Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1839-12-14

ceived shall be LAID before your honorable
body. The eminent legal abilities and well
known industry of the gentleman appointed,
qualify him in high degree for the per-
foruiances of the duties required in the
above resolution, and | have no doubt but
his report will be highly satisfactory.
Under an act of the General Assembly of
March the 18th, 1898, the Governor is au-
thorized to cause to be laid out IN proper
lots, streets and alleys, the old Penitentiary
lot, containing ten acres. The act further
provides that the lots shall be appraised,
and authorizes the Governor at such time
as he may think proper, to cause the same to
be offered for sale at public auction. The
survey and appraisement Of the lots as re-
quIrel by the law, were completed under
the administration of my predecessor. |
have not thought it prudent or advisable TO
bring these lots into market. This lot of
g-ound was conveyed to the state by Alex
ander M'Laughlln and John Kerr, by deed
of the 18th of November, 1912, for public
use. If the state should sell this land and
the same be converted to private use, le-
gal question would arise whether it would
revert back to the original grantors, and the
state by this means, be deprived of the land
altogether. But if no difficulty of this kind
existed, | believe it would be bad policy for
the state to dispose of this lot of ground.
Its location on the canal renders it an ell
gible site for an Arsenal, Barracks and Mi
ltary store house, and with some improve
ment 1t could be made desirable parade
ground.
An arsenal is now indispensable for the
preservation of the public arms. Barracks
and a military store house, would be re-
quired at the seat of Government in time of
war, and general parade ground would at
all times be desirable. The quantity of
land in this lot is not greater than would be
wanted for various military purposes. The
old Penitentiary house situated on it has
been fitted up during the last summer under
the direction Of the Quarlermaster Gene
raj, for an arsenal. The public arms are
now deposited in it, and if some sheds were
erected for the preservation of field pieces,
1t would answer all the purposes of the state
until better one could be built respect
fully submit, whether it would not be good
policy to retain this lot of ground for militia
ry purposes. With this view | would re-
commend the passage Of law repeating
the cbove act, and vacatng the streets and
alleys lald out through said establishing
permanently an arsenal thereon, authoriz-
ing the erection Of sheds for the preserya-
ton of field pieces, and directing that the
whole lot be suitably enclosed and rlaced
under the care Of the Quartermaster Gen
eral.
In April last, the requisite orders were
issued for drawing the quota of arms due
this state, from the United States, under the
act of Congress, for arming and equlpping
the militia, for the years 1887, 1888, and
1889, and the ordnance department was du-
ly notified of the kind of arms and military
stores des red by this state. The quota due
the state for three years last named, is five
thousand five hundred and twenty-six and
9-13 muskets. They have been commuted
for the following military stores, to wit
Twenty setts of artillery equipments !;
eighteen hundred hall stocked rifles and
accoutrements, and two thousand two hun
dred and eighty muskets and accoutremenus.
| have been Notified by letter from the ord
nance department, that these military stores
have been directedto the order of the Quar-
termaster General. They were expected
some time since, but have not yet been re-
ceived, they will be distributed among the
several divisions of the militia of the state
according to law. The balance of arms
committed for 1856, were received during
last summer, being seven hundred and
twelve pistols, and one hundred and thirty
carbines.
A well organized militia is our main arm
and defence against foreign aggression, and
domestic tumult. 1t is upon the citizen
soldier that we must principally rely to de-
fend unr country from enemies abroad, and
to aid the civil authorities in the preserva-
tion of order at home, and the due execu-
ton of the laws. Ours is government of
the people-it emunated from them, and to
them it belongs. The defence, therefore, of
free institutions is very properly and safe
ly entrusted to their hands. A standing ar
my is opposed to the genius of our repub-
llcan form of government-hostile to hber-
ty, and repugnant to the feelings and opln-
ions of our citizens. Our only reliance for
defence, therefore, is on well organized
militia. That they can be SO organized as
to constitute an efficient arm of national
defence cannot be doubted. But it must
be borne in mind, that bravery and an ar
dent devotion to country, which may always
be expected to characterize our militia, will
avail but little on the field of battle in the
present refined state of modern warfare,
without skill and proper military organiza-
ton. AS we cannot always expect TO es.
cape the calamities of war, prudence re-
quires that we should adopt such means as
will ensure the efficiency of tie only force
upon which we can rely in the hour of dan
ger. 1t is deeply to be regretted that
better organization does not exist with our
miltla-but little better could be expected
under the existing law. There is, however
in the greater portion Of the state, mill
tary spirit, which under judicious law for
organizing and disciplinng the militia could
not fail to bring about decided change for
the better. The present law does not meet
with the appreciation of the officers, and
those most experienced in military affairs,
and whose means of judging of its defects
are derived from practical observation.-
The difficulty of framing law on this sub
ject to answer the purpose intended, and to
secure the great object desired, an efficient
and well organized militia, is evinced by
the repeated acts passed within the last ten
years on the same subject, none of which
have been permitted TO exist longer than to