Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-01-23


nov about to m.nifest itself through more per-
feet organization, legislative. JuAical aud execu
tive. OvcT this combination Of supreme posere
you are called to cxtenda l,giIation that shall
give effect and Oporaticu to its recently modified
and improved fund.- mental law to revise, correct
and harmopise ex sting enactDents; to establish q
ppley suited to the rapidly foJinK ourcea Of
S:ate, and to Icy the frundA.i.ns OF empi thai
GIN under benef ciert laws and wise system of
hsia culture, support Eve TO eighteen miio- sot in
habitsuts.
I snou d be our aim to emulate, if not surpass,
the best m, q i Of a State vrbmelt in the Union
vs. are oSE Of great confe.cracy IF State; ca h
* sting under its highest form # orRanisaGion as
body 10 itic; each In its con ti'u,ional sphere
independent of the ethers, and all ,ssing their
own psru'isr syst Of policy, nd apt, their &C.
Ograpeicai fssiions tho habits an! PURSUITS Of
their P ople and the capabilities of their il =.
Mono ara perfect yet all are commissioned to pro
motto he pubic veal 1t Is noble contest between
galaxy Of sovereign Stat $, as to which shah pre-
sent to he y rid THE node q vernment.
The hrst great cement of n prosperity 10 to con-
du the affairs Of the State upon christian prirci-
plies. In thi' way the Divine will is houorei, and
the spirit o. God re.thes tn -euxh tho onmtined
Intelligence Of tie people. This principle N our
own political system raises itself in majestic sereR
ty above the strfes of part les, and the conflicts Of
sections and being based upon the dictates Of pure
reason, promo es degree Of peri ,ction in - stems
Of State policy not o, is, alta nable.
On, important method Of displaying a just re-
gard for the principles Of chri.tianity is to give
due attention to the benevolent Institutions OF the
Jay. The han. OF charity should b. extended to
all the varieties ef human want multiply ing its
forms OF action proportis to the forms of suf.
fering; i'll the erection Of hospitals, lunatic and
eat and dumb asyluHs-in cs ablishng dis p.nso-
ries AMI po,r hou,tsin opening y tacles for the
reformation and punishment of the vicious and
wicksd-foun ling Institutions of learning of high
order, with charity scholarships, and perfecting
tcommcn school system. 1t is known that through
out our state there are many unfortunate husan
| beings tereft Of reason, fer whom adequate
! provision has ye: been coMPl ted There are 9th
srs to whom the light Of heaven comes not, who's,
eyes closed TO the happy smiles Of friends, and
the beauties of the world-snd some who hear no.
the voice Of love an the whsp RS OF living nature.
The 70 + maiisc needs prompt and efficient sympa-
thy and kindness and restoration to 3 ciety, and
whilst humanity rfjOiees the result OF insitu
tons reared for his benefit, experience cheers US
with the knowledge that we can almost open the
eyes of the blind and unstop tho ears of the deaf
These public enterprises demand no specification
at my han1s on this OCCASION. Their establish.
ment is among the duties which every State owes
to its citizens, and we should endow and foster
them in all their best forms and appointments.
l only mention them, to say, that as sod has
given unto US tho fairest heritage in all the earth
to nha IT, let US net dshOnor the GIFT, by citing
upon 1t Institutions, or passing over it code of
laws less wise and benefcient than those of other
countries, or which shall fail in thsr conception
AMI design to reh ,ct back the beauty richness and
excelleDcy of the land they are intended to bless.
Upon this idea has the lunatis as um at Mount
Pleas int been wisely commenced. Lst it 60 foi =
ward and be completed upon tn, principle and de-
sign of making it del insti ution Of the kind,
every othtr kindred institution should be. l. is
only Spcn this line Of policy that can hope to
lay claim to anything like State superiority in this
department of pubic service.
Economy in the administrator of the public
business shoH;d set BIS overlooked. But true econ
omy consists in the faithful and wise application
Of the msans Of the State, in commanding the SER
vices of she best men, Obtaining the b'st system Of
laws, and establishing the highest order of insti-
tutions. In the just aeceptation of the principle
Of public economy We cannot accept any other
| terms.
