necessary, nor is it proper, perhaps, that I should at present enter into a discussion of this subject. It connects itself materially, however, with the administration of justice, and is of deep interest throughout the Union. I cannot allow myself to doubt, gentlemen, but that while you extend, at all times, around the personal security and the natural and civil liberties of our own fellow citizens of Michigan, every necessary and proper protection, it will never be forgotton by you, that the just constitutional rights of the states, must at all hazards and at whatever sacrifices, be forever preserved inviolate. Anticipating that you will give to this subject all that attention, which is due from a consideration, as well of the high source from which it emanates, as of the intrinsic difficulties which it presents, I respectfully submit it without further comment.

Concerning the public works heretofore projected, with a view to the internal improvement of our state, my first opinions have continued, with but little change. And I ask leave, very respectfully, to refer to the general views I expressed on that absorbing subject, in my first message to your immediate predecessors. With some qualifications, the sentiments I then entertained, as to the course of policy which prudence and wisdom would indicate, have been strengthened by whatever changes time may have produced in our relative condition. Some further considerations have pressed themselves upon me, however, to which I venture to allude. Deeming it my duty, as far as practicable, to make myself acquainted with all the great interests of the state; and being advised of the projected work upon the St. Joseph river, 1 held it proper that I should obtain more knowledge than I possessed of that, as well as of some other parts of the state. Of the capabilities for the navigation of that stream, and of the character and extent of the resources of the country which it waters, I desired more fully to acquaint myself. The cursory examination I was enabled to make, has resulted in the conviction that the best interests of the state require, that the contemplated improvement should progress. The population of that portion of the state, already so respectable for its intelligence, enterprise and numbers, must greatly and, I think, rapidly increase; for no country is more fertile; none can furnish in greater abundance and variety the products of agricultural labor; none exhibits greater natural facilities for manufactures; none more ample hydraulic powers, and no part of our country holds out greater promise of permanent salubrity than the beautiful valley of the St. Joseph, from its termination at the town and port of St. Joseph, until it approaches the splendid district of Prairie Ronde. The natural outlet for the productions of this valley, already of great amount and value, is the St. Joseph river. Its navigation, for a great distance, may be made good at a comparatively small

expense; and should Indiana continue to withhold all aid in the improvement of the navigation of that small portion of the river which is within her borders, it will become a question of deep interest with Michigan, when her resources shall have bec me more ample, how far it may be practicable to unite the two sections of the river by a short canal, entirely within the limits of our own state. This important avenue ought not to be blocked up, nor its ample commerce draw off, to enrich and build up some large commercial city upon the shore of the lake, to the south of us. No measures within the power of Michigan, should be omitted to prevent the diversion of that commerce from its natural source and point of concentration at the town and port of St. Joseph. All speculative considerations of this character, however, which reach beyond the appropriations already made, except so far as they may tend to fix the future policy of the state, seem precluded by the paucity of pecuniary means now left within your control. The sudden subtraction from the available resources of the state, of near half a million of dollars, by the mysterious operations of the State bank and of the fiscal agents of the state, followed by the necessity of again borrowing money upon the credit of instalments of the five million loan, not yet payable, and by the still more appalling intimation that the whole sum due to the state by the Morris canal and banking company, now amounting to more than $800,000, was in the most imminent peril of total loss, with other considerations, perhaps, induced the last legislature, as you are doubtless aware, gentlemen, to close its session without any efficient provision for the advancement, (beyond the expenditure of the existing appropriations,) of that bold plan of internal improvement which has been unhappily devised; except, indeed, that they sanctioned (and wisely, perhaps,) a further extension of it, by the purchase in behalf of the state, of that portion of the Lake Erie and River Raisin railroad, which extends from Monroe to La Plaisance bay harbor..

And in truth the plan originally devised, was altogether disproportioned to our means; it was gigantic and visionary. I suppose it to be the part of wisdom, in private life, to do one thing first. It cannot be otherwise with states! It can never be either expedient or wise, to undertake more than can be fitly and within a reasonable time, accomplished. But with us in Michigan, we have many things begun, but nothing finished. We have nothing yet productive! It is nevertheless very manifest that if the whole of the resources of the state had been concentrated on any one of the important works devised, such work would, most probably, have been accomplished before this time.

If judiciously selected, it would have been productive, too,

and with an income from tolls, large enough, not only to meet the demand for interest, but gradually to discharge the principal. The state would now have been so far unembarrassed, as that, with fair hopes and cheerful ardor, it might have undertaken such other work, as would have ranked next in point of importance to the first. Nor would the sad alternatives then have presented themselves, of a course of heavy taxation to pay the semi-annual interest upon the public loan, on the one hand, or, a decayed credit, a forfeited faith, and a blackened reputation on the other, to check our courage and darken our bright prospects for the future. And, to rescue our constituents and our state from a condition so rapidly approaching, and yet so humiliating and so full of peril, I think, gentlemen, that but one course remains, that is, to consent to look at our great public works, solely as a matter of finance; as a measure of pecuniary concern merely; at once, and manfully, to sacrifice on the altar of true honor and patriotism, all local prejudices and partialities, and, with one accord, to apply all the available means that remains to us, to the completion of that one of them, which will most certainly be productive; which, from a full consideration of all circumstances, and an honest estimate of chances, will furnish the strongest and best guaranty, that its pecuniary avails will the most certainly be equal to the semi-annual interest which the state must soon cast about for ways and means to pay. And I greatly deceive myself, gentlemen, as to the intelligence and sound judgment and patriotism of our fellow citizens of Michigan, on this matter being plainly and with candor placed before them, they will almost with one voice, unqualifiedly, approve of and sanction the mea

sure.

