Judiciary department...

$72,327 74

124,144 54

15,298 42

7,321 98

Resumption of Specie Payments.

On the 15th, agreeably to the law of last session, the Banks of Philadelphia, and we presume throughout the State, resumed the payment of their notes in specie. Two days previously, the Bank of the United States paid specie

for its ten dollar notes.

It appears that the Banks of Baltimore have decided not to resume at present, although by the statement lately published, they are probably as well prepared to resume as our

own.

We are indebted for public documents to the Secretaries .$5,152,609 72 of the States of Maine, Delaware, Ohio, N. Carolina, and Missouri. In the present number will be found some interesting statistics of Ohio. Of the other documents we shall avail ourselves in due time.

107,603 00

Auditor General's office,

Treasury office,..

6,119 00

Disastrous accounts of the freshet continue to reach us from all directions. We furnish some further accounts in this number.

James Morris was executed on the 15th inst. in the yard of the Moyamensing Prison, for the murder of one of the crew of a vessel in the Delaware river.

The article on page 11, headed "Operations on the Danville and Pottsville Railroad," was erroneously credited to the Miners' Journal instead of "Sunbury American."

Proposals are invited by the Governor for a loan to the State of $800,000 at an interest not exceeding 6 per cent. agreeably to a law passed the 16th inst., to provide for the interest on the public debt due 1st February.

Edward Kent has been selected by the Senate of Maine as Governor of that State by a vote of 16 to 8.

COMMERCIAL & STATISTICAL

REGISTER.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOL. IV. PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1841.

REPORT.

To the Stockholders of the Schuylkill Navigation Company.

The President and Managers of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, have the pleasure of offering to the Stock holders, their accustomed Annual Report, and congratulate them in the continued prosperity of the Company.

No. 4.

continuous boat-channel alongside of the towing path from Fair Mount to Manayunk, of forty feet in width at bottom, of the river. This work was commenced about the first of with five feet depth of water throughout, at the lowest state October, and considerable progress has already been made; it is expected that the whole may be accomplished, by the early part of the next summer. The expense it is confidently believed will be much less to the company, than the plan originally contemplated in the proposition to the watering committee.

A concise statement of their concerns, also of the business transacted upon the navigation are annexed; from The breaking up of the ice in the river in February last, which it will be perceived with gratification, that notwith-caused some damage to the guard lock of the Manayunk standing the embarrassments experienced throughout the canal, and destroyed the house occupied by the lock-tender, country, yet the transactions of the company have continued which was built in a very exposed situation; a new dwelling to maintain a steady course, and have equalled the expec- has been put up in a safe location, and the lock has been repaired; the whole is much improved and in better condition than before the accident.

tations entertained.

The whole extended line of their improvements, except that portion between Fair Mount and Manayunk, have af forded to the trade, an uninterrupted chain of water communication during the past season, to boats averaging about fifty-five tons each, with the exception of a few days of unavoidable delay, at the new dam erecting a short distance above Norristown.

The new dam a few miles above Norristown, at Jenkins' Island, mentioned in the last report as intended to be erected the past season, to complete the important improvements commenced the preceding year at that place, has been nearly finished, founded upon the solid rock, of which there yet remains about 100 feet of its length to be put in; around which portion a coffer dam had been made and the water pumped out, ready to lay the timber, but the freshet of November last, swept away the temporary coffer dam, and suspended for a time its final completion; a new one of more permanent character has been constructed, but from the uncertainty of the weather at this late season of the year, ap prehensions are entertained that the remaining portion of the dam will not be completed before the next spring.

The Fair Mount pool above referred to, embracing a distance of about five and a half miles, has during a portion of the past season, been unusually low, in consequence of the imperfect state of the dam; the water in the channel above, having been reduced several inches below its usual depth, (of four feet in the shallowest parts,) thereby causing very serious losses, inconvenience and vexatious detention to the boatmen trading with their craft, to and from the city. To remedy these serious defects, as it was understood that At the head of the Oaks canal, nearly opposite Phoenixthe watering committee of the city councils, were desirous ville, where new cut-stone twin locks had been built the of increasing the power of the city water works; a nego- preceding year, a new dam and abutments have been erecttiation was entered into with them for the purpose of raising ed in front of the old one, and raised so as to give five feet the dam about eighteen inches, which would have accom-depth of water in the pool above; the whole is finished in plished the object had in view by the committee, and at the same time afford to the Navigation Company the full depth of water required in the pool above.

