Year: 1860

y
State, so that when, at more ad-
vanced period of life, they take part


in the direction and control of public


affairs they can do so understanding


ly, and with an intelligent regard to


the public welfare Under the Consti-


tuition the subject of education has


been almost wholly withdrawn from
you and placed in the hands of
Board specially constituted for that
purpose, leaving with you, however,
the power of revising and amending
their action. This Board have just
closed a session at which they have
made such changes in and amendments


to the School Law as they deemed ex-


pedient. In my opinion it would be


prudent for you to interfere with their
action only in case you should find
upon examination an overpowcrinG
necessity so to do.


Not only is it highly important that
the voice of our people, as expressed
through the ballot box, should be Gu
lightened and intelligent, but it is i'm


pcrativcly necessary that the utter
ings of that voice be correctly and
honestly reported. In a Government
like ours, without privileged classes,
and where the laws affect all alike,
we need not fear that a majority OF
our people will deliberately pursue
policy intended to operate injuriously
upon the public welfare, because by
so doing they would be acting con
trary to their own best interests. We
therefore feel at all times safe in sub
hitting quietly and cheerfully to the
will of the majority, fairly and con-
stitutionally expressed, confident that
if at any time, from any cause, the
people are led into error, they have
the sagacity speedily to detect and
the honesty promptly TO correct the
error. But if through fraud or vio-


lencc the ballot-box should cease to
report to us correctly the will of the
majority if corrupt and Interested
men are enabled to substitute their
will for that of the people, then the
. assurance of safety to us, derived
. from the honesty, the intelligence, and
I the interests of the people, no longer
, exists, confidence in our Government
v is lost, and we feel that we are at the
: mercy of dishonest men who seek to
| control our affairs, not to promote the
y public welfare, but their own private
y = interests. We cannot therefore guard


with too much care the sanctity anc
% purity of the ballot-box. In my opin
4 ion there is no measure SO we'll calcu
h lated to effect this object as a care
d fully prepared and well-guarded Reg
: stry Law, and respectfully recon-
! mend that measure to your considcra
h ton. 1t may be objected by some
+ that the operation of such a law would
I be burdensome to the electors. | am
n satisfied that the supposed difficulty
r in this respect is much over-estlmated
a, and even were it not, | cannot con
| ccivc that any clector who properly
is appreciates the value of the privilege
d. he enjoys, as such, will deem burden
ID some any reasonable amount of tim'
At and attention that it may be nccessa
a rv for him to bestow in order to pre-


vent his honest vote from being dc
stroycd by fraudulent one.


The institutions for the care of th


insane and for the education of thu
- mute and the blind will, doubt not


receive from you prompt and cheerful


attention and support. Established


as they have been in answer to th'


requirements Of those better feeling


of our nature which prompt us to pr,


tect the weak and succor the untortI


nate, you may rely with conlidcnc


upon the approval by the people {


all reasonable and proper efforts o


Your part to make them useful and c


ticient measures for carrying out til


noble purpose for which they wei


created.


would also recommend to your t;


vorable consideration the State Tn


vcrsity at Iowa City. 1t is based upo


a grant made by the Congress of IL


United States to this State for the su


port of such an institution, and ha


ing accepted the grant, we are boul


by proper sense of State pride, |


our own duty, properly to execute Il
: trust contidcd to us, and by the lnte


ests of education in which are involve
the best interests of the State, to re-


der the institution such an one as Wi


be honorable and useful to the State


The condition and affairs of Il


Penitentiary located at Fort Madist
- will necessarily engage your caret


and serious attention. The safety


society requires that the building
- such as will afford proper facilities


the safe confinement of those viclo


persons whose liberty is dangerous
!, the lives and property Of peaceful Al
, law-abiding citizens.


An Agricultural College was orls
4. mated at the last session of the TIE


cral Assembly, and has since been


Gated in Story County. Agrlcuitu
in will be for many years to come, as
, W. ~ has been in times past, that lntcre
-" ~, which underiies aud supports all at
,,. .r er interests in our State, and any Il
.ie .ne that can lcgitimately be given to
!, ',ss s should be given generously, and n
~" ~" grudgingly. l have not sufficient
t ,to formation touching this institution
,on enable me to make any specific su
i I gestions in regard to it, and can Oh
;,b recommend the whole matter to yo
rk careful and friendly consideration.
her The present condition and fat,
you management of the permanent sch'
pin fund of the State deserves your serio
our investigation and deliberation. l
nch der former and existing laws the fu
if has been lent to individuals, and
blic MANY cases either through the ca


lessness or dishonesty OF the Ollie.
,ere by whom it has been lent, the sect
liti- ties taken therefor have proved to
ly entirely inadequate, SO that lar
and losses 10 the funds must ensue. b.
rea- provision Of our Constitution all th'
nee losses fall upon the State, and beco
and funded debt upon which the ST
h as must forever pay the interest. Ma