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LEGISLATURE, 1848.

Governor's

Message.

Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:

Having been elected, by a majority of the people, to the office of Chief Executive Magistrate of our young, but rapidly growing State, and having assumed the high obligations and responsibilities of that elevated station, by taking the oath prescribed by the constitution, I am required to communicate to you, as the Representatives of the people, the condition of the State, and to recommend for your consideration, such matters as I may deem expedient.

With the importance of the trust confided to me, I am duly impressed, and of my ability to perform the arduous duties it imposes, am fearfully distrustful.

My predecessors, in accordance with a custom adopted at the organization of our State government, have, on being inducted into office, preceded their executive communications by an avowal of their opinions, upon the general principles of governmentthe peculiar character of our institutions and laws, or upon such other topics of general interest, as seemed, at the time, most to engage the public mind.

This custom is certainly harmless, but it is, I think, as certainly, without practical utility, and as it seems best to comport with the republican simplicity of our system of government, to dispense with all unnecessary and useless ceremonies, I have deemed it proper, on the present occasion, to communicate with you, only in the mode, required by the constitution.

The assembling of the Legislature at the commencement of the year, furnishes a suitable occasion for a retrospect of that which has passed.

In reviewing the year that has now just closed upon us forever, we discover abundant cause for congratulation: No severe sick

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