Year: 1878

agement; not only for the high public
spirit which it represents, but also for
the reason that it will assist, by bands of
steel, to unite more closely the ties of
sympathy which now holds together the
North and the South.


The registration law, as passed by the
last Legislature, proved to be not only
inconvenient and troublesome, but ex-
tremely expensive. Itshould, therefore,
either be repealed, or so amended as to
make it more acceptable to the people.


There are at least three public griev-
ances which should receive from you
the same preliminary treatment. refer
to our unequal, unjust, and, therefore,
comparatively unproductive system of
taxation; our clumsy, exceedingly dill
atory and generally odious system of
courts, or judiciary; and our confused,
extravagant and badly managed system
of municipal, or city and town govern
ment. I can not enlarge upon the i'm
portance of these subjects now, further
than to say that, should you be able to
find and provide remedies which will
give us fair taxes, speedy just ce, and
economy in city government, you will
undoubtedly perform a work for your
State which will command and receive
the cordial appreciation of all honest and
good citizens.


AS step antecedent to any legisla-
ton that may be needed, l would
recommend that you, either by commits
sion or by joint committee, cause
thorough investigation of each of
these subjects; requiring the commits
sion or committee to take testimony
both oral and documentary, SO as to OBJ
tain full and authentic knowledge of
the facts; and after duly considering
any and all plans that may be suggested,
to report by bill or otherwise, such
amendments to existing laws, as will
cure existing evils.


This plan will furnish what the Leg
islature has not yet had before it, viz:
A thorough knowledge of the facts, and
this knowledge, it seems to me, is all i'm
portant before any legislation should be
attempted on subjects of such vital con-
sequence.


Eem especially Observation-Disclosures
thing shall be done in this direction to
provide against the evils of our present
system of municipal government. Our
cities are becoming, more and more
every day, great centers of social, COM
mercial and political influence, and as
they continue to grow in power and i'm
portance, the problem of their proper
government challenges the gravest con-
sideration of the most enlightened states
manship. And not the least difficult
feature of this problem is: how to reach
the best results without endangering the
right of self-government? This, l be-
lieve, should be faithfully guarded, for
no other benefit however valuable, could
possibly compensate for any material
loss OF this right.


In concluding these brief suggestions,
l wish to urge upon you the Importance
of making your session short one. Go
to work in earnest, give close and con-
stant attention to the matters with
which you are entrusted, work faithfully
for the best interests of your State and
country. Pass such laws as are neces-
Iary, and avoid all superfous legislation.
Let all you do be characterized by wis
dom and prudence. And when you have
accomplished your work, you can go
home to your constituents who will honor
you for your faithfulness and reward you
for the manner in which you have main
tanned their best interests.


And now have only to add that de-
sire to express my sincere thanks to the
people of the State for the distinguished
honor they have conferred upon me, in
calling me to that high and important
Office, the responsible duties of which l
this day assume.


Believing as 1 10 in your patriotism,
and assured, as am, that shall have
the hearty cooperation of your body in
all my efforts to promote good govern
ment, and trusting to the guidance of an
allwise and beneficent Providence, 1
enter upon my work, not without hope
that our mutual labors may result bene-


icially to the people we respectively
represent.