Governor's Message

lu cmi.-TC]iirnc? of i:ic CJfircmn tengtii } Gtivorwir VtètTTf'ü &teissajè we flinïj beunnhl i !d rgèi-iit il ín oir rer.iir-r eulire. It is b j lievcd Imwever Jiat the fdlowing' extracts wil bc L-i.'ffic'ient for all rr.clicul purposes. After soine rnuwks respoeting1 an amena uieMt'oTïfiü CoiiciiMüion clungmg the tiim ol' holding the general eïectjon - tiie euumer.iiion ofihe inhabitütfl of (te S'.nte k,c , Ik rcui;irk fis fulluvví; "Yheie i. n geueni] rcpi'gnance among oui ólizmaUi ti.e poilbnuance u' miülaiy flut} m.! to iheioseiyes (o Üm sincl rulc o( iiiiütniv di.-cip]inr, when putriotiiiu doenot senu to rrq iiro sutil a gncrifioo o.'" t.tnf ml iuffiviiiuü! comfurl. The luws now it lurciMiioi) lilis .enlucí are )io:. in iccord.nrf itfi pu'iiiC seniimoriLuii'' Ilieir extfcotion lod ooi we'l be eiiforceJ Au catiro revisión ie rcspe tfolly lecommendiHi. Aniojig the oiterütions to bc made I u-ould siijigcat as wfirinyof consiJeralion whetliet all mustera of til v. militiairj limo -of peace, for thp purpoíe of improvenient in militia ícience, imiy nulwiili propriety be b:li.-hcil. The fctiowledge in ifiat iiüiiinei coininiinicaled1 f am consirained to believe, s liinited and inconiiderallc, while the cvil--, ie.u'lingf frorn s'ich nssnmbingps tp tho nxirals of the penpla more Ihnn hnlance nny public pond i!iat con be xpfclgtl f.orn llicir cin'iminnce. ïf. s lieürvcd Ljj.qt nn orgnoizníion conip;;fible with the CoDstitutidn, djfpenpiüg with sucii muslers. may be erP'cteJ, wl.ich wil] be less burdensome and nt tlic eame iime, ui case of riped, equully rliicienl. TJie formoition of vofüiitfiT co ipanies and bnt'.nüons tlioold iil.-o bc enconrnged, by rxernptinjr tieir eionobers (Vi rn some poition f the pubi:c doffe devolving npon citizens of thr State, or i siich orlier menner asyou m-iy deni eqnitubJt and just. While llio public arms tliat have been nlrrndy i.-sued arc doubtlest?, in most casi1?, safe fiom dañinee or loss in the caro of Hip voluntcer companieá wiih vvhom thcy nre dennti:fid ír ad vise, vet it si'cnis to ne tJiat, at leatt for future issues, somt ucl.-Jiioin) niarnn;y should be required for therr ;aie return when e.nanded by proper oulhorty.The.rpporfs of the Adjutant General nm of the Qtiarter Masier Giicinï, wilh the ta bles aunexed thereio, will acquaint you uitr the propre&s made in t (ie organizólo!) of fhe miliiia and with the disposition of tJfe public arnis. The mensures econnnended by ihose officers are, in the ma n. jndiciaus and siich as seem roqnired by ifie pervice. Tne vho!e ntimber of the miütia is 59,688, comprising mne divUi.ions.and forly-fivp regimenté. During the last fiscal year the amount received into the Irensury lo the credit of Ihe commnn schooi interes! fund, he'mg the icvenne.of the eonimo fhool fund t'or Ihat year, v:is O20,959.41, and during1 the -same period i3!2S,076.C6 wero distributed in accorda.nce with provirions of law fur 6iipport of Fchonls. T he revenne of the University fund the last year wos S9,7CS 52. In nccordmce with the provisiuns of "an act auLhoiiziüg ihe receipt rjf obligaXipug of ihiá Stnle in payment of University lanös'r approved Ft-bruary 23, 1844, and of' "an act fur the relipf of the UniversU ly of Michigan' opproved March 11. 1C44, ihe indebledness of lheünivers:ty, on account of the tnoney bnrrowcd lor iis ue, is reduced lo $60,787,52. TIns diminution of Is debt will greatly relieve the inslilution from its previous embarrassments. T am nol aviare tliat any legislativo action is expecied or required at the present session essentiul.'y aitering tiie system of oducaiion now esisting in the State. If any change be deemftd necessary, ít is beJieved that it sliould be retricted to the management of the funds devoted to that purpose. The s'rictest acconntnbilily ehould be irqniied of all in any vay intrupted wiíli the sale of school and University lands or tvith the investment of their prccei'ds. Lofses ín some instances, have al rendy been sustained and the utmost caution shculd be observed to prevent their recurrence. The number' of stndents in the University is nbout fifty, and tlie number m its brunches tlifiDgb varyingf at difièrent periods of the year, exceerls one luindred and fifly. The number of childrrn in the StatCj betvveen the -ge of four and ciijhtcen yesrs, reportcd to i.he Superintendant of Public Tostriiction, ïs30,475, and the nuniber tinglit in common sciiools 70,227. The