Litchfield enquirer., 1864-05-12
Governors Message.
Mfr. President,

GOyernOr's Message. Mr. President,
 Ar. Speaker, and
 Gentlemen ofMe General Assembly:
 The voice of this Commonwealth which has called us to the high and responsible duties upon which we this day enter, has been uttered in the midst of an extended and powerful con. flict of opinion and of arms, which must termin ate in the dismemberment of the American Union, with the consequent check to prosperity and the loss of rights hitherto enjoyed under the fostering care and protection of the General Government, or in the opening of new era in which will be witnessed advanced civilization greater prosperity and purer liberty under a restored national supremacy.
 It is the voice of an earnest, intelligent and liberty loving people, declaring in unmistakahls language their purpose to give the General Government firm and cordial support in eff forts to maintain constitutional authority.
 AS their representatives, we should enact and make ample provision for the enforcement of laws which will promote general prosperity and guard those rights which are held in charge by the sovereignty of the State, and co operate with the general government in preserving those which are guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.
 Local interests cannot be protected unless We maintain the outer and stronger dcirnces ol national authority, nor can rights shielded thereby be ruthIessly assailed without injury to private interests.
 The criminal assaults which ambitious, arro. gant and disloyal men have made upon this authority have earned burdens of taxation to every State, town and village, that have been felt by every farmer, mechanic and laborer have rendered necessary acquisitions for men to argument the army and navy; have caused the loss of our sons in hospitals. and on every battle field, and the consequent wave of sorrow which has flowed over every family circle.
 They hase made sucl, new und unpre cedent- cd demands upon the pccunaiy resources of the State as to increase the expenditures of the civil list since the year 1859 from S222 ,27O 35 10 s4S97,S ,Sl9 72 tke past year, and now instead of exhibiting resources of interest. bearing stocks of over S4GO eco, with an indebtedness of less than one-trnth ot that amount, We have a funded debt of $G,0OG,00O, and unfundcd Of $l ,249,660
 The expenses during the year foS
 ordinary purposes have
 been S27sOGl 3G In aid of families of sol
 diers 726aOs IT Advances to the Paymas-
 ter General for State
 bcuri' s and other pur-
 poses connected with
 the volunteer and the
 militia 3G40OOO co Advances to the Quarter
 master General l5OCO GO For Interest 237 ,830 0S
 S3,897,Sl9 z The sinking fund fol the reduction
 of the public debt amounts to Sl.0l6,S46 6e
 It is difficult tn !urm an estimate which wl approximate our necessary expenses f"r ths coming year. Prom present indications tho military Campaign is to be prosecuted witt great vigor, and We may antici pate an early re quisi,ion for more troops. l would therefor, urge tie re enactment of the law authorizing the payment of State bountics to volunteers which expires by it's own provision on the l6tl inst, with such notifications as the interest! of the service may require. During the presen inflated condition of the currency which ufford s time peculiarly favorable for meeting pecnnia y obligations, would recommend largely in creased taxation, and authority to make loan required to supply any deficiency for appropria tions.
 There has been collected on the first elain presented to the general government S62l 100, 2o. This account, amounting to Sl 5 l6, ,555.7 has been so far audited and approved by gov ernment officers as to give confidence that th, whole amount will be collected with the excep tion of interest and few small charges amount ing to less than $6000.
 The supplemental account presented about year ago has not yet been approved, and an other is in the course of preparation by tue Ad jutant General, who, at my special request, has assumed this labor in addition to the regular duties of his office.
 \ large amount of loans from the school fund has been returned, and the money re-loaned upon real estate security. The whole capital amounting to S2,049, ,l26 v remains unimpair ed. The income has been distributed to the several school districts at the rate of $l 20 fol each resident child within the prescribed ages
 The continual increase of children, which during the past fifteen years has been 25 pc, cent. will necessitate diminished dividend il made upon the same basis. The recommenda tion of the Commissioner that the distribution be hereafter made upon the attendance al school would evidently be more in accordance with the designs of those who established the fund would aid those who appreciate it's bene fits, and tend to encourage and support the general system of education.
 The Superintendent of Common Schools re ports the attendance of seventysix thousand two hundred and seven scholars in l8l9, pub lie schools, taught by two thousand and thirty seven teachers, at an expense of S4O0,000 more than nine-tenths of which is derived iron the income of the school and town dsposi funds, and from the direct taxation of property The number of young men ard older boys il the higher classes has greatly diminished, while the number of female teachers has material, increased.
 There appears to have been general i'm provcment in the character fthe schools. Th State Normal School is reported to be in al improved condition, with an increased attend ance of those who are qualifying themselve for teachers. As useful institution, formin! part of our system of education, it is worth of continued support
 In December last, I received through tn c,rotoru If Stste of tho TJnited States com