Columbia gazette., 1854-01-14
WHOLE NO. G.

out the State, in few years, would ef
feet mighty change in the condition 0
California.
Judicious legislation alone is now want
ing to secure all that is claimed, and il
the premises, more than realize the cx
pectations Of our common constituents.
To meet the accruing interest on the
Civil Debt, the sum of one hundred and
sixty-fve thousand, eight hundred and
fifty-five dollors, and twenty cents, must
each year, until the debt shall have
been paid, be collected in cash from the
people of the State.
The amount of interest accruing an
nually on the War debt is $67, ,495 so,
which added to the interest on Civil
debt, amounts to the sum of $233 $50
50.
With the ample resources legitimate
ly within your reach, and to which I
have directed your attention, it is hoped
that you will, without unnecessary de-
lay, adopt measures to secure the liqui-
dation Of the entire debt, as rapidly as
the outstanding donds of the State can
be advantageously called in and cancel
led.
With sufficient funds in the Treasury
the Indebtedness of the State, it is be-
lieved, can be discharged on favorable
terms by advertising for ''scealed pro-
posals for the surrender of bonds," in
the manner prescribed in the ninth Sec
ton of the Funding Act of 1859, and
thus relieve the people from the annual
payment of an onerous special tax.
Statement G, which is herewith
transmitted, has been compiled with
much care, and exhibits the important
fact, that during the past four years. the
average annual expenditures Of the sew
eral Departments, collectively, and
which includes the legitimate expenses
ofthe State Government, have been FIVE
hundred and fifty-three thousand, nine
hundred and sixty-three dollars and
ninety cents.
The receipts into the Treasury for
the fiscal year, ending June 3Oth, 1854,
are estimated at $3.50, 900, being an ex-
cess of 1926, 900 over the average an
nual expenditures as exhibited by state
ment C.
These facts prove conclusively that
by the adoption Of the proposed reforms,
the Government will be enabled to
meet, and in cash, accruing demands ON
the Treasury, and justify great reduc-
ton of the taxation now bearing so heav-
lily on the people.
In my annual message, at the COM
mencement of the last session, the at
tention of the Legislature was invited
to the Importance of making an efficient
effort to obtain from the General gov
eminent, the entire amount of the Civ
il Fund.-" the collection of which was be-
gun in the early part Of the year ls47;
and few days before the close of the
session, [ transmitted important papers
in relation to the disposition made of
this fund, see document No. SO, ap-
pended to Senate journal, and again
urged the Legislature to give the sub
ject thorough invest igation, and to trans
NIT, without delay, the result of their
to our Delegation in Con-
gress.
This fund, amounting to more than
one million of dollars rightfully belongs
to the State Of California, and would not
it is confidently believed, be longer with
held, if all the important facts connect
ed with its collection and disbursement
were carefully prepared and forwarded
to Congress.
The condition of California at the
time when tie collection of this fund
commenced, it may be proper here to
remark, was indeed peculiar. Congress
had failed to legislate for the country,
and the President of the United States
and Secretary of the Treasury, it is un-
derstood, had both, in official commune
cations, admitted the want of power in
the proper department of the Govern
ment to collect revenoe in California;
and, the officers in command on the Pa
cific Coast, could not, under their in
structions, permit foreign goods to be
landed without the duties having been
frst paid, though there was at the time
a demand for them in the country.
In the absence, however, of law on
the subject, the Civil Governor assum-
ed the responsibility Of permitting the
goods to be landed, and Of receiving the
Of duties fixed by the act of
1916; and the people of California con-
trolled by their necessities, though with
out voice in the councils of the nation,
quietly acquiesced in this novel exercise
Of the taxing power.
This fund collected from the people
of California, before the revenue laws Of
the United States we're extended over
the country-collected, in fact, without
CONTINUED on the fourth pags.)