HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. XVI.--NO. 24. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 12, 1835. No. 414. GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. and fifteen thousand three hundred and forty three dollars and ninety-two cents, for the privilege of loan To the Senate and House of Representatives of the ing her nine hundred and fifty nine thousand, six hun Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: dred dollars, for thirty years, at the rate of interest just mentioned. The correspondence in relation, to this loan will be laid before you. Since the commencement of the internal improve. FELLOW CITIZENS.-In transmitting the annual message to the General Assembly according to usage and the directions of the Constitution, I should do injusticement policy, adopted by the state in 1826 to the preto my own feelings, if, in addressing you on the state of the Commonwealth, I should omit to offer my congratulations upon its prosperous and truly flourishing condition. sent period, we have expended in the construction of canals and Rail Roads, twenty two millions, four hundred and twenty thousand, and three dollars and thirty two cents. The whole of this sum has been borrowed Pennsylvania has reached an eminence moral and at an interest of five per cent. per annum, and has physical, which leaves her second to no state in the yielded to the Treasury in premiums upon the respec union. Her wealth, her enterprise, and her recent sys-tive loans, an aggregate of one million three hundred tem for the attainment of knowledge, have elevated and fifty six thousand six hundred and fifty three dolher character abroad, and given her strength and diglars and thirty six cents. Of this sum, one million, two nity at home. Her extensive lines of Rail Roads and hundred and seventy eight dollars and thirty six cents Canals, her ample and steadily increasing revenues, in were received upon loans negociated since the eigh connection with her agricultural, manufacturing and teenth day of December, eighteen hundred and twenty mineral productions, will, in a short period of time, nine, and regularly applied in aid of other funds appro have thrown around her a power and an energy com- priated to the same object, to the payment of interest mensurate with all her future schemes of physical and accruing upon the public debt. intellectual improvement, with the consummation of every project which her.commercial interests in honorable rivalry with neighboring states may demand, or the requisitions of an enlightened public policy may render it expedient for her to accomplish. Much has been done by her within a few years; much still remains for her to do; and that she may be able to reach the acme of wealth and power, which will leave her without a rival, and to which she must eventually attain,nual advances upon our loans, the State would have her march must still be onward. Nothing can stop her in her career to pre-eminence, short of a mercenary spirit, which, if indulged now that a solid foundation for such a superstructure has been successfully laid, would be to her future prospects, what blasting and mildew to the expectations of the farmer, whose crop, upon which he has bestowed much labor, has been visit ed by their withering influence. There can be no reasonable cause for further procrastination-the means are at hand; and the whole scheme of improvement as originally contemplated, may be accomplished in less .time, and at less cost now, than it could be executed for at a more remote period. We are indebted for these auxiliary supplies to the well established credit of the state and the well grounded confidence reposed in its characteristic punctuality, as well as its unquestioned ability to meet all its engage ments, and which enabled us to execute one of the bolest designs, and to consummate one of the most stupendous works of art known among the achievements of modern times. Without the aid of these anbeen driven to the necessity of borrowing sums equivalent to the premiums received, to meet the interest upon its debt, which would have been a policy at once destructive of its financial interests and fatal to its cre dit; or a resort must have been had to oppressive taxa tion; neither of which measures, it is believed, would have been sanctioned by the people, and consequently the prosecution of this great public work must have ceased, and the benefits already realized, as well as the solid advantages which they hold out, in prospect of which no just estimate can be formed, would have been lost to the public. The effect, however, produced by establishing a perThe measures adopted for establishing the credit of manent fund for the payment of interest, by imposing the Commonwealth have been attended with the hapa light tax, and the prosperous condition of the compiest effects. When her loans are now offered in the monwealth during the prosecution of the public works market, they never fail to command, active competition which was produced principally by the expenditure of and high premiums. Her public stocks inspire confi- the large sums of money in their construction, has ena dence, both at home and abroad; and from the passing bled us to complete in about eight years of active exerof the act of March 1830, authorizing a lo1n of four tion, six hundred and one and a quarter miles of canal millions of dollars, down to that of the 13th