Year: 1860

their interest should be my first care. The next legislature will be one of the most i'm portant that ever assembled in this State. Upon it will devolve the determination of questions which will effect your interest for wears to come. Public attention, through the press and otherwise, has been directed to the necessity of devising a system of internal im- provements which shall successfully develop the vast resources of the State.

 The propriety of giving State aid to such enterprises will be among the prominent ques- tions claiming the attention of your next leg isature. In regard to this it is hardly neces-' sary for me to assure you that am an internal improvement man. I am in favor of such system of internal improvements that Will extend it's blessings to every portion of the State and am willing, whenever the State is in condition to justify such a course, to give State aid to all the great railroad enterprises of the State. must say, however, that l do not deem it good policy for the State to enter upon sach a system until the heavy indebted jness now hanging over her can be liquidated.

  priated to such purposes. It would be bad policy to resort to direct taxation to build roads with, and our financial embarrassma mt would prevent the negotiation of State bonds except at ruinous discount Hence, in my opinion, the first care of the State shsuld be the extinguishment of her bank debts, which are hanging like nightmare upon us; cripling our energies, retarding our progress, and pre- venting the early development of the resources of our State. When these debts are liquidated we can enter upon a system of internal im- provements which will, at no distant day, place our State among the first of the con federacy.

 To recur again to the subject of internal improvement, 1 will further remark that the great benefits arising from the construction of railroads, enhancing as they do the value of almost every species of property, and are pro- motive of the progress of every section through which they pass, deem it proper to say that whenever any portion of my fellow citizens desire charter for the construction of any work of internal improvement, without refer ence to locality, l will vote to grant it. If elected, will favor a judicious reduction of taxes. The present rate of taxation was es- tablished when the amount of taxable property was much less shan it now is. The report of your State officials shows that your present revenue law accumulates more money than is necessary for the administration of the gov ernment. deem it good policy not to levy tax higher than would be necessary for the economical administration of the government. | find there is much dissatisfaction mani fested with regard to your common school fund. In discharge of my duty as legislator, should I be honored with your suffrages, it will be most agreeable duty to favor such legislation as will promote the diffusion of education. l will endeavor to procure such a modifcNtion of your present school law as will make it more efficient. Our present school fund, though small, would do much good if it could be made available.

 | Twill favor raising the magistrates jurisdic tion to at least three hundred dollars. such a policy would facilitate the collection of debts, and by increasing the profits of the office would invite men of competency to it.

 In regard to the listing and collecting of taxes, think they should be separate and not vested in the same person. The present sys- tenn of devolvng both those duties upon the same officer, opens wide avenue for pecula- tion and fraud, Experience has shown that too many safeguards cannot be thrown around the collection and disbursement of our public revenue. It would be a good plan to impose the listing of taxes upon the magistrates of l the differ ent townships. Two advantages would result from 1.-the general acquaint- 1 ance of the magistrate throughout the town 1 ship would secure the listing of all the taxa | ble property, and consequently increase the revenue, and also would have tendency to bring more competency into that office. Under your present road laws, the County Court of each county has the right, provided a majority of the taxable inhabitants residing therein petition to that effect to levy road tax upon all property made taxable by the laws of the State, not exceeding the amount of the State tax in any one year.

 will endeavor to procure such modiGca- VANh oA SAC ldW dS VIII GHdDlG tue NOuHLV Court to refer this question to the inhabitants of each township, and limit the taxation to the lands of both residents and non-residents. Under the present law the County Court can not tax single township without taxing the whole county. It would be better to let each township determine for itself

 It is known to you that an immense amount of the very best lands of the State have been held out of market for years on account of the railroad grants. The settlement and pros- perity of the State has been seriously retarded on account of it. A tide of emigration is every day passing us to find homes in other States; which if these lands were only in market would settle in our midst. It will be years before the State recovers from the dis astrous effects of these grants. In answer to numerous inquiries upon this subject I have only to say, that if system of legislation can be devised which will bring the lands speedily into market, and work no injury to the railroads, will give my hearty support.

 In conclusion, it is needless for me to assure you that have never immodestly obtruded my