Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1857-12-17
Governors Message.
Gentlemen of he Council and House
Representatives.

Gentlemen of The Council and House Of
Representatives.
We are assembled, to-day, under the
most favorable auspices, The Territory
of Nebraska has, thus far, achieved all
hat her friends could ask. Her early or
ganization and rapid progress have signal
ly illustrated the safety and expansive
force Of the principles of the federal ON
pact, from which naturally, sprang her
Organic Act.
The imprint of her "Great Seal" has
been genuine. "PoPULAR SOVEREIGN
TY" has been INDICATED ~"PRoGREss,"
verified. Peace and good order, practi-
cal vigor and manly observance of consti-
tutional obligations have characterized the
conduct of our people. No dangerous ag-
itations or political heresies have been per-
mltted to take root; but the seeds of in.
dustry, education and law, planted at the
commencement, by enterprising and prac-
teal men, have yielded the legitimate fruit
of a safe and efficient self government.
Under such circumstances, and inhabit-
ing a county of such vast extent, natural
beauty and productive wealth-although
lamentable dissensions have given to our
sister territory wider nolorlety-we may
well congratulate each other, to-day, upon
our verifica,ion of the political truth,
-" Happy is that people whOse annals are
tranquil.
We have assuredly, no ordinary cause
of gratitude to Him who rules over all
things, for the opportunities ~vouchsafed us
the advantages of geographical posi-
tion-on the great natural line of conn.,
merce-a foremost place in the race of
Territories-and the facilities of modern
improvements and great enterprises 10
promote our advancement in every de-
partment OF industry and art. BY a con-
tinued adherance to wise and moderate
councils-by earnest and real public spir.
it and internal harmony, immigration will
be rapidly increased-our new counties
speedily populated-the great cities of the
sea board will identify with ours their
more liberated from financial paralysis
will find its safe and more profitable in
vestment in the fee-simple of our fertile
woodlands, prairies and valleys.
Reposing entire confidence in the in
tegr ty and intelligence of the represent
auves of a great people, convened to de-
liberate for the general good, | cordially
unite with you in a deep sense Of the res
possibilities devolved and a sincere desire
TO cooperate with you in meriling the
good opinion of our constituents at large.
TO protect most efiectually their interests;
to elevate public character; 10 foster III
dustry, temperance and virtue 10 build
up Institutions of charity to educate
those who are TO follow US; TO stimulate
to public spirit and moral manliness TO
systeinatise and adapt the duties of Ter
%rltorial, County and Township officers to
consOlidale. and perfect a code of practice /;
to develop our natural and mineral wealth;
in a word, to direct the SUPP eme power
TO the best good of the governed-and
achieve for Nebraska that sterling name
and conspicuous place which her natural
resources and the spirit of her people de-
serve and denland-and to effect all this
in the short space of forty days, in at as
sembly of two Houses and conflicting In
ieiests, IL a manner satisfa tory TO any OF
us, is certainly a task requiring consclen
tious and constant application, regardless
of considerations of personal or local graf.
i~fcation or advantage.
We meet to-day, for the fourth time, at
the place first chosen for the Territorial
Capitol, and in The spacious and imposing
edllice now neatly completed under the
appropriation by the General Govern
ment, and through the public spirit of the
City of Omaha. The cost of the struc-
ture having far exceeded the estimates
and the deficit having been promptly 0 II
tributed for the general good, there can
be no doubt that justice of an r APP
peal for the reimbursement OF the amount
(S5O,OO0) will be recognized by every
citizen; nor can we refrain from the be-
lief that Congress will not be reluctant to
defray the additional requisite expense.
The actual necessities of the Territory
require the services of a Surveyor Gener-
al, and assurances have been received en-
couraging the hope that an effort to Sc
cure such an appointment will be success
ful.
The memorial for the proper distribu-
lion of troops along the emigrant line
should also be renewed, in connection
with an application for grants of land for
railroads. The propriely of such assist
ance from the General Government is un-
questionable. We are on the direct line
of communication between the great ports
of the Atlantic and Pacific. The CON.
merce of the lakes swells the tide with the
mineral and agricultural wealth of the
north, and if to-day The wisdom Of the feder-
alton should be called upon to fix the most
feasible and profitable national route, ii
would seem that n de,erminatIon in fayor