Weekly flag of the Union. (Jackson, Miss.) 185?-18??, 1856-01-16
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Z q ne ISt'7lElIe tl13lJ
HnNSe t7f Rearesci,tfrfincs

.GOvERNOR,S MESSAGE.
To fke Senate and
Housc Of Representatives.
: siENTLEmEN I welcome you to the Cap
as the recently chosen representatives {
be people. The exciting contest of the elet
bon passed off quietly, and the people. recol
mixing ours as Government Of opinion, j
which differences may be safely tolerated
where questions involving the public interes
are left free to open discussion. the expires
sion of the popular viii at the ballot-box wa
not openly marked by either fraud or violence
We have reason to congratulate ourselves
that whatever disasters have occurred toother
In the elections, in other States. our peopl
have regarded strict observance Of the law
as the surest guarantee of the purity of tn
elective franchise, and of the preservation G
the public peace. The same voice which ha
called you to to your present sphere o
duty, has determined my position. also as
co-ordinate department of the Government
With you, feel therefore. thatfthere is al
Identity Of sympathy and interes between u
+ oiii
~ 5,:ise met, gentlenen. Nnder circum-
stances and auspices the most favorable. 80 far
as relate to the domestic interests of the State.
With the exception of the pestilence, which,
! within few years past has commenced It's
annual yisitations to our cities, including the
/. Capital, and some of the interior villages Of
; the State our prople have for the last two
wears, been blessed with universal health, and
abundant haryests have crowned their indus
try in every, field Of labor. Religion. morale
ty, and knowledge" the three great elements
Of civilization, which tend most to make
people free. great, and happy, are more wide
fy diffused, and more highly cultivated through
out the State, than ever before. and the STAN
dard of virtue and intelligence is elevated to
higher scale. The burdens of government
rest lightly upon the people, prosperity scat
tiers plenty to them, patriotism subducs am
bition, and we scarcely know or enquire what
it is that brings to US the great blessings of
life We so happily and securely enjoy. 1t is
the shield of the government over us, held by
the overruling hand of Providence, manifest
ing itself through our institutions. and in tho
sentiment of our people which acknowledges
it, and for which we should be ever grateful
The Constitution makes it the duty of the
Executive to give to the Legislature informa-
ton of the state of the government. and re-
commend to their consideration such measures
as he may deem necessary and expedient.
The last Legislature prov ID bv lew, that
three commissioners shcp / to
revise, digest. and co'l.j re ia'5s q the
State and to propose such alterations, X
amendments of the existing laws, and such
new laws, as they might Gem expedient. Also
to propose code simplifying and regulating
the practice of the courts, with manual of
forms for tho use of Clerks and Justices of
the Peace These Commissioners were to
be appointed by the Judges OF the High
Court Of Errors and Appeals and their re-
port to be made and submitted to them, whose
duty it was to examine and report the same
to the present session of the Legislature, if
practicable. recommending such alterations
and amendments as they might deem proper.
1t has not come within my province to know
what has been done by tho commissioners on
this subject; hui from the high character for
ability and learning of the gentlemen ap-
pointed. / suppose the work has been well
perforsoed, and will be presented for your ac-
tionat the present session. The adoption Of
s.an eetire new code Of laws is : matter Of the
ia II sneonle of the State.
WITCH viii be appreciated BY the Legislature 1
as fully as by myself I have but single /
suggestion to make IN reference tosit. That
is, as suppose The report will embrace, as
far as practicable in general laws, all interests
and questions, local or otherwise, in the State,
that no special legislation shall be permitted I
TO interfere with these, either in the adoption
of the laws reported or in such others as the
Legislature may adopt in connection with
them Special legislation should always be
avoided, where general laws will reach the
case. Nothing so soon begets confusion, and /
renders the law an unmeaning mass to the
people, and uncertain in its administration
through the courts. The report of the COM
missoners, when adopted, and the legislation
of the present session, connected with it, will
cmbody the entire statute law of the State 1t
will form starting point from which every
citizen may readily learn what the law is, and
may long be preserved as an ineligible stand
ard to all, unless married by the incongruity
of special legislation.
This action of the last Legislature relieves
me from the necessity ofmaking many recon-
mendations in reference to the general laws
of the State, which otherwise might have been
deemed expedient, but which now might be
be wholly useless. l shall therefore. confne
myself more strictly to the first branch of my
constitutional duty, in giving information of
the state of the government, and suggesting
such measures for your consideration, as relate
more especially to the general advancement of
the interests and prosperity of the State. :
The duties devolved BY law, upon the State
officers. for the past two years, have been faith
fully performed Their various reports will !
show in detail the condition of the public bu-
,iness in their several departments.
The general statement from the report Of
he Treasurer, presents highly satisfactory t
condition of the finances, and shows that the q
revenue law of the last session has fully met t
he demands upon the Treasury. Il
Receipts from all sources, in 6
1S55,.... 1888, 722 % It
Expenditures in 1855, -. 313,24S 894 Ia
lash on hand, I
Jan 1. 1868 1894 12l ~.
! "a sses.fs 4ss ~ On
s572,656 354 +