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THE NEW JERSEY MURDER.-—ReWaIdS of
$1300 are offered for the apprehension of mur-
d'ers ofthe family of Mr. Parke',.in \Varren Co.
N. J.--$300 by the Governor, and 831000 by
the friends of the family. The‘ Newark Ad-
veitiser contiai-nsithe "following account ofthis
horrid occurrence. varyingin some respects
fromthaa heretofore pubiished.. . , . .
On throwing open the door, the body of
~— Mrs: Castncr was found, with hermurdered
infant in her arms, laying in bed, killed ap-
parently by stabs in the neck. On going up
stairs the neighbors found a hired boy. some
15 or 16 years old, in his bed severely
wounded by simil-ir stabs, unable to ' give
any account whatever of the dreadful occur-
rence, not knowing even how he wasburt,
though having possession of his senses.—
They next entered Mr. Parke’si room,‘ and
also found his body in bed, he having been
killed in the same way apparently by the
_ same instrument. On returning to the lower
story of the house, two boys, from 5 to 10
years old, Mr. Castner’s eldest children.
were found asleep in the room adjoining
their ruother’s, perfectly unconscious of the
dreadful tragedy enacted during the night.
Money appears to have been the ob ect,
as the family was reputed to be rich. Mr.
Parke, it is said had drawn several thousand
dollars from the Belvidere Bank, which was
found undisturbed in his closet. Castner’s
desk was found open, and may have been
robbed‘ of more or less money; but nothing
certain is known about it. His pistol, for
he always kept‘ weapon’s of defence on hand
were found undisturbed.
It was conjectured that C:-istner who was
a strong. athletic man, of 35 or 40 years
old. must have been called out of bed and
in-urdered on the road, as there were marks
ofa scuflie near the lime stone sink hole,
where the body, cut and bruised apparently
by some rails from the fence. was found.
Ea:ec-ution.——’I‘he Tribune of Thursday
says that \’Vhite. the murderer of his father,
was hanged at Batzivia last week according
to sentence. His conduct from the moment
of his arrest to that of his death seems to us
inexplicable. Never for an instintdid he
exhibit the slightest symptoms of remorse,
contrition. or even regret for th-e unnatural
crime which he, has so fearfully expiiited.——
On his trial his counsel urged insanity in
his dele-n-ce; but he ridiculed this defence
and wrote out explanations of all the circum-
stances on which the argument was based,
with an apparent earnest and sincere desire
to convince the Court and Jury that the pre-
tence of insanity was merely a device on
the part of his lawyers. He confessed the
crime and sought to justify it; and even
during the last hour of his existence be de-
clared with perfect CO0lII('.'SSl.II{ll. if his father
was living he would kill him if possible.
While in prison he wrote out a sketch of
his life and his dying speech, which be
read upon the scaffold with the utmost in-
difference. Throught life he was very
zealous in his profession of atheism, and up
to the moment of his death. declared his ha-
tred to Christianity. During his confine-
ment previous to his execution, he consented
that service should be held in his cell, as he
said he liked to hear the ladies sing; at ii
request of a relative be permitted a clergy-
man to pray with him upon the sc-ifiold; but
during the prayer he employed himself in
examining the construction oftbe scaffold, the
adjustment of the rope, &c. He requested
of the jailor that the shoes in which he was
to be hung might be made large. as he did
not wish them to hurt his feet, and said if he
had plenty of money he wolud be glad to
live longer, but as it was he did not care.—
VVhen told by the Sheriff that he had but
three minutes to live be manifested not the
slightest emotion. and was swung off in the
same state of indifference. \Ve do not know
that White was insane; but his conduct
seems to us to have been from first to’last,
perfectly inexplicable ofany on the ordinary
principles of human nature.
From. the N. Y. Plebian.
The Retort Courte0us.—Ed\va rd Everett,
our present Minister to England delivered
an oration before the Phi Beta Kappa socie-
ty at Cambridge, attheir annual celebration.
a few years ago, and after the public exer-
cises were over, the Society had a dinner as
usual on such occasions. Judge Story who
presided at the tables, is said to have propos-
ed the following sentiment. after the cloth
was removed in compliment to the orator.
‘The orator of the rla.y—Applause follows
the footsteps of fame wherever it (E vcrett)
oes.’
This directed the attention of the whole
company to Mr. Everett, who iiiiinediately
arose 65 made the following veryhahpy retort.
‘The members of the legal profession-—
However lofty their aspirations may be. they
can never rise higher than one Story.’