low standard of the qnr.lificntion of teachers, in these prinmy ini-iiiulions, is ion rul lo be mie of the grcntest impeuimen'E to bo ndvancftnfnt of educaiion. Tlie in; ernst, however, tliat uermis recenlly iiwakened, and the increasrd atteution thnt is cvery where paid lo the suljeet, wil], it is be lievrd, correct this evil. Thebniik? yet rmnnining have, ns the price of thoir existence, continued specie payments daringf the year, and what is equiüy gratifying and extrrordinary in the history of onr State for several years. the public have no! snffered by bank (biluresof by the depreciatiun of bank paper. The loeses, however, susiained iu forrner yeara. as 'veil by judividnaja as Uy Ihe State itself, aftord a sufficifini warn;ng nninpt hasly and i!l advised legislalion on the siibj :ct of banks and against a muliiplication of their number. Tlie Staie3 are interdicted by the federal Constiiution from coining nioney, emitting bilis of credit, and from making any thinii bul gold and t-üver coin a tender i the paymt-iit of debts. Tliis wjse and salutary pro viiot) embrncos the wljole subject ofcurrency, and was donbilees ïn'ended to secure to the Un'ted Staies a circulating medium, considting of the precious metuU-, to the exclusión of paper in every form. The uttor fuilure of bpnk paper to give th.it aid to the bjsineijs of the country wliich its adocitos clnim tobe i:s provinceio afford, -nsiiie frern all other eonsideratio.ns, furuishe1 eufficieut reof-on, againet the increa'se of banká. To br.nk issues as a mea6ufè oT relief, resource has fo oficn been' had wilhopt succes?, tliat .confidente i, their efficacy hce h)riL Firjce boen deslroycil. ♦ - ' t Ü ' ♦The field iyork of the Geological and Tupe j grajjliiciil Survey of the Lower Peninsulx c tl. e State htn" hceu broiighr lo a close, au .nncli has bocu done lowardts preparing th j fi nal report npon iliis portiun of the work.Tiie of' i!ie ilhistrations, ncce-?ar lo oceompany tho volumes ulien pnblishec has .cecn in progress riuring i.iost of the yeat luit further time will bc nqnired for its com , plot on. ]n conscqnence of the deficien-y of mean required to fimtilt the eurvrys of tho Uppe ! Península, w.tli the same minutPness tint t hei uad been done in the Lower, the Staie Getlo st had deíémiíñed, ot one time, to mnke th tinal report npon that part of the work in í more general tnahner, but during the pas year such a 'connection ofthëeè su'rveyó hot bfiën made wilh tie Uni'ed Sia'.C6 lineal Kiirveys asïvill iiièürfe, without expende to t Jic State, their complction in the most perfed ininner. By this arrangement tJie Genera Government lends ittí aid íñ perfectínj our geológica! Btirveyp. The rmmberof prisnners in thé Siate Prisor nt the end of the fisc.il year, October 81, 1843, ,v.is 91. Durmg t!ie year Iqrininating OctnqérSl, 1844, Gl convivís were received, and duFihg the sanie perind, 25 were di#charnc(] by e.vpiration of íenteñee, 2 were pardoned, 1 rscaped and 4 died, leaving au increase of 28 ! in that time. The expenditurey the iast jear iri the conviet ííepaitmeiil for the paymont of jnards, ifie pitrchas'e oí ral ons. wood, clothing', líos pitni'stores nud other likd nfressnry articlcöj acbóuni ín the agrégate, to .$9..67S Si. For ;1hi payanen' of Üim siun S9.000 hare been drawn (rom the Sale Treasury, and $216 GG r.ecejVed frim ót lier sou rees, a balance duc the arren: at the time of' making ha renort of S-Í56 65. The expenses of this department have ncreased $354 22 during the laRt yoin by retuon of the loss of materins by fire in 184S, and the increase of prisoners. A Inrge portion of the convicts aie hired by contrnctorí, who carry on in the prison vnrioue branches of mechanicaj induslry. - Thé nmonn! received to the iiío of the Sta'.e for the services cf tliose so cmployed the lasi jpar e.vceeds O5,000, and would.probably have betn mnch grenter but for the fire menlioned, vvhicli destroyed the workshops nnd materials for nee. The imount received from this sourco inclndinc SoOO appropriatcd at the last esc-ion l.as been expended in the further construclidfi of the prison buildinga, yard-vrall, ond workshops. The estimated revenue from the eatne source for the ensuing year ia $6, 500, nud is deemed sufficien! to defray the expenses of the improvements necessary to be made duringf that period., Thct portion of the prisoners, not htred by contnictors, hns been employed under directlon of the keepers, n