Washington telegraph., 1864-09-28

the seat OF government caused the sus
pension Of their labors. They proceed
ed far enough to show the necessity q
their completing their labors when Dos
sible; not only to protect the interests o
the State, but to ascertain and repor
upon such checks and guards ms ma
protect the State from future loss. Tn
examination should be 80 thorough "a t
set at rest all questions Of finance betwee,
the State and her officers.
At the last session Of your BODY, wa
enacted that commissioners should Be an
pointed as custodians Of the books ant
papers of the several land Offices; giving
them salaries. and providing that tn,
property Of the Offices should bs removed
in case Of invasion. No appropriation
was made, however, to cover salaries
expenses, Office rent, etc. These item.
have been met from tile contingent fund
Of the Executive Department.
The appropriation for the contingent
fund of the Treasurer's Office was insufi
cisnt, and payments havo been made OF
that account from the contingent fund o.
the Executive Department. Payment
has also been made from the same funC
TO the commissioners created blythe Gen.
eral Assembly 10 examine the acts. book.
and papers of the several officers of the
State--no appropriation having beer
made for that purpose.
Your body at its last session. saw
proper 70 make provision by appropri
alton for aiding, by loans. persons wlic
should engage i'll the manufacture of iron
salt and cotton cards. Under the law
loans have been made to several parsons
who desired to engage in the manufacture
of salt. Although the supply has beer
limited. and prices high, am not aware
that there has been any time when sail
could not Be obtained within our lines al
prices as low comparatively az other
manufactured articles
There has been no application fir aid
in the manufactnre Of either iron OF cot
ton cards; the outlay has been. perhaps
too great for the probable contingent pro.
fits. The contingent fund placed Mt thp
disposal Of the Executive was too small
to effect such purpose. The manulac-
tdre Of cards was deemed Of such i'm
portanee, however, that inquiries were
made, which resulted III tie conclusion.
that without imported wire an inferior
article only could be made. and at very
high price. Trading with the enemy BE-
Ing prohibited by law, and Arkansas
being 50 far in The interior as to profib
ali thought Of obtaining wire from for
eign countries.
Whether there should be further lrgis-
lation upon this subject. is left to your
Judgment.
The laws now in force against the dis
tillation of ardent spirits from grain
have not been efiectual in the suppression
of the evil. One reason is, that courts
are held irregularly and hastily, and in
the unsettled state Of the country many
Of those who have violated tie law, -
cape the inHiction OF tile penalty. Wit
nesses are often absent and cannot Ia
had There are some distillers who pre-
fer paying an occasional fine. to forego-
ing the immense profits Of rhsir trade.
Grain is nov selling at enormous prices,
and large portion Of our most deserving
popniation are unable % pay them. Pub.
lie policy j. against permitting tie sup
ply to be diminished and nv price
augmented, in order to procure a supply
OF whisky. The employment IL emf
nentIy drnoraiizing. The distiilor's and
dealers profits make them reckless, and
after being thus engaged, il ia very rare
that they are afterwards ussfully employ
cd far the country. The use Of It nv
soldiers is tile exciting cause Of many
if not most. Of the acts Of violence which
have occurred in the country.
1t is recommended that provision b
made, that the examining court. when tie
offender is brought before one, or the
sheriff, when no arrests on indictment
shali require of the offenders bond in .
very large penalty. that he will not III
any manner be interested or engaged ii
any future distillaticn from grain during
the continuance OF the war.
Iour attention il also ask cd to tho
question whether provision NAV not bC
made within The Constitution for xeizinc
VI stills into the possession OF the sheriff
when the owners Or users shall be charg
cd by indictment or satisfactory evidenc,
before an vxaming court OF using then
contrary to law. If such law ~ con
stiiutional, ID would Be the most etiectua
method OF stopping this most pernicioul
business. However. Oh the discharges q
defendant, by acquitai or otherwise, III,
still should 20 returned but on convic
ton. forfeited.
Owing 10 the larger portion Of on
State being in the occupation Of the Fed
oral army, il is doubiful whether eIec
ticns can b. held n one half Of it,; a
least there is large portion in ~hicl
they cannot be full and free m elrctioa
ought always 20 be.
| At is recommended 10 the Legislature
| that they consider, in this connection:
Iss. Ought not law to be passe'
whereby persons in the provisional arm,
OF Ine Confederate States NAV vote u
their commands, notwithstanding the,
may at the time be out of their election
districts. Owing TO eurCOnstitution som
doubt whether such law would be valid
but if possible. il il but just that such
law should exist.
2. 10 make some provision fur con-
pairing returns and certifying election.
III the absence OF the Clerk, or when th