The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-05
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


duty of the Governor to communicate by message
to the Legislature at every session, the condition Of
the State, and recommend such matters as he shall
Judge expedient, and take care that the laws are
faithfully executed.
have entered upon the discharge of the response
BILE duties OF the Executive Department of the gov
eminent with proper regard, as trust, tor the i'm
porlant obligations imposed upon me.
For the hrst time since the organization of the
government, the Chief Magistrate has been selected
from the agricultural portion of the community
Whatever dlsrust may feel in taking upon myself
an untried station OF SO much importance and diff
Guilty, Irepose with confidence on the guidance of
the Almighty; on the cooperation of every depart
ment OF the government, and on the indulgence of
generou: people, who are always ready to overlook
To you, as the immediate representatives of the
people, belongs the duty of making ample provision
to enforce strict compliance with the constitution
and laws to simplify, expedite, and cheaper all the
proceedings OF the courts of law and equity; toplace
every department OF the government under rigid
accountability, upon principles of economy; to see
that the public faith Is sacredly maintained, and the
credit OF the State kept unmpared; to lessen as tar
as practicable the burthens OF taxation in all its ram
lhcations, TO give the greatest possible efficiency to
our system OF internal improvement, having refer
enceto principles of public utility, and a careful re-
gard for the interest OF every portion OF the State;
to facilitate the OF canals and roads already
structed to see that our pentenary system answers
the great end OF preventing crimes, and Furnishing
and reclamng offenders against the laws, upon prin
cipes of humanity to that all charitable and
benevolent institutions of public character are
made to accomplish the objects for which they were
designed; to see that the banking institutions pac
ed upon basis that will enable them, with an hon.
est administration of their affairs to command pub
lie confidence, and subserve the legitimate objects
OF their creation; to give the utmost efficiency to
the several departments of education; protect and
promote the interests OF the agricultural, mechani.
cal and aborlng portions OF the community; TO re-
strain corporate bodies from all abuses OF power to
take care OF the public health, and to maintain the
elective franchise in its purity
AS Americans we occupy the rare and proud pO-
stlOn OF having established the practcabity of free
government. The constitution has undergone the
test OF more than half century, and although our
conducted under circumstances of high excitement
and personal acrlmony, yet the prevailing party,
with single exception in a sister State, has been
permitted to administer the government without
molestatlon. 1t must, however, be admitted, that
party strife Is sometimes carried to excess highly
preJudcial to the interest of the people. Differences
OF opinion, under republican government in rea-
ton to measures of public policy, will necessarily
exist and when discussed in asprit OF hberaty and
candor, will exert salutary influence. If do not
very much mistake the feelings of the people, they
desire repose from high party exctements in an ex
sures that affect the business relations of the coun
try; anG indulge the confident hope that the Legis
ture will cooperate with me in acting upon the prn"
cple OF placing the public welfare above all mere
party considerations.
During the past year, the earth has been uncom-
monty frotful, and at no former period has there
been so large surplus OF agricultural productions
Our country, and particularly this State, has been
signally exempt from those ravages of disease with
which we are sometimes afflicted. Peace prevails
on all our borders, and several questions which
threatened for while to disturb our foreign rela-
tons, have been adjusted in spirit of conciIiation
For these blessings, and our distinguished privileges
as people, we should bow in gratitude and humility
to that Almighty power that controls the universe
Were it not tor the great excuses PREVIOUS to
M lfuro Wa oil cto1 xuh
gance and an iEordnae desire for wealth prevailed
and the whole nation was deluded by fictitious
prosperity, the people would now be comparatively
happy In the full enjoyment of ease and plenty.
Although the country is in possession of an un-
common surplus OF the products of labor, yet BUSH
ness is depressed, and the people are embarrassed
IN all their moneyed transactions This should
doubtless be charged to the fact that fictitious prices
and na inordInste desire for wealth, have led to
the contracting of debts which the products of the
country at the present low prices, do not furnish the
means OF paying.
But | am confident that this state of things ia
gradually gong through salutary change. The
people doubtless see the necessity of more econo-
my IN all their affairs, and the evil consequences of
/ am also confident that they will not again be so
easily misled by the fallacy OF artificial means TO
make them prosperous; and that they have become
convinced that substantial wealth can only be de-
rived from productive labor There is no nation SO
highly favored as the people of the United States,
and It they properly improve the advantages they
possess, time VIII show that In point OF greatness
they are, as yet, in their infancy.
There have been repeated instances in the history
OF the administration OF the federal government,
where powers of legislation have been assumed de-
rogatory to State rights While the States should
yield ready obedience to the rghhul authority of
the federal government, they cannot be too watch
ful OF their sovereignty, and no encroachment
should be permitted to pass unnoticed.
Within the last two years, there have, in my
Judgment, been several unwanantable assumptions
Of power on the part of the federal government
The right to collect money from the people, in any
form. tor the purpose OF distributing the same among
the States, has not been delegated to the general
government. So long as The whole revenue of the
United Stses Is required for the purpose of carrying
on the operations of the government, it matters not
what particular moneys are taken from the Trea-
sury Tor the purpose oil distribution. Whether it be
the proceeds OF the sales of the public lands or the
same amount of money collected from mposts, or
bydnect taxation; it is nothing less than collecting
money from the people, for the purpose of returning
as IL must come back diminished in amount by the
expenses and losses incident to the collection and
Redistribution, the project is highly Objectionable
ae nner wbcb tho Oh nance But
delegated to the general government, it is of dan.
gerous tendency, and like all other encroachments
ofpower, ought to be promptly met and firmly re-
sisted The Union can only be maintained, and
our free institutions transmitted unmpaired to pos
terty, by unfolding the sovereignty of the States
all the rights which they have not yielded to the
federal government.
Under a powert to make or alter regulations in
relation TO the times places and manner of holding
elections for representatives in Congress, the pre-
sent Congress has passed law which, in effect, re-
quires the several States to egisate in particular
manner, in relation to the choice of representatives.
However unlimited may be the power of the ma
honal legislature TO alter the existing regulations
OF the States. or to make" those which are en-.
trey new, it is impossible, upon any fair consruc-
ton, to maintain that the power to "make or alter
includes power to act upon the State legislatures
and compel them to pass any particular law upon
the SUBJECT AS question ofmere expediency, this
measure was not called for. No State has ever
choice OF representatives in Congress- But as an
unauthorized exercise Of power, it was, like all
other encroachmenIs by the general government.
The Constitution of the Fedora soveynmen, con.
fers upon Congress the power to pass "uniform laws
on the subject of bankruptcy throughout the United
States" The meaning of bankrupt law was well