The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-01-10
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
=, tie General Asssm5ly Of tho State Of

To "a. e;eusrol Asssm6ly Of tho State Of
l7line1:
In sssnsmittipg to you the last eomnuni-
estios which il will be my DUTY as the tx
veutivs Of the State to make to the Leg'sIa-
sure. csnnot avoid the expression Of graf
;tude 10 devoutly due to that Providence
Ihich guides the destinies Of men, for the
vosperity and well being which abound on
every hand; for the growing abundance
which surrounds US for the general health
vfJh which We have been so signally bless-
I'd: for the unmixed enjoyment OF peace,
ssntsntment and happiness. Even IN the
midst u adverse eisments, the hand OF
abupjsscs has been opened upon the har-
go .ef the busbandmAn. The 6resdes OF
- humble have been protected and happy,
and everywhere throughout the State, labor
10 reaping . rich harvest.
With these sentiments, and deep sense
IF thankfulness toward generous people
FOR the confidence SO freely extended, | am
now about to surrender with cheerfulncss to
my successor and to you the trusts which
have engaged my attention Cor the last four
yeas. do this the more cheerfully be-
cause / recognize IN you and my successor,
agents appointed by the people to receive
them. and eminently qualified to keep and
discharge them faithfully. ! sundcr the
last official connection with her COUNCILS.
with emotions of no ordinary character
Having very great confidence IN the pa,
triotism and capacity OF the di>tnsuiS"e"
individual elected to become my successor.
invoke for you and him harmony IN couh-
Gil and patriotism Of purpose.
When first entering upon the duties OF my
present position, Z felt called upon to cx-
lress in very strong terms my views OF the
importance of fostering the internal I'M
provements and eeaeral commercial inter
ests Of the State The experience oil the
lssr fou years, in Which, the policy has been
iib~raIly responded to by the legislature,
has served to fully confirm the mo.' san
guins ex: citations. Looking upon the 'cs-
pondencv Of the past. We scarcely dared 20
b Pc for what war then really pal D''
the mind for tie future. The estimates OF
my first message were made with caution
tempered by the advarsity which our State
had experienced for years, and they were
even then, As apprehend, g nerally receiv-
cd A. too tiattering for confident reliance.
am happy to be able o say that thus FAR
al nv eotimaies have been more than real .
lied. More of the public debt has been
liQuidated than dared TO hope. Those es-
Inmates were bassd upon the statement of
Tie pUoiic uebs W my PiSue'S>3o "N'
some errors, since discovered, increased lis
amount. They were based upon tine reve-
nue. Law ~ it then stood, but the Legislature
has since much reduced the rates OF taxa
ton. Notwithstanding these facts the esti-
mates are more than sustained; and II the
present revenu- law remain as It Is, have
not the most distant doubt that the entire
debt will We iquidated within seven years
from this date, the time fixed lo- its fulfill
nsnt by those estimates.
The following is believed to be correct
statement ~ the present time, of the public
debt, giving = full exhibit of its situation
from the time was inauguratcd to the fire,
1ay Of January, 1857: