REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON REPORTS OF SECRETARY OF STATE, SECRETARY OF SENATE, CLERK OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS. To the Honorable Senate now in session : Your Committee, to whom were referred the reports of the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Senate, Clerk of the House of Representatives, and Auditor of Accouts, respectfully REPORT: That they have had the same under consideration. It appears to your Committee that the Laws and Journals which have been provided by the Messrs. Waltons for the State, have been ready for delivery within the time specified in their several contracts, but as to the fact of their having been delivered to the sheriffs immediately on completion, your Committee have been unable to ascertain. But from the evidence before your Committee, they are of the opinion that there is unnecessary delay in the delivery of the Acts and Journals, in many cases, to the persons who by law are entitled to them, and believe that it is in many cases in consequence of neglect of the sheriffs, that they do not at all times make the distribution until some time after received. It appears to your Committee that there has been a larger number of Acts and Journals published than provided for by Statute. In the year 1842 there was 166 copies of the Acts of the Legislature, 121 copies of the Journal of the Senate, and 129 copies of the Journals of the House of Representatives, more than what the Statute provides for distribution. Your Committee are of the opinion that the amount which has been allowed for distribution of the Laws and Journals for years past, to the several Sheriffs, is much more than actual cost. It appears by the Auditor's report that the sum allowed yearly is $180. E. ALLEN, for Committee. RESOLUTIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. STATE OF NEW JERSEY. JOINT RESOLUTIONS. WHEREAS an untarnished reputation, based upon strict integrity and a rigid adherence to good faith in all our public transactions, is not only of inestimable importance, but indispensably necessary to the well-being, prosperity, and happiness of our common country; And whereas we have hitherto preserved inviolate our plighted faith, and cherished with enthusiasm our unblemished honour, regarding it as a precious heritage from our noble sires, earned by the toil, purchased by the blood, and endeared to us by the sufferings of the patriots of the Revolution; And whereas it is not only highly dishonourable, but directly conflicting with every principle of justice and morality, for any state, nation, or people to repudiate or disown obligations contracted in good faith and with mutual concurrence, because such contracting power is not legal. ly responsible, or such obligation may not be legally enforced; And whereas, in a portion of our Union, doctrines have been promulgated tending to degrade the national honour, destroy the national credit, and debase the national character, unjustly involving in a common odium the other portions of this Union, and causing our name to be a by-word and reproach throughout the civilized world; And whereas a belief extensively prevails that these odious doctrines meet with a silent assent, if not general approbation, throughout our confederation, thereby tarnishing, by implication, our country's fair fame, and rendering it not only expedient, but highly necessary and proper, that the voice of the people, in their primary assemblies and in their legislative halls, should be universally, fully, and unequivocally expressed-therefore, 1. RESOLVED, by the Council and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That we heartily deprecate, indignantly repel, and utterly condemn the novel doctrine of repudiation of state debts, and desire now, and for all time, distinctly and unequivocally, to declare, that New Jersey not only disavows any and all participation in such sentiments, but will not suffer the moral sense of her people to be outraged by their avowal in any part of our Union, by any portion of its citizens, without an expression of her open, thorough, and decided condemnation. 2. Resolved, That we should be recreant to every virtuous principle and honest impulse, and faithless to all moral obligation, did we hesitate to take a firm and unwavering stand, and exert the utmost energies of our state and people in vindication of the probity and the untarnished reputation transmitted by our fathers; which form the ground-work of that just pride and veneration with which their honoured names are associated, and a broad basis of national integrity, which all should delight to emulate and defend. 3. Resolved, That public credit is one of the vital principles, and a main-spring of national prosperity, and indissolubly associated, as it is, with an unimpeachable character for strict honesty, must be greatly impaired, if not utterly destroyed, by any disregard of this indispensable requisite in the formation of national, as well as of individual good charac ter. 4. Resolved, That the same laws of retributive justice govern nations as individuals, and that no country or people can swerve with impunity from the straight-forward path of uprightness and integrity; when the quick sense of honour becomes blunted, and the shame of merited reproach is unfelt or unheeded, the public morals will deteriorate, and public virtue decline, and, in their downward course, bear with them national respectability and national worth, and, finally, whelm the work and pride of ages in irretrievable ruin. 5. Resolved, That it is our earnest hope and belief that the doctrine of repudiation has obtained but a partial foothold on the soil of our Union, and a limited portion of its citizens for advocates and defenders; and we are proud to assert, that the mass of our people are, and ever have been, firm in their adherence to all the maxims of probity, unwavering in their acknowledgment of all the exactions of good faith, honourable in the discharge of all the obligations which mutual contracts impose, or the conventional usages of society imply, and proudly sensitive to the aspersion of national disgrace. 6. Resolved, That considerations, above and distinct from party, reaching far beyond our day and generation, and intimately affecting, as we sacredly believe, the future character, varied interests, and permanent prosperity of our beloved country, solemnly impel us to speak fearlessly and unhesitatingly on this subject; and, in a spirit of patriotism, which should look beyond state limits, we beseech our fellow citizens, throughout the length and breadth of this Union, to join with us in reprobating all violations of good faith, and in vindicating the honour and reputation of our common country. 7. Resolved, That the Governor of this State be requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions, certified under the Great Seal of the State, to the Governor of each of the several States of the Union, with a request that he will cause the same to be laid before the Legislature thereof. REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS FROM NEW JERSEY, AND RESOLUTION. To the Senate now in session : The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred certain joint resolutions passed by the Council and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, relating to the repudiation of state debts, respectfully REPORT: That they fully and cheerfully subscribe to the opinions expressed in the resolutions, submitted to the General Assembly of Vermont, and be lieve that "repudiation," as it regards state or individual debts, is no where more strongly condemned than in the State of Vermont. Your Committee believe that the Legislature will express the views and opinions of the people of this State in the following resolution, which they recommend to the Senate for adoption. E. N. BRIGGS, for Committee. Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Vermont, that this State has no sympathies with that legislation which vi olates the pecuniary obligations of a State, and takes shelter under State sovereignty to evade the force of those obligations; that such a course is a violation of that good faith and high moral principle which should regulate the conduct alike of governments and individuals. Resolved, that His Excellency the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing resolution to the Executives of New Jersey and the several States. REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE STATE LIBRARY. To the Senate: The joint Committee appointed to examine into the condition of the State Library, having attended to the duties assigned them, REPORT: That from the examination of the Library, which they have been enabled to make, they are satisfied that it has been neatly and safely kept, and is now in good condition. The duties of the Librarian seem to have been attentively and faithfully discharged. By request of the Committee the Librarian has furnished a statement of the condition of the Library, which accompanies this report. S. F. DUTTON, for Committee. LETTER FROM THE LIBRARIAN. STATE LIBRARY, To the Joint Committee for examining the State Library : GENTLEMEN,-In compliance with your directions, I have the honor to submit the following statement of the facts connected with the Library during the past year. for There have been received for the use of the Library 510 volumes; distribution 1428; 532 of which were distributed near the close of the last, and during the present session, leaving 896 for future distribution. In addition to the above, I have purchased 35 volumes required by an act of the General Assembly, approved Nov. 12, 1842. The Library now contains 3097 bound volumes. In pursuance of the "5th Rule of the Library," I have procured the binding of 72 volumes, and now have between 20 and 30 volumes which D |