Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-01-03

Having again been called to the discharge
of the executive duties Of the State, l appear
before you, the representatives OF the people,
TO take and subscribe the oaths of ofbce; to
return my profound thanks to those who
have, for three years, honored me with their
confidence and suffrages; to renew the pledge
of my most earnest efforts to promote the
great interests Of the State, and to guard with
watchful care the rights and welfare OF the
people; and, in obedience to the constitution,
to give information of the condition OF the
State, and recommend such measures as are
deemed expedient.s
In this spirit and with these purposes,
greet you, and welcome you TO these halls,
and to the high duties and respor sibilties
with which you are charged. Mindful Of the
obligations reAiDg upon US, acknowledging
our dependence on the Divine Ruler and in
voking that wisdom that is from above, let u 4
consecrate our best energies to the service of
the State.
NAIIoSAL CoxpIIIoN.
II is proper that we should pause for mo
nent on the threshold Of our duties, and re-
call some oft the leading facts that characterize
the present highly prosperous condition of the
country. In the two questions between this
country and Great Britain involving TIE Ala
bama claims and the San Juan boundary, de-
cisions have been made confirming fully in
one case, and upon the most important points
in the other, the claims of the United States.
The amicable settlement Of these questions is
triumph of the principles of peace over those
of war in the adjustment Of international diff
ferences.
The year 1873 opens with degree Of pros.
perity in all our national interests seldom if
ever equaled 10 our history. Unusual actEi-
ty characterizes all our industrial pursuits.
Our railways, the arteries of civilization anc
commerce, are being rapidly extended into
every part of the country where there are re-
sources to be developed. They are opening
up channels of business before unknown, and
bringing to the great rnarts of trade the ,veafl.
heretofore too remote to be utilized, and Vi
talizing our entire Industrial system. The
locomotive stops not at the base Of the Rocky
Mountains, Tor the confines OF civilization.
Intent upon its great mission, ii scales the
mountains, traverses vast pIairies, rlunges
into dense forests, spreads farma, towns,
cities, schools. factories and the newspaper
press on is way, and opens up new highways
tor tie commerce Of the world.
Our agricultural. manufacturing, mining
and commercial interests were never more
prosperous. A.! the means Of water trans
portation IT command are not sufficient to
I'll tAAS az al it OdA[tS ~ tlIS
markets Of the old world. The single State
of Pennsylvania is producing more iron 81
the present time lhan England and the CONT
nent Of Europe, 1t is reported that iron has
recently been shipped TO Europe with adyan-
tage; and it is confidently predicted that
within few years, instead of importing iron
from England, we shall export large Quauti-
ties 20 that country.
Our internal taxation, made necessary bY
the war, has been reduced nearly two hund-
red and htty millions per annum; and still
we have been paying the public debt at the
rate of one hundred millions per annum.
The duties on imports have been entirely re-
moved from large portion OF The necessaries
of life, and otherwise greatly reduced. Soon
a reasonable duty upon articles Of luxury,
which ALL be chiefly paid hy the wealthy,
with such modification as the protection Of
our own lahorers demand, and the tax on
spirits and tobacco, will be sufficient for rev.
enue, and generally satisfactory to the people
Our credit has been strengthened and the
payment of our debt made absolutely certain.
so that to-day our securities are eagerly
sought for by capitalists for permanent invest
ment in this and other counties. 1t is nov
understood that the balance OF cur debt may
be funded at four and half 10 Ave per cent.
interest. All this tends to appreciate our
J CNIfSNNy anu lasttH ll!c tlIuc NileI Il ietle
basis can be reached. Our present banking
system secures a currency which, unlike the
bills of the old State banks, is equally good
in all parts OF the country; willie the hillhold-
ers are secured from the possibility Of loss hy
the msmana cement or failure of the banks.
By striking the shacklos frcm the slave,
we have removed the badge of dishOnOr which
slavery attached to labor, AMI lifted mp and
dignifed human industry.
The events and results of the recent Presi-
Dental campaign indicate greater unanimi;y
upon the leading questions of public policy
than has existed since the country was d.
vlded into political parties. The consttu-
tional amendments abolshing slavery, and
guaranteeing the rights of citizenship to all
/ persons born or naturalizedl in the United
States, including the right TO vote pledging
the faith of the country 10 pay the debt in
cured in the suppression Of the rebellion,
and pensions to disabled soldiers, and the de-
pendents of such as died in the service de-
claring illegal and void ell debts and obiiga-
tions created in aid OF the rebellion, and Civ
! ing Congress power 10 enforce these
amendments by appropriate legislation; have
| all been accepted by their former opponents
and approved by the platforms of both polili-
cal parties. Assuming that these platforms
express the sentiments Of tie men who made
them, no party now desires the revival Of
slavery or the withdrawal Of the rigAts Of
citizenship, the ballot or the privileges Of a.
ueation from those recently in servilude, and
no one questions the propriety OF providing
that our debt shall be paid, ard that no part
OF the debt created in aid of the rebellion
shall be assumed by any State or the general
government. All are in favor OF such
changes and reforms in the civil service and
other departments Of the government rs ex-
peIience shall dictate and the good of the
country require. Indeed, it is said that in
the recent Presidential canvass, many voters
heretofore republicans, were seriously puz-
zled to determine whether the democratic
party had not become, as it claimed in some
instances, more intensely and truly republican
than the republican party itself; while otheis
were so positive that such was the fact that
they deemed it their duty TO vote the demo-
cratic ticket In order to sus;an republican
principles.
The principal questions that have divided
the two great political parties being substan-
TALLY settled, we shall have time 10 devote
more of our thoughts and energies to the de-
velopment of our material and intellectual
roeourcoe opd ,ha achievement of Tho Grand