The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-09-26
SECOND BIENNIAL MESSAGE
OF anonor l.. WOODS. GOVERNOR OF OREGON.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, SALEM, OREGON,
September 1ith 1868.

|
September l4th, 1868.
Gentlemen Of The Senate and House Of ReprosentC
tives
With cordial greeting ! welcome yo
on your coming together at the Stat
Capitol. In thus assembling to dischara
the duties dcvolving upon us under I'll
Constitution, it should be our first act /
make known our gratitude to Almight
God for His goodness to us since last W
met. and to ask His guidance in oil tina
VIC do at this assembling.
We have been the favored ones of tn
Republic. Neither war, nor famine, no
pestilence have come within our borders
Peace, health and plenty have held un
disturbed dominion over us. And i
gives me pleasure to say that the peopl
Of Oregon have not been unmindful o
these blessings. Everywhere within ou
borders the hand of industry has wrough
diligently. aud a rapid development of nj
the material resources of the State ha
been the result And as the servants o
the people-and, for the time being th,
custodians of their interests-it becomes
our duty to exercise the powers thus cor
ferred upon US in such a manner as shal
do the greatest good to the people whom
We represent.
In my judgment but little legislation il
necessary at this session. 4 statute book
ovcrburdened with needless cnoctments i,
public nuisance. Some slight change,
may be necessary in order to perfect oui
system, but alterations should only be
made where the necessity is apparent
The general good requires that but
few innovations be made upon the stat
ute. Nothing so tends TO the security oi
personal rights as laws fixed and we'll de.
fined while constant changes unsettle
the public mind, and involve everything
in uncertainty.
INDIAN WAR.
/ take great pleasure in communieat.
ing to you that the Indian war which for
years has been carried on by the sayages
in the eastern portion Of our State, result.
in the destruction Of So much life and
to which | so earnestly called
the attention Of tho last Legislative As
sembiy, has been brought to happy ter.
At It's session in 1866 the
Legislature passed resolution authoriz
ing the Governor 10 call out troops ia
case of emergency. Auxiliary to this,
and in view Of the necessity which knew
existed, | urged the Legislative Assem-.
big TO make an appropriation sufficient TO
enable me to respond 10 the appeals 0i
help that were constantly being made By
the citizens Of the counties Of Grant,
Baker aud Union, but for reasons un.
known 20 me, no appropriation was made,
and | was left powerless. The State, by
every principle OF right, is bound 10 give
protection 10 all its citizens and, ia MY
judgment, fearful responsibility rests
somewhere, for the long continued and
fearful destruction Of life and prop
erty By the hostile Indians upon
our eastern borders. Under the
circumstances, could only appeal TO
the military authorities. Upon them
-rged the absolute necessity Tor immedi-
ate and vigorous measures 10 be adopted,
and in justice to the commander OF the
Department of the Columbia, permit me
to say that every call for assistance was
promptly responded 20, and everything
done which could be done to procure the
only lasting peace which can be secured
with hostile Indians-whip them into
submission.
Too much credit cannot be given to
Brevet Major General George Crook for
his courage, fidelity and untring efforts
in that behalf Nor would forget TO
in this connection the officers
and men of his command. all of whom
have done noble service, aud deserve the
thanks Of the people Of this State. The
people of Oregon may we'll congratulate
that a war which has proved
such hindrancc to the development oil
one of the best portions Of our State,
and so destructive Of life and property
has been thus brought to happy termi-
nation. A new era will now dawn upon
Eastern Oregon, and her vast fields, hith-
erto unoccupied, rich in silver, and gold
and inexhaustible pasturagc, will offer
new inducements to the miner and the
husbandman.
INSANE ASYLUM.
On the first of October, 1864, the Leg.
islature authorized and directed the Gov
crnor to contract with Drs. Hawthorne
and Loryea for the keeping, care and
medical treatment of all such insane and
idiotic persons, as should be sent to the
Insane Asylum, by the authority Of law
for the period Of four years and two
That contract was awarded by
my predecessor as the law directed /
therefore call your attention to the fact
that the contract with Drs. Hawthorne
and Loryca will expire on the first Of De.
cember next and recommend that suitable
and proper arrangements be made for the
care and treatment Of these wards Of the
State. Humanity requires that every
thing which can be done, should be
done, to alleviate their sufferings,
and restore them to reason and to
their friends. / therefore express the
hope that the power vested IN you, in
this behalf will be SO welded as to do the
greatest good to these unfortunate beings.
It is my duty to state, in this connec-
ton, that the Asylum, under the manage
ment and direction of Drs. Hawthorne
and Loryca has, in my judgment, been
conducted in the most satisfactory man
ner. For further particulars in the con.
nection I would respectfully call your at.
tention to the report of Drs. Hawthorne
and Loryea and also to the report of DIR.
J. S. Giltner, Visiting Physician, copies
of which are herewith transmitted.
The Constitution requires that among