under this law, should be provided for. These details of administration ought not to be needed, but there seems to be something peculiar regarding this business, and it requires tying up tight. The police regulations, in my opinion, should be so amended as to prohibit the sale of any kind of intoxicating liquors on election day, and after eleven o'clock at night. There is a vast amount of liquor sold in drug and confectionary stores, without the payment of the tax. The only remedy that I can suggest is to place them under the provisions of the law and tax them. I believe that with these amendments the law will be found, year by year, more and more restraining in its tendencies, and more productive of good to the people. It has already closed over two thousand places where liquor has been sold, and 3 put into the common treasury nearly a million of dollars from the traflic.

The spring is no higher than its source, and no law that has not the sympathy and sentiment of the people acting with it, will ever remedy an evil. If a community do not regard temperance, sobriety, and good morals as a necessity to their well-being, the law will do them but little good,-while to the friends of good order, public peace and private content, it will prove a blessing.

Intemperance is the danger of the hour. It feeds prison and poor-house; destroys morals and manhood; and, cancer-like, cats away the life of the individual and nation. Law will not stop its ravages, but it may be made an instrument that will lessen its evil work, and this I believe our present law is doing. It should be strengthened and improved, bearing in mind that its provisions should be kept within the pale of public sentiment, and within the range of the common sense of justice that so universally prevails in the minds of the people.

The sudden and severe illness in my family that calls me away, has prevented me from preparing the report of the Centennial exhibit made by the State. I shall be compelled to defer it until my return, and ask my successor to transmit it to you.

SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES:

In closing my official connection with the State, I cannot refrain from expressing my sincere gratitude to my fellow citizens of all opinions and parties for the kindly consideration they have always shown me. I shall bear it with

me as a precious memory. I have faith that with good laws, equal justice, and general education as the foundation stone, we shall build here a State that will in material wealth and in the moral and mental worth of her citizenship, stand forever as the handiwork of a free people.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

Lansing, January 3, 1877. }

JOHN J. BAGLEY.

The following documents accompanied the message in the form of an appendix:

DISTILLED LIQUORS.

ABSTRACT

Totals

75 20,966 88 2916 356,497 68 2991 377,464 56 30 2,741 64 1435

48,312 19 111 5,332 50 26 2,560 00 7 1,294 63 1609 60,240 96 4600 437,705 52 1,656 36 49,767 68

ABSTRACT

OF COUNTY TREASURERS' REPORTS TO GOVERNOR BAGLEY OF COLLECTIONS OF LIQUOR TAX FOR 1875.