The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-01-23

The receipts from the Ca
mails and Public Works
| during the year ending
November Is, 1848, were $773,5 ,554 81
The receipts from the same
source during the year
ending Nov. Is, 1849, are 731,173 so
Making difference of $42,38O 81
This decrease is not so great as was at
one time apprehended from the general
stagnation of business throughout the
whole country, produced by the prevail
ing epidemic and by reason of the very
extensive failure of the wheat crop in the
State. Considering these two causes OF
decrease, the result shows the growing
importance of our Public Works and the
generally increasing wealth and resources
of the State.
1t is found that the law of the last ses.
sion authorizing the exchange of stocks
payable after the year 1860 for stocks re-
deemable after 1850, fails to enable the
Fund Commissioners TO obtain the highest
amount of premium which our stocks bear
in market, inasmuch as it only authorizes
an exchange, but not sale. | would,
therefore, recommend an amendment to
that law, so as to authorize the Comisson-
ers to sell stocks redeemable after the year
1860, which now bear a high premium in
market, and apply the proceeds thus raised
to the redemption of our bonds payable
after 1850. It's believed that a saving of
considerable an amount, may thus be made
to the State.
As much general legislation and fire.
quent changes in General Laws is at best
doubtful policy, it would most conduce to
the interests of the people, that but few
changes be made, and none but those Of
immediate and evident necessity.
1t is unnecessary for me to present ar
guments to the Representatives Of the peo-
pie of the State OF Ohio, to show the ne
cessity of sustaining and encouraging
system of common school education. Its
paramount Importance is uniformly felt
and acknowledged by all our citizens
Upon the right education of the rising gen.
Grafton and the universal dissemination of
knowledge, mainly depends the permanent
existence of our free institutions.
1t is nearly twelve years since the prin-
cipal law now in force on that subject was
enacted. 1t, like most important laws, had
its defects, and has since gone through
such variety of changes and amend
ments, that it requires more than ordinary
skill to ascertain what the law is upon any
point which may be brought into question.
Many portions of it, and more particularly
that portion relating to the raising of taxes
for various purposes, and the supporting
of schools beyond the means supplied by
the various school funds, is fruitful
source of trouble in the districts and
general cause of complaint against the
system. would recommend to your con-
sideration the propriety Of a thorough re-
vision of all the laws upon the subject.
By its variety and fertility of soil, Ohio
is peculiarly adapted TO that first and no.
blest occupation of man-Agriculture-
giving employment to greater number of
our citizens than any other branch Of in
dustry; furnishing from its products ma
terial for manufactures, home consumption
and commerce to the value of more than
fifty millions of dollars annually. Agri.
culture is and will ever be the great source
of wealth to the State, and therefore merits
and should receive much attention from
the Government.
In obedience to a resolution Of the last
General Assembly have visited the sew
eral benevolent State Asylums and made
an examination of the books and method
of keeping accounts, all of which appear
correctly kept, and in manner to secure
strict and rigid accountability of all those
having charge Of the several departments
in those Institutions. The number of Off
GERS, persons employed, and salaries paid
to each, except those whose salaries are
provided by law, will, as usual, be COM
municated in the annual Reports of the
officers of the several Institutions, to which
| refer you for information on that SUBJ
ject. On the appearance of the cholera in
this city, the pupils in the Asylums for the
education of the Blind and Deaf and Dumb
were dismissed for the time, that they might
by being taken to their several places Of
residence, avoid the danger which would
have been incurred from that fatal disease
by remaining together. They have again
| returned, and the present term of both In
stitutions has commenced under favorable
auspices, and with more than usual pros
poets of accomplishing the benevolent OBJ
jects for which they were designed.
The patients in. the Lunatic Asylum.
from the nature of their complaints, and
the difficulty and cost of removing them,
could not be dispersed. Much credit is
due to the officers and assistants for their
extraordinary exertions and care in the
use of all the means believed to be benef.
cial as preyentives, as well as much graft.
tude to that Being who controls "the des.
truction that wasteth at noon day." that this
Asylum escaped untouched by that disease