Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-01-05
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

that if it had been actully reduced me
half in number of sections, it would have
lost nothing of its working power. En-
tire subdivisions have proved bundles of
imperative, dead sections; and not how
to amend but how to originate, is the
Revenue law query OF the session.
We notice that the State does not owe,
by a 300, 900, the amount that constitutes
the deb, of Storey county and Virginia
city.
The Governors recommendations in re-
gard to raising money. by loan, are some
what qualified in force, if not rendered
nugatory by the Supreme Court decision
p~ronouncing the Specific Contract law
unconstitutional. This subject. we un-
derstand, is to be made the subject oil
special message.
Under the excellent title Economy"
His Excellency suggests the propricty oil
a short session." Hotc short a session
will suffice for 1.-THE transaction Of such
business only as you may find actually
Indispensable" the Governor does not
name in his message. He thinks, at most,
half of sixty days will suffice. But he
proceeds thereafter TO map out legislation
for a session far lengthier than the Consti-
tuition allows.
The Governor recommends that an cleo
ton for Congressman be provided for the
1866 campaign and recommends the pas
sage of an act prohibiting the retailing
and giving away OF any kind Of intoxi-
eating drinks. to be used rs a beverage,
on the day of any election, within one
mile or less Of any place of voting" This
subdivision of His E~Ncellency's message
is headed Elections :" but. probably.
should have been c~aptioncd "Chocolat."
The Governor recommends that the poll
tax be no longer II condition precedent to
voting.
1t sees that the act Of Jail breaking needs
to be fixed as II public otfense." So
should the escape OF a prisoner be stigma
,ized (and penalty stixed) who fails to re-
turn TO the peni,entiary when sent out OF
the yard simply for the purpose Of catch
ing u rabbit,
Under Agricultural Lands" the Gov
ernor says we have nom Of this character
of property than we thought wehad bu;
not stating or even specializing as to how
much of such land is in Nevada, this SUBJ
division is of the very slightest Importance.
The Governor says he deemed it "inex-
pedient" to obey the instructions Of the
State Geolocist bill, which he had signed
after many days deliberation. 1t seems
he " Topped" in his opinion AS to what
prudence" dictated in regard to this sub
| iect; though one uniformed in the prem
ises, beyond the assertions Of the Message,
would suppose he had always been a rad
ical opponent Of the palpably proper meas
ure.
His Excellency's treatment of INDIAN
affairs" is decidedly pleasing. The lndi-
ans murdered several men and stole con-
siderable but they have been 'talkcd TO"
about il. 1t is said that some OF the In
dams have nothing to subsist upon but
rabbits, mice, grasshOppers, ants and other
insects" Having frequently heard Of the
habits of the Piu,cs. we conclude that the
=. other insects" are lIce-an insect that il
would perhaps be indelica,e to mention in
a disnifed Message.
In his report Of "Pardons and Commu-
ta,ion" the Governor shows that he is not
afraid to review the hasty action of Judge,
as well as Legislators! The Lander county
Judge appears, from this Message, to have
been the most to blame in passing severe
sentences, etc. Four Of the ~pardoned
criminals are said to have already been
punished enough, "if guilty" "if guilty:
Il seems that there was a reasonable
probability" that III. waltermeir did not
have a fair and impartial trial" before the
District Judge of Lander county. At the
same place Dyus Shelton had injustice
done him on his trial AS TO Charles Is.
Harwood, also convicted in Lander, the
Governor had "strong doubts as to his
guilt"-was punished long enough, "it
guilty"
The Governor hopes for favorable action
on behalf of the Placerville Railroad /; and
concludes with Il National flourish and a
pious exhortation. Altogether, it is a
pretty good Message; and although it
furnishes the members OF the Legislature
and the people with very little information
on the really important questions of the
day, there is little in 1t on which any one
could found a serious objection. His
Excellency speaks of "your known habits
of economy and diligence in business !"
which. Of course. refers to the members OF
the Senate, which, with one exception,
are the same as last year. We hope that
the members Of the Assembly will earn a
similar encomium from the Governor, by
their action this Winter.