The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1840-12-18
Governors
NHESSAGE.
Gentlemen of the Senate

Gentlemen OF the Senate
aud H0Wse Of Representatives.:
Since our last meeting we have had reason
10 he grateful for the many blessings which we
have received from kind and beneficent Prov
idence. The general health of the state has
been good, the crops have been unusually abun
dant, and the great body of our fellow citizens
have been, und still continue prosperous and
happy.
The cause ofedncation and intelectnnl i'm
proyemsnt has continued to advance under our
liberal and enlightend system ofinstruction. At
no period heretofore have our colleges, acada-
mics and common schools been in more pros
porous condition than they are at the present
time. The deep sollcitude felt by parents gen.
orally to see their children receive good edu>
cation and the noble ambition that characteriS
ses SO many ofour youth to attain this desira-
bic object. cannot fail to excite, in the bosom of
every patriot and friend to our democratic insii.
tutions, well grounded hopes tha. they will long
continue to shed their blessings and benefits on
great, prosperous and intelligent people,
It's fact that cannot be too often repeated,
or too deeply impressed on the minds of the
present and rising generation, that our FREQ in
stitutions can only be preserved and perpetuated
by a virtuous intelligent and uncorupted peo-
pie. The history of all free governments ad.
monishes US ofthe danger to which public lib
erty is most exposed. We are differently and
more favorably situated, it is true, than any Of
the republics of ancient or modern times, Our
population are scattered over wide surface
engaged on their farms and in their workshops;
pursuits well calculated to promote and encour.
age the growth Of that virtue and love of liber.
tyi the want of which has been SO fatal to the
cause free government in other countries and
other times. 1t is on the great producing clas
ses which constitute and ever must constitute Q
large majority ofour population, that we mus
mainly rely for the preservation our free in
sttutions. They are honest, patriotic and in,
telligent and will SO continue unless the mean.
ofcducation is neglected, and the onward
march ofintellectual improvement, which sc
preeminenty characterizes the age in which.wt
live, should receive some great and unexpected
check. Notwithstanding, however our circun
stances and population are SO auspCious to tn
growth and perpetuaton public liberty AM
free government, we should not be unmind(u
of,he means by which they are to be preserved
1t is the duty of every citizen of the State to pr
mote ,he,cause Of virtue and encourage the dif
fusion ofinteigence. But il is peculiarly tn
province of,hose who have been selected b.
the people to discharge the impOrtantand highl
responsible trust of legislating for the country
to guard againstihs growth of vice, ignoranc
and corruption. by encouraging, by all pfoPe
means, the education ofthe rising generation
and thereby enable them 10 enter upon the i'm
por,ant duty, which in the rapid course OF time
will soon devolVo upon them, of prUservin
our free institutions in their original simPllclt
nnd purity, and handing them down, unlmpall
cd TO posterity.
THE CURRENCY.
The subject OF the currency and the improv
meut of our banking system will doubtless oc
cu2y aporlion ofyour time, and receive yor
careful consideration. To inquire into the VI
Tious causes that have operated to derange tn
currency oftlIe country, and to find out the
Wis and defects of the present banking system
and to trace its bearings and influence on the d
faIen interests Of society, with the view OF rel
edying existing evils, and prevent their recu
renee hereafter, would seem 10 me to be a ca
dina ard primary duty oflegslation.
Our banks are but a pait of a great whol
composed ofthe various banking institutions
the State, all foundd upon, aud governed b
the same principles similar in some degree
their organic structure, aud bound together al
controlled by the same general laws of ira
and exchange. In seeking therefore, to renee
the evils of the system, in our own State, dr
TO place our currency on more solid and s.
stantk eOoting, we may gain much useful info
mstion to direct us in the path of duty, by loo
ing at, and understanding the evils of the who
or any ofils parts. The sane consequence