Year: 1860

The despotism of the Public Works of the
State will doubtless attract your attention.
These works are no longer self-sustaining.-
| Why this Is so, whether because of radical de.
fects in the laws relating to their management
to an unwise system of tolls-to the want Of
proper economy in their repairs, or to a DAM
aging competitor of the more improved means
Of transportation, will not now inquire.


That the question of the disposition of oul
Public Works may receive that careful atten-
tion and revision which the interest involved de-
mand, l respectfully suggest to you the passage
of a joint resolution authorizing the commission
of three gentlemen of enlarged experience and
capacity. whose special duty it shall be to make
thorough and detailed examination of the en-
tire subject, and that they report to the Govern
or, at the earliest practical period. such changes
and notifications in our canal laws, as in their
judgement are desirable TO lessen the expenses,
or to increase the income, so as at least TO make
our canals fully self-sustaining.


| If thorough experience shall demonstrate
that they cannot be made self-sustaining, con-
slant agitation must be expected of the propo-
sition to sell or lease them, so as to have the
State relieved of their support.


| suggest the Appointment of this Commission
because of my apprehension that the members
of the Legislature have not the time, nor the
means within their reach. during a session, with
SO many other demands upon their attention, TO
give TO so complicated and important a subject
that systematic, detailed and thorough investga-
ton which the interests involved seem to me
| to require.


Among the topics commanding the attention
of our sister States. and worthy of your present
consideration, is the measure of encouragement
which State should hold out to her organized
and disciplined militia. The last two General
Assemblies enacted laws and directed the prep
aration of Regulations, in order 10 perfect the
framework of the State militia organization,
and develop symmetrical and well-ordered
system, which has been 50 far realization, as to
leave little 10 be done but for you TO determine,
in your wisdom, whether the State shall endorse
that system by its direct aid.


The Reports from the proper officers show that
| through the want of such system heretofore,
the State has lost more than $780, 900 in value
of the arms received from the United States. A
proper State Arsenal, and such direct aid to the
citizen soldier, under stringent limitations, as
| would practically defray the actual expense of
keeping the arms in the manner required by
law, would, it is believed. prevent Similar sacri-
fees in the future, and be economical to the
State. 1t would, also command a small and
well disciplined force, sufficiently large to give
weight to the sanctions of law, and prove asuf-
ficient nucleus for any necessary increase.





| ted. and the counsels of the Fathers of the Re-
public mite with the concurrent action of the
majority of the State Legislature to pronounce
a well-regulated militia. which is from and of
the people, to one of the surest safeguards for
the enforcement of law, the maintenance of or
DER and The perpetuatioa of those personal
rights which are our chief reliance and dear to
every American citizen.


Every other State in the Union, except Flor
ida, has completed, or has in progress, a geolog-
ical survey of her territory; and would recon-
mend to your early consideration the compile
ton of the geological survey of this State,
which has been too long suspended. doubt
| not its importance to the agricultural and min
| ing interests of the State, and TO the advance
ment of science, will fully justify an appropri-
alton for its vigorous prosecution.


By the constitution, it is made the duty OF
the Legislative to propose such amendments of
that instrument as in its judgment the public
welfare demands.


Sufficient time has not elapsed since the
adoption Of the constitution, to determine from
lis practical workings all the notifications
which the public interests may require. Vari-
causes to which l need not specially refer, none
of them bave been approved in the manner
prescribed by the constitution. The form of the
proposition submitted at the recent election for
annual sessions oI the Legislature, in being
coupled with a condition for biennial elections,
is believed TO have prevented n fair expression
of the opinion of the people upon the question
of the expedlency of annual sessions.


/ submit the question to your consideration,
respectfully recommending an amendment of
the constitution, providing for limited annual
sessions. and annual elections.


invite your attention also to the subject of
the unequal representation in both branches of
the General Assembly, resulting from the sys-
TEN of single. dual and plural election districts,
provided by the constitution, for the purpose of
recommending to your favorable consideration
an amendment of the constitution. establishing
a uniform system of single election districts
which should be based solely upon population.
Such plan of apportionment seems to me to
be alike required by logical regard to the the
ory of our form Of government, the security of
the people at large against the undue control of
particular sections of the State, and for the Just
protection of minorities against the power of
majorities in the more populous counties.
The geographical position of our State forever
identifies her destiny with that of the great val
lev of the West Whatever may affect the
growth or prosperity of this highly favored re-
gion, must be OF interest to us. Among the OBJ
jects which have long attracted the anxious at
tention of the people of the West, and which
they justly regard as of paramount importance
to their material progress, is the improvement
of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and our Lake
| harbors


| invite your attention to this important sub.
ject, for the purporse of respectfully requesting
your earnest application to Congress- to adopt
such measures. and to make such appropriations
from the National Treasury, as will be commen-
surate with the removal OF the distractions of
the navigation of these great highways. and to
the needed improvement of these important de-
| pots of western commerce.


When we consider the magnitude of the region
directly interested in the navigation of these rlv
ers, and our western lakes, embracing terrific
rial extent of nearly 100000 square miles-a
territorial super6ces greater than the entire ex-
tent of the original thirteen States. comprising
eleven States and to territories, and parts of
three other States. with population of at least
thirteen millions, and but little less than one
half of the entire population Of the United
| States-we may less express our amazement at
the unwise and illiberaf policy of Congress, so
long and perseveringly persisted in, of refusing
the necessary aid for disarming of its dangers
| the navigation of these rivers, and for increas-
ing the safety of our lake harbors.


And our sense of this injustice is not little
heightened, when we consider. that the people
of the States directly interested in these i'm
provements, have paid largely to the Federal
Government for the soil which they occupy and
cultivate, and are now, by their consumption Of
| the foreign imports, contributing quite, if not
fully one-half, of the annual revenues of the
government, while the national expenditures
among them are comparatively trifling. We
make no complaint because of the bountiful ap.
propriations by Congress for surveys and de-
fences of the coast for the improyement of har-