The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-01-08
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To the General Assembly Of the State IF H..

To the General Assembly Of the State Of H.
hnois:
GExrLsMsx-As the chosen representatives
deliberate upon matters affecting the welfare
Of cur State.
Each recurring session Of our legislature
brings with il increasing cause Of gladne s
at the rapid and marvellous advances which
we. as the people Of a sovereign State, arc
making in ali the elements Of national great
ness. Our physical. intellectual. and moral
condition is advancing with a rapi'iity pro-
baby lever e9ualled in any age nor among
any people on the globe. Our almost limit
less prairicS arc being converted. as by ma
gic, into fertile and teemins fields the pro
duce of which. finding cheap and speedy
transit ever our magnificent rivers ana ran,
roads, to the best markets in the w'r!os II
enriching our farmers, and crea,ihs an"
tanning a healthful business in al! the uSe'''i
departments of life; while the steady ana
rapid multiplication "f sch 'oi houses '"r 'hc
common as well 80 higher schools, throush-
ont our State, give evidence. alike cohclu'
siye and gratifying, that the important mat
ter of educating the rising generation is be
ginning to receive from our citizens that de-
gree of attention which its real importance
demands.
The harvest for the last season has been
less houn'iful than for several preceding
years, while our citizens in some portions Of
the State have been more than usually af
fiicted with sickness These evils, however,
have h.er hut partial and en,porary-hard-
" sufficient to interpoSe even a momentaTy
barrier to the onward and upward progress
Of our State \ single season Of our wont
ed plenty and Usual good health will ObiItc
rate every trace Of these discauragements.-
Our financial condition is most cheering.
Onr taxes have been paid voluntarily and
with promptneSs. and our citizens arc look
ing forward with pride to the day-nOw not
dis,ant-when, without oppression or en-
barraSSment to them. our State indebtedness
vii have been entirely renewed and we left
in possession of a secure and certain income
sufficient, by that time. to defray all our or
binary expenses without resort to taxation
Of any kind. | allow six years as the period
within which this proud conSummat m may
be effected.
The total amount Of taxah'e property, as
shown. for 1871. is S407. AT .367-an IN
crease over the preceding year OF So. 52t.-
o95, and the total receipts into the treasury
for taxes levied in 1857 are s. .S2l ,0l2 -.
The present condiiiO Of our State debt is
shown by the following tabl.:
During the years 1857 and 1858. the prin-
cipal of the public debt has been reduced
one million and fifty thousand three hun
drei aud twenty four d. liars and thirteen
GEMS: and the arrears Of interest reduced
one hundred and sixteen thousand five hun
Dire / and tif y,iwo dollars and sixtyone
GEMS. as follows:
BY amt OF the State debt fund r,id the
principal pro rHtI January. ISIS. &C.. S623,ii9 el
By certificates internal Improvement
stock and interest hoTis of 1917. pur-
chased with the Central railroad fund, se.eoa 60
b. certificates II Internal Improvement
stock pun chased with the State land fund, ESQ -
By certificates internal improvement
school p fun i.l''' .'.e 7,oas "a
By amount paid hv the trustees Illinois and
Michigan canal, on t.e principal o. the
registered debt, 2si 3Ji 6i
I,VsO,524 10
BIZ arrears OF interest certh-
Gates internal improveri't
stock purchased with the land
fund. 1882 CT
BY o. interest certii-
Gates purchased with the Cen