Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1879-01-08
r,., nEPU8LlCAN hiss the Iarse-t
circulation Of amy paper IN Della
~srs. A.,ysrttsers take q note OF
tAta.
the GOyernOr's Message.

Ia Governor Cochran's BIENNIAL anu last
message to the Legislature is one which
has no doubt been road with much sat
isfaction SO far as all the topics on
which he touched are concerned, and
his recommendations to the Legislature
are sound and proper. The Governor
il especially to be congratulated for the
entire absence Of any allusion what
ever to the political questions OF the
day which divid. tho people, and for
devo,ing his entire message to local
questions which effect the State.
tabulated statement of the finances |
shows that the State debt at the com !
,nepcerr.nt of his term OF Office was
tl,272, s35, and that at the closing OF
his term January LIST, 1879, it was
1858, 900. showing reduction in four
years of s3l9, S35. If the same ratio Of
reduction were continued II years
longer the whole State debt would be
wiped out. Having seen the success
which has attended the sale of four per
cent. bond, in the city Of Wilmington,
and also four and half per cent bonds
of the United States, the Governor
strongly urges the conversion OF the
outstanding six per cent. bonded debt
Vi the state into lower interest bearing
bonds III amounts to conform to the es
tinlated surplus applicable annually to
the redempt OF such bonds. This
wise recommendation would still more
speedily effect an extingnishment of
the State debt, or if not desirable to do
that. the tax on the industries Of the
State could be reduced IN proportion to
the reduction of interest. BY refer
snce to tho tabulatei statement in the
message, it will he seen that the resi-
due Of the war bonds amounts to S549,-
900, redeemable January first. 1855.
We are glad to know that the Governor
has not lessened the dignity Of the
State by asking for the appointment Of
commissioner to negotiate with the
general government to induce it to pay
the debt. Better by far when We con-
slider the motive which prompted the
debt, that Delaware should pay it off
and buy the recollection of it in the
past never to be- resurrected again
Had the debt been incurred for patriotic
purposes the general government would
have paid it off long ago, as it paid off
the war debt of the more loyal States.
Prom the message we learn that the
railroads have been more prompt than
usual in paying up the interest Oh their
bonds, also the taxes assessed upon
them, the exception being the Break
water Il Frankfort railroad, which de-
faulted its interest since January
lst, 1877, the interest now amount
ing to S23, SS6.G6, and is nearly one
eighth the mortgage due the State, and
the payment OF it is entirely hopeless
without legal process. The Governor
recommends prompt measures to be tax
en- but in the foreclosure of the mort
gage advises that the market value Of
the road as well as the interests of the
State be protected.
During the four years OF the Cover
nor's incumbency, he has only granted
two remssions and two pardons, and
he sharply raps the knuckles of those
who are too easily moved by sympathy,
and whose appeals to the Executive for
clemency on behalf of some convict are
annoying, inconsiderate, perplexing
and Unjust to conscientious Execu-
tive, and such appeals he considers as
embarrassing to the administration OF
Justice, menacing to the safeguards OF
society and derogatory to the reputa
ton of the State. In this connection
it is well known that the Governor 5
inAexible frmnes5, has caused y very
general suspicion that he is lacking IL
that sympathy which is required tc
temper mercy with justice, but no one
will doubt that the Governor wa
moved in all his actions by what h'
conceived to be his conscientious con
victions of duty.
Referring personally to the case o
Harley G. Brown convicted at the las
term of court in New Castle County o
granddaughter in placing railroad tie
across the track by which four Mel
were killed, the Governor recommend
more severe punishment than Brow
escaped with that may more etfectuall.
deter others from the commission of
like offence. In this case the Cover
nor recommends the appointment Of
commission aidel by the judiciary {
the STATE t, supply the needed Legisla
ton to secure safety Of person an
property.
Attention is called to the loosenesS {
the G1anner in which Levy court me
are allowed to draw the county apprc
priation for their respective district
and expend it without giving any 81
ourty tor the faithful and honest e,