Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1859-12-15
GoYernor's Message.
ientIemen of tIe Council and


It is only in conformity with the prac-
iice adopted at the first session Of the
Territorial Legislature, and since that
time pursued at every annual meeting,
that assume the right or privilege of
addressing this communication TO the
Council and House of Representatives of
the Territory of Nebraska. No positive
law either authorizes or commands il.
But the practice is good one, and coed
results will always aOw from 1t, if we are
animated by sinesxe desire to accom-.
plish as much as possible for the welfare
of the people.
Nebraska has heretofore suffered from
inconsiderate and hasty Legislation, as
well as from the sudden and untimely
repeal of large portion Of her laws.
We have, however, just cause for congrat-
ulation that the code, both civil and crimi-
nal, adopted by the Legislature of last
year, is in full and successful operation.
Although il is not by any means per-
feet, it seems to work well, and can no
doubt, with a little alteration and trou-
Bile, be so improved as to meet the ne
cessities of the public. I think it would
be advisable for the Legislature, at an
early day, to appoint a special committee
to examine the laws Of 1853, for the
purpose of ascertaining whether some
useful and necessary amendments, of im-
mediate Importance, might not be adopt
ted. 1t is probable that / shall take the
liberty, before the close of this cornmu-
nication, to suggest some changes which
in my opinion would be salutary and ben
efcial. 1t will not be expected nor is it
proper that l should specify every partic-
ular in which present laws might be prof
isably changed, or new ones enacted, to
the advansage Of the community.
Our past, present, and prospective con-
dition is fiji snbject for reflection and re-
mark This Territory was organized at
the same time with Kansas, on the 30th
day of May, 1854, and the first Legis-
lature met at Omaha on the 18th day of
January, 1866. In that body eight coun-
ties were represented. Now, at the ex-
piration of less than five years, twenty.
three counties have their representatives
in the Legislature, and thrty-fve coun-
ties have been fully organized, or their
boundaries defined by law. With the ex-
ception of those which lie Immediately
on the Missouri River, nearly all the
counties have been laid off as to cover a
surface Of exactly twenty-four miles
square. The lands in Nebraska actually
surveyed amount TO 685, 5,l75,S $50 acres.
The surveys have been extended from
the dividing line between Kansas and
Nebraska, on the 10th parallel to the
Latitude of AZ degrees and 81 minutes
while the average depth from the Mis-
souri, River is about 40 miles. These
lands, with other. and vast bodies far to
the West, are all with but small and oc-
casional exceptions, as rich and produc-
tive, as any soil on the American conti-
nentr warmed by the sun, and watered by
the rain and dews of heaven.
/ have regarded it as right and need
ful that l should depart little from the
usual form and plan of an Executive
Message, to correct some serious errors
which have been instilled into the public
mind of the country, highly injurious to
our present and future prosperity. Books
of History, and Official Reports TO the
Governments have been alike inaccurate
and unjust, so mnch so, indeed, that it re-
quires an effort, from those who have
seen and do know what manner of soil
and climate we possess, to believe that
these fertile fields of explorations, ard
furnished subject matter and material for
the ''exact and perspicuous narrative, F"
which has, within a few years, been
transferred to History. You are aware
that as early as 1919, and shortly after
the acquisition Of Florida, an expedi-
tion was organized by Mr.. Calhoun, then
Secretary of War, for the purpose OF
examining the country drained by the
Missouri and its branches. The party
it is said, comprised large number Of
officers and men of science." They pas
ed the summer of that year in examin-
ing the lower Missouri, and then Coun.
Gil Bluffs, but it is now Fort Calhoun, in
Washington County. ''In the mJnth
of June, 1920, they proceeded up the
Valley of the Platte, to the confluence oi
Its North and South branches, and ther
continued along the South Fork; TO it:
sources in the Rocky Mountains, neal
the 4Oth degree of Latitude. After.
wards, ''striking the head waters of The
Arkansas, which also flows from the same
mountain, they descended the Valley o.
that river to its junction with the Missis
sippi." A recent historian, speaking o.
the expedition says: ''Much information
was obtained respecting the Geography
Natural History, the Aboriginal inhabi
| tants of the country traversed, all which
was committed TO the world in an exac
and perspicuous narrative, published BY
DR.. James, the botanist of the expedi
ton, in 1923"
".And," continues the historian, "ont
most important fact, in political point O.
view, was completely established by The
observations of the party, namely, tina
the whole division of North America
drained by the Missouri and Arkansas
and their tributaries, between the merid
ian of the mouth Of the Platte and the
Rocky Mountains, is almost entirely un
fit for cultivation, and therefore unlnhab
liable by people depending upon Agri
culture for their subsistence. The por
ton Of this Territory, within FIVE hun
! dro1 Lie. sc .ho Dociyxy Houv,to;,s -