, 1859-01-05
MESSAGE OF GOV. BISsELL


7o The Gt0e7al Asse'"6ly Of tA4 STATE Of liinois
GKSr1rxES-As the chosen representatives
o. tue people, you are again assembled to de-
Aberate upon matters affecting the welfare Of
our State.
Each recurring session of our Legislature
brings With it increasing cause Of gladness at
the rapid and marvellous adyances which We,
as the people Of q sovereign State, are making
III all the elements Of national greatness. Our
physical, Intellectual and moral condition Is
advancing with rapidity probably never
e4ualleu IN any age nor among any people On
the globe. Our almost lilnitle:s prairies are
bang converted, Us by magic, into fertile aud
teemlns fields, the produce OF which, fading
cheap and speedy transit over our magnificent
rivers and railroads to the best markets in the
world, Is enrleh!nX our farn1ers, and creating
and sustaining a lealthful business in all tue
useful departments of life while the steady
and rapid multiplication Of school houses, for
tue common as well as highest schools,
throughout onr State, gire evidence, alike
conclusive and gratifying, that the important
mailer OF educating the rising ge.era:ion is
beginning TO receive from our citizens that
uegree OF attention which its real importance
demands.
The harvest for the last season has been
less hountitul than for several preceding
yeara; while our citizens in some portions of
Inc state have been more than usually af1fct-
Gu with sickuess. These evils, however, hare
been but partial aud temporary-harlly suf1i-
ctcht 10 lnterpose even momentary barrier
70 tue onward and upward progress Of our
cta1e. a single seasoa Of our vonted plenty
and usual good health will oblitera:c every
trace OF these liEcourayemcnts.
ouf financial condition i most cheering,
Vuc taxes have been paid voluntarily and
Win promptness; and our citizens are luok-
lns forward with pride to tue day-uow not
dlstant--wlcn, without oppression or embar.
rus:nent to them, our State Indebtedness will
have been entirely removed and We left in
possession Of secure and certain income suf.
hclent, by that time, to delray all our ordi-
nary EXPENSES, without resort to taxation of
any Kind. I allow six years as tile period
within which this proud consummation nav
Ire effected.
The total amount Of taxable property, as
shown, for 1867, is s407, All. 7.3G7-an Increase
over the preceding year OF S57. .52G,O95 : und
tue total receipts into the treasury for taxes
ler.el in 1857, are 81, ,621 ,ol272.
The presont oonaitinn nf our State debt is
shown by the following table:
During the years 1857 and 1858, tie priu.
c7pal Of the public debt has been reduced one
million and fifty thousand three hundred aud
twcnty.four dollars and thirteen cents; aud
tue arrears OF interest reduced one hundrcd
sixteen thousand five hundred tifty-two dol
lars and sixty: one cents, as follows:
D. anount Of the State debt tnai paid on the |
p1lne.ua,. gro rata. Jaora1y. Ie5A &c.. ;4aM
If certificates new Internal improvement
St ck and interest bonds OF l647. purchas
I'd with the Central Railroad fund ,.,,,.. ea,1; "a
By certificates tnternsl Improvement
stock purchased with The staie land
a0ho 4aS.5,ai
Dg Ger idcates new internal Improvement ', |
stock purch2 With the three pet ce1t
. SCHOOL und. d.......-........... ......,, sc2s 81
IL am u II paid by e trustee. 1tluoIa and
MCtis4n C'nal on the princI.Ie OF tce
fesisteF1d dept.- cs,.as...04
sLU5e.3324.13 |
new Internal IMPROVEMENT stock |
purchased tn the land fund, .{1G 5.oGl
Cy arears OF int rest on certificates
1ichks' i With the Ce.ttaI Rail-
read fund. ...........,.........lG1tOoGJ
II