Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-12-07
Fellotc- Ciiizens Of the Senate
and House of Representatives

State for the next louf years. VI tnls lact, tue
committee raised for the purpose, from the two
houses in Joint session, have just given me official
notice. As more appropriate opportunity than
this may not present itself, lot me here return TO
YOU and 10 our fellow citizens at large, my un.
feisned Acknowledgements for this expression Of
confidence and for The partially thus shown me-
In taking tho executive chair, il has been usual
for the incumbent to give to the legislature, and
through it to the people OF the State. an outline
Of the principles upon which the afrairs Of the
State, in the opinion OF the executive, should be
administered. This is not q duty enloned by
any law, or by the constitution Of the State; but
is practice which has grown up with the govern.
ment, seldom il ever departed from, and with
which, in entering upon the discharge Of my OF.
fetal duties, it is now my purpose TO comply.
In some things which may deem it my duty
10 say, may appear little out OF the common
channel. If SO must ask the kind indulgence
OF my fellow citizens, until they have given
themselves time 10 investigate and reflect before
they proceed to condemn me. | am well aware,
that he who deviates at all from the beaten track
Of public opinion, or expresses an idea somewhat
new in itself in politics, unless he has reached
that eminence which makes his dress the fashion
and his word the law, is often hastily set down
as a simpleton or without reflection condemned
as a blockhead, by the inconslderate and esPeci
ally by the prcjudiced part of mankind. And
yet the older track is not always right, nor the
new one always wrong. But it must not be in.
ferred from these remarks that am going 10
wander wide from the ancient land marks.
In the business Of life, it is always important
10 understand correctly on what we can rely, and
on VIVA. we cannot rely Tor any given purpose
We are not wrong when we understand that we
can rely on government for the protection OF our
rights, but we are wrong when We understand
we can rely upon i! for the support oil ourselves
and our families.
A few may be benefited, here and there, but
the great body OF the people cannot depend upon
banks or protective tariffs or distributions OF the
public revenue, or upon any other acts OF gov.
eminent, whether state or national, for support or
aid; and the propagation Of doctrines which in.
duce them 10 look 10 such sources for support or
nid are ruinous to the habits, the morals, and
the interests Of the country. We should bear in
mind the fact that our support Of our government
and all our interests depend mainly upon our
own exertons.
With this truth before them, our public men
end public officers should make no eItravagant
promises. They SHOULD not promise wealth TO
The people. The government cannot bestow
wealth. On the contrary, both the government
and the public officers want support from the
people for themselves. They should not prom.
Use to exempt the people from labor. The gov.
eminent cannot exempt Them On the contrary,
the people must labor 10 support themselves, the
public officers. and the government. They should
not promise 10 confer benefits on the people gen.
orally. The government has nothing TO give ex.
cept what it first takes from the people; and to
take away 10 give back again, would only be rob.
bling with one hand and paying back with the
other; first deductng for its officers both the ex
pense OF robbng and restoring, and leaving the
people in the end poorer than it originally iound
them. They should not promise advantages to
any particular class. The government cannot
confer benefits upon few without first extract
ing the means Of so doing from the many. Thi:
would be unjust and partial, and the government
should be lust and impartial, and should act to.
wards all men alike, and should 60 for the doc.
trine Of equal rights, and pass equal laws 10
sustain them. They should not promise TO make
the people rich, for, as previously remarked, the
government cannot besow wealth, because it is
itself the largest beggar and its wheels must STOP
whenever the people refuse 10 grant the necessary
supplies 10 keep them in motion. The people
must enrich themselves or they will forever re
main poor. And We should never lose sight o
the important truth, that on the labor Of the peo
pie and the spontaneous productions Of the earti
every man, and every public officer, and the gov
eminent itself, must depend for support. M
doctrine, then, should be taught, and no promises
should be made by public men or public officers
in reference to our governments, which would
relsrd the progress Of industry among the grea
body Of the people, and encourage a relianc
upon the government instead Of their own exer
lions for the means Of obtaining the necessarie
OF life. All should labor.
But il these things should not. still many 9th
ers may be safely promised The laws can b.
distributed and faithfully executed. The right
Of the weak and the honest can be protected from
invasion by the strong and The vicious A prope
observance Of all contracts can be enforced TIT
public expenditures can be made reasonable. -
The public monies can be judciousIy aPproPra
ted, and then properly applied 10 the purposes 70
which they are appropriated. II benefits canno
be conferred on the people, vice, immortality
crime, and practices injurious TO the interests O
the country, can be prevented. In legisating
the wishes Of the people can be carried out a
far as they are practicable and constitutional. A
far as the people are willing 10 (urnishthe means
laws can be passed TO provide Tor the construction
OF public works, and the money appropriate
can be faithfully applied, and the works Properl
executed. Selfish, partial and speculative Iegi;
lation, which, while it may contribute 10 the in
teres, Of few, seldom fails TO result greatly I
the injury OF the country at large, can be avo
ded. All these things can be safely promised
and by the cooperation OF the Legislature an
the executive, can be accomplished. | hope thu
that co operation may be had.