A motion was made by Mr. Davidson and Mr. Grosh, and read as follows, to wit:

WHEREAS, by an act of the general assembly, passed on the 19th day of March, 1816, the secretary of the commonwealth and surveyor-general were authorised and required immediately to contract with a suitable person or persons for the formation of a map of each county in the commonwealth, and on the receipt of the said maps, or as soon as they might deem expedient, contract with some suitable person for the publication of a map of Pennsylvania, the original county maps to be furnished to the publisher by the surveyor-general as soon as they were received, examined, corrected and copied by him, for the purpose of making a connected map of the state, as aforesaid:

Therefore,

Resolved, That the secretary of the commonwealth and surveyor-general be and they hereby are required to lay before the Senate a statement of the progress of the state map, particularly noting the causes of delay, whether in the contractors for the county maps, or either of them, or in the contractor for the state map, or from circumstances out of the controul of either, and such other information relative thereto as in their opinion the public interest requires.

On motion,

Said resolution was again read, considered and adopted.

On motion of Mr. Markley and Mr. Power,

The resolution read yesterday, on the subject of standing committees, was again read, considered and adopted, and the several items referred as follows, to wit:

1. Accounts. To Mr. Davidson, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Cadwallader, Mr. Feger and Mr. Alter.

2. The Judiciary System. To Mr. Markley, Mr. Hill, Mr. Smith, Mr. Hubley and Mr. Piper.

3. The Militia System. To Mr. Barnard, Mr. Markley, Mr. Power, Mr. Eichelberger, Mr. Winter, Mr. Hill and Mr. Cochran.

4. Banks. To Mr. Grosh, Mr. Willet, Mr. Leib, Mr. Eyster and Mr. Dickerson.

5. Claims. To Mr. Dickerson, Mr. Fry, Mr. M'Mullin, Mr. Allshouse and Mr. Sawyer.

6. To compare Bills. Mr. Coleman, Mr. Conyngham and Mr Winter.

7. Roads, Bridges and Inland Navigation. To Mr. Breck, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Piper, Mr. Davidson and Mr. Willett. 8. Agriculture and Domestic Manufactures. To Mr. Cochran, Mr. Fry, Mr. Cadwallader, Mr. Hurst and Mr. Al

ter.

9. Education. To Mr. Raguet, Mr. Smith, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Power and Mr. Conyngham.

The secretary of the commonwealth being introduced, presented a message from the governor, together with the documents therein alluded to, which were read as follows, to wit:

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

FELLOW CITIZENS,

The assemblage of legislative bodies, composed of representatives of the people from all parts of the state, furnishes an interesting commentary upon the theory and principles of republican government; in which by an equal representation of all the parts, the interests of the whole can scarcely fail to be practically understood, faithfuly promoted, and perfectly secured.

The continuance of our civil and religious privileges unimpaired, together with the numerous blessings we enjoy, and especially the bounteous rewards of the labor of the husbandman in the abundant harvests and fruits of the earth, and the merciful preservation of our metropolis from the scourge of a threatened pestilence during the past season, demand our fervent gratitude and devout acknowledgements to the supreme author of all good.

Pennsylvania has long been deservedly distinguished for her agricultural skill and industry; and notwithstanding the many discouragements which prevail, the improvements in this invaluable pursuit are supplying increased products from the soil, that will be substantial resources for comfort, convenience and profit, under every vicissitude of our country: and it is gratifying to observe, that the pecuniary embarrassments which have been so generally felt throughout the state, are yielding to an invigorated industry and exemplary economy, that must, if persevered in, eventually afford an essential relief.

The limited demand for, and consequent low prices of, our agricultural products in foreign markets, cannot fail to suggest the necessity as well as the policy of promoting domestic manufactures, which, if properly encouraged, would provide a sufficient home market for all our surplus produce. Whatever may be expected from legislative enactments, whether by the national

or state governments, in aid of domestic industry, not less is be hoped from the influence of examples that shall tend to eradicate the prejudices and unnatural predelictions of those who prefer to encourage the industry of Europe and Asia to that of their own country.

The wise and judicious policy of the general government in its vigorous and successful exertions to extinguish the public debt, and to provide for the permanent defence of the country, as well as its firmness and moderation in our foreign relations, have not only confirmed the high respect entertained for its character at home and abroad, but it is trusted, have laid the foundations of a long and honorable peace. While the people of this nation shall by their public agents thus persevere in providing for the public safety, in cultivating friendly relations with all the world upon the principles of moral justice, and in cherishing a patriotic regard for national, in preference to local or partial interests, the United States must continue to advance to that high prosperity and permanent security, for which they appear to have been destined by the supreme ruler of the universe.

The various duties which devolved upon the executive department during the recess, have been either executed or are in progress of fulfilment. The commissioners for the superintendance of the state capitol have made a further contract, under the act of last session, for the erection of stone columns, and coppering parts of the roof: copies of which will be laid before you. The capitol is in such forwardness as to justify the expectation that it will be ready for the accommodation of the legislature at their next session; and with a view to that object, a further appropriation will be requisite to provide the necessary furniture.