Laterfrom Cuba..—By the arrival of the
brig Cashier. Captain Allen, we have advi-
ces from St. Croix to the llth ult. Capt.
A. states that great numbers of people were
daily arriving from Hayti, some of whom
state the reason of their leaving to have been
that they consider their lives in danger every
moment they remained. The cruel, blood
thirsty deeds daily committed in that place,
t'bey state, surpass all belief;-people were
assassinated in cold blood in the streets,
carried to the -shore in carts and thrown into
the sea. -
President Boyer carried with him to
Kingston more than -‘$300,000. and before
he left Hayti it is said that he sent $300,000
more to England, and as much more to the
United States. 0 He is now said to possess
niore‘th=in a mill-ion-of dollars.
The Cashier stopped at all the \Vindward
Islands, and noticed that not ii single Island
had escaped; the earthquake. In some
of the islands he saw large cihasms in the
mountains. which had been rent assunder by
the eartbqtiake, some near 90 feet deep and
two or-three wide, and the enormous_ rock
off St. Thomas called the Sail Rock. on ac-
count of its resemblance at the distance to a
ship under fulfsail, was edtirely split to
pieces.
Business-was very dull on account of
there being no vessels to carry away the
f;-ieght. great quzintitieslof‘ which lay ready
for shipping.
Father Matthew is expected to
country in July. '
visit this
i..
Correspomlerzce if the Journal of Commerce,
,Wn.:inNc'roN, N.,C..A'pril 30, -18____43.-,-
This day, about -1! A’. M. during divine ser-
vice, the cry of fire was raised, ’ and upon
visiting the spot, I, found the fire proceeded
from.aii'.-old building directly in the rear of
thestore -occupied.‘ by Messrs. -R,ussell"’ &
Gammell, & others, having been communi-
cated by spagrks from, the chimney of ._th.é
bank o_f Cape Fear. The wind ‘at this, time:
was blowing very fresh from the south, and
increased in a short time to a perfect gale.
Every means that could be used to extinguish
the flames, which were now raging with the
greatest fury, was put in requisition, but all
efforts to arrest, its progress proved unavail-
ing. It only stopped when it had c_onsumed
nearly every building from the place of its
commencement, north, beyond the Railroad
Depot. __ ‘
Nearly eight squares of buildings have
been consumed, including the Methodist
church, Jones’ hotel, and about 100 other
buildings among which were some of the
most splendid residences in the place. Be-
sides this, the Rail Road Depot, Furnace,
Machine shop and Bridge; and in fact every
building connected with the Depot; also 6
locomotives, tools and every other article be-
longing to the same, saving only 8 locomo-
tivcs, and the cars, which were in at the
time.
There have also been entirely consumed,
l,000,000 shingles, 800.000 staves, 10,000
barrels turpentine and 3,000 barrels of tar.
besides‘other goods and merchandise. of
which I can get no account, to a large a-
mount.
The estimated loss is $500,000, of which
the Railroad Co. come in for $100,000.
One fourth of the entire population have
been, by this dreadful conflagration. turned
out of doors, many oftheni without a shelter
for the night, and nota cent in the world.
I understand that about $80,000 is cover.
ed by insurance; viz:
In Baftimore,by their agency here, $38,000
Hartford, (two offices) 25,000
Spring Garden Office, 4,000
Islowartl Insurance Office, 6.000
Unknown 9,000
PANTHER Hu.\"r.—Tlie Sullivan County
Watchman gives an account of a panther hunt
in the town of Coliltoon in- that county, on the
12th April:
The panther was shot in his den, the en-
trance of which was too small for a man to
crawl into it. A lad named V\’illiam Lane
armed himsclfwith a Spanish dirk and liunt-
ing axe, and in he crept, and soon,buried the
axe in the head, and throat of the ferocious
beast which soon put an end to his struggtes.
He then hauled out the panther. which
measured 9 feet seven inches from his nose
to the end of the tail. The editor thinks
this throws the story of"Ol‘d Put and the
Wolf,” entirely in the shade.
Rcpenting.—-The Boston Advertiser, in
reply to the Coinniercial Advertiser. says
that they learnffrom authority deemed un-
questionable that Mr. Cashing has recently
received from the President the offer of a
high appointment and probably the choice
between one ofthe Departments and one of
the Foreign Missions, and that he declined
the offer. The Advertiser adds:
- ‘We know not on what grounds he did so
unless it be that he was unwilling, by accept
ing office under such circumstances. to video-
tify /zimselfwilh the opponcrzts of the party
by, whom he has been heretofore supported.