If, upon consideration, you should determine upon this principle of action, it will remain to ascertain which of the different public works will furnish the greatest amount of pecunia. ry profit. The statistical information contained in the returns of the United States census, now recently completed, and to which you will doubtless have access, will probably greatly aid you in your efforts on this point, to arrive at just conclusions. I herewith, also, respectfully submit for your consideration, communications I have received from some distinguished gentlemen, living in the interior of the peninsula, on the same subject. And should your investigations lead to the conclusion, that the Central railroad will be more certainly productive of such profit than any other of the public improvements commenced, it will perhaps be satisfactory to fortify such conclusion by the consideration that the faith of the state is by many considered as pledged for the early completion of that work; for it will be perceived by the communication of the president of the "Detroit and St. Joseph railroad company,"

to be found among the printed documents of the senate, of 1837, that assurances on the part of the state that such road should be completed, constituted a condition, or a material part of the consideration of the sale, by that company, of its chartered rights, and the sale being effected, the motive of its voluntary dissolution.

But whichsoever of the public works may be selected, upon which first to apply the undivided energies and pecuniary means of the state; or, indeed, whatsoever other course may be taken in this regard, radical changes, I apprehend, will be found necessary-in the process and in the application of the proceeds of the "general" or property tax for state purposes,

in the act for the appraisement and satisfaction of damages, claimed for right of way, &c., and in other parts of our financial system.

During the last session of the legislature, very large appropriations, (made in previous years,) on the public works, were outstanding and unexpended, because there were no adequate funds in the treasury. Nor indeed were there any to defray the ordinary expenses for the support of government. To provide for those wants, it was deemed necessary to pass the "act to authorize the anticipation of certain instalments of the five million loan." This was pursuing, essentially, the policy in this regard, of former years. Since the first formation of our state government, the "civil list" has invariably been met by borrowing. And, in this particular, the leading provisions of the act of March, 1839, were reenacted and renewed. For the time being, this course has subserved its purpose. After communicating with the different banks, the auditor general closed an arrangement with the Bank of Michigan, by which the sum of about $605,467 50 has been obtained; of which, $100,000 were placed, according to law, to the credit of the "general fund," and the residue to that of the "internal improvement fund." These advances were made upon the credit of instalments not then payable-the last of which, indeed, does not become payable until April, of the present year. In consenting to this arrangement with the auditor general, as, indeed, in all its negotiations with the state, of which I have any knowledge, it gives me great satisfaction to say, the officers of that useful institution, have uniformly conducted towards the state in a spirit of commendable liberality, honor and patriotism.

Funds being thus obtained, progress has been made on all the most important lines of improvements. And, during the fiscal year, the actual disbursements in this branch of the public economy, as will be more fully shown to you by the report of the board, amount in the aggregate, to the sum of $463,816 85, exclusive of the cost of the new purchase at La Plai

sance bay. It further, by that report, appears, that during the period intervening between the 1st of December, 1837, and the 31st of March, 1840, there had been paid on the Southern railroad, $120,793 39, and a further sum of $56,981 47, passed upon and allowed by the acting commissioner, since the 31st of March last. To which sum, if the cost of the new purchase of the La Plaisance bay road, ($32,500,) be added, the total amount of expenditures for the year, upon that line of improvement, would be equal to $210,274 86. The amount actually paid upon liquidated claims, for work on the Central railroad, appears to be $56,774 42. The amount now appearing due on that portion of the route, which is between Dexter and Jackson, is estimated at $17,476 10, and upon the presumption of future appropriations by you, the bank of Michigan appears to have advanced, in aid of the road from Ann Arbor to Dexter, the sum of $34,387 54, equal in the aggregate, to $102,648 96. The amount expended on the Clinton and Kalamazoo canal, from December 1, 1839, to April, 1840, appears stated at $32,897 18, and from the latter period to December 1, 1840, at the sum of $134,615 10, making, in the aggregate, the sum of $167,512 20, leaving unexhausted the sum of $20,000 of former appropriations; which sum, together with the addition of $21,739 10, it is estimated would complete the canal from Rochester to Frederick, and within two and a half miles of Mt. Clemens. The duties which have devolved upon the board of internal improvement during the past year, have been incessant and laborious. The perplexed and unsettled condition in which the affairs, contracts and funds of the board were found, will sufficiently appear by reference to the voluminous report of the committee of investigation, appointed by the house of representatives, and which held its sittings during the recess; to which report, I respectfully solicit your attention.

The appraisers appointed at the last session of the legislature, in virtue of the "Act for the regulation of internal improvement," commenced their sessions early after the adjournment of the legislature. The duties assigned to those gentlemen were of a highly important, grave and difficult character. And it soon became evident, that the aggregate amount of allowances, would far exceed the appropriations and funds applicable to the object. Anticipating the probability of such result, I felt myself desirous that the board should receive, examine into and so far pass upon the whole, as to ascertain their character, and the aggregate amount of such as they might deem just and fair, with a view to a proper dividend among all, in proportion, of the funds applicable to that object; or, without making final decision upon any, (if the amount should, as I apprehended, far exceed the present means of the treasury,)