The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-01-05
A1nANy-M. Y Jan I'm

Gev Aorgan's first message was trans
mitted to both houses to-day. The follow
ing is an abstract of its principal features
The funded debt of the State is S3O,913,-
258 II, of which $24, 307, 704 40 is the
canal debt. The entire receipts from the
canals for the year has been 2,072, 204 SO,
from which, after deducting the payment for
SUPERINTENDENT and other charges, there is
a balance of surplus revenue amounting to
1898, 1875 81. As, however, the interest and
constitutional requirements for the Sinking
Fund far exceeds the amount of surplus rev.
enue, there is an actual deficiency of $780,
574 OF if the interest upon the general fund
debt is added to that accruing on the canal
fund Drafts have also been issued by the
canal Commissioners amounting, on the
Goth of September, 1858, to 81 ,330,033 80
beyond the ability of the State Treasury,
and by this time these drafts have probably
augmented to Sl,T0O,O0o or $4,000, 000.-1
To meet the claims upon the treasury, ac-
tual and estimated, which relate to the
car ais alone, S., 655, 900 will be required,
equivalent to State tax of nearly two
mills on the dollar of the valuations of
1857. The above sum does not include the
damages for land taken for the canal en-
largement, for which $l,000,000 additional
will be required, besides 100000 to pay
the Is per cent. reserved out of the esti-
mates for work done under contract. These
figures are correct. Obligations amounting
to over 100000 have been incurred,
without including the necessary outlay for
completing what has been commenced, re-
gardless of the constitutional provision
specifying that no debt shall be contracted
unless authorized by a law, which shall
impose an annual tax to pay the interest on
such debt, and providing for the payment of
the principal within eighteen months from
the date of its being contracted. He regrets
the necessity for this exhibition st .l-~.-Ii--
| rrrrrrces, requiring an early and deliberate
action of the Legislature to provide for its
extinguishment. The importance of the
early completion of the canal enlargement
is urged, which can be completed by the
Spring of 1860, if the small amount, when
compared with that already expended, is
provided for. Gov. Morgan expresses the
opinion that until the canals are completed,
and the present floating debt is paid, the
appropriations should be confined to the
most economical necessities of government
II also says that a resort to direct taxation
has become necessary to meet the payment
of interest on the public funds and expenses
of government.
The message concludes.with reference to
the conservative attitude New York has ever
maintained to her sister States which cher
ish systems different from her own; dis
claiming all right or wish to interfere with
the domestic concerns of any community
outside of her own limits. She insists on
the right to maintain the superiority of lib
erty over slavery, and views as a wrong
the attempt to infict slavery upon terrific
ries hitherto free; to controvert the settled
policy of our revolutionary statesmen, and
remit the question of slavery or no slavery
in territory TO the unchecked volitiop of
the first 100 or 1000 persons who might
fall upon its soil, is to concede the assump-
ton that no national, no moral considera-
tons are included in the issue of free or
slave labor. This is not genuine popular
sovereignty-but the sovereignty of chance,
of accident, and heetness in reaching, and
dexterity in appropriating, the territory in
question 1t is the sovereignty of a few
over the destiny of millions. New York
has not, and never can, assent to theory
which divests her of all control over the
common heritage of her sons with those of
her sister States, and which virtually de-
clares that she cares not whether her chill
dren who emigrate westward shall live
where manual labor is respected or where it
is regarded as the fit employment only of the
enslaved and degraded. Every. American
must in his heart desire either that slavery
| SHOULD not be extended into the federal ter
ritories, and each has a right to proclaim
aud act upon his choice. Ii the deliberate
sentim ent of the people, constitutionaliy ex-
pressed, shall form slavery ektention, New
York will submit, as she always has to, de-
cisions fairly made, which contravene her
convictions or her interests, however disap-
pointed by any lawful action of the authori-
ties of the United States she never has fol-
lowed or sought redress in acts of nullifca-
! ton, and she wages no war upon the insti-
tutions nor the interests of her sister States.