The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-01-16

that in shat general sense in which all the
interests Of . people are considered, 1t
may DO correctly said our affairs are in
satisfactory condition In n moro limited,
and yet largely In a general sense, II 10
hardly so. All those products, the result
of the labor of the farmer are ranging Mt
prices scarcely rcmnnerative; tho pro-
auctions OF other branches Of industry are
| nearer the prices of moro recent years
| corresponding changes have not for some
cause affected other industries. This state
of affairs cannot last long the equilibrium
| will come, and then we shall DO on better
terms. While laws may be passed to
| facilitate commercial transactions, j do
not believe tho laws of trade are to be
materially affected by tho laws Of legisla-
lures. But IL is true when any great in
terest or enterprise is based upon and
created by legislative enactment, and owes
its origin TO such source that il can
never justly outgrow and escape from
tho restraining power and influence OF
that law. II will, however, in all cases,
| be better to harmonize conflicting inter-
ests according to the usages of trade, fair
dealing and n just regard for tho rights of
others, rather than seem to outrage and
defy one interest by another, on some as
sumed superiority of right or granted
privilege. The law never meant To give
| one interest tho right to Cypress another,
and no created or trumpcd up necessity
will ever be accepted AS nm excuse for the
imposition OF odious determinations by
one industry against another. BY our
| people il is felt to be n hardship to pay the
| present rates for the transportation of
their farm products to market, and TO sub
nit to the determinations levied upon
them. If il be true that railroads are
| charging higher rates than they are rca-
sonably entitled TO- upon freights and pas
| sengers, IL will be strange if they shall not
| speedily make them conform TO the sensi-
bic demands of trade in this respect. If
the laws of trade will not bring abou. this
| result, some other law will.
Fifty-four years have passed away since
tho admission of Illinois into the union.
We have in that time twice altered and
remodeled our constitution, so that it may
be said we have had three constitutions.
II is safe to say, taken all together, each
has been an improvement on tho one II has
| supplantcd. We now have II compact
| framework ofgovernmont, in which is en-
bodied the experience OF years, and tho
general views of majority Of our people
upon tho moro general principles of gov
ernmeEt to be found in state constitutions.
Tho last general assembly addressed itself
to the laborious duty of putting it into
complete operation, BY providing the
| necessary legislation Tor that purpose
| Experience will doubtless show that modi-
| ications of those laws will, from time to
time, become necessary. This, indeed
is the great purpose of lcgislation-to fol-
low after tho deliberations of preceding
bodies, and mend up and alter what has
boon inconsiderately acted upon repeal
| what subsequent experience shows to DO
| improper or useless modify and amend
| that which seems injudicious, rs we'll rs by
original enactment to create new laws for
| and in response to now demands, or to
meet increasing necessities of the people.
l doubt not a candid and impartial view
of the legislation Of the state would show
that the splendid progress made in the
last fifty years by our people in the sub
stantial elements of human happiness is
largely attributable to this agency.
know of no country whore the rights of
property, the safety of private interests
and the enjoyment of personal liberty are
more securely guarded than amongst our
own people by our own laws.
There are sensible principles of govern
ment which, 50 far us they affect us in our
political relation as u state, are regarded
us fixed and of constant application. All
property shall be taxed according to valu-
alton. The means to carry ON tho govern
ment shall be raised by taxation. The
revenue cannot be expended, save by ap-
preparations made by law. Laws for al
most all purposes shall be general and uni
form. Tho course of education, too, as we'll
as the fostering of charitable and benevo-
lent institutions, are now recognized rs
necessary subjects oflegislation. In regard
to these latter subjects | shall have occa-
sion TO no more than call your attention
| to the present condition of our school sys-
TEN, including, of course, our normal and
industrial schools, our established chart
table and benevolent Institutions, ~ well
as the penal and reformatory establish
ments, and TO urge upon your notice and
commend to your care the Importance of
continuing all of them rs useful means of
improving the public Intelligence, allevi-
ating the public misery and correcting
and Furnishing the violators of public law
| Especially in regard to our benevolent in
situations, would go further, indeed
| would not stop until suitable ac-
commodations shall be provided for all
who suffer from mental disease, or habits,
| in our state, who are the ceaseless objects
of pity and commiseration. BY every at
tsinablo means, | would provide for test
! ing the best methods of treatment and
cure so that no misery may DO found in
the state without the hopes of alienation.
ri would not provide costly and snowy
structures, but would, whenever necessary,
| erpcL nlain and INVITING homes Va hnru