shall be CIV
en- for The prompt redemption of its notes
the slfdciency of which no act Of the
could impair. All expert
ence IN this State, aud else shere, has
demonstrated, that IL e present system af-
tordS little or no protection to Eote hold
ers, beyond the personal integrity Of the
officers controlling the management Of
the several banks. For full exposition
OF my views on this question, | respect
fully call the attention of tie General
Assembly to my last annual message.
he reports of the Auditor General,
the State Treasurer, the Surveyor Gene
raj, the Adjutant General, and the At
rorney General, will lie laid before you,
and will show, in detail, the operations OF
their respective departments for the past
year.
Deeply impressed with the belief that
the present mode of receiving, keeping,
and disbursing the public revenue, is eu
tireIy unsafe, ana inadequate to the COM
plete protection of the interests OF the
Commonwealth involved, l again respect
fully, though earnestly invoke legisla-
tive action on thrs highly important sub
jeot. The receipts and disbursements
of the Treasury are each, annually, from
three to four I4illIonS of dollars. At
timcs there Is on hard balance exceed,
ing one million Of dollars. The State
Treasurer gives security to the Common
wealth in the sum of only eighty thous-
a1d dollars. He deposits the money IF
the State when and where he plcases,
and it is paid out upon lis own check
exclusively His accounts are settled by
the Auditor General, once month, and
this is, apparently, the only safeguard
provided by law to prevent the Illegal
use of the public tunds while under the
control of the State Treasurer. That
the Treasury of the Commonwealth has
hitherto escaped from disastrous detal-
cation, is owing to the integrity of the Of
hcer, and not to the efficiency of the laws;
and while our main reliance, in the fu-
turc, must be on the honesty of the off
GERS to whom the department is entrust
ed, it is, neYertheless, the plain duty of
the government, by proper legislative en-