vorious occupatione; bul inostly at vvork upon tbe improvementa in progress. Intheabove ennmeration of expenses, the salnrios of the officers of the prison and many ot her items of expendittire, are not Dcluded. , The whole amount for all purposes of the prison, drawu from the Treasury the Jast year, 8&15,715,S4. Among the prisoners are two Témales, who aro reported to be in tlie county jai!, for want of proper apartments in the prisoTi. Comi-lainis have been made of the practice prevailing upon our frontier settlements, of selling spiritumis Iiquors and olher intoxieatingr drinks to the India ns. Existiug enacrmenls, prolnbiting fhelrnffic, are reprcscnted as beinp insufficiem for that purpose, and eerious diffictilties are apprehended from its further continnance. The subject e-cems to remijre investigntion, and vvill, I doubt not, receive such attention asyou niay find its importance emóhds. The report ofthe Commissioner of the Stntc Lond Office will inform you, in detail, of the busiiieïs transacted in that department the pust yeor. Ofthe 500,000 acres of land granterl by act of CongTpss, pa83od September 4, 1841, 45,429 97 J00 ncrrs Avere eold in the yenr 1843. and 80,840 86 100 ecres in 1844,making in ali 12(5,270 83 100 acres; and the whole Film received in payment for the same, was $157,891,07, mosijy in State VVarrants issued for purposes of inlernal improvements. The furtlicr quant ty of 79,564 52 100 acres haB been specificnlly appropriated, for part of which Lfind VVarrnnts liave already been drawn, and for the reniainder such Warranls will be issued during the present year. The residue ofthe grnnt. being 294,168 75-100 acre?, still rem;iins the properiy of the State, subject to the disposa! of the Legislature, liable however, at any time, without further legislation to be taken al its minimum price for payment of all outstanding Warrants, for whaievcr purpose issued, f their holders eo elect, and, after the first day of July next, ülso iiable to be taken in pnyment of the bouds issued for interest tmder the act to liquídate tlse public debt, passed March 8, 1843. A small portion of the lorrds vet remains unselected. Immediately after the grant was imde, the State Geologust designated cettoit) important points in the Upper Península, which he represented as very valuable and advised their srleetion for the use of the Sta'e. The surv.eya not ha ving been completed, I have not yet been able to eeeure the lands eo designa led. The report of the Board of Internal Improvement wül acquaint you with theeondition of tliat brtinch of the public service. Iii accordnncc with the provisions of the net of February L1, JU43, ron, sufficient to finisli the Central Rail.oad to Marshall, and the Southern Ilailroad to Uillídnlc, has been procured and hoth roads completed to the places narned. In eifecting this object, besideg the stims alreaciy paid.v.indebtednes8 amountiug in the agrgregnte to 69,564 77 bas been incurred, which now stands against the Board and for payment of whicb tho net revenuee of all our public worlts ure pledjjeJ The Central road was finMied Mareholl aboutlhe lOth of' August laét, and iinco that time haabeenin use betwecn Detroit and that i place, distance of HO1 miler. The total aiionnt of receipti ilwpast' yelfr was O211, Mö a l, of which fèj.&O.S. yae forgers nnd the balance for freighr. The whóle of' expense of repairs and running the curs during iid the same period was Sat),4lü 51, leaving a !n net prefit, aecording to the statement of Ihe - acting CommissJoncr, of $121,750 3:3. Of ry tfie net reveutie $-25,345 41 hnve been paid d, into the Stilte Tronsury, L57,424 53 paid tor r, iron, and the balance, except about $3000 on n hand, inosüy expended i the ncrease of stock and furthcr improvement of Ihe facilities of je the roud, in tho cmistruction of side tracks, 3r and b'iU'dih'g ,i ware house at Detroit. The iy board estímate the rpceipts on thia work the x. ensmng yearat ft'275,000 00. ie Tiiir rond ia also mosty grnded from Mara hall to Kalm-izoo, a further distnnce of S6 st miles, üiid wil! be rady to receive the iron on ,(. tli.it part of it nt an early poriod of the ensu_ i .iy senson. Tho board would moet wilh hut e hht!e difficulty in obtuining the necessary sup;t nly oí' iron, but for the bjifii Picc of th'it ari] ticle, caused by tho tariff of 1842, the cost . of the qunntky wanted to loy Ihe track beiween the placea ñfiíned being increased, in n conirquence, Ijitlé less than thi.