of April and slack water navigation and one hundred and eighlast, directing the borrowing of nine hundred and fifty teen miles and three quarters of railway, making an nine thousand six hundred dollars, there has been but aggregate of seven hundred and twenty miles of im one solitary check to her prosperous career in her ex-provements; to which may be added seven and a half tensive monied transactions, and that was but of momen-miles of extension on the West Branch of the Susque tary duration. hanna, authorized by act of the last session, four of which are now in navigable order, and the residue, I am informed, will be finished during the current year. The loan last mentioned, was negociated in the usual manner, under the usual notice, and was awarded to the Bank of Pennsylvania, at a premium of twelve dollars and two cents upon every one hundred dollars of stock, bearing an interest of five per cent, per annum; in other words, the Bank pays to the state one hundred VOL. XVI. 47 A state of peace and unexampled prosperity, com bined with judicious measures to inspire public confi. dence, have enabled us to consummate a work so little burden ome to the people, which will place our future prosperity out of the reach of rival neighbours, will add greatly to the general and individual wealth, and will be the admiration and pride of this and succeeding generations. permitted to expire by their own respective limitations. And here permit me to remark, that so far from this administration being obnoxious to the ungenerous charge of having involved the State in inextricable ruin, by plunging it into an onerous and overwhelming debt, for the payment of which, the hard earnings of its citizens of every grade and condition, will, from time to time be filched from them, it will soon be made manifest, that a fund has been secured to the Commonwealth, proceeding from the very improvements for which the debt was contracted, which will not only relieve its citizens from future taxation, as well for payenable the Government, at no distant day, to establish a sinking fund for the liquidation of the debt itself, which, if steadily and faithfully applied to that object, will, at no very remote period, place the State in the enviable condition of possessing an annual revenue of several millions of dollars, at the same time that it will have been entirely exonerated and discharged from all its debts contracted for the purposes of internal improvement. It will be found upon reference to the records of the auditing department, that the taxes paid into the State Treasury, under the several acts of the 25th of March, 1831, entitled respectively, "An act for assessing a tax on personal property, to be collected with the county rates and levies for the use of the commonwealth," and "An act to increase the county rates and levies for the use of the commonwealth," up to the first of November of the present year, a period of about four years and eight months, amounted to seven hundret and fortyment of interest as for other state purposes; but will one thousand five hundred and fifty seven dollars and ninety eight cents, making the average amount paid annually upon the personal and real estate within the commonwealth, about one hundred and fifty eight thousand nine hundred and five dollars and twenty eight cents. This sum divided among the whole tax-paying population of Pennsylvania annually, for the period I have mentioned, has constituted the whole burden which the extensive line of public improvements has inflicted upon the people of this great and opulent State. There are, however, arrearages of those taxes still outstanding, which will doubtless be collected and paid into the Treasury in due time. The condition of the commonwealth, in regard to the revenues, produced by her public works, presenting an aspect so prosperous: it would seem that the period has arrived, when there ought to be no further impediThe amount of tolls for the fiscal year ending on the ment to their extension, to such points as give the great31st day of October last, were estimated by the account est promise of usefulness in affording facilities to our ing officers, in their last annual report, at seven hun-internal commerce, and in rendering more profitable, dred thousand dollars; the actual receipts into the Trea the works already finished. Among these the extensury have fallen short of that estimate, however, about sion from the western termination of the Penn-ylvania fifteen thousand six hundred and forty two dollars and canal, to the harbor of Lake Erie, by such route as will twenty-three cents, the amount actually received, being afford the greatest facilities in its construction, as well six hundred and eighty four thousand three hundred as ensure the most constant supply of the necessary and fifty seven dollars and seventy seven cents, exceed-element to make it answer the great and important ends ing the receipts of the preceding year, three hundred seventy four thousand, five hundred and sixty eight dollars and sixty two cents. for which it will have been designed; presents strong claims which ought, in my opinion, to be no longer postponed. Equally important to the interests of the It is estimated that the revenue arising from the pub state, and of the people of a large and interesting dis lic improvements alone, for the current year, will not trict of country, is the project of carrying the canal