In the west, too, we have openings which are scarcely less, if not indeed more, in their promise of good. The courage and energy of Portland, in undertaking the task of cutting her way through to the great lakes and the greater west, forming thus a link in the magnificent continental chain, has already ensured victory. Other efforts as worthy I can scarcely name here, but they also deserve our interest and care. case. The Railroad Commissioners make valuable suggestions in their Report, which I commend to your attention. The feature of immediate interest which will come before us, is the proposed consolidation of prominent lines in the State. If this means to place the public at the mercy of a monopoly unrestrained by responsibility to the State, and relieved from the checks of competition, I cannot recommend it to your favor. But this probably is not the The roads, however, have already the power to consolidate to all practical intents, by lease. What they want I understand is, that the rights they already severally have be brought under one organization and legalized, so as to economize their own efforts, and provide better securities for their public obligations. It is not the mere authority to fix times and rates. That they already claim to have. I do not believe, however, that they are independent of the State. Whatever their charters may contain, I do not believe it is competent for a State to grant away her powers over great public thoroughfares like these. It is to cede away her "right of eminent domain." These corporations took private property for public uses. Have they no responsibility to that public for whose uses this property was taken? It is the indefeasible duty of the State to take care of herself, and of her citizens. Everything is hers, if need be,-our fortunes and our lives. Shall railroads claim immunity? With this understanding, I need not feel it necessary to oppose consolidation. There are manifest advantages for the State in it. 1st, We may take the occasion, if there is any doubt, to declare or reaffirm the ultimate right of the State over the roads. 2d, The public convenience may be thereby facilitated. 3d, Better securities based on the whole property and franchise would be given in exchange for old ones. 4th, The wrangling which railroads have indulged in before the Legislature, and the political control which they have sought, would be entirely at an end. 5th, It would be a saving of money and strength. These things I can see in favor of the measure. But I leave the decision to your better judgment. The things we have been considering are great matters. We must not let them drift; but seize them with a strong hand, and wield them for the common welfare. It is not enough to call a power into exercise; we must be able to guide and control it, and shape it to useful ends. We must be ready when the incubus is lifted from enterprise, and the bolts thrown back from capital, to receive the influx of strength and population that will surely come, and to take part in the great reciprocities of civilization which are are as the tides of life to nations. Gentlemen, we have reached the fiftieth year of our existence as a State. We are not ashamed of her history. One of the earliest in discovery and colonization, she is one of the latest in the development of her resources, and the fruits of civilization. Yet all the obscure trial and toil that have intervened wrought for the times that were to come. The State sees her place and owns her duty; and does not spurn the task that enfolds the triumph. The gates of Destiny are opened, and she enters on her proud career. We shall watch with admiring interest, and help with untiring toil her onward way. Nor can it be that we hope and prophecy in vain. Our work may be obscure and the reward far off; but both will live. The early discoverers of this territory foresaw the future, and foretold its glory. Then by reason of human weakness and immature times, they fell short or perished. Then came two centuries of dull mechanical advance-slow moving by mere force of physical laws, without any grand mastery of mind and inspiration of idea. But in fact beneath this dull and lifeless seeming, forces were in preparation, elements in ferment, and germs maturing, which were in due time to ripen into blessings of which all that work and waiting were actual powers. The seeming death foretold and foreordained the life. The thrilling story of the voyagers rang round the world, and seemed to have rung itself away. But it is heard again coming round on the other side, swelling with the yet more wondrous harmonies of prophecy fulfilled. Our humble So we may be " building better than we know." works wrought in faith are regenerated by a mightier spirit than that in which they were conceived, and built into loftier monuments than our hands have reared. We pass and are forgotten; but amidst the silent or tumultuous years our good deeds are working free from the taint of our imperfection, and stand solid and shining in the perfect day. God deals with men as the melter of metals. He puts the earth-mingled ores into his crucible, and seals it up in fiery furnaces, out of view. Men forget it, but He does not. In the fullness of time it is opened-lo, on one side the dull earth, on the other the glittering ore. Surely, He "sits as a refiner of silver." He who thinks of these things will be humble, but will not be idle; trustful but not spiritless; reverential but not afraid. He is the true worker, heir of the ages past, and testator to the "all hail hereafter." It is thus that they who labor must also wait; that they who are faithful shall endure. It matters little what becomes of us, if we so conduct our great concernments that they who come after us are thereby made wiser and better than we. It matters little that our poor toil seems buried in the dust, if so be that it shall spring up again to bless the coming time. The ways of Providence seem slow to our brief, impetuous lives; but they are swift in the centuries of God. JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN. GOVERNOR CHAMBERLAIN'S MESSAGES. EXECUTIVE DEpartment, To the Senate and House of Representatives: } I have information that the fleet convoying the remains of the late George Peabody is expected in Portland harbor early next week. Such preliminary steps as seemed proper were seasonably taken by me, as will appear by the copy of Special Order No. 13, accompanying. This information is laid before you that you may take such action thereon as you may deem befitting. JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN. To the President of the Senate: EXECUTIVE Department, } In compliance with the request of the Senate, I return herewith the bill entitled an act to change the name of the Moosehead Lake Railway Company, and to amend the charter of said Company." JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN. To the President of the Senate: EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, 1870.} Augusta, March 1, 1870. In compliance with the request of the Senate, I return herewith "resolve in favor of the Insane Hospital." JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN. EXECUTIVE DEpartment, To the Senate and House of Representatives: } The bill entitled "an act additional to chapter 33 of the public laws of 1858, relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors," has been laid before me for approval. Some of its provisions appear to be of so extraordinary a character as to suggest grave doubts of their propriety or good effect. But considering the remarkable circumstance that the bill has passed both houses without opposition, I have given it my official signature. To the Senate and House of Representatives : I transmit herewith a list of the acts and resolves passed during the present session of the Legislature, and approved by me, numbering 336 acts and 105 resolves. I have no further communication to make. JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN |