The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-01-21
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
'entlemen of the Senate and House Of Repre-

GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gertlemen of the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatires:
congratulate you upon the continued pros
perity Of our State. Since you were last as
sembled, its population has continued to ir-
crease, and its resources of every character to
be each day more and more developed. The
earth has yielded literally Of its abundance,
and peace, good order and happiness every
where prevail. It becomes US TO be devoutly
thankful to that benign Providence, that has
blessed our beloved State with another season
Of property and happiness, and brought us to
the commencement Of another official year.
You are convened under the provisions Of a
new organic law. You are expected to pro.
vide the proper methods for carrying that law
into full effect. Your labors will exercise a
potent influence upon the future character and
prosperity Of the State. That influence will
extend to period long after the last Of you
shall cease to be interested in human affairs.
II is not to be doubted. tLat you appreciate the
| just responsibilities Of your position. Iii ex-
pected that the spirit of moderation and prn-
dence will preside over all your deliberations.
It is hoped that all your legislation will be
stamped with the utmost simplicity and single
ness of purpose, and that You will abstain from
all measures, which, from their doubtful ten
dency, may needlessly distract the public mind
and throw it into agitation and controversy.
All the general laws Of the State require
some notifications to adapt them to the pro-
visions of the new constitution. Special leg
islation is opposed to the true theory Of Re-
publican government, and is the source Of great
corruption. The new constitution inculcates
most strongly the duty Of general legislation,
and declares that e in all cases where gen.
eral law can be made applicable all laws shall
be general, and of uniform operation through
out the State" 1t is in express terms declar-
ed, that the General Assembly shall not pass
local or special laws in the following cases:''
ssFor The assessment and collection of taxes
for state, county or road purposes:
"For laying out, opening and working roads
and highways:
"For changing the names of persons:
For the incorporation of cities and towns !:
"For vacating roads, town-plots, streets,
alleys, or public squares and
"For locating county Seats"
II will be very important that the legislation
on these subjects should be very full and spe-
cifc.
The general election law will require very
material changes. and I again submit to the
General Assembly, the proprietv, when revis-
ing this law, of incorporating into it provision
for making complete registration Of all the
legal voters in the State. In no other way can
the ballot boxes be protected against fraud,
and the elective franchise preserved in its pur-
ity. The argument that registry law from
its compexitv would be too burdensome to be
complied with, is entitled to no consideration
1t is predicated upon the idea, either that the
General Assembly is incapable of maturing a
simple and judicious law on this subject; or
that the people Of the State are incapable ol
comprehending snd enforcing one neither OF
which lppositions can be admitted to be cor
Irect. Such laws have been in operation in sew
eral States ever since the foundation of the
government, and have met the approval Of all
classes Of citizens. With such law, and
with the strict and honest enforcement of the
naturalization laws, we shall cease to see par.
ties arrayed against each other on account oi
the birthplace of those who compose them, and
every bona Jtde citizen will be secure in bis
| Just weight in the affairs of the State. With.
out such law, Judging from recent events, it i:
feared that popular elections will become q
Ireproach.
i The revenue law will also require revision
and so far as itrelates 20 the State taxes, should
be wholly changed. At present the county
collectors and treasurers, although elected by
the people of the several counties, are regard
ed in some degree as State officers. Should
tEey fail to make return of the State revenue
as required by law, suit is brought by the State
on their official bonds. Should defalc alton
occur, the State sustains the loss. hisought
not to be. The county treasurers ought to be
in no sense, State officers. Each county sho'd
be responsible for its proportionate amount ol
State revenue, and under no contingency sho'd
the State be compelled to institute suit against
these officers, and in default Of recovery tc
suffer from their delinquency. The transac.
tons Of the State should be solely with the
counties.
The result pf the present system, is that the
county tfeasurers are almost independent Of
State control, and the prompt receipt Of money
due to the treasury cannot be relied on. Be.
sides it operates to the injury of those counties
that pay their quota Of the revenue promptly
A few counties make prompt payments, while
i others fail to do so. Auditors warrants are
issued to discharge the State Indebtedness
which should be discharged with the money
due from delinquent counties. These warrants
draw eight per cent. interest, which is paid
from the State treasury, and is contribated BY
the cou.lties that are not, as well as those that
are reniss in the discharge OF their obligations.
The amount now in arrear from the several
county treasurers, a very small part Of which
will ever be received by the State ;-probably
not two per CENTS ST., ,401 81.
recommend that each county be required
to pay its proportion OF the State revenue by !
fixed day, under suitable penalties for non-pay-
ment. II the county treasurers neglect their