Should Mr. Cashing be invited by his friends
in the Third District again to become a can-
didate for Congress as is anticipated, we may
perhaps expect from him some explanation
on the subject.’
John C. Keinble, formerly Editor of the
Troy Budget, and a member of our Stat_e
Senate, died in the Insane Assyluin at “for-
cester Mass. on the f4th tilt. aged about 50.
—Mr. K. was ruined by a connexion with
B.irstow, defaulting and absconding Cashier
of the Commercial Bank of Albany; the de-
veloptnent of which compelled him to aban-
don his paper and resign his seat in the,
Senate. He removed to Wisconsin, but his
-reputation followed him, and a sense of his
downfall soon stung him to madness. For
two years past, the wreck of one of the ablest‘
VanBuren Editors and most aspiring poli-
ticians in the state, he has been confined in
the LunaticAsylum at VVorcesteij.—Triburtc.
Severe Hail Storm in l’f'esl Jcrsc_7/ ——The
ice fell in lumps the size of pigeons’ eggs for
I5 minutes, on Thursday, at Hanover Furn-
ace, Burlington county. The windows of
the place were all broken, and the buds
were stripped from many of the trees A
Newark Arlv.
On the same day, a severe hail storm was
experienced at Lancaster, Pa. The Lancas-
ter Intelligencer says: —
The hail fell with so much profusion, that
after the storm, it could be. seen in many
places, and with so much force. that we hear
of panes of glass being broken in every part
of the city, and other damage done. -
Presbyterian Assemlilies-.—-'l‘he General
Assembly of the Presb_vteri.a.n Church in
the United States of Amcric:i——.-old school-—
will assemble in the Central Church, Phila-
delphia. on Thursday morning. the 18th of
May. Dr. Edgar, of Nashville. Moderator
of the last Assembly, will preach the open.-
ing discourse. The new school Assembly
in the first church on the same day, and the
sermon will be preached by Dr. Wisner.——
The Pennsylvania Episcopal Convention
will meet in St. Anilrew’s Philadelphia, on
Tuesday, the 16th May.
Our friend Robert T3/la-r, in his last let-
ter to the Aurora and Union, announces a
most attrocious conspiracy between Clay and
Van Borers to enibarriiss the Administration
and defeat the re-election of John Tjz/Ze1.——
Robert has not yet discovered which of them
is to be President; he only knows that they
are acting in concert, and will unite their
followers for one or the other as their only
chance of overcoming the tremenduous pop-
ularity and —‘moral power’ of the Accident!
They ought to be ashamed of themselves.
N . Y. T-ribune.
There were in Connecticut l48l votunta'
ry applications for the benefit of the Bank-
rupt Laiv. “‘ J
Steamship Britannia, left Boston on Mon-
day lst inst. at two o’clock, for Halifax and
Liverpool, with 82*pa‘ssengers,. and the 93!‘
pectation of taking in an additional number
at Halifax from Canada. George D. Strong
Of. New York, goes out special bearer ofdis-
‘patces to our minister at London ; Duff
Green is also a bearer ‘of dispatches frorii
tbisgovernment, and Captain Crowley. bear-
er of di_sp:itches from Canada to the British
Government. Her mails contained nineteen
thousand letters, and fifty bushels of periodi-
cals aiid newspapers.
The llfa.-mmoth Crwe.—Mi'. Mitchell,
whose supposed restoration from a pulmona-
ry complaint by a residence in the Mam-
moth Cave wasdiscribed in many of the
papers, died a short time after leaving the
Cave. Ofthirteen invalids who resorted to
the Cave last winter, seven have already
died——five at the Cave, one on the journey
home, and one a short time after reaching
hoine.—Newark Ade.
The new Ban/: Law.-— We understand that
the Comptroller has appointed Henry‘ H.
Van Dyck and John F. Bacon, Registers of
Bank Notes. under the law requiring all the
Bzinks of this State to deposite their Plates
with the Comptroller, and to receive their
circulating notes, countersigued and regis-
tered, from that Department.
Alibany Eve. Jam’.
The Rocky Jllountains —Mr. Thompson,
the astronomer of the Hudson Bay Coni-
pany. reports that he found peaks between
latitude 53‘ and 5.6=north, more than 26,000
feet above the level of the sea. The latitude
mentioned is much north of the United
State territory. The height is nearly equal
to that of the Hiriinialaya mountains of Asia.
