Year: 1863




the duties of the Executive office with some nat
ursi misgvngs, arising from a want of that long
/ experience in public affairs which one of more
| years might have brought to the service of the
State, they nfe in some degree compensated by
a consciousness that my desire to he faithful
in this high Office is unalloyed by any less worthy
aims.


While the Executive Department has but little
power other than its designation indicates it is
! always properly held responsible for n failure to
| suggest to the Legislature measures so evidently
necessary and desirable as to insure cooperation
and success. The recent amendments to the
| Constitution have increased the term of the Gov
/ ernor's Office to four years-a period OF time
! during which great changes must of necessity
occur in the wants and resources of the State
The Legislature will hereafter convene bennlally
| only and the wants of two years instead OF one,
as heretofore, are to be anticipated and provi-
ded for at each session. The new order of things
calculated to lessen the expenses of the Gov
! ernment, and to give our legislation more perma-
nence than has ever been hitherto enioyed-in-
creases the responsibility of both the Executive
and the Legislature and makes additional
call upon their zeal and watchtulness in the con-
duct of public affairs. While | shall affect no
unbecomng distrust of the future in this con-
nection, have thought it well thus TO remind
you at the onset that these constitutional reforms
impose some abors differing from those of pre-
vious Administrations


Ny primary duty of seeing that the laws are
faithfully executed will happily be an easy one,
for amid the throes of a terrible civil war the
people of California have steadtasty maintained
their established regard for local authority
The executive officer of the Courts will not be
likely to require any aid from beyond their re-
speetiye neighberhoods in the performance of
their duties.


In view, however of our National troubles, and
of possible (let us hope not probable) foreign
complications this habitual respect for our State
laws and for the DEGREES of our Courts, will not
render it wise for us to disregard the Importance
of a well organized and disciplined militia
! The able-bodied men of the State ought certainly
! to be instructed in the use of arms and military
drill. Whether this desirable end cannot be at
tained and the efficiency Of the militia be pro-
NOTED by such notifications of the present sys-
tenn as will materially lessen the expense is
subject well worthy of consideration Our peo-
pie have in times past given but little thought to
the organization of the militia, and should re-
gret to see any check given to the growing incli-
nation to bestow upon the matter the attention
it demands. At the same time, utility rather
than a love of display should be kept in view
and economy be thereby consulted.


The financial condition of the State demands
| serious attention. and the immediate adoption of
measures which shall not only provide for neces-
airy current expenditures, but by which the float


ing debt shall be surely extinguished and our
affairs be placed upon cash basis. Whether
this is to be accomplished by an increase of the
revenues, or decrease of expenditure, or both >
or by other means have now data upon
which to base any suggestions. 1t must be ap-
parent to any one who has examined into the
public finances, that the State is paying an in
terest directly and indirectly, of two per cent
per month as minimum, a large portion of
Of the current expenditures. Until remedy
! can be found for this State of things, little hope
can be entertained of naugurating, i'll many de-
partments, reforms which seem nccessary-nay
imperative. | shall at carly day inform my
self concerning the condition of the finances,
and transmit the result to the Legislature, ac-
companied with such recommendations as may
I seem to me practical and conducive to the ends
have indicated.


1t will devolve upon me to make some appoint
ments to Office. In the discharge of this rcspon-
sible duty shall endeavor to elect men of earn
est loyalty, unquestonable integrity, and the
: requisite capacity believe that these are times
: in which men of intelligence, energy conscience
. and courage should alone be placed in positions
of trust and influence. 1t will be my aim to ap-
point such, and none others, to the few places
am charged with filing to the exclusion of fdrones
whose small talents and less energies usually
exhausted in efforts to obtain places which they
are not competent to fill. 1t would, | think,
he well if all officers not elected by the people
could be made more directly responsible than
many of them are, under existing laws, to the
power appointing them. If the Executive, or
the Legislature, or any Board of officers author
| lied to make appointments, find that confidence
has been misplaced, the unworthy recipient
| should be sub bject to removal by the power which
! appointed him. This is particularly to be de-
sired now when every mans fidelity to the right
| is undergoing the seyerest conceivable tests,
| and when tme-servers may, almost any day,
make some one of the great events of the
Con lion 10 thn Nnti EnN-ar
ment | trust that the Importance of this sub
ect will not be overlooked by the Legislature.


The veto power conferred by the Constitution
upon the Governor should be used with caution,
and only in cases where to refrain would be det-
rimental to the best interests of the State. In
considering bills which shall come to me for my
official sanction, while | should greatly regret to
differ with the legislative representatives of the
people, shall not forget that |, too, have been
intrusted with share of the responsibility in
the matter, and that cannot render good ac-
count of my stewardship, if my approval is
given to a single Act which my Judgment tells
me is inconsistent to the fundamental law, or
with the public welfare.


The pardoning power will never be exercised
by me unless ! am convinced that injustice has
been done to the person in whose behalf applica-
ton is made and where any doubt exists con-
cerning the facts, | shall act upon the presump-
tiOn that the Court and jurors before whom a
case is tried are far better capable Of determin-
ing the matter than could be upon er p0rte
statements subsequently made.


The support of penal, reformatory and beneyo-
lent institutions forms part of the burdens
which must always be borne by well regulated
communities. In this State there are in addition
to the usual public institutions Of this character
number of private charitable enterprises,
which have hitherto received material aid from
the State-the appropriations in their behalf
amounting last year to 100000. Such munif-
cent gifts in aid of suffering and helpless hui
manity would be source of pride to every good
citizen, if the State had anything to give but
appropriations so large of mere promises to pay,
while State warrants to the amount of hundreds
of thousands are selling in the market at rates