! In the main each State is to perform her own
works of CHARITY But there ia one desert ption of
| these humane and pgovident Institutions to which
desire to make special reference, they national
rather than local in their character l allude to
marine hospitals. We have distinguished prece-
dents for calling the great rivers that wash our
shores, INLAND SEAS. They bear upon their bosom
| a heavy and growing commerce, next in Importance
to that which floats upon the more exp andcd realms
of the epen seas. The vessels Of many States ply
upon their waters, and they throw upon our borders
annually no inconsidcrab!e nums"r of afflicted and
disable waterman. These are not citizens
alone; thoy belong to the carrying trade of the
who'll country, and they should be kindly cared for
at the pv bile expense. Our associated eatOn to
the general Government makes 1t your duty, early
and persistently to PRESS upon the consideration OF
Congress, the importance not only OF erecting ma
rino hospitals at the proper points but that alao Of
custom house and portal buildings, at those places
made ports of delivery, and where distributing post
Offices have been establishel if the amount Of bus
mess contested with these branches of the public
service will justify the same. S
| Cordially adopting and approving Of the view
and suggestions contained in the message Of my
worthy predecessor upon all the ordinary topics OF
legislation, it is only necessary for me TO rscsr in
general terms to some of those things which impress
! my own mind with their importance.
The unexampled increase Of our population the
last two OF three years. has had the effect to exhau
ali the copies of the Code as we'll as all the pam
phlet avs subsequently enacted, leaving large
body of QUE citizens destitute Of the of know
| ing the laws under which they are living.
| This evil should be remeded at az early period
az practicable. Six years practice under the Code
has brought to light any defects, especially In the
chapter regulating civil proce lure which ought
now to be reformed. This dane, the publication Of
new edition of the Code and pamphlet laws, in
GLIDING the new practice act might perhaps be left
! to individual enterprise, as it is known there are
persons now preparing and taking the initiatory
steps for such 3 publication.
| rel oics to know tn the people Of Iowa have
chosen so competent and intelligent body Of men
| for the transaction Of their business. No occasion
has arisen in the State, in my judgment, demand
ing the exercise of more wisdom, sound discretion,
! and stateemnaship, than the one on which you are
| now convened.
But in view of the great amount of other bust
ness which will occupy your attention during the
session, beg to recommend the appcintmsr Of two
or three competent legal gentlemen to act at once
in conjunction with special committees constituted
for that urposs in revising, amending and getting
up more efficient and perfect practice act, to the
end that the same may 60 out with the publication
Of the otl laws in tie spring-and the people Of
this State be pleased with system Of civil and
criminal procedure, under which the great princi
pies of justiss and right ca be administ ered-ail
wrong suppressed--goodness and virtue projected
and evil doors punished
| In this connection cannot forbear making allu-
sion to the great inade4uacy Of the State Peniten-
tary to eectuate the objects proposed. 1t is under
the management ct highly competent inspectors.
who can. with the generous aid Of your body make
it what it should be- first class, self-sustainrg in
stitution. The absolute demands of criminal JUS
tee in this direction, admit of no denial or delay.
The report Of the Inspe.tort will tell its story,
and command, l doubt not, your very consderate
and prompt attention.
The practical experience of the whole Country,
attests the indispensable utility Of railroads. Al
though diusive in the benefits they bestow, extern
ding themselves to ever y class in community, yet
the countr, is indebted for the most part, to ndi-
vdual capital and enterdrise for their Instruction
This fact should boar down with great urgency
upon tho hands and encourage tie hearts Of the no
BILE and sef-sacri6ciug, who manifest q willingness
to peril much Of their fortunes, to push rward
description Of improvement hat marks one Of the
great Failures Of the age.
The new Constitution contemplates important
gisation upon our judiciary and militia system,
upon the school lands and funds, and radical
chan &C. in our educational department. we'll as
other subjects, upon all which it Will afferd me
pleasure to communicate freely with you during
your deliberations.
The questions of currency and agriculture are
new subjects 0. legislation in this State, authorized
ard srjoined by the Consti. ution, and possess no
ordinary significance.
In the absence Of national paper currency, and
xith an established policy Of sew ,nty years stand
ing in the use of mixed currency of paper axa
meta, by the States, each for itself p DIVIDING and
regulating It's ov n circulating medium, it would
seem to be the very climax of human folly for