Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-01-15

\ The eth article Of the Constitution. il vii
be seen, provides for q Sinking Fund. for tb
liquidatlon Of the public debt. and which shnl
be sufleient to pay the aecruing interest there
on. Tins fund must be adequate, after tn.
lPaymenf OF the interest, annually. TO reduce
the principal BY sum not less than one hun
fdred thousand dollars, increased each and eve
Try year, oy compounding At the rate Of six pc
cent. per annum. II declares Of what this sink
ing fund shall consist. and creates Board o
Commissioners to be composed Of the Andito
and Secretary Of State with the Attorney Gen
eral.
This Is responsible trust conferred upor
this Board, and it is suggested that provision
should be made BY law for the keeping of {
complete record of all It's proceedings
The Board should have its Office and il.
clerk, as large sums Of money are to be
treceived and disbursed throughout IT:
agency, security should be required fol
lhe faithful performance Of such duty
But little difficulty, it is believed, need
occur, in carrying out in detail the OBJ.
jects of this article by legislative enact.
ments.
In speaking of the general prosper.
Gus condition OF the different branches oil
the State Government, our militia sys-
tenn must be permitted to form an excep
ton, and was not intended to be incIu-
ded in those remarks.
II has been neglected for years, and
has fallen into disrepute; nor is il sup
posed much benefit would be derived
from frequent militia musters and mill
tary drills. They are usually DAYS OF
dissipation rather than instruction in
military science. But under institu.
tons like ours, and where safety in case
Of war, is on a citizen soldiery, there
should be kept up an effective enroll
ment and organization Of our military
force. Divisions, brigades, regiments
and companies, should be officered COM
plete and full returns made at stated pc.
RODS to the Adjutant General. No re-
turn has now been made for many years,
and the State of Ohio loses, at least one
third of her just annual proportion Of
the public arms distributed by the
United States.
The Constitution requires that legal
provision shall be made for the enroll
ment of the militia, and for the protec-
ton Of the public arms. The arms and
accoutrements OF all descriptions recsiv-
ed by Ohio, at their contract prices, will
amount to at least seven hundred thou
sand dollars. But a small proportion
of them are now in the arsenal at Co.
lumbus; others have been distributed to
companies, and deposited in different
counties in the State. and for which sior-
age is yearly demanded and paid
Those TO whose care they have been in
trusted, and who have given security to
the Quarter Master General, have in
some instances died, in others gone
without jurisdiction, or become insol-
vent. 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
Columbus, where there is large amount
of this public property is the old Peni-
Ientiary Building, dilapidated, and Ieakv,
weak and insecure. The arms and ac-
coutrements placed in it are unsafe.
II has been broken through the present
repeatedly, and muskets alb
for hunting and sport. With
he advice of the Quarter Master Gen.
sral, with no other authority but that
which was assumed, in order TO prevent
hese abuses, if was deemed necessary
o employ a watchman, and pay him
from the contingent fund; he
las, however, been kept at work in the
epair of the public arms This SUBJ
ect of providing for their safety, was
brought to the notice of the
asst General Assembly, but for want of
ime, or some other cause, did not re-
eive the action.
The Constitution not only requires
he protection of this property, but it is
admitted TO the consideration of the
legislature, whether good faith to the
United States is not equally imperative.
Under the authority Of various acts
f Congress, the public arms have been
distributed to the several States in ra- s
10 10 correspond with the returned nu-
nerical force of their militia, to be used 8
n case of war, invasion, rebellion or
for their defense or that OF ,
he nation.
II is true the horizon is now clear.
Jot cloud appears to threaten bloody
trife, but Washington has said if peace
ul relations are TO be maintained, we
must be prepared for different state of
lings, and the Father Of his country
ever spake in peace of war, but his
'ords were eminently worthy of heed. /;
1t is recommended that provision be {
lade TO call in all the public arms, ex- ;
ept those necessary for light or volun- ,
ser companies. and that they be stored ,
1 a suitable place, put in order, insur- I
d, and given TO the custody Of the Quar-
,r Master General, who should be re-
uired to give security for a faithful
Of his duty, in their care and I
The storage at one place,
is believed, would be much less ex.
ensve to the State.
A thorough and complete organiza- .
on of the militia. is, likewise recon- Z
Iended. We should at least know our u
wn strength. The General Govern e
lent should know il and give US our ,
r. Il