Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1842-01-22
Governors Message.
Gentlemen of the Senate
and House of Representatives

ana Rouse 81 hepreSeHtWtceS:
During the past year an unusual degree
Of health has been enjoyed by the people
of every portion 0! the State, with the
exception Of n single City. An average
crop Of Cotton and Corn has rewarded the
Husbandman. y rigid system Of economy
has every where preVaiIed-bUt few debts
have been contracted, while many have
been extinguished. Scarcely any suits
lave been instituted in our courts. We
have enjoyed the inestimabie blessings of
peace at home and abroad and the popu.
lalon and wealth of the State has steadily
increased, For these manifold blessings,
we are indebted 10 the experimenting
care of an All Wise Providence.
10 my last annual message, candidly
avowed my conviction, that adjourned SEES.
sions Of the Legislature were not in accor.
dance with the spirit Of our constitution -
that the expenses attendant thereon, had
impoverished the Treasury, and, that i'm
provident Legislation might well he appre-
hended from them. These sentiments were
condemned by portion of the Legislature
then assembled; but farter myself that
they have been highly approved by the
people Of the State. The published acts
of lS4l, do not contain the legislative
will. About dozen laws were passed
during the session which were in effect re.
pealed by the approval Of the Revenue Bill
at the close of the session. Among the
avs repealed, may be enumerated: First,
the act exemptng The Chickasaw reserva.
ton from taxation, until five years after the
approval Of the sale by the President Of
the U. S. Second, The act forbiding Tax
Collectors TO advertise their sales in a
public Gazette: Third, That portion of the
funding act forbidding the reception fol
taxes, of The Auditors Pay Warrants
issued previous TO the first day Of January
1871, and numerous special acts for the
relief of Tax Collectors, and the punish.
menl of defaulers. The result has been
that different acts are regarded in various
counties of the State, and continued APP
peals are made to the Executive TO ascer,
lain which statutes are TO be respected
The High Court of Errors and Appeals
has decided that the Chickasaw Treaty
vested q free simple title 10 the Indians to
the reservations allowed them by thai
treaty and that the approval by the Presi.
dent, Of the sale of such lands by the
Indians, was condition subsequent, and
merely intended IN soouro to the fndio rs
a fair compensation for their lands The
Court also decided that the assignee Of an
Indian could recover by an ejectment suit,
lands sold before the approval of the sale
by the President. A period Of near nine
years has elapsed since the ratification Of
the Chickasaw reservations should be
taxed. If no taxes are imposed on those
lands until the President approves the
sale, they may be forever exempt. The
present owners of the land could withhold
asking his consent for any period they
may choose. A large portion of The finest
lands 10 the Chickasaw Purchase, are
held by non-residents, who ask high
f price for them, and will not sell until fore
ed by the imposition Of taxes. They are
generally uncullivaled, and, # thrown into
market at fair price, would soon be oc-
cupied by an industrious people, able and
ready to assist 10 advancing the wealth,
population and resources OF the State
The hardy pioneer who cuts his way in
the painless forest and erects his humble
dwelling, has to bear the burlhen of open
ing roads and building bridges. His
labour brings the land of the sPeculator
into notice and enhances its value. The
property of the latter should contribute 10
the Improvements which add so much to
Its value. Public policy demands that
suitable measures be taken TO bring spec
Oily into cultivation all the lands held by
persons who do not intend TO cultivate
them.
The Revenue Law requires the Assess.
or OF each county in the State give bond
in the penal sum Of ten thousand dollars
In large majority Of the counties this
penalty IS too great, and may prevent the
Office from being filled. A bond in the
penalty Of half the amount, of the Tax
Collectors, would be amply sufficient.
The Assessors and Collectors in four
counties resigned their Offices last year,
and assessment rolls have not been re-
turned from those counties. 1t would be
proper to clohe the Executive with power
to fill vacancies in the Offices of Assessor
and Collector Of Taxes, in cases where
the people fail or refuse TO elect them.
In former messages have called the
attention Of the Legislature 10 various
measures, which ] deemed necessary, in
order that our statutes may be made to
conform TO, and carry out, the provisions
Of the Revised Constitution Of the State