Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-12-13
ooYERNoR,s MEssAaE.


ana hDdso OF hcpFeSCHLuUOcS'
Your assemblaQe at the'Gapital Of the
State, clothed with the power Of legisla
lion, touching the present and future
welfare OF our common country, presents
q proper occasion for the expression Of
gratitude TO God, for the blessings of
peace, health. and abundant barvests,
which, through a merciful dispenSatiOn
Of His providence, we have enjoyed dur
ing the psst year. The usual avocations
of our people have not been disturbed,
by either foreign or domestic war. AS
a nation our destiny hitherto has been
happily exempted from intestine commO-
ton, whilst in most other countries that
fatal ScOuIge has been long and often
felt, marking the existence Of oppressive
government, or pointing philosophical in
quiry with unfailiDg certainty TO the pre-
valsnce of bad social system or imper-
feet POLITICAL organization.
Our fathers, by a single, though long
projected struggle, established Tree snd
republican forms Of government, and left
the people at liberty 10 mould at will
their own systems Of civil pOlity. Those
conflicts Of opinion and collision Of appa-
Tenhy adverse interests, which must arise
under government like ours, extending
its dominion over large territory and a
great variety of pursuits, have with US
hitherto been adjusted by the elective
franchise and the tribunals established by
the Constitution and laws OF the land
The occasional threats Ot armed resist
ance TO alleged wrong, which have oc
Cured in our history, have been con,
demned by dispassionate public judg
ment, always speedily suppressed. and
terminated without destructive conflicts.
The fierce civil wars that have ragged, and
still continue with undated fury in our
neighboring republics, arising from their
attempts TO reconcile order with freedom,
pTeVent striking contrast to The peaceful
and. more successful means by which all
the legitimate ends Of good government
have been accomplished by our Republic.
The enlightened historian will find this
difference in the progress Of two people,
iUhabiting the same continent, TO have
its origin in their widely different moral
and intellectual education. Speculative
writer's on the nature and proper elements
Of free government, have agreed that ci-
vii rights and political power can only be
safely extended 10 the masses Of any peO.
pie, when general intelligence and pure
morality have been widely diffussd, and
exert a controlling influence. The un,
successful efforts Of men IN past ages, to
assert and maintain equal rights, all cons
cur in furnishing evidence of The truth Of
this great principle in the science Of gov
ernment. In Ohio, every citizen who
has attained TO majority, after short res.
idence in the State, and who has been
charged with, or paid taxes, is armed
with the right Of suffrage. Our funda-
mental law, therefore, and the general
legislation Of the State, have all been
made to wear the same aspect; they
each regard all men as equal, and seek
10 extend to all an equal amount pow
or, in the conduct Of public affairs. In
such system it must be ObvlOus,' hat edu~
cation. combining both moral and intel
lectual culture, is = matter Of primary
public interest. Il is with US not merely
ahe ornament of our public edifce; il is
the foundation on which il stands; ana
uithOut which it must crumble into
ruins, and crush in its fell, those WHO.
in false and fatal SeCuri,y, have taken
up their abode wiShinit.
10 former communication. | have had
occasion to urge upon the Legislature
the necessity Of maintaining in lull vlgor,
the school system nov in force, and Of
imprOVeing il by every means which ex.
perience may, from time TO time, suggest.
Any act which wears the appearance Of
Weakening, OF looks TO the future aban
d0Hmsnt Of it, must be considered as u
blow; aimed at a system If policy; which
Ill enlightened men, Of modern times,
regard as vital importance. BY an act Of
the last session, the school fund vas re.
duced BY an amount Of about fifty thou.
sand dollars. The necessity, real or i'm
lgIned, for tke.EedJCtion OF such fund,
s greatly to be,HeplOSed. HeaVnas The
axes now are, ! Cannot doubt but the
Ieople OF the State would have cheerful
yspaid the smOunt thus taken of, know.
~ ihat their children were thereby to
's fittedfor the proper exercise of the
'rest powers and privileges Of American
lesmen. II the present rates Of taxa,
ion should be reduced earnestly recon.
lend that such reduction may be made TO
III on other objects. many of which will
BADLY suggest themselves 10 the wisdom
the Legislature, as interests which may
liely be postponed to that Of general ed I
cation. It is by educating poor chill.
rem, wherever lhey may be found, that q
70 place them. TO some extent at least, I
IPOn footing Of equality With the for. I
unate inheTitOrs Of rich estates. Ii is 6
y ell agencies yet discovered, the most I
'ihc'ent IN producing that perfect and 9
ust equality amongst men, which brings a
aTmony into the social system, and b
ives PeTmanency 10 free government. o
tHaha neahIia SunpLa - Al -