Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-01-14
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

GENTLEMEN From the days (
William Penn, the great and piou
founder of our Commonwealth, it ha
been the universal custom of my prC
deeessCrs, when making their annuf
communications to the General Assem-
bly,, to acknowledge their gratitude t
and dependence upon the Great Law
giver OF the Universe. In imitation
OF thier noble example, let us earnest
I ~ invoke His blessing and guidance Il
our efforts to perform the great worl
Of legislation now before us, in sucl
manner as TO meet His appreciation, a
well as that of our common constitu
ents.
In transmitting TO you the seventy
ninth annual message since the organ
lZation ofthe present state government
1t affords me the highest qualification
to congratulate you and our feilOw-cit
I liens generally on their enjoying, to al
unusual degree, the blessings of bealtl
and unstinted prosperity; and that ou
1 principles and institulonS-the prld'
l and boast of every true hearted PATROL
although tried again in the crucible 0
q heated political contest, the heaving:
| of popular passion, and the cOllusiOn o
( parties, from which we have just emer
/ ged, remain unimpaired and vital il
every part.
Under such auspicious circumstance
( you have assembled, for the purpose o
I discharging the important duties, ano
/ assuming the special responsibilities
/ which devOlve upon you. 1t IS eX'
I tremely difficult; even with the great
est caution in your deliberations, to en-
act laws that will fully meet theeXpec-
tations and appreciation Of all the peo-
pie but much of this difficulty may
be overcome by avoiding legislation
for personal and special interests and
rot being unmindful Of the magnitude
of the interests Of the State, and
of its rapidly advancing population,
wealth and influence to destinies bey-
Ond the reach of human vision. A no.
bier heritage was never given to man
thanthat which wepossess geographical
~ and politically of the greatest impor-
tance, an area OF more than forty four
thousand square miles; diversified with
mountains. valleys, plains, rivers ;
mountains covered with majestic for
ests of valuable timber OF almost every
variety; plains dotted with comfOrta-
bic homesteads, and presenting well
cultivated farms and luXuriant fields
marked by the advancement Of agricul-
ture-the parent, supporter and stimu-
latOr of every species Of industry, eX-
change and commerce f.; hills" and val
leys with teeming mines Of all the va
rieties of coal, iron, oil, salt and other
minerals; with farmers, manufacturers,
mechanics, wOolgrOweFs, coal and iron
miners, oil producers, and merchants
full of activity and confidence; with
thousands Of miles Of railroads and Ca
mails to transfer vast products to mar
ket, and accommodate the travel of
four millions of happy and prosperous
people. Nor should we be fOTgetful of
education in all its branches, Of the
public charities, prisons, refOrmatories,
the collection OF properly imposed tax
es the speedy reduction Of the State
debt, the preservation of order, and the
more certain protection Of life, busi-
ness and property. All these interests
and perhaps others Ofequal importance,
demand legislation of The most enligh-
tened, liberal and comprehensive char
acter.
In conformity to the requirements Of
the Constitution, l proceed 10 invite
your attention to such measures as are
deemed necessary for your cOnsidera-
ton, aud TO assure you of my willing
ness TO share with you the anXieties
and responsibilities of AL legislation
calculated 10 advance the prosperity of
the people and the best interests of the
Commonwealth.
Finances.
From the reports of the Auditor
GeneraIand State Treasurer, the follow
ing statement has been carefully pre-
pared, and exhibits the receipts and
disbursements for the fiscal year end
ing November so, 1869:
Receipts.
Balance in Treasury. Nov 30, 1859 Sl,0I2,92j 81
Ordinary receipts during the fiscal
year ending Nov. &c, lS69.....,... 5,24l,7ll 2S
Total in the Treasury during the
year ending Nov 80, lSd9.....-. 6,254,636 65
Disbursements.
Ordinary expenses paid during the
year ending Nov.
80 l569............ 81, 455,ll4 p
Loans, &c redeemed at
Loans redeemed by
the COMMISSIONERS Of
the Sinking Fund. 962.762 90
Int st paid at Treasy I70,66j "a
Interest paid by Com
missioneTs Of Sink
7 ing Fund. ...,.-,-.. l,72j,5oI %
- 4s5s,774 lf
Balance in Treasury, Nov so1s62.... I,l0oa6z %
4 1t will be observed from the above,
I that part Of the loans and part Of the
/ interest are paid at the Treasury, and
part of both by the Commissioners OF
{ the Sinking Fund. This produces q
! complication of accounts; which in or
der TO avoid, and 10 simplify the finan-
/ cial statement, recon mend that au-
I thority be given by law TO charge the
/ Commissioners with the whole amount
of the State debt, and also with all the
( money applicable etOthe payment there
/ Of, and that they alone be credited with
all payments on both principal and in
/ terest of State debt.
! Public Debt.
The following is a statement show
/ ing the nature Of the Indebtedness o.
1 the Commonwealth, on November 30
1868:
Funded debt, viz
4 6 per cent. loans. 81 S2J.3lt.lSO 90
i per cent loaps.... ,2I7.3s4 SS
/ - per cent loans... li2O00 90
Unfuuded debt Wis
! Relief notes in eirculatiouS96 397 90
I Interest certificates out
/ standing ....s-....... 1880 %
/ Interest certificates TN
claimed. ed..-..---...--. 4, ,445 j.
[ Domestic creditors Ger
tlhcRtes- ..--......-.. a %
ll3 976 5
Amount Of public debt, Nov 30, 90 32sI4.5iO 9
The public debt Nov ls6s...... 80, 2s6, ,947 I
I Deduct the amount redeemed at
the Treasury, during the year
I ending Nov 30,i559, viz
5 per cent loans.....- .S412,SS7 is
I Relief notes cancelled. l9 90
472406 !
Public debt Nov. 90, 1869 as above. 80 ,sl4 $40 Q
Reduction Of the Public Dedt.
At the commencement Of the presen
administration in January, 1867, tn
tUtsd outstanding Indebtedness G
the State was GRiFay-SeCe1 million, SeUe
hundred and four thousand, four han
dred and nine dollars and SeUeilt9-SeUe
cents. Since then, and up to Novem
ber 80. 1869, the sum of four million