Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-01-18

OF the people doing business with them, as
also the safety of the public records, de-
mand that every proper effort should be
made to prepare it for occupation within the
shortest practicable period.
Under these circumstances the Commits
sioners felt it to be their duty, even after
the appropriations were exhausted, to con-
/ tinue operations on the heavier portions Of
the work. The liabilities thus incurred,
being chi efy due to contractors and mechan-
les, will receive, l trust, your early consider
alton.
The affairs connected with the Peniten-
tiary have been conducted during the past
two years with unusual care and success
From the Reports of the Directors and
Warden it will be seen that the receipts of
the Institution from the labor of convicts
and otherwise, have been moro than ade-
quate to meet all its expenses.
Although the number Of convictions for
the last year is considerably less than that
of the year previous, it is generally believ-
ed that the dimensions of the present bull
ding will not be sufficient much longer for
the crlInlnalS OF INC OIdLe.
A large proportion of those who are CON
victcd Of crime in this State, belong to that
class of persons who are usually denomina-
ted '.iuyenile offenders" the most of whom
under suitable management and care, might
be thoroughly reclaimed, and returned to
society as useful citizens. The erection of
a House of Refuge and Correction, there
fore, would be much preferable in my judg-
ment to any enlargement of the present
establishment. Of the six hundred and
six convicts now in the Penitentiary, one
hundred and thirty-six are under the age of
twenty-one years The youthful offender
should never be placed on an equality of
treatment with the confirmed criminal, or
compelled to resume the career of life under
the odium that almost necessarily attaches
to "Penitentiary convict"
l called the attention of the General As
sembly on former occasion to the disor-
ganized condition Of the militia of the State.
The present Constitution prescribes diff
erent mode for the election of general and
field officers from that contained in the for
mer, and repealed all laws and parts of laws
that in any way conhicted with its provis-
ions. The terms of the officers chosen un-
der the former Constitution have nearly all
expired, and there is no law through which
the vacancies can be supplied or the require
ments of the present Constitution be carried
into effect All elections that have taken
place since the adoption of the present Con
stitution, having been held and conducted
undOr the provision of the former, and in
pursuance of the laws that were thus repeal
ed, are, in the opinion of the Attorney Gen
eral, Illegal and void. If such be a cor
rect Interpretation of the present Consti-
on there are no General or Field officers
in the State, and the whole system has
been rendered almost entirely useless.
The public arms are in danger of being
lost. They are scattered over the State, and
many Of them in the hands of persons, who,
according to the opinion of the Attorney
General referred to, are in no way connected
with the militia of the State.
A well regulated militia system is almost
essential to the preservation of an efficient
military spirit among abe people. Stand
ing armies in the time of peace arc viewed
with great distrust in all Republican Gov
ernments, and it IS upon an intelligent and
well orgarized militia that we must rest our
defence, to a great extent, even in war.
In other Governments, the military force
is organized for the support of tyranny, and
the mass of people are neither trained nor
allowed to possess arms. Here the military
force is organized for the support of popular
Government and the right of the pcople to
bear arms is an express guaranty of the
Constitution. The protection of the liber-
ties of the country and the maintenance of
public order, are confded to the hands of
the free and independent citizens of the
State.
We receive annually large quantity of
arms from the General Government, and
with suitable encouragement, there would
be organized line of uniformed volunteer
companies that would inspire our young men
with laudable spirit of chivalry, and in
the hour of necessity and peril, reflect honor
on the State.
In closing the present communication to
the General Assembly, l may be allowed to !
advert, with some little feeling of pride and
TO the high position which
our State has acquired, and the brilliant fu-
ture that is still before us. The public
debt, under the policy that has been recently
pursued, is rapidly diminishing Our credit
is unquestioned on either side of the At
lantic. There has never been period in
the history of the State when industry and
enterprise were more adequately and iber-
ally rewarded
The geographical position of Ohio, being
by an inland Sea and River, which
bears upon their bosom a commerce suffic-
ent to enrich an empire, is not surpassed by
hat of any State in the Union. She has
six hundred miles of navigable river and
sight hundred miles of canals; twenty-six
hundred of completed railroad, and more
han that number of miles projected and in
course of construction. These natural and
artificial channels of commerce form the
great arteries of communication between the
Atlantic States and the rapidly growing
West. The soiland climate admit of as
great an extent of variety of production as
lIy similar area on the face ofthe golbe-
Her suppl of the most useful minerals is
and she has all the facilities to
render her one Of the first manufacturing
States ofthe Union. She has pupulation.