Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-01-14

Auditor, 1850 00
Do Incidentals, l,O2l So
- | 1908 20
Which, being deducted from the
receipts of the Treasurer last
enumerated, leaves balance
in his hands of *2l,3iG -
Which is increased from receipts
previous to Dec. lst. derived
from sources not enumerated,
by the sum of l6,i49 81
Making the unappropriated bal
ance in the hands of the State
Treasurer, on December LIST
1868, $37, 100 03
Having stated the condition Of the State
finances, as accurately as the means at my
command will enable me to do, and it is be-
lieved sufficiently in detail to enable the
Legislature properly to understand and in
telligently to consider the subject in refer
ence to any further legislation which the
present wants or prospective interest
Of the State may demand. it may not
be amiss to remind the General Assembly
of the circumstances under which their pre-
decessors were induced to authorize the
creation of Il State debt which, small as it
may appear compared with the Indebtedness
of most OF the States of the Federal Union,
may, ii measures are not taken for its dimi-
mutton, ultimately become burdensOme to
our people. The exigencies of our people
during the late disastrous war rendered the
creation of a public debt necessary. The
policy of CONSUMPTION adopted by the Fed
eral authorities for the purpose OF increasing
the military forces, threatened to place in
the army, contrary to their wishes, thou
sands of our most useful citizens Most Of
the people of this State who were willing to
volunteer, or could be induced to do SO by
the liberal bountics offered by the govern
mont, had already enlisted in the service, and
the drafts ordered for the purpose of replcn-
ishing the army iell principally upon those
who were unable to leave their homes with
out great sacrifices of feeling and an aban-
donment of those who, in many instances,
were dependent upon them for support. AT
first the people of the State were enabled TO
| relieve themselves by the payment Of money
| as commutaiion for the service required.
Subsequently, however, the privilege of pur-
chasing exemption from military service was
| denied, and every person drafted was com
PEELED to render the service demanded or
procure at his own expense substitute.
These cxaciions of the Federal Government
so affecting to our people, were rendered still
more oppressive by the injustice aud dis
honesty vi somc OF the persons appointed To
enforce them. Partially, favorilisin, and
corruption, characterized and disgrnerd The
enforcement of those drafts, and The public
mind rcvoited at system of consc,iplion so
harsh and unrelcnting, and rendered
still more odious by the conduct OF
those entrusted with its management.
Thousands of our people were unable 10
procure the means to purchase substitutes,
and considerations Of humanity induced the
| Legislature then in session to consider the
propriety Of extending aid to such OF our
citizens as were liable to draft. To this
subject the most mature reflection was given,
and after patient deliberation, with strong
conviction that the best interest of the peo-
pie of the State required the intervention OF
the Legislature, it was wisely determined to
issue the bonds of the State for the purpose
of raising the means TO render the necessary
aid. The wisdom of that measure has never
been questioned. 1t enabled such OF "ur
people as desired to do so, to exempt them.
selves from military service by procuring
substitutes from neighboring cities and more
populous districts, and by that means 20 re-
main at home and contributed by their indus
try, not only to the support of their de-
pendent families, but to the material
interests and prosperity of the State. But
for this action of the Legislature, hundreds
of our citizens, who were enabled 10 remain
suits, would have been compelled to enter
the military service and been exposed to its
dangers and demoralizing influences. While
the action of the Legislature cuiailed upon
the State debt the burdens of which have
never yet been felt, and which may be cx-
tinguished without becoming oppressive to
the people, it preserved the lives of many Of
our citizens for future usefulness.
In authorizing the issuing of the bonds oi
this State, it was not contemplated by tho
!, Legislature to create a public debt to remain
for any great length of time uncancelled
} | They were fully aware that Il was depart
ure from what had been considered the set
} tied policy of Delaware, and nothing but
the exigency then pressing upon our people
could have induced even u temporary
J abandonment of policy so wise and judi
cious. While, however, the Legislature fcl
called upon to issue the State bonds to al
} amount necessary to relieve persons subjec
} to draft, they indulged the hope that early
measures would be adopted for their pay
ment. The increase of the debt beyont
} what has already been authorized would b,
hazardous to the public credit, and canno
too strongly urge upon the General Assem-
bly, the absolute necessity of provision fo
its early cxtinguishment. Measures lookinl
to the accomplishment of this result a
} speedily as may be consistent with a tru,
f regard to the public convenience ought, il
my Judgment TO be inaugurated at the pre-
+ sent session of the Legislature.
The necessity for the prompt payment o
r the interest, and the gradual extinguishmen
! of the debt created by issuing the bond
! of the State, induced the General Assembly
by contcmporaneous legislation, to make
provision for this purpose. The histor.
of the legislation of this State furnished
| a, pft l,n OF
! /, State towards works of internal improve
= ment, and especially towards the railroad
q corporations within her limils-most o
which had been the recipients of State bene
factions during their early histOry-hat
prospercd and grown rich under her au
n spices, were adding greatly 10 their weatl
from the veIy cause which rendered the ex
tension of the States credit necessary, an(
had been subjected to but little OF the bur
dens of taxation necessary for tha supper
of the State Government. A moderate tax
to be measured by the amount of their bust
ness, was therefore imposed on these com
panies by the provisions of an act of tn,
General Assembly, entitled SAN act to rails,
U revenue for this State
There has been, so far as am aware, nj
y failure on the part of any railroad compan,
to pay the tax imposed by this law; b 1t ther,
U is reason to apprehcnd that the Philadelphia
, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad Com
U pany may hereafter neglect or refuse to pa,
the tax imposed upon That company Th
apprehension has arisen from a communities
y tion addressed by the President of said rail
= road company to the Treasurer Of the State
U justifying the belief that the company in
tend hereafter to resist the payment of tn,
tax imposed by law. 1t is to be hoped tina
said company may reconsider their determi
nation to refuse payment of this tax, ant
that no resistance will be made by any cor
poration, created by this State, to her laws
but that proper regard for the authority o
Y the State will at all times be manifested b,
incorporated companies as well as by privat
: individuals. Any attempt to nuify the law
of this State cannot be acquiesced in by tn
a people or the authorities Of the State; an,
q should any Incorporated company refus
!, obedience to the laws until they have beel
0 pronounced unconstitutional by some com
: petent judicial tribunal, 1t may become th
: duty of the law-making power to vindicat
! its own authority and enforce obedience t.
d its enactments by Furnishing the contempt o
such delinquent corporation by revocation
: of its charter.
: 1t would be matter of regret should an