The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-01-11
[Receircddy Despatch to the Ottaua Free Trader
ErcluNreig
MESSAGE
or the Governor OF the state of Illinois.
delivered at 10 O'Clock Jan G.

the eve of the commencement of your delibera-
ton- YOU will allow me. therefore, to cungratu-
late YOU in view of the cheering and prosperous
condition Of our beloved state as manifest IN the
favorable prospects which on all sides, surround
us From a broad expanse of territory and
a sparse population, We have within short
number Of years, witnessed rapid and almost
unprecedented changc-lrom a few thousand 10
nearly nine, hundred thousand inhabitants, while
in every part We meet, in active operation the el-
ements of rapidly increasing wealth and oontinu.
ed prosperity An industrial cmploymcnts with.
in its borders, find encouragement under the regu-
lar administration of the lsw, and the exercise of
that free and healthful comuetition which IS made
free to all by the principles Of the constitution,
To secure and pcrpctuate our present advantages
aud euluylueuts, depends much upon the manarr
in which the important trust temporarily conf
ded to cur care, shall be discharged II may
probably be said with truth and emf ases, that
at no time during the political history Of tins
state has its legislature convened when more i'm
portant results depended upon its action, than the
present. For besides the usual quantity Of legis-
atlye business, subject. Of lasting aud transcend
ant Importance to the future destiny of the state
will demand your attention. and Which IN order
to dispose of them properly, will require great
care and dclIbcrntIon.
In general it NAV be said that with few laws,
simple aad plain in their character, and with the
few changes IN those now IN force, which the va
rylng necessities Of our condition may require, DIS
turbHg a. little as practicable the accustomed anu
voluntary ayocatinns OF the people, leaving the
channels Of industry free and undlsiurbcd togeth.
er with ample protection both tu persons and pro
perly, We have the best assurance of continued
prosperity, and uniform quiet and contentment.
10 .t,lt l. nd
eNgcncles Of n community as they gradually uu.
fold Themselves To notice, IN the changing condl-
ton Of things around u. 1t ought, moreover, to
bc practicable and suited rather tn remedy mis-
chiefs which have an actual cXi,tance, than Ia
provide against such as are mere speculative. II
this maxim is observed few laws will be needed
aud few euactments made
The practical wisdom of the present .ge il in
nothing moro beueticalv illustrated than IN the
efforts which have been made aud now max
ing to remedy evils consequent upon two much
legislation. by removing the fetters from trade
breaking down the barriers which interrupt free
and salutary exchange Of commodities. arre,ting
aud as far rs practical limiting tie encroaching
power of monupoles aud opening alike to all
an equal part,ipation IN the common blessings
and cnioyment- of life, which Providence III its
wisdom has bcuiticeuny vouchsafcd to mankind
The shottness of the regular legislative session
and the variety of subjects which will necessarily
claim yuur attention, will naturally impose upon
/ YOU severe and continuous labor besides admon-
/ >hiuy YOU Of the proprety Of using as great dill
gcnce and expedition in tie discharge of business
as the due consideration and importance of each
subject will permit Laws now in force require
To be reviewed and amended, in order to modify
what have proved mi,chievous provisions, or sup.
ply radical defects. which have disclosed them
selves in the frequent attempts to execute them
/ This will be found especially true. as regards the
/ township organization law, which it has been
( found next to impractiCable to execute in many
Of its more important provisions, in the manner
supposed TO have been designed by its makers
/ To perfect it, so that 1t can be intellIgently and
practically enforced many defect. must be sup
Piled and antiquities removed This will oo
come necessary, for the further reason to make
! the law harmonic with other existing municipal
regulations. Without entering into detailed
enumeration Of the several amendments needed
to supply defects aud harmonic its various pro-
visions, but which careful examination will bring
to view, will take occasion to refer YOU to one
which may be found essentially necessary tc
guard against the difficulties of organizing under
the law, ! refer to the vote which the constltu'
tion requires To be taken before Il county can be
come organized. 1t is conceived to be nearly OF
quite impracticablc in the absence Of any rule oil
provision by which to determine the number o
voters residing IN the county otherwise 'han a'
'hey present themselves az ,hc l"'.'' 10 "pNe'''
itera' comp nance wiz" 'ha' PROVISION VI ul''"
sutuu""' when requires majority "l '"e N"l'I'
county 10 oe cast III '"So' VI '' VI s'"'A'''''
oe'o'e II ca" DC c'S".|eu. II u'y =" P'"Pg'
ana "s conceive iH''y III ,hr power ol 'ne 'eS'S
atufc, 10 pre'cr'Ue "h"' s'',' c""S'''u'e 3uc'
constitutional n'aJoiy or e't"n''Hh s"'hT rune "
"''n eau oe p'"''v"!y "'I', o'''e" Nl''' ',''''
constitute ~ ana now II sh"' ne aScrf'"Ineu, $
as hereafter l" i'u ''' Jaw VI u"s pe'P'eN"'
: question: IN ofue' !" guar" oS"l's' ,"''',e 'u'
ro'et'ltS " may oe una lT"Hth' I" Iee"''hc wv
proceedings o, counties W'n'n nave a,'empru 7.
organic ou' nave nren met oy ''e'o ana o'"e
eiiU'''"SSIhc''' i''e''eu W,
| me present se's,o', : .'e ",v III COURSE "p''
whth dsVo'Nss me d>'i'c'ns OF 'iie s'a,e, so 'l
the number "l our f'Irt'eh'"''N'S snn'' '''''o'"
10 the requirements "l 'e' .a'e lHW "' Voos'ts
uS'oS the "pP"'''on''' .oi we t''>u,'S "" S''''
by " iMe eh"hSe III inc s.a'e 'aWI' S"G census m ~
,afned oy "'c u'eu states n,,'s'l', ,' maui 'h
oaslS ulon "neh ,ne "Il'''''",iii,"' :Dii u'u.t
a"e' inc ~ ''.'"s ",Iu'"' '" ,IN.,' ",
5 III 'H's s'''e "nl plo.'".s ''e .e.".n' S'n "
Y requisite ue'',uc"te ""'" ,'c SS''e,''y u! ''e "
teilOr nv Washington, lo u ia't d"S uu' u II h'le