The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-01-14
Governors MESSAGE.

~ ~ III Llo1 . 4fAOOOCpoOs
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives
With devout gratitude to the Mercful Disposer Q
all destnies, aud invoking His blessing on ou
humble endeavors, we meet to dedicate ourseve
with the New Year to the service of the State |
is not merely to repair the wastes of war, but t,
provide for a new career of prosperity that sh
now demands our care. With astonishing courage
s she Is dong in these doubtful and difficult time
the works from which she shrank in the days o
her lmprovident ease. Though late, she now per
celves her true policy, and enters upon the felt
where her proudest triumphs shall be won. It il
awakening. The heaviest burdens we cannot re-
move. We suffer with the Country Our pros
perity is so involved in hers that the measures
which most seriously affect interests are deter
mined by the National Legislature and not by oul
own. But there too we may expect relief. The
agltatlons which have perplexed or paraIyzed oul
industries, must by the necessity of things give
place to the healthful rivalries of commerce, and
the culture and nobler develOpement of life NAV
again be deemed worthy of our highest aim
In the recent decision of the people at the criti
cal hour when the great issues which have dis.
tracted the country were to be finally determined
they have shown that they are not willing to give
the Government over to the hands of our adYer-
saries as rebuke for our errors and weaknesses
and that neither the renewal of violence nor OF
treacherv shall cause them to lose sirht of the hob
mission laid on them for the enfranchisement OF
man. The firm hand raised up by Providence to
quell the violence of Rebellion, is chosen once
more to guide in the victories Of Peace. The task
Is not indeed light to restore financial confidence
and industrial prosperity; but we may not persue
it under more favorable auspices. The different
branches of the Government will no longer have
occasion to bend their energies to battle each other
The States of the South will see that our Quarrel is
not with them but with the implacable spirit Of
secession and slavery. and it is to be hoped will
acqulesce in the manifest will of the people, Di-
Versy OF interest and multiplicity of plan will be
harmonized to one great end. We shall have
peace Cancellation, magnanimty and fraternal
regard may safely resume their benignant sway.
Our State which bore so honorable a part in the
strife OF arms, may congratulate herself on the i'm
portant share she is to take in the greater and more
difficult acts of reconciliation.
l shall not cucumber this communication with
the details which properly appear in the reports of
the several depar tments, but shall present such
matters as pertain to my immediate relations with
you, and those which might not otherwise be
brought so distinctly to your attention.
1t Will become your duty on the second Tuesday
OF the session. to proceed to the choice of United
States Senator for the next six years.
FINANCE.
The report of the Treasurer will exhibit to YOU
the very satisfactory condition of our finances,
Our receipts tor the last year were $135S 5333
expenditures, Si,l42S07,14. The public debt has
been reduced $4,000. The whole now outstand-
ing is 5 ,053,500 OF this $500 900 falls due in 1871
70 meet this we have the accumulating sinking
fund, which with the sums paid in on our claim
against the General Government, already amount
to $946OO On this war claim we have received
the last year $134 ,203,30. At my entrance upon
office in 1867, the amount of our claim was s7O2,-
S49,S2. Since that time we have been allowed and
paid $701 104s07. OF this $357, ,702,10 were paid to
the United States to cancel the direct tax lad on
the State in 1861, and S9,516,s9 paid to settle pri-
yate claims under resolve of 1868. The balance,
$34S, 421, has been paid into the Treasury and
applied to eXtinguish the war loan of 1861 1t will
be seen that the balance now remaining IS very
small. The items of this are of such nature that
it is doubtful whether any more can be allowed
without further legislation by Congress.
The commission authorized by the Act for equal
lzatlon and reimbursement of municipal war debts,
under the recent amendment to the Constitution
have entered on their duties. This Is an important
tribunal. The act declares that their adjudication
Is to be final, and without appeal; and that the
State shall be relieved from all further claims on
account Of municipal war debts. A loan of $780,
0OO bearing interest from April 1869, is author
lied to meet this reimbursement. Ii will deyolye
on you in pursuance of this act to provide for the
portion Of this sum as Ine q mn nav az
due to the several municipalities within the year,
with the ratable portion of the sinking fund pro.
vided to eXtinguish the debt at maturity.
1t must be expected that this will require our
rate per cent. of taxation to be somewhat lncreas-
ed from last year, probably by tWO mills on the
dollar This will be the better borne when it is
considered that it is to be more than reimbursed
to the poorer towns, and to contribute to equalize
so far as possible the burdens of the State.
The Examiner of Banks and Insurance Compan-
lying within his field of duty, and will lay before
you the result in a document of exceeding interest
and value. l commend his suggestions as worthy
of your especial attention.
MILITARY.
The Soldiers Testimonials authorized by the last
Legislature have been much sought for and priced
Ten thousand five hundred have already been is
sued, and twice that number will probably be ap-
Piled for this year. The act authorizing them did
not include in its provisions those who entered the
naval service. Feeling that it was not the intention
of the Legislature to exclude these, [ endeayored
so to frame the language of the certificate that it
could be granted to seamen as we'll as soldiers, and
would respectfully suggest that the benefit of this
act be so extended. An appropriation of $4,000
will be needed to pay for the testimonials to be de-
livered this year.
The administration of the State pension law de-
wolves on the Governor and Council important and
cations for 1868 is 1897 Of these there were
granted 725; rejected 400, and suspended for fur
ther proof H. The whole amount authorized TO
be paid, including estimates cases yet to be pre-
sened is $4,000. This brings the expenditure for
1868 within the appropriation. Owing to the
omission to assess one of the appropriations the
arrearages for 1866 and 1867 absorbed nearly the
whole of the appropriation for 1861 and the Coun-
Gil were obliged to give their personal guaranty to
the Treasurer in order to meet the just claims of
towns and not dishonor the promises of the State
The Council should be relieved Of this liability by
suitable legislation 1t is estimated that $50 900
will be needed to cover this deficiency and provide
for the year 1869. You will without doubt continue
this relief which at the best is but slight return
for the sacrifices of those who have lost their sup
port, their health, their ALL in the countrys cause
Another sad relic of the war is the orphans of
soldiers and sailors. We have tried to reach those
who are destitute and render them such aid or
care as we could. 1881 have been reported, We
have aided ,O1S. IA have been taken into the kind
" care OF the Bath Orphans Home, and s into the
Bangor Asylum. The desttution among most of
these orphans is very great, and requires some
special provision. IT the present manner of pro-
yidns for them is approved by you, the appropria-
tinn of &1nhhn will 10 "n1,'i-nd tf,~
this year.
1t is hardly safe wise for the State to be with
out small military force as its command, and
cannot but repeat my former suggestions as to the
importance of providing a complete equipment for
a few volunteer companies. The Governor is al
ready authorized to OF saniZe any portion of the
militia. But the pay which by law attaches to mil
ltary service amounts to so much that [ have not
felt it right to add to our burdens in that way.
am assured that if the State would equip them a
few companies would be formed in various parts of
the State, who would keep up an effective organ
ization, drill and discipline, without pay except
when ordered out on actual service.'
AND REFoRMATORY INSTITUTIONS.
The report of the Superintendent of Common
Schools will present matters of extraordinary i'm
portance. The topics with VIII ich he deals are
those which already engage the deepest interest of
the people, and his suggestions as to an improved
system Of instruction, and better economy of ex-
penditurc, demand your earnest attention. His eX-
hibit1on of the actual decrease within the last eight
years to the extent of nearly $1,000, in the number
of children in the State between the ages of four