Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-05
GOVERNORS ADDRESS.

tatiresi
| beg to preface the communication You have
invited me TO make to you, with my respectful and
cordial greeting at your entrance upon the exer-
else OF the power entrusted TO you, "to make and
establish all reasonable laws and regulations fer
the defence and benefit ofthe people Of this State"
The duty which you have been delegated
to perform, ranks among the most important and
responsible of the services which men can render
to their fellows, and requires the exercise of their
best faculties requirements, and qualities, for its
worthy fulflment Custom and nearness are apt
to cause too light an esteem for the blessings
which attend our daily life. Our instant sdmira-
tion is reserved for the remote, the mysterious,
and the rare 1t is By reflection alone that we are
brought to perceive and own the wonderfulness,
the vastness, and the worth of the possessions
which we as human beings, and as a people, en-
JOY. The uncounted millions who have preceded
us upon the earth have wrought no diminuton Of
Natures bounty. Her inexhaustble stores and
tireess energies are for US no less than for the
eldest born of our race. Rather, we are the ia
vored ones, endowed by birthright with the trans
mitted wealth of human experience through the
long stretch OF bygone generations, the garnered
wisdom of thousand years" We are the rich
heirs of all the ages of mans thought and work
The achievements, the discoveries, and the errors
Of our predecessors, remain to enrich TO guide and
to warn us. In no other regard is our indebted
ness to them more apparent than in the sNys
which define the reciprocal rights and duties Of
civil stdle, oil the individual and
the community.
Regarded in themselves alone, the statutes
upon our books commend themselves for their
intrinsic worth to the calm approval Of good
judgment, as the products Of sound intelli-
geLcc, rght reasoning and humane sentiments
But when II Is sought to trace them to their
origin and follow them through the process Of de-
velopment they become invested with an i'm
measureably higher character and more i'm
pressive sanction.
The principles uron which they rest had
their rise in other lands, in the morning
twilight beyond our ancestral annals. The
history Of The growth Of those principles is
a record Of noble lives great actions, of wretch
edness and misery, Of the exercise of all virtues
and the experience of all forms of vcissitude
that move to admiration or pity. Whatever
great minds have done in unfolding and adapting
them, the good and brave have dared and endur-
ed in their defence, and unfortunate generations
have suffered from their misapplication, and thus
led to truth by costly proof OF error-the story of
all is inscribed in inefaceable characters upon the
palimpsest whereon are written the laws which
constitute the muniments Of our freedom the safe
guards of life, reputation and property.
When therefore laws SO descended are approach
ed for the purpose of adding to or substractpg
from them, or qualifying them in any way the
veneratlon due them should not be forgotten md
every step should be cautious and deliberate
If the legislator of to-day hopes that his own
careful work may be preserved in the future from
hasty and reckless hands, let him well weigh his
action in dealing with the labors of those who
have been before him. The mischiefs resulting
to the public from inconsiderate legislation. :"
which he is called upon to remedy, warn him to
give searching forecast TO the consequences of
every proposed change OF enactment which comes
before him.
The traditions of these halls, and your charac-
ter as representatives of the sentiments as well as
the authority of the people, are assurances that
conservative spirit, yet not unfierdy to progress
will direct your Deliberations and manifest itself
in your acts.
The past year has not been distinguished by any
extraordinary events or unexpected conditions
specially affecting the interests Of the people of the
State or the conduct OF its government and nstitu-
uons. Maine, in common with the whole country
and indeed with other countries also, has suffer-
ed from the continued inactivity in business which
has discouraged enterprise and compelled capital
and labor IN many instances to utter idleness, or
a proftless exercise. Still, the chief resource of
the Stateher hillsides, fields and fertile intervals
has kept faith with the sower of the seed and
yielded rich harvests; some manufacturing indus
tries and bi anches of business have been EXEMPT
from the prevailing dullness, and there remains TO
all the hope and promise of the dawn OF pros
porous days.
The laws have been we'll enforced throughout
the State and every department of the govern
mcnt, and all public institutions have been eti-
ciently and economically managed.
THE FINANCES.
The State Treasurer will lay before YOU yery
gratifying exhibit of the condition of his deparf-
ment, The receipts of the treasury for the wear
amount to Sl.3l0 605.49; balance in the treas
ury January lst, 1876, s317 093Si expenditures
for the year 1876, 81 293 III 06 amount In treasury
Dec. 81, 1876 1894 ,42227.
1t is unnecessary to enter here upon the details
of the ordinary business of the treasury. They
require no comment and are so clearly and fully
set forth, and well arranged in the Treasurer 5
report that any desired information concerning
them NAV be obtained at a glance.
The public debt has been reduced the past wear
by the payment of 500 900 for bonds matured, and
by the addition of Sll4,6Sl to the sinking fund,
and now, after deducting the amonnt of the sink
ing fund, S79l 293 81, amounts to 81, ,l29 l07. A
portion of the public debt, S46, 800 in amount,
falls due on the lst of February next and will be
paid from funds in the treasury. On the first of
March 1873 $4,000 of the debt natures. The
law of February "A, 1872 provides for the renew
ing and extending the bonds next thereafter be-
coming due; S307 ,0O0 in 1880; $685., 600 in 1888
and s., $50, 900, June lst 1889 Ii is desirable. in
my inion that no action be taken at the present
session of the Legislature to carry into effect the
provisions of that law in respect to the issue of
the new bonds to be substituted for the old
Since there is no reason for believing that the
new bonds can be exchanged more proftably new
than year or two hence, il is well to permit the
question whether the bonds due in 1880 shall be
redeemed at maturity, or enewed and extended
TO remain open for consideration long as it can
be done consistently with prudence. The re-
mainder Of the public debt 81 500 900, due Octo-
ber lst, 1889, is provided for by the sinking fund
The Treasurer estimates that If no unusual appro-
priatons be made, and other revenues are main
tanned, tax Of three and one fourth mills on the
dollar of the present valuation. reduction of one
half mill from the rate of the assessment of
1876, will yield sufficient sum to satisfy the re-
quirements of the State for the current year.
ATTORNEY GENERALS DEPARTMENT.
The Maine Central, and certain other railroad
companies, have refused to pay the State tax
assessed against them on account of a clause in
their charters, which, it is alleged exempts them
from taxation A stockhodcr of the Maine Gem
tral Company procured temporary Injunction
against the State Treasurer from the United States
Circuit Court. and a hearing in regard to perma-
nent injunction was to be had IN that court in
April last. 1t was deemed for the interest. and
for the honor of the State well that the validity
of the tax should be first tested before the State
court, and accordingly the Attorney General sue
ceeded owing to the spirit of frankness and cour-
tesy in which he was met by the counsel for the
company, in causing suspension of the hearing
before the circuit court and in bringing the case
upon lis merits before the Supreme Judicial Court
OF the State, where 1t was argued at the Law
Term in July last.
1t is expected that the decision of the court will
soon be rendefed. If it shall be favorable to the
State there is reason TO believe that the case will
not be farther contested, and that the delinquent