fall short of, but in all probability, will exceed a mil-from its termination at the mouth of the Lackawana lion of dollars, which, with the outstanding taxes up- creek, up the north branch of the Susquehanna, to the posed to amount to about three hundred and ten thou-line dividing the states of Pennsylvania and New York, sand dollars; the ordinary revenues arising from other to intersect the Elmira Canal and Ithaca Bail-road now sources applicable to the same object, and the premi in operation in that state. ums upon loans, should it be deemed expedient to borrow money for further extensions of the public works, will be sufficient to liquidate all the claims for interest and the ordinary expenses of the government, without the necessity of having recourse to other means to meet those objects. Having found the Commonwealth involved in pecuniary embarrassments at the time the administration of its affairs was committed to my care, which left me no alternative, other than an appeal to taxation, which is always odious to the people, or an immediate abandonment of a great and most important public enterprize in which the state had engaged, upon which she had already expended a large amount of money, and had contracted for the expenditure of many mill ons more, and having met the emergency and taken the course to which my duty to the state, its interest and character pointed, but which placed me in the unenviable situa. tion of being the first Chief Magistrate to recommend a state tax for any purpose; I rejoice that the affairs of the Commonwealth have been brought to an issue so prosperous during the continuance of my administration, as to enable me to be the first also to announce to the Representatives of the people, and to our common constituents, the cheering intelligence, which will not be more grateful to them than it is to myself, that further taxation for state purposes will not be required; and that the several acts of the 25th March, 1831, for assessing a tax on personal property, and for increasing the county rates and levies for the use of the Commonwealth, may, without injury to the public interests, be The completion of both improvements at the earliest period possible, is highly important, whilst the trade of the Lakes, of the Territory of Michigan, the states of Ohio, Illinois and others of the western and south wes tein states would find vent on the one-the salt, plaster and flour of western New York, would be transported into the interior of Pennsylvania, and the iron and coal of the latter state, would be carried in return in'o the state of New York upon the other. The advantages arising to the con monwealth, from the construction of both the projected works, it is believed would be of immense importance. The increase of population which would immediately follow the commencement of those additional improvements, would of itself, be a sufficient justification for the expenditure in their construction; but the increase of revenue which would be added, upon their completion, to that already produced, and the facilities afforded to the people of those regions, in finding a market for their surplus produce, places the propriety of the measure beyond all question. Whilst on this subject, permit me also to suggest the proprie ty of authorizing a further reconnoisance to ascertain the practicability of a route for a canal, from some point on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, to connect with the French Creek Division, and by that Di vision ultimately with the harbor of Lake Erie. It has been a subject of regret with many of our scientific and patriotic citizens, that legislative attention had not long since been directed to the expediency of authorizing a Geological and Mineralogical survey of this state. Abounding as it is known to do, in every 371 GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. [DECEMBER variety of mineral wealth, such a survey would be of measure, you will doubtless perceive the necessity of incalculable value, in still further developing the hid- making provisionary law, for complying with the exden resources of our prolific and opulent common pressed will of the majority, at as early a period as poswealth. The discoveries which have already been sible, by fixing upon the time, place, and manner of made, accidentally and without the aid of scientific ex-holding and conducting the elections for the choice of amination, strongly indicate the mmense advantages delegates throughout the state, as well as the time and that might be expected from a thorough Geological ex- place of their meeting for carrying into effect the obploration. Our state is emphatically the centre or heart jects for which they shall have been elected. That the of the Union. She has made and is still making, either people may be safely trusted with that which most imin her own right, or by delegating authority for that mediately concerns themselves, and at their pleasure purpose to others, rapid advances in the construction of || change or retain their form of government as to them Canals and Rail Roads, which are the great arteries may seem expedient and proper, is a position which through which, by means of other great channels of may not now be controverted; and whatever objections communication with which they either are, or will be may be started in relation to the mode adopted for asconnected, incalculable millions of tons of