Such propositions were made by the managers, as they believed would be highly advantageous to the city corporation, and also would fully accommodate the trade upon the company's works; but as the ultimatum of the watering committee contained stipulations entirely inadmissible, and which would have been in direct contravention of the charter of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, it was deemed useless to protract the negotiation, and it was therefore reluctantly brought to a close.

Having thus closed their negotiation with the watering committee, the only alternative of remedying the difficulties, and of obtaining the additional depth of water contemplated, was the removal of the obstacles in the boat channel. On a careful examination of which it was ascertained, that a considerable portion of the whole distance was of the required depth; that the obstructions were only in detached parts; and that the whole could be removed, by forming coffer dams, and taking out the rocks, &c. that formed the impediments.

As soon as it was discovered to be practicable, though late in the season for undertaking new work, yet the Board of Managers determined to engage the Messrs. Rankins, two of the most experienced men in their employ, immediately to commence the work; with instructions to form a perfect VOL. IV.-7

the most permanent manner.

The new dam at Lewis's falls, at the head of the Girard canal, a few miles below Reading, a part of which had been unfinished when our last Report was made, has been completed.

Dam number 14, a short distance above Port Clinton, that was considered weak, and for the erection of a new one, preparations had been made two years back, has been com pleted, with new stone abutments, all finished in the best manner, and raised so as to give five feet water in the pool above.

A new towing path bridge across the mouth of the Little Schuylkill at Port Clinton, has been constructed; the towing paths have been raised in places where they were found not to be of sufficient height, and the works throughout have been much improved.

The Board of Managers, satisfied of the importance of increasing the capacity of the Company's works, so as to admit of the passage of boats carrying from eighty to one hundred tons burthen, have adopted the plan, where a new dam was to be put in, or a new front to one was required, to make them of sufficient height to give the requisite depth of water in the pools above; and having already completed nine of their dams agreeably thereto, and taken measures to have the Fair Mount pool made of corresponding depth, embracing altogether about one-fourth the entire length of the Company's works; it will be a subject for the consideration

MESSAGE

OF GOVERNOR SEWARD OF NEW YORK.

[Concluded from page 39.]

Naturalization Laws.

appeal to the Legislature to render our system of education as comprehensive as the purposes for which it was established. Of one thousand and fifty-eight children in the Alms House of the city of New York, one sixth part is of American parentage, one sixth was born abroad, and the remainder are the children of foreigners; and of two hundred and fifty children in the House of Refuge, more than one half were either born abroad or of foreign parents. The poverty, misfortunes, accidents and prejudices to which foreigners are

