The Placer herald., 1862-01-18
Gov. DoWnev's Message.

Gov. Downey's Message.
The limits OF our columns prevent the publ
cation of Gov. Downey's Message in full, but
we give a carefully prepared synopsis of the
same from the San Francisco Herald.
One of the most polished State papers of the
day, is the message of Governor Downey, and as
literary production, far superior to any public
document of recent appearance to which we have
had access
PROSPERITY OF THE STATE.
The Governor congratulates the Legislature
and the people of California upon the prosperity
with which our State is so bountitully blessed
and closes his message with the pious hope that
the Divine goodness will continue to shower its
tavors on our people.
LEGISLATIVE EXPENDITURES.
The Governor directs the attention of the
Houses to the enormous expenses of the Legisla-
tive Department. which. last year amounted to
S2Sl so o. which his EXcclency very properly
remarks are Excessively disproportionate to the
the expenses created by the other departments of
the Government, wholly unnecessary, and calls
for the immediate remedial action of the pres
ent Legislature.'
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
Further on the Governor inculcates the abso-
lutte necessity OF great financial reform in the
monetary management of the State affairs of
California. We make the following extracts:
The growing necessities Of the State for all
the institutions which civilization and humanity
have alike combined in imposing upon the older
members of the COniedcrlcy. some of which
have already been inau2urated in California,
will necessarily create heavy expenditures. and
thus render the strictest economy in every de-
partmcnt an absolute necessity. Th ecare of the
insane, of the deaf dumb. and blind, and Of the
orphans of the State, as well the need Of the
Reform School for youthful delinqucnts. demand
increased appropriations. The continued annual
appropriations Of our State Capitol, and for the
maintainance Of the State Prison, and for the
additional and extensive buildings required for
the better accommodation and security of the
prisoners, will mperltively demand to he increas-
ed, thus requiring great and constant outlays;
while il is fact that must serve as II basis OF all
future estimates, that our revenue is not and for
the present cannot be. augmented in proportion
to the many increasing demands"
COLLECTION OF THE REVENUE.
The message expresses the satisfaction of the
Governor with the present Revenue Act.
and merely suggests that its provisions be
made to have uniform operations in every
every county It, however. complains of the en-
ormous cost of the collection Of the State Rev
cnue, amounting to twenty-five per cent, of the
gross assessment and very judcously suggests
legislative action to diminish it to Is per cent.
In this connection the Governor recommends the
Legislature to assume the collection and pay
ment of the proportion Of this State of the d
rect Federal tax of twenty millions of dollars,
imposed at the late special session Of Congress,
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The Governor states that out of the appropria-
tions of last year, amounting to thiry-fve thous-
and dollars, twenty-seven thousand dollars have
been spent. and the continuation of the commits
sion for another year will require the further
appropriations of twenty thousand dollars. The
Executive rather significantly disposes of the
subject with chief reference to economical con-
sderations.
THE STATE LIBRARY.
The message informs US that five thousand dol
lars per annum is expended for the enlargement
of the State Library, derived from sources of
revenue especially donated to that object, and
which the Governor deems ample for the creating
of 4 Library commensurate with the dignity of
the State.
SWAMP LANDS.
The Executive considers the present system
concerning the reclamation and disposal of these
lands as unfavorable TO the interests of the
State. The Governor wisely determines that la
bOr is the especial requistion for the purpose of
reclaiming the lands, and concludes that the
present price. fixed by law at one dollar per
acre, is paid only by those who select the most
valuable and accessible portions of this domain.
He suggests the aboishment of the present sur
vey and commissionership system and the sale of
the lands by auction so that the increased pro-
ceeds from choice parcels will constitute a pro-
gressive fund to be expended for the purpose
proposed by the act of Congress under which
they became the property Of the State.
AGRICULTURAL
The Governor pays passing tribute to the bene-
fit resulting from the operations of the State O.
ricultural Society, and devotes few paragraphs
to the Grape Cultivation" Commissioners, to
wit: Messrs. Warner, of Los Angeles county, j.
A. Ramirez. of Yuba, and Mr.. Harazthy, of SOno-
ma, and refers with grateful Acknowledgements to
the report of the latter concerning his European
tour; made special reference to the subject mat
ter of his appointment. Further upon this sub
| ject the message contains the following: "The
agricultural interest is second to no other in the
| State in Importance both as means of wealth
and of industry and good order in society. AL
ready the exports of our cerials, after supplying
our domestic wants, begin to awaken attention at
home and abroad to this great resource Of Cali
fornia wealth. This, like all other branches of
industry. requires wholesome legislation, adapt
ed to its natural necessities. to ensure its encOur-
agement and protection. The farmer in Calfor-
MIA labors under one great difficulty: that is in
the procuring Of proper and cheap materials for
fencing in his lands. In many localities of the
State it will require an expense threefOld more to
fence his lands and protect his crops against tres
pass from live stock, than the lands and crops will
sell for. Thousands are prevented from cultiva-
ting grains and fruits 10y this cause alone. can
discover no hardship in compelling the stock
raiser to herd his stock and prevent their tres
pass, greater than that requiring the farmer to
enclose his cultivated fields to secure the profits
OF his capital and labor"