Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-06
Governors Address.


State, and to consecrate our best efforts to
her service. 1t is fitting that on the thresht Id
of our duties, acknowledge with devout
and reverent hearts the merciful Providence
that has vouchsafed to us, as people, 30
many blessings, and humbly implore the guild
ance OF Him whose wisdom is alone sufficient
to direct, and without whose blessing our la
bors cannot be crowned with success.
CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.
We have cause for congratulation i'll the
general prosperity of the country.
We are at peace with all nations. The
waste and devastation of the war are being
rapidly repaired. The memories of those who
tell IN defense of the country are treasured in
the grateful hearts Of the loyal people. Their
sacred dust is being watched over and protect
ed by the assduous care of the nations deep
est devotion. Their dependents, and those
who were manned or otherwise disabled, are
| receiving the pledges of the peoples mex
pressible gratitude.
| The determination of our people to allow
no reputation, but to pay honestly every
dollar of eur honest debts has been fully af-
| frmed, resulting in the establishment of
more confidence in our national securities.
and opening the way for the exchange of our
| outstanding bonds for others bearing a lower
| rate of interest. The average price of gold
| as compared with currency for the year just
closed has been twenty per cent. lower than
the previous year, and the tendency is still
downward. This indicates that, without any
financial embarrassment, we may soon touch
solid bottom financially, and be free from the
evils of deprecated and fluctuating curren-
cv. More honesty and efficiency in the col
lection of the revenues, and greater economy
in the administration of national affairs, have
enabled Congress within the last year to re-
4 Hupp ba onllantaI tl,a Ia
eighty millions of dollars annually. We are
assured that further reduction will be made,
and that soon the tax on spirits and tobacco,
with the tariff on imported luxuries, and, on
such other articles as may be necessary TO
| protect our own industries. will be sufficient
to meet ali our national obligations. Since
! March lst, 1869, the public debt has been re-
| duced at the rate Of one hundred millions an
nually, diminishing our annual interest ac-
count in twenty-five months nearly twelve
millions.
! FINANcIAL.
The report of the State Treasurer will pre-.
! sent detailed statement of the condition OF
our finances.
Our receipts during the past year have been
| 81 ,924 l64.l2 our expenditures. So 04l $40
Ga. Our public debt is SIS, ,067 10000 OF this
| debt $40, 900 becomes due the present year,
1867 100000 Of which is payable in gold or its
equivalent. To pay this we have the sinking
fund Of 1865, amounting to Sl,l7S, ,677.GI.
This will pay the debt becoming due and
leave balance of the sinking fund in the
Treasury of about S2Sl ,677.6l, The sinking
fund of 1868 amounts to S92, ,O4S 55 The
trust funds held by the State, including the
sinking funds, amount to S2,0l7 043 0S; ex-
clssive of sinking fund.- S746,3l6.92.
| The people of the State expect and will re-
I Oulrp r hands the rjni1 in
all our expenditures. Our taxes are necessa-
riiy heavy, but should be made as light as pos
sible. No heavy burden should be added
l am not unmndful OF the truth of the proyerb
that "There is, that scattereth and yet in
creaseth; and there is, that withholdeth more
than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty" Gov
ernments, like individuals, may, in the exer-
else of a wise for, cast, make liberal advances
| and thereby reap large gains, while with
| holding would tend to poverty. This is espec-
| tally true in regard to such judcuus expen-
ditures as tend to educate and elevate the
people, and increase the facilities for indus
trial and commercial prosperity. What de-
sire especially to urge is, that we should care
fully scrutinze every channel through which
the peoples money goes, reform eXcesses or
| abuses in our expenses, stop all leaks in the
| treasury, if any such there are, see that every
| appropriation is wisely applied and secures
the benefits intended, and that no useless ex-
penditures are made. With your efforts in
| this direction, pledge my earnest co-opera-
| ton.
| The reports of the State officers, including
| those of the officers of public institutions and
of the Commissioners of various State inter-
ests, will be laid before you at the earliest
practicable moment. l have only been able to
examine part of them. You are referred to
| those for Df tho onp1finn ~
and wants of the several offices and institu-
tions included therein.
| The law allows insurance companies the
month of January within which to make their
reports to the Insurance Commissioner. The
report of that officer. therefore, cannot be
made until late in the session.
| The term of one of our United States Sena-
tors will expire on the third day of March,
next. 1t will become your duty to elect his
| successor.
1t will also become your duty to make an
apportionment of the State for Senators, and
Members of the House of Representatives
and perhaps for Representatives to Congress.
MILITARY.
| The organization of the ten companies of
infantry authorized by law has been complet.
ed. These organizations will tend to keep
alive, to some extent, the military spirit of
the people, and, being largely made up of men
who have seen active service in the field they
are believed to be sufficient TO meet any ordi-
nary emergency. These companies can read
| lily be expanded into as many regiments in
case of necessity.
The report of the Adjutant General will
contain statement of the expenditures Tor
military purposes during the last year, and
the military property in the possession of the
| State.
| l call your attention especially to his sug-
gestions in regard to the preservation of the
| flags that were carried by the Maine troops
in the war, which are now exposed in the ro-
tunda of the capitol.
| These flags should be carefully preserved
as mementoes of the nations great conflict,
and as constant reminders of the terrible strug-
gle which perpetuated our National Union.
STATE PENSIONS.
The Adjutant Generals report will show
the transactions of that Office in regard to
State Pensions.
You will only give practical expression to
the wishes of your constituents by continuing
such aid to our disabled soldiers and the wild
ows and orphans of those who lost their lives
in the service, as will, with the national PEN
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