American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-17
DELIvEBED JANUARY II, Iaso.
EsRow-ei6zcns Of Senate
H y

Bstara entering upon the discharge Oh
tho duties 10 which | am thus summoned,
l am roqpired by the fundamental law to
take o., oath or affirmation to support the
Constitution Of the United States and OF
this Stale, and 10 take also an oath ofofire.
In oomplirnce with a venerable usage,
not established, indeed. By the Constilu-
ton, but recommended by The examples of
altmy predecessors, | now appear before
you for the purpose of taking upon my
self the solemn obligations which tho Con,
sIitution imposes. Of declaring briefly, the
general principles by which, in my iulg-
meat, tue conduct Of public Affairs should
bs regulated. and OF Indicating some of
their more obvious applications.
The Constitutional duty Of communicate
ing to the General Assembly The condition
ef tho State. ana OF recommending ma,,-
surcs BY him lsem,d expedieni, devolvcd
npol my pgcde, cssor. who has according
~ laid before you the reports Of the sever
al State officers, accompanied by auch ra-
commentators as seemed to him most like
u to promots the public welfare.
The dEty which usage imposes upon me,
requires nc detailed exposition or elaborate
discussion.
In the discharge Of that duty | shall
speak with difilence, but with frankness.
A profound sense of defective information
and limited ability will forbid presump.
ton; whilo gratitude to the prople, as
daep as ii 10 %fervent, for the generous con
hlonoo which their snifrayes e%vincc, will
constrain mo. irresistibly, not only 10 the
bsst O~xortion Of all my faculties in their
service, but 10 tho plainest declaration Of
tho views Of public policy. which invest
CATION have led me to adopt, subject al
ways to the corrections Of reason AMI ex.
psriGncO.
Ii may not hope for genaral concur,
renee in these views, [ may 4! least ex.
psct. from the intelligence an ! justice of
tho people, candid consideration IN i'm,
partial judgment.
Tho sovereignty Of the people ia tho dis.
tinguishing characteristic of our i%nsiitu-
lions. The peopls constitute the State
Government is nothing but the aiministra.
ton Of tn. affairs Of the people by tho n.
gents Of tho people, selected in such man
h,r, and invested with such powers as arc
best adapted, in their Judgment, to the Sc
HuriIy OF their own rights, and the aI-
vnacsmcnt Of their own interests.
To the successful working Of such inst,
%tulioa9, two conditions are Indispensable.
The FIRST is, personal freedom; the second
is official responsibility. Without person
FL freedom. inviolably secured to avery in.
divllu,l, there may be q community Of pri.
Tilsged supSriors and degraded dependents
but there cannot be, in the trus sense Of
the word, n people. Without responsible.
ity, constantly exacscd and vigorously an.
forced, She servant of the people are bu
too apt to become their masters. E'erna
vigilance, il has been we'll said; is .ht
prise Of liberty.
In our W State personal freedom il
guaranteed by the fundamental law, and
the responsibility of public servants is Sc
cured by tho partition Of goyernmsnta'
law; and the responsibility Of public Ser.
wants is secured BY the partition ofgovern.
mental powers, by strict limitations of au-
shortly, and by frequent elections,
To you, Senator's anil Representatives,
belongs exclusively tho function OF logisla
ton, No part Of this power, and no con
troll whatever over your exercise of it, il
con6ded to the executive, TO him belongs
tho duty to recommending to your con>i
d0ration such measures 40 he may thinl
bost adapted to promote tho pablo welfare
bat there his duty ends. The rest is yours
To secure individual rights against ia.
yasion; to furnish adequate remedies fol
the redress of injuries; TO provide the
means and defuse tho benefits ofelucation.
10 rescue, from unhappy deslinirs. thos,
shildren Of sorrow. the denf,, the dumb, "a,
blind and the insane; to doiina the jus
coarse AMI limits Of individual AMI asso
oiated action; 10 develop the resources
protect the interests, and defenl thu hon
or Of the State; 10 maintain the public faith
and make provision for tho discharge o
the pablo obligations:--theso are some o
tho high duties which tho Constitution o
the State and the choice of tho People do
volyo upon you.
For tho supply Of the means necessnr,
10 tho due performance Of these duties, an,
10 the proper administration OF the Stat
government, tho patriotism Of the peopl
may DO safely trusted. but they will jusll
require TINT no more revenue DO collector
than is indispansably necessary To thes
ends; and that clear accounts be rsndcro.
Of It's faithful application ~ proper publ
purposes.
Tho burdens OF tnxation hava becom
very greyious. Reform, both in measur
aud in molo. is universally demanded
and earnestly invoke your most ,oriou
attention to this important matter. AS IA
as possible, the aggregate Of %iaxatip
ahould be reduced by the introduction {
rigid economy into every branch of til
public service, and the greatest care shonl
be taken to apportion the burdens equal
upon all non.exempt property o%fevery de
tcripsion, by whomsoever held. No ravo
and no disfavor should be shown toward
one Subscription OF property or class of own
srS, rather than towards another.
Under Instructions issued by the Aul
torof State, the statutory right Of each 9
tizsn to deduct his debts from his credits
in listing his property for taxation, ha
been denied. In issuing these instrut
lions, tho late Auditor was governed ,doub
less, by respect for tho decision of a MI
Jority Of the judges Of the Supreme Cour
w which the section af the act which a
lows this deduction, was declared ODE III
constitutional. Notwithstanding that d,