The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-10-06
ADDRESS
-. n - TO rHE
ELECTORS Of Portage County.

ELECTORS Of Portage County
The undersigned members of the Demo-
cratic. Central Executive Committee of Por-
tage County, feeling deep interest in the
present political canvass, and believing that
upon the coming election depends IN great
measure the civil and religious rights OF our
people in future, beg leave to address tNelr
fellow. citizens in a plain candid manner,
upon some Of the issues now made between
the political parties Of the country.
Never since the organization Of our State
government, have the times been SO fraughi
with danger, and the issues SO important as
at the present moment. The questions tc
be decided are not questions of policy only
(though there are some of these) and which
will effect merely the degree of our prosper
ity. Thereare questions of PRINCIPLE also
Principles which lie at the foundation of oul
government, are once more to be weighed il
the balance Of public opinion and are agair
= to be approved or condemned by the people
at the ballot-box.
That we may leave no subject unnoticed
we deem it expedient to examine each topic
of public interest in its order. What ar,
the issues before the people of the State
This, of course, should be determined by the
duties and powers which the officers TO be
elected, will be called upon to'perform. Any
question outside of these powers and duties
cannot be regarded as legitimate subject o
discussion. The officers to be elected are
Governor, Lieut.. Governor, Secretary
Treasurer, and Auditor of State, Attorney
General, Member of the Board of Public
Works, Supreme Judges, Members of the
Legislature, and county officers. The duties
of all OF these are confined to Ohio, ane
their bearing upon the interests Of the peo
pie of Ohio, is therefore a matter of inquiry
In Republican government, all power ii
derived from the people. All officers are
therefore Immediately responsible to the
people, whose agents and servants they are
and they ought never to refuse to render ar
account of their stewardship. The present
candidates upon the Democratic State tick
ct, have already been intrusted with power
Tney ask reelection. 1t Is therefore 9
legitimate inquiry for us to ask: Have they
during their terms of office, been true to the
interests Of Ohio? Have they exercised witt
prudence, the powers conferred upon them
Have they beeh economical in the manage
ment of the public funds! Have they in al
respects performed their duty and their sohoD
duty as guardians of the public interests
II they have not, then they are unworthy o
our support. lfthey haze, then the interest:
of the State, and the prosperity ofibe people
demand their re-elet ton. Besides, it is bu
Justice, that tried and faithful public servants
be rewarded. -.
The first question Of State policy, which
we propose to discuss, is that pertaining t.
Public Expenditures.
The taxes Of Ohio, tor several years past
have been bur,hensome in. the extreme, ane
/ this has been greater cause Of complaint
than any and all others combined. A brie
fnotice of our financial affairs will therefore
Ibe Of benefit at this time. The State Of Ohio
is divided into eighty-seven counties; these
coubties are again divided into townships
townships are divided into school districts
We have also incorporated cities and villa
ges, which are aifothef division. Now these
State, county, town, township, city ant
school district divisions, while they are al
connected with each other, are yet at the
same time; in many respects, independent
governments. Each one is permitted to ex-
ercise the taring power independent of every
other one. The State may levy tax fol
State purposes; the county for county pur'
poses, the township for township purposes
the city for city purposes and SO on. The
aggregate tax paid by the people of Ohio, il
derived from all of these sources combined
and is not chargable to any one, but to all
State officers are not responsible for levy
! made by county, town, city, or school distric
y officers, neither are county, town or city Of
ficers responsible for levy made by Statt
officers. How far then, are our presen
Democratic State officers responsible fol
our present enormous burthens! Every
honestman will say atonce, they are respon
sible for that tax which they levy and owe
which they have control, and no more.
With this preliminary statement, we pro
pose to enter upon an analysis Of the tai
levied for the year 1854. The following ia
bles are taken from official documents ant
may be relied upon as correct: X
The whole tax for the year 1854 in Ohit
for all purposes was $9,092,0oO. This wa'
assessed for the following purposes:
For State Com. schifund sl,sOO,3g4 9s
j For District Library fand s6,692 96
Total for School purposes, I,3s7,0s7 o
For interest and principal ON the public e. =.
\ debt, l,u5S,06S
For general revenue purposes, compris-
ing all the current expenses Of the state
: government including gbenevolentinsh-
tutofs, New State House, New Lunatic
sssi Assylums, &c., &C., oVosooo
Whole amt Of State taxes levied, e3,077 ,60I
For city,town, and borough purposes. ,326. .l99
* ForCoanCy " PURPOSES, - X I.14s,565 o
y For Township purposes, - Syx,s5g
For Bridge purposes, 3l6 .6.a 6.a . .
For Poor purposes, . dtg-saas. leI}zoz y
For Building purposes, 40SsSsI !
For Road purposes, &- a III i-tf IU,U25
Rs 81, Rs ssas easps:s., : :saAeg''