No. 2. LEGISLATURE, 1859. . GOVERNOR'S INAUGURAL MESSAGE. Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives: The constitution of our State requires the Chief Magistrate, when he enters upon his duties, to give the Legislature "information by message of the condition of the State, and recommend such measures to them as he shall deem expedient." I enter upon this duty distrusting my own abilities, but with a firm reliance upon Providence, without whose aid nations, like individuals, must sooner or later fall. It is with feelings of pleasure, as well as pride, that I congratulate you, the Senators and Representatives of this great State. Your lot is cast in a land bountifully blessed by nature. The geographical limits of Michigan are greater than those of New York, while twelve hundred miles of navigable waters wash her shores. Her soil is fertile, producing in perfection and abundance all the fruits, and grains, and flowers, that are usually cultivated in this latitude. Within our State are extensive beds of coal and gypsum, and springs of saline waters, while five-sixths of the whole State is yet an unbroken wilderness, of the finest timber in the world. A great part of the northern portion of the State is one vast bed of mineral wealth, the copper and iron mines of that vast region surpassing all others in the world for extent and purity of metal. We have to-day within our limits over six hundred and fifty miles of railway in successful operation, and over eleven hundred miles more now being constructed. In your hands are placed the destinies of this great State. You should so legislate as to develop and make productive the great natural resources that the God of nature has so bountifully spread out before you. You have a duty to perform not only to yourselves and to your immediate constituents, but to the unborn millions. that are destined to people this beautiful State, and I sincerely trust that in all your deliberations, you will be governed solely by a desire to promote the welfare and happiness of our common constituents, keeping constantly in view the greatest good to the greatest number, and that you will ever be ready to acknowledge your dependence upon Him who holds the destinies of nations in the hollow of His hand. The indebtedness of the State, (exclusive of what is owing to the different Trust funds,) upon the 30th day of November, 1858, that being the end of the last fiscal year, amounted to the sum of two millions three hundred and thirty-seven thousand six hundred and twenty-nine dollars and sixty-seven cents. This debt falls due as follows: January, 1859... 66 1860.. 1863.. $ 20,000 00 40,000 00 2,007,827 60 266,000 00 together with three thousand eight hundred and two dollars and seven cents of the old bonds of the State now due |