Year: 1879

stitution upon the Governor. Certainty,
in the execution of the laws, Is absolute


ly essential to the mai intenance of good
government Uncertainty, in the exc
cution of laws, though founded upon the


highest principles of equity and justice,
would furnish a ground of hope for es-
cape from the consequences of the viola
ton of law, and would therefore have a
tendency to encourage transgression and
to inspire certain degree of contempt


for public authority. l feel deeply con-


scious of the Importance of this duty,


and shall, to the extent of the authority
with which am clothed, attend faithful
| ly TO its performance.


The legislative power OF the State Is


vested exclusively in the General Assem-


bly,. The only duty of the executive in


respect to the formation of laws is "to


give to the General Assembly informa-


ton of affairs concerning the State, and


to recommend to their consideration


such measures rs he shall judge expea-
lent" The members of the legislature are
the trusted representatives of the people,
and upon them rests the responsibility of
giving expression to their Will by the en-
actment of such laws as will be most
conducive to their general prosperity


and happiness


The primary o'ject of legislation is the


promotion of the public good. Beyond


that, the duty of the legislator ceases:


Matters of secondary Importance should
engage the attention of the General As


sembly only as they are subservlent to
the accomplishment of that object.
Propositions addressed to the considera-
ton of the Legislature, which would have
the effect TO create unnatural antagonisms
between the various interests of society,


ought never to receive the sanction or


authority of law for, that species of ;eg.


islation which contemplates the advance


ment Of any particular class or interest
to the exclusion of the General wei
fare is inconsistent with sound public
policy in that 1t has tendency to beget
in the popular mind a feeling of distrust
r in the wisdom and justice of our politica
institutions. The perpetuity and stabili


ty of good government depend upon the


maintenance of strict fidelity to the de-


sign or purpose of its establishment
: j Judging the future by the past, it is need
, less now to have any fears arising from
{ the pursuance of an opposite policy, fol
the history of legislation in this State
contains sufficient evidence upon which
| 81 hnI af haf h. Mt
, OF the people, without any unjust dis


elimination as to their rank or station


will as they ought to be, first, in the esti
nation of those to whose custody is, ant
shall be committed the public veal.


The finances of the State, as shown b.
g the recent communication of my prede
s cessor to the General Assembly, and th
report of the State Treasurer. are in
+ very healthy condition. The indebted
. ness of State has been rapidly reduces


under diminished rate of taxation-i


coincidence which does not frequentl.


occur in the history of governmen
: finances. The tendency of public indeb bt
edness is to grow, and to demand the i'm
: position of further burdens upon th
+ sources OF public revenue. The contem
;lporaneous reduction Of the State deb
q and taxation, is a result therefore, whicl
p could only have been accomplished by


wise, judicous and faithful management


of the public affairs.


: While the condition of the Stat


finances is a Just cause for congratulation


yet the general distress resulting from
!. continued depression in almost every de
IS pai tment of industry is the subject of tn
q most painful and gloomy reflection
r Notwithstanding the increased fertilit
s of our soil, the abundance of our harvest
e and the returning habits of frugahty OF
o the part of our people, we have entere'
=. upon the new year with all our pas
;, hopes for better and more prosperou
times broken and disappointed by til


rough experience of the present.


= Why is this is the natural inquiry o
every thinking man. AS before indica
ted, the difficulty cannot, in any sense


be attribu to the mismanagement o
e public affairs in this State. The sin doe
g. not lie at our door. 1t has its origin IN
es HIGHER source. The evils which SO affeC
le the industrial interests of society, ar
y, the growth of few years, and in tn
lie main are justly chargeable upon the ur
H. wise financial system of the Feder1
$, Government coupled with wasteful an
se reckless expenditure of the public rever
ct ues by way of donations and subsidie
re to associated capital. By the unauthol
rs zed use of the power to coin money an
d. to regulate the value thereof, Congres
lie furnished to the people an unsound Gil
d. culating medium, measured by which
le all kinds of tangible property suddenl
N acquired fictitious and deceptive value
IN This unreal and inflated value thus cor
" f.rred upon property gave to the entir
OF country treacherous semblance OF III
IL exampled prosperity, and developed
ie n large degree spirit of over-tradin
r and oyer-producing among the manufat
Ia turing classes, the disastrous effects io
le which are shown in the deserted worl
% shops, idle machinery, and hosts of Ill
Oh employed workmen in the country. J
Vi olso gave to the people false and Ill