The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-01-12

be unequal ana oppressive, ana tney ue-
clined to accept the grant upon that con-
dition.
In the case of the lands granted to aid
in the construction Of the Detroit and
Milwaukee railroad, and the Port Huron
and Milwaukee railroad, the Board of
Control were called upon TO act, and
made such disposition Of the lauds as in
their Judgment would secure their COM
pletion. Before any action was had IN
relation TO the grant to the Detroit aila
Milwaukee railraad, the directors OF that
company passed resolution, which have
fled With the Secretary of State, giving
their consent to the alienation OF their
charter, and tho imposition OF tax OF
three-fourths of one per cent. on the en-
tire cost of their road, in lieu Of all other
roads benefited by land grants were
placed upon a similar footing. l sub
NIT to you the propriety of passing such
law.
The St. Mary's Ship canal has now
been in successful operation for four sea-
sons, and no serisus accident has befallen
it, Our anticipations of the great advant-
ages to be derived by opening an unin-
terrupted communication with the north
ern portion of our Peninsula, and furn-
ishing facilities for convenient and ready
transportation of its vast mineral wealth,
are fully realized.
The business of the canal has steadily
increased each year, and during the sea
son Of navigation of 1853, 6,944 tons Of
copper, 3l,035 tons of iron ore, 2,597
tons of iron in blooms and bars, and o.
230 passengers passed through it. The
tolls collected were $10,-s4S 80. re-
new my recommendation that an appeal
be made to Congress for an appropria-
ton to preserve this great work from the
hazard of destruction. The action of the
frost in that high latitude upon its en-
bankments, and the pressure Of the wa
tiers of that great lake, subject to rise
Of many feet, makes it necessary that ev
cry precaution should be used TO prevent
the calamity of its breaking away. A
few thousand dollars timely and iudici-
ously expended, would be likely 10 pre-
serve an uninterrupted navigation for
many years, and mey save the expendi-
ture of many thousands for repairs.
The administration which has just ex-
pired has endeavored to inculcate the
principle, and give efficacy to it by their
practice, that economy in the admiuistra-
ton of public affairs is an indispensable
virtue; an, in bearing my testimony TO
the faithfulness with which the State Of
ficers associated with me have discharged
their duty, only render them an act of
simple justice. For compensation al
together inadequate, they have brought
to the public service talents of high or
der, and have devoted all their energies
to subserve the interests and promote the
welfare of the State.
Among The prominent measures which
have passed the Legislature and received
my sanction, within the last four years,
and which will exert an important, and,
| trust, beneficial influence upon the well
fare and honor of the State, may be
mentioned the General Railroad Law;
the Act to establish the House of Cor
rection; the acceptance and successful
operation Of the st. Mary's Canal; the
energetic prosecution of the Asylums;
the establishment OF the Agricultural
College; an Act 10 protect the personal
liberty of the inhabitants Of this State;
the earnest remonstrance of the Legisla-
ture against the further extension Of sla-
very, and the increase Of slave States;
the passage of the General Banking Law;
the Act disposing of the grants Of land
for Railroad purposes; the Act providing
for the sale Of Swamp Lands, and the
organization ola separate Supreme Court.
In surrendering the high trust to which
/ have twice been called by the sufrages
of the people, and which has already
passed, by the harmonious and beautiful
operation of our government, into the
hands of another, himself the choice of
the people, l shall retire with a consci-
BUSINESS of having endeavored to contri-
butte something to promote the prosper
ity of our beloved State, and | trust l
shall ever cherish grateful recollection
of the honors that have been conferred
upon me-and it only remains for me TO
invoke upon the labors, and those of my
successor, the favor Of chat overruling
Providence whose hand directs alike the
destiny of individuals and Of nations.
KINSLEY S. BINGHAM.
Executive Office, Jan. LIST, 1859.
JACKSON CoAL.-The several mines in
the vicinity OF jackson nre progressing