The daily gazette., 1875-01-06
SECOND BIENNIAL
MESSAGE
OF HIS EXCELLENC1,
"A MES PONDER, Governor,
10 the General Assembly of The
state Of Delaware.
OF HIS EXCELLENCY

Geatlenlen Of the Senate and |
House of Representatives.
The General Assembly is invest ed, by |
he Constitution, with the whole legls-
Ative power OF tho State, and the undi- !
fided responsibility OF % proper exercise
Do that power is devolved upon the two
bouses of which you arc members.
Neither the Executive nor Judicial De-
bartments Of the State Government can
3nterfere with the high functions with
which you are clothed. 1t is made the
kluty of the Governor to. give to the
Legislature information relating to pub
Ilic afiairs, and to recommend such mes-
'sures as in his Judgment will promote the
public interest, but he can aid in no
Iother way the performance OF the duty
Imposed upon you. Nor can he interpose
objections to or interfere, except by the
exercise Of the pardoning power, with
the operations Of any law which you may
enact. The Constitution does not con-
4 Ter upon him theiveto power, nor is his
approval necessary to the validity OF any
law passed by the Legislature. The only
Limitations upon the exercise OF the pow
al conferred upon the General Assembly
A are found in the Constitution OF the
State, the Constitution of the United
States, and the laws OF Congress passed
IN pursuance thereof. Chosen by your
4 Ifellow-citizens as Senators and Repre-
,;entatives, and intrusted with the re-
n sponsible duties pertaining to the posi-
/ ions you occupy, it will be, doubt not.
. your highest aim to promote. by your ac.
4 ton, as Legislators. the best interest OF
the people of the State.
Nothing has occurred since the ad-
lournment of the last session OF the
Legislature to interfere with the har-
mony and peace OF the State, or to OBJ
Z Struct the due execution OF the laws.
4 The authority Of those entrusted with
4 the administration of Justice and the en-
4 forcement Of law has been recognized
and respected, and the good order and
peace of society everywhere maintained:
Nowhere can greater security for life and
N property, or II more general observance
Of the rights of all persons, be found
than in our own State. The number OF
crimes committed by individuals is COM
paratively small. while We have been en-
3 trely exempt from those disorders wit
messed in other communities, resulting
from the combination of large numbers
u for the purpose IT resisting authority
or enforcing compliance with their own
demands. The immunity OF this state
from thess disorderly combinations Is
attributable to the peaceful character OF
our people and their attachment to the
local government under which they live,
arising. doubtless, from conviction that
it has been rendered as little burdensome
N and oppressive as possible, and has been
administered with fairness and impair
tiality to all.
The financial rsvulsion which occurred
IN ore than a year ago, and which sJ
seriously affected industry and enter
prise in many portious of the country,
did not, at the time, prove so embari1aas.
ing to the people of this State generally
las to communities more largely engaged
in manufacturing and commercial pur-
Insults. The continued depression OF busi-
mess, however, has had its effects upon
the industries and property OF the State
The prices of our agricultural products
have become, to some extent, unremuner'
~ ative, and lands, AZ u consequence, rend'
Tered less valuable. In Wilmington, and
some of our larger towns, mechanical Labor
has not found, at all times, sufficient
Employment, owing to the necessary cur
tailment of business by employers. II
Us to be hoped that whatever inconve'
nience may have been felt from the de
pression i'll monetary affairs will prove
Temporary, and that business will re
sumo its W wonted channels, and industry
of every character meet with proper re-
ward and encouragement.
N There are but few subjects of genera
Importance which | deem necessary K
recommend to your consideration. Mucl
greater inconvenience and injury resul
from hasty and unnecessary legislation
than from any failure on the part Of th'
Goneral Assembly to enact all necessar.
and proper laws.
The publication of the Revised Sta
tutcs, as amended, since the last session
pf the Legislature, together with sucl
laws Of IL public character as have beel
passed since the revision of the laws il
n 1852, should suggest hesitation in altera
tons OF the laws embodied in the pres
ent Code. Repeated changes in the sta
tute law Of the State is attended wit
inconvenience to the people and some
times with embarrassment to the admin
lstration of justice by the courts. Law
with which the people are familiar ar
much easier observed, and always com
mand higher degree of respect tina
b& such as are new and to which they ar
unaccustomed. therefore respectful
suggest to the Legislature the propriet
Of refraining from amending the exis
SIX ing laws OF the State except where expt
M rience has shown that amendments al
necessary and proper.
PREPARATION OF STATUTES.
la this connection I may be allowed I
suggest that too, much care cannot
exercised IN the preparation OF the Law
which the Legislature may zee proper
enact. Not unfrequently Acts Of Asssn
bly, are passed which are in conflict wi
the Constitution Of the State, and whie
lead to expensive litigation that migl
be avoided by proper care in the prep
ration Of the enactment,
Sometimes Acts Of Assembly are couc
ed in ambiguous language, suscsptib
df different constructions, perplexil
even to the legal profession and requi
ing the authoritative Interpretation
III t he courts to settle definitely their tri
import and meaning. The object al
intent OF eyery statute should be re
dered as obvious as possible to every
telligent mind, and should be 80 oleaI
expressod as to preclude the possibili
of misintorpretation by public Office
and others whose duty may be regulat
X thereby. o.. --.--.,
These suggestions are alike applical
to amendments which may be made
existing laws and to original statuta