The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-01-21


the prevalence of this system. That every
man, for fair days labor, should receive
fair wages, is but the dictate of COM
mon honesty and while it would be most
uuwise for the State to interfere at all with
the rate of wages, it is in my judgment
incumbent on her to protect her laboring
population by requiring that whatever
may be the wages stipulated, they shall
be so paid that the recipient may pur-
chase necessaries for himself and family
where they can be had best and cheapest
/ do most earnestly recommend this sub
ject to the Legislature.
/ believe that the several charitable in
stitutions to which the Legislature has
been accustomed to grant aid, have been
well managed during the past year.
The Wyoming Canal is still in the
hands of the receiver. Certain creditors
of the company having instituted pro-
cscdiugs in the Supreme Court for selling
the canal under the Mortgage, the Attor-
ney General has interyened in the suit to
oppose the making of decree of SALE
No decree has been made, and the pro-
ceedings are yet pending. Meanwhile, it
being alleged that the subscribers and
stock holders have paid up but small
part of the nominal capital of the compa-
NY, an information has been filed in the
Supreme Court by the Attorney General,
to compel them to pay up the capital, or
such charges and assessments as may be
necessary to extinguish the debt due to
the Commonwealth. This proceeding is
also still pending. 1t is understood that
the gross receipts of the canal during the
last season have been about enc hundred
and thirty thousand dollars and the an
rual interest on the mortgage bonds of
the company little over ftty-one thou
sand dollars.
In pursuance of a joint resolution
passed l1th April, 1862 the Attorney
General has instituted proceeding on the
proper cashiers bonds, to recover the
money due 10 the Commonwealth by the
Bank of Commerce at Erie, and | have
employed John Ii. Walker, Esq, as spe-
cial counsel for the Commonwealth, in
the prosecution of the officers of the bank
in the Court Of Quarter Sessions Of Erie
county.
BY the act of 29th of March, 1918, it
was provided that citizens absent from
home in actual military service, might
exercise their right of suffrage as if they
were present at the usual places Of elec-
tion. This act was substantially re.enact-
ed in the general election law passed on
the I'd of July, 1889. The Supreme
Court has recently decided that by reason
of phrase in the constitutional amend.
mentS of 1888, this provision has become
unconstitutional. Pennsylvania has sent
TO the service about two hundred thous-
and citizens, who, by this decision, are
dlsfranchlsed. TLis seems to be hard
measure that men who testify their deyo-
ton to the country by gong to the field
should thereby lose the most inestitnable
right of citizen. | recommend that the
necessary steps be forthwith commenced
to amend the constitution, SO as to give
the right of suffrage to the citizens who
are thus excluded.
I cannot close this message without
speaking Of the unbroken loyalty and
spirit of the freemen Of Pennsylvania
They feel that on the preservation Of the
Union and the suppression CT the most
causeless and wicked rebellion which his
tory records, depend honor, the interests
and the whole future welfare Of the Com
monwealth. They will never tolerate
schemes for destroying the Govern ment
of the United States, or forming seperate
Coufederacles, or any other schemes for
creating general confusion and ruin, and
aiding and comforting the traitors who
are in arms against their country.
This State has furnished more men for
the defence Of our institutions, and has
lost more by the casualties Of war, than
any other State. She has given her
blood and treasure freely, and is ready to
give as much more Of both as may be
needful. Her people intend that by the
blessing of God, this rebellion shall be
suppressed, and will not be turned from
their purpose by the wiles of masked en-
emies or the vacillations IF feeble friends.
On the contrary they will, Gas is their
right,) insist that competent Integrity,
Earnestness, Intellect aud Vigor shall be
employed in the public service, to pre-
serve the Government, and to maintain
the unity of the country.
A. G.. CURTIN.
Harrisburg, Jan 7, 1868.