Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1861-04-24
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
AUSTIN, March 90, 1861
Gentlemen Of the Senate,

Gentlemen Of the Senate,
and House Of Representatives.;
The Office of Chief Executive OF
he State did so suddenly and lam
constrained to say, regardless of the
.umors which have prevailed, so
unexpectedly dcvolvc upon me
hat | was utterly unprcparcd with
communication adapted to the pre-
cnt occasion. And, this being an
diourned session of your honorable
hody, when, under ordinary clrcum,
tances. Executive Messages are not
.sual or expected it is more than
probable that on the present occa,
ion | should not have trcspasscd
mon your attention, were 1t not
lat the circumstances attending my
ncccssion to the office Of Governor,
nave cngcndcred that expectation:
It was my desire to have complied
with this expectation Mt an carrier
Law. but an essential investigation
,nto the public business conducted
n the different departments OF the
government, and especially the
necessity of receiving official infor-
nation of the actions ofthe Convcn-
zion, which has just adjourned, have
conspired to render me moro dila-
,orv in the transmission of this com
nunication, than | otherwise should
nave been.
/ indulge the trust that it is not
vet too late to acquit myselfofwhat-
ever obligation may attach to mem
this regard, and Of whatever want
of respect and courtesy to your
Honorable body, my silence may
seem to have indicated.
The position of Governor is one
which my experience in other and
inferior stations Of public trust, has
shown me, to be cnvironcd at all
times and under the most auspicl"'S,
circumstances, with veNationS ana
cmbarrassmcnts. 1t falls INTO my
hands at u period mo'e pregnant
with future doubts than any Which
has preceded. The disruption of
That Govcrnront, of which we for
so many vars formed Il part, has
nl,ccI - in an attitude threatening
war Nth those from whom we have
separated and has engendcrcd in our
very midst bitter spirit of discon-
tent, and of undisguiscd opposition
to what is the expressed will of the
people.
Under full sense ofthc circum-
stances which surround me, | can
say in all sincerity and without fear
of being distrustcd, that | have as
sumcd the responsibilities of office
with great apprehension Of my
inability to equal them.
In submitting to your Honorable
hody those suggestions which are
teemed important and expedient, L
hall begin with that which most
essentially demands your dclibera-
tion-thc legislation that will prove
adequate to the present financial
condition of the Government. 1t is
IN evident fact that taxation alone,
will afford a revenue inadequate to
;hc present and accruing necessl-
lies of the State; and the provision
IF a sufficient fund is at once the
most difficult and essential labor
which dcvolvcs upon you. Even
those most familiar with financial
affairs differ materially on this sub
Get. and the Executive feels reluc-
tant to submit any definite PROPOSE
ton of his own for that purpose.
Upon consultation with the officer
in charge of the financial depart
ment of the State, it was proposed
that State bonds to the amount of
one million of dollars be sold, bear
ing an annual interest of eight per
ecnt-payablc in semi-annual in,
stalmcnts. TO meet this interest
there should be an annual appro'
priation of portion of the revenue
arising from taxation, and a sinking
fund dcrivablc from the same source
should be created to liquidatc the
principal. The sum obtained IN
this way, assuming that the bonds
will realize only 90 cents on the dol.
lar, though it is probable that they
will be sold at par, will be 5000,
600. add to this the revenue arising
from taxation and other sources
which is estimated at s350,00O foi
the current year and there will b.
the sum of 81 ,25O,000 to meet tn
demands against the Treasury u
to 1st of June. 1862. Now, cstlmat
ing the ordinary civil expenses o
the government at s35O,0OO per an
mum, and it is thought they can b
brought within that sum withou
material detriment to the intercs
of the State. and allowing for tn
entire civil expenditure of the Stat
Including the expenses Of tn
Convention and Of tae present au'
future sessions Of the Legislature
an to the lst of June 1852. the SUI
1880 600. and there remains s2eoi
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