It is stated in the Pliilarlelphia papers that
a new missile of war, called the thunder-bolt
shell, which in its explosion will tear assua-
dcr the largest ship of war, had been recent-
ly tried in that vicinity, ‘in the presence of
several Naval Oflicers, who pronounced its
performances perfectly satisfactory in every
way.’
The Philadelphia papers announce the
death of Mr. Jacob Ridgway, one of the
most respectable, and since the death of Gi-
rard the wealthiest citizens of Philadelphia.
Mi‘. Ridgway’s estate is worth probably
three millions and a halfof dollars.
VVillis, recently sent to the Louisiana pen-
itentiary for forgery, turns out to be one of
the accomplices of Monroe Edwards. He
ought to have been convicted in New York
and sent to S'in.g Sirig. as he is a vocal.st of
no mean abilities. -—N. 0. Bee.
A W/rite Fugatioe from iS'lars'r_7/.—A Mr.
Lee of Maysville Ky. advertises seven runa-
way slaves and among them is a female,
whom he thus describes:
‘Fanny the mother of the four children. is
about 25 years of age. white as most while
women, and straight light hair I’
To 'whr1.lba.se uses may we not Rafi/rn,.——
Julius Caesar has been found guilty of rob-
biog a hen roost in North Carolina, mid con-
demned to receive five stripes upon the bare
back. It is to be hoped he bore them like
a Roman !
The Whigs of Newburgli have carried
their entire ticket at the late town election.
by an average majority of over sixty. ‘Last
year the town was decidedly Locofoco.
The Madisonian announces Illffli a prose-
cution has been commenced against the Ed-
itors ofthe Globe, for a libel on Mr. Fletch-
er lVebstei‘, published in that paper on the
1st inst.
1
The Committee appointed to wait upon Gov.
Cleveland and inform him of his election, reached
Hartford on their return, about 11 o_’clocl; on Friday,
A. M. The Private Secretary of the Gov. Mi‘. I10-
vey, also arrived at the same time, and on the as-
sembling of the two Houses in the afternoon, he
submitted, from the Governor the following
MESSAGE.
Fellow Citizen ofthe Senate,
and ofthe House of Representatives; _
Elected according to the provisions of the
Constitution, to the Chief Executive Magis-
tracy of Connecticut for the second term, I
accept the trust with grateful feelings for the
honor conferred upon me, and under a pro-
foimd sense ofthe high and solemn respon-
sibilities of the elevated station. An afflic-
tive dispensation of Divine. Provi-flcnce.‘ hav-
ing prevented me from meeting you at the
seat of Government, to be qualified for the
discharge of my official duties in the accus-
tomed forin. I have, in presence of your com.-
mittee, taken the oath prescribed by law, and
have entered upon the execution ofthe trust
assigned me, In exercising the powers with
which I am invested by the continued confi-
dence of my fellow citizens, it will be, as it
has hitherto been, the object of my uncens-
ing care and solicitude, to administer the
government in the true spirit of the Con-
stitution; to promote the welfare. happiness
and prosperity of the people; and to preserve
and perpetuate our free, wise, and happy in-
stitutions undiminished and unimpaired.
The auspicious circumstances in the con-
dition of our beloved State, under which you
are now permitted to assemble at the seat of
Government, to discharge the various and im-
portant public trusts confided to you by your
constituents, form a suitable subject of cori-
gratulation, and call upon you for an ac-
knowledgment of devout gratitude to the
Giver of all Good During the past year,
the bounties of Providence have been muni.-
ficently dispensed in all parts of the state.—-
'I‘be glorious lights of science and revelation
have continued to shine in our midst. and
illumine the paths of our people. The bles-
sings of health, peace and plenty have been
every where enjoyed. And our civil, r.eli-
gious and literary institutions. under the be-
nign influence of just and wholesome laws,
have been preserved to us in all their origin-
al exccllence and beauty. Surrounded by
such blessings as these, we’ should -be un-
mindful indeed of our most sacred obligations,
were we not to ofii-r up the tribute of fervent
and thankful hearts to that beneficent, Being
who has bestowed them. and to iuiploi'e a
continuance of His Divine protection, guid-
ance and favor.
