Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-01-16


since the adjournment of the first Legislature,
was in direct violation of the Constitut ton, and
although the proceeds of our bonds were shame
fully squandered, yet very large majority of our
people at the recent election ordered that the
debt shall be paid. They have determined that
innocent holders of our bonds shall not suffer by
the unconstitutional acts or dishonest conduct of
our own agents California has said In unmista.
kable terms that the disgrace of repudiaton shall
never rest upon her escutcheon. [ rejoice that
those who have placed me in the position which
now occupy, have SO nobly vindicated the rep
utation of our State. A State which violates its
plighted faith ard trifes with its benor, would
soon become reproach to republican institu-
tions, and by-word among civilized nations
We must take care to steer clear of these diff
culties in the future. Provision must be made
for the prompt payment of the interest on our
debt, and especial pains taken to confine the ex-
penditures within our income. This we can do,
and must do, or bankruptcy, at no very distant
day, is inevitable. The people have heard enough
from their public agents upon the subject of
economy-they now demand that it shall be prac-
tised. Much was done by the last Legislature,
but more remains to be done. The expenses of
conveying prisoners to the Penitentiary and sup
porting them whilst there, is an enor nous tax
upon The people. Whilst the convicts in many of
the States are supporting themselves, we are
taxed $l20,000 per annum to provide for them,
large number to escape every year IF you add
to this the amount paid for transportation Of
conyicts 1885 ,000) you will have sum equal to
the Uhoie expenses of some of our sister States,
with four times the population.
In the State of Indiana, the whole amount of
the ordinary expenses of the government for the
year ending In October, 1855, was S147 442 and
during the succeeding year, was reduced to s59,-
522, and this with population of nearly one
million and holf!
In the three State Prisons of New York, with
nearly two thousand convicts. in The year 1855.
the expenditures over the earnings, were but
S35. 900.
In California, the expenditures for State Prison
purposes, aud for printing, alone, in the year
ending 30th June, 1856, amounted to more than
half a million Of dollars!
These are certainly crying evils which demand
prompt action on the part OF the Legislature.
The 18th section, XI Article, of the Constitu.
tion, declares that " taxation shall be equal aud
uniform throughout the State All property in
this State shall be taxed in proportion to Its val
ue to be ascertalned as directed by law"
1t may well be doubted whether our present
revenue system is in accordance with either the
letter or The spirit of this clause in the Constitu
tlon. 1T declares that ALL property shall be tax
ed and yet il is notorious that many persous
hold property which annually yields-aud in all
probability will continue to yield for series of
whatever are levied. In imposing taxes necessa-
ry for the support of the Government, the great
principle of equity and justice should be observ-
ed and each interest made to contribute its pro-
per share. Those who receive from the Govern
ment protection in their persons and property
ought to pay their just proportion of the taxes
Nothing short of an EQUAL distribution of the
burthens of Government can OF ought to give
satisfaction to the people.
The second section, ninth article OF the Consti-
tuition, declares;
The Legislature shall encourage by all suit
able means the promotion Of intellectual scen-
tiiic, moral, and agricultural improvements. The
proceeds OF all lands that may be granted by the
United States to this State for the support Of
schools, which may be sold or disposed of, and the
five hundred thousand acres Of land granted to
the new States, under an act of Congress distrib-
uting the proceeds of the public lands among the
several States Of the Union, approved A. D. one
thousand eight hundred and forty one. and all
estates of deceased persons, who may have died
without leaving will or heir, and also such per
cent. as may be granted by Congress on the sale
of lands in this State, shall be and remain per.
petual fund, the interest of which, together With
all the rents OF the unsod lands and such other
means as the Legislature shall provide shall be
inviolably appropriated to the support of common
schools throughout the State"
The embarrassed situation of our finances and
the unsettled position of land titles and public
surveys have no doubt prevented the Legislature
hitherto from carrying out the patriotic design of
the trainers of that instrument. BY its terms GER
tain lands donated by the Federal Government to
the State are to be appropriated for school pur-
poses, and if this fund is properly administered,
the time is not far distant when every child in the
State can receive the rudiments of good educa-
tion at the public expense. The ignorant are Of
ten vicious, and it is scarcely necessary for me to
say that there can be no stability in govern
ment like ours, based upon public opinion, unless
the great body of the people are educated II
would be folly to attempt to Sustain republican
government amongst an ignorant or depraved
people. III we expect our children to transmit
our Institutions to their descendants, we must
take care to provide ample means for their edu-
cation. We must teach them that without educa
tion, without morality, without religion they
must soon become the slaves of despotism. We
must enlgbten their minds and impress upon
them the inestimable value of free government.
And in this connection you will allow me to say,
that if we desire TO lessen the expenses of our
criminal courts and prisons, and elevate the NOR
al tone OF society, We must send the schoomaster
on his mission of labor and usefulness into every
section of the State. well educated people
never can be enslaved. Violence and commoton
are the natural fruits of ignorance. Man is only
capable of self-goyernment after his head and
heart have been cultivated.
How many of those who are now mere sojoufn-
ers in our State would bring their children
amongst us, il suitable mems were provided for
their education, and become permanent citizens
and useful and honorable members of society =
A few friends of education have taken the lead
and much has already been accomplished in es
tablishing system of schools, and the beneficial
effect is being seen and felt in almost every part
of the State. In our cities and towns, seminaries
and schools have been established which would
reflect the highest honor upon any people. In
fact, we can proudly claim to have accomplished
more for education in six years than some Of our
sister States have accomplished in quarter of a
century. trust that the fund which has been
provided may never be diverted from its consti-
tutonal channel, and that wisdom may direct
our actions in the administration of it.
The appropriations made at the recent session
of Congress will, if properly expended, go far
towards giving us good wagon roads across the
Rocky Mountains, by means of which we might
anticipate large immigration this year, if it
were not for the difficulties in which the Federal
Government has become involved with the Nor
mons and Indians The establishment, too, of an
overland mail raute will he of inealeul able hon.