The New York Herald Newspaper, January 8, 1868, Page 11

— ,, TE COVERNORY MESMACE, Review of the Financial Condition of the State cf New York. Our Educational, Charitable and Penal Institutions. Governor Fenton’s Views of Southern Reconst:uction, Strate oF New York, Execettve Derantment, ALraNy, Jan. 7, 1568, i To Toe Least arunE:— Through tie favor of Almighty God the year which has just drawn to a close has been crowned with the blessings of peace and prosperity, The great and diversified interests of onr State im- pose duties of the utmost delicacy and responsibility upon the legirlitive department of the goverament. ‘The condition of our finances naturally presents itself asa leading subject of consideration, intimately con- Bected as it is with cur general affairs, and engross- ing, as it should, a large measure of public aticn- tion, The report of the Comptroller, which I commend to ‘careful attention as an interesting and comprehensive ‘document, shows the dept of the Stute September 39, 11367, after deducting the bulance of sinking funds un- ‘applied, to be $41,114,592. | There is a natural and just solicitudé as to the ability ‘of the State to sustain the burdens resting upon it, ‘and in regard to the continued ease with which tax- vation hes +o far been borne, It is apprehended in @ome quarters that there ure financial trials impending , Which will prove far more severe than any in the past. It seems to me that there is only required a prudent economy in ali matters pertaining to the administra- tion of governmen’, anda thorough revision of the ‘whole tax and assessment system, to vindicate a reasonable expectation of our continued pros- werity, Our wealth and our resources are so ‘vast that no reasoning founded upon our past ‘condition during periods of great public indebteduess tis directly applicable now. Material wealth in every form has immensely increased. ‘This is conspicuously ‘true of New York, 2s it is of a great area over which mew States are forming. As a fir measure of this ad- ‘vance it will be seen that the Nw York city banks in November, 1960, as representea vy their loans, conduct- ‘ed a business of $122,000,000, and at the e»me date in 1867 the volume of th ys was nearly $48,000,000, or more than double the bu=iess of 1860. Hardly less ‘eignificant, if not in so grent a ratio, is the advance in ‘most departments of Disiness and enterprise, a8 ‘will be founa by retere lo the tables of commerce nd tonnage, railroad aud inv a@ice capital, mercan- le, manufacturing and mech Mal employments, and ‘the ya'ue of real And personal esiate. The amount to cach person of our tax for 18.6, paid ‘to the gene al government upon an approximate esti- mate, was trom inerned revenue sources $3 80; upon ‘evstom duties, $5 15; muking a total of $13 95. Placing our popuation ut four millions, it would amount to the sum of fifty-live millions eight hundred thousand dollars, ‘The agzregute of State, county, town and city taxes can hardly exceed this sum by ten millious of dollars, It ih: assessed valuation Of taxable property was the true index of ite real value the burdens fmposed might be irded ith prea! uneariress, it no! w th justalarm. But no disquieuce has been f It a ile centres of vusi- ness, rea prop rt vas 1 antane! its prices; manu- » b&@-e p omperea, ‘rade has been‘ remu- Accord B. to Le «cng of 1865, in anaren of 42 acres vi lana empriced in "the Siate, about 16.0000 of aves are improved, and the vilue of tue farms is placed at $92°/49,381, an in- create of thitenm ten lundeitis per ceut in jOve years; end te vliation of firm stock, agri- ‘cultuia: impiewe furniture and favestn aficta Os BY ‘his onumeraiion ested in Creag , 5 many other item: 0. aa however, they fully’ 0 (have named. Ith nk it vate to assume that the te valnath n of the whole real and personal pro- pany Of the State will not fall below $4,500,000,00) ax ai rat $1,665 1.107.745 ror amned to the State Arrestore, upon which their equaizition was based. Upon is statement of value the whole agyregate of federal, ‘Btatoand local taxes would be less than three percent. i May we not take another view of the case and in- quire whether that part of cur population belongi: ‘to the productive class are uble, trom the annual profits of labor and entery Five, to sustain the estimate ry (400,000 taxation, ‘the'aggregate of our - 4 be AceoFd'ns to the census Orin, referred towns 1,777. Exciucing from this number females, and 4 pnd twenty-five aud over sixty years of ‘a nd On-producery, we have left 742,166 sons. lt fs obvious, upon this theory, het these susiain the tees burden of taxation, ‘and that the averagé paid by each about $150; im is for pu within our full oun elt of ak Pete x “own Sigge, When understoc t a nuin- ber of Ai. Un tas corscas Nom tesir wealthy Day meny times $150, it follows that the remainder pay pone renga the burdeil adjusted upon a Peal a ze OF ne rue Salas Of eae en and Sil possonsed would, Ve inucet a sini oe e in mind, aisy, that the amount > diminished boih from the extipguishme™’ of debt ite increase of popu ation and wealth. It is in Grtér, however, to euppose that females ai minors contribute pothing to’ Our practical resource: po oe gen of productive wealth, It is to be remem- thet all invested capital is produciive to the community as well as to the party making the . Weetment, and that a very large proportion of the ‘ of the Stace is owned vy enales. by minors, oy citizens, who have passed the limit of ‘throe fe years, These, tuongh not for the most part active laborers, are, thtough the invest- ment of their property in the various departments of corporate enterpr: clnding railway and navigation companies, banki ny ufacturing and all other similar corporations, avail: tuemselves constantly of the agency of vtiers to auvauce our general interests and prosperity and auguent the wealth of the State, They pay a properiion of our State and national taxes upon the property thas invested, besides sharing the Duruens cousuon to us all incident to the operation of the revenue laws. 5, The convergence of vast interests in New York, as the yreat commercial and financial centre of the na- tion: our extensive cperation®, delicate as they are important, and the large suare we are called npon to cuntribule to tue support of the general goverument, seem to justily uiore extended discussion. Ta further considering the subject, it may not be to discues, or important to settle the ques- jiion could bave been suppressed Nit has cost Wiha united dubt ik upon us, as the & and, Notwithstand: eh CONLIALUIMLE OUFsE! suort of the aver rein ofa divided we are cal ed aon ty depicre ple, we may «Ao rejoin Ats compensations, Am nz thoxe may be fama ots le-sens of warning, Ls lem, of parties and their prince ple devlopment of the iriotic endurance of our people, and the assurance it ines of the sted biy of our met. t.tlor 6, Acobt create din jain taining te | erpetulty of onr nee OF jvaluaoie rights, is one vill acre must be paid It is which we thnve all pieced our n teres: to pay it, It os j Fe ervaticn vu. our public credit no le vernment and nm @ vential 10 t. than to the meinte once of our personal, our Stat Qnd our natonallo.o. ‘There i# nardly ® wan, wo thas Hot an interest in our pablic ee, & wal tenders and iid: erly $80,000,000 of bank notes Secured by g ment honds. ‘There are sixe feo. hance dneticnal bouke wit | $419,000,000 of expital aud $560,006 ,000 on deposit, woth their officers, stock- holders and deposit rs There are also State banks, individual bankers, trust, Ine, fire and marine insur- if nuinerous parties in inter- wan, orchidt Th ance companies, with ti est, and t add the ravings banks, whore agere- gate di posits mie amount to $131,000, pver 500,000 depositors, All these institutions viy more Or less of government ¥e- is and liabilities are payable tenders of the government. Not to dwell al aud corporate interest in our public securitt ough to say thet it isa debt due trom the government which was saved to the people who saved it, It is just, however, to the government ard the people alike, that this ob ligation ehc aid be discharged in such @ manner ae ghall most conduce to the interest and the honor of poth. The podlic shoulu not be subject to undue bur- dens by torciny the premature