The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-01-11
GOVERNORS ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of Me Senate

Gentlemen OF tHe StHdte
and Of the House Of Representatives.:
The year which has just closed has been with
our people one OF unsurpassed prosperity IN all
their material relations. The husbandman has
enjoyed the advantage OF ready markets and re-
munerating prices for the generous harvess
which have been the reward Of his labors. The
ship-builder and the lumberman have been en-
couraged by more liberal returns than had, for
several preceding years, waited upon the i'm
portant branches Of industry over which they
preside and in the employment OF labor and
capital, in whatever department, with few, II any
executions, the spring Of quicker and steadier
life has been felt. Health peace ana comfort
have been within our borders, aud in our habita-
tions. IL has been the common remark OF our
wisest observers, that never before has the State
been so strong in all the conditions OF physical
prosperity-that never has its wealth been so
considerable or so generally difused; and that
the people have at no former period been so iree
from peeuniary liabilities as at the present
time. II may be doubted whether the sun IN
his whole course, visits community whose
members are more clear Of financial embarrass-
ments, or who are more generally In possession
OF the means and accessories OF comfort and in
dependence than those among whom our lot has
been cast.
For these fayors and benedictions, let US ac-
knowledge with deyOut and reyeTent hearts, with
pendenee upon that benehcient and gracious
Providence from whom alone they have come
and let US implOTe the continuance OF His bles-
sings TO this people, TO our beloved Common
wealth, and to that Union Goyernment,in whose
perpetuity and integrity are eniolded so many Of
the hopes Of mankind.
IL will be our grateful duty TO labor assidu.
ously and earnestly-and In the light Of thstlarge
and comprehensive policy which perceives that
the different sections Of the State are intimately
related 10 each other and that no step taken in
behalf Of one does not advance them all--for
the promotion Of those interests and pursuits to
which our attention and care are obviously sum-
moned by the natural resources, and the geo.
graphical and climatic position Of the State
whose welfare has been temporarily committed
20 our charge.
Situated IN the path Of the intercourse between
the new world and the old with a direct sea
frontage Of two hundred and thirty miles, and,
following the sinuosites Of the tide. with more
than three thousand miles Of coast, upon which
are numerous harbors, some Of them unriyalled
in capacity. safety and accessibility with rail-
road connections extending through the Cana
das and the NOrthwest,-tew States possess la
eilities for the transaction of large and prohta-
ble commerce equal to those OF Maine. Aud in
the essential conditions Of a successful proseeu-
ton Of the carrying trade, in particular. her su.
perori,y over all the other States is manifest and
unouestionable. Already she has become the
largest shipbuilder in the Union, furnishing two
hfths, at least, Of the sailing tunnage Of its en-
tire merchant service.
For the prosecutions Of the fisheries with econ
omy aud success, no people Of the United States
can be better situated than those who live upon
the thousand bays, harbOrs, creeks and rivers Of
this State.
The rivers and large streams. so numerous
that there Is no neighborhood within our bound.
aries which they neglect to visit. are literally
crowded with falls and rapids, furnishing water
power Of vast extent aud capacity, and at many
points so accessible 10 the eenters Of trade and
distribution, as 10 place them among the most
eligible sites Of manufacturing purposes in the
country.
Iron Of excellent quality, and IL Is believed.
inexhaustible in quantity, Is found in the eoun-
ties Of Piseataquis and Aroostook. And slate,
superior even to the best importations from
Wales abounds, within fifty miles Of Bangor.
such Is its quality and the facility with which IL
nav be quarried. that. as haye the highest au-
thority for saying, afeduey Jon Of fifty cents per
ton in the expense Of us1{portation to tide wa
ter. ter would secure Cor IL III pearly entire market
Of the United States. -,
The lumber In our forot ts nyet 90 considers.
ble in extent and var ~, that the amount OF
labor and capital emp yed in its cutting, diiv.
ing, manufacture, and transportation. will rather