New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-30
soyrRNoR RUNNElLs'S MESSAGE.

GOpERNOR hCNNEhLSS MESSdGE-
The Governor Of TExss congratnlaies the LegisIa-
,ure on the completion Of new Digest Of the Laws
of the STATE.
From, the repor, Of the Commissioner On ,ha, sub
iect it appears that of the University lands e apart
bv the late Republic Of Texas, there have been sod
81 523 acres, producing sl9S259 The original grant
was fifty leagues and tar ing tie sales already made ~
criterion. the whole tract is WORTH at the present
moment as much a. $So0, 900, While the unsoli ANS
viii be likely il the next five years, in
value from twenty five fifty per To this orig
ins grant the Legislature has added every tenth sso-
ton of the lands reserved to the State ont of the rail-
road surveys. so that not a doubt exs; Of am
rle endowment for one or two universities without
alIing on the State Treasury for aid. There woslt
ppear to be some disposition to diver; this fund.- or
portion of it, 70 the OF common schools, but
his the Governor deprecates a. breach OF faith.
The Common School income, for animal distriba-
ton amounted last year to $ll3Go9 and the popull-
on of an age 10 attend school to l0l 7s. Formerly,
the money WAS distributed in the counties in propor-
ton to tie school populations but ty ACT of the last
Legislature the distribution Is be in proportion
the poor and INDECENT; go that according the Gov
e1nor if this class DO receive tue benefit of
the distribution, their ignorance or ~ilfulness
must be the cause. Though the want OF sufficient
school money is admitted render the existing sysem
of schools imperfect the Governor strenuously opposes
any increase Of taxation, tie gonnd thai, taking
into account tie pareness of population, no increase
which the PEOPLE would endure would recify the evil.
He thnks however, Il at the ten per cent on the an
nua taxat0n--amOunting 10 some So, OOl-n0w added
annually TO the school fund might be- made part OF
the annual distribution. OF the principal OF the school
fund amounting 5000 COS, about onebslf has been
loaned to railroad companes and, though secured by
mortgages on the roads, the security is generally
thought to he rather doubtful and the fund to be In
danger. The Governor recommends that the Constitu-
ton be 70 amended prohibit the Legislature from
relieving the railroad companies from this debt, which,
in case they become embarrassed, nany apprehend
might be done. This, however, would not seeu to be
adding much to the security of the fund
In this matter of railroads especially considering
that, under the existing laws tie State becomes the
greatest contributor Ia every road that built furnish
ing one third the cost lennng another third the Gov
ernor thinks that caution is becoming and more
necessary. Legislation inperavely needed protect
both the State and honest stockholders against the mis-
conduct of railroad managers and 10 give the State,
which contributes much 90 build them, due share
III their management.
TIE slave code needs amendment in several particu-
lars. Tie payable persons whose slaves are
executed remains limited TO 81 eco, whereas since the
act was passed slaves have increased fifty per cent in
yalue There is no law by which the owner can DO
held responsible by pecuniary fine for the conduct OF
lis slave which leaves the slave without any legal re-
ttraint in all minor oenses. SO says the Governor,
hut if not mistaken minor ofenses punished
with the whip. The ftng masters fer the conduct Of
their slaves is admitted be delicate matter of legis-
ation. Yet it is subject thar needs consideration.
Ever since the adjournment Of the last Legislature,
the frontiers have suffered from Indian depredatons,
The aIproI made by that Legislature has been
exhausted and $5S,t0O in addition, without affecting
any permanent good. The line of frontier il 20 long,
the settlements sparse, and badly prepared for
defense, that if defended ut one point the Indians
from their thorough knowledge OF the country, have
been enabled direct their attacks elsewhere and the
same thing would have happened had the number Of
men on the frontier been times as great. In the
matter of defending the frontier the General Gov
eminent has quite failed up the expectations
which the Governor and the public had formed.
The Governor complains that while real estate fonns
three-fths of the wealth the inhabitants of Texas
not more than one third of the annual tax falls upon
real property. He suggests that, under the existing
laws NONRESIDENT aDdEoders escape their due propor
ton of He thinks that Legislation needed
to this matter and he also recommends increase Of
the pol.tax.
The Governor strongly urges economy, especially in
the disposal of the public lands, of which he complains
that vast and fertile tracts have been FILTERED away
without any adequate return.
Having disposed of domestic topics, he winds up his
message with long discourse national affairs, of
which the burden lie that the Democratic party Is the
sures bulwsrk of Slavery, AMI sach worthy Of the
nOst Strenuous support. In order however, to pre-
that character the Governor thinks that the party
must be brought up to the point Of unequivocy sup
porting the doctrine OF Congressional Intervention for
he protection of Slavery.