pa) ment of the princl- pal; nor should we fal to proviae for the prompt pay- it of the interest, and each a roduetion of the prin- 5 as will not. impair our productive energies. Snel: a torced poyment t« uncalled for by @ pratent revard faith Or toe public good; emu as tt requires avy taxuifon, we may wisely forbear to ly such 0 tect to the orbeatunce and patience of ihe We have heen thoroughly ated in the doctrine that every veneration, #0 fat as possible, should pay dts own indebtedness. ‘There are exceptions. however, to this correct rule * most prominent amorg them is the ease before ua, in which great trials have been endured and great sacri- dces made, not only to protect thé present rights of the people, but to perpetuate the blessings of good government. Weighed down by the derangens end devastations of the most formidable war known to history, for the benefit of the coming gen- erations, a« well a¢ for the enfety and security of the ‘pr , we require time for the renewal ’ of industry, to re ® strength from reco! opulation. it will be I d energi our history with the r distant fuinre, from r © den will be Hymer, to extinction oF apabdlie debt created In defence of our liberties, We are 1 upon, therefore, hy every const feratt it and of duty, to relieve labor from its opproeeive uid ws evil pulichibey, sebeliion:has-cattied epan.as ceatens ta taxation, to the sulutic nof this em the thought- ful consideration ot fal ig ny ted. rien can, and doubtless will, in their jude. ment, atrike hundreds of items from the nese are more fruitiul of annoyance than of revenue, and it should reduce and just the taxes so as to have them fill where they would be least felt, most rea ‘til paid, and most easily collected, With a judicior reduction tment of taxes, wise tetrench- ment, und a firm and impartial enforeement of the revenue laws; with industry relieved and enter) rise encoursged, and the vast treasury of our national re- sources inade tribuvary to our progress, we look (0 the future of the country’ with calm and assured confi- deuce. Our national production has doublet in thir- teen or fouriven years, and we may reasouably expect, with taxes so reduced as not to iinpede our natior development, our power from production will be twice 4s great at the end of that period of time, At least, an estimate based on past conditions of growth can hardly fail to be realized in the future. ‘The readjustueut ubove suggesied iy the more essen- tual iv view of the bigh price of commodities and the Jow price of gold which tend as a stimulant to forciga importations, Itis hardly to be expec ed, however, that We shall ever get back to the prices which prevailed prior tothe rebellion, I need not advert to the causes further than to remark, that gold bas depreciated or lost in its purchasing power from its greatly increased pro- | duction withiu the last few years, In countries where & gold currency prevails prices bave steadily wereased, and irom the prospect aud returns of the mines this cause must iwevitably continue to affect prices in a greater or leas degree. ~ Ia regard vo local taxes’ I am convinced that our method of assessment is essentially defective. It caa- Lot be doubied that a’ much nearer approximation to equal assessment could be attaived if our laws provided for specific reiurns of ali taxable property. No one can question that the personal property of individuals vi Jargely escapes taxation. ‘ihe personal property of ‘his State in 1860, after deduactivg corporate property, lett the amount astes-ed to sudividuals at about $100,000,000, This class of property in Georgia was assessed that s oar, after deductiug the Slave property at the cetimated ay- erage value of $400 a siave, at $202,000,000; in Missis- fippl at $333.000,000, and in South Carolina at $262,000,000, fm Quio, for the year 1866, the amount was $406,000,000, The same year in tals Staie the ersoual property indicated was about §230,000,000. ow much of this was corporate property jo the Siates referred to for comparison I am $879,056 has been allowed and passed te the credit of ‘the Biate, teaviny $050,286 whic s aow im the course Of settiemeut, but uuver existing regulations gubjec: feobnical ogjections winch ipvoive gome delay, 1 have Miso caused to be presented twe claim arising under toree huadr.d aud einety-seven and four hun- dred and twenty-one of ihe laws of 1862, amounting to $231,845, which, with the preceding sum, wili nearly baiance the amount advanced by the United uw cluding the direst tax; the difference being only $2,842 Tbe value of the clothing aod equipage re- tained and issued to the National vuard of the Siate bas not been ascertained, but under the preseut orders oe ‘tue ar Deparment thers can be mo doubt of an T ment of this portion of our account apon an equitanle basis, beady ve are Severa! of Compuratively small amounts created by thority Of acts of tue Legigiature in 1862, 1864 and 1865, and which, as soon as prepared, will be embraced in the scbedules for payment, The State bas taken the init.atory measures Lo secure a final and complete setile- ment, by ppoiutiment of commissioners under tbe rovisions of cuapter three hundred and fifty-seven, #8 Of 1867, aud it 18 to be boped that Congress will speedily authorize ihe appointment of a similar com- mission on the part of tue Uniied States, clothed with full power to ailow all equitable claims, Every proper | ettort sould be made to ths end, aad whon fully ac- complisved there will be cause for congretulauon that the “tate has emerged from the great conthet with so lise disect burden for ordinary military expenses, MILITARY. DEFARTM NTS, The Nationa! Guard of the State bas improved durin, the past year in organization, discipline and practice, Lt has ceen my pride, bardiy loss than my duty, to pro- Mote such & Coudivion of our miliiary 1orce shat, in or- dinary periods, it might inspire general contiveace, and ipemergencies to which @ great 18 gudjaot, its power could be displayed wits advantage and honor, It will be conceded that there should be at all times & good orgunization of volunteers, well armed, equipped aud uniformed at the public cost, practiced and dis. Ciplined to the attainable extent in peacs, aud ready for auy emergency that shail cail tuem te arms, It seems to me, howe that we should undertake to maintain only so ini may be placed on @ compicte war footing, and trugt for its increase {rom time to time te our advance im popu- iativa, enterprise aud prosperity. I therefore respect- fully reooumend the reduction of the present minimum of the National Guard to a number that can be tuily Sugeest. thoroughly disciplined qualified for active ju ot jormed, but it could not have been very consideravie, Evideatiy the assessment 13 based on diftereut principles, designed to produce a more just distribution of bu: : for there can be no doubt but the personal property of individuals in this State is many times more than that held in the above- named States. ‘The exisiing laxity avd inequality of ‘Anseasiment Operate with severity aud injustice upon real estate, and upon those who are taxed more neurly or entirely to tue sum of their personal property, tes likewise evident tat this defective assesement of per- soval property throws an undue and disproportionate share of the State tax upon counties, where but a mod- erate amount of personal property is heid. Real estare may be, and doubtless is, generaliy undervaiued; but a uniform increase in its Valuation, while reducing the perceatage, will not eflect the amount of tax, and it apparent that it would be reduced by just so much as personal property is brougut to light and made to bear its equitable share of the burden. If discrimination may be made, it should not be to the prejudice of real estate, because personal property cosis the public more for its protection, and general y yields a oe protit. We have noibing to fear from unwillingness in the people to von- tribute fatrly to a just distribution of taxation, but un- qual as is is, the murmar of discontent may be ex- pecied. A burden which may easily be borae when distributed uniformly and equally, placed on the should- ere ol few, or upon the many With unjust discrimina- Hon, becomes oppressive. laws in several of the “tates require