two, for the purpose of deliberating on the proposition to have erected by the said States, in the grove attached to Independence Hall, one or more monuments, that shall be commemorative of the great events which there transpired, and which are so eminently connected with the history of the country, and entertaining a grateful remembrance of the patriotism and devotion of the fathers of the independence of the country, who assembled in that sacred spot, together with a deep appreciation of the fact that the association of the principle of liberty with the public mind is a great guarantee for the perpetuation of the happy institutions under which we live; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, That the State, and the city of Philadelphia, are peculiarly fortunate in containing within their bounds the sacred spot where liberty was first proclaimed to the world, and that it is the duty as well as the just pride of this Commonwealth, to perpetuate the recollections connected with the history of the Hall of Independence in Philadelphia.

Resolved, That His Excellency, Wm. Bigler, Governor of the Commonwealth, and Albert G. Waterman, of the city of Philadelphia, are hereby appointed delegates to the said convention, to be held in Philadelphia, on the fourth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, and that the said delegates shall have full power to represent the State in regard to the foregoing proposition, and to do all things necessary to carry out the aforesaid object.

Resolved, That the Governor of the Commonwealth is hereby requested to forward copies of the above proceedings to the Governors of the States named therein, with a request that the same may be laid before their respective Legislatures.

JOHN S. RHEY,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

JOHN H. WALKER,

Speaker of the Senate.

No. 7.

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the employment of counsel for Rachel Parker, detained as an alleged slave in the jail of Baltimore county, Maryland.

WHEREAS, The Legislature of Pennsylvania has been informed that Rachel Parker, a girl of color, was forcibly and without legal process abducted from the county of Chester, in this Commonwealth, and is now confined as an alleged slave in the jail of Baltimore county, in the State of Maryland:

And whereas, The entire community from which she was taken, and in which she has always lived, is firmly of the belief that she is a free born native of this Commonwealth :

And whereas, The said Rachel has petitioned for her freedom, in secordance with the laws of Maryland, and as suit for the same has been instituted in the court of Baltimore county; therefore,

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, That the Governor is hereby requested to employ counsel to appear on the part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in behalf of said petitioner, and to prosecute such suit unto completion.

JOHN S. RHEY,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

JOHN H. WALKER,
Speaker of the Senate.

APPROVED-The first day of March, A. D., one thousand eight hun

dred and fifty-two.

WM. BIGLER.

No. 8.

RESOLUTION

Relative to the proposed removal of the United States Mint from the city of Philadelphia to the city of New York.

WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States has been petitioned by the constituted authorities of New York, to establish in that city an United States mint, in lieu of the principal existing mint of the United States, in the city of Philadelphia, where it was established by the founders of the republic, with the wisdom and foresight that distinguished their generation in this land, and where, from the excellence of its position, with reference to the commercial cities of the sea-board, and also the inland region remote from the coast, the coining operations of the country have always been prosecuted with economy, skill, and despatch:

And whereas, The proposed destruction of the old mint in the metropolis of our own State, and the proposed erection of a new mint in the metropolis of our sister State, is viewed by this Legislature as a scheme that is not demanded by the business interests or commercial transactions of the country, but as one that will inevitably entail upon the treasury of the United States, a large, unnecessary, and inexpedient expenditure of the public funds:

And whereas, It is fully demonstrated in the coining operations of the existing United States mint in the city of Philadelphia, that its capacity is ample to supply all the demands for coinage that have been, or are likely to be made upon it, there remains no good or valid reason to ask or urge its removal, but on the contrary, many just grounds why it should be preserved and maintained in its present location and efficient working order; therefore,

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, That the Senators in Congress from Pennsylvania be instructed, and the members in Congress from Pennsylvania be requested to oppose any and every measure to establish an United States mint in the city of New York, and to use all honorable means to prevent the destruction or removal of the principal United States mint, located in the city of Philadelphia. Resolved That his Excellency, the Governor, be requested to transmit copies of the above preamble and resolution to the presiding officers of both Houses of Congress, and to each of the Senators and Representatives in Congress from this State.

