Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-01-09

TeH0WaI Oh the state TAX. his was SuS-
pended at time when extravagant notions
prevailed in regard To the value aud antlcl-
pated income ofthe public lands, and is
now generally admitted to have been
mistaken aud unwlse policy. Let US re-
PAIR the errDr so far as we can. Let
Slate tax now be assessed Tor an amount
sufficient, at least, to delray The expenses
OF government, and to pay the interest
on the debt, after It shall have be reduced
as before suggested.
| am aware that all objection may be.
as it here,ofore has been urged, that
great changes have taken place since the
valuation of 1890, aud that therefore lax
base! upon that valuation would be nnequ-
al and un nst. A proposition Tor tax
may always be met with objections of this
sort, in young aud rapidly growing
State, and subject. as all property is to
constant filctnatInn and change. Precise
and perfect ebualny is at no time attain
able. Ii yon approach as near ii as Is
practicable under existing circumst ances,
it is all that can reasonably be-reqated oil
you. Our constituents, am persuaded,
will submit To it cheeriully. Ii they are
tOo Just ~ w uuWtltuH " euPPOis g.
eminent instituted by themselves. and ad
ministered for their benefit, so are they too
patriotic not to be willing to submit to far
greater sacrifices than the assessment of this
tax, unequal to some extent though 1t
might be, when the good Of the State re-
quires it. Besides, is it not worthy Of
consideration, that if tax based upon
the last valuation would operate more
favorabiy to one portion Of the State than
to others, it would be TO the younger and
newly settled portion: and this class of
our population it has always been the poll
cy of the State to foster and encourage
And still further, may not some offset far
this inequality be found in the excess of
representation in the Legislature which
the older portions of the State enjoy over
the younger.
The difficulty presented in this case,
will very naturally suggest the expectancy
of avoiding it in future. by causing the val.
nation to be taken ottener than the period
now fixed by law. Once IN five instead
Of once in ten years, it semes To mr.,
would he preferable, while the State Is
rapidly advancing in wealth aud popula-
ton.
The appropriation for the Insane Hos
pital made al the last session ofthe Leg
stature being exhausted, the work has
conse quently been suspended, The cos,
Of finishing the south wing and the cen
ire, agreeaby TO the apparent design Of
the last Legislature, is estimated at five
thousand four hundred dollars-and for
finishing the north wing, three thousand
six hundred dollsrs. II an appropriation
be made for either object, another appro-
pria,ion, perhaps will be needed to fur
nish suitably the part thus completed, aud
to defray the expenses inciden, to getting
the rnsitu,ion into operation. In this event
also, it will be necessary to make some pro.
vision for the appointment of officers. and
to adopt some permanent system OF govern
ment for the institution.
The omission to make an appropriation AT
the last session for continuance of the &c
illogical survey nf,he State, | trust may be-
regardt rather as atrmporary s'ispensi'"
IF the survey, than general ab'n l"nm- NJ
OF it, Aside from the public benefits antici pa
ted from sotrif1lng an expenditure, II would
seem TO be huiJlsi to those po',io"s ofthe
State thus far neglected, that The survey
should at some time, he resumed The
time ofrecommencement is not very ifnpor-
tant, and should of course be determined
by the condition Of the Treasury.
On the subject of the militia. l do not
propose TO make any Suggestions in add'-
lion TO those contained IN my message ct
January last. My views, then fully ex-
pressed, remain unchanged Permit the
however, To refer yon to some valuable sug-
gestons this subject in the accompanying
Report Of the Adutant General.
In regard also to the important interests
of Agriculture and education, would re-
specially refer you to my communication
t. the Legislature oflas, year. having moth
ing new to add upon these subjects.
feel constrained to repeat former re-
COMMUNICATION in regard to an additional
Judge to the Supreme Judicial Court The
experience Of another year has only ten
ded to fortify and confirm the reasons then
advanced.
The Commissioners appointed to revise
the laws of the State, have, with the ter
mina,ion of the yeas, brought their ardu-
Gus and important labonrs to close. Their
Report, which is before you, will undoubt-
edly receive that careful and laborious al
tcntion which lts magnitude and deep in
terest to the State require.
The duty Of practising rigid economy
at all times, is obvious: but especially is i,
incumbent on us in the present exhausted
condition of the Treasnry--and when the