Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-01-11

REVIEW OF THE GOVERNORS MES
SAGE.
Upon the assembling of the Legislature,
on Wednesday morning, the cd inst, the !
Governor sent his message to the two Houses.
II was read by the respective clerks, as a
matter of course. Whether he be the writer
oft or not, tits certainly very common place
production, in both style and thought.
4 Omitting any comment on such phrases
as dread effects, the labors of the husband
man have been dlodrded By abundant crops,
the issues and declaration indicates, &c, :"
in the connection in which they are found,
a passing notice OF some of the sentiments
and recommendations seems to be demanded
This would doubtless be less necessary, were
it known that the servility which, on the
part of MAORI Of the former legislature,
allowed the then acting Governor to exer-
else both the Executive and Legislative func-
tons oil the State government, did not, and
that it would not attach to and degrade the
present General Assembly.
When the Governor says the task is CRATE
fut TO the Executive to extend greeting
to the General Assembly, no one, who |
has been informed of the means by which |
he secured his nomination, will feel disposed |
TO doubt the truth of his remark.
But when he adds, that the labors of the |
husbandman (men) have been awarded by
Rewarded With abundant crops, II may be
very readily inferred, that the Governors
, powers OF observation or memory are a little
defective. The husbandnen OF Delaware,
of whom he is doubtless speaking, have
found their crops OF wheat and peaches, two
OF the most important to them and the COM
munitY, very far from abundant. The sugar
. cane crop, the apple crop and others were
much shortened, in consequence of the late
irosts, wet spring and cold weather during
summer The corn crop was scarcely an
~ average crop, from the same causes. In
fact, II must be confessed, that the acorn and
blackberry crops were about the only crops
/. to eproperly denominated dbunddnt neither
u OF which yields very lucrative (award) re-
ward.
1t is not intended to diminish the gratitude
OF the Governor to the Great Ruler of the
k Universe, who always gives enough, chow
q ever much he may wiihhold) to fill the
n hearts of his dependent creatures with love
. and gratitude, but ii cannot be imagined,
a that he requires to be credited with any more
Z than he actually bestows.
. 1t is pTesumable that the Governors re-
marks relative to Ur0ngs, OppressioHs and
"a cdlamities, which be says afflict the people
If OF some OF our sister States, and from which
n he declares that we are free, may have been
!. made under a similar impression, as 1t does
d not appear easy TO discern wherein we are
HI now to any considerable extent, at least, less
l. afflicted than the people of our sister states.
n But when the Governor proceeds to assert
u that mo State occupying similar position
r. in the Union has suffered less from the effects
at of the civil war than our own; nor have the
re people of any other State thus situated been
more secure in the enjoyment and exercise
of their rights" and to attribute these bless.
IN ings mainly to the legislative wisdom and
es prudence Of our General Assembly, il un.
I'd avoidably occurs to the recollection, that he
in was himself, during almost the whole of the
mt period to which he refers, a member of thai
~ II. IA
ID, character, that he exercised, it may in trutl
IS. be said, absolute control of 1t. However
he unconscious therefore, the governor may be
its OF the fact, by him too far the largest share
in the honor due to its loisdom and prudence, il
be fairly assumahle. Nevertheless there are nj
doubt persons both in his own party and in
that opposed to it, who are ungenerou
re. enough to attribute such less suffering from
ly the effects of the war, and such greater secur
10 ity to the people in the enjoyment of thei
lat rights, TO other causes than to the oisd0 ant
tic prudence of the General Assembly; as for in
as stance, 1t has been repeatedly said, and witt
IN. a very high degree ofprobabilitY, that the Re
oil bells had nothing TO gain by an irruption int
this little out nf the way State. There wa
=, nothing to profit them by an attack upon it
vi unarmed and defenceless citizens 1t was s
near them, that all who desired could and did read
su lily enter their ranks, While on the other hand
.ne from whatever cause 1t might have arisen, u
W. armed or forcbe resistance WAS exhibited tC
~ ward the authorities Of the United States. Til
pe drafts made on the State, at various times, 70
men and money were duly honored and con
IA. placenily oheyed There would seem therefor
IN, no cause why such exemptions from suffering
~. aHd freedom from grievances should net hav
s been enjoyed by the people Of this State, eve
tina nSu tnsrS oten no session o, tne General a.
o. And really had there been none, it might seel
W. even more than inferable, that the State woul
have been now in q much better condition, nj
ton financially only. but in all other respects tbs
n 1t is or has been, since the almost PERPETUA
the session Of the General Assembly was CONNER
and ced very soon after the Governor became men
Ella Der Of it, and which continued until last Rprin
the end OF his Senatorial career, when the pc
Pile growing 20 tired Of legislation, began vel
lue, openly to denounce the system, and the go
ling General Assembly, for the first time adjourn,
~ SINE DIE. Now while there are persons vi
sun. openly speak thus Of the General Assembl
tory there are others and not few who believe til
the burden Of expense created by such incq
nant hRelauon, daring the four or FIVE years
its existence has been enormous. the atteml
therefore, Of the Governor TO fig the blame
=, high tsxes wholly On the General Governmei
mel is neither generous nor just.
For although as he asserts, the General A
sembly did discover a means Of raising gee
llahi deal Of money, without directly taxing the pr
Lei pie, vet there would seem no good reason W
itus; the funds they raised should have been SO pi
fusey spent in detrayng the expenses Of supt
aOus TO psy tie lsast Of ny LEGISLATION.
and But had the large snas oIsmoney rAlsel
Ne n the Legislature, taxing the Railroad eolpah
ding whose roads pass through the State, been hone
and ~ appropriated to defrsy the expenses on
cond which we're imposed on the State by the Cove
ment. TO carry on the war, we, the people
nd. Delaware, shOald noy be nearly, if not quite,
third exempt from tRxahon ss we were before The u
II therefore, the wisdom and prudence Of
all. General Assembly should not DO questioned
read denied, its honesty, fidelity to the pcopia
patriotism are certainly, ju iging from it's az
hon. very DpETopsj while fidelity to self forms au
mhlic prominent character Of ther legislative wish
ssed and PRunESos. Fake for illdstrau0u the
session Of 1864 session for which no mi
peoeSsity ever exiAiSl, nor indeed can now
=" or claimed fairly, EVaFS subject VI
City which legislative a. WV 'N'' ..as S az a
have waited Gf indeed it were u..
was till the present regular and Constitutional BIZ
late nial session. The amount Of expenditure
this session alone, according to the statement
W. the State Treasurer foois up seventeen thousa
the one hundred and thirty-four dollars oud nine
vac eight cents; viz pay Of members SG037.
is, of pay sof clerks, 50, la2 75i allowances, &c.