The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-01-13
The Gorernor,s messaro.
The following synopsis Of the Message
copied from the Baltimore Suns

The farewell message Of Governor Bowie
is a document Of considerable len .th, treat
ing OF a large number Of subjects Of public
interest. Following the customary recog
milton Of the temporal blessings for which
onr State and people have cause to be thank
full, we haye.an exhibit OF the financial con,
dition Of the State, which is represented to
be very satisfactory" During the last
fiscal year n reduction Of the State debt
was effected to the extent OF 5 ! i,O73.2I.
This was accomplished by disposing Of
stock owned by the State ia the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. on which a profit was
realized Of SIT ,60l above its par value.
The actual debt oftho State. bearing inter.
est, on the S0th day Of September, 1871, is
put down at sig, 1876, us So. The produc
tive assets OF the State are computed at
S7,7lS, 1854, and the unproductiye assets
chiefly bonds, stock, &c, of the Chesa
peake and Ohio Canal, at so, 81, 100. SO.
ihis last investment, after having been
looked upon for nearly quarter OF cen
tury as almost worthless, the Governor
predicts can be made in the course of the
next eleven years to yield the State year
ly revenue Of half million ofdalla.s, when
it will no longer be classed emon, the
unproductiye assets His evpectation
of this result thS Governor bases upon a
continuance Of the policy in the manage,
ment OF the canal adopted by the present
board ofpublic works. In another portion
Of the message, devoted specially to a dis
cussion Of the affairs Of the canal, the Gov
eruor refers with peculiar pride and
pleasure to the results already accom-
phshed as complete yindicatinn of the
policy IN question against the criticisms of
personal and political opponents. In ref
erence 10 the Stale finances generally, the
Governor recommends FIRST, a continuance
OF the retirement Of the public debt; see.
ondly, stringent measures against the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad COMPANY to com.
pei the payment Of the MONEYS already de.
clded by the courts to be due from the com
pany TO the State, and amounting, the GOV.
ernor says. to nearly million Of dollars :
third, the cancellation of portion of the
sinking fund debt aud lastly, greater e.
economy in legislative appropriations. Tne
passage Of law is also recommended 10
compel more prompt settlement Of thei?
liabilities by Incorporated institutions and
accounting officers.
The cause Of pnblic education and the
school system Is commended to the atten
ton OF the Legislature, with the suggestion
that the whole subject should undergo care.
tll scrutiny and revision In particular
the Governor advises the establishment of
high schools, as o connecting link between
the common schools aud colleges. in every
county, or at least in one of the two ali
joining counties, aud more generous pro
vision FOR the support Of the colorel
schools. The school taxes paid by the
colored people themselves, he Justly ob
serves, amount to SO small sum az to be
practically worthless for the purpose,
while the best interests Of the State, with
the marked good behavior of this class of
our population, :" dictate that the opportu
nity OF at least a rulimental education
should be afforded them" The message
further advises a discontinuance OF the mol.
ley OF making donations oat of the State
treasury to private and scclarian nstitu.
tons.
Upon the immigration question, which
he recognizes ns Of the highest import ,nca
to the agricultural interests Of the State.
the Governor declines to endorse the ap.
peal Of the State convention held some
time since in Baltimore, for an appropria.
ton Of S2D000J from the State treasury to
promote the purpose Of immigration, bat
thinks that far smaller sum might be nrof,
itahly expended in diTusing information,
under proper authority, in regard To the
peculiar aud exceptional attractions which
Maryland offers to settlers.
The Legislature is urged to talo steps to
settle the disputed boundary question ION
the Eastern Shore) between MARYLAND and
Virginia. The possible dangers which may
arise from leaving the question in an unset
tied state are pointed out, and becoming
recognition is made of the spirit of comfy
exhibited By the Virginia authorities upon
the subject
Two topics in connection with the peni.
teHtiary and the treatment Of criminals are
discussed, viz The abuse Of the pnrdo1
ing power and the necessity Of regulating
the subject of prison labor 80 M not to
come into competition with the labor inter
ests generally. This last object, the Gov.
ernor thinks, can be effected By prohibiting
the manufacture of any article gs a SOerilvy
in the penitentiary which is made to any
extent by our citizens, and that as many
branches Of manufacture az possible be eS
tablished in the penitentia-y, and that con.
yicts confined for minor oiTenses be EN-
ployed. under proper supervision, as chain
gangs, to work the county roads. Asaux.
Hilary to this last plan the message recon.
mends that the code be 20 amended AS to
substitute labor In the road. gang for i'm.
prlsonment IN Jail for petty Otfsnses. The
Governor defends himself from the charge
of having abusel the executive preror,tiy,
OF clemcncy. but strongly recommends the
passage of an act authorizing the abrllg..
ment of the length Of prison sentence, in
case Of good behavior, and leaving the AID
plcation Of the act in the hands Of the war.
den and directors.
Considerable space is given to the sub
Ject OF the pending controversies between
the State and the Baltimore AMI Ohio rail
road. The progress made in the suits al.
ready instituted under the authority and By
direction Of the lie .:slature, and the sue
cessiul termination Of some of them in IA
vor Of the State, 50 fur as the State trlbn
mails are concerned, are detailed the luty
OF providing for the compensation of the
distinguished counsel engaged is suggested.
and resort 10 sharp and decisive measure,
against the road, in case OF further drlin
quency, is strongly urged. lie insists tllqt.
Ia justice to other taxpaying interests in
the State, the company should not be re
lievei from the paymele Of the ''bonus''
without tha passage of law ut the same
time sublee,ing all its property to taxation.
lie argues in favor Of the right Of the Leg
lslature to repeal the exemption from tax.
alton now enjoyed by the company. and
ngainst the policy Of such exemptions In
general. He quotes largely in support Of
bis views from his message Of 1870 and also
from ex-Attorney General Jones, and in
reference to the money already decided
BY the Court of Appeals to be due from
the company to the State, he urges that il
payment be further objected to or DELAYED
proceedings be Instituted by writ of seirs
tdeldS to vacate the charter Of the company.
The Governor further complains Of the
neglect of the company, in common with
most Of the Incorporated institutions of tho