Washington telegraph., 1852-11-17
The Governors Message.

sage OF GOV. Roane, omlttlng such portions
as are not material to a full understanding
of bis Excelency views We have given
it a careful perusal. and find much in it wor-
thy Of our approval Aside from a very
evident attempt at a grandiloqucnce of
style unsuited to the gravity and dignity of
State paper, it presents many valuable
suggestions respecting the present and fu-
ture policy of the State.
The Governor very justly condemns 'the
vicious distribution policy which has obtain
ed in Arkansas so disastrously to every le-
gitimate interest" The General Govern
ment, with noble spirit of liberality, gave
to our State seventy-two sections of land
ito aid her in establishing and endowing a
Seminary of learning With the reckless
disregard of every principle of right and
sound policy which has marked the admins
tration of our State affairs, this magnificent
donation for an object so necessary. has been
diverted from its intended application and
distributed in pitiful sums to each county
The Governor judiciously recommends that
what remains Of this donation be applied to
Che endowment and support of one or more
semiparies of learning, and proceeds to de-
signate the points which seem to him to be
the most eligible location for such institu-
tions. The recommendation we hope to see
carried out promptly and energetically, but
beg leave to enter our demurrer against "se-
lecting the Arkansas Military Institute as
basis, or any other Military Institute
We have no hostility of feeling towards the
Arkansas Military Institute, for we know
little OF nothing of its history, prospects or
success,-but we do entertain q bellicose
feeling towards all humbugs, whether mill
tary, literary, ecclesiastical or anything else.
The Governor also recommends the re-
peal of the law distributing the internal i'm
proyement fund among the counties The
present law is not only waste of the fund
but misapplication Of the trust reposed in
us by the Congress of the Uuited States
The repeal of this act, and the application
of the fund to the uses and purposes which
the Governor suggests, would, we have no
hesitation in saying, fully meet the approba-
tion Of the people and secure to its legiti-
innate purpose this magnificent bequest, which
under the present arrangement bids fair to
be totally squandered.
The Governor adopts in bis message the
plan of the Hon. T, Butler King. for the
construction of Railroad from the Missis-
sippi river to the Pacific, and recommends
that Congress be memorialized on the sub
ject. The plan, We think, is feasible and is
entitled to the serious consideration of the
Legislature, as well as of Congress
The deficiency in the revenue, to meet
the current expenses of the State govern
mcnt, shows the necessity for an increase in
the rates of taxation. If we would main
tain State government, we must consent
to be taxed sufficient to meet the current
and unavoidable expenses Of it. The saia-
ries Of our State officials, already small
enough. must be still further reduced, or an
additional tax is inevitable. IF the legisla-
ture, at its last session, had suffered the
rate Of taxation then existing, to remain
unmolested, there would now have been a
surplus in the Treasury, instead of a def
cheney. The recommendation to authorize
the counties to tax themselves for internal
improvement purposes, meets our co f9ial
appreciation, and we trust an act to that eff.
feet will be passed at the present session of
our legislature.
The plan suggested for reinstating the
credit of the State is rot a new one,-we
have heard it suggested, before, and if we
mistake not, the State of Illinois adopted
similar course, That this desirable object
can be accomplished in the manner propos-
ed, we do not entertain doubt, and we hope
the Legislature will promptly carry out the
Governors suggestions
The message also recommends the estab-.
lshment of system of free banking
This would also tend to relieve our citizens
from some of the many burdens under
which they are laboring, and could result in
no injury to the State
The message as a whole we regard as
the best we have seen from an executive of
this State, and should the Legislature carry
o,,t tho Governors curroct;onc -, ro1,4;o