The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-01-22
Governors Message.

VVVCIuUl y M100SdHCs
49, +
Gentlemen Of tie .Senats and House o,
Representatives - IN sff. .ssf
We, Ia, 80, fasrr.,d ,,,,o,, 80, :, 80,
bov. acc.,,t.d tha ,,ntv &c car;no far rs,srd "a
;n, All .src,nos;s,r ~ ;ntoras. - ftho &C.
M. a,,,,, :. ~, ~, 80 ra.raas,Ia ,s
ant n,,,L ,nora .ha, or,l;r, ,.;l,, ~ e. a.
rea IN that tha Nation of which wo .ro )
nart i e,vouca in civil var most M wa nton,.
sna ,,;nI, ), ,,,,,,.t ,,r,o,, - h., had anJ
dcs;on;n ,,,e, do,,ht -. ,,n,, ,,,;,l .,aa.a
yonrselve. :, ~. j; sch.ras of MS d,,tr co,,,,
vsnsa o..nss r. soor;n A., ~ y to- I'll
from H;n, ,yl,o !. E;nr ~ K;rrs - ana r ar5 :, -
Ior,,s1''ls 800 wy = = = A'' - =
Th. f,..;..,. Inh.u -,
,,,,,.;o.. ~. - 49, az Hna;.,s a." , go .o
"a ,ocn,,,,s,,, s..sh ~ .,s..ss"o ~. o Jsss,
.na nvn ,sssd nS - so.n
30 oe 49,. ~, p'0ose1 " 'A' pS' = -
Ass - s'''' ua's'
REVENUE AND TAXATION.
'rhr expenditures of the last two years fol
MI State purposes have been about SsQQ, O0O
for each year. This includes both ordinary
and extraordinary expenditures-thea amounts
expended for the Insane Asylum. the Peni
tentiary, the Blind Asvlum at Vinton, the
printing ofthe Revised Statutes, and other
extraordinary objects, rs we'll as the amounts
expended in carrying on the ordinary opera
tions Of the State Government The expen.
diture has not in any case been permitted tc
exceed the appropriation, and is materially
lass both for the Penitcntiary and Insane
ASYLUM, and has IN all cases that have come
under nv observation been carefully and
economically made. In nv Judgment. there
is not another State in the Union in which
the protection OF Government ia extended te
as large population, SO widely sea tered
more economically than in our own. But
while this is tru-, it is equally true that our
finances are not in healthy condition. The
Report Of the Auditor of State d;scloscs tbs
somewhat startling fact that Of the State tax
for 1860 and preceding wears, there was al
the date of lis report (the 4th day of Nov.
1861 delinquent and unpaid the large su,n
Of about S4OO, ,OOO--a sum more than suf
ficicnt to cover the entire expenses of 1u
State Government for one wear This large
delinquency has occurred mainly within the
last four wears and the same Report shows
there were at the same date warrants drawn
on the Treasury to the amount of slO3 az
which were unpaid for want of funds. mos,
Of which were drawing interest at the rae
of eight per cent per anmnn.
From these facts the following conclusions
are inevitable 1st. That during the las,
four years there has been levied a State tax
larger by about $500. 600. than the necessi
ties of the State required. 3D., That thi.
was rendered necessary by. the fact thai
only portion of our people paid the tax due
the State. 3D., That the State has beer
compelled yearly to pay largo sums by way
Of interest on warrants, which need not have
been paid had the taxes been collected
promptly and the Treasury kept supplied
with funds to meet all demands uponit 4th
That the State, being compelled to purchase
its supplies with warrants. has had to pay
higher prices than if il had had the cash tc
pay. 9TH, That the tax-paying portion O
our people have thus been compelled to pay
not only their proper share of the public
burthens, but also the share of those who
did not pay their taxes, increased by interes
and high prices. These things should moi
be SO. They reflect discre dit not only or
those OF our citizens who seek to avoid thei
just share OF those burdens which. are i'm
posed upon all for the benefit of all, but alst
upon the laws which permit them to do st
with lmpunlty. therefore very earnestly
recommend to your attention careful ex
animation OF our revenue laws for the pur
pose OF ascertaining If they can be made
more effective in enforcing the prompt pay
ment OF taxes. - sv-
The leading features Of q good rcyenu
law in my judgment are 1st.. The imposi
ton Of such penalty for the non payment O
taxes when due as will make 1t unnlistakabl,
theintercst of every tax payer to paw prompt
". Cd, The assurance to the purchaser O
property at tar sales of a valid title at tn,
expiration of d fixed time. There is in m,
opinion much misanprehension in the mind
or many persons on this subject Some seen
40 think thew receive mo yaI,e for the mona,
paid by them as taxes, and that thew ar
therefore not culpable in avoiding payrnen
if fthey can. Others. whilst thev admit ther
rs some kind of doubtful obligation upo,
them to paw their taxes. If convenient. ne
insist that any ,striugcncy in the laws i
compel payment would be unjust and on
pressive, and that no greater penalty shoui,
be imposed for non payment than the inter
est allowed by law between citizens.g Thes,
: are radical errors. Every citizen is protect
ed by the State, in life. liberty and property
in ali he has and all he may acquire, and !,
all his honest efforts for further acquisition
and in return. he is bound as a good citize
to render obedience to the laws, to pa
promptly his share of the taxes NECESSARY f,
the support of government. and in time q
war. il need be. to defend the royernmen
with his.life. ifhe fails "a perform eithe
ofthese duties of a good citizen. he is liabl