our mineral certaining the public sentiment, in reference to that and agricultural productions will ultimately be trans measure, (the constitution having made no provision ported to every extremity of our extensive country. for such an emergency,) there can be no doubt in reHere then I might stop and rest the propriety of the gard to their right to adopt such a course, to enable measure upon the additional productiveness it would them to bring about a reform, as they themselves shall occasion to that source of public wealth and revenue. consider best adapted to the attainment of that object. By expressing their opinions at the ballot box in the form and manner prescribed by the Act of Assembly, they have recognized its provisions as directory to them at least, and admitted its authority as effectually as if the act had emanated immediately from them. selves. But there are other considerations of paramount importance, which affect the interests of the farmer, the manufacturer and the citizen, and which would render such a measure still more highly beneficial: to the for mer, it would unfold the localities in which are contained mineral substances, pregnant with those manuring and fertilizing qualities which would enable him to In my last annual message, I took occasion to express reclaim and enrich his soil: to the manufacturer there my views at large, in relation to the pernicious consewould be developed and applied to their proper uses, quences resulting from the creation of monopolies by that endless variety of ores, sinds, clay, and other legislative enactment, and the indiscriminate conferring materials so essential to the profitab'e prosecution of of banking and other corporate privileges, to the manihis business; and to our citizens, generally, there fest danger of ultimately undermining the stability of would be discovered many new sources of wealth in our free institutions, and the obvious injustice resulting their mines and their quarries, which lie concealed from them to individual enterprise. I have discovered from them now, but which the measure proposed no cause for changing the opinions expressed in that would enable them to realize and convert to profitable document, and would respectfully refer you to it for and valuable uses This subject might be enlarged the reasons therein assigned, why the further progress upon; but it may be sufficient to add, that if such a in that course of legislation ought to cease, and a more survey was authorized and carried successfully into ef- equitable mode of distributing public favors be introfect, it would have a tendency greatly to increase the duced. The Banks chartered during the last session of value of our soil; it would add largely to its produc- the legislature, being two in number, having supplied tiveness, and that of our Canals and Railways; it would the only localities in the state, in which such institu elevate still more the character of or State; it would tions had not previously been established, with the fapromote the cause of science, and for a comparatively clities for the transaction of business which other portrifling expenditure, we should secure a denser popu- tions of the community had long and profitably enjoyed, lation, and add incalculably to our individual and gene- but which to them had theretofore been denied, it ral prosperity. Permit me then, to recommend this would seem that a further increase of such establishimportant measure to your early attention. The workments in any part of the con monwealth would be sumight progress gradually: an annual sum, such as the perfluous, and should be zealously guarded against, Treasury could spare without injury to other interests, and that every additional application for similar privimight be appropriated for this object, until it shall have leges should be regarded with jealousy and distrust. been completed. Several of our sister States are engaged in thus exploring their hidden resources. One of them, Massachusetts, has finished her survey, and is now realizing the advantages resulting from it-a few years, and I trust Pennsylvania will be doing like wise. In pursuance of the provisions of an act of the General Assembly, passed at their last session, the people of this state have recently decided a question, which has for a considerable time past agitated the public mind, by causing their votes for or against the call of a Convention to amend the constitution; the fundamental law upon which their government and all their civil, and, I may add, their religious institutions rest, and by which they have for the last forty-five years been protected: their decision is understood to have resulted in favor of a Convention, by a very decided majority of the votes given in reference to that measure; and whatever opinions may have been heretofore entertained by any of us upon that subject, it becomes our duty now, to bow to the will of the people so unequivocally expressed, and to take the necessary steps to carry it into elfect. After ascertaining officially, therefore, the state of the vote in relation to the call of a Convention, if it should turn out as it is believed to be, in favor of that An evil, in my apprehension, of no ordinary magnitude has been introduced into our legislation, against the pernicious tendency of which, and its further progress, I would beg leave most earnestly to remonstrate-I mean the practice of guaranteeing by legisla tive enactment, the payment of the interest upon the capital employed by companies incorporated for accomplishing some alleged object of improvement, in which the state has no direct or immediate interest; thus placing the commonwealth in the attitude of an underwriter insuring to the corporators an interest of five per cent. upon the capital invested in a project, which, when completed may never yield three or even one per cent.