JOHN S. RHEY,

APPROVED-The second day of March, A. D., one thousand eight hun

dred and fifty-two.

WM. BIGLER.

No. 9.

RESOLUTION

Relative to Smith O'Brien and his associates in exile.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, That while the federal government should disclaim all intention of interfering in any way in the internal affairs of the kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, we deem it a duty to express in a respectful manner our firm conviction that it would be highly gratifying to the people of this Commonwealth, many of whom are natives of Ireland and connected by blood with the inhabitants of that country, to see Smith O'Brien and his associates restored to liberty, and permitted, if so disposed, to emigrate to this country. We would regard this act of clemency as a new proof of the friendly disposition of the British government towards our republic, and as calculated to strengthen the bonds of affection now happily existing between the people of the United States and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Resolved, That copies of the foregoing resolution be transmitted by the Governor to the President of the United States, to the Senators and Representatives in Congress from this Commonwealth.

JOHN S. RHEY,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

JOHN. H. WALKER.
Speaker of the Senate.

APPROVED-The tenth day of March, A. D., one thousand eight hun

dred and fifty-two.

WM. BIGLER.

No. 10.

RESOLUTIONS

In reference to the establishment of a Navy Yard Depot and Dry Dock on the Lake frontier.

WHEREAS, The great fertility of the region of country tributary to the trade of the great lakes, the abundance of such region in the meta's of iron and copper, and the various elements of public wealth and pros perity, and its rapidly increasing population, entitle it to the cherishing and protecting care of the government of the United States in as great a degree as other portions of our common country which have been the objects of such care:

And whereas, The commerce of the lakes resulting from these causes, and increasing with the rapidly increasing population and developement of the resources of the country, involves the interest of almost every portion of the nation, and needs the aid and protection which the national government can alone bestow:

And whereas, Our common government, with a lake frontier of upwards of two thousand miles, bordering on a foreign and powerful nation, with an equal extent of lake frontier, the commerce and business of the two nations mingling together in the common use of those great thoroughfares, is exposed to great and imminent danger, requiring that she should at all times be prepared for any emergency which might arise, that her strength and readiness should be there manifested, shewing her in time of peace prepared for war; therefore,

Resolved, That in the opinion of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, the interests and safety of the national government require that the said government should establish, at some point on the said lake frontier, a navy yard depot and dry dock.

Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress, be requested to use all honorable efforts to secure the establishment of such navy yard depot and dry dock.

Resolved, That the Governor be requested to transmit copies of the foregoing preamble and resolutions to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress, and to the Governors of the States of New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

JOHN S. RHEY,

Speaker of the House of Representatives

JOHN H. WALKER,

Speaker of the Senate.

APPROVED-The tenth day of March, A. D., one thousand eight

hundred and fifty-two.

WM. BIGLER.

No. 11.

RESOLUTIONS

In relation to the Woodworth patent.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, That our Senators be instructed and our Representatives in Congress requested to use all honorable means to prevent any further extension by Congress to the heirs and assigns of the late William Woodworth of the patent granted originally on the twenty-seventh day of December, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, and the amended specifications thereto, for his improvement in the method of planing, tongueing, grooving, cutting into mouldings, planks, boards, or other materials.

Resolved, That the Governor be requested to forward to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress a copy of the foregoing resolution.

JOHN S. RHEY,

APPROVED-The fifth day of April, A. D., one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.

WM. BIGLER.

No. 12.

RESOLUTIONS

Relative to the construction of a canal around the Falls of the Ohio river, at Louisville.

WHEREAS, The Ohio river is one of the most important navigable streams in the Union, passing through many of the States, the population, trade, and commerce of which is yearly increasing in an unparalleled degree:

And whereas, The free and uninterrupted navigation of the same is of vast importance to the entire country, and especially to the State of Pennsylvania, the head of navigation being within her borders and near the terminus of her public works:

And whereas, The rapidly increasing trade of the West imperatively demands the construction of a canal around the Falls at Louisville, sufficiently commodious to admit the largest class of vessels now navigating or likely to navigate our western waters; therefore,