14 JOURNAL OF communication reported that the committee had performed that duty, and that the A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Ralls. passed And also adopted the following: Resolved, By the House of Representatives, (the Senate concurring therein) That they will, on Saturday next, at three o'clock, proceed to the election of a Senator of the United States. Which last resolution was taken up and disagreed to. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Ralls. MR. PRESIDENT:-The House of Representatives 'have concurred in the resolution of the Senate, in relation to the counting of the the votes for Governor and Lieutenant Governor; amended by striking out "ten o'clock, A. M.," and inserting "three o'clock, P. M." The House have also concurred in the resolution of the Senate, respecting the election of Senator of the United States. The bill to regulate the Governor's salary was read the first time. The rule requiring bills to be read on three several days was dispensed with, and The bill was read a second and a third time, and passed by the following vote: Yeas. Messrs. Byrd, Campbell, Lee, McClelland, McDaniel, Montgomery, Smith, Sterigere, Thompson, Valle, Vanarsdall, Walsh, and Weaver. Nays-Messrs. Deguire, Goforth, Gorham, D. Jones, Rawlins, Robison, and Williams. Mr. Smith offered the following: Resolved, That E. L. Edwards be admitted within the bar, to take minutes of the proceedings, for publication, in the Jeffersonian, Which was adopted. Message from the House of Representatives, by Mr Ralls. The House of Representatives have concurred in the report of the joint committee, to draft joint rules for the government of both Houses. And also adopted the following: Resolved, (the Senate concurring therein) That the Secretary of State be authorized to employ some suitable person to act as librarian, ring the present session of the General Assembly, that the person so employed shall keep fire, and other accommodations suitable for the use of the members, whose duty it shall be to keep the State library open from nine o'clock, A. M., till ten o'clock, P. M., to be paid out of the contingent expenses of both Houses. Mr. Smith offered the following: Resolved, By the Senate, (if the House concur therein) That the two Houses of the General Assembly meet in the hall of the House of Representatives, on to-morrow, the twenty-third instant, at ten o'clock, A. M., to count the votes for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and to have the persons elected qualified. Which was adopted. The joint resolution of the Senate, in relation to the counting of the votes for Governor, was taken up, and the amendments made by the House of Representatives, were concurred in by the Senate. The following message from the Governor was communicated by Mr. McClintock, his private secretary, and was received and ordered to be read. FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE, AND OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: In consequence of the resignation of that highly esteemed and valued public officer, the late Governor of Missouri, which took place on the thirtieth of September last, the functions of the Executive since that period have devolved on me by virtue of my office as Lieutenant Governor of the State. As such it becomes my duty to present to you a view of the condition of the affairs of the State, and to recommend to your consideration such measures as may be deemed necessary to promote our prosperity and happiness. Being so recently called upon to administer the Government, many things may escape my attention, as well in relation to those that have occurred since the last session of the General Assembly, as to those matters that should be specially presented for your deliberation. Our State continues rapidly to advance in population; the tide of emigration which has been flowing westward, brings with it an increased and increasing accession of wealth, intelligence, and virtue, and Missouri bids fair, at no distant period, to hold an exalted rank among her sisters of the confederacy. The value of every species of property has been greatly enhanced; our farmers have reaped bountiful crops; labor of every description commands a high price, and the blessings of health have been enjoyed by our population to an unexampled degree; whilst peace and plenty reign throughout our borders. With the finest lands for agriculture, and our great mineral resources, it needs only an enterprise commensurate with such advantages, to make us a rich and happy people. For these accumulated blessings we cannot fail to express our gratitude, and trust that the efforts of judicious legislation may co-operate in extending and rendering beneficial the gifts of a bounteous Providence. Allow me here to say, that the prosperity of our own State is not the only cause for congratulation; the condition of the citizens of our sister States, is greatly advancing in wealth and improvements; and in this happy state of affairs, is to be seen the effect of an untiring zeal on the part of the present worthy Chief Magistrate of the Union; one who has devoted a long life to the service of his country, both civil and military; whose stern virtue, honest heart, and wise head, have been conducting our federal government to its present elevated and enviable height. We have been, during his administration, struck with wonder and astonishment at the rapidity with which one grand stroke of public policy was succeeded by another; we have barely had time to express our approbation of one great measure, before it was followed by another and another in such rapid succession that the brilliancy of the last seemed to shed a lustre on those which preceded it. He is shortly to retire from that station which he has filled with so much credit to himself and honor to his country; let us indulge the hope, that his mantle will descend upon his successor, and our federal government be advanced, step by step, until it reaches the summit of human wisdom. The fiscal affairs of the State, will in proper time be laid before you, by the Auditor of Public Accounts and State Treasurer according to their respective duties; by which you will find the amount of revenue paid into the Treasury during the two fiscal years ending the 30th September 1836, was $134.169 32, and the expenditures for the same time were $136.013 56, being an excess of expenditures over that of receipts of $1,824 24. In the amount of expenditures however are included $3,333 33, for building jail and penitentiary and the further sum of $6,413 89 appropriated by special acts of the last General Assembly to which may be added $25,000, for the pay of the last General Assembly a sum over the ordinary expenses of that body. Deducting these sums from the amount of the expenditures, it will leave a balance in favor of the receipts of the last two fiscal years of $37,921,93. The State debt on the 1st of October 1834, was $48,526 11, of which $25,621 31, including principal and interest were owing to the Seminary fund; the balance