In the month of April last, I received notice that a general meeting of the stockholders of the "company for erecting a bridge over the Susqhehanna river, in the county of Lancaster, at or near the town of Columbia," had been called, for the purpose of enquiring into some supposed mismanagement of the board of directors. The commonwealth having a considerable interest in the stock of that company, I appointed GEORGE B. PORTER, Esq. an agent, to represent it, at the aforesaid meeting of the stockholders. A copy of his report to me, herewith communicated, will shew the propriety of a vigilant attention to the management of companies in whose stock the commonwealth holds an inter

est.

The constitutional provision, directing that an enumeration of the taxable inhabitants of the state shall be made every seven years, with a view to the apportionment of the members of the legislature in the several counties, will require a law to be passed at the present session to carry it into effect.

The act to continue the district court for the city and county of Philadelphia, will expire by its own limitation on the 30th of March next. Unless it should be deemed advisable to effect such a revision of the judiciary system, as to prevent the necessity of temporary expedients to remedy its defects, the mass of business in the common pleas of that district, will probably require a continuance of this court.

It is now generally admitted that the system of punishing criminals by confinement at hard labor, as it has been established in Pennsylvania, having for its object their reformation and consequent restoration to usefulness in society, does not answer the humane purposes intended by its authors; and I would recommend to your attention a further effort to remedy its de

fects.

The state penitentiary at Pittsburg is constructing upon a plan which contemplates the separate and solitary.confinement of 220 prisoners. But as it was necessary to provide for the confinement of a greater number, the same law which directed its construction, authorised the sale of the old prison of the city and county of Philadelphia, and the appropriation of the proceeds to the erection of a prison in the vicinity of that city, similar to that proposed at Pittsburg. This part of the law has not been carried into effect; and I would recommend for your consideration, the propriety of making such a disposition of the new Philadelphia prison, which is considered as the exclusive property of the commonwealth, as would adapt it to the plan of solitary confinement, and also to separate it from all connection with the prison of the city and county; as there can be no sufficient reason for connecting the state prison with a local prison, when the funds are, or ought to be, drawn from distinct sources, and the accounts kept entirely separate.

The ardor and zeal of our young men for improvements in military discipline, are evinced by numerous associations of volunteer corps in various parts of the state: but our militia system still labors under many and important defects, some of which may be seen by referring to the reports of the officers that have been from time to time communicated to the legislature. The system has, moreover, under the present law, subjected the commonwealth to a heavy annual expense, without affording any adequate degree of force or efficiency; which consideration, alone, is of sufficient importance to justify a review of its provisions.

The subject of internal improvement will necessarily again occupy the attention of the legislature. My views on this important branch of our internal economy, have been fully communicated in former messages; but I cannot forbear again to urge the

importance of an effort to direct public attention to some leading objects of unquestionable usefulness, by means of a board of commissioners, whose business it will be to ascertain facts for the information of the legislature in their future undertakings. It is believed that such a measure would ensure the accomplishment of the most valuable works, and, at the same time, avoid an improvident disbursement of public money.

The whole amount of money expended by the commonwealth in public improvements for the last fifteen years, exceeds $1,567,216. The number of miles of turnpike road ascertained en the 1st of December, 1818, was 980. Since that time 340 miles more have been made; making a total of 1320 miles of stone and gravel turnpike road, that have been completed, and by far the greater part within the same time, which, at an average of 85000 a mile, will have cost $6,600,000. Many important objects have been effected, and the agriculture and internal commerce of the state greatly promoted, by the enterprize of our citizens, aided by the liberality of the commonwealth. But if the application of the public money had been more generally confined, in the first instance, to the improvement of leading channels of communication, there cannot be a doubt, but that the benefits arising from the disbursements would have been more sensibly realized, and the eventual opening of the tributary channels more easily and successfully accomplished.

The commonwealth possesses a large interest in several turnpike roads, leading to its west and north-west borders, from which but a very inconsiderable revenue can be expected for a number of years; and seeing the great importance of facilitating a cheap communication through the interior of the state, I would suggest for your consideration the propriety of effecting, by means of the state interest, such an arrangement with the companies interested in those roads, as would either make a permanent reduction of their tolls, or permit wheels of a certain width to pass toll free. Such a measure would not only be highly beneficial to the business of our eastern and western cities, but the intermediate countics through which transporting teams aust pass, would derive a full share of the advantage.

Considerable sums of money have been expended from time to time, in the endowment of academies, from which the community have not derived any adequate advantage. These academies were originally chiefly intended as preparatory schools for those who were designed for the higher branches of education, but no condition for that purpose having been made in the laws granting the endowments, they have in many instances dwindfed into primary schools, of the lowest order, and in some cases are totally vacant. It but too frequently happens that those to