in- dividuals to furnish returns of their property as the basis of vaiuation, The tax laws of Ohio are represented to me as working satis‘actorily, and [ believe the same experience has obtained in some of the Easteru States, In this or some other anu better form arcmedy svould be Es for the imperfections of our existing system. ] commend this important matter to your early consideraiion, and respecttuliy suggest that, if the difficulties incident to the question should seem to you to require it, it might be advisabie to provide for » competent commission to investigate the subject and report promptly to the Legis- lature such facts a8 they —_can_—colieot, with soch recommendations is may be deemed advisable, in view of the practical resuite of legisiation iu otuer States io aid of thia general object. The end to be aitained is one im which the entire community is deeply interested, Every ciass of our cit‘zens recognize the necessicy of reform, and all will cordia'ly acquiesce in suca legislation as will secure a fair and just equaliza- tion of the genera: burden, Every citizen will be con- tent todo bis part, if be can be assured thar de ix charged witu no mere than his own equitable aud tegiti- mate share. GANALS AND CANAL FUND. Balance im the troasury and invesied, ct 1, ‘ Received during the year. Total.........++ Paid during the year. ‘Leaving a balance Septembor 30, 1867, of.. $3,840,935 REVENUN DURING THE PISCAL TEAR, From tolle.... Rent of surplus wats Tuverest on current canal revenues... Miscellaneous receipts....... To Canal Commissioners tor repairs, $313,681 691.0384 Collectors’ offices... revenues, refunding tolls, print- {ng and miscellaneous paymenis, 1,220,102 Surplus revennes........ Beebe 2, 830,165 Surplus revenues which have been transferred tu the sinking (upds as tullows:— Under articte 7, section 1, of the constitution $1,700,000 Under article 7, section 2, of the constitutior Under article 7, section 3, of the constitution. . Total interest on September, Principat, Annual Interest +. $3,247,900 $162,395 Under artic'e 7, section 3, of ‘the constitution... . 10,775,000 646,250 article 7, section 12, of ion. 1,700 000 102,000 22,900 $910,645 regia King fonds, appli- cable owe canal debt at the close ‘of the flefad year re $3,214,940. None of the stocks nat ia the fore- @ $247,000 ‘The depart Of bve and six per cent unmatured cans! stocks at a dis- count of $75,187, and redeemed $53,300 of stock over- due and pot betere presenied for paymont, making a toval of $2,497,000 purcrased and caucelied during tbe year. On the Ist day of October, 1868, the actual and esiimated balances in the sinking (unde will exceed $4,000,000, applicable to ihe payment ef the principal — Of the canal debt, At the close of thy fiscal year in 1460 the aggrega ¢ of this debt w: + $27,107,321 15,722,900 Amonnt of redoction in seven years... .. $11,384,421 Shouid the surplus of $4,000,000 bo applied in October, the debt will be reduced to $11.7: upon the canal revenues, will be discharged in 1577. Tue taxes levied and money appr: priated for the im. provement of the Champlain canal, according to the plan prescribed by the act of 1864,’ will not complete the work, and the further sum of $20,000 is required of those on tue Erie seems essential to its full measure of usefulness, ‘The amount needed for such an im- Provement ought Bot to exceed $260,000, The im- portance and vaiue of this branch of our system of it. ig one of the State works the present constitution, and character. The revenues of this canal in good condition, it is believed, wonld be fuily adequate for nocensary repaire and maintenance; but its improvement will become a charge upon tue | public tressury. for several seasons during the sum- | mer months the deficiency of water on the summit Jevet of this canal has impeded, and jatterly wholly in- terrupted, navigation near its southern terminus, If ‘we continue to refuse the amount necessary to restore canal to a navigable ition it is equivalent to # soutbern portion of the line may be Tt is estimated by intel) the difference of tolis arising from # judicious @x- penditure on this canal would pay six per cont oo $250 000. If this be true our pecuniary interests will not be impaired, while our good faith will be tained, in granting the aid needed to resiore to use thie pubiie work, Upon the extension of the Chenango canal the of $442,146 has been expended and the work is suil unfinished. ‘The appropriation bas becn exhausted and the work upon it has been stopped. The deliberations of the Canstitational Convention do not warrant the be- Niet that, in am amended constitution, the creation of a debs for canal purposes will be authorized, Our expo- rience derived from the history of our public works 19 verse Lo the economy, to sav the least, of a temporary their prosecution. Assuming that it is and ad to the eve future, T reapectiully invite your attention to the con- sideration of the question, whether it may not be well to proceed with the work without further delay. of the Stato are in a fair and Prosper. ous condition, and by the contribusons to the pablic wealth and business, justify the policy that bas inaugu- rated, maintained and exiended thece great avenues of miaud commerce, The constantly augmenting prodnc- tions of the great West, the iron, coai and jumber trade, together with freight from o(her sources of development, whieh attain with each returning year siill greater pro- 76 increased support to our public works, and incite to yet further ad: o in perfecting the tact! ties for internal transportation, For detailed starements | as (o their particular condition and noeds, I respectfully | refer you to the report of the Canal Commissioners and the Canal Auditor, HAIMS AGAINST THH CRNKIAT The settlement of the nowijisted acc the State and the United Siates bas raphy as their complicated nature wond per that portion for war expenses, amounting to $1 which bad heen suspondey n Was vnad) wt tho date of my lavt annual moses, the sum of I submit for your consideration also the propriety of authoriziog eacampments of the militia tn varivus sec- ons of the Stace during the coming season. Such a Measure would tena to incit rit of geperous enmuta- fiom productive of improvement in the drill aud dis- cipline of our arms-bearing populauon, Assembied in targe bodies, subjected to rigid inspectiom, and schooled im the routine of mjitary duty, the men become, in some degree, inured to the exposures and hardships of the more severe service of the Held. ‘The present numerical strongih of the National Guard is about foity-tive thousand, officers and men. For a dotaited account of the condition of the military f.rces Of the State 1 refer you to the report of the Adjutaut General, which wuigoon be transmitted for your con- sideration. SOLDIERS’ AGENCY AND HOME, Incident to the ciose of our late war aro certain ap- Peuts tor aid which enlist the oigher sentiments of our Datuie and command hearty and Roueral appreciation, Promi amoug these ere the collecituu and prezerva- tion of tue evidences of the patriotism of our “tate, of the endurance and valor of those of ber sons who parti Cipaied in that great siruggle, und of tue leading histori- ‘ai mcidents of this meuorabie period of our history, From the report of the Chief of the Bureau of Mili. tary ctatistics it will be seen tuat the labor of preserving aud arrauging the memorials and historical oaratives hasbeen conuioued. Very muca of interest and value bas been added during the year, Tho sum of $10,017 bas been received ivr we ‘Hall of Miutary Record’? since tue last report, making the whole sum {ur tuat Purpose, up to the provent time, $36,233. The work has already been commenced on the now Capuol, under favorabie promise of early completion, sod I venture to renew the suggestion made iu my last annual me-sage that a suitable room, both as to arrang ment, safety aud locuiioa, may be provided in that buding for the pul I have indi without increased public expoudiwre or iaconvenience to other public interests, In view of the tact that bardiy one-haif of the amount contemplated by law bas been raged for the ‘Record Hail,” aud that it is not probable ‘that the baiaace wili ve fully paid in, it bas seemed to me that the tunds thus far donated for that purpose could very properiy be used in foundiog a permanent so.diers’ Lome, for disabled men of oup volunteer torces, ‘1h.s would not be such a departure from the original object as to disappoint the purpose of those who con- tributed to the fund; on the comwrary, it would meet their heart. 