The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-15
KEOKUK:
Inaugural Address of Gov
ernOr Stone.


Assuming the Executive Office at .
momentous period in public affairs, I have
taken the oath prescribed by the Consti-
tuition, under full sense of the grave OBJ
legations imposed. Profoundly grateful
for the confidence of . generous and pat
riotic people, and with humble reliance
on Him who has guided us through
many trials. l shall endeavor to meet their
just expectations by an earnest and faith
full discharge Of the duties assigned me.
The duty of communicating to the
General Assembly the condition Of the
State, as required by the Constitution,
and recommending such measures a. may
bedeemed expedient, for Legislative action.
more properly belongs to the outgoing
Executive. whose official connection with
the affairs of government, for term of
years, has afforded him the benefit of that
observation and experience necessary to
a proper understanding of the various
measures demanded by the general vel.
fare.
The recent message of my predecessor
furnishes you the necessary information,
concerning the condition and affairs Of the
the State. during his official term; and is
SO specific in its recommendations that
need do but little more, on this occasion,
than express my concurrence in the sug-
gestions therein contained, and ask for
them your favorable consideration.
Representing as you do, the different
portions of the State, and being CONVEX.
SAINT with their wants and interests. your
aggregated information and joint coun-
sells will enable you to perceive, and
readily comprehend, every material sub
ject which may demand your action In
our zeal to advance the public interest,
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
great extent, depends upon their GER
tainty; and that frequent changes, in es-
tabfshed rules, are source of great in
convenience and productive of less good
than mischief.
The subjects of finance and revenue,
common schools, militia, currency, the
practice of courts, and county govern
ment, are of primary importance to the
State, and should receive a liberal share
ofyour attention. But the various laws
now in force upon these subjects have
been SO long in operation, and SO thor
oughly tested, thateiheir defects, if any
exist, will be readily perceived. l would
recommend extreme caution in their con
sideration, 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 gov
ernment. The supervisor system, created
by act of the Eighth General Assembly.
has failed to command that general salts
faction which its advocates predicted and
desired. The objections urged against it
are quite numerous, and, apparently, sub
stanual IN their character. Those who
desire change, express their preference
for the Commissioner system, which has
prevailed SO long and operated successful
ly In many of the older States, and if.
after due investigation, any change NAV
be deemed advisable, would recommend
this system to your consideration, as be.
ing the most simple and practical of any
that could be adopted. | cannot assume
the responsibility of recommending a
change; for the reason tina. my obserya
ton of the present system has been much
too limited to justify me in entertaining
satisfactory opinion as to the soundness
OF the objections urged against it, and |
therefore commend the entire subject To
your earnest and considerate attention.
our attention Is invited to the expe.
dlency OF abolisbing the Board of Educa-
ton, created by Article 8, of the new
Constitution. This Board, in the ses. |
slons already held, has accomplished much
valuable labor, and to it are We mainly in.
debted for the framework Of our present
admirable system Of common achools.
which needs but little additional legisla.
ton to render it suffiois psly comprehen.
sive to meet the demands of our educa. |
tlonal interests for many years TO come |
1t is now thought the period has arrived |
when this Board is no longer required
and that it can be abolished without Diet.
nment to the public service. The trainers
otthe Constitution evidently contemplated
that after Its labor in maturing a perms- !
nent and satisfactory system Of schools
should be completed, its utility, as a sen.
arate department. would terminate. In
view OF this contingency the 9Th Section
OF SAID Article confers upon the General
Assembly the power. after the year 1868
to abolish or re-organixe the Board. and
to provide for the educational interests Of
the State In any other manner that 10
them shall seem best and proper. Should
you concur in the expedency of this
measure, 1t will become necessary to create
the office Of Superintendent of Public In.
struction In order that the important
duties now devolving upon the Secretary
OF the Board may be transferred to and
performed by an appropriate officer
desire 10 invoke TIE earnest attention
OF the General Assembly to the necsss;tv
of providing additional means for s,,S
porting the families Of the deserving MT.
who are absent in the public service ii
Many OF these men, in limited circum.
stances wi hen they volunteorod H..