The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-05

GOVERNOR pEIRPOINT's MESSAGE,


Governor opens with the financial affairs of the
State, the material portions of which are as
fOlows:-
Government for the last year are contained in
the report of the Auditor of Public Accounts
herewith transmitted and your attention is
invited to the recommendations therein cou-
tanned. The report of the Treasurer is also sub
mitted.
Assuming the income of the last year
the basis for the estimate of this, there
will be received INTO the public Trea-
sury during the year ending on the
Both September, 81 ,22S, $40 30
October 1886. .................,........ Ss4 6O766
Total. 81 563, 1856 S6
l estimate the expenses for carrying on
the Government up to the 1st OF Octo- 49,
8Deri 1851, M'''''''r'''''''''' ''''''' olVVVOOV
Leaving balance in the treasury of. 81 O59, ,2s6s6
In this estimate have made liberal allow
ance for the current expenses of the Govern
ment; for an appropriation to supply artificial
limbs to disabled soldiers; to pay the balance
due on the statues for the Washington Mouu-
ment; for the necessary appropriations to the
Lunalic and Deaf and Dumb and Bind sylums;
fo1 the Penitentiary and Public Guard; and Tor
a geological survey. This estimate IS made on
the supposition that change will be made in
the mode of defraying criminal expenses. | am
aware that large number of petitions for ap-
preparations will be presented to the General
Assembly, all of which Will be urgently pressed
by ltheirl advocates. But, in my estimation,
none of them have any merit to compare with
the demand on the State for the payment OF
the interest on the public debt. should fail in
my duty, did l not urge upon you the para
mount obligation which rests upon us to make
provision for the payment of this interest in
preference to any other claims, except those
above indicated.
The public debt, with the interest
funded, will amount on the first day
OF January next to $43 3S3 67927
Deduct amount owned by Sinking and
Is. N.3
Balance for which interest is to be paid Sal OO6 9967
This will require an additional assessment on
property real and personal of about 46 cents
on the 500; which, added to the IA cents on the
500 now assessed, will make 60 cents on the
SlOO required to pay the expenses of the Gov.
ernment, necessary appropriations and interest
on the public debt. In this calculation no esti.
mate is made of the expenses of the collection
OF the additional tax of about 100000. 1t the
change in the mode of collection proposed in
my last annual Message shall be made, no addi-
tlonal expense will be Incurred.
The Governor then proceeds through long
Message of thirty odd pages to touch upon the
various State topics requiring the action of the
Legislature, dwelling at length upon the rail-
road system, wherein he displays much of the
business sagacity for which he is remarkable;
and remarkng that on the 10th of June last he
had received from the Secretary of state a
copy OF the Constitutional amendment, which
he embodies in the Message, he then closes as
foilows:- rs
There is no ambiguity in the language of the
proposed amendment; il is before you Tor your
mature consideration-for adoption or rejection.
You are fully acquainted with all the crcum-
stances which led to its proposal. The Congress
OF the United States has made its acceptance
condition precedent to the admission of Repre-
sentatives In the councils OF the nation from
States now unrepresented.
The President of the United States disap-
proved of this amendment, and insisted on the
immediate admission into Congress, from all
the nOrpnJnsantn1 Gtotne of sunh rnnrpennta-
lives as we're loyal" who had been elected ac-
cording to the forms of law. What he means
by the term "loyal" is a subject of controversy.
A number of his friends have explicitly affirmed
that he meant only such as could truthfully take
the oath prescribed by Congress to be taken by
all persons before entering upon the duties Of
any office under the Government of the United
States. 1t is claimed by majority OF Congress
and those who support them, that the people of
the States now unrepresented voluntarily with
drew their representatives from the councils of
the nation, and attempted to set up an indepen-
dent Government or confederation, and thereby
naugurated great civil war; that the people
in those States have committed a grave otfense,
and as security for the future, the Congress of
the United States has authority to prescribe the
terms on which they shall be readmitted to
| representation, and TO determine by constitu-
tioral provisions that certain persons shall be
disqualified from holding Federal or State
offices, as punishment tor having participated
in the Rebellion.
On this great question, of such varied interest
TO the people of ten States, a clearly defined
separation took place between the President
and the Congress of the United States. Each
appealed to the people of the tWenty-siX States
now represented, to decide the controversy at
the late elections. The elections are over, and
very decisive maj jorLy has been rendered in
favor of the Congressional views OF the subject.
Three ponts-as the controversy is suscep
! tible of analysis, as understand it-were dis
tinctly submitted and decided at these elections,
| Wit
First. That the unrepresented States shall not
! gain additional political power in the Congress
| of the United states by reason of the manumls
sion of the slaves where the right of suffrage in
| those States is withheld from the negro popu
| lation.
Second. That persons who have heretofore
! held executive, legislative, or judicial Office:
| under the Government of the United States, oI
| OF any State, and have engaged ia the late civil
! war against the United States, shall not be
eligible toilike places without the consent of two
thirds of CONGRESS.
Third. That the terms upon which Represen
| tatives shall be readnitted TO Congress from
the States lately in rebellion, and disabilities
imposed on or removed from those who partici
pated in that Rebellion, shall be prescribed by
Congress, and not by the President.
There is an effort beng made atthe North and
in the South, by politicians who support th'
Presidents policy, TO induce the Legislatures o
the non-represented States to reject the Consti
tutionai amendment, in the hope that in anothe
contest before the people they may be more sue
cessful; and they predict violent conflict be
| tween the Executive and Legislative branches o
the General Government, by means of which h
may obtain the majority in Congress. But wheI
we consider the favorable auspices for the Presi
dents policy under which the late political con
| test was inaugurated-he having been elected b.
the party which now opposes him, supported b,
able Cabinet officers, and some of the shrewdes
politicians of the country Of the same party, II
the hope OF dividing that party by means OF tn
power and PATRONAGE of the Federal Government
A al hoa yiVnfr hot nj