Year: 1879

Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Repre-.


Tho annual recurrence Of public events convenes
you this year for the deliberations of the twenty
regular session Of the State legislature.


For something Less than twenty-one years, Mime!
sofa has enjoyed political existence q member of
this union Of States. They have been years not OF
Uninterrupted prosperity, but Of varying fortune and
vicissitude: yet from the first struggling experiment
OF sovereignty to the assured position Of to-day, our
career has been marked by constant anu unsurpassed
growth tn all that should constitute stable ami pros
porous commonwealth. Without here iudulsing in
the pleasing retrospection which the facts seem to
Invite It is not too much to say that few years of the
cause for encouragement than that which has just
terminated. No wasting pcstilence nor destitution
has afflicted our people. Their fields have been ex-
empt from insect rnvages and their sbors rewarded
terests Of the State have been fairly advanced. Our
education aud charitable institutions have prospered
noticed In my last message respecting railroad
structon, growth Of population and the absorption
and cultivation Of unoccupied lands, and the solo
hinderance to the uniform advancement Of the
general prosperity results from that unwise pursuit
OF agriculture which restricts its operations too
largely to tho production of single cereal. Chiefly
OF agriculture the past year were suddenly swept
away throughout The Oldest and weathiest portions
Of the State, by few days Of unpropitious weather
which, at critical moment blishted the promise Of
= superabundant yield Of our great staple, wl,ilo
spsring other products in unimpaired abundance:
While the effect has been to partial relapse
into the business depression from which our COM
nuntes were recovering, If it shall also provo to
havo checked the prevalent tendency toward the
contraction OF needless debt the total result cannot
be deemed an unmixed calamity.


II We extend the review to the country at large the
year will long be remembered for the unparaled
abundance Of its agricultural products for increased
revival Of industry for renewed stimulus to tho pro-
eress Of invention; for that proud growth of the
national credit which triumphantly anticipated the
redemption Of tho national pledges and for the rapid
elimination and exposure of that strange popular
dellsion which assumes that wealth may be created
by arbitrary enactment rather than by actual pro-
ductiOn, and which would substitute tie semblance
for the substance of prosperity. The year will more
over, be held In both sad and honored remembrance
for the prolonged and deadly pestilence which dcc-
mated portions Of the country, and for the magaani-
NOUS conduct Of great people who silenced the
voice OF civil strife by extending the Of kin!
dred to perishng kindred with unsparing hands.


These varied evidences Of an interposing and cor
ferrng Providence call for that prompt and grate-
full recognition of supreme guidance which becomes
an enlightened people.


The condition Of public affairs viii be amply shown
State institutions. The financial exhibit is clearly
detailed by the State auditor, = summary Of which
0palcnCod In thu nnuraa follnwinus