Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-11-07
GOV. ADAIR's MESSAGE
To the Legislature Of Kentucky
Gentlemen of the Senate,
And House Of ReDresenfatiyes.


since came into office, it will not be ex-
pected that can give you much infor-
nation, that will aid you in performing
your legislative duties. Selected from
every part of the state, and possessing a
knowledge Of the feelings, the wishes,
and the wants of the community, it will
be for you, gentlemen, to adopt and en-
act such measures, as will contribute
most to obviate distress, to prevent use
less and impolitic sacrifices of property
on the one hand, whilst you steadily keep
in view justice and the general policy of
the state on the other.
1t will be admitted by all, that the peo-
pie of this state feel at this time a severe
and unusual pressure in their monied
transactions. To relieve them in some
measure is, trust, the wish of all.
Different views will be entertained, as to
the best means OF etfecting SO desirable
an object, by members from different
parts of the state. A successful termi-
nation can only be hoped for, from cool
dispassionate elaboration and sound rea-
son. A high exercise Of charity and
mutual iorbearance towards the opinions
OF each other, will be found most useiu
in all deliberate bodies, and will most
eFectually lead to favorable termna-
ton Of your arduous and important du-
ties.
Whilst we feel and lament the diff
culties we labor under in our monied
transactions, VIC have sufficient cause of
gratitude to the supreme disposer of
events, for the bountiful crops with
which our state is favored, and the great
degree Of general good health which our
citizens enjoy.
Our penitentiary establishment will
require your early attention. That in
stitution, organized and intended for the
wise and humane purpose of uniting
mercy with Justice, from the increased
and increasing number OF convicts, and
the decayed state of the buildings--ori-I
ginally too small to afford the benefits OF
solitary confinement and convenient room
for .labor--wili be found, at this time, al
together insufficient. A thorough cxa-
mination, by some members OF your own
body, will be necessary 10 enable you
to adopt such measures as you may Judge
most conducive to promote the public
good, and to realize the hopes of the
state il establishing that institution.
Although many worthy, industrious
citizen labor under considerable indivi-
vidual embarrassments, arising chiefly
from the want Of a market for their sur
plus produce, yet it will be found, on
examination, that the funds Of the state
arc amply sufficient for all necessary, and
some useful purposes. 1t is, then, wor
thy the consideration Of the legislature,
whether the present is not favorable
time to make valuable and lasting i'm
provements. Labor is now low, aud the
state would thus find employment for
many of her useful citizens. Should
ou,tgentlemcn, agree with me in opinion
on this subject, permit me to recon-
mend to your attention, as an object oil
she first importance and usefulness to
the state, the navigation Of the Ohio III
yer from Louisville to its mouth. An
other and further Improvements in the
navigation of our waters, will derive their
utility, in great degree, from this first
object. From information, acquired
whilst a commissioner on the Ohio,
have no hesitation in giving it as my
opinion, that safe and certain navigation
may be made for steam boats drawing
six feet at the lowest stage Of the water.
The labor can be performed during any
one summer, and the expense will be
more than doubly reimbursed, in every
succeeding fall, to the citizens of the
state. May we not reasonably hope,
too, that the states Of Indiana, Ten
nessee, and Ohio will aid in an un-
dertakihg, SO evidently useful to all ? 1t
will be found beneficial in this, as in most
cases, TO call the attention Of the state,
and direct her energies to single object,
until it is completed. Once completed, |
its usefulness will point out, more clear
ly than any reasoning on the subject, the
necessity Of farther improvements in our
smaller streams.
In government like ours, where the
laws alone bear rule, ard where those
laws emanate from the people, the i'm
portance and even necessity of education,
amongst all classes of the citizens, will
be universally felt and acknowledged.
1t remains for the Legislature, on this
highly interesting subject, to select aud
pursue that course, which will seem to
promote the greatest benefit, in the
shortest period of time and at the least
expense. Former legislatures have, per-
haps wisely, made considerable dona-