Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-09-16
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To the Ertra Session of, ,he Legislature of Ms
souri,, being The first session Of The SeUeateeath
General assembly, eOnUened BY proclamation,
on the Both AuguSt, 1852:
GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE or
REPREsENTATfvEs:-A just regard for the pub
lie interest has impressed upon me the necessity
of called session of the General Assembly for
the transaction Of legislative business.
1t is source of congratulation, that the Rep
resentatlves Of the people have met under aus
pices SO favorable to the public interests. 1t
Will constitute new era III the history Of Mis-
souri, Legislation, and | trust it may be made to
embeIlish the pages of its futdre history.
The question of internal Improvement is ore
upon which the minds Of the people have been
efficiently engaged; and the result has demon
strated that public sentiment has given proper
direction to the subject-leaving nothing now to
be done but prompt and decisive action on the
part of their representatives, in order to secure
a proper development Of our internal resources
and hidden wealth.
| assure the Legislature Of my cordial coope-
ration in everything which may have tendency
to bring about these desirable results.
The reasons which influence me in calling you
together at this time, were briefly alluded TO in
my proclamation, and they refer to the subjects
OF legislation to which it is my design to call
your attention at the present session.
Deeply sensible of the great interest mani
Tested to see the works of internal improvement
progress, and for the completion of which a
most liberal grant of land has been made by the
General Government, did not allow myself
to Goubt the propriety of giving an early oppor-
tunity for enactng such laws as may be neces-
sary, eiIectually and economically to improve and
apply the grant of lands thus made.
1t remains now for the General Assembly TO
take such legislative action as will secure the
proper application of the funds or proceeds ari-
sing from tho sale Of those lands, to the objects
and purposes intended by the grant, and at the
same time to guard against the contingency Of
contracts with irresponsible individuals or COM
panes, by which the means for the construction
Of the roads might be squandered and blight
cast upon the just expectations of us ALL for a
speedy completion of these works Of internal
Improvement.
The grant Of lands made to the State OF Mis-
souri,, to aid in the construction of the Pacific
Railroad and the Hannibal and st. Joseph rail-
road is Of a character, before it can be made
available, to require legislative action, and to
WIS oubJCCt L llNlIC SOul dtlcullul'
The grant Of these lands renders it certain
that the roads will be made, and it only remains
TO enact such laws for their disposition, as will
offer liberal inducements TO capitalists and COM
panieS willing to undertake them, and upon
terms which will insure the completion CT the
roads.
Ii is estimated that the lands granted amount
TO near million of acres to each road, and, il
iis II g.,
if properly and judiciously disposed Of.
BY the, terms of the act of Congress, making
the grant of these lands copy OF the location
of the roads is required to be Forwarded TO The
local land Offices, and land office department a
Washington, within ninety days after the com
pletion of the same. | do not understand tina
this provision contemplates any interference by
the Legislature with the company in the location
of their res pective roads but only after thei
location, to have the proper evidences of th,
fact furnished as required, And the lands
when selected, are by the terms of the grant
and the proceeds to be applied exclusively {,
the purposes specified in the grant.
1t is not my intention 10 press any opinion
upon the Legislature, as to the most appropriat,
disposition to be made of the lands, but only t.
lhuhC d iSN euSBOstioIIs, HpPluPIId'S W III" ouo
ject, and which trust will present no barrie
to proper disposition Of the question.
/ 1t is an undeniable proposition that these lands
do not belong to the respective railroad compa
MES, but are vested in the State of Missouri
and to be subject TO the disposal Of the lcgis
lature."
The policy of investing the proceeds of ines
lands as stock in the respective roads and 4
this extent, the State TO become stockholder
may be suggested for your consideration.
doubt the policy Of such investment and sug
gest as the object and wish of all must be III
most speedy completion of these importaf
works Of internal improvement, that by no ac
of legislation, shall the State be made 10 engag
in them in any direct manner whatever, but thI
the benefits, peouniarily to be derived 10 tn
State, shall be Of an indirect character, such q
may result from disposition Of these lands
the respective companies, and upon such term
as will hold out proper inducements 10 capita
lists 10 engage in, the completion Of the roads a
the earliest practicable period.
BY the terms Of the grant, the lands alon
twenty miles Of the road may be disposed {
first, and when finished for this distance, steT
are to be taken for the sale of lands for anothC
: twenty miles further on the road, and so OF
until it is completed.
II the lands are therefore sold by the comp,
= ny, in order to raise means TO pay for the wor
a as il progresses, the sales must necessarily
o for only twenty miles along the road at TIM
and as the road progresses, subsequent eoHV.''