The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1849-01-16

gratitude, entered upon with diftidencc, ana
have endeavored 10 discharge with fidelity,
From this point OF time a brief retrospect Of
the past two wears, may not be out OF place.
The prominent measures recommended to
the General Assembly have been,
/. That our Currency and Revenue Laws,
deliberately sanciionedby The people, should
stand, with such Indispensable amendments
as experience should Indicate 10 be just and
necessary.
2. That our colleges, asyluns, and schools
should continue TO receive such cons:defa-
ton and suppori, as their great Importance
demands.
3. That our plighted faith should be main
tanned involatc. by upholding The laws
which had been enacted to provide for The
payment of not only the interest but the
principal Of our debt. BY refraining from
all further works Of internal improvement, by
the State, until the debt be paid BY offer
ing to actual settlers such rea sonable reduc-
ton in the price of our canal lands, ns
would bring about their sale and improve
rnent. And by strict economy in the admin
istralion in all the departments OF the go
gernment.
4. Tha, the condition Of The convicts in
the Peniteniiary, who were toling from
early dawn until dusk, without an hour to
read by day, or light to read at night,
should be amellorated; and that, even in
their fallen estate, the accents OF kindness,
the enlightenment Of truth, the teachings OF
morality, and the consultations OF religion,
should not be withheld.
/ S. That tie monopolies gradually faslen-
ing themselves upon the state, and begin
ming 10 claim perpetual duration, embracing
hundreds of able-bodicd men, working al
thirly-tbree cents per day, boarding, lodging,
and workshops found, in competition win
the mechanics Of the Stale, ought not to be
endured or tolerated, beyond what ialf
construction Of The contracts, made in ac-
cordance with law, demands.
6. That the work on the new State House
should be Immediately, and earnestly re-
snmed; and convict labor withdrawn from
W catiops injurious to mechanical pursuits
aud directed 10 this important object; taking
care, in its gradual withdrawal, 10 work NJ
injury TO any just rights Of contractors To-
prison labor.
7. That those enaclments very properly
denominated, by universal consent, "tht
Black Laws Of Ohio" are impolitc, unjus
and inhu an, at war with the genius OF oni
free institutions, and the spirit Of the age il
which we live; and that they ought 10 be
mme, lately and unqaaliedly repealed.
|
This las, opinion was every wLere dis
tincily avowed during the canvass Of ls46
The repeal has been recommended on every
proper occasion since. And although tht
General Assembly has thus far in the exer
else of its constitutional powers and duties
maintained different policy, yet | canno
refrain, in this my last official, act, respect
fully yet earnestly 10 recommend, that these
av should no longer remain upon the sta
lutte looks of the first State, orgrnized un
der the ordnance ois:..s?.
| will remain source ofgrsteful rcmem
braince TO me, in all future time, that ever.
on OF these recommendations, the last onl.
excepted, has met the appreciation and sane
Ii on of the Legislature. The currency ant
lreyenne laws have been upheld, and are
fulfilling thejust expectations OF their foun
ders Our colleges, asylnmns and schools
have been literally sustained. and in returl
are pouring streams Of bencyolcnce and en-
lighienment into all the departments Of SO
cial life. A reduction was made in tn
price IF our canal lands, lin limited quaint
ties, 10 actual settlers, and The result is tha
since the law went into operation on III
first day Of March, lS47, more than ninei
: thousand acres have been sold for over on
hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Th
public faith has been mob sustained Th
sinking fund has been enlarged. And
:. portion of the State debt paid The Pen
tcntiary has been lighted with gas, and fu
, nished with more than seven thou sand W
umes OF books for the use of the convict
Many have been taught in the prison SUI
!, day School toread ;and the cheering results
: kindness, blended with wholesome disc
pline, and Of mental aud moral iraining, al
! lnanicst in the reformation Of IFS inmate
6 A lar~e proportion Of those lately discharge
:, = are kDown 10 have entered upon lifeA
. honest Industry, alike honorable to then
selves and useful TO til r country. OF tv
hundred and seventy whose sentences hay
. expired, or who have been paFdoned with
. The last two years, only three have been n
turned 10 the prison BY the wise and o.
portune act Of the last winter, an etfectu
: check was gwen to the execution Of ne
= contracts for Penitcntiary labor. as welt;
: to the renewal Of tho old Ones. The wol
on the new Sta,e5I1ouse has been earnest
n resumed end vigorously pros.crted. Nor
y Than seven thousand perches of stone hav