Year: 1861

ceo opposition by Its benehcent fruits. lt
has at times languished for want of Just
appropriations, from changes and amend.
ments of the law, and perhaps, from in
efficiency in its administration but it has
surmounted every difficulty and is now
regarded by the enlightened and patriotic
of every political faith as the great bull.
wark of safety for our free institutions -
The manner in which this subject is pre-
sented to the Legislature, by my immedi-
ate predecessor, in his annual message, =,
fully harmonizes with public sentiment /;
and his recommendation for aid to the
Farmers High School of Pennsylvania
meets my most cordial appreciation. In
vitcd to the rich prairie lands of the West,
when the labor of the husbandman is sim.
pie and uniform, when population has filled
our valleys, it passes away from our high
land soils where scientific culture is rcquir-
cd to reward labor by bringing frui,fulacss
and plenty out of comparative steri,ity.
While individual liberality has done much
for an institution that is designed to edu-
cate the farmer Of the State, the school
languishes for want of public aid An
experience Of ten years has fully demon.
strated that the institution can be made
sustaining; and it requires no aid from
the State, except for the completion of the
buildings in accordance with the original
design. A liberal appropriation for that
purpose would be honorable to the I.cgis.
lature and a just recognition of system
Of public instruction that is of the highest
Importance to the State in the dove velopmcnt
of our wealth, the growth of our popula.
tion and pro perity Of our great agricultu-
raj interests.


The State having been wisely relieved
of the management of the public improve
ments by their sale, the administration of
the government is greatly simplfed, its
resources are certain and well understood =,
and the amount of the public debt is def.
nitcly ascertained. a rigid economy in
all its various departments, and a strict
accountability from all public officers, are
expected by our people, and they shall
not be disappointed. Now that the debt
of the State is in the course of steady
liquid dation, by the ordinary means of the
Treasury, all unnecessary expenditures Of
the public money must be firmly resisted -,
SO that the gradual diminution of the in
debtedness shall not be interrupted.


To promote the prosperity of the people
and the power of the Commonwealth, by
increasing her financial resources, by a
liberal recognition of the vast isterests of
our commerce, by outstanding our means
and diminishing the burdens of taxation
and of aebt, "in be the hishest ehjee,s os
my ambition, and all the energy of my
administration will be directed to the ac.
complishment of these results.


The pardoning power is one of the most
important and delicate powers conferred
upon the Chief Magistrate by the Consti-
tuition, and it should always be exercised
with great caution, and never, except on
the most conclusive evidence that it is due
to the condemned, and that the public
security will not be prejudiced by the act.
When such applications are presented to
the Executive, it is due to society, to the
administration of justice, and to all inter-
ested, that public notice should be given.
BY the adoption of such regulation, i'm
position will be prevented and just efforts
will be strengthened.


The association of capital and labor,
under acts of incorporation, where the
purposes to be accomplished are beyond
the reach of individual enterprise, has
long been the policy of the State, and has
done much 10 advance the prosperity of the
people. Where the means of the citizens
are moderate, as they generally are in a
new and growing country, and where the
concentration of the capital of many is
necessary to developement and progress
such associations, when judiciously restric-
ted coufer large benefits on the State
The vast resources of Pennsylvania, and
the variety of her mechanical and other
industrial pursuits, invite capital and en-
terprise from abroad, which, on every
sound principle of political economy, should
be encouraged. Much of the time of the
| Legislature is consumed by applications
for special chartered privileges which might
be saved by the enactment of general laws
aud by such amendment to our general
mining and manufacturing law as will re-
move needless and burthensome restraints
and at the same time afford ample protec-
ton to capital and labor, and to the COM
mlnity at large. Our statute books are
full of acts of incorporation comforting
special privileges, various as they ar