Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-01-17
Massachusetts Legislature.
THURSDAY, Jan. 16.


of Ashburnham, excused.
Petitions presented and referred-OfO o. H. White
and others oil Westminster for appropriations to school
districts; N. Tolman and others, against the right Of
Luther w. Rugg TO a seat from the of Sterling.
On motion OF Mr. kimbal of Boston, it was ordered
that committee be appointed consider the eXpedi-
ency of establishing ytm for confirmed nebiaes
with aview to the total Allegation OF all laws punish
ing intemperance a crime.
The Senate propose Convention forthwith Tor the
purpose of receiving communication from the Govern
Or. The House eoncwred, and at about a quarter 10
IL, the Senate in.
The Chair appointed Messrs. Cazneau snd Sever,
of the Senate, Earle of Worcester, Palmer of Boston,
White of WiIiamstown, Barrett OF Belchertown, and
Park OF Russell, of the House, Committee to wait
upon the Governor and inform him that the two
branches were ready to meet him in Convention.
The Committee, with the Governor and Council
soon came In and the message OF the Governor de-
yered.
Gentlemen of the Senate
and Of the. House Of Representatives
In compliance with the established and appropr-
ate usage, have met the two branches of LegisIa-
ture for the purpose Of making those recommends
tons which appear to me to be important or bene6-
cal to the Commonwealth.
The seventh decennuI period in its history and
political institutions has Just closed, and by the bles-
sing OF Divine Providence, it has been the most dis
tnguished of all for the happiness and prosperity of
the people.
We shall truly appreciate the blessings of the age
IN which live il we contrast it with the gloomy
period of 1880 to 1890, wheno our State endured the
calamties of individual and national poverty, and
the horrors of domestic and foreign war.
| The population of the State has increased from
seven hundred and thirty-seven thousand, in 1910
to nearly one million, in 1885, while, in the same
period, its valuation has risen from three hundred to
six hundred millions of dollars. Extreme poverty
is so unusual that all may be said to enjoy the
necessares of life and our system of public in
structIaahis so extended and elevated, that every
child fHs the means of becoming a well educated
person. Wealth has been accumulated in every de-
partment of industry, though agriculture and man
uiactures are temporarily less prosperous than COM
Emerce.
! The system of railways by which the seacoast is
connected with the INTERIOR even to the Canadas and
the Great Lakes, has given commercial importance
and character to the State which could not have
been anticipated at the commencement of the pres
ent century, Nor has any section of the country
been more benefited by the existence, stability and
general policy of the National Government than
Massachusetts.
ess has been unfavorably affected by the nr9senr
revenue system, it is probable that sufficient relief
Woald be afforded by substituting an actual valua
ton OF imports for foreign invoices THERE'S. how
ever reason to believe that without legislation. all
branches of industry will soon enjoy a Good degree
OF prosperity Our chief reliance must he mon
our natural advantages, and the superior inte-
gence, assIdulty and enterprise of our laborns pop
ulaon. fNP
we are not. then, as true representatives of the
character and interests of the State to enqaue in the
work of destruction, but, by careful and judicous
legislation, to remove such evils as may exist, and
give proper encouragement to industry, education
and good morals
1t Is one OF the high duties of government to Sc
cure to every man an equal opportunity to acquire
property and equal rights in the possession of prop
erty General laws, so far they are applicable TO
business purposes, should take the place of special
legislation But whenever the latter is necessary
Is one OF the most delicate duties to manifest shirt
oil llberay on the one hand, and guard against all
excuses of legislation on the other.
Inc wisdom of our ancestors is no where more
apr aren't than IN the early and permanent provision
they made for public instruction and we NAV in.
dulge the gratifying reflection, that their exafople
has always been initiated, though not in name
corresponding 10 the increased wealth of later
times.
We have rank among the large States of tbis
Union, derived either from population or extent Of
territory ou' the time can ne yer come when mil
lion OF welleduclted people shall fail to erert ;nar
ehce III every part o this ocean bound republic You
cannot expect TO secure this desirable result Inv anv
other agency than the Common School Sncb ,n
pears to be the opinion of the people In 1850 tbe
several towns and cities raised, by TAXATION eight hun
ureu ana sixtyour thousand dollars for the support Of
schoos, DeIng an increase Of thry-oar thousand dol
lars oV the appropriations of the precedinu year
total expenditures for educational purposes during
The year 1900, were not less than twelve hundred and
hlty Thousand dollar,. 80
The School Fund amounts 70 nine bpnarad al
eigIy-sx thousand dollars and is limited Inv law 10
one m'llion OF dollars. WheE this fund shall have
reached ITS maximum, is income distributed ornono
TWO hundred thousand Children Will furnish only the
ncohsderabe sum Of thirty cents towards the educa
ton of each If it were possible Womb NOT adv;so |
such an addition should relieve the towns from, ta
alon; but It could not be dangerous to allow the fund
10 increase to one and half two millions of dollars
III should also be borne in mnd that the increase oil
poPulaion dlminshes annually the capacity of the
und TO furnish education to each child do thora
lore, most respectfully recommend to your considero
non an additional appropriation of the proceeds of the
pubic lanis TO this object.
II is expected that you will durino the ,ros s
SION DC made acquainted with the quantity and valnc
OF the lands now unsod IN which the State interest
co. large portion of them the Joint property off
and Name and as the interests of the
TWO states are not IN all respects Identical il NAV
appear 70 you advisable take measures for n dv,s
ION. nc system OF sales is in many respects obiec
W nDe, and cannot hesitate to express the oni1io,
'nat iessiatlon upon the subject is much needed
learn from the Auditor, that including tho hal
ance 'nthe treasury on the first Of January 1850 the
ordinary receipts for that year, were four hundred
ana Ninety SIX thousandleghthu and sixty four
dollars, ana that the ordinary expenditures excluding
paymeutstto the valuation committee were i've hun.
dred and htysix thousand and ffy-fye dollars. there
by showing deficit Of rather more than ffty.nine
thousand dollars This deficit is covered b, tcmno
raIy loan Of slxty-fve thousand dollars, and TINS |
balance Of nearly six thousand dollars appears in The
treasury on the first ofJunuary 1851
The cstsiates Of the Auditor also show that tho
expenditures OF the current year Will exceed the in
come N The sum Of thirty thousand dolnra and tint