Year: 1870

various Testimonials OF confidence which
have been conferred upon me By the people
of my native State, | am deeply sensible of
the circumstances, under which they have
been bestowed, and of the corresponding
duties and responsibilities imposed upon
me during the fulfllment of my term of the
Chief Executive Office in your State Gov
ernment Notwithstanding a heart anima-
ted with pure and upright intentions towards
the welfare of the Commonwealth and with
all the faculties allotted to me INCREASINGLY
devoted to its service, [ feel deeply con
scious that I stand in need of your indul-
gence, while | thus exercise one of the pre-
negatives of the position of Goveruor-to
address the people. when III his opinion, he
is justified by circumstances affecting their
welfare and interests; and to expect from
them an honest, candid and liberal support
In return.


With such circumstances now before the
people Of Pennsylvania, [ feel that would
be recreant to my duty, ungrateful to the
generous people, and untrue to myself, if |
should fail to express to you my opinions
upon subject Of public concern, which de-
mana8 from you immediate attention and
prompt, intelligent and independent &C.
ton.


The inviolabili!y of the Sinking Fund by
which your public debt is to be reduced and
finally extiuguished, must be maintained
against all attacks upon it, whether open or
secret! 4 public debt is not blessing but
an evil !-an evil not to be measured by the
amount of the direct pecuniary burden it
imposes upon the people, but by its whole
effect,-the entire amount Of all It's conse-
quences. These consequences have been
pointed out so fully by the fathers of the
republic, and 10y the most reliable writers
upon POLITICAL economy; and a conviction of
them, is SO deeply impressed on the minds
OF all rejecting men, that need not recap
ituate them; nor Insist even upon their
existence.


The State debt must be paid-paid hon
estly and to the utmost farthing, and as
soon as it can reasonably be done-to this
doctrine | am irrevocably pledged in every
possible manner-and the credit OF the State
must be kept up to its highest point, in or
der that this important object may be most
readily accomplished. No belief or suspic-
ion OF bad faith or of profigacy, on our part
should be permitted to get abroad or to de-
rive the slightest support or countcnance
from the conduct of our government in any
of its branches 1t should be understood
everywhere that we have an incorruptible
and faithful Judiciary; Legislature and an
Executive disposed to work together, and to
CO operate heartily in maintaining the honor
of the Commonwealth.


The operation of the Sinking Fund was
temporarily Interrupted, or rather weaken
ed, by the recent war; but by the blessing
OF Heaven upon the patriotic efforts of the
nation, the days of peace have returned.
There eau now be no excuse fuf divertiDg
from that fund any Of the monies pledged
to it by the Constitution and the laws, nor
for tamperiug IN any manner with its regu-
lar adnliuintration.


But it is known to You that a bold and
daring attempt was made in the Legislature
during lis last sessioh, to invade the Treas
ury and seize the proceeds of the sale Of
the public works of the Estate, deposited
| there in the Sinking Fund, for the use OF
certain affiliated corporations of this Com
monveaIth, and that that attempt vas de-
feated only by the interposition of the Ex-
| ecutive Ueto. This was to me an ungracious
and unpleasant task, to resist the majority
/ in the Legislature composed of Senators and
! Representative chosen by you, under the
regular forms of the Constitution, presuma-
bly, for their Intelligence and integrity and
/ it was iuexpcdient, perhaps, as a question
of personal interest and ease that [ should
incur the hostility of powerful enemies by
! the course adopted. But saw before me
the open path of duty, pointed ont by
the clear words of the Constitution and by
my oath of office and did not hesitate to
treat TIE subject with the firmness and ac
| ton which the urgency Of the case required
! The bill to distribute the securities in the
Sinking Fund among several newly incorpo
rated railroad companies, and to substitute
for them very inferior, if not utterly worth
less obligations, was sent to me only on tht
day next preceding the final adjournment O
the Legislature, although it had passed both
Houses about two weeks before. Borrow
ing time from the usual hours of rest, | wa.
enabled, the next morning, to return tht
bill with my objections to the House il
which it originated. There its further con
sideration was postponed, and no final judg
ment upon it was pronounced. 1t stand
now among the open questions which MAJ
be revived at future session. 1t ma,
again be introduced and passed next winter
or at anv subsequent time, without any EN-


barrassment from any prior decision of eth


er House against it. And if the member
shin of both Houses shall be so made up, a


any time that two-third vote for the meas


ure can be obtained in each, its enactinen


into law will become certain, and the bar


den of yeur taxes will be inevitably increas


ed and prolonged


An Executive veto is in the nature of a


appeal to the people, to enable them to pas
upon controverted questions involving gray