-in short, it is insuring that against all risk, which was undertaken as a speculation at a risk; so far at least, as the usual rate of interest now paid for loans is concerned-a perseverance in this course of legislation, will, before long operate like a canker upon the public purse, and reduce your Treasury to a state of financial embarrassment, from which it will require no ordinary skill as well as means to relieve it. It would be much better that the state should cause the work to be constructed in its own right, if it promises to be of public utility; or that a subscription of stock should be authorized in its behalf, which would at least give it the advantage of being represented which no reports have been received, has been divided into nine hundred and seven school districts; of this number, five hundred and thirty-six have accepted, and three hundred and seventy-one have rejected the previsions of the law. The directors of the several districts adopting the system, have been somewhat remiss in transmitting their reports; they are, however, daily arriving at the Secretary's office, who, as the Superintendent of common schools, will be enabled, at an early day, to lay before you a detailed report of the progress of the system, the effects it produces where it has gone into operation, and the future prospects of its friends in relation to it. in the direction and management of the construction of the work and the expenditure of the money. It is to the General Assembly as the protectors of the people's rights and the guardians of their interests, the public must look to apply the remedy of these growing evils. In the legislative body alone, resides the power to restrict and to control that insatiable thirst for monopolies and chartered privileges, that morbid spirit of speculation which would make the state stand sponsor for every abortive scheme in which corporations may choose to embark-it is there the axe must be laid to the root of the mischief, and these excrescences upon the body politic lopped off and deprived of their future growth. The Executive, it is true, may interpose his negative, but that should be confined to extreme cases From the reports received, it appears that in sixtyinvolving constitutional difficulties, or at most, should six districts in which the system is adopted, there are be applied to bills providing for measures glaringly in- two hundred and thirty-eight schools in successful ope. expedient, and too palpably improper to receive the ration, in which are instructed nine thousand six hunforce of laws. A more general application of that pow. dred and eighty children; and in ten other districts acer would necessarily bring the Executive and Legislative preparations are making to carry it into effect. tive branches of the Government into collision with each other, and destroy that harmony which is essential to a judicious and prosperous termination of its affairs. The directors of the several districts in which the schools are in operation speak well in their reports of the characters and general conduct of the teachers; the scholars they say are improving in their studies-they express much satisfaction with the system itself; its advantages to such as will avail themselves of it, and its. ultimate general utility. ple generally, but especially with the more liberal more apparent, it will increase in favor with the peominded and intelligent; that the friends of a virtuous and moral education, to be extended to all the children. within our extensive commonwealth, will eventually some of which I understand will be suggested in the re port of the Superintendent of Common Schools, there is every reason for confident assurance, that the system, will work its way into public favor, and will eventually be universally accepted and approved. The proper accounting officers will lay before you their respective reports showing the state of the finances of the Commonwealth for the fiscal year, ending on the 31st of October last; from which it will appear that the There can be no doubt that as the system advances receipts into the Treasury, exclusive of loans and pre-into more general use, and its advantages become miums upon loans, but arising from the ordinary sources of revenue only during that period, amounted to the sum of one million five hundred and twenty three thousand and six dollars and sixty-one cents: which, with the balance remaining in the Treasury on the first of November, 1834, of fifty-four thousand and ninety-triumph; and with the adoption of a few modifications, two dollars and twenty cents, gives an aggregate of one million five hundred and seventy-seven thousand and ninety-eight dollars and eighty-one cents-and that the expenditures during the same period including interest upon loans, but not embracing the sum borrowed by authority of the act of 17th January last, applica. ble to that object, amounted to one million three hundred and eighty-one thousand three hundred and three