-ty thonsand dollars. Il is confidently believeíí, however, ,. notwithstandinp its enhanccd price, tlmt the roncan be obtained without further Jpgisla(] uve acüon upon the subject, and the road made 1 Mvailuble to Kalnmizoo'before the close of the g current yeur. A furthar email appropriation of 20,0f 0 acres of I.ind is reqnired for the . erection of buildings at the several stations , nnd fur construction of the necessary side tracks. ," Tho wholo .hiount of reccipts npon the , ihe Sonihern road the lust year was $60,340 , 51, being an excede of $36,276 01 above ihose 5 of the proceeding year. The roeeipts were l all reqtured and lave been expended in run. ning cars, in repairs of ihe road nnd in the forther increase of 6tock; and a debt previous, Iy incurred for like objecls, estimated to be . ubout L1 0.000 00 Millr?mains nnpaid. The road being in n dilapidated conditiic. at the commencement of the year and its stock I being ínstiffici;nt, the expendí; ures that have , been made were anticipatcd, ond the Legislature, at its last session, ndvised of their ne, cessity. The improvemont of the harbor at Monroe, afFording, as it does, greater facilities to comnierce, the present good condiiion of the road and tlie inereased quanlity of its stock, now valued above $50,000, all warrant an estimaie of receipts, npon this work the ensuinfr year, greally exceeding that of any precedingone: and it is confidenily beüeved, rhat, besides pnying current expenses, the iev enne vvill be sufficient to pay a por'.ion of the mdebiedness coniiacted by thebonrd for iron, The cost of the iron purclnsed for this road, under the Act of Febmary 21, 1343, inclnding tvo locomotive?, was $53.612 74, of which $45,006 94 have been paid from receipts of the Central road, and the balance being $13,605 0, remanís a charge upon the futme proceeds of the public works, aritl is part of the debt above mentioned. Tïie Doard estimite the receipts on fhe Southern road at.. AÍOOjOOtt the present year. Contraéis for the completion of the Clinton i fc Kal.imizoo Canal, be;ween the villages of Rocbedter Éc Frederick, were made in the spring, in accordance with the provisions of (he Acts of Maren 1, 1343, and of'March 2, 1844, at o price not exceeding the estimules of a competent Eirgiueer, and" for a sum les than the appropfiiüion made. In the progress of Uif wark tt hns been found that, by reason ' of subsequent dilapidatíon. a greater amonnt of lator is reqnired than had been estimated. and hat in conTquence. the object of the acts named cannot. befully carried into effect wi'hout additional legislution. - The contractors have, however. continned their work, relying on the legislature for recompense of iheir labor, by a further appropriation. ; Contracts were olso rhade, during the summer, for the improvetneht of the navigation of the Flint River bplow the village of Plint, i The imusuai high state of waier during most of the season in all our rivers affbrded facilties for muking th improvements rpqnired in this stream, which consisted mostly in the removal of fljod vvood that had accoinulated i i! vflrions pointe: and the work has progressed i to the sntiafaction of the board, and its enüie i completion inay bc expected aecording to the i terms of the contraéis. The necessury improvrnents in the , tion of the St. Joseph rivet, between Union , City in Brarch cennfy, nnd Sinrgeon Lake in St. Joseph connty, bemgof the charactcr required upon the Flint, hnve been made with advantagp the past seasoii; but the improve■ments needed bolow that lake, being such as ■ can oiil.y be made at a lovv stage of water, have been necessarily postponed until the suing sumnier, when it is hoped that the i ses of delay, which have existed the lust two , yoars, will no longer prevent t.heir completion. I have no doubt that true policy requires the comp'e:ion ol the Central rail lord to St. Joseph, and the Southern at least to the navigable walers of the Si. Joseph river; but to effect lliese objecte, time wül be requircd and ' means also which the Stato does noi now ( possess. i The whole acfcnowlèdged indebtednesa of the State and its resources are exhibited in the following statement : FUNDRD DKBT. Due on bonds issued lor h've' loan,aud for $200,000 borronea for ypsilanli aid Tecumseh, and Allegan and - ] Marshull Railroad Compa' nies, inoluding interest lo July 1, 1845, $L-,990,000 00 , Palmyra and J"ack, sonburg Ruilroad h.