The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-12-20


the transit of the fugitive. IT, however, citizens
of the free states should actually violate the rights
of any of the citizens Of the sister states, the laws
Of the country give ample redress, without resort
ing TO violence.
In the present case, question ofjursdiction has
been raised The citizens of Ohio who have been
captured, were on the bank, on the northwest side
of the Ohio river and the authorities of Virginia
have set up claim Of jurisdiction over the soil
where the capture occurred II was supposed
that the decision of the Supreme Court of the Unl-
ted States, made in 1920. had definitely and final
" settled this question of boundary. Ordinarily,
where river is the boundary between states,
each holds to the middle of the stream; but Virgin
ia, having been the original proprietor, ceded the
| territory northwest Of the Ohio river only and
ther efo claims jurisdiction the river. II be-
comes important that some fixed and certain line
be known as the boundary and this the decision of
| the supreme judicial tribunal Of the country has
distinctly defined, under the construction of the
original cession of 1888, to be OF low water mark
on this side of the river.
| 1t never could have been designed that narrow
strip of land on the beach of the river should be-
long to the state on the opposite shore. The prIn
ciple, that country bounded by the shore of a
river extends to low water mark, is so natural and
| convenient, as to have secured general adoption.
The claim of jurisdiction for Virginia. however,
here set up, extends, as it seems, not only over
the river, but also on the bank on this side.
The decision of the Court referred to, goes fur
ther, and recognizes the right acquired by the
pact with Virginia, under which Kentucky be-
came state, which stipulates that the navigation
of, and Jurisdiction over, the river should be con-
current between the new states and the state
which possessed the opposite shore of said river.
This compact having been ratified, became bind
ing upon Virginia, as well the other states bor
derrng upon the river.
II would BEEN, therefore, that no doubt can exist
that the captured citizens were kidnapped and vio-
ently abducted from the jurisdiction of Ohio, and
that due regard for the honor of the state, well
as justice to the injured citizens, demands repara-
| ton for the wrong.
| Should the Executive of Virginia persist in his
refusal to surrender the aggressors, the state will
assume the responsibility of the outrage perpetrat-
ed by those lawless persons upon the rights and
Jurisdiction of Ohio and if this outrage be submit
ted to on the part Of Ohio, it may be made pre-
cedent for future insult and wrong In the mean
time, respectfully submit to your consideration
the propriety Of adopting effective measures to
prevent similar invasion OF the rights of the citi-
zens of Ohio.
deem it my duty again to call your attention
to the laws which unjustly oppress and degrade our
colored population. 1t seems to me that their re-
peal is demanded alike by the spirit of our religion
and the philosophy Of the age.
The Penltentiary of the state has during the year
been conducted with skill, prudence and economy
The system of prison discipline which has been
vgantl7 adhered to, has been well calculated to
accomplish the true objects of criminal punishment
Special regard has heen paid to the complaint ofa
portion of our citizens, who have, perhaps with
good cause, aedged that the system Of prison Ia
Dor created an unjust competition with their busi-
ness, and tended to degrade their pursuits. So far
| as practicable without violation of old contracts
for prison labor, the employment Of the convicts
has very properly, as well as profitably, been di-
rected to thuse objects which do not conflict with
the interests Of any of the existing mechanical pur
suits OF the state. Since my last communication to
the Legislature, have seen no reason to justify
change of my views, then expressed on the subject
of prison labor,
The finances Of the institution for the current
year show the following results:
Accruing revenue, $42 800 90
Disbursements during the year, q, 4,525 90
Leaving balance in favor of the insn of1S ,025 90
The number ofconvicts on the first Of November,
eighteen hundred and forty-four, was four hundred
and sixty-four The number of convicts received
during the past year was one hundred and thirty
six. The number of convicts in prison on the first
of November, eighteen hundred and forty.fve,
was four hundred and seventy-one. Four con-
victs escaped during the year. Thirteen died by
disease, and two by accident. Some have been
disch, ,rged by writs of error from the Supreme
Court; some have been pardoned, and the terms of
service of a considerable number have expired
during the year.
The benevolent institutions of the state located
at Columbus, consisting OF the Lunatic Asylum,
the Asylum for the education Of the Deaf and
Dumb, and the Asylum for the education of the
Blind, are all in highly hourishng condition, and
each of them has been conducted during the past
year, with eminent skill and efficiency. These
III .auII A. I'll
Ohio. and constitute living and enduring eviden-
ces of the enlightened and humane spirit OF the age
The number of patients in the Lunatic Asylum
on the 18th OF November last, was 223, of which
I25 were males, and SO females. After the new
addition to the edhce of this institution, which is
in progress of construction, shall be completed, it
will be sufficient to accommodate the number of !
about $50 Of this afflicted portion of our fellow
creatures. The number Of pupils in the Asylum |
for the education OF the Deaf and Dumb is about |
one hundred When the addition to the buildings |
of this institution, which is in progress, shall be
completed, the number of about fifty more can
probably be accommodated In the Asylum for
he education OF the Blind, there are seventy pu-
pills, and the institution is in condition to receive
larger number.
In May last, the authorities of the United States
at Washington, removed the Office OF Surveyor
General, from Cincinnati in this state to Detroit
in Michigan. In this Office were all the original
records, maps, and field notes, pertaining to the
original surveys of the lands of Ohio. On receiv-
ing information of the removal of this office,
made application to the officers of the General
Government, for transfer to this state, of the
ords, maps, documents, &C.. ia the Surveyor Cen
erals office, so far as they related to the original
surveys and titles to land IN Ohio. In accordance
with my request, the transfer was madein in August
last, and the records, maps, field notes. &C., were
committed to the charge Of Samuel Williams,
Esq, of Cincinnati, who now holds the same, SUBJ
ject to the order of the General Assembly.
II will be necessary to create state Office OF
Surveyor General. or otherwise provide for the
performance of the duties, and the preservation of
the.records and papers, so that copies Of the field
notes, records, and other documents relative to
our land titles, can be furnished and authenticated
as competent evidence, under the certificate Of a
state officer,
The documents, records. &C.. received from the