Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-01-13


and class legislation, that it is not necessary
again to repeat them. | desire, however, 10
call tho attention of the General Assembly TO
the fact that we have, on our statute books.
general laws providing for the Incorporation Of
railroad, turnpike, bridge, plank road, gas, wa
ter, insurance ard other similar companies,
and that all corporate powers granted by The
Legislature, to such companies, should bo un-
der these general laws, so that there may be
uniformity 10 the provisions of similar assoeia-
tioas, and that the time of the General As
sembly may not BE- occupied in passing bills of
great length, when simple reference to the
details Of the general laws would answer every
purpose.
The practice of sending to tho Executive a
large number Of bills Immediately preceding
the final adjournment of tie Legislature, is
highly Objectionable, and Ought, as far as
practicable, 10 be discontinued. Its necessary
consequence is, either to compel the Execn-
tive to approve bills which be has not fully ex1
| amined, to sign them after the final adjonrD-
ment, or, If be disapprove them, to return
them to the General Assembly, With his objec
tions. Thus imposing upon succeeding Leg
islatnre the final disposition of bills, with the
origin snd passage of which it had no connec-
ton. To illustrate the evils resulting from
this practice, il is only necessary to inform you
that, of the large number of bills presented
for my approval, within day or two Of the
adjournment Of the last Legislature, am
constrained, by a sense Of duty, to Tetarn,
with my objections, twenty three to the pIesent
Legislature, for reconsideration.
1t is apparent from the exhibit Of the inan-
cial condition of the General Government, re-
Gently made public, that the wants Of the Fed
era Treasury will demand revision OF the ex
isting tariff laws Of the United States, with
view to an increase of the revenue derivahle
from Imports. When this revision shall take
place, it is greatly to be DESIRED tha. a proper
regard for the industrial interests Of the coun-
try will prompt the Congress of the u. States,
to place her revenue laws upon such basis, as
to afford to our great mining aud manufacture
ing interests the largest Incidental protection.
| To substitute specific for I'D vaorem duties, on
| certain class of articles which from their ma
ture are of equal or nearly equal value,--or to
change the foreign to home valuation, with
moderate increase of the rates nov imposed,
! would, am satisfied, intuse new life and yigor
into all the various departments OF industry,
and, at the same time, without imposing burr
dens upon the people, afford to the General
Government revenue amply sufficient for all
/ its wants.
/ The early admission of The Territory of Kan
sas one of the sovereign States OF the Union,
under constitution legally enacted, aud fully
and fairly ratified by the direct votes of a large
majority of the people OF the Territory. will re-
move from the National Legislature subject
which has hitherto, in ne incoasiderabe degree,
attracted the attention of the Nation, and which,
from the nature and extent Of tie discussions
! in Congress, has been productive Of much erin&
sssaassiS' 'otsosE ves5BoiiAe iiAeouatrys rvpufar SOW
ereignty having finally prevailed, in the full,
free and fair adoption of the fundamental law
OF the Territory, according to the wishes Of the
people, this yexed anl dangerous question, 10
that Territory, may COW Dc considered as saii5-
factorily and perpetually settled.
Copies of the correspondence between the
| Goycrnnr of Virginia aud the Governor of Peun-
sYlvania, on the subject Of the recent Outrage
at Harper's Ferry, are herewith transmitted 10
the Legislature. The letter addressed by the
| Governor OF Virginia 10 the Governor of Penn
! sylvania, was missent to Harrison burg, Virginia
1 and hence was not received until the first day
of December. one day before the execution Of
John Brown; and, therefore, it was impossible
| TO reply to it, by mail, in time to reach tie
Governor of Virginia before the execution
/ Tha answer was consequently sei.t by telegram
which will accoun, for its brevi.y aud sen,cati-
! ons character.
The recent seizure of the public property of
! ihe United States at Harper's Ferry, and ii.
invasion of the State of Virginia, by small
band OF desperadoes, With an intention to ex.
cite the slave population to insurrectiou, hay,
drawn attention to the dangers which beset our
| federal relations. 1t is source OF satrsfaetioa
to know that the authorities of Virginia posses
/ sed the nieaus and the determination 10 punish
/ offenders With promptness and justice; thai
/ the military force of the United States was
power immediately available 10 aid in putting
down the outbreak against the public peace
| that the slave population were contented win
their condition, and unwilling to unite with dis
/ orderly white men IN acts of treason and mut.
! der;-and that the great masses of the peonk
] have no sympathy, whatever, with any a,iae,
upon the rights and institutions of any Of tle
States, and have deep and abiding deyot;e,
/ to cur great aud glorious Upion. 70 as. 1,
PenUsylvaulans, It is gratifying to believe tb4
/ the citizens of this Commonwealth have not. !,
! any manner, participated in this unlawful nro
ceeding, aud 10 know that when some of th
! guilty perpetrators were arrested, within o,r
jurisdiction, they were promptly surrendered D
| the justice of the offended and injured Stsn
! The several States of the Union are ipdenei-
dent soVareigntles, except so far as they haze
granted certain enumerated powers to the Fed.
eral Government In cases uot provided for \
the Federal Constitution; the several Stata,,
10 their relations TO each other, ought tohe
! governed by the principles which regulate he
conduct Of civilized Nations. Thes. nrinc;nss
forbid, in all natious ''every evil practice teul-
ing to excite disturbance in another Stass;n aid
are founded en- The maxim, that adifferent Ia
tious ought, in tune of peace, to do one aooher
all the gooi .hey can, without preiudicioo he;r