our prosperity, lurking in our midst, our population will continue to increase with still greater rapidity, and the accessions will consist, mainly, of individuals of sound moral and political principles, who will be true to the Constitution and our laws. To aid in the development of our natural resources we have entered vigorously upon a system of internal improvements, and an enlarged and, I believe, safe system of banking. Both had their origin in the plain, practical good sense of the people, and were organized upon safe and sound principles. Experience has already, and may yet, suggest judicious amend ments. The present financial difficulties of the country will doubtless check our progress for a time, as it does that of our sister States; but this, I feel assured, will be but temporary. It has its origin in that bane of our commercial system, over trading, and must soon pass off, because we have in our midst abundant capital, and the crops have never been better. Whilst it lasts, however, we cannot be too cautious or prompt in our measures for the protection of the credit of the State, by the passage of such laws as will satisfy the world of our ability and intention faithfully to meet the accruing interest upon our bonds, loaned to the different railroad compa nies, in the event that any of them should fail to do so. I have no fears that the General Assembly will fail to act promptly and efficiently in a matter of so much importance in its effect upon the honor and credit of the State. Missouri can be just to her creditors, in any contingency which may occur, and feel less the burden of taxation than she would, divested of her railroads and the benefits already derived from the present and prospective advantages of them, and relieved from the debt incurred in their construction. The wealth of the State, to-day, exceeds by more than one hundred millions of dollars what it would have been if our railroads had not been projected and their construction in progress. It is known that lands are valuable according to their proximity to a market, or to cheap facilities for getting its products to market. An illustration is not needed to impress this fact upon the mind. We have now nearly three hundred miles of railroad in operation, and the prospect of that distance being doubled in a very short time, the grading being nearly done, and a large portion of the iron on hand and ready to lay down. These facilities and prospects have caused a rapid increase of population, bringing therewith a large amount of personal wealth, and an equally rapid enhancement in the value of property. Enterprise has been stimulated, industry encouraged, a spirit of emulation excited, advances in intelligence and refinement promoted, the demand for the public lands in our State increased, thus hastening the day when they will be subject to taxation, and made to yield a revenue to our State Treasury. These facts need only to be suggested, to be seen and acknowledged. Our railroad enterprises have indeed inaugurated a new era in Missouri-have added to our business energies a momentum which will augment until our State has reached that high destiny to which her ample resources, central position and salubrious climate entitle her. It is known to many of our citizens, that lands which were recently valued at 50 cts to $1.25 per acre, and which had been in market many years, are now selling at $10 to $50, and in some instances at much higher rates. The assessed valuation has increased in nearly the same ratio, and the present revulsion in monetary affairs will contribute much to sustain prices of lands here; for while it is crippling the business energies of the older States, it will increase the tide of emigration to Missouri, where homes can be obtained so cheaply, and where nature so generously responds to, and rewards the toils of the farmer. We have all seen the advantages that are resulting, and to result, from the Geological survey of our State; that it has directed public attention to our immense natural resources, and is attracting hither both capital and labor; indeed, that it is making ourselves acquainted with the resources of our State, of which we before had no adequate conception. I need not say to you, that our various benevolent institutions share largely in my sympathies, and will command my earnest attention. Their capacity should be adequate to the necessities of our people. Nor am 1 unmindful of our educational interests and the high purposes our schools are intended to subserve. I shall ever be ready to co-operate with you in all reasonable efforts to secure to our Common School system, and to our higher educational institutions, a character second to that of no other State in the Union. The virtue, intelligence, and prosperity of our people depends upon the character of our schools, and the extension of their benefits to all classes. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: This is not the appropriate occasion in which to refer specially to the many objects of legislation which may require your attention; but should it become necessary, during the progress of the Session, to call your special attention to any subject of public interest, I will not fail to do so; and with a confident reliance upon the protection of Divine Providence, I shall most cheerfully and earnestly co-operate with you in all efforts to promote the manifold interests of our beloved State. The President announced that the business for which the two Houses had convened was accomplished, and that the Joint Session was dissolved. The Senators then repaired to their own chamber. Mr. Peery offered the following resolution: Resolved, That five thousand copies of the Governor's Inaugural Address be printed in English, and one thousand in the German language, for the use of the Senate. Mr. Rains offered the following amendment to the resolution: Amend by striking out the words "one thousand in the German language." The amendment was read and disagreed to by the following vote, the ayes and noes being demanded by Mr. Rains: AYES-Mr. Rains. NOES-Messrs. Blow, Brown, Carr, Carson, Frost, Gullet, Hedgpeth, Holmes, Irwin, Kitchen, Mayo, Mothersead, Morin, Morris, McFarland, Peery, Rannels, Richardson, Robinson, Rogers, Rowland, Sharp, Sims, Waddell, Wilson, Wood, and Ziegler-28. Mr. Rains then offered the following amendment to the resolution: Amend by adding, "and one thousand additional copies in the Cherokee language. The amendment was read and disagreed to. The question, then being on agreeing to the original resolution, was decided in the affirmative. On motion of Mr. Morris, Resolved, That so much of the Governor's message as relates to the banking system