Year: 1879

ton of the laws which has taken place since
that party has been in power, and the conf
dence which all the people are gradually be.
ginning to feel in the protective power and
willingness of the government under the con-
troll and in the hands of that party. These
results it promised to bring about, and the
statistics will show that its promises have been
faithfully redeemed. This is most crafty
ing fact and augurs we'll for our future. There
is room, however, for further advance in this
direction.


Among the other evils left in the track Of
the late war, there seems to have been engen.
dered in the minds of the people too great
disregard of human life-not more in our
midst than elsewhere, but in every part of the
country, as is evidenced by the startling hom-
icides reported in different portions of the
United States. This feeling is fed and slim.
ulated by that dangerous practice Of carry
ing concealed and deadly weapons, and by
their manufacture and sale, which prevails so
extensively in different portions Of the coun-
try. 1t is not surprising that the people
should to some extent forget the value of hu-
man life when thousands and thousands OF
these instruments are manufactured and sold
for no other purpose but to kill and destroy
it, and when they are made familiar with the
idea of their fitness to that end, which the
constant wearing and handling of these in
struments must eventually produce in the
minis of those who thus use them.


This evil is not more prominent with us
than in other communicate fact, | am
gratifed to believe that it prevails to less
extent here than elsewhere, but still it exists
here to too great an extent and should be cor.
rected if possible. If within the reach of
legislation, your wisdom will find the remedy;
in addition to this, the good, the wise and the
lovers of peace and order everywhere should
combine together and bring to bear upon it
with crushing power that most potential Of all
infuences-public opinion-and this | in:
woke. I do not know that any additional
laws upon the subject Of homicide are neces-
sary. What is needed, perhaps, is sterner
enforcement of those already in existence; it
is safe, however, to leave this to the Courts
and the juries.


Full information as to the operations of the
financial department, the public schools, the
militia, the Penitentiary, the Lunatic Asy-
lum, the Institution of the Deaf and Dumb
and other charitable institutions, the Sinking
Fund Commission, the Railroad Commission,
the Board Of Health, the Fish Commission
and the phosphate interests, will be found in
the report of the several officers having these
interests respectively in charge, and which
will be upon your tables. 1t would encum-
ber this Message unnecessarily to incorporate
in it the valuable details found in these re-
ports I shall, therefore, present only such
prominent points as l may think advisable,
leaving Co you that full and thoroug b exam.
ination which the Importance of these various
matters will demand at your hands.


The primal object of government is pro.
protection of the natural and abso.
lutte rights of the people-the right of per-
soma. security, personal liberty, and the right
to accumulate and enjoy property.


These important rights had existence be-
fore the government, and came from much
higher source, and government was created
and established for their protection. But for
the danger of these rights in state of nature,
there would have been no necessity for gov
ernment. Laws are the instrumentalitles
through which the government is brought in
to contact with the people and by which it
accomplishes its great end. Such being the
fact, it would seem that all wise legislation
should be directed to the ends, first, of estab-
fishing and supporting the governmental ma
chinery upon as good and economical basis
as possible. and, secondly, of affording it just
such means as may be necessary, and no more,
to enable it to meet its fundamental purpose,
that of protection. Having done this, legis-
lation has accomplished all that it should
seek to accomplish. In endeavoring to reach
this>resut, the tendency of most legislative
bodies in the past has been to over legislation,
rather than to too little-to the enactment of
too many laws, rather than too few. The
General Assembly of this State has not been
exempt from this tendency in the past, as our
voluminous statute books will show, and you
will pardon me in warning you against its too
great indulgence at this session. In addition
to this, what is desired by all is an increase of
wealth, because as people grow more wealthy,
within proper bounds, they grow more power
full and prosperous and are better enabled to
surround themselves with all the comforts
and improvements of higher civilization.
Now, national wealth is but the wealth Of
individuals ls-which at last is the creation of
individual enterprise and energy. 1t would
seem then, again, that the best and safest, and
consequently the wisest government, is that
which is content rather to protect than to at
tempt to create prosperity, since the former
always promotes and the latter never fails to
impede the efforts of that individuality which
makes men industrious and enterprising and
which produces the wealth of a country.
Having these views, and looking at the
State from my standpoint, am impressed
with the belief that but little additional
legislation is now demanded by the wants
of our people, and consequently / shall
have but few recommendations to make.
What they want is not so much more laws as
more political rest and quiet opportunity,
through their own individual enterprise, &C.
tivity and industry, of building up and re-
cuperating their lost fortunes.


FINANCES.


AS to our financial system, the present
scheme in operation for the support and
maintenance of the government, stands upon
as Just principle and upon as economical
basis, as can well be devised. 1t rests
upon the broad principle that every citizen
should bear that proportion of the necessary
burdens of government which his ability and
property shall demand. This makes it bear
equally upon all, and all are satisfied.


l am not aware of any improvement that
can be made either in the collecting or disburs
ing of that portion of the public money
which is administered by the State Treasury.
AS now conducted, the present scheme seems
to afford absolute security both for the
prompt gathering and the prompt and honest
disbursements of the public funds. But