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

GOvERNoR enIMEs, MESSAGE.
0entlsns an Of the Senate and
/ House Of Representatives.
lcongratulate you on the continued pros
psrity Of our State. Since you wero last as
sembled, It's population has continued to in
crease, and its resources Of every characte
to be each day more and more developed
The earth has yielded literally Of . abun
dance, and peace, good order and happines
everywhere prevail. 1t becomes US to b.
devoutly thankful to that benign Provi
dence, that has blessed our beloved Stat
with another season of prosperity and hap
pincss, and brought us to the commence
ment of another official year.
You are convened under the provisions o
q new organic law. You are expected t,
provide the proper meth Ids for carrying
that law into full effect Your labors viii
exercise potent influence upon the future
character and prosperity Of the State. Tha,
influence will extend to a period long after
the last of you shall cease to be interested
in human affairs. 1t is not to be doubted,
that you appreciate the Just responsibilities
of your position. 1t is expected that the
spirit of moderation aud prudence will pre-
side over all your deliberations. 1t is hoped
that all your legislation will be stamped
| with the utmost simplicity and singleness 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 con-
troversy. .aa -H
All the general laws of the State require
some notifications to adapt them to the
provisions of the new constitution. Sever
al new acts of general character will also
be necessary. Special legislation is'opposed
to the true theory Of a Republican govern
ment, and is the SQUIRE Of great corruption.
The new constitution inculcates most strong
ly the duty of general legislation, and de-
elares tha: sin all cases where general
law can he made applicable, all laws shall be
general, and of uniform operation through
out the State" 1t is in express terms de-
clarcd, 'rhat the General Assembly shall not
pass local or special laws in the following
cases !" sr p
" For the assessment and collection of
taxes for State, county or road purposes:
''For laying out, opening and working
roads aid highways: 5F
'For changing the names Of persons:
"For the Incorporation OF cities and towns
s'For vacating roads, town plots, streets,
alleys, or public squares: and
'sFor locating county seats"
1t will be- very important that the legisla-
tion on these subjects should be very full
and specific. ass r- ',
The general election law will require very
material changes, and again submit to the
General Assembly, the propriety, when re-
vising this law. of incorporating into it pro-
vision for making u complete registration OF
all the legal voters in the State. In no 9TH
er way can the ballot boxes be protected
against fraud, and the elective franchise
preserved in its purity. The argument that
a registry law from its compexity would be
to burtlensome to be complied with, is enti-
tied to no consider alton. 1t is predcated
upon the idea, either that the General As
sembly is incapable of maturing simple
and judicious law on this subject; Or that
the people of the State are incapable of
comprehendng and enforcing one neither
Of which suppositions can be admitted to be
correct. Such laws have been in operation
in several of the States ever since the foun-
dation 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 parties arrayed against
each other on account Of the birthplace of
those who compose them. and every bona
fde citizen will be secure in his just WEIGHT
in the affairs of the State. Without such
law, Judging from recent events, it is feared
that popular elections will become a re-
proach. &.
The revenue law viii also require revis-
ion, and so far as it relates TO State taxes,
should be wholly changed. At present the
county collectors and treasurers, although
elected by the people of the several coun-
ties, are regarded in some degree as State
officers Should they fail to make return of
the State revenue as required by law. suit is
brought by the State on their official bonds.
Should a defalcaton occur, the State sus-
tains the loss This ought not to be. The
county treasurers ought to be in no sense,
State officers. Each county should be re-
sponsibe for its proportionate amount of
State revenue, and under no contingency
should the State BE compelled to institute
suit against these officers and in default OF
recovery to suffer from their delinquency
The tran actions of the State should be sole
ly with the counties.
The result of the present system is that
the county treasurers are almost independent
OF State control, and the prompt receipt OF
money due to the treasury cannot be relied
on. Besides it operates to the injury of
those counties that pay their quota of the
revenue promptly. A few counties make
prompt payments, while others fail to do So
Auditors warrants are issued to discharge
the State Indebtedness, which should be dis
charged with the money due from delinquent
counties. These warrants draw eight per
cent. interest, which is paid from tie State
treasury, and is contributed by the counties
| that are not, as well as those that are remiss
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 ;-proba-
bly not two per cent.-is $63, ,401,94.
recommend that each county be required
to pay its proportion of the State revenue by
a fixed day, under suitable penalties for nom
payment If the county treasurers neglect
their duties or default, let the burden fall
upon the counties that elect them, where it
belongs.
1t is much doubted whether the law of last
session, substituting county for township
assesso was any improvement upon the
former method of assessment. Judging
from my own observation, do not hesitate
to conclude, that many millions Of dollars
worth of property was overl Joked at the last
assessment, and is this year untaxed. rec
ommend the old law in this particular to
be restored. Sound policy requires that ad'
mnistration as well as legislation shoulc be
brought as directly home to the people as
possible. There must ultimately be thor
ough township organization throughout the
State and the sooner the reople become ac.
customed to it the less difficult and burden.
some it will become, and the more perfect
and satisfactory will be the transaction o1