4 @urnesi approval. It is presumed that the generosity of the citizens of Albany who placed at the disposal of the State @ suitable lot for the proposed ball, would tind equaliy hberal expression tu any ar- range! for the permanent location of the Home in the buiidings pow used for that purpose. ‘the military ageacies at Washington and Albany have met with grea: success in their beoelicent work, Over $665,000 ave been coliected since January 1, 1867; more than forty thousand letters have been written, ani there are now in the agencies, pending action at the de. par.ments ia Was! ington, ‘over elghtoen thousand Ciaima, involving at least $2,000,000. 1 think it not tao much to say tuat co public trust, requiring so much de ‘\auied labor, has been administered with more economy, nor is there any charity with stronzer claims or mure appropriately under the care of the state. there are at preseut in the ‘Soldiers’ Home" two hundred and seventy-nine inmates, O1 these one hun- dred and one have lost one or more limbs, severty-five have been otherwise mutiiated and the remainder aro in the hospital for treatment or disabled frum sickorss, During the summer months some of these men obtained | light employment, and for # time supported themsoives; but om the appreach of winter, because of a de- creased demand for such labor aod their inability to withstand the severity of tho season, many of them returned to tue institution A large number eater Home for temporary ussistaace wounds or recurring sickness. health, by Pension, they can maintain themselves, and it is only when compelled from these causes that the shelter of the Home is required. During the first year nearly three-fourths of the admissions wer of tus Character, and during the past year about the same Proportion bave been received. This large class, by far the most numerous, and alike entitled to consideration, are not within the requirements for admission into United States Home, which receives only those who boheme og A disabled, SometBing more shoula be done ry us, Hy “ ro that an arrangement could be mado with the United States autborit: ‘State and under our supervision and control. vation leads to the opiaion that the soldier leaves his own State, however picasant and generous the rotreat within another may be, with extreme re- luctance. It was a pattiotic duty to accept the trials of war, but it is bard, afier the war 1a over, to separate these suffering and maimed defenders so widely from home and friends, and to remove them from the State whose safety and peace have been secured ny their anfaitering courage and devotion. I do not over. ostimete we and the gratitude of the people of - N jing your readiness as their repre- eet the utmost requirements of these fd It is therefore searcely necessary to recommend that an appropriation be made for the establishment of a permanent home, Should the Legis- lature, however, not concur these views, 1 respect. fully ask that provision be made to continue the presest arrangement until such time as the transfei the whoily disabled to the United St-tes homes can be effected, and until the partially disabled are tm such condition as to justify their retarn to their families, neighbors or friends, PUBLIC CHARITIES, A liberal and humane policy ta relieving the subjects of miafortune and attletion has prevailed in this State froin an early period in our history. Through legislative action aad tbe various channels of private benevolence the means and facilities have constantly boen multiply. ine for providing for the wants of the hapless and desti- tute In all the departments of public charity, It no sooner became apparent that the provision for the pro- tection and treatmont of the invane at the Utics asylum were inadequate than measures were taken to provide the needed accommodations, Two other sustitutions were projected and in procoss of construc. tion—the Willard Asylum, at Ovid, and the Hudson River Asyiom, kt Poughkeepste. The central porvon and one wing of the former are nearly finshed, and it may be Opened ‘or the reception of patients during the preseat year. ‘The commissioners in charge seom to have shown a wise regard for ecouomy in prosecuting the work by using materials found on the lands appropriated by the State, and avolding the need- lone and improt nt eXpenditures which too oltea aug- ment the cos structures erected under Stato authority, The trustees of the Hudson Riv adopted well conceived p' nd are now engaged im the & ti of their duties, The necessity which called for it care of the State over this class of her heipiess children will continue with in- creaming force until these additional institutions aro opened for the reception of patients. | would, there- fore, recommend such action as will lead to their early compiction, a# a matier of wisdom as weil as humanity. The officers of the asylum at Utica report the gencral operations of Ghat inatitution for the past year as fol- lows:— Under treatment at the commencement of the Received during the year. Whole number treated. . Discharged during the year. Discharged improved during 5 Dwcbarged unimproved durmg the year. Discharged as not insane daring tne year. bi the Sy Progress, but Ppropriation to complete the tasteiul and well arranged siructure now in course of construction, They have manifested commendable regard for the interests of the State, and im the prosecution of the be oy have displayed marked intel! o@, Zeal and ability. ‘The board of trustees suggest that the number and needs of this class of unfortunate persons are such a8 to call for two it tions of thie character, Should this ¥ obti F attention is respectfully directed to thelr earvest recommendation for the purchase of the buildédg at Binghamton, already selected and propared for the temporary use of the blind, To pursuance of au act of the inst Logistature the trus- tees of the Inebriate Asylum at Binghamton bave con. veyed the asyium property to the State, The board have continued in the discharge of their duties, and I Ah Inforined the aaylura ta now in successful operation, Questions relating to the change of te and the neces. aiby Of a modilied system of Fogulations Will doubttese be divensted in the report of the trasiees ‘The insireations already Jn operation for the treatment of the bind, the deat abd damb aed the idiotic, and thors of a toformatory character ate fiGlling the jurt expectations of the state, and producing the bouofivent Ly trae of tule ie appare The Inst Legis porting a board wien the powet of vistiat rvieion over all public cintiins, ¢ {Wed And OxpotizacH wore yolooted In addition (0 the foregoing accounss | ; trust. Owing, however, to the probebie affect- Ula Class of interests bb the mous of & ROW Constitution, juey UAVe NOL Yet proceeded 10 make ¢ abuses, Dieted-the plans they are ergaged im maturing for tue PUrpore of re orming exts'ing delec.s aud insuring bet- ler discipline in these coaritabie agencies, 1 1s never- theless true that much valuable wformation bas beea elicited, aud thor report will Lave an interest commen- Surate with bhe importance of the subject. At will be conceded thata system involving so large an expenditure of public money, embracing all classes of the destitute, tue affl.ctod and the depreved, saould bo perfecced as farus possible; und it is believed that the labors of @ commission so inteliigent aud competent, Will lead Co retorms which will diwinish the expouses of mainte ving «bese jasitutions, and render tem still ore eilective us agencies of public cbarit; Your attention is invited to the interesting report of ir. Joba Jay, the special commissivver appointed by mre to represent the tate ia the Board of the Antietam Cemetery. The cometery was ort inally founded by (ue Lexisiature of Maryland xs a State enterprise, for we in- terment of all who fell in the bate of Aatielam or during the first invasion of Lee by a subsequent jaw of Maryland it was converted into a nationai cemes ‘tory Lor Lhe samo