Nebraska advertiser., 1867-05-23
GnpERNORR MERGAGR

CHIC purposes, curing Tue Snort pSfiou
that has elapsed since your term CONF
menced by The provisions of the Consti-
lunon. But you are 40, this time a body
of doubtful D wers and of precarlous ex-
lslence, dependent upon q future contin.
gency for a definition of your status and
a recognition Of your acts. On the Isl
day Of March last, six days subsequent
TO your lae adjournment, the President
Of The United States, by proclamation
communicated the admission of our new
STATE, and by breathing life into the Con-
suluuon Submitted by the Terriloritl
Legislature, and ratified by the popular
vo,e. conferred upon you the legislative
authority of sovereign people.
The trainers of the Constitution evi.
den ly did not expect so long lapse Of
time between the date of It's ratification
by the people, and its acceptance by lhe
formal admission of Nebraska into tie
Union BY act of Congress, would ensue
as TO preclude an early regular session
Of The Stale Legislature. 10 Consequence
Of this delay, II became the imperative
duty of the Executive % convene you fOE
special session.
As the PROVISIONS Of the Conslitption
make 1t necessary that the subjects of
Legislation to be considered during such
a sesslon, shall be stated in the Cover
nor's proclamation. and repeated in his
message to both houses when assembled,
and as The exigences of the State require
that THIS session shall. as far as prac-
u1abe, take the place of a regular ses-
on, have endeavored to cover, in my
prociama tion.all the ground necessary 10
enable you to sci the machinery Of State
IN moIOn, aud to render the change of
a Terrnorial TO State government as
free from ILconvenIence as may be.
Ii is needless for me to enlarge upon
The dulies thai the peculiar situation of
The State requires OF you. As, at the
lime Of your selection by the people it
was well understood that upon you would
Gevolve these grave responsibilities, l
doubl not that yon will prove equal TO
lhe task, and will justify the confluence
that has been rePosed in your wisdom
and patriotism
| trust that 20 clashing Of local inter-
esIs, no perlinaci,y OF adherence to mi
nor details and uninportant measures,
may be allowed to obslrucl or delay the
transaction Of the large amount of bust.
ness urgently required TO ensure the
unembarrassed working of the Slape Gov
,ernmenl, and the prosperity of your con.
stnuenIs.
No slate has ever entered the Union
under more favorable auspices than our
own. Practically free from debt, our
credit is sound and our. resources entirely
available for present and future needs.
Our iacIhties for communication with
tne East aud the South have been greatly
increased during the present year, and
the Rocky Mountains and the shorss Of
the Pacific are rapidly drawing near to
US, as the construction train of The Union
Pacific" makes It's daily progress west
ward.
The tide of imigration,s that at the
close of The rebellion comm enced to pour
over our borders. has experienced no
abatement, but has continued, with &C
celebrated speed, to people our fertile
pr0lries Nnh hardy pioneers, and 10 con-
tribute the necessary labor and capital
tor the Development Of our latent wealth.
The ample reports of the condition of
our finances and the general prospe
of our people, contained IN the late mes.
sage of Acung Governor Paddock TO the
Territorial Legislature. renderes it an
necessary for NE 70 enter INTO any de-
lai,s a. present, and ] shall confne my.
sell, therefore to the statement or such
subjects Of Legislation as you are special
ly called upon 10 CONSIDER. In their
enumeration shall follow the order in
which they appear in my proclamation,
rather than attempt to indicate their rel
alive mpoelance by any rule of precedence
/. The revision or amendment of the
Election Law, the provision of penalties
for the violation Ihereof. and the enact
ment.of a law for The Registering Of 70.
tefs
That change is needed in the elec-
uon law, seems manifest from the num-
Der Of contested cases that have annual
" come up for decision IN the Territor;.
al legislatures Serious charges are be-.
ing continually OF sthe election of parties
holding the proper certificates. The
law regulating contests being necessarily
somewhat complex, and productive of
expense, il is found burdens0me 10 com
ply with its details, and hence must arise
abuses If the popular franchise. Il woud
seem the part Of wisdom 10 provide such
safeguards al the ballot-box itself, as
would Obviate the necessity Of a frequent
resort to The tedious course, prescribed
IN the law regulating contests. A law
requiring The ballots 10 be numbered was
formerly in force, and doubtless served
as . check upon illegal voting. But the
Legislature, deciding perhaps, that its
violation of the secrecy Of ballot more
than counlerbalanced its advantage as a
wholesome reslFaint upon fraud, at late
session saw iit 70 repeal it But the
most eaecIual safeguard has. in my op:n-
ion, been found N the system requiring
all electors 10 be registered, Especially
Is this called for In cilies and large
towns, where the polls are shronged with
men, personally unknown % The judges
and no adequate means can, under the
present system, be Bsad 10 test The legal
iIy Of many of ibe ballots offered.