dollars and seventy-one cents, leaving a balance in the Treasury, on the first of November last, of one hundred and ninety five thousand seven hundred and ninety-five dollars and ten cents, which, together with so much of the moneys since received into the Treasury, as will be pecessary for that purpose, may be applied to the re: payment of the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, borrowed from the Bank of Pennsylvania, for the payment of interest on the first of February last. in pursuance of the act of the 17th of January above menwoned, and which is directed to be repaid within twelve months from the date of that act. Should the repayment of the said loan be made as mentioned, it will become necessary to make provision-by law for procuring by loan or otherwise, a sum sufficient to meet any deficiency that may happen in the fund for the payment of interest on the first of February next, to be repaid out of any sum in the Treasury, at any time hereafter, not otherwise appropriated. It is estimated that the revenues for the fiscal year now current, will be amply sufficient to meet the interest and all other or dinary demands upon the government, and leave a balance in the Treasury on the first of November next. I have the satisfaction to state for the information of the friends of education generally, that the provisions of the act to establish a general system of education by common schools, passed the first day of April, 1834, and its supplement of the 15th of April last, have been accepted by a large majority of the school districts within the Commonwealth, as reported to the superintendent of public schools. The state, exclusive of the city and county of Philadelphia, which are not embraced within the provisions of the law, and the counties of Columbia, Montgomery, Greene, and Clearfield, from General Assembly, "relating to the Chesapeake and At the last session a resolution was adopted by the Delaware Canal," which was referred to the Attorney General for his opinion in regard to the measures proper to be pursued for carrying the objects of the resolution into effect. That officer with his character, istic industry and ability, has given the subject as thorough an examination as the circumstances within his reach would admit, and the result of his investiga tions has been transmitted in the shape of a legal opinion which furnishes a history in detail of the origin and progress of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, with, the causes of the obstructions and embarrassments complained of in the resolution, and points out the legal remedy for their removal; a copy of which will be laid gislative action in relation to a subject so important before you for your consideration, and such further le to our citizens, as to the General Assembly shall seem expedient and proper. The Judiciary of Pennsylvania, as at present organized, so far as my information extends, is generally esteemed to be efficient, safe, and entirely adequate to a prompt and vigorous administration of the lawsComplaints of the law's delay are no longer heard. The Judges are generally able, industrious men, and sound jurists, whose decisions command the confidence and respect of the public. I am not aware that any additional legislation is required in regard to that depart.. ment of the Government at this time. The militia system is deplorably defective, and requires prompt attention to its re-organization and tho rough amendment. It ought, if possible, to be raised above the reproach and ridicule which its inefficiency and general defectiveness have brought upon it. It is true, to make it what it should be, the action of Congress must be brought to bear upon it—but by encour GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. ageing voluntary associations, you may provoke a military ardor, which will add much to the efficiency of the system, and infuse a spirit of subordination and discipline into the whole body of the militia, which will inspire confidence, and make it in a measure what it ought to be, the bulwark of the nation. 373 esty had been committed, which it was their province The Penitentiary system still continues to accomplish all the beneficial effects which its philanthropic projectors could reasonably have expected from it. One of its greatest excellencies over all former plans of prison discipline, consist in the prevention of all combination as well as contamination, and the favorable opportunity it affords to the convict of reformation and amendment of life, which is eminently exemplified in the lives and characters of those who have been subjected to its inflictions. All the cells directed by law, to be built in the Eastern Penitentiary, are said to be nearly completed, and all the blocks occupied except one, which containing one hundred and thirty-six cells, is plastered and some of the doors are hung, and will be finished in season for the reception of prisoners in the spring; the appropriation made at the last session, is deemed to be sufficient to complete all the cells now For some time past, certain individuals under the built. The prisoners sentenced under the different pe nal laws, to the Eastern Penitentiary, are now all re- cognomen of abolitionists, few in number, but manifestceived into that prison. The state of the finances of ing a zeal worthy of a better cause, have been labour. this institution will appear in the report