The daily gazette., 1883-01-02

4
DOVER, DEL, Jan. 2.--Aiter the organi
zation Of the General Assembly this morn
| ing, the message Of the Governor was reaG
In both Houses, as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House o
| Representatives.; You have assembled il
these halls for the purpose Of enacting sucl
laws and adopting such measures as will In
sure TO the people whom you represent
| continuation Of good government and 1
state of continued prosperity, so far as thes,
| objects come within the scope OF political OF
civil agencies. As body, you are the sole
depositary OF the legislative body Of thu
State. Your will is supreme, only as II ID
limited or restrained by constitutions
authority. The functions OF the Executive
are mostly confined TO the faithful execution
Of the laws, and those of the Judiciary tC
the just Interpretation thereof No power
therefore is vested In either of these de-
partnehts OF government TO alter, suspend
or modify any statute, however obnoxious
to the people or destructive to the interests
of the community upon which 1t operates.
It must stand until repealed by subsequent
legislation. The exercise Of such power
carries with it degree of responsibility co
extensive with its capacity for good or evil,
and should awaken In your minds an abiding
sense OF duty commensurate with Its magni-
tude and importance, feeling which will
command attention to the dictates of public
conscience regardless of the suggestions of
local or selfish interests.
The year which has just closed, has been
one OF unusual prosperity and good feeling.
Each succeeding season, In It's flight, has
left behind It unmistable evidences Of the
goodness and mercy of the Creator to the
creature. Peace, health, social order, and
all the essentials TO human comfort and hap
piness, are the legacy Of the old to the new
year. No calamity has occurred to embitter
the enjoyment of our present abundance,
or paralyze, by Its lingering effects, the
springs Of industry and development. This
condition of things necessarily imparts
additional weight TO the responsibility incl
dent to your position, since 1t is possible
that change, or modification, may be
wrought In the public policy of the State,
which might diminish rather than enhance
the benefits of free government and bless
ings of a benign Providence.
While the people Of a progressive state or
community are constantly growing out of
and expanding beyond their former limits
and circumstances, and seeking for higher
conditions of social and individual develop
ment, which at times require legal and con-
-
cal nature should be made, now, or any
other time, In the organic or statutory laws
of the State, the necessity for which is not
approved by the most enlightened expert
ence and matured wisdom. The results of
hasty and incOnsiderate legislation seldom
justify the expectations either OF its author
or of the people.
Mindful, with you, of these considerations,
| shall proceed now to discharge the duty
enjoined upon the Executive, by the Consd
tuition, of giving such information of affairs
concerning the State, and to recommend to
your consideration such measures, as shall
deem expedient.
The finances of the State, being a subject
which relates TO the power of levying and
raising taxes and directing the appropriation
thereof of the various objects Of government,
1t Is necessary that you should be informed
Of their true condition, SO that you may
adopt such legislation as will enable the
State Treasurer to meet all demands upon
him, either present or prospective, without
the accumulation Of o large surplus in the
Treasury Of the State for any indefinite
period of time. A plethoric treasury is fire.
quently the active cause OF vicious and un-
wise legislation, In that 1t invites to the
capitol adventures, with their scenes for
public Improvement, which, In many in
stances, by their superficial merit, or plausi.
bility, excite and seize the credplity of the
public mind and thereby obtain the endorse
ment and aid of the State. 1t is needless to
say that such projects are generally attended
with failare, or do not produce the results
affirmed of them by their Jealous and untlr-
ing advocates.
The report OF the State Treasurer, which
is herewith submitted for your careful con-
sideration, shows that the finances of the
State are In healthy condition, and that the
present revenues are more than adequate to
the present necessities of government
STATE DEBT.
On the first day of January, A. D. 1881,
the total funded debt was nine hundred and
ffty-aye Thousand dollars (e955, ,O00), classi-
fed as follows
Residue of bonds issued tn
pay bounties and for vol,
unteers, which would have
matured in 1885. .s44l, 900 90
Residue of bonds loaned to
the Junction and Break
water Railroad Company,
secured by first mortgage
on said road and which
would have matured In
Bonds loaned to the Break
water and Frankfort Rail
road Company, secured
by first mortgage ON said
road, and which would
have matured in 1898 ..... 1T600O.OO
Total bonded indebtedness,
Jan /. 1881. -. ......... -----Ss47, 900. 90
Certificate OF Indebtedness
held by Delaware College
against the State, which
represents the proceeds of
the sale Of scrip or war
rants, issued to the State
by virtue of an act Of Con-
gress donating public
lends Sc, to the several
States. and Territories
&c. c...........,........:.. saOOO.OO
Amount received from
the New Castle and VIII
lninaton Railroad Com