purpose, to be governed vy & board of trustees representing the States whose dead should be inverred theretp and who sbouid join in ts establish. ment, Besides New York the States of Now Jeracy, Minne- sola, Maine, Rhode Isiand, Penuaylvania, Wisconsi ‘West Virginia, Massachusetis, Ubie, Indiwba, Vermont Bod Michigan bave joiued the asseciation aud made ap- propriaious for upport, New York was a larger ine terest than any of the-@ Staves in this cemetery from the greacer proportion of her sona who fell in the bat- Ue. Of thirty-one Officers and two thousand four hun- dred and six. soldiers whose re- been — identitied ds interred = up o -23d of §=May last, nine officers and hundred and thirty six soldiers were trom New York, aud this numver bas since been increhsed, the total berials in November last being reported at four thousand six puvdred aod seventy-five. A very clear and satisfactory account is given by the commia- Biouer of the care with which the interments bave been Conducted, with @ vi-w lo the identification of each par- ticular grave, and of the substantial Character of the improvements om (he cemetery grounds, and the prudence aad judgment with which the funds have been applied. " The appropriation by this State of $10,000 will its share of the entire cost of com- plowing the cemetery aud ali tue proposed improve- ia, It yot remains to provide fur headstones, with f inscription, for the g: h soldier, and a pro rata contribution toward the monumental staiue of a Union soldier keeping guard over the dead, wh ch the iustees propose to erect at an expense of $40,000, STATE PRISONE. Tt appears from the report of tue inspectors that there Were 4,920 mmaies in the Stae prisous on the s0th of Septemoer last, fhe mavagement of the prisons nas given general satisfaction, and the financial results are more favorabie than I had at one time apprehended, It is true that the expenditures have been about $170,000 over the receipts; Dut the causes which have produced this result are ciearly and vatisiaciorily explained in tuo annual statement of Lhe inspectors, itis desirable that the receipts should be at least equal w the expenses, this cannot properly be regarded as the primary viject, even as ove of the most essential requirements of institutions, The regu ation of the mod: of punishment, the sale keeping of c nce of prison discipline and the adapucion of the means employed for the reformation of the crimi- nals, are matters of even greater importance than a fiscal balance in our favor on tho prison iedger. It ‘seems possible, however, to promote this end without drawing, under ordinary circumstances, upon the pub- lic treasury, The wost tuvorabie results trom the in- dustry of convicts have been attained at tho Dannemora prison, Where the iumaces are employed directly by the agents of the State, Itis the judgment of the inspec tors, in which I am inclined te coucur, that the exteu- sion of this system to our other prisons would be attended with tage to the convicis and proiit to the Stace, ahe reeords of the prisons show ap improvod state of discipline, resulting, doubtiess, trom more strict ministrauion, and tue incentives 10 good conduct heid Out to the couvicts under the authority of wrecent act of the Legislature, allowing them to carn geriain de- ductions from the period of imprisonment by the care- ful observance of prison reguiations, 1. i# not improbable that some modifications of our prison sysiem wiil be recommended by the Coavention for the Revision of the Coustituiton, aad hence I tor- bear toenter more largely upon the discussion of this branch of the public interests. The whole subject of our prisom administration, the punishment aud re- formation of criminais, and the exercise of the pardon- ‘and thoughtful consite- mains bad s much more remains to be dove in perfecting reform which seem to be attainable through well guarded aud enlightened legislation. The number of allen immigrants who arrived a the port of Now York during the past year was two hundred and y-two thousand seven hundred and tuirty-eizht, being nine thousand tureo hundred and twenty in excess of last year. Immigration is ono of the sources of the wealth of our country and an essential element of ita progress and power. lt is estimated that during the last twenty years about four imillions of im- migrants have arrived at the port of New York alone, aod wo may safely assume that these accessions, together with their natural increase, amount at present to eight miliios or pearly one-fourth of our eatire population. While it ig true that our cheap and fertile jands, our profitable pursuits and our free institutions tovi hither, itis also true that commerce and industey generally follow the march of the mamigrant. ‘A glance at the rapid growth of our Northwestern State: and of some of our Northern cities plainly discloses toe influence of this cause upon our general prosperity. Our recent civil war hus removed tne obstacies which tended to discourage the unmigrant from settling in th Southern portion of our couviry, but which will now Claim to participate in Uhis agency so important to its early recovery from the devastations of war and the de- gradation of Jabor consequent upon the long prevalence of slavery, The Commissioners of Emigration deem ita privilege to extend a hearty weicome to the new comers, nd direct their tootateps to those invitiag fields of in- dustry and profit, It will be regarded as a duty we owe alike to our institutions and to the emigrant whom we invite to our shores to encourage and foster @ wise distri- bution over our country of these inflowing elements of national wealth and p the fund under the contrel of the Commissioners is created by a per capita tax of $2 60 for each alien, which # deveted mainly to the support of the sick aud and in maintain. Purposes f the la The landing depot at Castle Garden has been iinproved, the facilities for land - ing purposes increased, and mew’ appliances added for the comiort and security of the immicrant. From the fund thus obtained, also, large aod beautiful Lospital buildings bave been erected on Ward's Island, where the unfortupate and afflicted are kindly cared for and pre- for the new associations and the active affairs of ‘tho land of their adoption, ‘The improved sanitary condition of the Metropolitan strict during the past year, and the decrease in the ortality of the cities of New York aud Brooklya, are important and gratifying, ‘rom statistics furuiahed me by the Health Officer it eppoars that since January 1 last one hundred and forty-eight vessels have been placed under quarantine, To addivion, over two hundred vessels came from ports known to be infected with yollow fever, news were required by law, as well as by common’ prudence, to be detained a sufficient time to determine whether they were free from disease, The danger to which we are exposed, and the disaster that would be likely to follow from inefficient or 1competent admicistration of our quarantine and health laws, are not lightly to be est. thaved, ‘The hospital authorized to be erected om Weet Back, ‘under the act of 1566, has so tar prozressed that its final and successful compietion is promised early the coming son. This, itis believed, will mect one of the great dg of the sanitary authorities, but they will still be without warcbouses for intected goods, proper facilities for well passengers detained under quarantine, or a suitable landing and boarding station duty ot tl general government to provide such warenouses is generally conceded, and I am not without hope that Congress will yet take measures to thia end. Provision Was made by the act of April last for the temporary occupation of Barren island as a plaoe for the detention of well passeugers under quaraatine, and for a permavent station op Couey Ivlaud,. Ase for the latter was selected by a board of officers charged with that duty, butthe Commissioners have beeu restrained by injunction from taking possession. The law au- thorized the selection of suitable site on the west end of the was deemed roper tbat it should embrace @ sufficient area is secure compleie isolation, and thus avoid any possible danger from {ts use for quarantine parposes; but Lam advised that the Court has decided that the powers of the Board