Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-01-11

It will be seen that general as these estimates
were, they differed but little from the actual
suits. Had they been detailed and specific, and
aided by contingent appropriations suggested, the
results would have been the limits prescribed.
Much might thus have been saved without i'm
pairing the condition, or in any way diminishing the
revenues arising from these works. Financial
fluctuations would thereby have been avoided,an
greater degree of regularity impaired to all our
pecuniary transactions.
Nor should | omit to press upon your consider
alton, the necessity of providing for more strict
accountability for the various officers, who
charged with the expenditure of the public mon
ey. The Auditor of State and the County Audit
are the proper accounting o1ncers OF the Gov
ernment. No one should be permitted to be his
own Accounting officer, and all avenues to the
treasury, should be required to pass through the
proper accounting bureau.
A practice formerly prevailed upon the public
works in the penitentiary, and perhaps in some
of the other institutions Of the State, by which
the money of the people was expended without
the required and necessary control OF the auditor
of State. If this practice has been followed by
no frauds serious loss, the fact should be attri
buted to the integrity of the officers, and not to
the salutary restraints imposed by law. All di-
rect drafts upon the Treasury should be strictly
avoided, and in every pecuniary transaction of the
Government, there should be in practice, as we'll
as in theory, an accounting officer, acting as
checks upon each other. But little is gained by a
specific appropriations if there be no check upon
the improper application OF the money.
And in connection with this subject it is proper
to remember, tina: it will not be long before all
our expenditures will have to be met by assess
ments on the Grand duplicate of the State. All
special taxes, except auction duties, pedlar's IL
censes and few others, have been suffered to go
out of existence; and labor, such, is no longer
required to contribute to the burdens imposed by
the State;-a policy so salutary that it commands
the appreciation of every one
Our School, Ministerial and Canal lands, will
soon pass into the hands of actual settlers;-the
Surplus Revenue will be repaid; and thus nearly
all sources of Revenue will be closed, except the
Public Works, the dividends from Canal Turn
pike and Railroads Stocks, and Direct Taxation.
That these extraneous revenues should run OUT is
hardly to be regretted. They never were very
large, while they mystifed our public accounts
Their final disappearance, with the causes that
called them forth, will not increase the public
burdens, it will but change their character
These facts should have their due weight in de-
termining all financial questions. The taxing
and appropriating powers are the most important
functions of Government. High taxes do not al
ways indicate unnecessary extravaganza, and for
many of our exactions at this time, we may plead
the force of circumstances.
We are young and rapidly growing people,
we have everything to create, all public build
ngs to erect and large and onerous debts to dis
charge 1t is, nevertheless, true, that our fnan-
cial system is without those salutary checks which
experience has shown to be necessary in all pub
lie transactions; nor will it be denied, I appre-
hend, that greater degree of economy may be
attained. The recommendations already made,
will if adopted do much to secure this end.
Our taxes are now levied upon uniform and
equitable basis;-the should be expended under
the strictest accountability. Satisfy the people
that the funds drawn from them, are properly and
economically applied, and the taxes now COM
planned of, will be cheerfully borne.
The very large amount which has been drawn
from the people of this State, during the past
year, for the support of the various governments
under which they live, will certainly excuse the
earnestness with which / have pressed the sub