So it was determined in the negativve. The resolution was then adopted.

Mr. Leech, from the com.mittee on claims, to whom was re ferred the petitions and documents of a number of citizens of Somerset county, for the relief of Frederick Keller, an old bachlor, reported:

The petitioners state that being citizens of Somerset county, and not able to see one of their fellow creatures suffer, and they look on with folded, hands as the present case calls loud for aid, they think it their duty to state the facts, which are simply, that Frederick Keller, when young, purchased a tract of land and paid the owner for it; but the said Frederick Keller. is now an old bachelor, and blind and nothing for his support, but the land which was surveyed in 1776; and it appears that the purchase money is still due the commonwealth, and the land worth but little more than what is due the commonwealth. The petitioners further state that the above described land, is all the property he owns, personal or real, and that he now lives by the rent of the place. The petitioners pray for the passage of such a law as will keep a poor old man off the township. Your committee believe the state has never granted aid on similar claims to old bachelors, in Somerset or elsewhere. They are of opinion the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted, and offer the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the subject, and that the petitioners have leave to withdraw their petition and documents.

Laid on the table.

Bill No. 58, entitled,

An act to authorise the election of an additional constable, in Connoquenessing township, Butler county.

Was read a third time, and passed.

Bill No. 59, entitled

An act for the relief of Arthur M'Gill,

Was read the third time, and after

On the motion of Mr. Hunt and Mr. Brown.

Being unanimously amended by inserting after the word "referees, the words who after being sworn, or affirmed before an alderman or justice of the peace,

Was passed.

Ordered that the clerk present the said bills to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

Bill No. 60 entitled

An act aunul the marriage contract of Anne Gilbert Marc Antony Frenaye and Virginia his wife,

Was read the second time, and

Ordered to be transcribed for a third reading.
Agreeably to order,

The Senate resolved itself into committee of the whole, Mr. Bertolet in the chair, on bill No. 35, entitled

A supplement to an act, entitled "An act supplementary to the several acts, to incorporate the Union canal company," passed the 3d day of March, 1826.

After some time,

The committee rose, the chairman reported progress and the committee of the whole obtained leave to sit again on Monday the second day of February next.

Agreeably to order,

The Senate resolved itself into committee of the whole, Mr. Drumheller in the chair, on bill No. 57, entitled

An act to relinquish the purchase money and interest due the Commonwealth, on a certain piece of land in Berks county, to the Hill church.

After some time,

The committee rose and the chairman reported the bill with amendment.

Agreeably to order,

The Senate resolved itself into committee of the whole, Mr. Brown in the chair, on bill No. 71, entitled

An act for the relief of George Erisman, a soldier of the revolu tionary war.

After some time,

The committee rose, and the chairman reported the bill without amendment.

Adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow morning.

SATURDAY, January 24, 1829.

Mr. Krebs presented the petition of citizens of Schuylkill county, praying for the construction of a rail road from the lower landing at Mount Carbon, in said county, by the east branch of the Norwegian creek, to the south side of Mine Hill.

Mr. Hay presented three petitions of similar tenor, from citizens of the Northern Liberties and Penn township, in the county of Philadelphia, praying for the construction of a rail road between the rivers Delaware and Schuylkill, through said liberties and township.

Mr. Miller presented the petition of citizens of this commonwealth, praying that means may be provided to remedy certain evils complained of in relation to the manner in which the engineers in the service of the commonwealth discharge their duty.

Mr. Ryon presented the petition of citizens of Potter and Tioga counties, praying for aid to improve the state road leading from the house of Jonathan Pierce, in Tioga county, to the Genessee river, in Potter county.

Which were referred to the committee on roads, bridges and inland navigation.

Mr. Fullerton presented the petition and documents of Jacob Gabriel, Catharine Gabriel and Thomas Cellar, praying that William Price may be authorised to sell and convey certain real

estate.

Which were referred to the committee on the judiciary system.

A motion was made by Mr. Kelley and Mr. Ogle,

To discharge the committee on the judiciary system from the consideration of the petitions relative to changing the mode of appointing canal commissioners, and that they be referred to the committee on roads, bridges and inland navigation.

Which was not agreed to.

