St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-01-19


cceding five millions of dollars, and
exported wool and lead, to the value
of million and quarter, &c.
But it is believed by the best OF
judges that the year just past would
exhibit very different table of sta.
tistics !; that the beef, pork and wool
crops have given an excess of 90 or
20 per cent. over the census year of
1858, while the corn crop cannot fall
short of fifty millions of bushels, and
the value of the sorghum molasses
would reach the figure of 100000.
One or two more such crops, accom-
panied in other respects with the
smiles of a propitious Providence, and
adhcring to our present system of do
mestic economy, will not only re-assure
but restore our people to their wonted
prosperity, and place them in condi-
tion to grant rather than ask favors
of those Atlantic States and cities,
which have been heaping obloquy up
on us because of our cmbarrassments,
which had its origin as much with
them as with us.
HAsTY LEGISLATION TO BE AVOIDED.
Seventy-one one of the laws, cover
ing 263 pages, were passed the day
and night preceding the adjournment
Of the last General Assembly. 1t
would be strange indeed if the engros-
sing and enrolling clerks could copy
and compare all these enactmcnts, for
the signature of the President of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House,
without committing grave errors. 1t
Is known, important omissions and
mistakes did occur, while some impor-
tant bills which had been matured at
the cost of much time, labor and cx-
pense, failed of their passage, for the
want of few hours time. The mis-
chief growing out of rash and incon-
siderate Legislation of this description
cannot fail to address itself to the
mind of a prudent legislator, and !
feel myself shut up to the duty Of res
pectfully but earnestly urging upon
you the correction of this great evil
| need not say that, as the supreme
law-giving power of the state, you
are charged with an important trust
which the public welfare demands shall
be executed with wise caution, and
faithfuness that shall comport will
the solcmnity of your commission.
STATE DEBT, REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
Your attention is invited to the re
ports of the Treasurer and Auditor o
the State. From the report of the lat
ter, it will appear that the liabilities
of the State amount to 1882, 1872 81
This sum is made up of three amounts
quite dissimilar in their character, and
all of which, with some confusion OF
ideas, have been designated State
Indebtedness. The first consists o
100000, borrowed by the State il
the winter of 1858, upon her bonds
running ten years at seven per cent
The second, outstanding warrants
amounting to $50, IO6 81, payable up
on presentation. The aggregate OF
these two sums $3.50, 1876 62) consti
tutcs the entire present Indebtedness
of the state. The third sum of Sl22,
295 IS, is part of the school fund
which belongs to the state, is held 10y
the state i'll trust for the cducationa
purposes. 1t is true, the state pay:
interest on this amount, not to a cred
itor the relation of debtor ant
creditor does not cxist-but to tn,
school fund itself, as upon a debt
ownership is not indebtedness. Thi!
money is part of the proceeds o
lands granted to the state, and is a:
much the property of the state as tn,
lands were at the time they were gran
ted. She has wisely dedicated the in
tercst upon this fund to the support o
a system of common schools. In pay
ing this interest she does not make heI
self debtor, or divest herself of th
right to control this fund as to he
may seem best. She may at any tim
change her constitution and apply tn
five per cent fund and the proceed
of the 5O0,0 900 acre grant to any otl
er purpose. deecmed this cxplana
tion due, for the reason the constitu
ton forbids a state Indebtedness O
more than $3.50, 900, an if in the sens
Of the constitution, the receiving am
holding this fund is debt, then ha
the State prccludcd herself from dc
manding and receiving about mil
ion of dollars due her from the Genei
al Government, on the five per cent
fund. Such is the amount and chal
acter of our liabilities. 1t will be ot
served that but small portion of tn
same will mature and be required t
be paid during the next two years
In contrast with this, the revenue rt
sources of the state show that it
financial affairs are in very satisfaC
tory condition, as it leaves a large e,
cess of assets over her liabilities.
The balance in the treasury and i
course of payment through the bank:
the delinquent taxes now due from tn
counties, and the state tax of the yea
1859, amount in the aggregate to 81
hundred and eight thousand six hu,
dred and nine dollars and forty-eigh
cents.
, The Auditor estimates the expend
! lures for the two fiscal years CONNER
cling Nov. 7th, 1859, and ending tn
lst Monday of November, 1891, e,
, elusive Of appropriations for charit;
, BILE institutions and other special pu1
: poses, at $401,7l972, whilst the est
} mated resources Of the State for tn
, same period, exclusive of the salin
: and school funds are put down a
$S59,6O9 4S. The above figures e,
hihit handsome margin upon whic
the state may prosecute to completio
| her various charitable and other inst
} tutions.
, The first great duty Of the State III
. doubtcdly is, to administer to its a
: fairs in all the departments of tn
public service, upon as economical
scale as possible, consistent with tn
: public good.
t The expenditures for ordinary purp'