which will ing most assiduously to impress upon the public mind shortly be made to the Legislature. On the first of the necessity of an immediate emancipation of that porJanuary last, there were two hundred and eighteention of our population now held in bondage by the peoprisoners confined in the Eastern Penitentiary, and ple of the south. As might well be supposed, the prothere have been received into it from various counties mulgation of such doctrines produced an excitement of in the district, from that time until the twenty-first of no ordinary character in that portion of the Union where November last, one hundred and twenty-eight, and slavery exists; and it has excited feelings of sympathy from Walnut street prison sixty-nine, who had been to a very great extent in other parts of the United sentenced to the Eastern Penitentiary, but were detain- States, which have called forth expressions of public ed in the former prison until a sufficient number of cells sentiment on the subject of a most decided character. could be prepared for their reception, making the In Pennsylvania, public meetings have been held, which whole number received, one hundred and ninety-seven. have responded in emphatic language to the sentiments. Seventy have been discharged during that period, by expressed elsewhere. There is, I believe, very little expiration of sentence and pardon, and three died, leav- difference of feeling in regard to the question of slavery ing in the Penitentiary on the 21st of November last, in the abstract, among us; we all deplore its existence; three hundred and twenty-four male, and eighteen fe- we deprecate it as an evil, and it is presumed there are male prisoners. The conduct and deportment of the but few of us who would not rejoice if there was not a prisoners is represented to have been generally satisfac- remnant of it left upon our soil. Inhabiting a state which tory, and as far as has been ascertained, most of the was the first to abolish slavery, we cannot be affected convicts who were discharged during either the present by the existing excitement, otherwise than as members or past years, have conducted themselves so as to satis of the great American confederacy, and as forming a fy those who had an opportunity of judging, that the link in the great chain which binds it together; as such legislature were not in error, when they founded the we are deeply interested in the peace, the unity and inPenitentiary system. I have received no information tegrity of the whole. This most delicate, and I may in relation to the condition of the Western Institution, be permitted to say, unfortunate subject, formed a part and must, therefore, refer you generally, to the report of the civil polity of the South before, and at the time of our great political association. The sages of the reof its Inspectors which will shortly be laid before you. The prosperity of our country throughout its whole volution to whom the arrangement and detail of the extent is great beyond all former example, but it is to political compact were intrusted, were aware of its exbe lamented that whilst our hearts should be filled with istence in its fullest extent; they were no strangers to gratitude and humble devotion for the bounties of Pro- the servile condition of the slave, non to the burdens vidence, to Him who bestows them, there should have inflicted upon the master; they knew that the evil exbeen manifested in some portions of the Union, a spirit isted, but they saw the impossibility of providing an adof wantonness and insubordination, which have set aside equate remedy. They were well convinced that there the ordinary forms of law, and executed summary ven- existed rights and interests which could not be abrogatgeance upon the devoted heads of whosoever might falled or abridged without preventing, forever, the esta within its power, according to its own undefined, illicit blishment of that union which they were anxious to cecode of criminal justice. Wherever this spirit was ment; or producing consequences to their country of a dominant, a self-constituted tribunal, pre-determined far more dangerous and disastrous character and tendenthat the victim should suffer the penalty whether guilty cy, than the existence of the rights and interests they or innocent, was the arbiter of his fate. Property, life, were about to concede. The rights were admitted, howliberty, reputation, every thing that is dear to man up- ever; and the interests conceded, among the many other on earth, was made to submit to this relentless, ordeal. concessions which it became necessary to grant before all Men became the voluntary executioners of their fellow the conflicting claims could be reconciled, or the parmen. The most inhuman atrocities and wanton cold ties to the great bond of Union which it was their purblooded murders were committed in the open face of pose to form and to perpetuate, could be harmonized day, and anctioned by communities who would feel and conciliated. themselves, greatly scandalised by having it supposed that they were not models of refinement, intelligence, and respectability. Mobs were collected together under the pretence that some act of immorality or dishon These rights remain as sacred now as they were then, and these interests are as sacredly vested in the people of the slave holding communities, now, as they were considered and known to be then; and we are solemnly |