Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-01-15
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
GOV. STONE.

INAUGURAL Address
GOV. S TON E.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives:
Assuming the Executive office, at mo.
mentous period in public affairs, have taken
the oath prescribed by the Constitution, I'm.
der full sense Of the grave obligations
imposed. Profoundly grateful for the conf.
dence of generous and patriotic people, with
humble reliance on Him who has guided US
through many trials, l shall endeavor to meet
their just expectations, by an earnest and
faithful discharge of the duties assigned me-
The duty of communicating to the General
Assembly the condition OF tn, State, as re-
quired by the Constitution. and recommend
ing such measures as may be deemed eXpedi-
ent for legislative action, more properly
belongs to the outgoing Executive, whose
official connection with the affairs of govern
ment for term Of years has afforded him
the benefit of that observation and experience
necessary to proper understanding of the
various measures demanded by the general
welfare.
Aho ASNSus thOoSoko VI LAy pICutCCSSOI
furnishes you the necessary information con-
corning the condition ana affairs of the State,
during his official term; and is 50 specific in
its recommendations that need do but little
more, on this occasion, than express my con-
currence in the suggestions therein contained,
and ask for them your favorable considera-
ton.
Representing, as you do, the different
portions OF the State, and being conversant
with their wants and interests, your aggrega-
ted information and joint counsels will
enable you to perceive and readily comprc-
bend every material subject which may
demand your action. In our zeal to advance
the public interests, however, we should bear
in mind that multiplicity Of legislation is
neither wise nor expedient Innovation is
not always reform. And experience has
abundantly demonstrated that the utility of
laws, to a great extent, depends upon their
certainty and that frequent changes, in es-
tabliShed rules, are source of great incon-
venience, and productive CT less good than
mischief.
The subjects Of finance and revenue, com.
mon schools, militia, currency, the practice OF
the courts, and county government, are OF
primary importance to the State, and should
receive liberal share of your attention. But
the various laws now in force upon these
subjects have been so long in operation and
so thoroughly tested that their defects, if any
exist, will be readily perceived. would
recommend extreme caution in their consid.
Grafton, and advise no change in any of them,
unless demanded by obvious utility and sound
experience.
From various sources, my attention has
been earnestly invited to what, in the opinion
of many, are cogent reasons for changing our
present form of County government. The
Supervisor system, created by ACT of the
Eighth General Assembly, has failed to com.
mand that general satisfaction which it's ad.
vocates predicted and desired. The objections
urged against it are quite numerous, and
apparently, substantial in their character
Those who desire . change, express Their
preference for the Commissioner system
which has prevailed so long and operated
successfully in many of the older States, and
if, after due investigation, any change may
be deemed advisable, would recommend this
system to your consideration, as being the
most simple and practical Of any that could
be adopted. | cannot assume the RESPONSE.
bility of recommending change; for the
reason that my observation Of the present
system has been much too limited to Justify
me in entertaining satisfactory opirion as to
the soundness Of the objections urged against
it, and therefore commend the entire sub
ject to your earnest and cons derate attention
Your attention is Invited to the expedency
of abolishng the Board of Education, created
| by Article TX, of the new Constitution. This
| Ro0ri no aIr d1v hold Io,
complised much valuable labor, and to it are
we mainly indebted for the framework of our
present admirable system of Common Schools
which needs but little additional legislation,
to render it sufficiently comprehensive to
meet the demands of our educational interests
for many years to come 1t is now though,
the period has arrived when this Board is nc
longer required; and, that it can be abolish
ed without detriment to the public service
The trainers of the Constitution evidently
contemplated, that after its labor, in maturi 9
a permanent and satisfactory system OF
schools, should be complc'el, it's utility, as q
separate department, would terminate In
view of this contingency, the 18th Section OF
| this Article conters upon the General Assem-
bly, the power, after the year 1868, to abolish
or re organize the Board, and to provide for
the educational interests of the State, in any
other manner that to them stall seem bes!
and proper. Should you concur in the expe
diency of this measure, it will becoms neces.
sary to create the Office of Superintendent OF
Public Instruction, in order that the impor-
tant duties now devolving upon the Secretary
Of the Board may be transferred to and per-
| formed by an appropriate officer
desire to invoke the earnest attention OF
| the General Assembly, 10 the necessity of
providing additional means for supporting the
families of the deserving men who are absent
in the public service. Many of these men, in
limited circumstances when they volunteered,
have no means of supporting their families,
except the scanty wages received from the
Government; obviously Inadequate, under
the present high rates Of living, to pro erly
maintain soldier and meet the legitimate
wants Of his family.
am aware that, at the Special Session of
the General Assembly, in 1861, an Act was
passed empowering the Boards Of Su ervisors
to appropriate money out of the County
Treasures, for the support of soldiers fami-
lies within their respective counties. But, l
regret the necessity which compels me to say,
that this highly commendable and patriotic
enactment, has signally failed to ac- omplish
the object intended. In counties where a
majority of the Supervisors are friendly to the
Union, and the prosecution of the war, this
relief has been furnished to liberal extent
but in many others, where that majority is
with the opposite party, they have persistent
ly refused to appropriate single dollar to
this humane and Christian purpose.
In considering the question, we should not
confine ourselves to the theory adopted by
some, that this is a mere county matter, and,
therefore, not the appropriate subject of State
action. From whatever county the man en-
tiers the service, he becomes soldier of the
State, fighting for one county as we'll as an
other, and has an equal claim upon the
nanarocitu and ratifnda Of oil our naonlo -.