The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-01-16
aoYERNoR,s MEssAaE.
Geatlemen of the Senate
mud Ho,,ee NJ Pe.,reeSoA1t;1i1s

"a VIZ III - III AYE
tenn Of legislation which has been there.
by established, you have assembled in
your official capacities to take into con-
sideration the condition of our public af.
fairs, and to prepare and pass such laws
as the experience of the last two years
and the interests and wants of the PEG.
pie may appear to demand.
The first year of the biennial period
which has just elapsed, was attended
with the 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, occasioned a very
general failure Of the crops, and the con-
sequent reaction that occurred in the
monetary affairs of the country caused
much>solicitude, and retarded, to SOME
extent, tbs progress of public as we'll as
individual Improvement.
The great abundance and rich returns
of the last year however, fully COM
pensate the deficiencies of its predecess-
or, and afford ample cause for gratitude
to that bene6cent and all.wise Being
who directs all things for tho best, and
whose goodness and favor are apparent
in the still increasing happiness and
prosperity of our people.
In complying with the provisions OF
the Constitution which make it my du-
ty to communicate to the General As
sembly the " condition of the State, u
ard to recommend such measures =" as
in my judgment may tend to promote
the public welfare, / invite your atten.
tion, in the first place, to the accompa-
nying reports of the several State off
Gers. They have been prepared with
much care and ability, and contain a
full and detailed exposition of the ope-
rations and present condition of their
departments.
1 entered upon the duties ofthe Chief
Office of the State, under an
impression, which subsequent experience
has only tended 20 strengthen, that too
great a laxity Of practice prevailed in
branches of the public service,
from which serious evils might possibly
The laws regulating the admin.
.istration ofsthese branches had been
under circumstances widely
different from those whichnow surround
Us, aud the few simple safeguards that
were formerly deemed sufficient, could
no longer be regarded as adequate to
the varied and greatly increased bust
ness entrusted TO their care. Our coun-
and other local organizations, espe-
were without those limitations
and restrictions which are necessary in
all public institutions.
This state of things could not fail, if
to exert an unfavorable and
demoralizing influence on the affairs
Of Government, and 1 availed myself of
the earliest opportunity that was afford
ed me to recommend such legislation
in reference to this subject as was most
in my judgment, to effect the re-
uuired reformation. Much has certain
" been accomplished, but the failure of
the General Assembly to adopt and
carry out my suggestions more fully,
has retarded the matter, and impose on
me the necessity of again calling atten-
lion to the subject.
I took occasion in my former message
TO deYelope with unusual minuteness,
through comparative tabular statements
the final action Of every department of
the State, as we'll as of tho local gov
srnments, for the previous ten years;
and now propose to continue the exposi-
lion 10 tbs present time.
I refer you with equal confidence and
to the last two reports of the
of State for any information
may desire ip relation to our 6nan-
,ial affairs. The untiring industry with
which that officer has attended to his
public duties, and the care and fidelity
which he has always displayed in guard
the Treasury of the people, consti-
tute his administration an epoch in the
of our financial transactions.
From these reports, it appears that
the State Treasury has been the reeipi-
,nt of the following revenue during the
past two years.
rye give totals merely, which are as
Total State Taxes for 1854
we're 81, s51,J71,32; for 1855 were So,
371 ,255, 40; add Canal Tolls and other
asserts for 1854 makes grand total that
year $4,477 ,934,00 and for 1855 grand
total. $4,2I5,654,28.]
The revenue received through taxes
levied upon the grand duplicate placed
at the head of each column, are the pro-
,eeds of taxes levied and collected the
year previous ; a fact which it is neces-
sary to observe in order to fix correctly
the responsibility of the respective lev
les. That returned in the column of
1854 is the first under the present valu
alton of real estate. The proceeds of
he taxes levied to year just past, will
20 into the revenue of 1856.
Tho following are the disbursements
rom the State Treasury, for all purpo-
les, during the same period Total
of Auditors Drafts issued in
1854, $500 no rs; same issued in
1855, $780, 74 %. Total amount
Of Auditors Drafts redeemed in 1854,
So, 093,2 53 0o; same redeemed in 1855,
S3,5I2,4S4 90. Cash bslanc6in Treas
.ry 18th November, 1854, S584,6S1 90;
same in Treasury 18th November, 1855,
SOS, $40 08.
This places before you the receipts
md expenditures of the State Govern
during The last two years, and
there is no difficulty in ascertaining the
in which increased or di-
.inished expenditures or revenues have
taken place. To determine, however,
whether the State authorities or those
Of the Counties, Townships and Cities,
are responsible for the high taxes COM
of by the people, we must ex-
anime into the various amounts levied
by these several authorities; and for
this purpose the following tabular state
nent has been prepared, exhibiting the
axes levied for the specified purposes
the years named