The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-01-15
The Governors Message.
Fss1o,0- Citizens Of the Senate and House Of Rep
resentdtives


The people of Michigan have com
miited to MS the responsibilities of the
State Government for the coming two
years. We assemble to enter upon our
duties in a time of great seriousness
and public trial. 1t will become us to
pause at the threshold of our term and
survey the work before us, acknowl.
edeing our entire dependence upon
that Divine Providence which is con-
s,antly over us alike in war as in peace.
The state of the country and the tenn
per of the times demand wisdom and
patriotic energy in every department
of the government.
Our first duty is naturally and prop
erly with the internal affairs of our
own fast. growing Commonwealth and
here we are not without many causes
for congratnlation. After some years
of difficulty the State finances are free
from embarrassment; all the avoca.
tions of business flourish /; harvests are
abundant; general health prevails !;
and the diffusion of education is almost
universal. The public order has been
maintained, and all the institutions OF
civil government hoiG pndistur5e;ai i
sway !, the general happiness and Sc
cnrity of the people. Our one great
need is national peace, and the only
road to that leads through the gate OF
victory.
I extract from the report of the State
Treasurer, the following statement of
The present financial condition of the
State: "The total amount "f the re
reipis of the office for the. fiscal year,
is $l,124,595 10. The balance against
the treasury, and in my favor, Nov. 80,
1861. was S27,179 70. The total of
payments for the year is ss96,624,69
leaving a balance in the treasury of
S20O,794,62. The funded debi of the
State ia as follows: First, full paid
FIVE million dollar loan bonds, per
cent, due Jan. !. 1868. Sl77,000 90;
adjusted bonds, per cents, due Jan.
y, 1868, sl,746,1s5 90; temporary
loan, per cents, due January l, 1863,
sl.s7s.505 90; renewal loan, per
cents. due Jan. /, 1878, S2l6.O00 90 !:
Canal bonds, 6 per cents, due Jan. J..
1879, 100000 90; war loan, 7 per
cents. due Jan. l, 1885, 1907 800 90 !;
outstanding internal improvement war
rants. $355,375 90; fundable debt,
$4,000 90; outstanding part paid
FIVE million loan, which, when funded.
will amount to $50, 900 so. Total of
funded and fnndable debt, 1881, ,O3s,
55. The trust fund debt is made up of
The following items, tn wit !: Primary
school fund, s753,sol 10; Univrrsi,,
fund, ,SlS 81. .sS7 81; Normal school fund,
s22. .453 Al; Railroad deposits, S2,2l7,
80. Total, $964.359 s5."
The wise legislation of vour prede
ressors has placed The public credit OF
vonr State upon firm basis. AIDE
quaie sinking funds were provided for
the gradual bnt certain extinguishmen,
of the present debt, and system OF
taxation inaugurated which is not bur-
densome, bnt sufficient for all present
needs, thus preventing any further III
crease of the State debt. In this con-
neciion have only to recommend that
this policy be continued, that no new
schemes, involving large expenditures,
he undertaken, and that, for the paw
ment Of all extraordinary appropria
tions, tax be levied at the time. In
pursuance Of the act, entitled Al
Act to provide means for the redemp
ton of the bonds of the State maturing
Jan. LIST, 1863" approved March llth
1861. negotiations have been entered
into for the exchange and sale of the
two million loan bonds, and the objects
of the act fully accomplished. think
it may now be said that the turning
point in the financial affairs Of the
State has been safely passed.
Under the act, =" Authorizing a Wa
Loan" hOnds have been issued ana
sold TO the amount of s6Os, 800, and th'
!. money has been expended in pursu
ance of the law. The principal portion
of this sum has been expended in rails
ing and equipping troops for the gene
raj government, and for which tn
State has a claim for reimbursement
The accounts and vouchers have beer
forwarded to Washington for allow
ance. and no donbt will be adjusted il
due season. When so adjusted tn
amount will be due to the State, les
the direct tax due from the State Il
the National Government, amountin!
TO S426,4 "a.
The number Of convicts confined il
r the State Prison, November 80, 1862
was 4lO, showing decrease in tw,
2 wears of oil. This is to be accounte,
for by the state of the country. TIL
sound of the fife and drum on th
Southern border, has called to ih
camp most of those restless and recl
. less spirits who are easiest tempted t
the commission of crime. Financial,
the prison has been less successful til
past year than heretofore. The r,
duction in the number of convicts ha
+ produced a corresponding reduction {
v the amount received for convict labo
while the expenses could not be n
duced in the same ratio. By an III
fortunate FIRE a portion of the wor
!, shops was destroyed, and had to be r.
l. built at a cost of $5,439 27. Thes
2 causes, with some others OF less in
E. portance, have made the prison for II
E. C. last year, to some extent, a burden
ii the State Treasury. l am satistie
hnrorar c..,ls 81 IL