Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-01-04

the control Of the Legislature, but with the
desire TO aid them in giving an Intelligent
consideration to the financial interests OF tho
State, present and prospective.
The preservation Of the States credit is the
paramount duty of those to whose keeping
il is committed. To you, gentlemen oil the
Senate and House of Representatives, is con-
hded that sacred trust; and no consideration
of present convenience Or local interests
should betray us into the adoption OF a policy
hazardous to the future interest and honor OF
the people of the State. Our former policy
against State indebtedness was 30 well es-
tablished that it seemed to receive the gem
eral acquiescenee and approval OF all classes
of our citizens, until the exactions OF FEEDER
al authority, conscripting into the military
service oil the able-bodied male inhabitants
of the State, rendered deviation from that
policy necessary; and it should not DC lor-
gotten that the Legislature felt itself so lar
committed to the policy of Its predecessors
ON the subject, that it did not, even for the
purpose of saving the citizens of the state
from draft, authorize the creation OF state
debt, without determining not to adjourn
until they provided the means for It's ex-
tinguishment. And accordingly, on the
10Th day of February, 1854, the very day
the act entitled, "An Act for the relief
of persons subject to military duty" pass
ed a Joint resolution was adopted, appoint
ing q committee "to prepare Dill 10 DC
reported AZ the adjourned session to meet on
the second Tuesday of September, IN the
same year, ''lo provide means to meet the
payment of principal and interest OF such
sum or sums as shall he expended under tne
provisions of the act the title oil wnich -
above recited. The committee appolnteu
under this resolution reported bill entitleu,
IAN Act TO raise revenue for this state,
by which ample means for the payment oil
tile interest and principal of the debt, WIN
out taxing the people OF the State, was pro,
vided This act passed both branches Oh
the Legislature, and became law on hu-
gust II, 1854. The Legislature dld not stop
here; but, impressed as they were WIN NY
sacredness of the States credit, ana thelr
duty TO preserve il, declared, by a joint reso-
luton adopted August IL, 1854, that the
faith of the State be and the same hereby ID
solemnly pledged that this General Assem-
bly, will, in addition TO the taxes already
provided for that purpose by the act phsseu
| at the present session, entitled, AN Act TO
raise revenue for this State, exert its taxing
power to the utmost, il necessary, before II
finally adjourns, to provide ample luhus 70
secure the prompt payment OF inc inte ,t'ss
OF the bonds authorized to be issued ~ t ms
session, and also the payment oil inc luil
amount of the principal OF said Donas' ~ VI
before the maturity of the same" upon
full investigation of the subject, 1t was be-
lieved by the Legislature that the means
provided by the act before recited would DC
ample for the payment Of the interest, anu
the extinguishment of the bonds before ma
turity; but, fearing the object of the Legs,
lature might not be fully understood, and
that some future Legislature might be tempt
ed to divert portion of the fund above re-
ferred to from the object contemplated ny
them in its creation, they passed, on inc
9th of October, 1864, bill approprlallne
it, entitled, "a Supplement TO an act emil
lied IAN Act TO raise revenue for this State,
passed at Dover, August II, 1864" By
reference to this act, page 500, IL volume
Delaware Laws, 1t will appear to the Legls
lature that all the "money which shall from
time to time be paid to the State Treasurer
for the use of the State" under the provis
ions of an act entitled, can Act to raise
revenue for this State" is solemnly appro
priated, and that the State Treasurer u
J "GuthOrized, empowered and required" le
apply ii as appropriated, which Is to the pay
ment of the interest and principal OF th'
bonds created in virtue of the legislator
above referred to, and to no other purpose
The general policy of keeping the State ire
from debt has been sanctioned by Legislative
wisdom under all parties, and subml
whether il would not be wisdom on the par
} of the General Assembly to adhere to It II
the future. We have no large metropolis Z
! sustain, no great commercial city TO bull!
J up, no mineral wealth 10 develop. The sol
l is our chief source of wealth; agrlcultuI
, our great interest, and our resources limited
Y Should not the dictates OF common prudenc
4 therefore, impel lis to adhere TO policy S
I long approved by the people, and which ma
D rendered us prosperous and happy in th
, pastg For myself, l feel it due TO the pee
e pic, to whom am indebted for the position
1 which imposes upon me the duty am no'
n attempting to discharge, TO express my uH
0 qualified conviction that no other debt, ca
s cept for temporary purposes, should Dc cor
I; tracted by the Legislature until the existln
+ one is fully satisfied and Cancelled. A stat
y ment, submitted to the Executive by til
: State Treasurer, in compliance with the PR
II visions of Joint resolution Of the Legisli
3 ture, passed February 4, 1866, and which
IS appended to this message, will exhibit I'll
Il revenue received and disbursements mac
10 by that officer during the year commencin
l. December 1st 1866, and ending Decembt
IS list, 1866. Reference to this statement wi
d inform the Legislature of the condition
H. the Treasury of the State
m The Legislature at its last session provide
V for the increase OF the salaries OF the judici
AZ aud certain other officers of the State; pr
te vision eminently proper and just, not only
o. those officers, but 10 the State. Adequate col
70 pensation for public service ia not only in accC
rs dance with the enlightened Judgment of the %
gu but the snrest means Of securing tho services
in competent public missionaries Although I
OF increase in the expenses Of the State from Il
ly cause Is small, provision should be made to mt
IT, The revenue OF the State has heretOfC
nj been ample 10 meet her ordinary expenses.
lis suggest that provision could be made to mi
Ell any additional expense which tho ncreasi
OF wants of the State may demand, without
lie imposition of any general tax, or tax OF a
m kind which would be in the least burdensome
be any class of our citizens BY virtue Of the p
nut visions of the laws Of this State, certain pri
al, leges nre granted, and benefits afforded to p
IN ticular persons and clas'es The levying o.
lie slightly additional tax for these privileges VOL
tie increase the revenue of the State beyond O
ks necessary increase in her expenses for legitim
RS purposes.
to The Railroad interests Of the State oontii
OF to receive O large share of public attenti
lty The unexampled rapidily of improvement in
OF sections of the State through which Rairo
hBi are in operation, aBd the greatly enhanced va
Ihu of land along the routes, seem 10 be stimulat
UNI our citizens to removed efforts to insnro the Q
SIX struetion of other improvements of the 90
ans kind, These laudable efforts should be enco
vs. aged by such Legislative action as may ena
nil those engaged in these works to prosecute Il
lnd with safety md success. The Delaware II
md road, by its union with the Eastern Shore h
the road connects this State with the waters of
and Chesapeake, and by daily line of stean
and from the terminus Of the latter road, at
in field, with the city Of Norfolk, and thence
, do railroad with almost every section of the Sol
With ern States, and by its connection with the
, by castle and Wilmington aud Philadelphia,
} be mington and Baltimore Roads, 1t constitutei
ded important link in tho great chain Of Ralrt