Year: 1873

oet'leu anu they nave acquired the


ability to earn their own livelihood
The establishment of industrious schools,
wherein useful trades may be taught,
seems to promise the easiest and best
solution of this problem.


1t is highly important that in times Of
lnsurection aud riot there should be at
command good and efficient force of
militia to assist the civil power to protect
property and maintain its authority. To
create such a force it seems absolutely ne
cessary that the State must extend its aid
in a more substantial way to those who
enlist in her service The fines for the
non performance of militia duty are obnox
lous to many of our best citizens, and
yield at best but slender income, aud
that, too, on wrong basis, for property
and not the individual should be taxed
The military should be well distributed
throughout the State, and the number OF
companies limited, and within the limit,
to make them efficient, every company
accepted, when found to be up to the pro
per standard of numbers, drill and discip-
line, should receive directly from the pub
lie treasury at least $500 per anuum


The fire aud the life insurance com
pauies are making an effort to secure uni
form legislation in all the States, and the
States having large home interest in
insurance have been the first to adopt
that priu ci pie. To impose heavy fees and
taxes upon insurance companies incor
porated in other States, and doing bust
ness in this, reacts upon the home com
pauies by reason of the recip iproca laws of
those States. If it is deemed desirable
to protect and foster the home insurance
interest, already too long neglected, let
uniform laws be enacted. To me it seems
this interest is Of sufficient Importance to
warrant the temporary loss of portion of
the revenue now received from the for
eign companies. The revenue from our
own companies will increase by reason of
their enlarged business, and we will thus
be compensated for such temporary loss


The necessity for immediate action on
the part of our people to insure the sue
cess of the Centennial Exhibitions must
be realized by every thinking man. Its
failure will be to our lasting shame-its
success must rebound to the honor and
permanent benefit of the Commonwealth
Located in our metropolis, which is fast
moving to the front Of the manufacturing
cities of the world, affording an oppor
tunity to display the products and resour
ces oil our State, and opening to foreigners
new channels OF Information as to our
character and enterprises, it certainly is
the imperative duty of every citizen who
loves his State 10 lend his countenance
and support to this great exhibition. The
dignity and good name of the Common
wealth are at stake. Let US not forfeit
these by lack Of public spirit, or by mis-
taken economy. Any proper plan the
Legislature may see fit to adopt to aid this
national undertaking shall receive the
hearty concurrence of the Executive.


The subject OF constitutional reform is
now occupying large share of public
attention. Opinions are various as to its
propriety or necessity, as the views of
men are conservative or progressive
There is now, however, in session in Phil
adelphia convention of respectable and
honorable gentlemen, fresh from the peo
pie, aud authorized by them to revise the
Constitution. To these gentlemen we
confidently refer these questions of con
stitutional reform, in the belief that out
of their combined integrity and wisdom
will spring such measures as will best con
duce to our safety, happiness and pros
perity.


There is one paramount and growing
evil. however, to which, by my oath as
your Executive and my sense of duty as
citizen, [ am constrained to ask your
serious attention. | alude to special le-
gislation or the abuse Of legislative pow
err to further particular local and private
ends to the exclusion of public business.
| cannot condemn this evil in language
too strong. and it seems but the part of
common sense that some positive restric-
ton be put upon legislation that will
confne it to public objects, and make its
enactments uniform and general


There is another subject to which |
may be permitted to advert, because it
concerns one of my most important func.
tions | refer to the pardoning power
The exercise OF this power rests excul
sively within the discretion aud con-
science of the Executive and when we
consider the opportunities Of the friends
of condemned man, aud their natural
medication to use every Influence to OBJ
tain a pardon, it must be conceded that
this power is a trying and dangerous one
with which to invest any indivldual.-
Any provision that would relieve the con
science and divide the responsibility OF
the exercise of this power must surely
commend itself to good sense OF our
people.


There is popular demand, too, that
the sinking fund, containing bonds that
represent the proceeds of the sale of the
public works, and which are applicable
alone to the payment Of the public debt,
shall be kept sacred for the purpose to
which it is dedicated. and that the safe