The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-12-15
Governors Message.

100 r the expression of gratitude TO God, Tor
tho blessings of peace, health, and abundant harVesls
which through nercifu dispensation Of His provl'
dence we ha 70 enjoyed during the past year, The Us
Sua avocatiOn Of our people have not been disturbed
by either toregn or domestic war. As nation our
destiny hitherto has been happily exempted from in
testne commeIon, whilst in most other countries that
fatal scourge has been long and often let marking the
existence ofoppressiye government, pointing pilo'
sophica inquiry with uVailing certainly 10 the preVa'
lsncsSf aeud social system or imperisct poltcai ora
ganization,
Our fathers, by asinge, though long proracted strug
gle, established lfss sndfepublican forms Of governs
ment, aud left the people atliberty to mould at will
their own systems ofcvil poIity. Those conflicts of
opinion and collision ofspparently adverse interests,
which must arise Snder government like ours e1ten.
ding its dominion over large territory and great va.
rleiY Of pursuits have with us hitherto been adused
by The elective franchise and the tribunals established
BY the Constitution and laws ofthe land. The occa-
slonal threats ofarmed resistance TO alleged wrong
which have occurred in our history, have been con-
demned by dispassionate public judgement always
speedily suppressed and terminated without destruc
tive conflicts The fierce civil wars that have ragged, 81
still continue with undated fury in our nelghborlng
Republics arising from their attempts reconcile or
der with freedom present a striking contrast to the
peaceful and more successful means by which all the
Legitimate ends Of good government have been accom-
pl!slied by Republic. The enlightened historian
will find this difference in the progress oftwo people,
nhablting tho continent to have its origin in their
widely different moral and intellectual education. Spec
ulatlve writers on the nalure and proper elements OF
free Government have agreed that CT vii rights and po-
tical power, only be safely extended 10 the mas
Ses of any people, when general intelligence and pure
morality have been widely dlffused and exert con-
trolling influence, The unsuccessful efforts of men in
past ages to assert and maintain equal rights, all con-
in furnishing evidence of the truth of this great
principle in the science of government. In Ohio eve-
ry citizen who has attained to ma ory, after short
residence in the State and who has been charged. or
paid taxes, is armed with the right of suffrage Our
fundamental law, therefore, and the general legislation
oil the States have all been made to wear the same as
pect they each regard all men as equal, and seek TO
extend to all an equal amount of power the conduct
public affairs. In such system it must be obvious,
that education containing both moral and intellectual
culture, is matter of primary public interest. 1t is
with US not merely the ornament Of our political edi-
flee; it is the foundation which il stands and with
out which it must crumble into RUINS and crush IN its
fall those who in false aud fatal security have Ia
ken up their abode within it.
In former communication have had occasion 10
urge upon the Legislature the necessity Of maintaining
in full vigor, the school system in force, and of
improving It by every means which experience may
from time to time, suggest ANY act which wears the
appearance Of weakening, or looks to the future aban-
donment oft, must be considered blow, aimed at
system of policy, which all lightened men, of mod
the last session, the school fund reduced by a.
mount ofAbuut fifty thousand dollars. The necessity,
real or imagined for the reduction of such fund, is
greatly to be dOpored. Heavy the taxes are,
cannot doubt but the people oltbe Stale would have
chsorluy paid the amoun: thus taken of, knowing
that their children were thereby to be fitted for the pro
per exercise ofthe great powers and privileges of A.
merican freeman 1.-THE present rates Taxation shod
be reduced earnestly recommend that such reduction
may be maize TO fall on other objects, many of which
will readily suggest themselves 10 the wisdom of Tho
Legislature interests which may safely DO pos2o-
ned 10 that ofgenera education. 1t is by educating
poor children, wherever they may be found that we
place them, to extent at least upon footing of
quality with the fortunate inerilors ofrich estates 1t
is, of all agencies yet discovered tho most efficient in
producing that perfect and just equality amongst men,
which brings harmony into the social system f. gives
permanently to free government.
The public works Of the State have progressed, as
fast as the means for their prosecution, furnished by
the appropriation, would permit The Wabash & Eric
Canal IS nearly completed, and is navigabe from the
Indiana line 10 point twelve mlles below Defan ce,
from which latter point, by the river and canal con-
venlsnt navigation is obtained to the lake.
That portion of the work on the Miami Extension,
which has been under contract is expected to be
pleted during the present winter, early in the COM
ing spring, when existing contracts this line shall
have been completed, there will still remain about
thirty miles to complete the chain cana through
the Maumee and Miami Valleys lrum Lake Erie to the
OHIO at Cincinnati 1t must be apparent that the fin
ishng Of this link in that great chain Of communica.
ton is necessary to render useful to the State large
amount of money already expended as well as to rem
der the whole available to the citizens for The purpose
originally designed II is also CERTAIN that great loss
is justly upprohended from dllapidation necessarily
incident to works of that kind while they remain un,
occupied. Every motive of interest, therefore, as well
as audube desire to see the entite completion of our
system of internal improvement unite in demanding
Of tho Legislature careful consideration of The snbec
In crisis like The present. when all busines is abornp
under depression unprecedented in history the duty
OF the Legislature in acting upon subjects which in
volve increased taxation and further liabilities is rem.
dered extremely arduouS and dangerous. Important
questions concerning currency, affecting necessarily all
pursuits and every class of business questions that
have been agatsd for least FIVE years in the national
councils. still remain unsettled. 1t is scarcely possible
in this state of things, that such reg Ilay and certain
ty can be attained IN the appropriation of either labor
or capital as are indispensable, to a condition of ord
nary prosperity The illiudged aad ruinous legisla,
ton, both State and National, on these subjects, has
exerted It's banef influences upon the country so long
and by necessary consequence affected the credit of
States as well individuals that loans on the credit of
the State for the prosecution Of the most audabIe
erprse, cannot now he made on terms which, in bet.
ter times, were considered reasonable and Just
With view 10 discharge existing debts for work
done on the Wabash and Erie Canal and Miami Exten-
sion and to push them forward to completion tho Le-
gSalure at the last session authorized The Commission.
ers of the Canal Fund 10 issue Bonds, receivable for
lands ceded by Congress to aid The State in the construc~
ton OF these works. The act provided that bonds TO
the amount Of three hundred thousand dollars should bo
issued receivable for lands granted for tho construction
CT The Wabash and Eric Canal, and like Bonds 10