Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-01-09
Governors Address.

Representatives,:
BEG 10 preface the communication
YOU have invited me to make to you, with
my respectful and cordial greetings al
your enlrarce upon the exercise oil the
power entrusted to you, Ito make ana
establish all reasonable laws aud regu
la,ions Tor the deleucs aud benefit OF the
peonle Of this stale" The duty which
Won have been delegated TO perform
ranks among the most important and res
ponsio,e OF the services which men can
render to their fellows, and requires the
exercise OF their best faculties, acquire
meriS, and qualities, for its worthy iul-
/ 6lmeuts Custom and nearDess are apt
TO cause TOO light an esteem for the bless
inqs which attend our daily lie. oar
instant admiration Is reserved Tor the re-
mole. The mysterious, and the rare. IL
| is by reflection alone that we are brought
10 perceive and own the wonderiuness,
the vss,ness, aud the worth OF the pos
| sessions which we rs human beings, and
Is people erioy. The uncourted mi
/ lions who have preceded Us upon the
| earth have wrought no dminuiiOn OF Ma
lures bounty. Her ine1hsusliole stores
and tireless energies are for Us no less
/ than loI the eldest boIn ot our race
| Rather, We are the favored ones, endowed
\ by birihright with the transmitted wealth
/ of human experience through the long
I stretch OF bvgone generations, -"the gar
uercd wisdom ct q 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 pre-
/ dtceSsorS. remain 10 enrich, TO guide and
| 10 warn US In no other regard Is our
indebtedness 10 them more apparent than
IN the laws which define the reciprocal
rights aud duties of citizens and the civil
state. of the individual and the commun-
lily.
| Regarded in themselves alone. the sta
Iules upon our books commend them
selves Tor their intrinsic worth to the calm
approval OF good Judgment, as thu pro-
duets OF sound Intelligence. right reason
/ ing and humane sentiments. But when
| Il is sought 10 trace them 10 their origin
and follow them through the process OF
/ development they become invested with
Al imm easurabiy higher character and
\ more impressive sanction.
| The principle upon which they rest had
/ their rise q other lands, In tho morning
twilight beyond oar ancestral ANAL.
| The history OF the growth Oi those PRIV
| cip!eS Il a record OF noble lives, great
/ actions, of wrelCEedneSs and misery, OF
/ The exercise OF all virtues, and The eN-
perience OF al, forms Of vicisSiJude ttal
move TO admiration or pity. Nhateve!
/ great minds have done ia usto'ding aud
adapting them. the good and brave have
/ dared and endure IN their defence. and
unfortunate generations have suffered
I tlom their msapplicaii1n, aid thus led
TO truth by cosby proof OF error, the
story of al Is Inscribed in ineliaceab!e
! characters upon the pa impssst whereon
are written the laws vhich constitute the
munimCn;s Of our freedom, the safe
/ guards o, lite, reputation and property.
| When therefore laws 80 descended are
approached tor The purpose OF adding 10
or su5IsCu z irom them, or qualifying
/ them 10 any WY. the veneration due them
| should not be forgotten, aud every step
/ should be cautious and deliberate. Ii the
| legislator vi to-day hopes that his oyn
! careful work may be preserved in the
/ future from hssly and reckless hands. lei
him well weigh bis action in dealing wiki
| The labOrS OF those who have been before
| him. The misChieis resulting 10 the
/ pub ic from inconsideyate legislation"
which he j., called upon 10 remedy, ware
| him &c give Seaicaiug forecast 10 the
| consequences OF every propoSei change
| or enactment which comes before him.
| TIE traditions OF these halls, aud our
| character a. representatives OF the scntl-
meuts IS wen Is The authority oiIhe p3o-
/ pie, are assurances tha, . cons eryatlve
| spirit, vet no, unlriendly 10 progress, will
direct your deliberations and manifest it.
self 10 your acts.
The past year has not been distinguish
ed by any extraordinary events or unex-
| pected conditions specially affecting the
interests of the people OF the Safe or the
conduct OF its government and ins.itu-
/ lions. Maine. in common w;th the whole
| country and indeed wiki ether countries
/ also, has suffered from the continued it.
| activity in business which has dscour-
| aged enterprise and compelled capital
| aud labor IN many instances 10 utter
| idienesS, or proiitless exercise. S,ll
/ the chief r. source OF The S.a,e-her hill
sides, fields, and fertile interyales-hss
| Kept faith with the sower OF the seed and
yielded rich harvest; some manuiaetur-
/ ing indusirie. and branches of business
have been eXemp, from the prevailing
| dullness. and there remains TO all the
hope and promise OF prosperous days.
/ The laws have been well enforced
! throughout the State and every depart
ment OF the government, and all public
institutions have been efficiently and eco
nomically managed.
TIE FINANCES.
The State Treasurer will lay before
yOu q very gratifying exhibit OF the con-
dition OF his department. The receipts
of the treasury tor the year, amount 10
$3.50, 60j 10; balance in the treasury
Jan. lst. 1876. S377 .O93.Si; expenditures
tor the year 1876. 81 29S 2,7 90; amount
10 treasury, Dec. 81, 1876, 1891. 42j y.
IL Is unnecessary TO enter here upon
the details OF the ordinary business OF
the treasury. They require no comment
and are so clearly and Iuily set forth, and
so well arranged in the Treasurer's re
port. that any desired Information con-
corning them may be obtained at a
glance.
The public debt has been reduced the
past year bY the payment OF $50 900 tor
bonds matured, and by the addition of
Sll4,6Sl 10 the sinking fund, and now,
alter deducting the amount of the sink
ing fund, S79l, 293 Sl,amouuts TO -. l29-
lC1. A portion OF the public debt, $40
500 in amount, falls due on the lst OF
February next, and will be paid from