Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-12-04
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Gentlemen Of the Senate and House IF Representatives.:
You have again assembled for the discharge Of the
responsible duties pertaining civil government
for, while other departments committed the charge
Of administering and executing the laws, yours the du
ty Of constructing-of enacting them.
We have cause for mutual congraulation in the favor
able circumstances with which we are surrounded
Health restored to borders and the Author OF all
good has crowned the abors of people with abun-
dance. Industry and enterprise in every department
have received their just reward and our citizens are ad
vancng with rapid strides in all the elements of moral
political. and intellectual greatness. These considera-
tOns, under proper Of dependence the AL
mighty Ruler, WILL trust, properly prepare us for the
important duties before
The present an interesting era in the history Of
State; il is well worthy of a mument's consideration
On the first day Of November last the Constitution,
der which you have assembled, went into operation On
that day passed from under the old, to the new.
That Constitution under which, for than third o
n century. we had grown from handful a million OF
inhabitants secured and protected in all the rights oil
freemen, has passed away and a instrument taken
its place. The change is radical in of the most
essential parts OF organic law, hut has been effect
ed without strife contention bloodshed and without
affecting the slightest degree the uniform and peace
able pursuits of our people How different is this from
the scenes that distinguished the changes in the old
world, only Of law, but of rulers. With an
hundred and fifty men assemble at the capital make and
proclaim organic and elementary law for the u-
tuIe government of a nation of rcemen They adjourn
proclamation is made and published their abors SUBJ
mitted to and approved by the people The old passes
though no change had happened.
As Indianians may well challenge parallel in the
unanmity, with which people adopted the Con-
sttution-a majority of eghtysix thousand the bal
lot-box. 1t is your duty to give the new Consu-
tion steady and energetic supports to carry forward
without delay. all the changes proposes, that they may
be fairly tested. This TO the people, to the
country, and TO ourselves
The financial condition OF the State is, at all times,
subject Of the deepest interest not only to the people
themselves, but to their Representatives,.
fbo
security of their credit the preservation Of their fah
and the exemption from unnecessary burdens.
/ grati6ed in being able state that financial
affairs impTovng-econOmy is manifest IN all the
pendures and the time has now arrived when we can
commence the work so long looked for by people
the reduction of the principal of the State Debt of lni
ana
The entire amount of the ordinary expenses of the
State as audited and paid by the Treasurer, for the
year ending the 31st Of October 1851 S7l $40 &C.
which is Sl S04 "A less than the amount audited and
paid for the year ending October 3lst 1850 This sum.
for the ordinary expenses Of million of inhabitants, will
compare lavoraby with any State in the Union, it
being capita, about for each individual.
The whole amount of revenue paid into the State
treasury, during the past year. ending October 3st,
1851 on all accounts, S505 055 pa which exceeds
the amount of the previous year, S5S ,574 49,
The ordinary expenses of the State government for
the ensuing year estimated az the sum oil Sl33 3OO
the increase beng principally in anticipation OF pro-
tTacted session of the Legislature. 1t is estimated by
the Auditor Of State that from the revenue OF the pres
providing for the expenses of the State government and
meeIing the January and July dividends the Public
Debt there will yet be surplus Of about SlOO OOO
Whatever the surplus NAV be- / recommend that IT be
promptly applied the liquidation Of portion Of the
principal Of the debt in such you may direct
My opinion is, that intricate compile MACHINE
nv is necessary, but that your executive officers, with
the addition of Sinking Fund Commissioner, or OF the
Agent Of State, should be charged with this duty
However small the beginning it should be made at the
first possible moment. BY the prompt investment o
r. .boC E,u han horo
after suggested is believed that from onethrd to one
half million Of the Foreign Debt may be Withdrawn
within the present fiscal year.
The Domestic Debt is nearly liquidaed that re-
commend you direct the Treasurer of State 20 give
notice the holders of State Scrip present the same
for payment within limited PERIOD after which Interest
on the shall The Treasurer should also be
authorized from time to time to require the County
Treasurers make depotes of sneh amounts OF State
revenue may be in their hands, and for such services
and for those rendered in making advance deposits IL
1850 the Auditor and Treasurer OF State should be en-
powered to make reasonable compensation.
Your attention is called the very able and practical
Report Of the Auditor the finances OF the State alsC
the valuable Suggestions in the Report OF the Treas
urer.
The wisdom and proprety Of the revenue laws Of thu
last session OF the Legislature manifest IN the large
increase of taxable property returned for the curren
year. Sufficient returns have been received TO warran
the statement that the whole amount Of taxable proper
ty placed the duplicate of 1851 will be not less thar
two hundred and ten millions OF doilars-being an IN
or more than fifty per The greatest increase ha
been the personal properly showing that heretofore
large Of this description of taxabes has entirely
Escaped the knowledge OF the In the item
corporation stock alone the increase is not less thai
four millions OF dollars.
The ircfeased tax personal property retnrne
ehargeahe less than onr caousand persons IN the va
counties in the State equal to the whole ordina
nv expenses Of the State Tor the past
There are doubtless defects in the phraseology an
practical operations Of the Of the last
SION which will from time time become apparent, ali
will reqnre remedy at your hands; but the correetnes
Of principle assessing every mans property at IL
actual value placing men of all conditions and occups
tons upon the same footing commends itself tn genera
spprobation return to the old system is entirely in
practicable
Il will be reference 10 the assessment, this
there still great inequality in the valuation Of lands
adjoining counties. Thus, instance. IN the count
Of Dearborn the average valuation OF land Is sos
per acre while in Ohio county it is hut S575 per acre
This and considerations may require reapPras
ment at an earlier period than would otherwise be nece
sary
The Constitution requires you, at this session, 10 pr
vide ly law for the appointment OF three commissions
70 revise simplify and abrdge the rnes, practice pea
iuos and forms OF the courts Of justice. You may nj,
make t the daty OF these commissioners 70 reduce into
systematic cole the general statute laws Of the State
recommend You to make provision for the appoIn
ment Of these commissioners soon possible, and
charge them with The general revision Of the laws
we'll as the practice. These measures of reform a
necessarily and intimately connected with each othe
inasmuch as well dgested code OF laws will great
facilitate the establishment Of good system Of pracc