Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-11-03
GOVERNORS MESSAGE. Fslloao Citizens of the Senate
md of the House Of Representatives.

and of the House of Representatives.: It isa source of qualification to the Executive when the powerful aid of the legislative depart ment is sent up by the people. He welcomes you to your labors, and hopes for your co-opera- ton in protecting and advancing the interests of the State.
 With the fullest confidence in your wisdom. integrity and patriotism. the Executive firmly relies upon you to guard against every element | of opposition to the interests of the State that may arlse before you, under whatever deceptive pretexts 1t may be arrayed-however cunningly devised, and from whatever interested source it may emanate 'a Notwithstanding the payments on the debt of the S,a'e up to the first day of October 1858, amounted to $2, JAG, ASA 36-namely, S932,- 79O O3 on accou- t of bonds issued to and sold by "The Bank of the State of Arkansas'' and | Sl,2l3,694 B on account of bonds issued to and sold bv "The Real Fstlte Bank of the State of Arkansas there still remained, on the first day of October, 1858 liability of the State, on account of bonds sll by the Real Estate Bank, amounting, with the unpaid interest on them, to 3O7 n; and also liability on | account of the Bank of the State of Arkansas for bonds and unpaid interest on them amounting to $1 239 526 82
 The assets of the R gal Estate Bank and the lands mortgaged by stockholders, if honestly and prudentlY managed, and applied, will be more than sufficient to pay the liability of the State on account of the Real Estate Bank. It IS therefore recommended, that no legislation whatever be had, whereby these mortgaged lands might, by any possibility, be released, or the security to the State and bond holders in any manner jepardized.
 The only debt of the State without adequate means to pay it, is that of the State Bank, which, after deducting assets which will propably be collected, amounted on the first day of October, 1858 to about one million, one hundred thou sand dollars. This debt is composed of S616, GOO of principal not due and the interest due and unpaid Elsewhere in this communication the affairs of the banks are referred to more in de- | tail
 Printed copies of the official reports and other information, adopted as accompanying docu- ments to this message, will be laid before you In these documents you will find much valua- ble and interesting information concerning affairs of the State; and also some suggestions and re. commentators worthy of your consideration By the reports of the several officers to whom were contided important and responsible duties, you can judge of the ability and fidelity with | "hiSh CaNh ouO Oi tiIcIIl Has COmDF6DC0U6u, performed and rendered an account of the trust reposed in him.
 The reports of the auditor and treasurer show that there remained in the State treasury, on the first day of October, 1858, subject to be used for hundred and thirty five thousand, one hundred and nnety-four dollars and thirty nine cents, in gold and silUer.
 1 T he antlra of fba ;pkor ment fund distributed to, and drawn by the sev- cral counties before the first day of October, 1858, was S4O9,070 Is; and on that day ba- lance of this fund remained in the treasury. in specie, amounting to Sl4,598 5O The whole amount of the seminary fund distributed to and drawn by the several coun- ties, before the lst day of October. 1858, was SO,o46 36; and on that day balance of this fund, in specie, remained in the treasury. amounting to $3 697 16
 The entire amount of the saline fund distri- buted to and drawn by the several counties be- fore the lst day of October, 1858, was S7,6l1 39; and balance of this fund, in specie. re- named Tn the treasury, on that day, amounting to.$3,01S 57.
 he internal improvement fund arose from the sale of a part of the 50O,000 acres of land granted to the State by act of Congress, approv- ed 4th Sept, 1841.
 The seminary fund was produced by sales of part ot the seveny-two sections of land grant ed by Congress to the late territory of Arkansas for educational purposes.
 The saline fund arose from sales of portion of the seventy-two sections of land, embrac. ing twelve salt springs granted by the United States to this State
 The seminary and saline funds are bv law dis trlbuted to the several counties to aid in the SUD- port of common schools.
 As one iaducement to obtain purchasers of the public lands in every township of six miles square, the United States granted to this State section numbered sixteen in every township for the use of the inhabitants of such township for educational purposes. This grant amounts, in the aggregate, to one thirty-six part of all the land in the State; and if judiciouslv and proper. ly managed and taken care of. will greatly aid in disseminating the opportunities of education into all parts of the State. By law, these com, mon school Bands are plaaeasfn which they are sftuated. It is also provided by law, that the accrulng annual interest on money arising from the sale of the sixteenth section in any town ship, shall be perpetual fund, to be appropr- ated to the support of school or schools in the respective townships; but no pmt of the princi- pal s'saN eUer De espendea jor any purpose ,ohat- | eUer.
 In addition to the funds arising from the three important land grants made by the United States, and appropriated for the support of com mon schools our law provides that the annual State and county taxes assessed upon sixteenth sections sold, the proceeds of escheated estates all fines for false imprsonments assault, assault and battery, breach of the peace trespass on real property, for fraudulent pretences and gam. ing and all fines inflicted for the suppression of vice and immortality, when collected, shall be paid into the county treasury of the proper county, for the use of schools The Executive has no official information of the amounts of money annually arising in the several counties from all of these sources. Nor can he advise you whether the country officers, having control of the common school funds of their respective counties have faithfully applied them to the objects for which they are intended, or not This subject is one of so much importance, that it is earnestly commended to your investigation and attention. r.. t.-.
 Each member of the General Assembly has, doubtless some information relative to the management and condition of the school funds of the county in which he resides.
 You can, therefore best determine whether l "uoAlioHoi 10 HCCeSSdIy UT not, Jo Se- cure from loss the school funds, and to cause them to be sacredly applied to the advance ment of education.
 It is recommended that law be passed au- thorizing the county court of any county in the State, which may choose to do so, to appropr- ate, annually, the poltax for the benefit of edu- cation in the county.
 Not only should the opportunities and ad- vantages of education be diffused through the various parts of the State, by the establishment of a common school in every neighborhood; but it devolves upon the General Assembly, :" from time to time, to pass such laws as shall be call culated to encourage intellectual scientific and agricultural improvement by allowing rewards and immunities for the promotion and improve ment of arts, science commerce., manufactures and natural history, and countenance and en- courage the principles of humanity, industry and morality"
 How long shall this important provision of our constitution lie dormant? The Executive appeals to you to give it life and vigor.
 By An act to provide for a geological sur vey of the State of Arkansas" approved 18th January, 1857, the Governor was authorized and empowered to appoint State Geologist; and in the exercise of this authority Dr. David Dale Owen was appointed State Geologist of | rly Lo, h., Errt oc