Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-10-06

Your favorable consideration of All inst
claims, in aid OF these praseworthy efforts in
behalf OF the cause Of humanity, is respect
fully Invoked 1sE 4e& ~ 81
SECRETARY OF STATE.
Since the adjournment of the last session of
the Legislature, vacancy in the Office of
Secretary OF State was occssioned nv H.
resignation of DIR. F. N. w. Burton. which I
filed on he 2Srh day of May, 1858. by an
pointing to said Office John E r. Raw. Eso
of the county of Shelby.
The duty OF filing this vacancy, by cleo
tion, devolves upon the present session OF the
General Assembly.
THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE
Is by law in The custody of the Governor,
and can only be used by his order ii is that
VII CHI gives authenticity to every official
document coming frum the Executive Depart
ment.s here l. at present no law prohibiting
individuals from making and using fac
smile, which might OF done greatly 70 the
Prr]udice Of the State ard the injury of iDdi-
vlduals TO prevent which, I respectfully re-
commend the passage OF law containing
snch prohibition, and prescribing snch penal
''eS as may he consider, d nee, ssary 10 ac-
eompiish The Object.
Salaries "a
Whilst hold IL to be the ffutv IF ALI oov-
ernments 10 pursue the strictest economy in
the expenditure Of public na-,nay. consistent
with the efficiency of th" p,,blic service and
sound public policy, hold Ia It it is equally
the daiy of governments to pay their public
offic''rs such salari's as will deiray anexpn-
diiures which are necessarily ineidcDt to their
respective positions. with reasonable COM
pensaiiOn for their services. A contrary
policy Will, IN fleet. exclude all men from
the honnrs OF public position excerpt such as
have estates sufficient TO in tify The m in sac
rifcing their lime TO the public service, and
it requires no argument TO show the gross in
jusiic' oi such IA policy.
UBder the present law the Secretary of
State receives a salary Of $500. and "a Inter
nal Improvement Commissioner $500. with
some inc n'iderabl iperquis ties: and he Frea-
surer a salary Of fiIt'r n hundred dollars per
ann"m with thre"-fourihS Of one pr cent
upon al monies r ceived and dishnrsed by
him as Treasurer of the Insane Hospital,
which amounts tn about $500.
TIL duties OF each Of these offices require
the constant presence OF the officer at the
Capitol, and il is a fact. easily demonstrated,
that thew cannot b'ir gtheir families g. Nash
vile and support them upon their respective
salarie~.
These salaries were fixed at time when
the necessary exp, nses nf living were not
more than half ms much as they at present,
nor The responsibility conn ctcd with these
arr at this time.
The salary of the Agent of the Peniten-
t'ary was reduced 10y III last Legislature to
the snm of Que thousand dollars. TIN" duties
OF this Office impose weighty re possibilities.
great vigilance and constant attention. and
require high order OF business qualifications.
1 respectfully recommend fill iuvestiga-
tiOn Of tie matter. and the fixing of such
salaries for the OH ers r'f'rr d to may be
d emed tar and just, both 20 them and the
public.
THE HERMITAGE.
The act Of Feb uary llth. 1856. chapter
&c, au horzcd and direct the Governor to
purchase. for the State of T.nness e five
hundrrd acres of the late residence Of G-n.
Andrew Jackson, deceased, including the
mansion, tomb. and other improvements,
known rs the Hermitage. This duty, as
rportod to IN" Legislature at its last session.
was performed, at a cost OF riy-eight thous-
and dollars. The same act directed that a
tender of the property should b. made to the
Federal Government. on thu express condi-
ton that IL should be used for a branch of the
Military Academy at West Point "a that il
il should not be accepted for that purpose.
within two years from the expiration Of that
session of the Legislature. il mad the
dnty of the Governor 10 have laid OF fifty
acres including the iomb, the mansion and
balance To public sale.
The tender having been made nv nv pre-
decessOr. and not acted on by thief Federal
| Government, the Legislature. at i 5 last ses-
son. passed an act (chapter 52) giving the
further time of two years from the 9th Feb
! ruary 1858, during which the Federal Gov
| ernment might signify it's acceptance of the
tender. BY the original act. Mr.. Andrew
Jackson was allowed the possession OF the
property for the term Of two years. unl'ss
applied Tor hy he General Gpy.rnment with
In that time and by the act OF lh5S, il was
mad. th'' duty Of the Governor Co zee tat
the property was taken care of until the
F. deral Goyernment should determine the
/ QUESTION of It's acceptance. Th' Fedey al
Government having failed to signify its ac-
ceptance Of the property on the terms pruv-
d d in the act of 1856, and Maj jackson
having notified me If his Intention to re-
move from IL during The coming winter,
further legislation will be necessary al your
present Sc sion.
If it be deemed advisable to sell a part OF
the property. | recomm, nd that the part re-
served by the State be laid of in a square 70
Us 10 include The manSian. t,mb and sprin z
and spring-housrs. and ext nd out 10 the
Nashville and l. banon Turnpike. which
would probably embrace about one hundred
and fifty acres. You cannot pre-, ervs -ihC
harmony and beauty of The property without
including at least this much and that spe-
cihc instructions for its preservation and
care be provided by law.
The moss appropriate custodian OF the es-
tate would seem to me la be the State Agri-
| cultural Bureau and. In the event of its viii
lingaeSs To accept, and pres rye, and beauti-
| " the prop rty. the whsle shOnld be retain, d
il preferred by the Bureau. This body. COM
posed OF gentlem n. eminent alike Tor their
entfrprise Intelligence, public spirit and pa
the management Of the property. aud di-
rect u "a not only to preserve but to beauti-
fy and adorn It..
stant pride in decorating with their choicest
| care the fields which the hero lOF.-i so we'll
aud ~ hich are sarr d TO them holding the
| ashes Of the patriot. ! refer the matter to
your consideration. cOnhdent that you viii do
all in the premises which he Representatives,
OF the people IT great State can do. TO pro-
trct The shrine OF patriotism. aud to d. CO.
rate. as The reSor: of beauty and tie tie
beloved restiugplac Of him who will be re
! gard d, by all coming generations. one of
the purest patriots and as having been at
| oncr The hero aud the statesman, toe captain
AID the -age.
Invoking the blessings OF Divine Provi-
deuce upon your deliberations, this great
| Commonwe aiih, and our whole country, |
commend TO your care and favorable eonsid-
Grafton the foregoing recommendations, with
| all othrr questions which affect the property
and wcll-beng of the people OF Tennessee.
| EatI y ISHAM G.. HARRIS.