No state in the Union occupies a prouder
or more enviable position before the world
than C.onnecticut.— With anintelligerit, en-
terprising, and industrious populationufree
from debt, and possessing ample resources
for the supply of all her wants-—-with insti-
tutinns for religious instruction‘permanently
established and well supported in every town
and almost every village within her borders
——with Colleges of the highest order. and a
system of free schools based upon a perma-
nent fountfzition. for the intellectual and mor-
al culture of all her yonth—with asyliims
for the education of those who are deprived
oftbe power ofspm-ch, and for the relief of
a large portion of that unfortunate class of
human beings within her limits, who by the
Providence of God. are divested of reason
and uncferstzinding-with a form of govern-
ment and a code of Laws which recognize
the political equality of her people; which
secure them in the quiet possession and en-.
joyment ofpersonul liberty, personal Si'CUl'lly
and private property; which throw around
the enjoyment of civil and religious freedom
strong and cnduririgsafeguards, and which
afford the most ample protection to all thi-
interests and employinents of society-—-witli
these and other distinguishc-d advantages,
Connecticut possesses within herself the true
elements ofnational gieatiiess.
Since the lilSlt1(l_j'ttJl‘IlmL‘l’lI of the General
Assembly. nothing has occurred to disturb
the harmony of our relations with either of
our sister states, or with the General Go-
vernmr-ut. The causes which led to the
late unhappy dist.ui'b:-inces in Rhode ls'arid.
have been, I trust, so far removed, as to lay
the foundation of the permanent peace and
tranquility ofthat State.
I have received from the Governor of the
State of S. C. sundry Rt-solutions of the Le-
gislature of that state on the subject ofa Ta-
riff. These Resolutions declare that the
powers given to Congress to impose (lu
ties on imports, was bestowed solely for
the purpose of raising a revenue to d_i-fray
the expenses of the general government; and
that the I-fIl’lfi‘l'l.‘Ct.’I'll.ly established, by th»- ex-
travagance of the. imposts. is calculate-d to
iriipede the importation of foreign coin:nodi-
ties, and thus cut offthe revenue which mod-
erate duties would yield; that this impedi-
ment to commerce is ruinous to the agricul-
tural interest of the nation, inasmuch as it
prevents the free exchange of our products
for those which foreign countries alone cai-
furnish in payment; that the law creatiiig it
is designed to afforcl protection and bc.-tow
bouniies upon manufactures by extorting
money from all the Tt'Sl. of the community.
and amounts to a clear usurpation of powei‘.
not griiiitetl by the Constitution of the U. S.
and as such ought to be resisted; and that
no more revenue should be raised and col-
lected than might be necessary to defray the
e.\'pL’l)St-’S ofan economical administration of
government, which is claimed to be incon-
sistent with the t'n:‘tt*lt'11Et’]I of any law laying
discriminating duties for the purpose of pro-
tection.
In the two messages which Iliad the hon-
or to communicate to the General Assembly
at the opening of its annual and extra Ses-
sions ofthe past year, my views on this all-
important subject, after much consideration,
were fully and distinctly stated, and subse-
quent refl-sction has served only to strength-
en and confirm them. Those views are be-
lieved to be entertained and cherished also,
by the great body ofthe people of Connect-
icut, They ask from government no exclu-
sive privileges or boiinties. They desire
not an exeinption from the equal share of the
public’s burdens. They seek not the bene-
fits of a system of taxation which would hear
oppressively upon the interests of any sec-
tion of the Union, All they demand is that
the amount of revenue imposed and collected
shall be limited to the current expenses of
the Government. just and economically ad-.
ministered, including snitableprovisions for
the common defence of the country; and that
congrtss should be governed by a dscrimin-
ating wisdom in the selction of the subjects
of taxation for those purposes; that the bur-
thens inipqsed upon native industry by the
operation of foreign enactments, should as
nearly as possible be balanced, so as to bear
with the most perfect degree of equality at-
tainable, upon the various interests of the
country; and that in exercising the powers
granted for this object, incidental protection
should be afforded to all descriptons ofAincr~
ican labor.
The State of Maine has declared the im-
prisonment of any of her citizens, by the
authority of any State in the Union, without
the allegation of the commission of any
crime, but solely on the account of their
color. to he a gross violation ofthe Constitu-
tion of the United States, as well as of the
principles of rational liberty. And I am re-
quested by the Governor of that State to
coininunicate to yeti the resolutions embody.-
ing that declaration, Resolutions have also
been adopted by the same. State, in favor of
the abolition of the Military Academy at
\Vest Point, in the State of New York.
From the States of New Hampshire and
Vermont. Resolutions have been received.
declaring thatthe laws of the United States,
ooiiferring the franking privilege, ought to
be repealed; and that the pos‘age on letters
should be so for reduced as to bear some
proportion to that imposed upon other mat-
ter rarried in the mails.
