Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1856-01-10

gratifying result. The public debt is now
entirely within our control and can no long
er prove a source of embarrassment.
The condition and prospects of our great
works of public improvement are next re-
ferred to- The Governor speaks encourag-
ingly of the Baltimore and Ohio Road, and
presses the Importance of the Northern Cen
tral Railway and it's future connections up
on the attention of the Legislature. Some
information. in advance of the publication
of it's annual report, is given of the opera
tons Of this road during the past year show
ing that its revenue has exceeded the esti-
mate made, and that it will be in condi-
ton not only to discharge the current obi
cations but also to extinguish the. floating
debt of the old Susquehanna railroad which
the present company rightly deems it du-
ty to pay. The quarterly instalments of the
States annuity of 800, ,00Ohave been prompt
ty paid by the company.
! The subject ofpublic education receives an
Extended notice from the Governor, and he
forcibly presses upon the Legislature the
duty Of giving to the State well digested
and competent public school system Out
of Baltimore, he very plainly and truthful
ly says, our system of Public instruction is
in state of utter and hopeless prostration.
10 repeal all the existing local laws and to
embody into one perfect enactment the
school laws, to give them universal opera
ton in the State, and to place their admin
istratlon in the hands Of an able and ener-
getic superintendent, with ample means pro-
vided by the authority to be paid into the
treasury, and thence disbursed to every
county according to its population, the num-
Der of its established schools and pupils, is
the plan sketched as necessary to be adopt
ed, if the cause Of public education in the
State IS to be permanently promoted. With
out asserting to the feasibility, in all their
details, of the means proposed by the Gov
of the earnestness with which he has brought
this important subject before the Legislature,
and the hope that it will not be neglected
by them. In view Of the failure of our
Militia laws the Governor recommends the
introduction of systematic military instruc-
ton into all the schools and colleges sustain
ed in whole or in part by the State.
Especial reference is made to the agricultu-
raj interests ofthe State, andmeasures for the
increased development of our landed resour-
ces and the promotion of agricultural educa-
ton recommended. The labors of the State
Agricultural Society are acknowledged, and
the project of establishing an Agricultural
College pressed upon the favorable consid-
ton Of the Legislature
The insuficiency of the present Peniten-
tiary buildings is stated, and provision for
the erection of a new dormitory recommend
ed. The opening of the House of Refuge
is spoken of as an event creditable to the
city and regret expressed that all connec-
ton between this noble charity and the State
was severed. The Governor hopes that this
determination will be reconsidered and the
State made a partner in the management
and support of the institution
In view Of the existing favorable condi-
ton of the State finances, and Of the efforts
that may consequently be made to reduce
the taxes, the Governor warns the Legisla-
ture to be exceedingly cautious how it per-
mits the present sources Of revenue to be
diminished. This caution, however, is sole
ly aimed against the further reduction of the
direct tax and other proper sources of reve-
nue.. The stamp tax is justly spoken of as
the ''most odious of the whole series Of rev.
enue measures, deemed necessary for the
State in the hour of her financial distress, :"
and the opinion expressed that public ex-
|pectation might be met by it's repeal at the
present session. The acts imposing taxes
upon mortgages, judgments, collateral in
heritances, promissory notes, &C., are also
described as burdensome and unjust, and
their repeal required as soon as it can be
done with safety. The repeal of the stamp
tax, it is thought, however, is as much as
can be prudently granted at present.
After referring to the State affairs of mi
nor Importance the Message concludes with
an argument against secret political socie-
ties, and with reference to the slavery
question, on neither of which subjects does
the Governor shed any new light or say any
thing that demands special attention, with
the exception Of the final recommendation
to the Legislature in reference to its treat
ment of certain communications from other
States, the good taste and propriety of
which are creditable to Governor Ligon.
The Message of Governor Gardiner, of
Massachusetts,, recommends 21 years resi-
dence of foreign born citizens, and ability to
read and write, before they are allowed to
vote; deprecates the passage of the Person
al Liberty act by the last Legislature, and
urges its speedy repeal; suggests reduc-
ton of the number of members of the popu-
lar branch of the Legislature, and denoun-
ces lobbying legislation. The Message is
thoroughly Native American in it's tone.