Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-12-16
Governors Message.
Gentlemen OF the Senate

ana H0uSe OF Representatives.:
You have assembled for the purpose
Of performing one OF the highest and
most important functions of Republic
an government. TO you has been dele
gated the power, under the Constitution
of the State of Iowa, TO enact equal and
expedient laws for the government of the
Commonwealth, of which you are the i'm
mediate representatives.; and upon the
faithful and proper discharge OF that duty
must depend 20 great extent the pros
perity and future welfare of the people
whom you represent.
You have assembled under happy au.
spices-peace reigns over the land-ihe
earth has yielded Its bountiful harvest to
reward our citizens for their industry
general health prevails, and prosperity
seems to smile upon all. For these
manifestations oil a wise Providence we
should be greatful.
Since the last session OF the General
Assembly the people of this State, in
have been called upon to mourn the loss
of some of our most eminent Statesmen.
Men for almost half century, by their
greatness of intellect and eloquence. have
stood the first in our national councils;
men whose history, whatever errors in
judgement they may have committed, will
rank among the first of the age in which
they lived. allude TO John G.. Calhoun,
Levi Woodbury.. Henry Clay and Daniel
Webster.
But Six years have elapsed since the
organization of the State government Of
Iowa, at that time as near as can be es-
limaied The number of inhabitants
mounted to seventy eight thousand nine
hundred and eigh,y-eight. BY the cen
sus taken by the United States in eIgh-
teen hundred and fifty, we find popula-
tion of one hundred and ninety two thou
sand two hundred and fourteen. And
by the returns of the State census for the
present year, an increase of thirly-seven
thousand seven hundred and eighty six.
Taking into consideration the emigration
to Oregon and California, may we'll
say that the increase has been comnen-
su a;e with the mos. sanguine expecta.
tions.
In The State of Wisconsin, laws have
been passed authorizing the appointment
of commissioner of emigration. 10 reside
in the City of New York, whose duty is
to give emigran,s the necessary intorma-
tion as to the soil, climate, and business
to pursue with advantage, and to protect,
as far as practicable, such persons against
the impositions often practiced upon
them: | submit TO your consideration
whether the appointment of such an Of
ficer, under proper regulations, would
not be highly beneficial TO this State. and
those who might be disposed to become
citizens among US.
In State in the condition OF ours no
subject can claim a more pressing inter-
est than tha, of public instruction. In
older communities, under our govern
ment of popular opinion. il justly takes
the first rank; tut here, recently embark
ed upon the experiment of a State Gov
ernment, with a population rapidly in
creasing by emigration, scattered over a
great extent OF country, and many OF
them destitute of the ordinary means Of
civil instruction, no object appeals in
stronger terms to your fostering care
In view Of the great importance of this
subject | would respectfully suggest the
propriety of careful revision of the
laws which have been heretofore enact
ed relative to the establishment Of COM
mon schools and the State University, to
secure simplicity and economy in this
department of our government. And
you will undoubtedly be aided in Your
deliberations BY the report of the Super
intendent Of Public Instruction which
will be laid before you. The first great
object should be to place within the
reach of every child in the State the op.
por!unity OF acquiring those indispensa.
BILE elements of education which shall fit
him for the enlightened discharge OF the
civil and social duties to which he may
be called.
need not remind you that our Con-
stitution requires the General Assembly
to encourage, by all suitable means, the
promotion o. intellectual, scientific aud
agricultural improvements.
Our financial condition is at all times
a subject of the deepest interest, not only
to the people themselves bu. to their Rep
resentatives. |. is to their action that
the people mus, look for the security Of
their credit, the preservation of their
faith, and the exen. n.ption from unueces-
sary bur,hens. By the report of the
Treasurer OF State herewith submitted
it will be seen that there has been re-
ceived into the treasury, from the second
day of December, 1850, 20 the 3lst day
Of October, 1852, the sum of $l39,6Sl
50. Balance received from former
Treasurer 81 80. making an aggregate Of
Sl39,663 0S. The disbursements for
the same period are $l30.63l 40, being
balance in the treasury, at the latter
da,e, of SO .O5l SO.
By The report of the Auditor of State
which will be laid before you, the fund
ed de5i of the State amounts to $751; ,795
rs of which amount S26,795 $4,000
dollars are PAYABLE at The option of the
State. / he estimated expenditures for
the two wears tn cnme amounts tn SlO2.