, 1840-12-05
MESSAGE,
TcoRclH.ie II
Fcllor Citizens Of the Senate, md
Houya Of Representatives,:

H0uSa 0t Representatives,:
The loan Tor the payment of the militia
in the service of the State as authorised by
the act of the last General ASse nbly. WAS
negotiated by the Executive with the Bank
of the State of Missouri and the bonds OF
the State amounting 10 100000. were de-
posted with the bank. The Bunk however
owing to the peculiar condition of the none
tarv concernsofth the country wasnnabIe tour
nish only one half the amount, less the interest.
The report of the Paymlster General which
accompanies this communication Will INFORM
YOU in what manner that sum has been dis
bursei. The residue of the loan amounting
TO 100000 less the interest. II Is not IN
nv power 10 inform Won when it can be OBJ
tanned. Iou will perceive however from
the report of the piv,naSter General that the
whole sum will not ba required, rs :he aIgre-
gate amount does not exceed one hundred
and seyenty-two Thousand dollars. the bonds
of the State for the o~vcrplus Can there
fore be cancelled. Ii is hoped that the pros
pect of the resumption of specie payments
by the eastern banks will enable the Bank
of the State of Missouri 10 supply the resi-
due of the loan which may be needed to
complete the payments early ia The ensuing
wear, The amount vet due the militia Is
about $4,000.
am rratiied in heinz able To iaform you
that a very considerable adl!ri,l his been
made to the quota of arms which this State
is entitled to from the general -'vefnment.
The annual quota allowed to the State here.
tofore has been seventy m'.sAci'. Ia The iast
wear from the increase of the elective m'itia
which we have been able 10 report I" The Wa:
DEPARTMENT a; Washington. 1t has been en-
Jared 10 $50 muskets. From the great m
crease of our population we may confidently
calculate that the quota for the succeeding
wear viii be greatly augmented.
The State prison which was leased III your
last session to the gentleman who now have
charge of it seems TO he in il prosperous con
dition. much improvement has been made 10
the establishment since your last meeting; be.
sides the extension OF the wall. ar additional
block of cells. n brick work shop, and a large
centre building have been erected. 10 com
pIete the plan Of the establishment, II VIII re-
ouire another block of cells. which will be need
ed before the meeting of the neXtGeneEai As
sembiy. rs the number of %convIcts now con
fined is nearly equal to The whole number ol
cells.
The present mode of framing ont the es'
,~ablishmen, will after it is completed become
q source of revenue to the State. The con
v;c,s are well fed and clothed, and humanely
treated. The keepers and inspectors will III
due time report TO you the CONDITION oil Tie
prison and its affairs to which permit me tt
refer you. 80
Since your last session, the unpleasant dIl
f~culties between a portion OF the citizens o
our State and the Mormons have entirely
subsided. with the exception OF some Sigh
Interruptions on our northeastern border
After the infatuated and deluded sect haC
left our State. they industriously propaga
ted throughout the Union. the most exaggera
ted details of our difficulties and the toulest cal
umnies against our citizens. In some oil on
eastern cities, missionaries OF their creet
were employed daily in making convlcts t.
their cause by proclarnIn5 the crueltIe
which thew alleged they had endured at tn
hands of our authorities. The report OF GU
alledoed barbarities has not been confined I
onr Union. but even at this day in Europe the,
are made the groundwork of proselytIng, an
their orators find it to their interest to d.:
tort the fats into 4 persecution, which
every religious excitement that has marke
the history of the earth, has always bee
found the most effective weapon OF conve
sion. ,
In all intestine connections, PARTICULAR
when mingled with religious fervor it frequent
ly happens that cases occur OF peculiar haT:
shin and unusual distress, and when publ
sympathy is excited in their behalf, these nI
avoidable consequences Of civil dIssensIo
may easily be magnified into barbarous cr'
H. .h,t s,ch c,see arose in the course 9th;