wore limited, and that they had no right to teke the question of Jon into consideration, ‘The effect of the decision has been to reader that por+ tion of the act inoperative, and your attention is re~ spectfully direct @ stiould de further legistation to promote the original object, Tho Police, Fire and Central Park Cominissioners have continued to discharge their important functions to t gatisfaction of the people of the siate, and in # manner expecially accaptable to the communities more imme. diately affected by their action, An act ‘was passed by the Legistature in 1865 to @a- thorize the erection of warehou-es and docks im (he port of New York tor quarantine purpoves These docks and warehouses were designed to racilitate the discharge of cargoes {rom vessels not infected with diseu-e, al- though subject to detention by reason of exposure on the voyage or in porta irom which thay sailed, At present such vessels are relieved from their cargoes by lighters ai sme point In the bay consileravly removed from the main land. It wes suppoved that the preectod wareliouses could be erected in tne bay, not leas than one and @ haif miles from shore, and a resirichoa to that ferred to. By the jovernor waa authorized to point Commissioners to confer with the authorities of the State of New Jersey relative to the inwudiciency of tho quarantine regulations with that State, applieabie to the watere, and land uoder water, within bor jurisdic. tion. It bas been agcertained that a suitable site cannot be found except on lands under water, the proprietary right to which is ceded t@ New Jersey by the compagt made with that State in 1834, The commissioners pointed have endeavored to obiain the grant, and the of that State, by joint resvintions passed in Apri , designated Corminiasioners to coaler with ther of the subject The result of their conference, [ am assored, will bo communicated to the Logisiatures of both Stated io thine fos aon duviag the present winter, Iu connection with this subject my at been eailed to @ prosecution imetivuted t torney General, in the nume of the people! against the New Jersey Central Katroad Company, to prevent tho construction by tit company ,of docks and pliers pro jocting trom the New Joreay shore fer oyt.Awto the ay of New York, A. laze ayea of vay, oditiprising many hundreds of acres, ts included within thors strue tures, The compact between the states oxpres:ly seeured to New York exclusive juriediction over (here warere to low wator mark on the Jersey shore, but subject to the right Of the Intter state to tonstract Wharvos and docks New Jersey that the provisions of the «wou racdon, by legal inpe pany ef sirac ures into tue bay, wader grauts obiained from that Ir coatinued soey will commerce ; Violation of the territorial rignts of New York stitutes au additional and conclusive reason for res:rain- ing them, In either view it is obvious that ines on both shores of the harbor showid be established, beyond which docks should not be extended, With my saucuon the Commusiouers appointed presenied the subject tO the agents op ibe part of New Jersey. It 8 hoped that a cLOry arrangement will be agreed wpon and submitted to you at an early day, The questions involved are of tue greatest import- ance, ihe foreign aod domestic trade at tho port of New York is of immense magnitude, and that cuy is already the rival of tho leading s:aporie of the Old World, In the hope that imveronts so vast may be tur- ee 1 tuink 6 desirabie to continue ibe ovine -sion. ‘The whole subject relat‘ng te obstructions of the bar- Dor, anu a more commud.out id complee symem of wharves aud piers, is of grave public importance, aud Emmeesialy commend 1% to your vareful Cousidora- 10n. a BPROIAL LEGISLATION, In my last annual message | alluded tothe importance of sirict adherence to thu policy dicated in the tirst section of the eighth articie of the coustitution, which provides that corporations may be formed under geueral laws, “out shail not be created by sp ciul act, except for municipal purposes, and im cases where, in tue i of the Legislature the objects of the Corpera- ‘cannot be attaised under gener laws.’’ Acting ta tbe spirit of this prov.sion she Legislature, from time framed laws of general scope und applicauon, almoat wholly removing (ue necessity for specail char- tera, It seems to me that this roqwiation should be sirictly observed and that excepsous should be adinit~ sed only in cases of extreme bardabip and when tue public good clearly justifies a departure from tho gen- eral rule. ‘The pressure of private interests hag led to ts disregard, and we bave seen tudividuals and associa. tous obiaa by inconsid: rate legisiative grants unueces- sary and extraordinary special privileges and powerr. In @ period of vast transactions aod great cummercia: activity competition in every department of enterprise nds increased stimulus, and you doubtless will be fre- queutly invoked to advance schemes which piomuse individual advantages and the promotion of objaci seem nly meritorious, ‘The dun ls in the tendency to give projecta for private advantage and gain ap undue prejudice of the vast public trusty committed to your Special and immediate supervision, ‘The imet Legimiaiure passed more than ono thousaud bilis, of which nine bundred and seveoty-four received my approval, cover- ing twenty-six bundred printed pages. OF tuis number one bundred and tweive only were of a geverai public while three = hun and = thirty. exclusively to private inter sis. and Ove hundred and twenty-five had merely a local bearing. If it 18 considered that the work of preparing, examimog and maturing these measures Was gompressed into @ period of leas than four mouths, it will be apparent that a yreat pro- portion of tbe bills must Lave beeu passed wituour care- ful examination and @ deiiberate consideration of their 4 ten days of ihe session, and notwithstanding close application on iny part in the discharge of the duty devolving upon me, tour hundred aud ninoty four did not receive my approval until alter the adjourn. ment of the Legiximture. Tins is pot wholly aa exogptional case. With my immediate predecessor 281 Dlils the first year ef his ‘term aud 240 ihe eecond year were acted Upon after the close of the se-sion, and ebviously from the sume cause. It eavnet be doubled that a Urm adherence io the policy indicated in tue con- sutution would tend to more careful legisiation, aud a great reduction in the number of the laws, It 18.4 sig- nificant fact that the French House of Deputies, dur- ing its Inst session, of more than five months duration, —euacted = only 135 lawa. The Parliament’ of Great Britain, the years 1865 and 1866, enacted but three hundred ninety-six, and the Thirty-eigbth aod Thirty-nioth Con- gress of the Unived States, embracing @ period of four years, enacted only three hundred aud twenty-oight laws, including those of # privatewnd public cuaracter, ‘Tuis comparison gives support to the prevalent opinion that we notonly legwsiate too much bus that a portion of the measures over which the Legisiaturo exercises Juri-diction are imperfecuy considerud, uncatied tor aud Jead to embarrassment and confusion, Entrusted by tue coustitutién with the authority to impose taxes for pablic purposes, and charged with the duty of restricting the powers of municipal corporations: to contract debis, the obligation resting upon you is alike delicate, arduous aud,responsible, A large portion of the tax borne by the people is the outgrowth of the reoont war, the exigencies of which justilied the assent ‘of the Legisiature to the large burdens assumed by toe State and by localities, Hut the war hay passed, and every consideration of policy, patriotism and interest points to the necessity of a prudent husbandry of the public resources and a careful avoidance of all experi- mental legislation for mere private or corporate ends, EDUCATION, ‘The following summary is gathored from the records of the department of Public Instruction and from the interestiag report of the Superintenden' For the support of common schools, public moneys, including three quarters mili tax. . $1,408,163 Voluntary local taxation in the schoul districts 5,691,871 Raie biils.. + _ 743,306 Other sources Balance on hand... ‘Total number of children an: ‘the ages of five and twenty-one years....... Number of children between the ages of six Number of children ot school age wno hat tended the public schools during some por- tion of the year.......... sreceesevee 047,163 Teachers employed in public schools for twenty-eight weeks or more. Number of male teachers. Number of female teachers. Number of school districts. Number of scnool houses. Aggrexate number of wee Voiumes in district libraries. Number of pupil teacuers attending normal schovis. seveseceseeees tn teachers? institu teachers’ classes in academie=. portioned for the bic schools 18 tween tive and gnd youth In dally attondance at the 80.62 per cent of the entire number twenty-one years of age, or 44.54 per cent of the whole number of children between six aud seventeen. In wy last annual message [ expressed the opinion that the propositions for the location of normal and traintug schools im the villages of Fredonia, Br ckport, Cortland and Potsdam would be carried sato full effect at the eartiest practicable period, That op.aion has been coniirmed, ho erection of the buildings bee been vigorously located, the value cannot be less than $400, schools at Fredonia and Cortland will be open forthe suing summes oF early butiding at Brockport is completed and occupied for a normal school, which is in successful operation, The Oswego and Albany normal schools are reported to be in @ prosperous condition, each numbering as many papil teachers as can well ho provided with ingtraccion. The establishment of two additional norma! schoois has been anchorized by law, oue at Haffaio and oue at Gonosee. Tho liborality and public spirit of the people of these places will not fait to consummate an enter- prise of #0 much local and general importance, 1 ans intormed by the Supertotendent of Public Instruction at the law of last winter which abolished rate bills 4 charges, though Mt has been in eperaion only since ai the Ist of October last, is producing very large increase of (ne aggregate Dumber of {9 at the sehools and dance. It 1s believed greaior regularity in: their a that the additional tax unposed vy that law will equal the amount of mousy which bas burovofore been raised by rate bills, It bas the effect, as will be geen, to de- crease local or school district taxation by so much as it inerenses the genoral state tax. It simply transfers the burden from the tew to the many; from those with timited means, vut possibly with large families, tw the aggregate property of the commonwealth. An exami- paion of the aseested valuation of taxable property ia tho several school districts of the State will show that even for the support of inferior schools the percentage of taxation in certain districts oftem largely exceeds that im neighboring diatricts in which tuere are superior sciiools me of a greater number of children of school veding that the education of (he po matter of common concern, to which each voe sliowld eoutribute according to hia pecaniary ability, the jus- tive of reducing this toca district taxation by the gou- eral State tax for the #opport of schools. is apparent, Even should tho support of free schowla require crease of this tax T shouldetiil comeur in theapinion {n promoting the great interest of moral and intellectual cultivation Where can be no prodigality in tue appii- cation of the public treasure.” In all oor cities and in mort of our large villages the education of youth is provided for by speciai acts, giv- ing enlarged powers to the local authorities, or creating boards with exclusive Contre! of the schools. They are orally well managed, and it js belteved that our cols In the city as welt as in the country have ad. vanced the charrcter of our population above that of any other people, If it i true, however, aa aaserved, that poverty, crime and ignorance i jargely provail in OF most populous cities, the result, in pare at lenst, of nmegiect to educate ail hot | and thoaands of ebtléren are unadle to gain admission. ‘The provision for Many classes and more advauced pu- pile is pot deficient, but the rooms for primary scholars are overcrowded, It is probable that whe eity authori- ties bi td ana to correct this defect, but 1f otherwise, [feel con: t that the Legislature will apply the ap- propriate remedy. The Cornell University has been developed quictly and effectively during the past your, One large aud sub- etantial edifice in stone has been compleied aud anole is being rofessors have been ehose! ‘or opening the um duce the true to colved in September next, The university proceeds of the land gras Congress, continued in force, wil form a noble endowments and place the insiitution upon ® foundation which caunot fall to give it prospority and permanence. It oan hardly bedoubied that the orginal inteution of the act to promote agricul. ture and the mechanic arte will receive, In the progtoss of this university, ita highest fultimont. Combining flo, literary and practical advantages free sokaiarstivs oven to com pushed rapidly forward. A large wamber of aud bh it law granting the greatest scie y with @ large autber | law abiding otivens. it ail the Assembly districts of the State, petition Mm nected ax it ts with Praeger en Felt werchiy of Ge fodiering care of the Tegal ne the coniidence of tae people of “ratteation to the State Cabinet History, and tne importance of and of compiecing Btate, : I would also call yo. : wna and Natural. ce nail ooping up its ovitecrions Catious conveciod with '* naburel iskory ofthe State, which nave proved: imy AME letianiog te the Progress of goolvgical geleme ” vis Or ue cieilinne Cited as standard auchority iu all p TM OF the civilizea world, Our colections uave it Guring the past your in many of » wud perhaps in wo other Siate are scientific reaparch more diligently soy %t OF more carefully preserved. Our material interes:@ "0 80 tati- ately congecied with the advauce of science 1” every department of inves‘igution tuat 1 do not hebiite be commend it to further recoxnition and support. ‘The report of the Regents of tue Usiversity presente the condition of the cutieges aod academies of the State sperows, Among the inierescing suxges im their statement ts that woict relates to the growing muniticence of indivisuat citizens im the permanent endowment of the higher institutions of Jearving. Lt i8 stated, however, (uat iusianoes nave occurred im which parties wishing to ser aside funda tor educational purposes Lave been al @ loss bow to secure their permanent apolication to the end in view, Worle the State provides free instruction for alt iu the ele ments of Knowtwdge, it may properiy encowrage inde vidual Itberatity by providing woatever is needed im legislation lor tbe ;rotection of gilts aud bequesw to colleges and academies incorporated by the Stave’ aad subject to iis general supervision, STATS AND SATIINAL INTERESTS. The predictions of divaster to tue couatr7 from the emane pation of four iil ang of slaves have signally ialsifed by the event. ‘Ibey righ(s of fre men; and aa they betoro proved themsol brave and trusty suldiers, tl have now showers selves faithful und wiliil ibey have diizeotiy tht tivids which others owned for wages bardly aiduqnate to the support of bumua life, and they havo” sub- mitted = pativotiy to the wrongs which orhers were too ready to ipilict. Availing themevtves of the means of educatiou wherever tne efforts of humaat'y in their beiimif have uot becw re~ “a _by violence, they nave vindicated the wadom ~ and. justics of Congress in ad:nitting them to share wtih, ic late masters in the exorcise of the freemau's rigut of suffray THe propriety of this measure, like that of enrol'ing * them ip ourarmies during tue war, became in t mind too obvious to be po-tponed; it wi Occasium of earnest solicitude to many men, Ie is no doubts desirable that the cise the elective franchise wader a democra of goverument sbouid be educated and if the right of sulfrag* sas restricted by © it woul not tend to Lhe extension of the or to the elevation of tbe humbier orders of the com munity, Iteannot pe doubied that most of the privi- leged ctasd thas created would be contest w re {ain undiminsbed the power depositod im tneir bands; and few of tem would care to raise those “below tuem to equality of poliucal riguis One of the