Mr. King, from the committee on the judiciary system, reported bill No. 80, entitled

An act to authorise Martha Fraley to sell and convey certain

real estate.

Mr. Burden read in his place, and on leave given, presented to the chair, bill No. 81, entitled

A supplement to an act, entitled An act for the relief and employment of the poor of the city of Philadelphia, the district of

1

Southwark and the townships of the Northern Liberties and Penn, passed the fifth day of March, 1828.

The Clerk of the House of Representatives being introduced presented for concurrence the bills numbered and entitled as follow, viz.

82. An act granting compensation to Josiah Lewis, and to the execustors of Thomas Livezey for certain lands certified to Connecticut clainants, in Bedford, one of the seventeen townships in the county of Luzerne.

85. An act to encourage the destruction of foxes and wild cats. 84. An act authorising James Mustard, jr. to sell and convey certain real estate.

85. An act for the relief of Mary Mantz, Catharine Burke and Priscilla Adams, widows of revolutionary soldiers.

86. An act for the relief of Margaret Gillespie, widow of a soldier of the revolutionary war.

Said bills were read the first time.

He also returned the bills numbered and entitled as follow, viz:

59. An act for erecting Christ church and St. Peters church in the city of Philadelphia, and St. James' church in the same city, into two separate corporations.

47. An act to authorise the executors of Margaret Gallaher, deceased to convey certain real estate.

And informed, that the House of Representatives have passed the same without amendment.

Laid on the table.

Bill No. 60 entitled

An act to annul the marriage of Anne Gilbert Marc Antony Frenaye and Virginia his wife.

Was read the third time and passed.

Ordered that the Clerk present the same to the House of Repre sentatives for concurrence.

On motion of Mr. Duncan and Mr. M'Clure,

The Senate proceeded to the second reading, and consideration of the resolution, attached to the report of the committee on roads, bridges, and inland navigation, relative to granting the Baltimore and Susquehanna rail road company, the privilege of extending their rail road into the state of Pennsylvania.

The same being under consideration,

A motion was made by Mr. Logan and Mr. Herbert,

To postpone the question on the resolution for the purpose of introducing the following as a substitute.

of

WHEREAS at the last session of the legislature of this commonwealth, an act of the state of Maryland, entitled "An act to incorporate the Baltimore and Susquehanna rail-road company," was transmitted by the Governor of Maryland, and through the Executive of this state submitted to the Senate and House of Representatives.

At the present session numerous petitions and memorials from the citizens of York, Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, Dauphin and Perry, have been presented, praying that the said company may be incorporated by an act of this state, and in like manner remonstrances against the incorporation of the said company have been presented, from the city of Philadelphia, and some parts of the country adjacent thereto.

And whereas, it is the right of the citizens of this commonwealth and of every portion thereof, to set forth their claims and grievances, and it is the duty of this legislature to hear them patiently, and redress them promptly-administering equal and exact justice to all, and extending to every part of the country the same favour, protection and support.

The section of country represented by the petitioners is of great extent, and not surpassed by any other in the fertility of its soil, the quality, variety and value of its productions, the abundance of its water power, the number of its manufactories, and the industry, enterprise, intelligence and patriotism of its citizens.

The grounds upon which the petitioners rest their application to the legislature are identified with the first principles of the govern ment, and entitled to the serious consideration of the representatives of the people, before the subject shall be finally disposed of.

All that they require of the legislature is permission to construct with their own means, an improved mode of transporting the productions of their soil and industry to the market to which they have always resorted; and to which, from their geographical posi tion, they must forever continue to resort, and that such a privilege has never yet been refused by the legislature of this commonwealth, to any portion of the people or state, and that such a refusal would be a violation of their just and equal rights as citizens of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, secured by the constitution of the state. That among the important rights of a free people, is that of having unrestrained commercial intercourse with each other, and the privilege of transporting the products of their soil and labour to such markets and by such means as may in their opinion contribute most to their welfare.

That the true policy of a government is to multiply and facilitate the means of transportation, so as to afford to its people ready and speedy access to the most eligible market, and that to give to any one market a monopoly of the trade of a country, is seldom good policy, and is never wise when a choise is within reach.