Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-01-17
NUMBER -

thousand dollars, and pledged the onehalf Of
the public lands for its redemption, to Taise the
means TO provide for her insanee. sud this is
IN addition 70 heavy previous appropriations.
!, Oar Young but noble sister, the State Of In
diana with ealY one half Of our population.
less than half our wealth and resources, with
but limited commerce, and more limited n
manufactures is entirely ahead of as 10 insti-
utions for the mu:e and blind, and has
veil conducted Lunatic Asylum. nearly as
Irge, and with the grounds. attached to il,
more than equal to our own. Her people
do not complain. They support their instiiu-
tons literally. though the means for that pur-.
pose must, in great measure, be dug from
the soil
II is reproac. 10 our State and stain
upon previous legislation, than some steps
have not long since been taken Tor the pur-
pose of more extensive relief to this suffering
portion of our people.
The General assembly will not am cer-
tain, if il can see its way clear, permit the
present session TO pass by. without The neces-
sary legislation to provide additional asylums
for the accommodation Of the insane. From
different sections, and from the most respect
able sources, urgent solicitations hare been
repeatedly made, that this subject should be
pressed upon the consideration Of the legisla-
tive authority at the earliest practicable mo-
ment.
The 9Th article Of the constitution, II will
be seen, provides for Sinking Fund, for the
liquidation of the Public Debt and which
shall be sufficient to pay the aecfuing interest
thereon. This fund must be adequate, after
the payment of the interest, annually, to re-
.,,,,, -. tf.~s,
hundred thousand dollars, increased each and
every year, by compromising, at the rats Of
six per cent per annum. Il declares Of what
this sinking fund shall consist, and creates
Board Of Commissioners to be composed Of
the Auditor and Secretary Of State. with The
Attorney General.
This is a responsible trust conferred upon
this Board, and it is suggested that provision
should be made by law for the keeping Of
complete record Of all its proceedings The
Board should have its Office and its clerk, as
large sums of money are to be received and
disbursed, throughout its agency, security
should be required for the faithful perform
ance Of such duty. But little difficulty, it's
believed, need occur, in carrying out in detail
the objects of this article BY legislative enact
meHts.
In speaking Of the general prosperous con-
dition Of the different branches Of the State
Government, our militia system must be per-
mittsd to form an exception. and was not in
tended 20 be included in those remarks
It has been neglected for years, and has
fallen into disrepute; nor is it supposed much
benefit would be derived from frequent militia
musters and military drills They are usual
y days of dissipation rather than instruction
in military science. But under institutions
like ours, and where safety in case Of warts
on citizen solaiery, there should be kept up
an effective enrolment and organization Of our
military force Divisions, Brigades. Regiments,
and Companies should be oficered complete.
and full returns made, at stated periods TO the
Adjutant General. No return has now been
made for many years. and the State Of Ohio
loses at least one third of her just annual pro-
portion of the public arms distributed by the
United States.
The constitution requires that legal proTis-
ion shall be made for the enrolment Of the
militia, and for the protection Of the public
arms. The arms and accoatrements Of al
descriptions received by Ohio at their con-
tract prices. will amount to, atleast seYen
hundred thousand dollars But small pro-
portion Of them are now in the arsenal at Co
lumbus; others have been distributed to COM
Panies and deposited in different counties in
the State, and for which storage is yearly de-
manded and paid. Those to whose care they
have been intrusted, and who have given Sc
curity 10 the Quarter Master General. have.
in some instances. died, in others, gone With
out our jurisdiction, or become insolyent- In
some cases, the public arms are out of repair,
in others not to be found, and no one Of re-
sponsibility to account for their injury or loss.
The arsenal, or place of deposile, IN Co
lumbus, where there is a large amount Of this
property, is the old peniteutiary building,
damp, dilapidated and leaky, weak and inse-
cure. The arms and accoutrements placed in
it are unsafe. 1t has been broken through,
the present summer. repeatedly, and muskets
distracted, for hunting and sport With the
advice of the Quarter Master General, with no
other authority but that which was assumed,
in order to prevent these abuses, il was deem
ed necessary to employ watchman, and pay
him monthly from The contingent fund he has
however, been kept at work in the repair of
The public arms, This subject of providing for
their safety, was specially brought TO the mo-
tice of the last General Assembly, but for
want Of, time. or some other cause, did notre-
ceiye its action.
The constitution not only requires the pro-
lection of this property, but il is submitted to
the consideration of the Legislature, whether
good faith to the United States is not equally
imperative.
Under the authority of various acts Of Con-
grcss, the public arms have been distributed
to the several States in a ratio to correspond
with the returned numerical force of their mil
itia, to be used in case Of war. invasion, rebel
lion, or insurrection, for their defence, or that
of the nation. -
1t is true The horizon is now clear. Nota
cloud appears to threaten = bloody strife, but
Washington has said if peaceful relations are
to be maintained, we must be prepared for
different state of things, and the Father of his
Country never spake in peace or war. but his
words were eninently worthy Of heed.
Itis recommended that provision be made 10
~ III IN all thu nublic arms axcent those uec-