Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-01-13


In obedience to constitutional require.
ments and the peoples summons, we
have met to consider the condition and
interests Of the State, and to consecratc
our best efforts To her service. IL Is tit.
ting, that on the threshold OF our duties,
we acknowledge with devoui and rever'
ent hearts the mcrciful Providence that
has vouchsalcd tous, rs n people, SO many
blessings, and humbly implote the ggid'
ance of Him whose wisdom is alone sui-
ficient to direct, and withoutiwhose bles
sing our labors cannot be clpwned with
success.
CONDITION or THE COUNTRY.
We have cause for congratulation in
the general prosperity of the country.
We arc Il; peace with all n,tions. The
waste and devastation of the war are be.
ing rapidly repaired The memories of
those who fell in the defense OF the coun,
try are treasured in the grealcIu hearts oI
the loyal people. Their sacred dust is
being watched over and projected by the
assiduouS care of the nations deepest de-
volion Their dependents, and those
who were manned or otherwise disabled,
arc receiving the pledges OF the peoples
ineXprcsSihlc gratitude.
The determination OF our people TO al
low no reputation. but IL pay honestly
! every dollar of our honest debts has been
lull, affirmed, resulting in The establish
ment or more confidence in our national
securities. and opening the way for the
exchange of our outstanding bonds ior
others bearing lower rate nf interest
The average price of gold rs compared
with currency Tor the year uH closed ! las
been twenty per cent. lower than The
previous year. and the tendency is still
down ward. This indie ties that, without
any financial embarrassment. we may
soon touch solid bottom financially, and
be tree from the evils Of deprecated
and huctualin@ currency. More honesty
and efficiency in The collection OF the revc~
nues, and greater economy in the admin
istra,ion of national affairs, have enabled
Congress within the last year 10 reduce
the taxes collected from the people eighty
millions of dollars annually. We are as
surcd that further reduction will bo
made. and that soon The tax on spirits
and tobacco. with the tariff on importc !
Injuries, ard. and on sIch other articles
aS may bc necessary To protect our own
industries. will be sufficient 10 meet all
our national obligations. Since March
lst, 1869, the public debt has deem Ieduc-
ed at the rate of one hundred millions
annually, diminishing our annual interest
account nearly twelve millions.
FINANCIAL.
The report Of the State Treasurer viii
prescn, "a detailed statement oi the con.
dilion of our finances. Oar receipts dur
ing the past year have been st,924,l6l-
u our expenditures S5.0il ,Sl5 Ct. Oar
public debt is IS 061 10000. OtthiS debt
$40, ,00) becomes due the present year
To pay this we have the sinking iund ol
1868, amounting to Sll7S,GU.6l. This
will pry the debt becoming dIe, and leave
4 balance OF the sinking iund in the Teas
ury OF S2Sl .6776l. The sinking lnnd OF
1868 amounts To S92 ,0lS.j5. The trust
funds held by the State, including the
sinking funds amount to S2,Ol7.Ol3.OS !
exclusive of the sinking funds. S1i6, $40 e
%.
The people of the State expect aud will
require at our hands the most rigid coono.
my in all our expenditures. Our taxes
are necessarily heavy, but should be
made ~ light as possible. No heavy
burden should nc added. | am not un'
mindful OF the truth ot the proverb that
..lncro j. that scaltcrctlI and yet increas
eth; and there is, that wilhholdcth moro
than is meet. but it tendeth TO poverty.
Governments, like individuals. may. III
the exercise OF u wise forecast, make lib
eral advances and thereby make hncral
gains, while withholding would tend tu
poverty. This is especially true in regard
to such iudciou5 expenditures aStcnd To-
educate and elevate the people, and III
crease tho facilities Tor industrial and com
mercial prosperity. What | desire cs-
peciallv tp ur,c is, that we carlully scru-
tiniZc cvey channel through whch the
peoples money goes, reform eNctSScS OF
abuses in our expenses, stop all LEAKS IN
the treasury, if any such there are, see
that every appropriation IS wiselr applet
and secures the benefits intended, and
that no useless expenditures alc made.
With your efforts in this direction, |
plctlge my earnest cooperation.
The reports of The Stale olliccrs. includ-
inu those of The officers OF the public M
stitutions aud the Commiss ioncrS of the
various State interests, will be laid helotc
vou at the earliest practical moment. !
have only been able IL examine part ol
them. You are referred To these report,
for statements ol the condition and wants
of the several Offices and institutions in.
cluhcd therein.
The law allows insurance companies
the month o. January within which to
make their repdrts 10 the Insurance Com
missioner. The report OF that officer,
therefore. c;tsno be made until late IN
the session.
The term of one of the United States
Senators will expire on the third day OF
March next Ii will become your duty to
elect his successor. 1t will also become
your duty To make IN apportlonnlcnt ol
the State for Senators, and Members OF
the House oil Representatives.. an! per
haps for Representatives to Congress.
MILITARY.
The organization of the ten companies
of infantry authorized by law has been
completed. These organzaticns will tend
to keep alive, to some extent, the mill
lary spirit oi the people, and, being large
ly made up OF men who have seen active
service in The field, they are hclicyed To
be sufficient TO meet any ordinary emer'
gency. These companies can readily ba
expanded into rs many eglnenls in case
OF necessity.
The report OF the Adiutant General
will contain Il statement ol The expend
lures for military purposes during tho
last year, AMI the military properly IN
the possession of the State.
Ill r4Aur ntinniinn nsnnciallv ln Lin