of 22,904 80 being due the Saline fund. Since which time there have been borrowed of the Seminary fund under the authority of law $10,000, and likewise the further sum of $23,113 07, under an act of the General Assembly, approved 16th March 1835. This makes the amount of the State debt on the 1st of October 1836, $87,819 90, including interest $7,897 45 on the amount due the Seminary fund. Deducting from this amount, owing by the State, the sum of $33,159 75, the balance of revenue in the Treasury on the 1st October 1836, it will show the amount of the State debt on that day to be $54,659 32. In reference to the fiscal concerns of the State for the two years. ending the 30th September, 1838, it may be safely calculated that the receipts of revenue for the first year will be $68.000 and for the second year $75,000, which with the sum in the treasury on the 1st of October 1836, will make $176,159 75. Deducting from this the probable ordinary expenses of Government for the same time which may be estimated at $103,000, there will be in the treasury on that day $73,159 75. The amount of the State debt on the 1st of October 1838, provided the State retains the amount borrowed of the Seminary and Saline funds, and does not create any additional loans, will be $94,661from which if the balance of revenue, estimated to be in the treasury on that day, be deducted, it will show that the State will be owing at that period only $21,501 33. 08; These calculations are made upon the supposition that no change will be made in the present revenue law-But should a change be effected in the present mode of assessing property for taxation, so that all taxable property could be estimated at its fair value, it is believed that the state debt would be entirely liquidated in the next two years, provided that no extraordinary expense be incurred during that time. To effect so desirable an object as the uniform valuation of all taxable property, in the different counties, at a fair price, is a consideration of the highest importance. An inspection of the tax book forwarded to the Auditor's office will show the greatest inequality in the valuation of taxable property, particularly land.-In some counties, lands of the same quality are valued fifty or one hundred per cent. higher than in other counties. In some cases lands that would sell readily at $10 per acre are valued at $1 50 or $200 per arcre. This is unjust and shows that there is somthing radically wrong in the system or in its execution, and should be remedied. I would suggest, if the present system is continued, that the assessor be required to swear every person owning taxable property, both as to the amount and value, estimated at what could be got for it in cash; and that the court should not allow his account for assessing without his making oath that he had strictly complied with the law in the discharge of his duties. Should any person owning property refuse to qualify according to law, let the assessor be required to value the same, making the price of like property in the neighborbood his standard. Other modes of remedying this evil, preferable to the one I have suggested, may present themselves to you, in adopting which, you may calculate on my hearty concurrence. Should such a law be devised and rigidly enforced, there can be but little doubt that the revenue of the State would be increased 20 per cent., besides which, is of much more importance, equalising the valuation of property. From the view presented in the foregoing statement it will appear that the fiscal concerns of the State are in a prosperous condition, and only need the aid of some just and equitable law to insure the equalization of the valuation of property to relieve the state of all her debts in the course of the next two years. From the report of the Warden of the Penitentiary, which will in due time be laid before you, you will discover that the expenses of C that institution for the two past years, exclusive of the appropriations for building the same and the Warden's salary have amounted to the sum of $1,433 84. The amount of labor done by the convicts is estimated at six hundred and thirty six dollars and fifty nine cents, and the worth of the articles on hand belonging to the institution is estimated at $544, leaving a balance against the institution of two hundred and fifty three dollars and twenty five cents. Permit me to recommend the several suggestions contained in this report to your consideration, and that the necessary provisions be made by law to carry them into offect, especially in relation to the employment of the convicts, and the compensation of overseers and guards. By the provisions of an act of the last General Assembly, the Auditor of Public Accounts, the State Treasurer and the Attorney General were made ex-officio inspectors of the penitentiary. The legislature could not have intended this arrangement as a permanent one. I am inclined to believe that when they reflect upon the inconveniences that may attend its continuance, they will not hesitate to repeal the provisions referred to, and in lieu thereof, provide for the appointment and compensation of suitable and competent persons, as inspectors, other than officers of the government. To assist you in your deliberations on the subject of the Penitentiary system, our state library will afford you the opportunity to avail yourselves of the experience of all the states of the union, that have adopted this system of punishment. I consider it proper to call your attention to the situation of the public buildings, at the seat of government. For some years past, it has been viewed as doubtful whether it would be permitted to remain at its first permanent location, as made under the provisions of the constitution. That doubt seems for the present and many years to come, to be put to rest. The natural inquiry then is, what shall be done by you in relation to it, consistent with the interest of the State? Many other recommendations might be made, but I will submit only a few, of those most prominent. The first is not of a local character, but is one that must necessarily tend to the general advantage and interest of the community. The house now used by the General Assembly as a place for their deliberations, particularly that part used as the hall of the House of Representatives is too contracted to afford even the comfort necessary to the preservation of the health of the members or the accommodation requisite to a proper discharge of their duties, much less to afford the people an opportunity of witnessing the proceedings of their representatives. The constitution requires that the doors of each house should be kept open, except in cases which may require secrecy. The arrangement of the hall of the House of Representalives in consequence of its contracted size, affords so small a space for the accommodation of spectators that it may be considered as virtually legislating with closed doos. It is therefore recommended as expedient and proper, that an appropriation be made for the purpose of |