The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-01-22
Governors Message.
Fsuo.o Citizens of the Senats and assembly:

The meeting of the Legislature, t.
which the people have, under certain
constitutional restrictions, transferred
the sovereign legislative power of the
State, is at all times an event Of pecu-
5 liar interest and Importance, for its
acts often have a direct influence, eith>
b er for good or evil, upon the present
: and future welfare of the people. The
condition of our national affairs, with
the past and passing events, and their
bearing upon the prosperity and hap
piness of the people of this State, in
vest your meeting with still greater
Importance Coming directly and
fresh from the people as their repre-
Isentatives, to assist in carrying on the
government Of the State by making all
necessary and needful laws, you will
be more familiar with the wishes and
sentiments of those whom you repre-
sent, and many subjects ofgrave i'm
portance will undoubtedly present
themselves for action, requiring our
best efforts to do justice to the trust
reposed in us by our common constit>
uentS.
General Condition, Commerce Agri-
culture, Mansyacture.
Our State has during the past year,
with the single exception of a serious
disturbance in one of the countries,
enjoyed peace in its borders, and been
free from the horrors of war surround.
ing us and interrupting the quiet of
many Of our sister States.
Our commerce, which in common
with that of all other States, has suffer
ed much for years from the effects Of
the financial and commercial crisis of
1887, has during the past year, even
under the disadvantages of the war,
been prosperous, and is now conduct
ed on a safer basis than il was before
1857, when the spirit of speculation and
an unsound and too extensive sys-
tenn of credit led to the financial ruin
OF many. The opening of the Missis-
sippi, in which, with other States, we
have a direct interest even beyond that
which the nation in general feels in the
free passage of that great national
thoroughfare, would give new and ad-
ditional life to our commerce. 1t is to
be hoped that the great efforts which
are now made by our western army
will speedily accomplish the work that
has so long been interrupted, and will,
by freeing the Mississippi from the OBJ
structions of the enemy and bringing
it under our control, deal a decisive
blow to the rebellion and procure di-
rect relief to the great loyal West.
Manufacturing is yet in its infancy
in the State. Our natural resources
give ample opportunity for the advan>
tageous employment of capital in that
direction. 1t should be the policy Of
the State to encourage by proper Leg
is.ation the development Of these re-
sources, for only thus do they become
a part Of the wealth of the State.
Our State is mainly an agricultural
State yet, owing to a modification by
the last Legislature ofthe law requir-
ING the Assessors to make annual re-
turns of the results Of the industry of
the State, / am without sufficient data
tor any accurate statement in regard
to this most important branch Of our
industry. 1t is an occasion for con-
graduation, that, notwithstanding the
withdrawal from peaceful pursuits Of
SO large a number of our citizens who
have volunteered in the country's be>
half, the area Of Il cultivated" crops
has been increased rather than dimin-
ished during the past year.
The last season was not favorable to
the production of the great staples of
agriculture in some portions Of the
State, so that the aggregate yield was
probably below the aggregate of the
three preceding years. The amount
Of sugar cane and of syrups and sugar
produced has been, as [ am Informed,
much greater than at any previous pes
Rod, and it is believed by many that
as a State we may eventually make
ourselves quite independent of all for>
eign sources in respect to these neces,
saries. Gratifying progress has been
made in the proportionate increase Of
stock as compared withthe grain grow
ing interest, especially in the impor>
tant branch OF sheep-husbandry, while
the improvemt in breed of all our do.
nestle animals is certainly receiving
more attention.
The agricultural societies in operas
ton have exerted great influence in ad-
vancing the material interests Of the
State. They should, therefore, be en-
couraged by wise and liberal legisla-
ton. The affairs of the State Agri4
cultural Society have been much en-
barrassed by the circumstances which
have compelled two successive omis-
sions Of its accustomed annual exhibi-
tons, and by the withdrawalofall State
aid by an act ofthe Legislature passed
at It's last extra session. Although the
nation is at war, our peaceful State
should not forget or neglect the arts
Of peace ; they become now doubly
important in many respects. The use~
fitness of this Society, especially in the
absence of a State agricultural bureau,
which exists in some other States,
should not be moderated or impaired
by unfriendly legislation alta time when
its efforts are particularly important.
The transactions of the Society as
published from time to time, contain
material of great value, and their vide
distribution at home and abroad has
done much towards securing for Wis
%consin the name of an enlightened and
enlerprising commonwealth. The
small appropriation requisite to their
regular publication and Distributing
could hardly be more economically *
pended.
agricultural College.
By an act of the Congress approved
July I'd, 1862, the United States have
granted to the federal States a q%uanti>
ty ofland equal to thirty thousandacres