Year: 1860

of our young State, it is expected of me, in ac-
cordance with precedent, to briefly indicate the
line of policy by which | will be governed.
Nothing but examples OF the most revered
authority" induces me to comply with this ex-
pectation. 1t would be II better custom, upon
the termination of an official career, for an Off
Ger to point his constituency to his several com
pleted acts rather than in the assumption of
Office, to promise what may not be consummated.


Having due sense of inability to fully meet
public expectation in the discharge of the mani
fold duties imposed upon me, | should shrink
from their responsibility were it not for the con
lidence that, in their execution, | have no other
aim but to merit the generous faith of u free
people who have so honored me, aud, at the ex.
piraton OF two years, leave the blessings of our
Government unimpaired if not enhanced at
the same time relying with certainty upon my
motives in all public acts being received by tho
people with charity and indulgence, and my
efforts to promote the good of society being
sustained by prompt and enlightened co.opera-
tion of the other branches Of our State Govern
ment.


In q new State nothing can be so disastrous to
its permanent prosperity as n continual change
of her polity. This is strkingly true of Califor-
nia-so varied in her resources, so scattered in
her population and requiring so much caution in
framing the general system of her laws. Alter
ations in her statutes can not result in anything



absolutely demands their stability and perma-
nence. 1t is better even TO suffer for a time un-
der poorly framed laws, than to be afflicted with
continued transitions into rules and regulations
of persons and property purely experimental,
which are again TO be supplanted by new order
The large mass of the people in Republic
should always be as conversant with general laws
as those persons following their study as u pro
fession. One OF the principal reasons why our
prosperity has been retarded is owing to this
spirit of Innovation, each Legislature having al
most felt it incumbent to undo the acts of its
predecessor, thus destroying anything like sta
bilty. sincerely trust that no general law will
be interfered with unless amendments are abso-
lutely imperative, and that you will allow the
social and material interests of the State TO de-
veloplnnder existing statutes, trusting to tried
experience to justify amendments.


In our past history, morbid desire to expert
ment has given rise more than any other one
cause to the debt with which we now fluid the
State hura nod, amounting to S3,SS5.0 Com
Barred with our resources this sum may he regar
ded as small yet we look in vain for some cvi-
dence ustfying its creation, having no public
Buildings and but one charitable insttution-an
Insane Asylum-to point TO, as evidence Of its
being incurred for the States benefit The re-
ceipts of Government should always be equal to,
and, If possible without oppressive taXation
greater than, the expenditures. Schemes of pub
lie Improvement, however desirable they may
appear, should never justify variance from this
rule, which should be stern and inlleXible. Ia
king the tenth fiscal year, commencing July |,
1858. and ending June 80, 1859, as an example
the State Controllers books show our receipts to
be $l,1Si22l 10, and the expenditures to be
ST, ,l09, ll3 20, leaving surplus OF 975,0I8 50.
The receipts for the year commencing December
lG, 1858, and ending December Is, 1859, amount
to 81. 1885, 4l0 73, and the expenditures to lG0,-
929 ii, leaving surplus OF S3l,5ll so.


Curaling the expenses OF the Legislature in
every reasonable manner, by refusing to make
appropriations for objects not absolutely just,
and by dismssing all employees Of Government
not required, tho State receipts would largely
overbalance her expenditures. Though taxes
are heavy they will be borne cheeriully by the
people, struggling with all the wants incident to
the growth Of new State, if they see that the
revenue is properly expended by their officers
and representatives. In due time we shall require
a building for the unfortunate blind, rapidly
multiplying in our midst one for the deaf aud
dumb houses of reform for the young in crime,
and other institutions belonging to all we'll or
dered and humane Governments. But in all
these matters let our progress be proportional to
our population, wealth and ability.


AS a starting point there should be appropra-
ted during the present session, u small sum to
commence at an early period the erection of a



years in accordance with fixed architectural
plans. The amount so appropriated, if it meet
with your approval, should neither Increase the
taxes nor exceed the surplus in the Treasury, af
ter the payment of the State eXpenses-for your
State Capitol once permanently fixed, as it should
be, legislation for other public institutions can
then be moulded in accordance with increasing
necessities the example and experience of our
sister States proving and teaching that the public
institutions Of State should, upon the score OF
economy, if for no other reason, be concentrated
as far as Is possible, at the seat of Government
and the record Of our own brief existence show
ing the separation Of even our few public nsti-
tutiOns to be attended with unnecessary expend-
ture to the State, as well Us themselves suffering
from the want Of constant and proper super
vision.


OF all the subjects demanding legislation dur
ing the present session, no one is OF greater i'm
pOrtance than the proper disposition of your
State Prison. The views expressed upon this
question by my predecessor, in the main, agree
with my own The lessee system should bo ended
and the prison conducted under the control Of
the State. 1t is not reasonable to suppose that
the hirer of convcts would pursue any other
policy than that which will give moneyed value
to his contract. This is at once destructive Of
the very object os incarceration, to wit : punish
ment aud reform. Experience has proven the
impropriety, if not the inhumanity, OF leasing
the management and care Of those condemned
to toll and privation. aud public opinion is unaa
imous in demanding reform in this important
matter.


When the Legislature, however, on the 26th of
March, 1856, passed an Act authorizing lease
for five years Of the prisoners it was not singu
lar that this should have then seemed the most
feasible plan for the disposition of their rapidly
increasing number. A majority of our sister
States from the first compelled prisoners to con-
tribute by their labor to their own support. But
comparison of their number with ours will
show that California was, at an early period, the
land of refuge for the most hardened of all coun-
tries, and their number was so disprofertioned
20 The means OF our Government that tie State
authorities might then well sanction a system,
the continuation Of which experience has shown
to be most ruinous. The high price Of all arti-
cles Of consumption in 1856 might we'll have led
the Legislature OF that date to believe that SlO.-
600 month was not unreasonable igf The care