Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-01-12

cuioS Scus itOHi blIIC W uttics dA ueSeoHuS
may require. know of no appropriation
more 10 be justified by every feeling Of hu
manity land Of obligation to our fellow men.
Fhe Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ever, foremost in acts OF charity and benev.
olence TO the unfortunate, has. within the
last year, created stock 10 the amount Of
one hundred thousand dollars, and pledged
the one half of the public lands for its re-
dcmption, to raise the means to provide for
her insnne, and Ibis is in addition 10 heavy
previous appropriations.
Our young but noble sister, the State of
Indiana, with only one half our population
less than. half o. our wealth and resources,
wi,hbu limited commerceSsud more limited
in man u(aclures, is en,rielx ahead Of us
in institutions for mute and blind, and has
well conducted Lunatic Asylum, nearly
as large. and with the grounds attached TO
it more than equal toyour own. Her peo.
pie do not complain. They support their
institutions literally, though the means. for
that purpose, must, in great measure, be
dug from the soil.
1t is reproach TO our State, and stain
upon previous legislation. that some steps
have not long since been taken for the pur.
pose Of more extensive relief 10 this suffer.
ing portion Of our people.
The General Assembly will not, am
certain, if it can see its way clear, permit
the present session TO pass by, withou. the
necessary legislation to provide additional
asylums for for the accommodation oil the
insane. From different sections, and from
the most respectable sources. urgent solic-
itations have been repeatedly made, that
this subject should be pressed upon the con.
sidera,ion of the legislative authority at The
earlies. practicable moment.
The 9Th article Of the Constitution, i.
will be seen, provides for Sinking Fund,
for ,he liquidation Of the Public Debt, and
which shall be sufficient to pay the accru.
ing ginteres, thereon. This fund must be ade.
quale, after the payment of the interest.
annually, 10 reduce the principal by sum
not less than one hundred thou and dollars,
increased each and every year, by COM
pounding, a, the rate Of six per cent per an
mum. 1t declares Of what this sinking fund
shall consist, and creates Board Of Com
missoners to be composed of the Auditor
and Secretary of State with the Attorney
| General.
This is responsible trust conferred up
on this board, aud it is suggested that pro-
vision should be made by law for the keep.
ing of complete record OF all its proceed.
ings. The Board should have its office
and its clerk, as large sums Of money are
TO be received and oisbursed throughout its
agency, security should besrequired for the
faithful performance Of such duty. But
little difficulty, it is believed, need occur,
IN carrying out in detail the objects Of .hi'
article by legislative enacmenls.
10 speaking Of tho general prosperou
condition of the different branches oil th
State Government, our militia system mus
be permitted to form an exception, and wa
not intended to be included in these re
marks.
1t has been neglected for years, and ha
fallen into disrepute; nor is it suppose
much benefit would be derived from fre
ouent militia musters and military drill.
they are usually days OF dissipation ralt
er than instruction in military science
Blu, under institutions like ours, and wher
safety in case Of war, is on citizen so
diery, there should be kept up an effec,iy
enrolment and organization Of our mili,i
force. Divisions, Brigades, Regiments an
Companies should be oficered c3mplet,
and full returns made. at stated periods,
the Adjutant General. No return has no.
been made for many years, and the Stat
of Ohio loses, at least, one third of her iu.
annua, proportion Of the public arms d
lributed by the United States.
The Constitution requires that legal pre-
vision shall be made for the enrolment Z
the militia, and for the proteclion Of III
public arms. The arms and accoutremen
of all descriptions received by Ohio, E
their contract prices, will amoudt to, {
least, seven hundred thousand dollars =
But small proportion Of them are now i
the nfsanal q; Columbus; others have bee
distributed TO companies, and deposited i
different counties IN the State, and fc
which storage is yearly demanded an
paid. Those to whose care they have. bee
intrus,ed, and who have given security
The Quarter Master General, have, in som
instances, died, in others gone without ou
jurisdiction, or become insolvent. In som
/. cases, the public arms are out Of repair
in Others not TO be found, and no one Of rt
sponsibilily TO account for their injury 6
loss.
The Arsenal or place Of deposit in G.
lumbus, where there is large amount {
; this public property, is the old Penitentiar
Building, damp, dilaPidated, aed leak.