Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-12-13
W ashington, Dee. 9th. 1915.
e:CyE.svCzs's MESS AGE.
GentIemen Of the Senate ami IF IL
UJvse Of LreseniatircS:


Gentlemen Of the Senate anil of the
U9use Of RciresentaircS:
The annual retrospect Of the affairs Of
our State. has at 70 former meeting Of the
General Assembly, exhibited more sub
stantill cause for congraiulaton. than it
does at present. y lilc thousands have
been s,n:tten by peS'ilcnce in the old
W orld. we have never been favored with a
greater decree Of general health. than dur
in. the past year. " nile famine has visited
some OF It's ta!rest portions. and scattered
dcstitution and death in its progress, the
products of our fields have never surpass-
cd, if they have ever cqualed. III amount.
those Of the same period. While capital
there has continued its sure and constant
encroachmeEts upon the rights Of labor,
here has been visible and steady in
crease of employment, and OF It's mcrlted
rewards. While pccuniary distress and
bankruptcy have there crippled o. destroy
ed thousands OF apparently. the best
taLlishcd houses, here has been witnessed
Il steady and extensive growth Of sound
and prudent enterprise, and Of individual
wealth and credit. There. we behold man
struggling with doubtful. or varied success
to recover his rights-,he foundations of
society heaving with commotion-the skill
Of the Statesman batIled-lields Redeemed
with civil war; and the Oldest governments
lettering to their fall Here. we find tina,
the structure Of our simple and sublime
institutions. based as they are in the al
fcctions. identified with the interests, and
sustained by the will Of a free and intelli
gent people. grows, as we trust. stronger
with age. We have been blessed with
good order and domestic quiet-with the
protection Of mild and wholesome laws
with the preservation Of our rights and
privileges. both civil and religious. and
finally. with the welcome exchange of the
evils of war for the smiles of peace.
For these, and numberless other bless
ings. with which we have been signal
" distinguished, among the nations of the
earth. we owe TO Almighty God. in whose
hands are the destinies Of nations. our
reverent acknowledg ments and hearty
thanks.
The general prosperity existing at tnc
delivery of my last annual message is be-
lieved not to have relrogaded in any part
of the Union. while the great agricultural
interest OF the country. constituting the
bulk 0. its wealth. and comprising almost
the entire means Of Indiana. has contn-
ued surely and steadily 10 advance. So
great an increase of the National wealth
derived from its legitimate sources. pro-
ductions and trade, under the adverse in
fluences of war, is believed % be an an
omalv in the history of nations.
Time has only served. indeed. 10 add
strength to the conviction expressed IN
the message referred TO. tina, our growing
welfare is under Divins Providence nsin-
IL attributable TO the wise change IN the
commercial and financial policy Of the
country within the last few years And
should that policy be suffered TO continue.
no doubt is entertained that the expert
ence Of the future will continue yet more
and more TO ratifv tine decisions Of the
past in favor Of is wisdom, its justice. and
It's humanity.
The insecurity of property, happiness,
and life, occasioned by the recent COM
motions in Europe. is adding at an in
creasing rate. by migration and capital
TO our own growing wealth and popula-
ton. To those thus seeking a shelter a.
mong US. il is alike the dictate of sound
policy and of humanity to afford home.
and ample scope for their industry and
enterprise
The desired opportunity for this is az
;orded in our surplus lands and III the
large addition - our territory acquired by