Year: 1873

which is neither necessary nor e3peulent Ill d
time of peace.


The protection of the misunderstanding birds
is urged, by recommending the passage Of a
law making it punishable by fine and impris'
onment to kill, at any time, or to destroy the
nests of certain insectivorous birds, among
which are enumerated the sparrow, robin,
bluebird, martin, thrush, mocking-bird, swal-
low, meadow lark, finch, &c. Statistics and
lengthy arguments are adduced to show that
these birds are the farmers friends, and save
annually millions Of dollars worth of crops
from the ravages of worms and insects.


A repeal of the jury law is recommended,
providing that the Board Of Jury Commis-
sioners shall prepare jury lists and draw the
jurors whenever it shall be necessary for the
holding of any regular or special term OF the
Court Of General Session or Common Pleas, in
their respective counties.


A repeal of the agricultural lien laws is
recommended as follows:


"a celebrated writer upon governmental
science made the remark, founded upon wide
observation, that "the true art Of government
consists in governing as little as possible"
This is no doubt, true, and was designed to
enforce the correct principle that legislative
enactment should not unnecessarily trammel
individual enterprise or independence in the
ordinary business relations of the citizen.


The State, however, while it may not prop
erly dictate in this particular, can, as matter
of public policy, wisely foster that system of
private contracts that will, in the judgment
of the Legislator, tend to advance the great
est good of the largest number Of the people.
In this view, and in the common interest of
the agricultural laborer and the land owner,
I earnestly recommend speedy change in
our existing agricultural lien laws.


We are now working chiefly on the share
system in the raising Of crops. This is known
as the Italian plan of "cropping," and it has
kept the agricultural laborers Of Italy poor
for the past three centuries, and has greatly
aided in making that country the symbol Of
retrograde civilization.


This mode of working lands breeds discon-
tent among both employers and laborers,
tends to frauds upon both, and multiplies liti.
gatbn, while under it the laborer receives but
little, if any, surplus from his labor.


We should foster the English or "tenantry"
system, which consists in the owner of the
land renting his land, annually, or for a lon
ger period, at a stipulated yearly rental. At
present, this manifestly good system is not
encouraged among us, as We have no statute
making the rent for the land lien upon any
part of the tenants crop. Thus landholders
are afforded good reason on which, in most
instances, they refuse to rent their land to
those who have nothing but their labor to
depend upon.


The lien law only secures those who ad-
vance supplies to carry on and make the crop,
and these advances may cover the entire pro-
duct of the land. This, too, should be correct
ed. The laborer, or tenant and his family,
should be guarded against his own improvi'
dence by statutory enactment, limiting. the
proportion of the crop that the lien for farm
supplies shall cover.


I, therefore, trust that, before the close OF
your present session, a lien law will be passed
providing that the charge for the rental Of
the land, pursuant to the terms Of the lease,
shall constitute a preferred lien upon the
crops raised thereon, during the continuance
of such lease: Provided, That the lien for the
yearly rent shall not cover more than one
fourth of the annual crops.


The lien for supplies advanced to carry on
the farm should be restricted to one-half of
the entire crop on which such advances are
made"


The Deaf Dumb and Blind Asylum is
alluded to in general terms. The number
admitted during the fiscal year ending Octo-
31st, 1872, was forty.one, who, it is stated, are
well cared for by an able, diligent and faith
full corps of officers.


On the subject of the State finances, the
message holds the following language: my
sense Of duty to your honorable bodies, and
to those whom you represent, will not allow
me to make any recommendation in regard to
the debt of the State until have amply for.
tilted myself, by the judgment and approval
of those whose efforts have been directed, for
long time past, to discovery Of path of
safety for the State from out of the labyrinth
of danger in which she is involved. l am
unwilling to enter upon this grave and mo-
mentous subject until I can see my way clear.
ly to the end. Haste to utter an opinion
never proves its wisdom. Let US ask patient
waiting on the part of the people, and tenn:
porary pacifcation of all their hopes and
fears"


The document concludes in the following
language: :,


"The present administration has entered
upon the duties assigned it under the organic
law and the statutes of the State, with bank
rupt treasury, and shattered State credit.
It's advent has been heralded by loud assevera-
tions, on the part of political opponents, that
it would doom the commonwealth to still
deeper financial disaster, and enlarge the bur-
dens of the people.


These forecastings of coming evils to the
State, although impelled originally by indi-
vidual or party prejudice, also expressed the
honest fears and sincere convictions OF many
good and estimable citizens. Happily those
who urged them with malevolence were as de-
void of the prescience Of the prophet as they
are of his charity.


The Athenians built a column, and inscribed
upon it the words "To time, who vindicates."
It is for US to determine the irreversible de-
cree ofhistory as to whether our accusers have
Justly charged US. If we faithfully perform
our duties to the State, we can, in this matter,
safely repose our vindication upon the public
judgment and the public conscience, which
eventually are right; rarely, if ever, wrong.


The passions that were heated in the fierce
crucible of political antagonism are now rap
idly cooling, and men are temperately view
ing the situation as it is. I ask only for this
administration that it shall be judged by its
work, and that its work shall be measured by
the real difficulties that environ it.


Those difficulties are not insurmountable.
The elements of material prosperity are being
everywhere combined and developed in the
State. 1t is for us to take care that no act Of