Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-02-16

OF government IN which freedom Of thought
and utterance are tolerated Their existence
is not 10 be deprecated, for in the weakness OF
human nature, il is 10 the watchful eve which
each keeps upon the movement of the other,
that we can look with confidence for integrity
in the administration Of government, and the
preservation of civil and religious liberty. II
is only when punder, rather than principle,
becomes the cohesive power of party, that par
ty becomes unmitgatedf evil. Political par
ties should be, as with us they have long been,
and as Itrust they may ever be, the exponenls
of principles. To abandon the one, is to re-
nounce the other, The right of every man 81
to do is unquestiOnable convinced Of error
that right becomes a duty; a duty which
should be discharged boldly, feariessly, man
fully. No paltry suhterfnge should he per
mltted to serve as an apology-nO anticipations
of personal profit or Acknowledgement admitted
as Justification for the abandonment Of party
and principle. The integrity Of The indiviIu-
al members Of political parties, of the parties
themselves, and Of the Union, are synonymous
and each involves the destiny Of the other. i
Although, in the estimation of many, party
is shorn of lis crown and sceptre, il is not yet
dethroned. Party creedsare not yet abolished.
They are fully represented III your body, but
am unable to anticipate any question to come
before you for consideration, which will fur
nish occasion for the discussion of articles ot
political faith, or their modes Of action ; or anv
matter, save one, which may call into exercise
partizan feeling. | refer tn the election Of a
Senator TO fill the vacancy existing in The rep
resentatlon from this State in the Senate of
the United States and must be permitted to
express the hope, perhaps futile one, that this
matter may be finally disposed Of at an early
Stage OF the session, and not permitted to in
tertere with or retard the more important bus-
ness for which you are convened. Such being
the condition Of things, am unable to dscov-
er aught which should prevent you from enter
ing with alacrlty and harmony upon the work
assigned you, and from furnishing your con-
siltuenis, by dIligent improvement of time,
with conclusive evidence that devotion to their
interests, rather than the passion for place and
It's emolumeEis, is with you controlling prin-
ciple. H'r y rr .-l
1t is part Of the duty imposed upon the Chief
Magistrate to give to the Legislature from time
TO time, information of the condition Of the
State, and 10 recommend to their consideration
snch measures as he may deem expedlent.-
The annual reports Of The State Treasurer, the
Land Agent, the Adjuiant General, and the
Executive officers the several state institu-
tions will be in due time laid before YOU
Those Reports will furnish you with all neces-
sary information in relation 10 the present con-
diiion of the finances of the State, its land, and
other properties, and lis Institutions.
In performance of the other branch of duty
adverled to, allow me to recommend TO you,
first of all, to legisIate no more than the un-
questionable wants of the people, the protec-
ton of their rights, and the promotion Of their
interests render absolutely necessary The
time has not yet arrived for the PRONUNCIATION
OF the doctrine that no further Legislation is
needed. New combinations Of circumstances,
new emergencies will Of course continue to
arise, as new fields Of enterprise are opened,
calling forIhe exercise Of the Legislative power
But IL has been for sumo time very apparent
that the demand for legislation far exceeded
the necessity for it. Legislation ostensibly for
The whole people, but designed in reality TO
meet some case which has arisen between in
dIvlduals, 10 say nothing of the Injustice il may
occasion to one of the parties, tends materially
10 diminish public confidence in the wisdom
and integrity of the law making power. The
attempt TO provide by law for every case which
may by possibility arise will ever prove an idle
one. 1t is in vain 10 look for perfection in
human Legislation. The attempt TO arrive at
il by amendments usually defeats its object, or,
at least, leaves it unattained. AS choice Of
evils, hold it to be wiser, more for the inter
est of the people ollentmes, TO retain upon the
statute book law as it is, even although i'm
perfect in some Of It's provisions, than 10 be
perpetualy laboring 10 amend it. II is legal
maxim, that every man is presumed 10 know
the law. Such being the rule recognized and
enforced bY our courts In the administration of
justice, it is in justice due TO every man that
our laws shonld be as few and as free from
complexity as possible.
No rihng portion of the sessions of the
Legislature Is often consumed in what is
termed special legislation Legislation directly
for individuals, but presumed to be, indirectly,
for the benefit Of the whole people. Such leg
islation is incident 10 the business enterprise
which characteriZes US a people no excep-
tion is to he taken 10 it as such. But il will
not be amss for me 10 remind you, that in so
legislating for one individual you should have
a careful regard for the interests of others, and
see well TO il that the natural rights of every
citizen, as well as those secured by the Con-
slitulon, are not infringed.
There are few subjects Of general interest
to which desire, very briefly, to direct your
attention at this time, reserving as a subject
for future communications others of minor i'm
portance.
The contract entered into by the Commits
soners appointed at the last annual session for
the purchase Of the public lands lying in this
State belonging 10 the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and ratified BY the Legislature
at its late special session has been perfected
and the title Of Massachusetts transferred to
this State. The conflicting interests which
during the greater portion Of our existence as
an independent State have embarrassed the
management Of our public lands, and in no
slight degree retarded their settlement aud
Improvement have ceased to exist, and we are
now at liberty to adopt and pursue, unembar-
rassed, such policy in the management and dis
posal oc the entire public domain as may be
deemed most for our interest. What the wis
est policy is, you are to decide, and it is a
ouestjon upon which there will be found to be,
probably, no little diversity Of opinion.
The first nstaIlnent Of the debt incurred in
The purchase Of the Massachusetts lands will
not become due until the year eighteen hun
dred and sixly-,hree. The necessity for a
forced sale of the lands purchased, therefore,
does not now exist. Yet, for many reasons,
most obvious 10 all minds, immediate sales, TO
any amount, of lands suitable for agricultural
purposes, TO such as will enter upon and i'm
prove them with view 10 permanent settle
ment. are desirable. No reader method of
aupmenting the resources Of the State can be
devised than by adding TO its population and
,axable properiy. Sales of land 10 actual set
Tiers tend directly to this end +; and that will