Previous to 1802 no foreigner could be naturalized until after a residence of fourteen years. No one has better un-exposed, satisfactorily account to my mind, for the undue derstood the tendency of republican institutions or entertain- proportion of their children in the neglected class to which ed more just views of the principles upon which they were the attention of the Legislature was called. Although the founded, than the illustrious citizen who in that year recom- excellent public schools in the city of New York are open to mended to Congress an amelioration of the naturalization all, and have long afforded gratuitous instruction to all who laws. "Considering the ordinary chances of human life," seek it, nevertheless the evil there exists in its greatest maghe observed," a denial of citizenship under a residence of nitude. Obviously, therefore, something more is necessa fourteen years, is a denial to a great portion of those who ask ry to remove it than has yet been done, unless we assume it, and controls a policy pursued from their first settlement, that society consents to leave it without a remedy. These by many of the States, and still believed to be of consequence circumstances, led me to the reflection, that possibly a to their prosperity. And shall we refuse the unhappy fugi- portion of those whom other efforts had failed to reach, tives from distress, that hospitality which the savages of the might be brought within the nurture of the schools, by emwilderness extended to our fathers arriving in this land?ploying for their instruction teachers who, from their relation Shall oppressed humanity find no asylum on the globe? towards them, might be expected to secure their confidence. The Constitution has wisely provided that for admission to When the census 1850 shall be taken, I trust it will show certain offices of important trust, a residence shall be requir- that within the borders of the State of New York, there is ed sufficient to develop character and design. But might no child of sufficient years who is unable to read and write. not the general character and capabilities of a citizen be safe- I am sure it will then be acknowledged that when, ten years ly communicated to every one manifesting a bona fide pur- before there were thirty thousand children growing up in pose of embarking his life and fortunes permanently with us?" ignorance and vice; a suggestion to seek them wherever In concurrence with these suggestions, Congress passed the found, and win them to the ways of knowledge and virtue by act now in force concerning naturalization. Probably half persuasion, sympathy and kindness, was prompted by a sina million of persons have since that time complied with its cere desire for the common good. I have no pride of opinion provisions, and secured to themselves the rights of citizen- concerning the manner in which the education of those whom ship; and there cannot now be less than half that number of I have brought to your notice shall be secured; although I electors of foreign birth in the United States. This class is might derive satisfaction from the reflection that amid abunlargely increasing. The number of emigrants arriving at the dant misrepresentation of the method suggested, no one has port of New York in 1828, was about twenty thousand. The contended that it would be ineffectual, nor has any other plan number in 1840, was sixty-one thousand. Although the been proposed. I observe, on the contrary, with deep regret liberal and enlightened opinions of Jefferson have been the that the evil remains as before; and the question recurs, not settled policy of the country for almost forty years, yet an merely how or by whom shall instruction be given, but whethissue is still maintained upon these opinions between a por- er it shall be given at all, or be altogether withheld. Others tion of our fellow-citizens, and those to whom the law, pass-may be content with a system that erects free schools and ed in conformity with those sentiments, has given a full offers gratuitous instruction. But I trust I shall be allowed participation in our political rights and privileges. Hence to entertain the opinions that no system is perfect that does arise mutual jealousies. The consequences of these jealous- not accomplish what it proposes; that our system is therefore ies are seen in the separation and alienation of classes hav-deficient in comprehensiveness, in the exact proportion of ing common interests; in the misfortunes of the weaker, in the children that it leaves uneducated; that knowledge, howapprehension of insecurity, on the part of the stronger, and ever acquired, is better than ignorance; and that neither error, in the demoralization of portions of both; in frauds at elec- accident nor prejudice, ought to be permitted to deprive the tions and fraudulent proceedings under the naturalization State of the education of her citizens. Cherishing such laws. The policy and measures which I have recommend- opinions, I could not enjoy the consciousness of having dised have therefore had for their object the elevation of the charged my duty, if any effort had been omitted, which was social condition of emigrants and the assimilation of their calculated to bring within the schools all who are destined to habits, principles and opinions with our own. exercise the rights of citizenship; nor shall I feel that the system is perfect, or liberty safe, until that object be accom. plished. Not personally concerned about such misapprehensions as have arisen, but desirous to remove every obstacle to the accomplishment of so important an object, I very freely declare that I seek the education of those whom I have brought before you, not to perpetuate any prejudices or distinctions which deprive them of instruction, but in disregard of all such distinctions and prejudices, I solicit their education, less from sympathy, than because the welfare of the state demands it, and cannot dispense with it. As native citizens, they are born to the right of suffrage. I ask that they may at least be taught to read and write; and in asking this, I require no more of them, than I have diligently endeavored to secure to the inmates of our penitentiaries, who have forfeited that inestimable franchise by crime, and also to an unfortunate race, which, having been plunged by us into degradation and ignorance, has been excluded from the franchise by an arbitrary property qualification incongruous with all our institutions. I have not recommended, nor do I seek the education of any class in foreign languages, or in particular creeds or faiths; but fully believing with the author of the Declaration of Independence, that even error may be safely tolerated,

Statistics of Education.

Not much however can be accomplished by legislation, to affect the relations between masses of adult citizens, and the change desired in this respect, must be left chiefly to time and the operation of our institutions. But it is not so in regard to the rising generation. The census of the United States is said to show, that there are forty-three thousand eight hundred and seventy-one white persons in this State who have passed the age of twenty years, without having learned to read and write. Let us make allowance for any proportion of adult foreigners, and there yet remains a large number of uneducated native citizens. The number of children now growing up in the same manner, does not fall short of thirty thousand. These are the offspring, not of prosperity and affluence, but of poverty and misfortune. Knowing from the records of our penitentiaries, that of this neglected class, those are often most fortunate, who from precocity in vice, secure admission into the House of Refuge or the State Prison, through the ways of crime, and knowing too that almost every application for pardon, is urged on the ground of neglected education, I have felt it an imperative duty to