and monetary affairs of the State, be referred to the standing committee on Banks and Corporations; and that so much of the same as relates to the railroads, their condition, and the public credit of the State, be referred to the standing committee on Internal Improvements. On motion of Mr. Rannels, House bill entitled, An act for the relief of Charles O'Fallon and others, Was taken up, Read a first time, rules suspended, read a second and third times, and passed. Mr. Irwin, on leave, introduced a bill entitled "An act amendatory of an act entitled an act to authorize George A. Settle to sell the real estate and slaves of the infant children of Reuben Settle, deceased," approved February 9, 1857, Which was read a first time, rule suspended, read a second and third time and passed. On leave, bills of the following titles were severally introduced, read a first time, rule suspended, read a second and third time and passed. By Mr. Waddell : An act to declare the road known as the old St. Louis State road, leaving present St. Louis road at Robert Phillips', ten miles west of Waynesville, by way of Oakland, Woodbury, and Marshfield, to Bucksnort on the Fredericktown and Springfield State road. By Mr. Sharp: An act incorporating the Montgomery County Agricultural and Mechanical Society. Mr. Frost introduced the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be, and they are hereby instructed, to investigate the law upon the subject, and report to the Senate at their earliest convenience, whether the banks of Missouri chartered in the early part of this sesssion of the General Assembly, may not be authorized to issue ten dollars of circulation, for every one of specie in their vaults; Provided, that the said circulation is protected by an amount of the bonds of this State, which, being sold, the market value would enable the said banks to redeem their circulation, dollar for dollar. Mr. Blow moved the rejection of the resolution, and demanded the ayes and noes. The question being on agreeing to the resolution, was decided in the negative by the following vote, the President of the Senate voting in the negative : AYES-Messrs. Carson, Frost, Hedgpeth, Holmes, Irwin, Kitchen, Morin, Rannels, Richardson, Sharp, Waddell, and Ziegler—12. NOES-Messrs. Blow, Brown, Carr, Gullet, Harris, Mayo, Peery, Rowland, Sims, Stevenson, Wilson, and Wood-12. On motion of Mr. Peery, the Senate adjourned until 2 o'clock, P. M. EVENING SESSION. Senate met pursuant to adjournment. Bills and other business from the House of Representatives being in order, House bills of the following titles were severally taken up, read a first time, rule suspended, read a second and third time and passed: An act in relation to swamp lands in Scott county. An act for the relief of Solomon N. Sheridan, Collector of Buchanan county. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the selection and pay of jurors in Buchanan county," approved February 17, 1849. An act to revive an act to establish a State road from Marshfield, in Webster county, to a point near Andrew J. Womacks, in Wright county. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to establish a Court of Common Pleas in Buchanan county," approved February 3, 1853. An act to incorporate Trenton College. An act in relation to roads and highways in the county of Ste. Gene vieve. House bills of the following titles were severally taken up, read a first time, rule suspended, read a second time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. An act to authorize Daniel Wesley Bowlware to convey certain real estate to Thomas P. Holloway. An act to declare Mary A. Buck of lawful age. An act concerning peddlers in Callaway county. An act to authorize Margaret Baily to sell certain real estate in the county of Buchanan. An act for the relief of minor children of Branson Jackson, of Sullivan county, Mo. An act authorizing the sale of certain lands and lots in Callaway county, belonging to heirs of Alfred A. Riley. An act to declare certain persons in Boone county of age. An act for the relief of the infant heirs of Ambrose Lytle, late of Boone county. House bill entitled: An act for the relief of Bluford B. Allee, Was taken up, read a first time, rule suspended, read a second time, and referred to the committee of Ways and Means. House bill entitled: An act to change a State road in Callaway county, Was taken up, read a first time, and ordered to a second reading. House bill entitled: An act to amend an act entitled "An act in relation to swamp lands in Webster county," approved March 3, 1857, Was taken up, read a first time, rule suspended, read a second time, and referred to the committee on Swamp Lands. House bill entitled: An act to change part of a State road in Scotland county, Was taken up, read a first time, and ordered to a second reading. An act vacating that portion of Georgia street lying west of Virginia street, in Berlin, Mo., Was taken up, read a first time, rule suspended, read a second and third time, and passed. Mr. Sharp, on leave, Introduced a bill entitled: An act to incorporate Danville Female Academy, Which was read a first time, rule suspended, read a second and third times, and passed. On motion of Mr. Wilson, The Senate adjourned to 10 o'clock, to-morrow. FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 23, 1857. Senate met pursuant to adjournment. Lieutenant Governor Jackson in the Chair. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Lougheed, Chaplain of the Senate. Message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Wallace. MR. PRESIDENT: I am instructed by the House to inform the Senate that a bill, of the folowing title, has passed the House: An act to pay certain criminal costs. Bills of the following titles have been introduced into the House, and passed: An act declaring John E. Shawhan, Charles C. Bassett, and Augustus W. Massey, minors, of age. An act concerning game in Warren county. An act to declare Margaret A. Mays of lawful age. An act to view and mark out a State road in Dallas county. An act for the relief of M. K. Howell, late collector of Harrison county. An act to legalize the administration of John H. Marsh and Lowrey McCullough. An act to amend "An Act declaring a certain county road to be a State road, in the county of Nodaway. Án act to establish a State road from the town of Easton, in Buchanan, to Guilford, in the county of Nodaway. An act to declare Jacob Peter, in St. Louis county, of lawful age. An act exempting the county of Bollinger from the provisions of an act entitled, “An Act for opening and repairing Public Roads and Highways," approved December 12, 1855. An act for the relief of the heirs of William Arnold, Jr., deceased. |