Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-01-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE,
G.STLEHES or THE SENATE AND HousE Of
REPRESENTATIVES:


Constitution and the biennial system Of leCis.
latiOn which has been thereby established, you
have assembled in your official capacities TO
take into consideration the condition Of our
public affairs, and to prepare and pass such
laws as the experience of the last two years
and the interest and wants rf the people may
demand.
The first year Of the biennial period which
hss just elapsed, was attended with the vari-
Gus trials and vicissitudes incident to all hu.
man associations. The extraordinary drought
that prevailed throughout this and most of the
other States of the Union, occasiOned a very
general failure of The crops, and the consequent
reaction that occurred in the monetary affairs
OF the country caused much solicitude, and re-
tarded, to some extent. the progress Of pub
lie as well as individual improvement
The great abundance and rich returns of
the last year, however. fully compensated the
deficiencies of its predecessor. and afford am
pie cause for gratitude to that benl6cent and
all-wise Being who directs all things for the
best and whose goodness and favor are appa-
rent in the still increasing happiness and pros.
perity Of our people.
In complying with the provisions of the con-
stitution which makes it my duty to communi-
cate TO the General Assembly the condition of
the State. and to recommend such measures
as in my judgement may tend to promote the
public welfare. Invite your attention. in the
FIRST place, to the accompanying reports of the
feveral State officers. They have been pre-
pared with much care and ability. and contain
full and detailed exposition of the operations
and FrsseAt condition Of their respective depart
ments.
l entered upon the duties of the Chief Exec
utive Office Of the State. under an impre ssion
which subsequent experience has only tended
to strengthen, that too great laxity of prac-
tice prevailed 10 certain branches of the pub
lie service, from which serious evils might
possibly result. The laws regulating the ad
ministration Of these braS ches had been adopt
ed under circums tances widely different from
those which now surround US, and the few
simple safeguards that were formerly deemed
sufficient, could no longer be regard
del as adequate to the varied and greatly u-
creased business entrusted TO their care. Our
county and other local organizations, especially,
were without those limitations and restrictions
which are necessary ia ell public Institutions
This state Of things could not fail, if con-
tinued, to exert an unfavorabe and dem0ral
izing influence on the affairs of Governm ent
and avaed myself Of the earliest opportuni-
ty that was afforded me to recommend such
legislation In reference tN this subject as was
most likely. in my judgement, to effect the
required reforAatiou. Much has certainly
been accomplished, but the failure of the Gen.
eral Assembly to adopt and carry out my sug
gestions more fully, has retarded the matter,
and imposes on me the necessity Of again call
ing attention to The subject.
took occasion in my former message to Ge-
velope with unusual minuteness, through com
parative tabular statements, the financial &C
ton OF every department of the State, as well
as OF the local governments. for the previous
ten years, and now propose to continue the ex
position to the present time.
refer you with equal confidence. and plea
sure, to the last two reports Of the auditor of
State for any information you may desire in re-
gard to our financial affairs. The untiring in
dustry with which that officer has attended to
his public duties, aud the care and fidelity
which he has always displayed in guarding the
Treasury of the people, constitute his admin
Istrston as an epoch in the history of our e,
nancial transactions
Fron these reports, it appears that The State
Treasury has been the rec pient OF he follow
Ing revenue during the past two years;
[We give totals merely, which are as fol-
lows: Total State Taxes foI 1884, were So
85r,57l 80: for 1855 were S2,87I,255 40.
add canal tolls aud other assets for 1854,
makes grand total that year S4.477 934 90;
and for 1855 grand total. $2,Sl5,S S54 28
The revenue received through taxes levied d
upon the grand duplicate placed at the head of
each column, are the proceeds of taxes levied
and collected the year previous; fact which
itis necessary to observe in order to fix cor
rectly the responsibility Of the respective
levies. Lkat returned in the column of 1854 is
the 6rst under the present valuation of real es.
tate. The proceeds of the taxes levied to the
year just past, will go into the revenue of
1856.
The following are The disbursements from
the State Treasury. for all purposes, during
tine same period: Total amount of Auditor S
drafts issued in 1854, IS. ITO rs; same