New Hampshire has also resolved “That
the circulation. us money, of the bills, issued
by banks of less denomination than five dol-
lars, necessarily excludes from circulation
and common use, that specie which is re-
garded as essential to the security as well as
{he convenie;ic.e of various classes of the
community, and is 1; practical evil of such a
character as calls for remedy by Legisla-
live enactments ;” and requesting the coopera-
tion of legislatures of other States in New
England,‘in aid of sucha .1‘«'f0l‘min ~tlN‘l'
currency, as will exclude from circulation’
bank nrites or bills under -the denomination
referred to.
The C0mm0nWPZlll.l'l of Massacliusetss has
l'6COfTlflI€‘.l'Id(:‘Cl’llIE‘tl. the second section of the
first article of the Constitution of the United
States be so amends.-d, as that the Represen-
tatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned
among the several States which are or may
be included within the Union. according to
their respective numbers of free persons. in-
cluding Indiuns not taxed. She has also
declared, that under no circumstances wlia‘t-
soever, can her people regard the proposition
to admit Texas into the Union in any other
light than as dangerous to the continuance
in peace, in prosperity, and in the enjoyment
of tie blessings which it is the object of a
free government to secure. R: solutions of
the Legislature of that Comnoiiivealth have
‘also been received concerning French depm-
dations on the American Commerce prior
to the convention of Eighteen Hundred.
.The States of Alabama and Georgia, with
an honorable spirit and in becoming terms,
have condemed the immoral and dangerous.
doctrine of repudiation of State debts recent-
ly promulgated; and have expressed their
'J.llqUi1llflr.'(I hostility to all schemes having
lor their object the assumption of Sale debts
by the General Government-—rleclui'ing that
such an assumption would be "unjust and
unequal; a dringerous iisurption of power,
and a violation ofthe Federal coiiipat't.”
New Jersey has also adopted resolutions
condeiiinatory of the doctrine of_rcpiidiatioii.
While we have much cause to rr-gret that
any nieiiiher of our confetleracy should have
so far forgotteii her moral obligations and
tlisregiirdeif her pliglited faith, as to attempt
it justification of the doctrines conderiina.-d by
the three Statrs lust named, yet we are hap-
py to believe that in no other quartet‘ of our
country are those'docti'ines received with up.
prob ti-.n, by any respectabli: ' pi’ rtion of tie
people. Concurring as I do most fully
with these Suites, in the st-ritiinvnts contain-
ed in the resolutions adopted by their re—.
spective legislatures on the subjrct of repudi-
ation and assumption, I recommend them to
your wise consideration.
The State of Georgiathrough her Legis-
lature, has also “l.?.esolve.d. That negrocs, or
persons of color, are not citizens, under the
Constitution of the United States” and that
she will never recognize such citizensliip.
The State of Alabama has adopted a reso-
lulion also, ifoelu ring that she will sustain
the State of Virgini-i in the intercourse be-
tween the litter and State of New Yc-rli.
From the States of Maine, Illinois and
Rhode I.-land, legislative resolutions have
been receivcrd, (leclaring it to be the duty of
the Federal G'0V€l‘m‘t‘.('Yll to I‘(-'ft2l’t(l to Gr-n.
Jacitsou the fine imposed upon him in the
year l8l5, by the Jiitlge of the United States
for the District of Louisiana. for an allctlgcd
contempt of his judicial authority.
On this suh_i»-ct, the General Assembly
has already made known the wishr-s oftliis
State to our Senators and Repiws:-iitativcs in
Congress, and no further COnSl'-'lt"l'8'.lOi'I of it,
tllcrt fore, will be required during our pre-
sent session. A copy of the resolutions on
this subject. soon afac-r their passage, was
trurismitt:-d to Gt-rieriil .lar.'l<son in conformity
to the l‘l‘qll('Sl thr-rein mzide; I have received
from him a reply which at his request will
be communicated to you.
The resolutions from the several States
to which this reference has been made will-
be duly laid before you.
Your attentir‘-n will be directed to a com-.
mimication recently recr:ived from sundry
citizens of the Unit-*-d States temporary resi-
dents of France, informing me that they
have institu!e’l at Paris, l:y means of voltm-
tary contributions, an ‘American Athenzeum.’
