MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR. 1869. JANUARY 5. LEGISLATURE. NINETY-SECOND SESSION. JOHN T. HOFFMAN, Governor. ANNUAL MESSAGE. EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ALBANY, January 5, 1869. } TO THE LEGISLATURE.-Having been elected to the highest office in the gift of the people of the State, I have taken the oath required by the Constitution, impressed with a due sense of my responsibilities, yet indulging the confident hope that by the blessing and favor of Almighty God, who disposes all things, I shall be able so to discharge my duties as to command the approval of my constituents and to promote the welfare of the State. I am not unaware of the embarrassments which surround me. I am here to administer and to execute important public trusts; to reconcile and adjust conflicting interests as great as they are varied; to overcome or moderate sectional prejudices and jealousies, which may exist within our own territory; to preserve public order; to protect the public works; to endeavor to reduce expenditures, taxation and debt; and to assert and maintain the rights of the State and defend the interests of its citizens. The fact that neither branch of the Legislature is in political sympathy with the Executive may seem to be an obstacle in the way of the accomplishment of these ends. Relying, however, upon your intelligence and patriotism, ■ Const. 1846, art. 12, § 1. trusting that you will rise, as I shall strive to do, above all party prejudices and differences, I am ready, with all the ability and energy I possess, to unite with you, as I trust you will unite with me, in every effort to secure to those whose representatives we are, the blessings of an economical, a prudent and a wise government. We cannot be unmindful of the greatness of our State, and the magnitude, variety and importance of its interests and resources. Containing, as it does, more than four millions of people, among whom are represented every nation and every creed; extending, as it does, from the ocean to the great inland lakes, over an area of more than fifty thousand square miles; it constitutes an empire in extent and population, which cannot be well governed except by the exercise of the greatest moderation, wisdom and firmness on the part of the Legislature and the Executive. The magnificent harbor which lies at our very gates invites to the metropolis of the State and of the whole country the trade and commerce of all foreign lands; while the great lakes upon our borders, and the canals and railroads which connect them with the ocean, bear onward to the same metropolis the vast and increasing products of our own western and northwestern States. Hence the unparalleled growth and progress of our great city, which including what may be properly called its suburbs, numbers more than one-third of the population, and pays more than onehalf of the taxes of the State. How such a city can be best governed, how the apparently conflicting interests between it and other portions of the State can be justly harmonized, how the differences of sentiment and thought, political and social, between it and other sections can be adjusted, are problems of serious import. These and other grave questions, growing out of conflicting ideas, will continually present themselves. You are to determine what legislation shall be had with reference to our canals and railroads, our moneyed corporations, our schools and colleges, our asylums, prisons and charities, our great debt and heavy taxes, and to our varied population, differing not only in religious faith, but in views of moral and social obligations, customs and duties. The very magnitude of our territory and of the population within its limits admonishes us that upon these and other kindred subjects it is a necessity that we entertain none but broad and comprehensive ideas. Whatever may be our individual opinions to-day, the great majority of thoughtful men will sooner or later be forced to acknowledge that this great metropolitan State cannot be governed upon any merely provincial theories, or by the enforcement of any narrow-minded, sectional or illiberal policy; and that the masses of the people, while they will demand of their representatives economy in administration, perfect preservation of law and order, and certain protection to life and property, will also insist that in everything which relates to social, domestic and religious life and the pursuit of personal welfare and enjoyment, there shall be no undue or unnecessary legislative or official interference. We must so act as to promote contentment, reconciliation and harmony, rather than to encourage dissension, alienation and division. We must not favor legislation which creates, in the minds of a large number of law-abiding citizens, dissatisfaction with law and law-makers. All enactments should be, as far as possible, general in their application. All legislation should be for the whole people. It should be our aim so to conduct public affairs as to avoid those sectional jealousies from which have sprung suggestions that a division of the State might be desirable. State pride and State interests alike forbid such division. New York stands to-day the Empire State of the Union, and, if governed by wisdom, it has before it a career of ever-increasing greatness and prosperity. There is no real conflict of interest between city and country. Agriculture and commerce together make our State great and prosperous. The merchant and the agriculturist are mutually dependent upon and interested in each other's welfare. During the past year the agricultural interests of the State have been greatly favored by Providence. Our fields have yielded large harvests, for which the farmer has found a ready market and abundantly compensating prices. He does not feel at present the full weight of the burdens of taxation, and he rejoices in his prosperity. He knows, however, that these burdens must in the end be borne by country and city alike; that he cannot escape his share of them; and that at some time a season of disappointment and trial will come. He therefore unites in an admonition to all in authority that public resources must be husbanded; that no unjust or unnecessary taxes shall be imposed; and that, while in all public affairs a reasonable liberality is to be encouraged, extravagance and waste will be condemned. A large amount of invested capital has been declared by Congress exempt from the taxation which now oppresses nearly every interest in the country; those who bear no portion of the public burdens will never be active in opposing their increase. Some will be always ready to favor projects involving great outlays of public money in enterprises of real or supposed merit, but the great body of the people will not sanction any expenditures or appropriations, the necessity of which is not clearly apparent. By the Constitution, the Executive is required" to communicate, by message to the Legislature, at every session, the condition of the State, and to recommend such matters to them as he shall judge expedient.*" I proceed to discharge this duty. *Const. 1846, art. 4, § 4. The following is a condensed statement in relation to the finances and indebtedness of the State. RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS. General Fund. Deficiency in the revenue on the 30th of September, 1867, two million eight hundred and sixty thousand five hundred and eighty-six dollars and thirty-eight cents... $2,860,586.38 Payments of the year, ten million two hundred and eight thousand one hundred and ninety-eight dollars and forty-six cents.. 10,208,198.46 Receipts, ten million one hundred and twelve thousand three hundred and thirtyone dollars and thirty cents. Deficiency of the revenue on the 30th of September, 1868, two million nine hundred and fifty-six thousand four hundred and fifty-three dollars and fifty-four cents..... $13,068,784.34 10,112,331.30 2,956,453.54 There was due at the close of the fiscal year from the city of New York, four million five hundred and thirty thousand and fourteen dollars and seventeen cents ($4,530,014.17), of which four million dollars ($4,000,000) has since been paid; making up the above deficiency and leaving a large surplus. General and Other Funds. Receipts of the year on account of all the funds, except the Canal and Free School Fund, sixteen million three thousand one hundred and seventy-eight dollars and fifty-three cents.. $16,003,178.53 |