Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-08

buildings now stand. 1t is halowed by asso-
Citations connected with the memory, and the
frequent appearance of Washington, Frank
lin, Lafayette, and other patriots. Its illus
trious occupant, the President of the Congress
of lndependence-whose bold signature to the,
Declaration, which interprets better than eulo-
gy or history, the spirit and character of those
who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and
their sacred honor in defence of its principles,
that ilustrious patriot cherished through
life the expectation that it would ultimately
become the executive mansion of the Com
monwealth, and if there be any conscious con-
nection of separated existences, his spirit will
mourn, as the people will mourn, when it
shall disappear from the sight of men.
Returns have been obtained from every
town in the State, exhibiting the relative valu-
alton of estates for 1851 and 1858, the taxes
assessed in each town in the same year, the
poll tax paid in each, and the debts of each
town and city, which amount to the sum of
Sl3, 347 900. These tables exhibit reduction
IN the valuation of 1858 compared with that of
1851 of thirteen million seven hundred thou
sand dollars; but an increase as compared
with the valuation of 1850, of eight hundred
and fourteen million dollars. The reduction
of town taxes in 1858, as compared with 1857,
amounts to seven hundred and thirty-nine
thousand dollars; and this sum added to the
of 1858, makes a reduction in one year, in
State, county and town taxes, of one million
three hundred and thirty nine thousand dol
lars.
Were the sessions of the Legislature mat
ter of convenience to its members merely, it
would be improper to refer to the subject.
But it is not SO. Sessions of great length
add largely to immaterial and vexatious
legislation, and increase public expenditures
They effect, also the character of Legislators.
When the Legislature is in session half the
year, citizens, actively engaged in business of
any character, must avoid its service, but, re-
duced to terms of fifty or sixty days, the first
men of every profession could sit without in
conveience. This infusion of active and able
men would re-establish the ancient reputation
of the State for its statute literature, the high
est class of literature for, though it move the
fancy or excite passion less, it is that which
protects the possessions, liberties, and lives of
men, Every age produces great men for great
emergencies, but it is happy land and for
tunate people that find able men to discharge
the humber duties pertaining to government.
10 have reduced the sessions of the Legisla-
ture from one hundred and fifty days, to sixty
To have removed q State tax of nearly
100000 in two years:
To have contributed indirectly, but forci-
bly,, by precept and example, to the reduction
OF town taxes to the amount of $4,000 and
to have enlarged salaries, and rendered more
efficient every department of the government
at the same time, will be an honor not often
won by legislators But, honorable as the SER
vice will be, if accomplished, and, however
much it may be appreciated, it is nothing, in
comparison with the fact, that, by systematic
organization of every department, you will
have made it impossible ever to repeat the ex-
cessive appropriations, expenditures, and taxa
ton, from which the State will have escaped.
Senators and Representatives,:
close the political year in which | have
been connected with the Executive Depart
ment, with a higher yeneration for the Com
monwealth than had known before. And,
though not without approaching my obligations
to my fellow-ctizens for many favors, that
which brought me into position for the first
time fully to comprehend the true character of
the State, stands first in my estimation.
No man knows Massachusetts, who has not
followed out, one by one, the delicate threads
that connect her wealth and power with the
humblest of her oppressed and unfortunate chill
dren. | have learned, also, upon higher than
individual or partisan authority, to respect all
her past administrations, and to know that it is
the duty of every good citizen, into whatever
hands her interests may fall, to wish well to
the administration Of her affairs.