The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-05-27
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To The Extra Ae>ion Of the Illinois Leg.
isla1ure.

TIE following is the Message of Governor
Palmer 70 the Legislature of Illinois, which con.
vensd in special session at noon on Wednesday:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
SPRINGFIELD, May 4, 1871. !
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives
Whea, ON the 18th day Of April last, the Gen.
eral Assembly suspended its session until the
10th day of November next, period of nearly
seven months, it seemed to be anticipated by the
members as we'll as by others familiar with the
public business, that an earlier meeting would
be necessary than that fixed III the resolution OF
adjournment.
As was understood at the time, shared in the
impression that the public interests would suffer
if legislative action upon many important sub.
iects was DELAYED until the time rixed TOR the ad-
iourned session: and my subsequent reflections,
as we'll as nv observation OF the condition OF
publ, aff,irs. satisfied me that an extraordinary
occasion existed, within the meaning OF the Sth
Section of the 9Th Article of the Constitution,
that imposed on me the duty of cenvening the
General Assembly in session to consider certain
subjects that are of such urgency as to admit of
no great delay.
Before reaching n final conclusion upon this
subject my attention was directed to the ques-
ton suggested in highly respectable quarters,
whether, under the circumstances OF u mere
temporary suspension of session Of the General
Assembly by its own act until a day fixed for
resuming legislative duties the Governor has
the power to convene its members into an earlier
session. fully appreciated the gravity of the
question thus presested, and was not inssnsible
to the force of the objection that the assertion of
the existence OF the power in the Governor to
convene the General Assembly at an earlier day
than that fixed by its own deliberate action car
ried with it an duplication of right to exercise
come control oysr the determinations OF the leg.
islature not only with respect to the time OF Its
own adiourR ments and meetings, but of its judg-
ment as to the necessity for Legislation.
But it seemed to me to be a satisfactory an.
swer to the objections thus urged, that the Ian.
guage Of the constitution is, that 1.-The Governor
may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the
General Assembly by proclamation, stating the
purpose for which they are convened )" that the
power thus created is conferred upon the Govern.
or for the object of promoting the public welfare,
and that to justify its exercise but TWO things
are required, that is, that the General Assembly
Is not in actual session, and that extraordinary
reasons require that it should convene; and
though the Governor must judge in the first in
stance Of the necessity for q legislative session,
the independence of the General Assembly is as
cured by its undoubted right, after converting in
pursuance OF the proclamation, to judge OF the
reasons of the executive act and if such reasons
appear insufficient, to adjourn; and if the con-
duct of the Governor in the premises justifes it,
60 censure, or, in extreme cases, impeach him.
Under circumstances like the present, each de-
partment Of the government is perfectly indie.
pendent, and must, while in the exercise of its
own duties, determine the extent and measure
of its own powers, being responsible only to the
people OF the state.
After reaching the conclusions above stated as
to the proper extent and powers of the Governor,
saw way OF escaping the duty of inviting
the General Assembly to convene again in sess-
Jon, and accordingly, the I'd day Of May,
1871, issued my proclamation converting the
members and officers of both houses into session
on the Gath day of May, 1871, ut noon of said
day. Authentic copies Of my proclamation are
herewith submitted to the General Assembly,
and IA earnest attention invited TO the subjects
OF busincs' therein mentioned.
IReferrtng to the subjects for legislative
action in tue order in which they are set forth in
the proclamation, it will readily occur to the
General Assembly that it will be necessary to
make provision By law for the payment of the
com enssiion Of lis officers and members, and to
be paid To its employees, and for its ordinary and
incidental expenses.
! may venture ~ say, that with all the at.en-
ton that can be given to the subj ect the expen-
ses OF the session will exceed the autcipations
Of the members and that the only efficient check
upon expenditures will be to coEhne them
within proper limits by Il law that clearly ex-
presses the amounts to be paid to each person for
articles furnished or services rendered for the
General Assembly.
Since the late adjournment of the General AS
semb!y, my attention has been called to the ex-
istenee OF several claims for services rendered
during the session that cannot be paid under
any existing law.
1.-The compensation Of the officers of the
Executive Department; ILL., Provision for the
paynent of the ordinary and contingent expen.
ses Of the State Governments ~. The reeula-
ton Of the salaries of the judges OF the Circuit
Courts; Y. And the enactment ot laws made ne
cessiry by the amended constitutions to fix the
fees and salaries and compensation of all state,
county and township officers, and to regulate the
costs and expense. of parties in courts of justice
and before judicial and other officers-are sub
leets so Intimately connected that they may be
well considered together
l no salary Of the governor was, by the consti
tuition OF le4,, fixed at the sum of fifteen hun
dred do.la-s, and no more but at the successive
sessions OF the General Assembly, appropriations
were made OF considerable sums, TO be expended
nua.r the direction of the Governor, that were
regarded and treated as additions to his consti
tuuonal salary.
A. tho session Of 1859 the sum Of forty five
hundred dollars per annum was appropriated for
fue. and lights for the executive mansion, and to
detray the expenses of keeping the same, and the
grounds thereto attached, in repair, payable quar-
terly upon the order of the Governor. This sum
Of money has been regularly drawn by me, and
after the satisfaction of the special objects of pro-
curing lights Gnd fuel, and keeping the grounds
IN repair, as intended by the act, the excess that
Tomaiad has been treated as appropriated for my
own personal use