-nds, 20,000 00' Unpaid interest on do toIS'ov. 1844, 4,900 0C 54,900 00 Detroit and Puntíao Raihoad bondB, TOOOOO 00 Unpuid interests on do to July, 1844, 17,280 00 117,200 00 Universi'y bonds assumed by i the 8tate 39,212 42 i ■ i 3,174,392 48 I Generalfund 00 i Penitcntiary konde, 00,eoo 00' ii Interest on do not r cullèd for, 8,350 00 i Delinquent tax bonds, 15,000 00 183,850 0 Tuial, funded debt ncluding interest, i3,855,ï42 4 UNFUNDRD DEBT. Inernal Improvement warrant s outstandine, fr20,4:7 55 Interest on do. to Dcc, 1, 1C44, cstiirialO(!, 50,000 00 Land wnrrnnts outstanding, 7,413 89 Scrip, 51,000 00 Interest on scrip estimafrd, 0,000 00 T.ix bonds to counties, 12,591 00 Interest on do. estimated, 1,409 00 Warrants on genoraland !her funds 8,7Ltf !9 Inerest on do estiniared, 700 00 Due for redempiion and surplus money srn account of tnx pales, 8,858 27 Dup principa? of prU mary school fund, 51,779 00 Total unfundeddebt including nteresit, $721,934 90 $721,931 9(] Teta] debt of the state inelu■ ding interest, $4,077,177 33 RESOURCES. Central Rnilroud, cost. to Dec. 1, 1844, $1,842,308 00 Southern do do 9S6.295 00 $2,773,603 00 Ten per cent odded for interest, paid durmg conslruction, nnd for olher incidental expendes, 277,860 00 Palmyra and Jacksonburg Railroad, cost including nteiest, 30,000 00 Locomutives and cars on Centra! Railroad, 110,000 00 Locomotives and cars on Southern Railrood. 5f,000 00 Materials on otliar works, &00 00 161,500 00 Total value of railronds and fixtures at cost, tiS,-Í47,96e-00 Dne from Deuoit and Pontac Railroad compnny, 130,000 00 Value of unsold Iiiternal lmprovement lands at a minimum price, 467,500 00 Salt Spring lands, 72 sections at $2 per acre, 92,160 00 Taxes uncollected nnd cash on hand, 179,000 00 ssets of Michigan State Bank and olher assets estimated, 33,377 00 Total aVailable resources of the state, $1,150,000 00 Excess of resources over liobities, 372,822 62 The debt due for jron ond the debt incurr ed for expenses upon the Southern Rnilroad, botfi previously mentioned nnd amountiiifr rögether to about $80,000 00, are omitted in tb ie statement. The residue of the University bonds, being t;60,787 92, remair.s still a debt against that instituí itin, from the funds of which both the principal and accruing interest will be p."id, and is not therefore considered among ihe liabilities of the State. In' addiliorï to the property mentined aLove, the State ovns the and Kalamnzoo Cannl, on wiiich has beén expended abou; $375,000, and which is now finished from Frederick to Rochesler, a distance of about 1 6 miles. This work, hovvever, wil hout its further exuüision, not promisinp; ony Considerable return for the investment made, ha.s bienomitted in the enumeration of the resources of the States as they now exist. From the above statement, it will he seen that the resources of the State are about equal to its liabilities. Among the poüticnl topics of the day, none is more prominent or more important than that of a tarifF. Though wholly national in its character, it is not therefore of less interest fo the people of the State. No subject has ever been more involved in m'ystery, or more misrepresenied ihán this. Iñ its duscussion ambiguous terms have been used, artd the usual and true meaning of word's' has been perverted. A duty, whetherspecificorad valorem, on an articfe imported, is a tax upon the consumer of that article. This is a selfevident proposíti'on and requires no argument for its support. It follows of course thát a tariffof duties on importe cohstitutes a system of taxation. Duties on imports, being taxes upon the people, should be assessed with a view tö their equal bearing upon all'. Every bnnch of indusfry should be regarded with equal favor. No class should be exempted from sustaining" its just share of the pubKc bufJens, nor should óne povticri of our fellow citizens be taxed to support nnnthfi.JNO. S. BARRY. Executive Office; Detroit, January 6, 1845. $ Twenty-eight negroes who were manumited in Illinois sevpnteen yeara ago, and who ïave been for Gome lime confined in tlie jail at Shawneetown, ortd claimed as runnways from uiother Sítate, have rccently been set free by hó dcfiisiön' of a jiiry. The verdict tfas rereivöd' With gröat npplaise. ït is said f.o have een one of the most bold nnddaring 6Chernef? ipon record, to trinmph ovci'law and juetice hrough professed legal msiií.