Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-01-10
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentieme', Of TIE Senate and House Of Rep
Tesentdfires:


4 reseHtdftres:
Acknowledging the Divine favor towards
our beloved State, and invoking the same
blessing upon our future, we exchange the
greetings OF the new year in assembling TO
consult for her welfare. In communicating
with you at this time shall endeavor not TO
exceed the duties required of me by the
constii ution. and shall confine nv self chiefly
to those matters over which we have some
control and Tor which we are held respon-
sible. lay before you such information OF
the condition OF the State. with sucl, sugges-
lions looking to the advancement OF its in
tie, ests as | have reason 10 think will iacili.
tate your action.
; Considering that great civil war has
JUST passed over Us. leaving its wrecks and
disorders everywhere, the minds Of men still
disturbed by memories of the past and anx.
icties for the future. the measure OF pros
pcrity which we enjoy is prehaps all that we
could reasonably expect. Some OF The
chief sources OF our prosperity have been Gu,
off or turned into other channels. Many of
our industries stimulated into uuwonted ac.
tivity during the war have now greatly fal.
len of. But The people have not been idle
With noble fortiiude and resolution they
have met all their duties as they came, and
sough, for means TO bear the burdens they
could not with honor lay aside. The calm
and settled order OF the old time has not
returned. but our thoughts are given and
our energies bent to bring yet better times
than those.
FINANCIAL.
IL is gratifying in this connection to be
able TO report that our financial condition,
which before has been cons iilrred satislact.
ory. has still improved. Our bonds are not
often in market; but'I have observed within
few days that they are quoted at a mere
fraction less than the Government seven.
thirt,cs The scrip for soldiers bouniies
fell due on the frat of FEBRUARY last, amount.
ing to 1868. 400. with interest, of which all
but $40. 900 has been presented and paid
or our funded debt the annual installment
of - 600 has also been paid. This is all
that has been disbursed this year outside of
our current expenditures.
+ The War Claim OF the State against the
General Government has been made an ob
ject of special attent on. Hon. Samuel
Cony has assisted in preparing the evidence
required on the suspended items and in
prosecuting the claim generally. We have
succeeded IN obtaining the allowance of
S566, ,S46.45. of which 1857 ,702 10 was ap.
piled to cancel our direct tax OF S420. .S26,
(none of which found had b, en- previously
paid )obtaining n discount OF l5 per cent.
The balance OF $2O9. IA, ,35 has been paid
into the State Treasury. and applied in ac.
cordance with the law OF 1861 Our whole
claim. as now filed. amounted to 81 SOL.
57l.75 This is accounted for as follows:
Allowed in 1861 $500 900. in 1862. $780,
600; in 1867. $685. As suspended and
disailowed. s4l4 725. .33. Some OF the items
which found their way to the Aadiior's Bu.
reau were so obviously improper. as charges
against the United States. that il has been
/ thought best TO withdraw them. in order to
I leave the account in a better shape TO urge
TO settlement. This balance may be ar
ranged "a follows: DisalIowed as improper
charge about S20o. 900; disallow.d Tor want
o! sufficient legislation about SS5 900: sus.
pended for proof or explanation S130. 900.
Our claim has been promptly met; aud /
am assured by the Department Mt Wash.
ington that no State has been more favora-
bly, dealt with in the settlements thus far
made The prosecution oil the claim is at
present suspended. until the order of bust
ness at the Treasury Department will allow
, iis further examination. Ii will be taken
up again at the earliest possible moment
Further legislation is still required to au.
! tborizc the reimbursemepI to the States of
many OF our necessary expenses in furnish
ing troops for the war.
| In proceeding TO state the amount OF our
public debt, i must remind you that a con-
our old Indebtedness. Our debt at the
commencement OF the war was $699 .5OO.-
90. The thirty TO forty thousand dollars
which we now paying annually is on
this old debt. The balance Of this at'pres
ent Is abeut SijS 600 The whole amour.
of our funded debt To dny il 81 ,09O 500,
from which subtracting the civil indie bted.
ness above we have as the war debt proper
1852 500. OF this the first which ma
lures is $500 900 in 1871. To provide
for this. we have the sinking fund OF : 49,.
775 80 a year. which already amounts 10
$3.50. .S55 35, and which. IL continued will
abundantly meet this, and all other bond
ed indebtedness az il natures Fortunate.
ly, however. we are able to add to this
provision The sum OF s209, 144.95 which
has been collected from the General gov.
ernfneui. and by the prudent management
OF our Treasurer there has been realized as
profits, by buying IN our own bonds at a
discount and reinvcsting the accruing inter.
est on then, the SUN OF sl2. 500 In other
ways also we have advanced upon our next
years sinking found some s75. .OOO: so tha,
we have In oar hands 10 day s627 800 to-
wards the $500. 900 which falls due in 1871.
leaving as orr actual indebtedness on the
, war account - I.OO8, 600.
IL Is ensy TO see from this statement, that
the sinking fund alone will amply provide
for our debt AZ maturity, and II Is we're nee.
essary We might even appropriate to some
{ other more immediate use what we receive
FROM the United States Government as re-
( imbursemeBt Of our advances. IL is worth
while TO observe that the loan Of 900 900
authorized by the last Legislature has not
been resorted to. the economy Of expendi-
ture beyond what was contemplated in the
appropriations having more than made up
this sum. The heavy draft for pensions and