Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-01-25
1T. GOV. FoRD's ADDRESS.
Gentlemen ofthe Senate:

Gentlemen of the Senate:
The duties which pertain to the Office TO
which | have been called by the people,
except on the contingency provided for in
the Constitution, arc limited, tho not with
ont neutrality-suspicious. which
will doubteless for time cause me no small
degree of embarrassment, for l am entirely
wanting in knowledge of the duties of the
chair. But this deficiency shall be remedi-
ed, as far as proper regard for the advice
of fthOse better acquainted with Parliament
airy rules than myself and unremitting ex-
ertion on my part, can avail. In the mean
time this honorable body will cordially ex-
tend to me a considerato indulgence, resting
we'll assured, as you may, that l come to
preside over you with no other feelings than
those of justice and courtesy, with firm de-
Termination, to the best of my abilities, to
apply the rules established by yourselves
with strict impartiality, to protect the rights
and respect the feelings of all.
As the presiding officer of the Senate, not
authorized to participate in debate, and on
ly to vote when that body may be equally
divided, l must, Notwithstanding, feel deep
interest in the result of those deliberations,
as they shall tend to advance the interests
Of the commonwealth.
To the executive head of the Government
belongs the privilege, as it is made his duty,
to recommend to the General Assembly
such measures as he may deem of import
ance to the public veal. As, therefore, it
is not expected, so it would seem improper
that the presiding officer of this body should
assume in any way the exercise of that func-
ton.
The intimate official relations which
bear, however to this branch of the Govern
ment, may excuse me if / shall venture to
allude to the circumstances under which the
General Assembly is convened.
Rarely, if ever, since the organization of
the State Government, has greater respon-
sibility devolved upon the law-making pow
er, in view of the demand for prompt and
well-eonsidered legislation on the most i'm
portant and intricate subjects of taxation
and finance, than it is now called upon to
meet.
The real sources of the well founded com
plants that come up from. every quarter in
regard to the burthens of taxation, lie be-
yond the vision of the mere superficial OBJ
server, to whose eye nothing but general
prosperity is apparent. To your wisdom is
con6ded the task of probing this subject
with the confident expectation of remedy
and relief
There are not few, however, and of those
are to be found numbers of the most valua-
bic citizens, who look to the action of the
General Assembly with doubt, if not dis
trust. So absorbed has been the public
mind, Tor, to speak more properly, those
who assume TO think for the public of late,
in the consideration of national affairs, that
the interests of the State and the people
have been, to great extent, lost sight of
1t would not be going too far to say that
the power and patronage of the Federal
Government exercise such an influence over
the action of political parties, and by sym
pathy, over that of individual citizens, as to
give rise to well-grounded apprehensions
that the sovereignty. honor and dignity of
the State may become objects of secondary
consideration.
The relations which the national and
State Governments bear to each other, and
the fealty which, as citizens, we owe to each
within the sphere prescribedto to them by the
theory of our Union, l shall not presume to
consider. Suffice it to say, that the ten
dency which have referred to, is inimical
to the integrity of both, If if 1t be admitted, as
it cannot be denied, that we shall best Sc
cure the great purposes for which they have
been established, by regarding each as su-
preme within the limits of its legitimate,
constitutional sphere of action. To the Con-
gress of the United States is committed the
exclusive power of providing for the wants
and of developing the interests of the State
and the people. Whilst on the one hand
we shall not hesitate to resist encroach-
ments upon the rights of the State or the
people, come from whatever quarter they
may, so on the other we shall best maintain
Just appreciation of our own rights by alb
staining from any interference with subjects
committed to other powers, and devoting
ourselves to the exclusive consideration Of
the various and diversified interests of the
people of Ohio which they have confded to
our charge.
That you, gentlemen, will be found ade-
quate to the delicate and responsible duties
you are called to discharge, and that all your
actions will be governed by the paramount
consideration that the interest and honor of
the State of Ohio are alone and exclusively
committed to your charge, l am not permit
ted to doubt. Unaccustomed as l am to
the duties devolved upon me in my present
position, shall, however, endeavor to per
form my duties so as to merit the approval
due to the best intentions.