Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-01-18
Governors Message.
Geatlemen Of tie Senate,

and House Of Representatives.
In accordance with the requirements O
the Constitution, and the biennial system o.
legislation which has been thereby estab-
lished, you have assembled in your official
capacities to take into consideration the
condition of our public affairs and to pre-
pare and pass such laws as the experience
Of the last two years and the interests and
wants of the people may appear to demand
The first year of the biennial period
which has Just elapsed, was attended with
various trials and vicissitudes incident to all
human associations. The extraordinary
drought that prevailed throughout this and
most of the other States of the Union oc-
casioned very general failure of the crops
and the consequent reaction that occurred in
the monetary affairs of the country caused
much solicitude, and retarded, to some ex-
tent, the progress of public as well as of in
dividual improvement.
The great abundance and rich returns Of
the last year, however fully compensate the
Deficiencies of its predecessor, afford ample
cause for gratitude to that benefcent and
all wise Being who directs all things for the
best, and whose goodness and favor are ap-
parent in the still increasing happiness and
prosperity Of our people,
In complying with the provisions of the
Constitution which make it my duty to com
municate to the General Assembly the ''con-
dition Of the State" and to recommend
such "Ineasuros" as in my judgment may
tend to promote the public welfare, invite
your attention in the first place, to the ac-
comparing reports of the several State
officers. They have been prepared with
much care and ability, and contain a full
and detailed exposition of operations and
present condition of their respective depart
ments. .-.i.rr
entered upon the duties of the chief
Executive office of the State, under an i'm
preston, which subsequent experiment has
only tended to strengthen, that too great 9
laxity of practice prevailed in certain branch
es Of the public service, from which serious
evils might result. The law regulating the
administration of these branches had been
adopted under circumstances widely differ
ent from those which now surround US, and
the few simple safeguards that were former
Nv deemed sufficient, could no longer regarded
as adequate to the varied and greatly in
creased business entrusted to their care
Our county and other local organizations
especially, were. without those limitations
and restrictions which are necessary in all
public institutions.
This state of things could not fail, if con
tinued, to exert unEyorable and demorali-
zing influence on the affairs of Government
and avail myself Of the earliest opportuni-
ty that was afforded me to recommend such
legislation in reference to this subject as was
most likely in my judgment to effect the re-
quircd reformation. Much has certainly
been accomplished, but the failure of the
General Assembly to adopt aud carry out
my suggestions more fully, has retarded the
matter, and imposes on me the necessity Of
again calling attention to the subject.
took occasion in my former message to
doyelop with unusual minuteness, thro' com
paratiye tubular statements the financial
action Of every department of the State, as
well as of the local governments, for the
previous ten years; and now purpose to con
tinue the exposition to the present time.
1 refer you with equal confidence and
pleasure to the last two reports of the Au-
ditor Of State for any information you may
desire in relation to our financial affairs
The untiring industry with which that Off
Ger has attended TO his public duties, and
the care and fidelity which he has always
displayed in guarding the Treasury of the
people, constitute his administration an
epoch in the history of our financial trans
actions.
From these reports, it appears that the
State Treasury has been the recipient of the
followingrevenues during thepast twoyears
For the year 1854, S4,477,934 90,
For the year 1855, s4,2I5,S54 %.
The revenue received through taxes lev
led upon the grand duplicate, placed at the
head of each column, are the proceeds Of
taxes levied and collected the year previous
a fact which it is necessary to observe, in
order to fix correctly the responsibility of the
respective levies. That returned in the col
umn of 1854 is the first under the present
valuation ofreal estate. The proceeds ofthe
taxes levied in the year Just passed will go
into the revenue of 1856.
The following are the disbursements from
the State Treasury, for all purposes, during
the same period:
For the year 1854, S3,899,770 rs,
For the year 1856, $3,5O9,574 %.
This places before you the receipts and
expenditures of the State Government du-
ring the last two years, and there is no diff
Guilty in ascertaining the departments in
which increased or diminished expenditures
or revenues have taken place. To deter
mine, however, whether the State authori-
ties or those of the Counties, Township and
Cities are responsible for the high taxes
complained of by the people, we must ex-
anime into the various amounts levied by
these several authorities; and for this pur-
pose the following tabular statement has
been prepared, exhibiting the taxes levied
for the specified purposes in the years named
Total amount of Taxes on the duplicate
for the year 1854, S9,O92, ,339 40.
Total amount of Taxes on the duplicate
for the year 1855, $8,954,5II SO.
l was anxious to present in a tabular
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