The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-01-11
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


Feilow. cstfs1ss Of ae Senate and House Of Rspre-
K2oreseating ths Executive Chair, Ii becomes
my Naty, un1sr thu C0nsti tuition, TO commuuisate
TO - aenskal Assenbly Che condition ofthss af-
fAlr4f tAe STATE, - adrninistersd n the several
depAremeaA, md 10 rSeomm end su.h measures
to me shall seem expedent for your action.
The period that has elapsed since your last bien-
NAL session. has be0n of great disturbing
and anxious soiicitude 10 all glasses Of ctsens
The frat year of this period visited with heavy
an dccntip rains, which reduced the measure
OF our field crops below one-haif the usual products,
whilst thu financial reyulsion which commenced
upon the Allan tc in the fall of 81 did not reach
its climax for evil In our borders, until the year
just past. Il II
You need not DO informed of the disastrous sf-
fects produced by these two causes upon the hopes
and condition Of our people. Overtakon suddenly
and unexpectedly In this miafortune, with heavy
individual liabilities, with no facilities for OBJ
tanning money their property reduced to nominal
value and demand for ii ut any price, thousands
there are who feel that their homes and their for
tunes in great peril and that this is SO, would
be worse than idle to disguise. In this aspect OF
affairs, you may reasonably expect that strong APP
peals viii be made to you for remedial legislation
and doubt not that their approximations win re
csive your very confederate attention, and prompt
you to pat forth, in your sovereign capacity, such
powersas you possess, 70 secure TO them Indemnity
against unreasonable and unjust Eacrif fees yet in
q manner that shall guard and protect the rights
of al parties Interested.
would not, however, suppress the important
fact that the condition and affairs of people are
taking favorshle turn, since the commencement
Of the late monetary crisis large amount Of in
divdual indebtedness has been iiquidated-a rigid
system of retrenchment has been observed in the
social and domestic relations and expenditures Of
our psopls-but few new liabilities have been Gre
ated-no malignant epidemic has prevaled-the In
dustry Of the people, the last year has been very
we'll rewarded with fair harvest--emigr grafton 10
again Aowing inthe social condition Of our people
il improving, and we have abundant reason for de-
vout and grateful Acknowledgements TO Him whose
goedas3 nDws no bounds, that we are once more
being placed in q condition of advancement and
prosperity.
You will have before you a neat print of the
census Oh the past year, taken In the mode pre-
so bed by the act that authorised the same, at an
exp nse only Of about $B1S.7i. IL fxed the popu-
than the population when the census was taken In
the year 1856, and will, In all probability reach
roo 600 by the time the Federal census Is taken
during the present year. The agricultural statis-
tics contained in the present census refer to the
year 1858, and do the field culture OF the tate
very great injustice. On account of the heavy and
protracted rains OF that year, is conceded that
our crops fell below half their usual amount. Yet
as aresult OF our industry, We had in cultivation
over 5000 900 Of acres. And unfavorable as was
the season we ent over 900 tons Of hay-har-
vested over 100000 bushels of wheat-cribbed
over %, 000, 0vQ bushels Of corn 800 0p0 bushels
OF potatoes-ma nuf Actured near half million gal
Ions Of molasses from sorghum--sold beef cattle
and hogs to m amount exceeding $1,000 600, and
exported wool and lead to the value of million
and quarter, DO.
Dat it Is believed by the best judges, that the
year just past would exhibit very different table
of statistics that the beef, pork, and weel ereps
have given an excess of 20 to Is per cont over the
census year of IS, whilst the corn crop cannot fall
short Of so 900 900 Of bushels and the value Of the
sorghum molasses would reach the figure of $780,
600. SO
One or two more such crops accompanied in 9TH
er re- poets by the sm les Of q propitious Heaven,
and adhering t. eur present system Of domestic
economy, will not only Treasure but restore our
people to their wonted prosperity, and place them
in condition to grant rather than ask favors Of
those Atlantic States and cities, which have been
heapins obloqsy upon US because Of our embarA
rassm emit. which had its origin much with them
a with us.
HAsrY LEaIsLATIos TO DE AVOIDED
Seventy one Of the laws, covering 263 pages
were passed the day and night preceding the
adjournment of the Last General Assembly. It
would be strange, indeed, il the engrosslng and
enrolling clerks could copy and compare Gil these
enactmsnts, 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 very
important bills, ich had been matursd at
of much time labor, and expense, failed of their
passage, for the want OF q few hours time. The
mischief growing out of rash and inconsideratc
legs iati0n of this description cannot fail to nd
dress itself 10 the mind Of q prudent Iegis Iatcr
and i feel myself shut up to the duty of respectful
ly but earnestly urging upon you the correction OF
this great evil need not say that, The supreme
Law giving power of the State, you charged with
an important trust, which the public welfare de-
mands shall he executed with q wise caution ana
fsithfulness that shall comport with the solemni-
ty Of your commits sion.
STATE INDEBTEDNESS, RKyRrBH And KxPssprruREs
Your attention ia invited to the reports of the
Treasurer aud Auditor OF the state. From the re-
port Of the latter, 1t will appear that the liabil-
ties Of the State amount - 33b2, 4s237. This sum
ia male up of three amounts quite disimilar in
their character, and all OF which, with some conf
sion OF ideas, have been dcsignatcd State indebted
ness. The FIRST consists of $s00, 900, borrowed by
the State in the winter of 1883, upon her bonds.
running ten years at seven per cent. The second,
outstanding warrants, amounting to $50, 1852,
payable upon presentation. The aggregate OF
these two sums-$230 1862, constitutes the en-
tire pyesens indie btednt of the State The third
sum Of $l22, 5-75, is part II the School Fund,
which belongs to he State, and s held by the State
in trust for educational purposes. 1t Is true the
State pays interest ON this amount, not TO credit
orflr the relation Of debtor and creditor does not
exist, but TO the School Fund itself, as upon q
debt ownership is not Indebtedness. This money
*
State, and Is much the property OF the State AZ
the lands were Ut the time they were granted. She
has wisely dedicated the interest upon this fund to
tho support Of system OF common schools. In
paying this interest, she does not make herself a
debtor divest herself of the right 10 control this
fund to her may seem best She may at any
time change her Constitution and apply The I've per
cent. fund and the proceeds OF tho 6Oe,a0 acre
grant 70 any other purpose. Ideemsd this expls-
nat on due for the that the for
ida State Indebtedness above $260 00O and If in
bhe sense Of the Constitution, the receiving and
holding this fund is debt then has this State pre-
cludrd herself from demanding and receiving about
million Of aOliars due her from The 6Saerat fss,y-
ernment, on the fse per cent. fund. such ID the
amount and character of our liabilities. Ii will
be observed that but q small portion Of tho same
will mature and DO required to be paid during the
next Two years. In contrast with this the revenue
RESOURCES OF the State show thati t. financial Affairs
In very satisfactory condition, as it leaves
large excess Of assets over her liabilities.