The Van Buren press., 1871-01-17

In selecting local officers in the yasi.
Gus counties, have been compelled, 10
great extent, to rely ppon the Judgment
of others. In s.cvery casc before L have
appointed any one to- Office, hayedili
gently inquired as to his fitness, aud have
acted upon the best light could obtain.
am aware that in many instances nm
worthy pers ons have obtained commits
sions; but this could not be otherwise,
since under the best mode Of selecting
officers, such characters will occasionally
slip in. This unusual power, Of which
so many persons complain, and perhaps
justly. was not Of my own seeking. The
Legislature conferred it upon me and
made it part Of my official duty, duty
which could not decline or shrink from.
1t is for you, gentlemen, to say whether
/ shall still perform this work or be re.
licvcd from 1t. You have jusy emerged
from political canvass, in which this
question has doubtless been fully dis
cusscd. If your constituency desire 10
have this power returned to the source
from which all political power springs, !,
will bc your duty promptly to comply
with their wishes, and by so doing you
will relieve me of one Of the most per
picking and arduous duties that ! have
been called upon to perform.
- Hylh* =
iasu PUBLIC PRINTING. sdi
The, perhaps unavoidable, neglect oi
earlier Legislatures, to provide for the
publication of the Journals OF the two
Houses since the temporary rcorganiza
ton Of the State Government in 1864 has
thrown upon the present administration
the expense Of the issue, from the press
OF the Public Printer, Of not less than
eight large volumes This work which,
though burthensome, was doubtless in.
d!spensable, IL substantially finished, and
under the faithfai and intelligent super.
vision Of the Secretary Of State. in q
manner to render it, tor the first time II,
our history, really valuable Legislative
record and the expense Of the public
printing will be hcnceforth corresponds
ingly reduced In no department is there
greater call for n judicious economy, than
in this
am convinced that scores OF, useless
documents are yearly printed, which
could be, for all purposes, consulted in
the manuscripts on file. A portion OF
the monies thus wasted will ba far better
applied by the continuance of the en-
| lightcned system ofcmploying competent
stcno graphers' to afford to the people,
through the official press, full and aceu.
rate reports Of tho Legislative debates
upon NIL important subjects
| 51 %stt n 5i %fd y -
| herewith submit the report Of Hon.
Benjamin Thomas, Commissioner ofPub
lie Works, and approve the recommend
ations containc [ therein. ,'c p
He reports the whole number miles OF
levees now in process Of construction by
the State, comprising levecs, railroad
beds answering the purpose of leyees,
cut offs, and other works securing lands
from overflow, being about Que hundred
aud sixty.scvcn miles In extent. The
whole number Of miles OF levec work
completed is So. =,
SUITS AGAINST THE STATE. tI L
would suggest to your honorable
body the propricty Of repeating that part
Of the digest which authorizes individl
uals to bring suits against the State
able sto be supposed that tae State is
1t and willing to pay her obligations,
without being subjected to the indignity
Of and expense Of having suits brought
against her in her own courts.
ROAD LAW.
Great dissatisfaction appears to exist
all over the State in reference to the pres.
ent road law. Legislation upon this sub
ject is greatly needed, and your honora-
bic body will doubtless so amend the law
as in your Judgment will best subscrve
the interests of the people.
SUPREME COURT.
1t is provided in section three (3) act
seven (7) Of our Constitution that two
terms Of the Supreme Court shall BE- held
at the seat Of government annually pro
rided, that the General Assembly may
provide by law for holding said court ut
NhiNN VNbNi- p'"NSo'f HEN EIN.A fIH'f
recommend that your body pass n
law iu accordance with the above pro.
vision, for the reason that litigants src
frequently prevented from bringing their
cases before that body, because they are
unable to defray travelling expenses here
to attend, Courts of Justice should be
brought as near the doors Of the people
as possible. oI u1tr
have thus, in as brief and concise a
manner as possible, considered many
matters which will doubtless be brought
before you, from time to time, and care
fully considered during the present ses-
sion. have stated to you my honest
convictions in regard them. In whatever
action YOU take feel assured that yoq
will like myself, be influenced by true
consideration Of what you look upon as
the best interests Of the State. May your
deliberations be harmonious and produc.
tive Of the greatest good to the great.
est number" ,.
CONCLUSION.
cannot close my message without cx.
pressing the qualification have expert
cnced in my association with the othe-
officers Of the State Administration,
Their unvarying courtesy and prompt.
ness in assisting me on every occasion.