The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-01-14

- AAh 80 WANA ~
Il, more than equal To our own. Here pee
pie do not complain. They support their
Institutions literally, though the means for
that purpose must, in a great measure, be
dug from the soil
Il is a reproach 20 our State, and stain
upon previous Legislation, that some steps
have o long since ben taken for the pur-
pose of more extensive relief To this suffer
ing portion of our people
The General Assembly willnots | am GER
tain, if it can see its way clear permit the
present session to pass by. without the ne
cessary legislation 10 provide additional asy-
lums for the accommodation ofthe insane.
From different sections, and from the most
respectabl sources, urgent solicitations have
been repeatedly made, that this subject
should be pressed upon the consideration of
the Legislative authority al the earliest prac-
ticable moment. ID.
The 9th article of the constitution, it will
bee. seen provides for a Sinking Funds for
the liquidation of the the Public Debt. and
which shall be sufficient to pay the accruing
interest thereon. This fund must be ade-
quate, after the payment of interest, snnu-
ally,to rduce the principal by a sum not less
then one hundred thousand dollars, increas-
ing each and every year, by compounding,
at the rate six per cent. per annum. 1t de-
clares of what this sinking f nd shall con
sist, and creates a Board of Commissioners
to be composed of the Auditor and Secre-
airy of State, with the Attorney General.
M, .. n raenone;hla tr,,et onDfnrroI ,,por
this Board, and it is suggested thatprovision
should be made by law for the keeping of a
complete record of all its proceedings. The
Board shold have its Office and its clerk, as
large sum of monev are to be received and
discussed, throughout its agency, security
should be required for the faithful perform
ance of such duty. But little difficulty, it
is believed, need occur, in carrying out in
detail the objects of this ARTICLE by legisla-
tive enactments.
In speaking of the general prosperous
condition of the different branches of the
State Government, our militia system must
be permitted to form an exception, and was
not intended to be included in those remarks.
1t has been neglected for years, and has
fallen into d~isrepute; nor is it supposed
much benefit would be derived from fire.
quent militia m listers and military drills
They are usually days of dissipation rather
than instruction in military science. But
under institutions like ours, and where safety
in case of war is n a citizen soldiery, there
sholld be kept up an effective enrolment
and organization Of our military force. Di-
vision, Brigsdes, Regiments and Companies
should be oficered complete, and full re-
turns made, at stated periods, to the Adju-
tant General. No return has now been made
for many years, and the State of Ohio loses
at least one-third of her just annual proper.
ton of the pub lie arms distributed by the
United States.
The constitution requires that legal prov
ision shall be made for the enrolment of the
militia, and for the protection of the public
arms. The arm and accoutrements of all
descriptions received by Ohio, at their on
tract prices, will amount to, at least, seven
hundred thousand dollars. But a small
proportion of them are now in the arsenal
at Columbus; other have been distributed to
to ~compenies, and deposited in different coun-
ties in the State, and for which storage is
yearly demanded and paid. Those to whose
care they have been intruste1, and who have
given security to the Quarter Master Gener-
al, have, in same instances, died, in others,
gone without our jurisdiction, or become in
solvent. In some cases, the public arms
are out of repair, in others not to be found,
and no one Of responsibility to account for
their injury or loss.
The arsenal, or place of deposit, in Co.
lumbus, where there is a large amount OF
this property, is the old penitentiary build
ing, damp, dllapidated and leaky, weak and
insecure. Tbs arms and accoutrements pla-
eed in it are unsafe. 1t has been broken
through, the present summer, repeatedly,
and mu*kets abstracteI, for hunting and
sport. With the advice Of the Quarter Mas
ter General, with no otherAuthorlty but that
which was assumed, in order to prevent
these abuses, it was deemed necessary to
employ n Waterman, and pay him monthly
from the contingent fund; he has, however,
been kept at work in the repair of the public
m This subject of providing for their
safety, was specially brought to the notice
of the last General Assembly, but for want
slime, orsome other cause, did not receive
its action.
The constitution not only requires the pro-
of this property, but it 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 ofCon-
grcss, the public arm have been distributed
to the several States in a ratio to cores
pond with the returned numerical force of
their militia, to be used in case Of war, inva-
sion, rebellion or Instruction, for their de-
or that of the nation. s'. b.. OH
1t is true the horizon is now clear. q Not
a cloud appears to threaten q bloody strife,
blu. Washington has said if peaceful rela-
are to be maintained, we must be pre-
pared for a different state Of things, and the
of his country never spake in peace
or war, but his words were eminently worthy
Of heed a,a.. 'a 1851 Af
1t isrecommended that provision be made
70 call in all the public arms, except those
for light or volunteer companies,
and that he be stored in a suitable place,
put in order, insured, and given to the GUS
tody of the Quarter Master General, who
be required to give security for a
discharge Of his duty, in their care
and preservation. The storage at one place
it is believed, would be much less expeR-
sive to the State. aaa $50 :" .a.@
A thorouOh and eomnlete organization of