Year: 1878

Gentlemen of the Assembly:


In accordance with the usual custom,
VI becomes my duty, as the Governor
elect of this Commonwealth, to appear
before you, and in your presence to take
the oath of Office. And it becomes my
duty also to call your attention to such
matters as may deem important to the
best interest of the State you represent.
Happily, my distinguished predecessor
has left me very little to do in this last
respect. At the opening of your session,
in his annual message, he submitted to
you a comprehensive statement Of the
condition of the several executive de.
partments of the government, and con-
sequently all that is necessary for me to
do now is to urge upon your attention
those matters only which deem of such
grave Importance as to deserve very
special mention.


Among the first and most imperative
things demanding your attention, is the
present financial distress of the country.
| am not unmindful that this is general
ly regarded as national question, and
consequently some may consider any
discussion of it here as quite out of place.
But little reflection may help us to see
that this very view of the matter con-
tributes largely to the distress of which
we complain. 1t is very common habit
to refer our grievances TO causes as far
from home as possible; and consequent
ly our willingness to hold our national
Congress entirely responsible for the
present financial condition of the coun-
try, is precisely what might be expected,
But it may be worth while to seriously
ask the question: Is this view consist
ent with the facts in the case? l GER
tainly do not wish you to understand me
as apologizing on behalf of our national
Congress for any unwise or injudiCious
legislation or even failure to give the
legislation that is needed. What mean
to say is, that our real and permanent
help must come from economical living
and judiCous legislation at home, We
must begin the work of reform in oul
own State government. Hence l would
earnestly call your attention to the i'm
portance of such enaCtments as will se
cure an honest administration and rigiC
economy in all the departments of oul
State service.


In republican government all Civi
reform must, for the most part, be the
outgrowth of a virtuous and economical
people; and as your Assembly is very
closely related to the people-being in
fact composed of the peoples immediate
epresentatives-it should be your con
stant aim to set an example in the char
acter of your legislation, such as will bC
worthy to be initiated by our nationa
representatives. When we have secured
for ourselves the right kind of reCorC
at home, we can then hope that our in
huenCe will be potent in the highe
councils ofthe nation, in securing for tht
whole people that "retrenchment anC
reform" which, I am thoroughly con
vinCed, must ante.date any permanently
healthful condition of our financial af
fairs.


do not wish to convey the idea tina
you will be able to successfully oVercomt
all the evils Of which the people com
plain. This I know is impossible; fo
the Wisest legislation is at best but an ex
pedient, and often falls far short of meet
ing the public need. Still, if this be trut
of the wisest, then it must be apparen
to all, that inconsiderate and unwise leg
islation will only make matters worse in
stead of better. Hence, while l woulC
urge upon your attention the importanc,
of such legislation as will help to rastor,
confidence in financial affairs, and brinj
activity and energy again to our bushes
circles, would at the same time war;
you that this relief must come mainly b,
instituting vigorous reforms, rather thai
by high sounding statutory enactments


Closely related to the matters alread,
considered, is what is usually called tn
Labor Question, and which has recent,
been forced upon our attention with yer,
decided emphasis. In your deliberations
you cannot safely ignore this question
Hence l hope it will receive most tho
rough and candid consideration. Tn
proper adjustment of capital and labo
has long occupied the most thoughtfu
attention of some of the wisest statesmen
and profoundest philosophers. And in
country like ours, where prosperity de
pends so much upon this adjustment,
is not strange that every earnest patrio
should feel anxious to reach the wises
conclusion in reference to this importan
matter. 1t should be your purpose, a
far as possible, to avoid all disinctiVel
class legislation; for, as a general rult
this kind of legislation is ruinous to tn
best interests of the country. In fact, to-
much of it is one of the evils with whicl
we are at present cursed; hence you can
not be too careful when dealing will
such subjects as the relation of capita
and labor; for no legislation that attempt
to build up one of these at the expens
of the other, can possibly be productiv
of any substantial good to the people
And should the suggestions already sub
mitted, in reference to economy, be car
ried out in your deliberations, then an
satisfied that very lutte, ifany other leg
islation will be needed to restore har
mony between capital and labor; AM
make them what they ought to be, ant
what they really must be, if either i
successful hearty co.operants in all tina
relates to the material growth and pros
perity of the country.


do not wish to consume your time OF
the present occasion in particularihing
since it will be my pleasure from time {
time, should deem it necessary, to com
municate with you in special messages
concerning matters which cannot nov
even hint at. But feel that there arr
some things which ought to receive you
immediate attention, and l therefore
deem it proper to specify few of them


The present condition of the Public
Works should be carefully and thorough
ly investigated. Recently there has beer
considerable excitement growing out O.
the fact that the lessees of these works
have virtually repudiated their contract
with the State. The matter has beer
submitted to the courts for adjudication
and though g. decision may be reached
at an early day, still the whole subject is