Year: 1863

]
so improved and enlarged, as to be fully adequate
| to the wants of the unfortunate class for whom
| it is intended, thus permanently disposng of the
proposition heretofore frequently agtated, for a
branch Asylum in some other portion of the
State.


The reformation of juvenile offenders has be-
come an established portion of the labor and ex-
pense Of good and wise Governments in the older
States and in Europe 1t seems that but few
offenders have been sent to our State Reform
School. From this it would appear either that
there are very few boys in the State outside of
San Francisco, requiring the discipline of such q
school, or very few men who attend TO the duty
of sending them there. The subject is one that
is everywhere else deemed worthy of more con-
sideration that it has thus far received in Cali
| fornia.


The State has, with commendable lberality
provided for the care of the deaf, dumb and
blind. An appropriation Of $4,000 for the
completion of the asylum buildings, was sub
mitted to vote of the people at the late election
| and the proposition was indorsed by the popular
vote It may well be questioned whether so
large an amount is necessary to provide adequate
accommodations for this unfortunate class, and
| it is to be hoped that the Commissioners in
/ whose charge this matter is, will keep III view
the embarrassed condition Of the State, and eX-
pend only so much of the fund as may be alb
solutely necessary


! Special legislation has been crying evil in
| this State. A large proportion of each session


Of the Legislature has been consumed in listen
| ing to the advocates of relief bills, bills grant


ing franchises and other special privileges, and
| bills even to advance the personal interests of
criminals, litigants in civil cases, and the ad-
minstrators of the estates of deceased persons
The Legislature cannot judge as intelligently
concerning the bridges, ferries and roads of the
several counties as can the county author
] -: rtrhf- IfN ~,
Courts as can the Judges thereof Believ-
ing that bills of the character referred to
are too often allied together, and passed by the
Joint efforts of the friends of all, shall not hes
itatc to withhold my approval from any bill
granting privileges which might have ben grant
ed under the general laws Of the State by the
Supervisors of the county therein concerned had
they deemed it advisable, or any bill intended
to aid parties in Court to fayors denied them
there. Applause. 1t may be that the general
laws intended to confer upon Supervisors the
authority requisite for the proper management
of local concerns arc in some particulars insui-
cient for the purpose. If it should SO appear
the true remedy is to be found in proper amend
ments to those laws but under the guise of a
general law no special interest should be sub
! served.


The San Francisco water front has been per-
picking subject in and out of the Legislature for
| several years past but fortunately for the in
terests of the State it was finally disposed of by
| the Act of last session, and will hencefOrth
| hardly be public question, excepting so far as
the general desire is concerned to see the exist
| ing legislation upon the subject faithfully car
| ried out.


| The cause of education must always be re-
| earded as of the very first Importance by those
who desire the perpetuaton Of our free republic
can system of government The right of the
| people to govern themselves is of no value un-
| less coupled with the capacity to govern them
selves we'll 1t is essential then, that all classes
of the community should enjoy the benefits of Il
liberal and enlighted educational system. Prob
ably this has been as well cared for in this State
as our rapid growth would permit; but there is
ample room for improvement, andI sincerely trust
that at the close of my term Of office it will be
| found that such progress has been made rs the
| times shall have demanded and our means justl-
| fed. The proceeds of the bountes so literally
granted to the State by the General Government
for school purposes should be inviolably pre-
served to their proper uses, and the debt due to
| the School Fund-whch under no prctense should
! ever have been contracted-should be preferred
| before all other claims. The State Normal
| School, now in its infancy, will doubtless prove
| the same indispensable auxiliary to the general
cause that similar institutions have become in
older communities and should be literally tos-
tered. The conditions imposed by the Acts of





institutions of learning Of a higher order, render
it necessary that steps be taken speedily to avail
ourselves of the benefits to be derived from these
munfccnt donations.


| am glad to see growing disposition among
the people to guard the elective franchise from
abuse, and to erect additional guards to its fair
exercise. Nothing so greatly conduce to this
end as well considered and practical Registry
Law. TApplause.1 The slight Inconvenience
Nx-h hich Such n ,voud m the
legal voters of the State would be much more
than compensated by the security it would give
them against being OverbOrnc at elections by
fraudulent voting. OF the constitutOnalty of
such Il measure | have no doubt although am
| aware that many persons entertain a different
opinion and it is unfortunate, perhaps, that a
provision giving to the Legislature ample power
over the subject in clear and unmistakable lam
guage was not submitted to the people among
| the late amendments to the Constitution.
Our agricultural districts being steadily
| settled by an industrious and stable population,
whose patient and well directed energy will, in a
few years, place California in the front ranks OF
the agricultural States. For this we are indebt-
ed to the wise and generous public land policy
of the National Government and in cooperating
by every means possible with that policy we
shall best promote the material interest of the
State, and at the same time encourage the indus
! try of a worthy class of citizens upon whom the
prosperity of the State must always largely de-
pend.


Commerce is an element of great importance
to our State and it is her true policy to provide
ample accommodations for it, and place upon it
as few restrictions as are consistent with the en-
forcemcnt of such police regulations for our ports
as may from time to time be found necessary.
No tax should ever be adupon commerce for
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of individuals corpora
tions, or fer the support Of useless public Off
| GERS.


While evidences arc multiplying around us OF
the steady progress in the State of her agricul-
tural, commercial and manufacturing interests,
it is apparent to every one that our mining in
terest is far the most important of any, and must
continue to be so for some years to come. The
policy of the General Government in respect to
] the mines is Nnll understnnl and assurancns q