Nebraska advertiser., 1868-10-29

ering Of those vast assembIages for tn,
discussion of the questions involved
hence the increasing enthusiasm o
the people at those times, until the en-.
tire population of the country seem.
swayed with intense interest.
The approaching election, to be helC
on the Sd of November. viii be tht
first occasion on which our people, a.
citizens of the State of Nebraska, viii
have the opportunity OfeXercising this
high privilege. They have looked
forward to that day with patriotic con.
Germ. They have become animated in
the discussion of the issues involved
and their interest deepens as the fina.
decision approaches. No considera
tions of trivial significance should bt
allowed to leopard their right at thai
time to express their will in the ap.
pointment of electors for this State.
1t is important, and none know bet
ter than American citizens how neces.
sary to the public welfare it is. thai
these acts of sovereignty on the par
of the people should be exercised in
conformity with law. When so exer.
cised, all good citizens, whether found
in the majority or minority, practical
ly accept the decision as their own.
and abide the result with the utmost
cheerfulness. But, when exercised in
disregard or defiance of law, dissen.
siOns and animOsities are engendered
which will ever prove detrimental tC
the peace and welfare of the State
Hence it is, that the necessity of con
vening the General Assembly at this
time, has arisen.
The Constitution of the United
States provides that Each State shall
appoint, in such manneras the Legis.
lature thereof may direct, a number OF
Electors, equal to the whole number
of Senators and Representatives tc
which the State may DC entitled in the
Congress-"
In consequence of the recent admis-
sion of Nebraska into the Union, the
time prescribed by the Constitution
for the regular session of the Legisla-
ture has not yet arrived. Since the
admission of the State you have been
once convened by the call of the Ex-
ecutive. AT that time your attention
was directed to the many important
changes growing out of the change in
our domestic government, which were
pressing upon us for immediate action
An eXigency that would arise nearly
two years in the future, and from cir
cumstances wholly new to this State,
escaped the attention of all. 1t is now
upon us and demands immediate at
tentiOn. You have, therefore, been
called together, at this time, to make
such provision for the appointment of
electors of President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States II America
as yOuin your wisdom hall deem best.
The trainers of the Constitution and
the people of the whole country. in
ratifying that Constitution, have wise
ly entrusted to the Legislatures of the
several States the direction of the man-
ner in which the electors shall be APP
pointed. To you it is entrusted for the
State of Nebraska. It became my
official duty, under the Constitution.
of the State, to call you together and
to announce to you the purpose for
which you were convened. Without
transcending that ddty, / might adj
vance suggestions and make recon-
mendatiOns, but, having full conf
dence in your wisdom, and knowing
that you come direct from the midst
of the people, it is with pleasure that
[ leave the whole matter where the
Constitution of the United States and
the people have left tin your hands.
It is made the duty of the Govern
or to Communicate at every session.,
by message to the Legislature, the
condition of the State : But, as no.
Legislative action can be taken at
this time upon the subject noticed I
shall speak in only brief'and general
terms, deferring till the approaching
regular session in January, the more
full and detailed account necessary as
a basis for definite and intelligent
Legislation
l am happy to announce to you, and
through you to the people, that in the
review of our social and financial
condition / am able with gratitude to
the Great Giver of All Good, to use
almost exclusively the language of
felicitatiOn. The fruitful earth has
again ~yieldedthe boumtiful harvest-a
salUbrious climate has been to the peO-
pie a sOurce of general health-and
the course of trade has given a reason
able commercial prosperity. the bless
ings of peace and safety, with n or
twO:eXceptiOns on the frontier, have
been largely enjoyed throughout the
State.
OF our educational interests 1 can
hardly speak in SO fiattering terms as
/ could desire. While the govern
ment can not, and ought not to inter-
fere in the religious affairs of the peo-
pie further than to secure to every in
entire freedom in the fOrma-
ton and exercise of his religious faith,
it can not regard with indifference the
intelligence of the people, upon which
so much depends the tone of public
and private morals, as well as the
safety and, the material pros
of the State. And, nOtwith-
standing the many subjects of great
moment, with the grrye interests in
VOlved in them, that will engage the
attention of the next Legislature, the
perfecting of our system of public in
structiOn, in importance surpasses
them all. 1t should receive, and l
trust Will receive from that body the
most careful consideration.
Our land interests have received
constant attention. I am able to re-
port that nearly all the lands donated
by the General Government in the
Enabling Act,n have been selected
and entered in the name of the State.
That those entries will be speedily
confirmed by the Department of the
Interior at Washington admits of no
question.
The school lands in several counties
been brought into market and
with gratifying results. From the
sales IN one county upwards of Fifty
Thousand Dollars have been al
ready received, and from another up
wards of Twenty-nine Thousand.
From the sale of a single section IN
county upwards of Thirty
dollars were realized. me
prices generally have been at a CON
advance beyond Seven Dol
airs per acre, the minimum fixed by
he Legislature. About Twenty-Five
thousand Dollars of the proceeds OF
,hese sales have been invested by the
commissioners appointed for that
pose, in what are known as the Mil
AIRY Bonds of the State, thus securing
.he benefit of the heavy interest on
hose bonds, to the children OF our