The main olijert of the Iiistitution is to al-
ford every Aincrican visiting Paris ii place
where each may have access to the priori-
pal newspapers and other periodical publica-
tions of the Union, and establish a medium
OfC0mmlJl'llC=lll(m, a sort of literary ageiicy
between societies and men of learning in the
two liomispheres; and ii centre of informa-
tion where those of Europe may gratify
their desire of acquiring ltnoivlt-tlge of the
state of soci--ty and the institutions of this
country. For the adv:incemcnt ofthis sub-
ject, the Directors are desirous of obtaining
through our libcrality a complete set of
the laws of this State. The propriety of
making provision for that purpose is submit-
ted for your consideration.
Turning our attention from these matters
to others more l{nlI‘:€.tllilIt'*ly all":-cting'our in-
teinnl condition, we find but few subjects of
public interest to engage the deliberations of
the General Assembly. Among thtse, the
subject oftaxation is in my judgerni-nt, one
of the most important. So unjust and une-
qual are existing regulations for the assess-
ment and collection oftzixes, that I feel it my
duty to renew the rccominetidtition made in
my last annual mcssaae for their revision —
To the views which I then presented to the
General Assembly on this subject, your at-
tention is resyectfully invited. My convic-
tion of their soundness have been strength-
ened by subsequent reflections.
The amount of taxes imposed upon every
citizen should bear a reasonable proportion
to the extent of the protection afforded bythe
governinent to his person and prupi~'rty.~—
Upon this principle, a small portion of the
public expenses should be paid by the equal
contribution of every citizen, and the remain-
der by an equal tax upon the property of
the people; and the amount of a man’s prop-
erty, at its cash value, should be the rule
for his assessment. But under our system
of taxation, this salutary principle is not to
a jiistor reasonable extent preserved. For
the protection afforded to the person of the
citizen. the government demands the pay
ment of a poll tax equivalent to the tax levi-
ed upon real estate of the value of six
hundred and seventy-seven dollars. This
tax, although not seriously felt by the
wealthy, hen rs so heavily upon the poor
that it otight in my judgement to be reduced
one half. I therefore r- commend it be so
reduced. The rule directing the assessment
ofmerchants and mecfianics, and others is
also unjust in its operations-—-violating as it
does the principle which constitutes the true
basis of taxation. It appears the more im-
just, when contrasted with the rule prescri-
bed in relation to certain descriptions ofper
sonal property. The mechanic, who by
constant and unremitting toil. is enabled to
provide a comfortable. support for his family
is assessed for his skill to an extent correc-
pontling with the estimated amount of his
earnings. And if by frugality he save to
himself a small sum at the end of the’ year,
after supplying the wants and necessities of
his fainily, the money thus sai-ed,"'is made
the basis of immediate taxation. By these
means he is frequently subjected to the bur-
thens of a double tax. But '
the only evils in the present system of which
these are not‘
we have reason to complain. For ivhilethe
industry of the merchant and mechanic, and
the cow oftlie poorman do not escape the
searching operation of the law, the furniture
of the opulent, and the capital invested in_
navagation, amoontingto millions of dollars,
are wholly exempt from taxation. The
remedy for these evils is in your hands. and
l trustthere will leno disposition from any
quarter to postpone its application beyond
the limits of the present session In legis-
Iilllflg upon this iniportant suljtct, I would
recommend that all assessments of traders.
mrchanics and other, be abolished, and that
all property now exempted from being taken
by warrant or execution, be exempted-also
from taxation.
During the past year nothing has occur-
red l.O change the \’lt‘\\'S Cxpressed in [my
message to the General Assembly in May
last (to which I would agui-n respect-.
fully refer you,) in favor of the alolition
of capital punisliiiient, and the substitution
therefor of impi‘i.=onment for life. In my
judgment, so long as the doctrine of "blood
for blood” shall continue to be tolerated by
law, so long will criminals, guilty of the.
higliest offences known to our laws. escape
merited punishment, through the reluctance.
or unwillingness of Jurors to be instrumental
in tziltjug that front fruit’) which God alone
can give.
An effective prepai';.tion for (lt'ff‘I]('e in outg-
military orgauizwition is so essential to our.
peace and security that I cannot omit again,
to refer the attention of the General Assem-
blyto the laws now in force relating to the
militia in this State. By the provisions of
an Act of the lust annual session. ten years
of prospective military service, ivas, by way
of encoumgeiiient, made the condition of a
perni_anerit_exemption from poll tax. This
provision it is believed will have the saluta-
IY l‘“.l'J"“C_V. Of Increasing the number of ac:
tive and efficit--tit soldiers, aiid of inspiring a
gt‘!-‘filer dr’grce of zeal, animation and spirit,_
In the perlorinance of military duty,than has.
prevailed for many years. But it may be
well questioned whether the (‘0I'lfl(lt.'nt‘e of
all Our people in its justness, would not
have been sti‘ei:gtl:t=ned if those who had
already dischiirgetl their duty with honor
and lid:-lit_v for a greater number of years.
lltltl been embraced iiithin the benefits of
this provision. I therefore suggest the
adoption of an aiiiendnient to the 25.?» on this
subject, which shall make it retrospective in
its operations, and do equal justice to all.
