A deep interest is felt with regard to our commerce with the Western States. Its growing value and the loss of our trade with the Southern States make us dependent for our commercial prosperity upon that section of our country which sustains our domestic and foreign commerce, and which adds so largely to the imports and business prosperity of the city of New York. This State will be untrue to itself if it fails to control this great source of wealth by a vigorous and generous policy. Rather than suffer its diversion into other channels we should strike off all tolls upon Western produce. A number of projects for enabling vessels to pass from the Mississippi river to the harbor of New York have been brought to the public attention. By one it is proposed to enlarge the locks on the Erie Canal to admit of the passage of gunboats. Another plan is the construction of a ship canal around the falls of Niagara, and the enlargement of the locks between Oswego and the city of Albany. The third project is the enlargement of the locks between the Hudson river and Lake Champlain, and a more perfect connection between that lake and the St. Lawrence. New York should exhibit that degree of interest in all measures designed to benefit the West, which will show our purpose to keep up the most intimate commercial relationship with that portion of our Union. The rates of tolls charged upon transportation should be

governed by the interests of this commerce and not by the amounts which may be paid directly into the treasury of the State. The increase of our wealth from the growth and value of this commerce can be made to add far more to the income of the State than the entire receipts from all our canals. The tolls they pay are of little importance compared with the wealth and prosperity which the domestic and foreign commerce of our country diffuse among all classes of our citizens.

CHENANGO CANAL.

I recommend an appropriation to extend the Chenango Canal, so that it may be connected with the coal fields of Pennsylvania. This will make that work productive to the State, and give value to the deposits of iron ore along its northern section; it will also lessen the cost of fuel. The importance of this is now felt in every part of our State. Our system of internal navigation will not be complete until this is done and the people of the State will not be free from combinations to increase the price of fuel until one of the channels by which it is brought into the State shall, under its control, regulate the price of transportation of an article essential to the comfort and to the business and manufacturing interests of our country.

OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE HUDSON RIVER.

I recommend a further appropriation for the removal of obstructions in the Hudson River. The money expended under the act of the last Legislature has improved the channel, and a further small sum will enable the Commissioners to make great additional improvements.

FOREIGN COMMERCE.

appears

The destruction of American shipping by armed privateers has been disastrous to our carrying trade. I submit, with the documents accompanying the Message, a statement prepared by a prominent commercial editor, to which I invite your earnest consideration. From this it that one hundred and eighty-four vessels, aggregating 84,871 tons, and, with their cargoes, valued at $15,000,000, have been destroyed upon the high seas. Yet this amount shows but a small part of the injury and loss we have suffered. The following figures will afford an idea of its extent:

This loss falls mainly upon the city of New York. These alarming and humiliating results demand the immediate and earnest attention of the State and National Governments.

IMMIGRATION.

During the past year there was a very large increase in immigration from foreign countries to the port of New York, the number arrived being 156,843 against 76,306 in 1862. This is the largest immigration, one year excepted, since 1855. From information received, it is believed that there will not be much, if any, diminution in the emigration from Europe while the demand for labor continues and is so well paid.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

The two Houses of the Legislature, at their last session,

adopted a concurrent resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution, having for its object the speedy disposition of the business which has accumulated in the Court of Appeals. If it receives your approval, it may be submitted to the people at an early period in the present year. Delay in the administration of justice is a public evil, and it is especially so where it occurs in a court of last resort. The constitution of the Court of Appeals brings a large proportion of the litigation arising in the numerous tribunals before it for ultimate adjudication. Hence the court was overburdened from its organization, and, notwithstanding the industry of the judges, the arrearages have been steadily increasing, until a remedy cannot be postponed. The proposed amendment, if established, will enable the present court and the additional tribunal to dispose of the arrears and keep down the accruing business, until some other system respecting the judiciary shall be adopted.

The approach of the time when the people will have to determine whether a Constitutional Convention shall be called, ought not to operate against the proposed measure of relief. Should a convention be held, the delegates could not be chosen before the year 1867, and probably not less. than two years will be required to frame a new system and put it in operation. If the proposed amendment should be perfected, the relief would be nearly immediate, as the commission might be enabled to commence its services during the present year.

THE ENROLLMENT AND THE DRAFT.

Congress, at its last session, passed an act for drafting citizens into the army. It wrought a change in the public

feeling with regard to military service, and all, without respect to political views, tried to evade its operations. It has proved injurious to the civil, industrial and military interests of the country.

I called the attention of the President of the United States to the inequality in the enrollment. The wrong was partially corrected by reducing the numbers called for in those districts where they were excessive to the average number in the other districts of the State. New York is required to furnish more than other States in proportion to its population. This is shown by the following tables: The average ratio of enrollment to the male population in the Western States, is...

In New Jersey.

In Pennsylvania

In the New England States it is..

In the State of New York it is

Massachusetts, with ten Congressmen and a population. of 1,231,066, has to furnish, under the recent call for 300,000 men..

19 per ct. 20

66

The first nine Congressional districts of the State of New York, with a population of 1,218,949, are called upon for....

25,166

10,040

Excess in nine Congressional districts in New York over ten Congressional districts in Massachusetts.. The quota of Vermont and New Hampshire, with a united population of 641,171, and six Representatives in Congress, and four Senators, is... The quota of two Congressional districts in New York, the 4th and 6th, with a population of 283,229, is.. It is not claimed that this inequality grows out of any

7,099

7,628

deficiency of volunteers heretofore furnished by this State.

Messrs. James A. Bell, O. C. Kellogg and Wm. H. Bogart, at my request, called the attention of the Secretary of War to this subject. He promptly appointed William F. Allen, of this State, John Love, of Indiana and Chauncey Smith, of Massachusetts, a commission to determine upon some fair mode for correcting these glaring inequalities.