The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-01-26


cnce our country has steadily advanced from
strength TO strength, and from greatness to-
greatness, extending her borders enarglng her
resources, aud augm nting her power, until
the name of American citizen has become
nobler distinction than was The name of the
Roman citizen in the proudest days of the
mightiest republic of antiquity. To main
tain the integrity of this Union to defend
the constitution which is its bond and to
guard against all Invasion from whatever
quarter thus American institutions which
the Union and tie constitution secure to us,
have ever been, aud trust Will ever be- ac-
know iedgrd as sacred Obliga atlUns by tie peO-
pie of Ohu.
Cherishing these sentiments and ever pre-
pared to give full proof of unwavering fdel-
ity to them, it is not only our right but our
duty 10 insist that the interests of Ohio shall
be duly regarded in the administration of the
general government. Few states contribute
so largely to the national revenues as our
own. The people Of Ohio have paid to the
federal government or to its grantees, for the
soil which they occupy and cultivate, more
than thirty millions of dollars. Of the rev.
enue derived from duties we contribute nee
cssarily in proportion to our numbers AS
the population OF Cur state is about one
tenth Of the entire population of the Union,
we pay about one-tenth Of that revenue.
It's entire amount for the last year exceeded
sixty millions of dollars. The proportion of
Ohio exceeded, of course, six millions.
While we have thus paid for the very soil
we live on, an amount which no other peo-
pie has ever paid under like circumstances or
under any circumstances, and while we still
contribute thus amply and freely to the an
nual revenue, it Is not an agreeable reflection
that, Of all the states in which the general
government has asserted a proprietary right
10 the soil, Ohio has received the least in
grants of lands for education, improvement,
aud other like purposes; and that while mil
lions are expended for tire protection and
benefit of commerce on the ocean coasts Of
the republic. TIA. property and lives of our
own people are exposed to continual peril
and enormous loss upon our rivers and our
lakes for the want of comparatively inSig-
nificant appropriations for the improvement
of their chanll-lS and harhOrs. The injustice
Of unequal grants of lands is perhaps beyond
remedy but it will BE- our own fault If our
rivers and haghOrs continue to be thus neg
lected. While in these and many other im-
portant details Of administration the inter
cstS of our own state are deeply affected by
the action of the national government, we
are even more vitality concerned in the great
principle by which that action and the pro
gressive development Of our country are reg
ulated and controlled.
As man is more than his circumstances,
as freedom is better than wealth, as rights
are more important than institutions, ii be.
comes us to look we'll to the Fundamental
IDEAS hich determine the character of gov.
crnment and the course of its practical op,
Grafton. The basis Of American institutions
is the democratic principle ofequality among
men, They rest upon the solid foundation o
popular consent The primary objects o.
their establishment are the defence and pro
tection of personal rights. If they fail II
secure these ends, it is the duty Of the people
who established to amend or change them
To organize an administer government up
on these principles is tn true work of a re
r,hlj r.n neonlp While tho democratjc idp