The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-09-25
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Legislative Assembly OF the State o
Oregon, but it was not delivered un
til Thursday afternoon and too lat
to afford time for any extended re
marks.
To say that this is an able State pa
per would not do the document or it
author full justice. We regard it as
the most exhaustive Of all preceding
communications omenating from the
Executive of the State.
Section IL, Article 5, Of the State
Constitution requires the Governor
"from time to time to give to the
Legislative Assembly information
touching the condition of the State,
and recommend such measures as he
shall Judge to be expedient." This
provision Of the State Constitution
the Governor has strictly complied
with in this instance. With this
Message and the accompanying doc
uments from the several administra-
tiye'and subordinate departments be-
fore them, it is impossible but that
every member of the Legislative AS
sembly, and every citizen Of the State
who reads them cannot fail to be in
formed "of the condition Of the
State" and Of every material inter
est connected herewith.
There is a peculiarly observable
in the reading Of this, that does not
usually characterize State papers-it it
is the profound Difference to the
wisdom Of the peoples representa-
tives in which his suggestions and
recommendations are couched. 1t is
this absence of ostentation in the
Message under review, that has, no
doubt drawn from some of the press
Of the State, the remark, that the
Message YVES singularly deficient in
recommendations TO the Legislature.
The Governor seems to have kept in
view the independent character Of
the three departments of our State
governments, the Executive, Legis-
lative and Judicial, and in his Exec
utive walks has no disposition to
travel upon ground properly belong
ing to either Of the other depart
ments.
In his treatment of our State land
system his review is elaborate and
bis suggestions and recommendations
timely and appropriate. The grant
of all salt springs within the State
not to exceed twelve in number, with
six sections Of adjacent lands, is lost
10 the State without further legisla-
ion ON the part Of Congress. This
grant, for want OF proper and eff
,ient Executive action, lapsed to the
federal government on the 17th Of
December, 1868, and doubtless will
lot be renewed by Congress without
! memmorial of tho Legislature Of
his State setting forth such facts as
will warrant further extension of
he time for their selection.
In connection with our State Land
system, we find in this Message a
recommendation that Congress be
nemorialized to acknowledge the
lights OF tho State of Oregon to the
i've per cent. Of the public lands
ying within the State, disposed of
" Congress for a consideration to
he United States, not Immediately
to the State. Five per cent
" the net sales Of all public lands
ying within the borders of the State
vas granted by Congress to the
State, for the purpose of internal inn
'royements, but in The case of Sol
Iiers' bounty lands, Agricultural Col
ego land scrip from other States,
nd pertinent Indian Reservations
ave swallowed up an empire Of pub
10 lands in Oregon and no internal
fund thererom accrues
o the state under the construction of
he law comforting the grant, as now
yiyen it by the land department at
Washington.
We win, from week to week dur
ng the session of the Legislature,
efer to tho Message of the Cover
lor, with such comments and sug-
,estions as we think properly comes
within the scope Of public journalism,