Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-01-19
r.I GOVERNOR CHAsE's

DELIVERED JANUARY l4th. 1886.
Eeuo'o- Citizcns Of The Senate

1t has pleased the people of Onio TO call me to
thor service in the capacity Of Governor o. the
The sovereignty of the People is the distinguish.
ing characteristic Of our Institutions. The People
constitute tie State. Government is nothing but
the administration Of the affairs Of the People hy
agents of the People, selected in such mhniicr and
invested with such powers as are best adapted, ~
their Judgement to the security Of their own rights,
and the advancement Of their own interests.
To the successful working of such institutions
two conditions are indispensable. The first is,per-
sonal freedom the second is official responsibility
Without personal freedom. inviolably secured u
every individual. there may be n community OF
privileged superiors and degraded dependents
but there cannot be, in the true sense OF the word
q People. Without responsibility, constantly exact
ed and vigorously enforced, the servants oil the
People are but too apt to become their masters
Eternal vigilance, it has been well sad, Is tht
price of Liberty.
In our own State personal freedom is guaranteed
by the fundamental law and the responsibility Of
public servants is secured by the partition OF gov
ornamental powers,by strict limitations OF authority,
and by frequent elections.
To secure individual rights against invasion to
furnish adequate remedies for tho redress Of inju-
ries to provide the means and diiiuse the benefits
of education to rescue from unhappy destlnles,
those children or sorrow, the dcaf, the dumb, the
blind and the insane; to define the JuSt course ana
limits of individual and Associated actions to ue'
velop the resources, protect the interests, and de-
fend the honor of the State to maintain the pub
lie faith. and make provision for the discharge OF
she public obligations these are some oil the
high duties which tho Constitution OF the State
and the choice of the People devolve upon you.
The burdens of taxation have become very griev'
Gus. Reform, both in measure and In mode, Is
universally demanded and | earnestly invoke
your most serious attention to this important mat
ter. AS far as possible, the aggregate of taxation
should be reduced by the introduction otrigid econ.
. nm g into avarv broucb pf tho IuIlic service and
the greatest care should be taken to apportlon Its
burdens equally upon all nCn.eXempt property OF
every description, by whomsoeyer held, No favor
and no disfavor sho uld be shown towards one de-
%scription of property or class ot owners, ralhel
than towards another.
Under instructions issued 10y the late Auditor oil
State, the statutory right Of each citizen to deduct
his debts from his credits, in listing his property
for taxation, has been denied. In issuing these
instructions, the late Auditor was governed, doubt
less, by respect for a decision Of n majority OF the
Judges of the Supreme Court, by which the section
of the act which allows this deduction, was declar
ed to be unconstitutional Notwithstanding thai
decision. however, the Legislature has not thought
fit TO repeal the law, and it may be doubted wheth'
.er the Court, upon re consideration, Will adhere to
the opinion heretofore expressed. Should the
present Auditor, under these circumstances, THINK
it his duty to conform his instructions to the stat
ute. which remains unrepealed, rather than to tho
opinion of the majority Of the Court, the right de-
MED by his predecessor Will DC reStOlcu.
A sound and sufficient currency Is Indispensable
to the welfare of every civilized community. The
best practicable currency, in my judgement, would
Re a currency Of coin, admitting the use OF large
notes only, for the convenience OF commerce. Such
n currency, however, is only attainable through the
legislation of Congress, and the action OF the Gen
.eral Government. Connected rs we are on all
sides with States in which banks of C %rculatlOn are
established, gu actual currency, in the absence OF
adequate thanking capital, within our limits, must
necessarily be supplied, in great measure, by in
stitutions beyond our control and exempt from our
taxation. All attempts to exclude, by penal icgis-
lation, the bank notes Cf other States from clrcuIa
tion in this have proved Intellectual and the public
sentiment demands an increase OF banking capital,
organized under our own laws, contributing IN just
measure, to our own revenues, and sufficient to
furnish the necessary facilities for the transaction
of business. The Constitution Of the State lndi-
Gates the mode in which this demand may Nc sat
isied. 1t provides Tor authorizing associations
with banking powers, by act of the General as
sembly. to he submitted to the people Mt the next
general election, and not to u take effect unless then
approved by II majority Of all the voters. In franz
ing such an act should you deem it cXpcdicut to
exercise the power thus vested in you, the utmost
care should lie used to secure the prompt ana GER
tain conyertibility Of every note issued into gold or
silver coin, upon demand of NMc holder to protect
the community against all abuses Of granted pow
ers; and to guard against the evils OF monopoly by
extending the Leneflts Of the act to all who will
give the ample securities and guarantees which
you will doubtless require. No general objection
exists to a mixed currency of coin and notes, eX-
char gcable for coin at the will Of the holder with
out loss while all mere paper money systems,
pregnant with fraud and fruitful of yuin, justly in,
cur universal reprobation.
For several years past the law has allowed con
tracts for interest at tho rate of ten per centum,
There seems to be no valid reason why the capital
lists should be encouraged to demand so large a
proportion of the earnings Of the producer and the
profits of the manufacturer and the merchant. l
therefore respectfully suggests material reduction
of the maximum rate allowed.
need nat commend to your JndiciouS consldera'
ton the Educational and Benevolent Institutions
of tho State. Universal Education is our cheapest
defence, and surest safeguard, and most enduring
wealth. Our Common Schools, which secure To
the people this great benefit, are firmly established
in their affections, and will justly claim the foster
ing care of tleir representatives. Our benevolent
Institutions arc a noble compliment to our educa'
tional system. Their existence honor the State,
and every patriotic c.izen must feel Il deep interest
in their improvement and prosperity. The duty OF
the State will not be fully performed until the ben
Gifts of these institutions shall be extended to all,
without distinction, who need their care.
The organization and discipline Of tho Militia
will require your carly consideration. The laws
on this subject need thorough revision TO adapt
them to the requirements of the Constitution
Adequate provision should be made for the en-
.rollment of allcitizens liable to military duty, in
order to secure to the State her due proportion OF
the public arms. No necessity, however, seems to
demand actual service from any who do not feel
disposed to perform it. Efficiency and energy will
probably be better secured by the judicious en-
enlargement of voluntary organization. The pat
riotism of individual citizens, properly sanctioned
and supported by legislation, will doubtless supply
a military force fully competent to all the exigcn'
cies of police, and to whatever moro serious con
tinsencies may possibly arise.
The Constitution of the State provides for it,
own amendment, and assigns 10 the Legislature the
duty of proposing such notifications as experience
suggests. Changes in the fundamental law should
ever be made with caution but amendments which
commend themselves by their intrinsic merit tc
the judgement Of the Legislature. and seem to
BIO demanded also by a general opinion among the