voters in the State. In no other way can the ballot boxes be protected against fraud, and the elective franchise preserved in its purity. The argument that a registry law from its complexity would be too burdensome to be complied with, is entitled to no consideration. It is predicated upon the idea, either that the General Assembly is incapable of maturing a simple and judicious law on this subject; or that the people of the State are incapable of comprehending and enforcing one; neither of which suppositions can be admitted to be correct. Such laws have been in operation in several of the States ever since the foundation of the Government, and have met the approval of all classes of citizens. With such a law, and with the strict and honest enforcement of the naturalization laws, we shall cease to see parties arrayed against each other on account of the birthplace of those who compose them, and every bona fide citizen will be secure in his just weight in the affairs of the State. Without such a law, judging from recent events, it is feared that popular elections will become a reproach.

The revenue law will also require revision, and so far as it relates to the State taxes, should be wholly changed. At present the county collectors and treasurers, although elected by the people of the several counties, are regarded in some degree as State officers. Should they fail to make return of the State revenue as required by law, suit is brought by the State on their official bonds. Should a defalcation occur, the State sustains the loss. This ought not to be. The county treasurers ought to be in no sense, State officers. Each county should be responsible for its proportionate amount of State revenue, and under no contingency should

the State be compelled to institute suit against these officers, and in default of recovery to suffer from their delinquency. The transactions of the State should be solely with the counties.

The result of the present system, is that the county treasurers are almost independent of the State control, and the prompt receipt of money due to the treasury cannot be relied on. Besides it operates to the injury of those counties that pay their quota of the revenue promptly. A few counties make prompt payments, while others fail to do so. Auditor's warrants are issued to discharge the State indebtedness, which should be discharged with the money due from delinquent counties. These warrants draw eight per cent. interest, which is paid from the State treasury, and is contributed by the counties that are not, as well as those that are remiss in the discharge of their obligations.

The amount now in arrear from the several county treasurers, a very small part of which will ever be received by the State; probably not two per cent.-is $62,401.94.

I recommend that each county be required to pay its proportion of the State revenue by a fixed day, under suitable penalties for non-payment. If the county treasurers neglect their duties or default, let the burden fall upon the counties that elect them, where it belongs.

It is much doubted whether the law of last session, substituting county for township assessor, was any improvement upon the former method of assessment. Judging from my own observation, I do not hesitate to conclude, that many millions of dollars worth of property was overlooked at the last assessment, and is this year untaxed. I

recommend the old law, in this particular, to be restored. Sound policy requires that administration as well as legislation should be brought as directly home to the people as possible. There must ultimately be a thorough township organization throughout the State, and the sooner the people become accustomed to it, the less difficult and burdensome it will become, and the more perfect and satisfactory will be the transaction of public affairs.

It is believed, that an assessment of real estate is not required more than once in two or three years. If this be so, a large aggregate county expense might be saved. Biennial or triennial assessments might have a tendency to stimulate improvements and cause money, credits and personal property to pay their proportion of taxation, which at present is not the case.

The Constitution requires the General Assembly to provide for taking an enumeration of the inhabitants of the State in 1859, and every two years thereafter. As the law stands at present, this enumeration must be taken by the county assessors. No one need be told that it is utterly impossible for these officers to perform this duty, and discharge the other duties imposed upon them. Besides, many of them are incompetent to perform it. If it is important that the census of the State be taken, it is important that it be accurately taken and thoroughly compiled. I know no way in which this can be done, but by authorizing the census board to appoint officers for the purpose.

The people of this State have indicated their opinion, that so long as banks of issue are tolerated in other States, our interests require that similar institutions be established

here. If we must have a paper currency, it is infinitely better that it should be issued and secured and redeemed at home, under our own laws, than that it should be issued under laws of which we are ignorant, and controlled by men with whom we have no community of interest.

The Constitution authorizes the General Assembly to establish, with the subsequent approval of the people;

1. A State Bank with branches, to be founded upon an actual specie basis, and the branches to be mutually liable for each other's issues.

2. A general free banking law with the restrictions and limitations imposed by Art. 8, Sec. 8 of the Constitution.

In acting upon this subject, it will doubtless be ever borne in mind by the General Assembly, that banks are to be established to secure the public welfare, and not to promote the purposes of stockholders and capitalists; and that it is far better that banks should realize small profits, than that the public should be liable to injury by their suspension or failure.

The system of common school organization contemplated by the New Constitution, will, no doubt, result to the advantage of the State, if fully and properly carried into execution. Under this system, the members of the board of education are to be elected in the several judicial districts in the State. It is presumed that they will be selected on account of their peculiar fitness for the positions they are to occupy. They will bring to the board their experience as educationists, and they will be able to represent the true condition and wants of every part of the State. They will stimulate the zeal of the people in their several districts in

behalf of education;-they will instruct the subordinate school officers in the discharge of their duties, and thus secure the uniform execution of the school laws throughout the commonwealth.

It would be very desirable that the members of the board of education should have a general supervision of the acts of the county school fund commissioners, with authority to require additional or new official bonds when deemed necessary, and with power of substitution in cases of malfeasance or incompetency on the part of the incumbents. The fact is notorious, that many of the School fund commissioners lack the clerical ability to properly discharge the duties of their office. The affairs of some of these officers are in almost inextricable confusion, and a reform must be effected in their management, or considerable loss will be sustained by the State.

In compliance with the provisions of an act entitled "an act concerning school monies," approved January 28th, 1857, I appointed agents to examine "the books, vouchers, securities and other documents" of several of the county school fund commissioners, selecting for the most part, those offices to be examined where it had been reported that the business had been loosely done, or where the officer had charge of the proceeds of a part of the "five hundred thousand acre grant," as well as of the "sixteenth section grant. The reports show that in a majority of cases the books are tolerably well kept, and that there is no immediate danger of loss, though there is a suspended debt in nearly every county. In some counties, however, the fund commissioners have accepted as security for money lent,