The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-01-16

rlCultural COlleHeS. lne utuOuut VI Ihuu gNeh
Is thirty thousand acres for each United States
Senator, and the same quantity for each Repre-.
sentative, under the apportionment made In
pursuance of the census Of 1860. The aggre.
gate grant to this State, therefore, is 2l0 ,OOC
acres. An authentic copy of the act Is here.
with transmitted, as 1t contains many details
proper for your examination. There can be nc
doubt, think, that vast benefits will flow from
this act, and have no hesitation in urging up
on you the prompt acceptance Of its terms and
conditions. As none OF the proceeds arising
from sale of the lands can be devoted to the
erection of buildings, II may be expedient and
indeed absolutely necessary, to allow some ol
our existing institutions to avail themselves ol
the benefits of the grant, provided satisfactory
guarantees can be given that its design will be
faithfully carried out. The amount to be real
lied in cash from the grant will OF course be
very considerable, though from various causes,
not necessary to cnumerate, II will be very far
below the estimates which many have been led
to indulge. II is rare that question of more
immediate or more far. reaching consequence IL
submitted to the action Of a Legislature. The
acceptance Of the act imposes very considera-
BILE responsibilities on the State, and l am JUST.
fed in assuming that you will exercise the
soundest discretion in any disposition You may
make of the mun6cent gift now placed under
your control.
RECIPROCITY TREATY.
On the eleventh day of September, 1854, our
Government entered into commercial arrange
ment with Great Britain, in relation to the
trade of her North American Provinces, which
arrangement is generally known as the Reel
procity Treaty. II was part of tho agreement
that II should remain in force for ten years,
"and further until the expiration Of twelve
months after either of the high contracting
parties shall have given notice to the other OF
its wish to terminate the same; each OF said
high contracting parties being Mt liberty to
give such notice to the other ut the end OF said
term OF ten years, or at any time after
wards"
The last Legislature, by joint resolution, ex-
pressed the opinion that this treaty should be
terminated with the view Of securing q more
just and equitable accommodation of trade with
the British Provinces. recommend that you
give expression to similar views, in some for
nal and emphatic way, with the object of bring
ing whatever influence We can to bear on Con-
grcss, for the accomplishment Of the desired
result. We have, OF course, no direct legisa-
tive power over the question, but the deliberate
and repeated expressions of the Government Of
State whose people are peculiarly and largely
interested in the question, cannot fail to have a
marked influence In settling the issue, 1t Is
neither my purpose nor indeed my province to
present any Lengthy detail of the injurious work.
ings of the Treaty. Elaborate Investigations
made within the past two years under the di-
rcction of Congress, clearly establish the tact
that the spirit of reciprocal trade, which was
the basis Of the Treaty, has not only been ig-
nored by our Provincial neighbors, but OPP
pressivc duties with stringent and hurtful dis
ordinations have been laid upon the products
of our industry. Indeed the treaty seems pre-
cisely adapted to the free admission Of oil the
products of the Provinces which come into in
furious competition with similar products OF
our own; while AL the articles which wo might
proftnbly export, are met at the Provincial
line with customs thnrges which strip US Of oil
possible advantage in their markets.
scuooLs-rUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
The educational interests of the State are
fully and ably set forth in the Report Of the
Superintendent of Schools. II Is one OF our
chief glories that we provide at the public ex-
pense for the education Of oil the children of
the State. Our fathers wisely imposed II as q
constitutional duty, and we are reaping the
rich advantages Of their foresight and their
wisdom. While we may not be in condition
to make any extraordinary expenditure for ed
ucational purposes, 1t will be one of our highest
duties to see that our schools are maintained In
full vigor and usefulness, and that while other
interests may suffer from the inevitable effects
of war. the culture Of the young shall in no
wise be neglected or abated.
The annual Reports concerning our public
institutions will be promptly laid before you,
and will exhibit to you their condition and pro-
gress.
The Hospital for the Insane Is In all respects
answering its bene6cent designs. and its affairs
are managed in the most satisfactory manner
by its able Board of Trustees and its faithful
Ill, ,;,,ta IL Ia not hal
that any similar institution in the country Is
conducted with more devoted philanthropy or
with more eminent success.
The State Reform School is undoubtedly do
ing good work in the discipline and reforma-
tion of juvenile offenders. Its annual expense
has been very considerably reduced, as COM
pared with few years since, aud its burdens
on the Treasury are certainly outweighed by
its benefits. Those who have officially visited
and inspected the institution during the past
year, speak in the highest terms OF its disci-
pline, its general management, and its bench
cent influence on those who ore consigned to its
care.
The affairs of the State Prison are given in
more than ordinary detail in the Reports Of
the Inspectors and the Warden, and respect.
fully ask your most attentive consideration OF
the facts presented. At no time since the Prison
was founded has II reached n condition of self
support. The annual deficit has Of course to
be made up from the Treasury, and Is to that
extent burden upon the people. Very siren.
uous efforts should be made to change this con-
dition of affairs, and so organize the industry
Of the convicts us to make II pay all the expenses
Of tho Prison. To this end, deem 1t absolute.
ly necessary that the labor of the convicts be
leased to contractors, instead Of the State it.
self attempting the business Of manufacturing,
as is now the case. II will be my earnest en-
deayor, aided by your valuable cooperation,
10 devise some method which shall permanent
ly improve the financial condition Of the Pris.
on.
U. 8. SENATOR.
The term of one of the Senator's in Congress
from this State expires on the 81 Of March
next. II will be yonr duty to elect successor.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
While our immediate sphere of action Is in the
administration of the State Government, can
not close without adverting for moment to our
condition rs nation-our hopes, our prospects
our duties. We are well advanced in the second
year of war involving issues Of the greatest
moment to all of us. The contest was precipi-
tated by those who, no longer ableto rule, were
determined to ruin, the Government OF the
United States. The ostcnsiblc reason for seces-
sion was one which, II admitted to have any
force, would forthwith destroy every element
OF Democratic Republicanism which exists in
our institutions-fOr IL constitutional ma
Jority of the people cannot have the right to
elect the President of their choice, our form Of
Government is at m end, and its attempted
perpetuaton Is farce. From the day tho
Southern Conspirators made open war on the
United States by assaulting Fort Sumpter, the
question passed to the arbitrament Of the sword,
and not TO have accepted the issue would have
been TO basely surrender tho life Of the nation.
Thus far We have. with patriotic unanimity,
sustained the Prcsiden, in all his efforts to sub.
due the Rebellion. The people Of the loyal