Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-01-11
CO.
Gentlemen oNOR'S ADDREss

reseasaf'ces' mate and Hcuss oe ~, lf
| beg to prefac. "eP-f
have invited me t.
respectful and cordii0mmuntcation yoHI e
trance upon the exerdtseyau, with.my 4
trusted to you. ITO make afAt your en-: 10
reasonable laws and regulatwewer en- c
fence and benefit of the petblish' all n
state" The duty which yoR haShe de- s
legated to perform, ranks among this a
important aud responsible of the see 4
which men can render to their fellows;es, +
requires the exercise of their best faculty
requirements, and qualities, for Its WORTH
fulfilment. Custom and nearness are p)
to cause too light an esteem for the bles
ings which attend our daily life. Our ID
stant admiration is reserved for the remote
the mysterious, and the rare. 1t is by re
fection alone that we are brought to per
celye and own the wonderfulnsss, the vast
ness, and the worth of the possession
which we as human beings. and as peo
pie enjoy. The uDcounted millions wh,
have preceded us upon the earth hay,
wrought no diminution of Natures bounty
Her inexhaustble stores and tireless ener
gies are for us no less than for the eldes
born of our race. Rather, we are the ia
vored ones. endowed by birthright with IN,
transmitted wealth OF human experienc,
through the long stretch of bygone gener
ations, s,-''the garnered wisdom of thous
and years" We are the rich heirs OF al
the ages of mans thought and work. Tn,
achievements, the discoveries, and tn,
errors ot our predecessors, remain to en-
rich, to guide and to warn us. In no othe
reSaro Is our Indebtedness to them NOR,
apparent than in the laws which define the
reciprocal rights and duties OF citizens. apc
the civil state, of the individual and III,
community.
Regarded in themselves alone. the stat
utcs upon our books commend themselyes
for their intrinsic worth TO the calm appro.
val of good judgment, as the products o
sound Intelligence, right reasoning and hu
mabe sentiments. But when it is sought
to Trace ethem TO their origin and follow
them through the process of development
they become invested with an mmeasure
ably higher character aud more impres.
sive sanction.
The principles upon 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
record of noble lives. great actions. OF
"fetchedness and misery, of the exercise
OF all virtues, and the experience of all
ton or pity. Whatever great minds have
done in unfolding and adapting Them. the
good and brave have dared and endured in
their defence, and unfortunate generations
have suffered from their misappic alton
and thus led to truth by costly proof /
error.-the story of all is inscribed in inef-
faceaote characters upon the palimpsest
whereon are written the laws which consti-
tute the muniments OF our freedom, the
safeguards OF life, reputation ,aud ,ri oper-
ty.
When therefore laws so descended are
approached for the purpose OF adding to or
subtractin2 from them, or qualifying them
IN any way, the vcneratiou due them should
not be forgotten and every step should be
cautions 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 dealin. with the labors of those
who have been before him. The mis-.
chiefs resulting to the public from ncon-
siderate legislation which he Is called
upon to remedy, warn him to give a search
ing forecast to the consequences Of every
proposed change or enactment .swhich
coihes before him.H.. =. A- ~
The traditions OF these halls, and vour
character as representatives of the senti-
ments, as well as the authority OF the peo-
pie, are assurances that a conservative
spirit, yet not unfriendly TO progress, Will
direct your deliberations and manifest it.
self 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 institutions. Maine.
t9Sqmmon with the whole country. and
indeed with other countries also. has suf-
fered IRON the continued inactivity in bus
mess which has discouraged enterprise aud
compelled capital and labor in many in
stances TO utter idleness, or a prottiess
exercise. Still. the chief resource OF the
Sta her hlllSides. fields, and fertile inter-
VI has kept faith with the sower of the
seed and yielded rich harvest: some man.
dfac;urng industries and branches of bus
mess have been exempt from the prevail,
ing dullness, and there remains to all the
hope and promise of the lnear dawn of
prosperous days.
The laws have been well enforced
the state and every department
OF the government and all public institu-
tions have been efficiently and economi-
cally man aged.
THE FINANCES.
The State Treasurer will lay befor" you
a very gratifying exhibit of the cuudtion
of his department. The receipts of the
treasury for the year, amount to $780,
6o5 AZ; balance in the treasury Jan. lst,
1875, S317 ,093.S4; expenditures for the
year 1876, 81 ,293.2i7 .06; amount In treas
ury, Dee. 81, 1876, S394. 2,27.
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 so
well arranged In the Treasurer's report,
that any desired Information concerning
them may be obtained at a glance.
The public debt has been reduced the
past year by the payment of S29 900 for
bonds matured, and by the addition of
Sll4,6Sl to the sinking fund, and now, after
deducting the amount OF the sinking fund,
S79l ,293,S1, amounts to S5,l29,l07. A
portion OF the public debt, $40 500 In
amount, falls due on the 1st of February
next, and will be paid from funds In the
treasury. On the first of March, 1878.
$25 600 of the debt natures. The law of
February "A, 1875, provides for the renew
ing and extending the bonds next thereaf-
ter becoming due; 1907 900 in 1880; 1895. :
600 in 1888. and 81 $50 900 June lst, 1889.
1t is desirable, in my opinion, that ino ac-
ton be taken at the present session of the
Legislature to cary into effect the provis-
ions 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
tie new bonds can be exchanged more
probably now than year or two hence,
it is well to permit the question whether
the bonds due in 1880 shall be redeemed at
maturity, or renewed and extended, to re-
main open for consideration as long as it
can be done consistently with prudence.
The remainder Of the public debt S2.S26,-
800, due October. lst, 1889, is provided for
by the sinking fund. The Treasurer esti
mates that If no unusual appropriations be
made, and other revenues are maintained a.,
q tax OF three and one.f fourth mills on the
dollar of the present valuation, a reduction
of one half mill from the rate of the as
sessment of 1866, will yield sufficient
sum to satisfy the requirements of the state
for the current.year. ....g
ATTORNEY GENERALS DEPARTMENT.
The Maine Central. and certain other
railroad companies, have refused to pay
the State tax assessed against them, on ae.
~ oI~ Ia ~