Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-01-07
MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR PONDER.
34F y -

- The meeting of the General Assembly is deem
edan appropriate occasion for the Governor, in
obedience TO the requirement of the Constitution,
10 give TO the two Houses such Information as he
may possess concerning public affairs and of re-
commencing to their consideration such measures
as he shall judge expedient.
IN entering upon the discharge OF this duty,
should neither meet your expectation nor fulfill a
recognized obligation If failed to acknowledge
that benign Providence which has preserved the
general health of the people of the State and per
mtted no serious calamity to mar their happiness
ana prosperity While industry in our State may
not have been IS richly rewarded as in some sec
tions OF the country, we have, as people, been
blessed with plenty, and exempt from the Ills at
tendant upon unrequltted toll Lawlessness and
insubordinatiOn nowhere exist in our borders in
their aggravated forms, but peace and order eve
ryWhere prevail rendering easy the due execution
of the law by the constituted authorities and
eVinelng the cOntentment and happiness of the
people of the State. "@
The proper administration of public Justice, and
the faithful execution of the laws of the State
essential to the well being of society and tend to
strengthen the attachments uf the people to the
government under which they live. i ann happy
to bear my testimony to the fidelity of those en-
trusted with this important duty. Justice is no
where better administered than in our own State
The criminal laws are impartially executed, and
the punishment of crime rendered certain. As
consequence the property and lives of our citi-
EenS have been comparatively secure, and the
welfare and safety of the community assured.
STATE DEBT AND FINANCES.
At the close of the late civil war we found our.
selves, In common with most of the States Of the
Union, burdened with a large State debt, created
q f0rthe most part, 10 meet the demands made up
OnOdr citizens by the general government.
Prior to the necessity which led to the creation
Of our preaent debt, the people OF no Stnte enjoy
ed greater immunity from the burdens of govern
ment The ordinary revenues had proved sutii
cient for the economical administration OF th'
State gOyernment and our people had not beer
called npOn 70 contribute anything 70 its support
with the exception of the small amount paid fo
special privileges, secured by licenses granted by
the State. We enjoyed the protection and shared
the benefits conferred by our local government
without being compelled to respond 70 a singh
+ eEaetlon for Its maintenance; and but for the wa
and the exlgencies which it created, such undoubt
edly would have been our condition to-day
When, however, the bad passions ~ extrem
men, north and south, enlnlinated Ia strife, thl
State, In common with others, had to share Il
some Of its attendant evils. Among these, an
perhaps the most grievous and affecting, was tn
cOhscriptlOn by drafts OF many OF our citizens II
to the military service.
II II Unnecessary to speak OF the multiplieatio
of these drafts, or the partiality aud uniairnes
with which they were conducted. They are sti
ViVIdly remembered, not only for the coTuptio
and inhumAnlty they revealed, but the alarm an
trepidatiOn they inspired Under their operato
ouT citizens were liable to be- taken from the
homes and families In opposition to their oW
willis and against their protests, and forced inI
the service to engage and possibly fall in COZ
dict they had no hand in creating Soma Of Il
persons thus liable to draft were the heads OF fan
lilies dependent upon their daily toll for supper
~ Others were young men, tho soas Of aged p
rents, who looked 70 them Tor proteclloh al
~ maintenance. Many were in indigent ciFcuI
NJ stances and unable TO raise the means to exem
~ themselves by commutation or procure subs
.ftntes and their only hops OF escape tfom militia
service was In appeals TO their felloW-cltizens I
aid Private charity responded to these appea
with lIberality honorable to humanity, but W
A. tr,Na antnfT
= - ii6 soRtiment uf the State demanded that re
should be granted by the Legislature.
'' The General Assembly, IN obedience. TO
known WIshas Of large majority Of the peof
,1f the 9kate, from time to time, enacted la
authorizing the issue of bonds to aid persons tn
drafted into the military service. Under q
authority Of theSe laws and In strict complain
with their PROVISIONS ponds 10 the Allount oi ~ y
~ Tnillion one hundred and ten thousand dolla
were issned and sold. This was the origin OF 0
nV,bIie dsbt. 1t vas not created for the purpo
Z 6fadvanelng priVate interest," but Tor the genel
welfare Of the pc ,ple OF the STATE anu chaneng
10Th In the object proposed and the results
complished by its creation, the approval and
mirHtiOR Of every good citizen OF the state II
our indebl odneas been the cDntriSanee OF desig
inc men to enrich themselves, instead OF mol
trIbute 10 the claims of humanity, IL might a
30 hKould have been felt a. an oppressive burden
Rnt such was not the case. The aid which it
forded enabled our fellow citizens to escape
demoFallzlng influences Of the military camp, a
donhtleSS preserved the lives Of many for fGtI
Tssfslneas' 10 their families and to the State.
Both In its objects and results the action OF
IeVisIatnre In the creation of the state debt
more than iustlhed, and but few can be found
ouealinn IA Wisdom aud none 20 doubt tne tal
8aF appllcaiion OF the fund to the purposes
which it was appropriated. While m ms
States OF the Union large Indebtedness pas 2.
Incurred 10 advance individual and local IN
est Of QuaAtionAblo ehaRaeter, not dollar OF
daht Was wasted inuseleas enterprises or e1pen'
for improper purposes. :.
u have fafaIred 70 the issue Of bonds tOr
: purpose of aiding drafted persons - the orr
Of our debt, becanss / would be manifestly
proper 10 regard the bonds loaned TO the ID
ware Railroad Company and guaranteed by
' Philadalnhia, Wilmington and Baltimore kailr
sA6,ompany - forming any part Of the indeb
DeFs ~ the State. The payment Of the int
ana pF;neipal OF the bonds last named ls am
1roviaed Dlor By that company, and they WI
"a probable event have 70 be prov ded for By
RtAfe s. EMtff Ii f
Nor can The loan 70 the Junction and BF
- ,vafer RaIlrOad Company, and aecafed By
j sas ir1oftrare upon, the entire road, Be- prop
tti1p viewSd a forming any part of the debs IN
eiaod fbr. The lntepoat on The honW apq'
.f.ls ih-f eorsnany, u b true, must be paid by
t.tt 49, Irsnonrer, bus the company hoe tApa
a9 SS6 IA Il 10 be hoped win continue, 20 naeet
inierelt on The mOrigage, ana thus furnish
meanS 70 pay ne Interest On the lean VIII
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