Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-07-14
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

these United States. T.
 
 GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
 fsller. Citizens of ,he Se,ote and House
 ofRepreseHtatires:
 Seven years have elapsed since the last State Legislature convened in these halls-seven short years compared with the lifetime of a State, and yet how long when measured by the amount of human misery that has been condensed within that period. When that body met, peace and plenty reignod every where the granarics of the State were literally overflowing, and that part of the community who controlled it's destinies were tho favored recipients of wealth and prosperity. Protected and fostered by that government which gave the State existence, defended in every constitutional right, with no dis position to interfere with tho institu- lions of the State, though some ofthem were manifcstly unjust and antagonis- tic to the spirit of our government, 1t was surely strange phrensy that drove the people to cut loose from the safe moorings of the Union and launch out amid the rocks and breakers of rebell- ion. But how different have the results been from those anticipated. The great blot of human slavery, that so long defaced our national escutcheon, and which the statesmen of the past and the present have labored in vain 10 remove, has by an overriding Provi- dence been forever wiped out through the very agencies that sought to perpe- tuate il. Indeed "There is Divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we mavl" l thank God that the work is done--tlst inc long agony Is over, and that the representatives of the people are again permitted peaeea- bly, to assemble within the Legislative Halls of the State under the starry flag of that country which is now indeed and in truth "The land of the free and the home of the braye.'
 The duties and responsibilities which you have assumed are most difficult and grave Much is expected of you. The eyes of the friends of civil liberty every where arc fixed anxiously upon you. Many of your honorable body have risked your lives upon the battle field in the service of your cCunty-all have perhaps sacrificed much in the same cause. The people will expect you 10 show the same devotion for tho public welfare in the future as you have in the past. With the passions, preju- dices and and animosities that have grown out of the civil conflict through which we have passed, we should have nothing to do, except to provide for and encourage their alignment. Selfish motives and individual interests should be laid aside, and desire to promote the public welfare should prompt every official action. An industrious and careful application should be given to the public service that unduc aud hasty Legislation may he avoided. In the appropriation of the public funds, true economy should be observed, as distin- guished from q mean and niggardly policy.
 The evils Of past legislation should be at -once corrected, and immediate steps taken 10 preserve the public peace and enforce the laws. The body polite has been prostrated by terrible mala- dy, and rest and careful nursing is re- quired for time before the great work of development can be undertaken. In our present weak, disordered and im- poverished condition, is there not dan ger of too much legislation! After repairing and ndremodeling such parts of the intricate machinery of State govern ment as are known to produce friction, let us put it in motion and carefully note it's action. A practical test doubt less suggest much that theory might overlook or misapply.
 l respectfully suggest that, aiter mak- ing such enactments as the present de- mands aud the new order of things re- quire. you take recess until after the fall elections. This will enable you to act upon tue submission ofthc question to the people of loaning the credit of the State for the encouragement of railroads, 10 which your attention will hereafter be more fully invited; will permit such of your honorable body as are engaged in agricultural pursuits, upon the success of which so much de- bends, to give your personal attention to your crops at this critical season, and will enable you to confer with your constituents and properly inyesu- gate the great questions ofpuhic policy which will requre action upon your re-asscmbling. Should Providence bless us with abundant crops, as the prospects now indicate, and peace and good order be restored to the State, we may safely commence the grand march of Improvement.
 Believing that you will adopt this course, will now proceed 10 call your attention to such measures as, in my require immediate action.
 MILITIA
 The fathers of the Republic have de- clared, and experience has proven, that s'ihe bulwark of our liberties is our citizen seldiery.n Under inc peculiar the present, the pub- lie safely absolutely demands that you should proceed at once to provide for an efficient and well-disciplinod militia. The military force should, in my opinion, bo composed of two classes The first class should embrace such electors and young men be- tween tho ages of eighteen and twenty one as voluntarily uniform themselves and offer their services to tho State to be oiiicered, organized and armed un- der the direction of the commander-in- chief. The second class should em- brace all abic-bodied electors not organized in the first class. who should lp enrolled opI at tto .r....... .... Y.