Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-01-16

porous condition.
The whole amount of the funded debt
Of the State. Dec. 81. 1856, was 5000,
600; of that sum, thirty thousand dol
lars will become due March /, 1857,
which will be paid at that time, and the
current expenses of the year will be dis
charged, without resorting to other means
than the usual State tax imposed by the
Legislature. No Legislature will be re.
quired to provide for the payment of that
sum.
The receipts and disbursements for
the year ending Dec. 81, 1856, have
been as follows:
Receipts,
Balance from year 1855, $39, ,l30,37
From all other sources 1892, ,04
Total 632,442,41
Disbursements, 4s6, ,l6j, 90
Balance in the Treasury, Sl4G,277, al
A detailed account of the receipts and
expenditures, will be presented in the
report of the Treasurer.
CORPORATIONS.
The amount of capital invested in the
State under Corporate Charters, and es-
pecially for the construction of railroads
is of magnitude to call for specific and
certain laws, which she'll protect not on
ly the rights Of the corporation. but the
public and individuals. Bodies of this
corporate character may become c.nbar-
rassed and may be levied on by an exc
cution creditor, or be transferred by as
signment, and thus become the property
of single individual, while the charter
requires an organized administration
consisting of several officers. What may
be the rights of the respective parties in
such case under existing laws, is at
least very doubtful. While no evils arc
known to have resulted from such state
of things, they may be easily foreseen,
and against which it is prudent the Le-
gslature should guard as far as practical
BILE.
The TEMPERANCE QUESTION.
The evils of intemperance arc seen
and acknowledged by all even by its
unfortunate victims. The crime, paup-
perism, and consequent misery produced
by it, present melancholy spectacle
Its prevention is earnestly desired by all
right thinking men, but. unfortunately,
upon the best method of suppressing or
preventing it there is difference of opin-
ion in our community. Laws fer the
suppression of drinking houses and tip
pling shops have been passed, designed
to prohibit the sale of Intoxicating drinks
except for mechanical and medicinal pur-
poses. These laws have been repealed,
and another enacted instead, licensing
and permitting the sale of intoxicating
liquors for all purposes, nnder the limi-
tations and penalties therein contained
This law was passed under the alleged
belief that it would better promote and
and secure the cause of Temperance, than
one of a prohibitory character. This is
the state of the question as it is now pre-
s.nted. What should be done: What
is wisest and best:
The public mind has been much and
deeply agitated upon the matter, and ii
would seem to be most wise under exis.
ting circumstances, not to disturb the
present law until the whole subject can
be more dispassionately discussed and
determined. Such undoubtedly, is the
desire and expectation of the people o.
the State; such the implied, if not the
actual pledge given in our recent election
Political bodies, like individuals, should
always maintain good faith-and good
faith requires that the question should
not be disturbed during the present ses.
sion. 1t is far better to wait patiently
until all angry feeling shall have subsid.
ed. and when the whole subject can be
more appropriately acted on. Then lei
well matured and carefully prepared
bill be submitted directly to the people
for their approval or rejection, at meet
ings held expressly for that purpose
The question woull then be wrested from
the vortex of party politics, connected
with which any such measure must al.
ways, inevitably, be exposed to con.
stantly recurring opposition, and fail te
secure that general acquiescence which
alone can give it perm anance. Under a
government like ours, no law can staut
the test of time which does not meet thu
support of deliberate and enlightened
public judgment. No judicious frient
of either licence or prohibitory system
can desire to see either become law. a
gain to be repealed. That law. and tina
only, which shall receive the appreciation
of the community, by and for which it il
enacted, can be permanent and useful.
THE JUDIcIARY-JUDGE DAVIS!
REMOVAL.
An independent Judiciary is of thu
utmost importance. A destruction o
that independence is one step towards
its corruption. Independent. honest ant
able, it is one of the strongest rampant
of defence for the liberty of this countr.
and the protection Of its citizens. 81
far as may be possible those who exercis
the power should be removed from al
influence of fear or hope upon its Judicia
faction. It exercises ito power over lif