The Van Buren press., 1873-01-21
Governor Baxter's Message.

The constitutional provisions defining
the duties Of the chief executive require,
among other things, that "the governor
shall, from time tv time, give to the gen.
eral assembly Information by message
concerning the condition Of the state,
and recommend such measures to Their
consideration ~ he may deea expedi
ent "
la obedience to that requirement, and
in Difference to a CUSTOM uniformly '
served by my predecessors in commu
nicsting with the legislature, | have the
honor of submitting TO yoa ne I~iIo"
ny message;
Assuming the dosiion of governor at
time and undcr circumstances marked
by SO many uhusdal, not TO say extraor
d.nsry pecul,a,itIs l. will doubtless be
sx pscteu OF me to iadicaie at least a gen
erai outline Of the p hey that will char
arterizc NY administration, especially in
rypari 10 all those great leading interests
ABOUT wh,sh the people are most con
ctIned. os Wei ~ b. teVnmncnd 10 your
consideration such measures as the ne
ce,ities OF the country may, IN my Judg-
meat, require In order to fully respond
10 thi, reasonable expectation OF the pup
lie mind, it may become necessary Tor
ne to tresspass much longer ON your IN
aulgence thsn would be warraated by the
de;ua.ds of an ordinary occasion.
1t is with emotions at profound graft
Jude to the Gtver of all good, to whose
grscious providence wears indebted Tor
all the blessings which We rs a people.
as well individuals enjoy, that | consrat-
uiste You upon The prassn! happy. peace
fUl and prosperous condition OF the STATE,
an1 the very favorable and auspieisus
circumstances under which you have as
scmbied to deliberate upon the pubiic IN
terests and for the common good We
have much. indeed, to he thankful Tor IN
the plsnteous abundance which has tllled
our barns and granaras, and crowded
our marts of trade and commerce with
the fruits OF industry and the rich stores
Il our agricultural producls; in the sue
cess which has attended the labors of our
people in all their industrial pus suits and
business enterprises IN the steady ana
advancing progress made by our rai'
roads and other internal improvements;
and, more than all, in the almost univer-
sal prevalence OF peace and social good
order within cur borders, and the exist
cAcs of friendly ralatioss aud harmonl-
Gus Intercourse among those classes and
races OF our people lately antagonized by
tue conflicts and evil passions resulting
from the demoralizing effects Of civil
war.
1t isa source Of peculiar graduation
to know that we are now begmninE to
emerge from the disasters OF oui lste in
ternecine strife, mud TO realize some Of
the blessings resulting from the moral.
social and political revolutions wrought
ont by that great struggle. The ordeal
Of reconstruction through which We have
had to pass, has been painful. though in
structive 1t WAS deemed necessary to
resort to measures apparently marsh and
severe, but perhsps AS mild and benlii-
oent as the nature Of the case would ad-
nit, in order to discipline the public
mind, and train it up 10 proper apprs-
citation Of the relative and reciprocal du
ties and obligations OF the government
and the people. and 10 I'll and prepare it
for the reception Of those new ideas OF
social order and political economy which
are hereafter TO shape and control the adj
ministration of both state and national
governments
1t is highly preditablc to the good
So Sc. political wisdom and patriotic i'm
pulses of those of our fellow citizens who
were led into the folly aud crime VI re-
bellon. to know that with but rare ex-
ceptions. they now fully acquieses in
good faith in all the results OF the war.
in respec, at least to the great issues Of
human liberty. aad that !hey chserlnlly
accept AZ fundamental principles OF free,
republican government, the wholesome
doctrine of universal freedom and tho
EQUALITY Of all men before the law. In
view of this temper and disposition OF
tue public mind. and tho undoubtcd indi
vidual sentiments OF the people. ! most
chcerrslls and cordially recommend the
adouticn hy the legislature Of the amend
mcut proposed by the last general assem-
by. shrogating the disiranchising claus
u Of the constitution 1t was the avow-
theory and declared policy OF the gensr
al government and the dominsnt political
party OF the nation, in originally impos-
ing these disabilities under the previs-
ions of the reconstruction acts OF con.
gress, only to shield the liberties and
guard the rights of the loyal people OF
the states lately in rebellion, and to pave
the way for the speodiest possible resto-
ration OF the union and the establishment
of local governments on the permanent
aud enduring basis ofloyalty, patriotism
aud equality. Hence. at very early
day in the progress OF reconstruction
the dominant political party proclaimed
it as \ doctrine OF their faith that they
favored the removal Of the disqualified
tons and restrictions imposed on the
late rebels IN the same measure as their
spirit Of loyalty would direct. "
In pursuance OF this magnanimous pol.
icy, congress At its last session passed an
act removing. with but few exceptions.
all the disabilities imposed by the XIV
amendment to the constitution, and will
no doubt, at their present or next ensu
ing session, nnish the good work thus be.
gun by making human fresdam. civil and
political equality and universal manhood
suffrage, fixed, faal and unalterable de-
erees Of the government To be In har'
| a - al, A, t,l nd SyAs