The duties iriiposetl upon ccmn-and-ints of
Iiegiint-tits and Companies, by Ill0St' pi-ovi-
sions of law relating to the imposition and
collection of lines, are so burdensome and
expensive that they ought not, in my judge-
l‘tlt’nl. to be longer required. Deriving no
benefit to theiiisclvcs from the rnoiiey accru-
ing from the pcrfoi'riia:ice of this bianch of
their duty, those officers are required to de-
fray the e.\'penses of collecting it, out of their
own individu.il means, and are not unlre-.
quently, subjected to the trouble and vexation
Of lilw suits for faithfully enforcing its col-.
lection. It is deserving of consideration
whither, under such circumstance-s, justice
does not require that those dutiis be trans-.
ferred fiorn the officers of the militia to the
Attorneys for the State in the several Coun-
ties. to be by tlit-iii pt‘l‘fO!‘l‘ftt’(l at the expense
of the State. and that the moneys thus ac-_
cruing he paid into the State Trey-asury.
It has also occur.-d to me. that with some
additional legislative provisions for the more
thorough trziitiiug of the militia in the au-_
tuinn, either by means of the camp drill. or
some other mode equally C‘fl’lL‘tlt‘lUllS, the duty
enjoined by existing laws of meeting on the
first Monifay of ‘.‘i’l.iy, annually. for exerci.'-re.
and inspection, might safely be dispensed
with. J
In attending several of the regimental
reviews in (llfIt‘l'(‘IiI sections of the State
during the l1lSl.HU'tl]ml’). I was happy to ob-_
serve the order and correct tl: portnit nt which
gencrzilly prevail.-if in the runlts of the
soldiers. and the knowledge and skill they
displayed in executing the commands of
their officers. I was also happy to ascertain
that the usage which had immemorially
prevailed with the ofliccrs of the regiments
which I had the pleasure of visiiiiig. of fur;
nishing intoxicating liquors at their head
quarters or on parade, to those under com-.
mand, had been wholly abandoned. For
this gin at and important refoi'm——this salu-_
tary innovation upon a long established cus-
toin——tl_ie officers ofour militia are entitled
to the highest commen_dation of every citi-
zen. To encouraoe them in the noble stand
which they have just taken for the preserva-
tion of order and the perfection of military
discipline, Iivould recommend the passage
ofa law prohibiting. under atleqiiate pun-
ishment, the sale of intoxicating liquors on
days ofregiiiicntal exercise and inspection,
[except by lictn.-rt-d taverners] within one
mile from the place of review or parade.
I am happy to inform you, also, that this
important arm of our defence is gradually
increasing in strength as well as efficiency.
The aggregate number of men enrolled and
returned to the Adjutant General, in the
year 1842, was forty six thousand five ihun:
dred and twenty eight; being one thousand
three hundred and eighty five more than
returned the year previous. During the
year, five companies of riflemen, two of
ligbtinfiintry, and one band of music, have
been formed, and four companies of light
infantry have bern disbanded. An abstract
of the returns of the militia for the past ‘year’,
will be duly laid before you,
So important to the public welfare do I
deem the preservation of the arms belonging
to the State, which are now in the custody of
the several towns. that _I cannot omit in this
connection, to call your attention to the sub-
ject. By the provisions of an Act passed
in 1839, entitled "An act providing for the
safe keeping of the arms belonging to the
State of C_oniiecticut,” it is made the duty
of the selectmen of the several towns in
which any of those arms are deposited. annu-
ally or as often as the quartermaster genel'2i;I
shall direct, to inspect their C0[IdIl.I0n'5L report
to him the manner in which they. are kept
and taken care of; and authority is given to
the quarter Master General,_undor certain
CIl‘Ct1m.SI3nCt"S, to cause the arms thus de-
posited to be returned to the Arsenal. It is
believed that the public interests would bf;
much better subservcd than they now are,
lfP|'”VlSiiins were made for the personal exam-
ination of the arms belonging to the State, by
Norwalk Chronicler