The Empire County argus., 1854-05-13
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Sacramento City, May 8th, 1854. !

To the Senate and assembly Of f"Cattornia:
In my Annual Message TO the Legislature, presen-
ted at the commencement of the present session,
required by the Constitution, reccommeded meas
ures deemed essential to the general prosperity Of
the State--the preservation of her faith and credit
and the dimnuton of the onerous taxation which
now weighs so heavily upon the energies and indus
try of the people.
The means then pointed out for the accomplish
ment OF thes highly important and desirable Objects
were deemed ample and sufficient and the hope in
dulged that ere this the several measures proposed
would have been fully consumlnatad.
The various measures commended to your early
and favorable considerations at that time, are still
approved, and deemed necessary to meet the wants
and liqudate the debts of the State and |, there
fore, feel called upon again to urge upon you the
great Importance of favorable action, and to implore
you, in the name of our common constituents, not
to adjourn until necessary measures for their re-
lief shall have been adopted
The time appointed by the two Houses for fral
adjournment is rapidly approaching, and unless
some efficient plan to meet the wants of the State
is adopted our existing debt must remain another
year without provision being made for its hquida-
tiOn, rendering necessary continuance OF the pres
ent exorbitant rates Of taxation.
The most important of the measures recommended,
is the extension of the water front of the city of San
Francisco, and the sale at public auction, OF the
lots within the same. 1t is believed that such an
extension, while it would in no manner interfere
with the rights interests of the city of San Fran
cisco, or be the least mpediment to commerce, is
demanded, no less by the almost united voice Of the
people of California, than by the wants and neces
sites of the State.
That the title of this property is vested atone in
the State, is no longer a matter of doubt and that
it should be Immediately placed at the disposal OF
her agents, and the ee proceeds OF all sales made,
applied to the payment of the State debt is sufhc-
dor orst.n bv he of Indebt-
edness, and the excessive taxation which is thereby
rendered necessary, to meet accrung demands upon
the treasury, and the interest falling due semi-an-
nually upon our State Bonds.
A well matured plan for the extension of the wa
ter front is therefore eminently demanded by the
necessities of the State and it is believed would be
hailed by the people as great and lasting benefit
During the late canvass there was no one subject
more fully discussed before and among the people
throughout the various counties of the State, than
that Of extension, and none received from them a
more cordial and unmistakable endorsement.
| would, therefore, again commend to your i'm
mediate and favorable consideration, this highly
important measure, as absolutely necessary tt
the present wants and future prosperity OF the peo-
pie and State of California.
Another object which should command your i'm,
mediate attention, is the selection of the balance OF
the five hundred thousand acres of land donated tl
the State by Act of Congress for school purposes
ing and public buildings.
In order to secure the Ia DIS so donated, agents o
the State should be authorised to make selections
at the earliest practicable period otherwise the
State may lose if not entirely at least to some
tent the benefits to be derived from their sales, and
our system of common schools now dependent sole
ly upon the interest accruing upon the proceeds 81
the sales of these lands be left unprovded for at
time, too, when it much needs aid and encourage
ment.
This exceedingly mportan subject should certain
ly receive favorable consideration at the present
session. The amount of land donated for school
purposes greatly exceeds the estimate presented in
my annual message. The Secretary OF the Interior
in report made to the House of Representatives Of
the United States, the 18th of February last
afirps that California under the Act of March 3D.
1853, which donated to the States the sixteenth and
thirtysxth sections for school purposes is entitled
to six million seven hundred and nineteen thousand
three hundred and twenty-four acres. Add to this
the five hundred thousand acres donated by the
Act of 1871, for the same important object, and We
have total of seven million two hundred and nine
teen thousand three hundred and twenty-four acres
which disposed of at the rate two dollars per acre
will yield the sum of fourteen million four hundred
and thirty-eght thousand six hundred and forty
eight dollars. In addition TO the above the Act OF
1853 donates forty.six thousand ans eighty acres