it is to be regretted that he deemed it his duty to take such a course, in view of the deep concernment we have in the making of adequate appropriations by Congress, for these objects. Such have been demanded by the West for many years as a right to which they were entitled, as fully as that portion of our common country situated upon or near the sea board; and no satisfactory reason. has yet been adduced why we should not have the full benefit of a system which has proved so highly advantageous to others. Thus far, we can with propriety say that all the benefits reaped through the assistance of the General Government, have scarcely been worth the labor it has cost to obtain them. Considering, as I do, that the right so long claimed by us is one to which we are entitled by the clearest principles of justice and national expediency, I feel it to be proper to reiterate all of the opinions I have formerly expressed upon the subject, and to urge upon the Legislature the memorializing of Congress, to either make these improvements by appropriations from the Federal Treasury, or remove the obstacles in the way of our making them ourselves.

The subject of the Revision of our Laws, is one of consequence sufficient, in my judgment, to authorize the Legislature, at the present sesssion, to take those preliminary steps, necessary to the attainment of this object. So great is the mass of our laws now, and so crude, conflicting, and uncertain in their character, that it is very difficult for those even, whose profession gives them the best opportunities of knowing what the existing laws are, to distinguish the binding enactment from the repealed or altered law; and this evil, in connection with the manner of publishing our Statutes, leaves the people of our State nearly as much in the dark, as to the action of their Legislatures, as if they resided in some other. The certainty of a law is one of the chief benefits to be derived from it, and it is not clear but that it would be better for community to suffer the existence of bad laws, than to live. under a system, which is subjected to continual alterations. Our excessive Legislation has a tendency to produce an entirely different result from the one intended, and is, perhaps, as much calcu

lated to create evils, as to prevent or redress them. I trust that your attention will be devoted to this matter, and will result in the establishment of a system of laws which can be understood, and. a reform in the manner of their publication.

The proposition submitted by the Legislature to the people, at the last general election, to so amend the Constitution as to pro vide for biennial sessions of the Legislature, was negatived by a very decided vote. That this instrument is, in some particulars, imperfect, and might, by alteration, be better adapted to our condition, I am thoroughly convinced; but the policy of adopting any amendment of it, until a thorough revision is had by a convention, may well be questioned. Propositions to amend either the constitution or laws, should be thoroughly considered, and the conse quences attendant, canvassed with great care and mature delibera tion.

The law fixing the time for the annual meeting of the Legislature on the second Wednesday of January, should, in my judgment, be so amended as to allow the various officers who are required to report annually through the Governor to the Legislature, more time after the close of the fiscal year to prepare their reports. The fiscal year, as is wisely provided, closes on the 31st day of December. For those departments connected with the financial affairs of the State, an insufficient space of time is now allowed after the closing of their accounts, on the last day of the year, to prepare in due form the reports required of them by law. In order, therefore, to provide a remedy for the evil stated, and to afford the Governor a reasonable time for obtaining such information from the reports as is proper for him to communicate to the Legislature at the opening of the session, as well as for numerous other reasons which might, with propriety, be urged, I recommend that provision be made for the annual sessions hereafter to commence as late as the third or fourth Wednesday in January, instead of the second, as is now provided.

We, in common with our sister states, have in general, great cause for rejoicing, at the results of the year which has just closed

Although the pestilence has left in its train, many sorrowing hearts and desolated homes, yet aside from this, the nation has reason to be thankful. Throughout our borders, all the arts of peace have been crowned by those just rewards, the hope of which has called them into existence. Plenty has richly repaid industry, and while the Old World is pouring out its blood and treasure upon fields of battle, we have been permitted to enjoy the fruits of our labors in peace. Civil and Religious liberty are ours by inheritance, and we have, to the fullest extent, realized the blessings attendant upon them-supported, as they have been, by no force beyond that of an enlightened public opinon. Like the return of the seasons, and the operation of all natural laws, our political system has continued its working, until we have come to regard this wonderful result of the wisdom of our forefathers, as a matter of course, and receive its benefits as we do the daily gifts of Providence.

The perpetuity of this system can only be maintained, however, by a strict obedience to the laws, for the faithful execution of which I shall be found ever ready, should the emergency arise.

So far as your labors may be confined to the legitimate objects for which you are convened, and are calculated to promote the best interests of the whole people-if not in violation of that instrument which we alike are sworn to support-you may rely with confidence upon my ready co-operation.

WM. A. BARSTOW,

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

MADISON, January 12th. 1855.