loadtey merits of our systew of reprosenia- Hs: tendency to secure the bencllt of just aud equal laws; to twterest every cilizen 1a the general wel- furo and prosperity; extend te all the meuns of educa- tion, aud t boid out inducemests to honorable @xeruion and the prospect of advancement, Hai still more ime portant thao tue qpalification of inteligence and tion is that-of loyat allegunce ty she goverome: condition of tlings exisied ab the South wi: this a vital sonsideration, It is conceded that, at the full of the confederacy, the states which compesed it wera “deprived of all civil goveroments.”” tlioy were disorgamized communis, aud while they failed to escape trom their obligations by destroying the Unton, they succeeded in renouncing thorr political rights under the constitution. aud in de- stroying their local State organizations. The Pre-ideub, doubtess, had authority to bold them under mille tary rule untit provision could be made for thelr reorgan zation under the authority of public law; but’ he bad no right to institute civil goverumen: for the insurgent States, He lind no power to enact or to repoad An aot of Congress, Clearly the-e were questions for the law-muking power of the government, aud ‘o be doter- mined, mot by bis will; but by tne will of the nation ex. pressed im the form prescribed by the donstitution, Hit policv,.as dixciosed, was Ww ad<ume the prorogatives of Congress and to exercise in those States the powers re haquished by the confederate teaders. He not only pro- posed bia own terme to them, but also to: the nation, and by reinstating the rebel authority with increased political power, to confer upon the vanquished the fruits of victory. His plan embraced no: levs than im- mediate representation at Washington. the Coogr ss at Richmozd having been overturned, It wae pri posed by him to restore those who bad been detected im war to the position of @ governing ” class; rusog those whom they haa recently held ja’ bun and making jaws for the vation which they b tried and failed to desiroy, % was a policy reruiting te the general stave of national justice aud mad and acceptable only Lo those who leved power, hated turiy or tympathized with the rebetion. From the West, the Fast and the North came the voice of dissatisfaction, and the work of reconstruction was entered upom'by the law-making power Lo which It belonged, ° The desire tor an early restoration of ¢ Btates to their practical revations in th people to hepe toat the expectations beid out to we rebels had motchecked the returning spirit of loyalty which was gaining ground in each he Southera. States after the close of the war. Then it was tuat Congress, at the first opportuniiy, in a vovle spirit of couctliation and forbearanve towards those whe bad risen im arms against the republic, proposed, in the form of constitutional amendments, condi ions of Testoration both genorous and just, I did not doubt, as expressed in my last aonual message, their prompt ae- ceptance, if the communi savely in rebellion were ready to accept results war, and return tothe support of a government (ramed by our common fathers, This peace offering, which was promptly ratified: by most of the joyai States, was rejected with scorn:by the ‘Thus they put it beyond all question that they were: yetanimatod by the spirit of rebeilion. It is equally clear that there could be no restoration, so faras the Ase jepended on their vuice, except on terms iuvol-- the abandooment of unprotected Southera Unionists and the abject surrender by ‘ongress of increased political power im the covernment ty disioyal persons, as @ reward for their atrempta to over- throw it, This spirit was ini by encouragement received from oilicial quarters, until at last the scenes at Fort Pillow were re-enacted at Memphis and New Or- ns, in the butchery of unarmed Union men, under the sbadow of the federat flay. This method of recow- struction being thus closed, Cougress availed itsoit of the only remaining opening to an early and peaceful re estabiahment of these States. It is well known that there was a large body of Usion electors distributed throughout tae South, conwing of those who were never in sy oy with the rebeition, and of those who, though uumuered with the insurgents, were ready to accept the results of war und to return to aud made to their old ulegiauce, These were, however, inly powerless, because they wero iurgely outnumbered by those with whom they shared privilege of access to the poilt Thero wae also @ large body of men, composing two-il thm. ef the whole population, born on the same soll, equally true to the gevernment, aud equally powerless be- cause they were distranchised, If those twa. “4 were allowed to act together in the use of the rights of ourcommon manhood it will be seen this t y obstacle was peaceably removed, as together they vat- numbered the rebel electors’ who preveuted we work of reconstruction. Therefore the que=tion to be determined by Conuress wns not one of abeitict the . &4 to the highest qualifications for a wise exercise of political rights, ‘The question in case was oue. Of practical statesmautehip, the actual condition of the country and the f tv reunion, ‘The end w o us return of ord removal of military a thority and renewal of commercing — pros perity to the States which had been the theatre of war. It promised to secure our future unity and repose; settle our public eredit on firm and jast foun- dations, aud enable the insurgents to repair the waste of w: d to bear their share of the common burden which their crime had brought upoa the country. Une der their pretended State organiza! ions the local offices were tilied by those who defled the authority of the nition, and who.bad re to take t ti of sale u lative, executive and ju es of the Uuiou, by the ne-titution. The joyal poruon ofthe population was for reunion on an acceptable basis, and giving assurance of var future security and repose. Ou the other side the die- loyal ued by new hopes, were arrayed in he tility to the people of the Union, Would it have been. wise, let me ask, on the part of Congress to male these mea the arbite: of reconstruction? Should we have reconsiructeu the insurgents into a privileged clase and distranchised the loyal population for the bevefit of, the revel minority? Should we have delivered ovor the white Unionists to the mercy of the enemies, by? whom they were pursued and oppressed? Shonld #ed, have remanded to acondition of serflom the woule body of the colored race, who became, by the termay of the amended © tution, entitled |ike ourselves wo the immunities of free citizens? Ina word, shuwld we have rejected the aid of th their loyalty and love of liberty by Nomding our armies at the peril of their lives, and by Ayhthag in Our ranks, wien victory brought no promotian to them, and when the cuptive could look only for avery or death? To questions like these there could be but One response irom the representatives of the loyal people. ‘The work of reconstruction has progressed, though for a time slowly, Constitutions have been framud, so liberal and just ta thelr provisions as to extast cour mendation ‘even from rebel generals. Thase who were arrayed against the goverament are coming over to fis support. The return of liberal instisutions, I is gratifying to note, is welcomed in States exhaw by war; and, unless new obstacles are delay It, we have every reason to b work of restoration ix ‘on the eve ot f While, then, we deeply deplore the loss ol let us re. and the desolations of this sad war, joice in that it has resulted in 1h recognition of civil iberty as the common heritage of bumanit and in the establishment of equality of right before the law, as a fundamental principle of free government. I do not overstate the patriotisin of the people in the remark that they were never moe unsled than now In the purpose to bold what has thus decu achieved as the uniooked for results of &causeless and bloody lion for the establishment of slave empire and ruction of the American Unton ‘aware that the obsiacies Sacerpowed fo tho way o! n have haturally tended the attention of the people an feom otter minticrs of wf monsti of taxation, ie retrenciument of atl owe expend: sry hondehold conn assure you of my y tand to the honor * POspers VENTON