The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-01-06
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Fslloao Citizens IF tie Senate

| ana House g Hfpresehtdt9rtS
After Il season of vcissitudcs of more than
ordinary note, among which may be men.
toned drought in n very large portion OF
the state, which has no parallel in the mem,
ory Of any now living-a season characteri.
zcd throughout the world with more than
common pestllcnce-a season of commercial
reaction and financial panic, we still find
ourselves called upon for sentiments Of pro.
found gratitude for the great measure OF
prosperity and happiness which has been al.
lotted tous. While the past year has been
one TO test most severely the inherent capa-
city OF our state and the energies of her
people, yet the manner in which thev have
withstood e trial, clearly proves that the
state will rot easily be made tho victim OF
transient misfortunes. The unexampled
drought has in many instances left a mean-
choly record of ruined hopes and blasted
crops, yet the state still abounds with well
filled granaries, and no people Oh earth can
claim more perfect exemption from want
Ii might well have been expected that the
monetary crisis through which the whole
country has been passing, should have
checked the progress Of II new state just
started in lis career of extensive internal i'm
provement; but while it has been peculiarly
severe in many individual cases, am happy
to know that the great interests of the pub
lie have rapidly progressed greatly beyond
what might have been expected from the
condition Of the times
Undoubtedly we owe much Of tins cspaci-
ty for withstanding untoward ylcissitudcs, to
our geographical position and commercial
relations. The wonderful fertility Of the
soil, the salubrity OF the climate stretching
irom42 degrees so minutes north, nearly
four hundred miles directly south ndapts ii
well 10 the immigrant from all parts Of the
world, and forces the trade and travel Of the
still western states and territories TO pass
through our state and give us the benefit Of
the transit Of their commerce. The large
surplus of her productions, which generally
remains partially on hand from year TO year,
as the consequence Of her fertility have not
only placed her beyond the serious Consc-
qucnccs Of a short crop, single season, but
also shows the possession Of such supply
as to warrant the assurance that We need not
fear of suffering from want, from anything
that may be expected in the season to come.
While this is true with respect to the neces.
sarcs Of life, we are scarcely less hrppily
situated in regard 10 our commercial rcia-
tons. The canal, the rivers, the lakes the
| railroads, the plank roads and the other
means Of commercial life our position on
the direct line Of commerce between the east
and the west; the wonderful trade that is al
ready being carried onward the capital and
! energy that is being invested among uss in
consequence of our advantages, all serve TO
conspirc to shield Us from the consequences
Of any ordinary financial crisis.
think the history Of the world may safe
| ~ be challenged for instances of more rapid
growth in the elements OF wealth and pros
perity than have characterized this state for
the few past years Within the last six
years she has completed and has now in
successful operation, about 1897 miles oi
I railroad of the best construction, and si7
miles more in the course of construction.
that without much doubt will DC finished in
| the course of two years from this time. She
! has about / 90 miles Of plank road She has
brought nearly her whole wide prairie under
subccton and increased her population in a
ratio amos, incredible. Her iiourishing cit
les have sprung up as if by magic, and she
/ has passed from condition Of rudcness to
populous, refined and cultivated state. Iia.
wing scarcely an acre Of waste land within
her limits, she is capable of supporting
population of wonderful density. The lead,
iron and coal with which her territory
ahounds, hold out inducements for many ad
dcd thousands Of industrious laborers and
promise to freight the channel. Of commerce
with their products These and many 9TH
ers contributing to the wealth, the comfort,
and the importance ofour state, afford the
strong hope that, with wise and judicious
councils, She may continue to advance with
undated rapidly.
The financial circumstances 70 which |
have alluded, have tested with severity the
strength and condition Of the banking insti-
| tutons Of the state. 1t may well be DOUBTED
whether any system Of bank credits which
the wisdom of man can devise, will be en-
tircy free from the evils Of overtrading and
extravaganza, occasioned by great prosperi-
tv, and the ease Of obtaining money IN such
times. The public mind is now somewhat
excited upon the monetary system OF the
! country, and may demand some modification
of the present bank law Of the state.
would recommend that if any modification Is
made to the present law, that strict ac-
countablty to the administrators OF the law
be required. Where there is capital, and a
willingness to be sale ut all times, there can
| be no objection to such modification, and
every safeguard thrown around the interest
of the public, in this respect inspires the
people with confidence in their stability, and
| lessons the chances for panic and distrust.-
! The consciousness deduccd from actual
! knowledge on the part Of the people, that
| such an institution is safe beyond a doubt,
causes them to aid and foster it, when, from
great desire to extend large business upon
a small capital, the proper safeguards arc
lost sight OF, and every excitement in the
monetary world the people are made to suffer
| by suspensions and failures. You cannot be
| too cautious in this particular. The bank
commissioners have promptly called upon
the banks of the state to deposit further Sc
crrity for the redemption Of their circulation,
which hope will be promptly done, that
| the public may not in any case lose by the
failure of bank to pay specie on demand
and that those having the matter in charge
will at all hazards see the law fully carried
out and complied with. Former experience
and the condition Of things around us, all
seem TO prove that the present financial diff
iiculty will turn to the benefit of the country
at large; it will cause all to retracc their
steps, to curtail expenses, and TO prepare an
economical mode of living, and transacting
of their business.
tits satisfactory to know that while the
public improvements Of the state have un-
doubtedly been impedcd by the financial
cmbarrassments Of the country, yet no i'm
portant work that had progressed far has
been stopped. The great lines of railroad
stretching across the state are progressing
with rapdity and approaching early compile
ton. They have become too numerous to
bc mcntioncd in detail and have been