American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen of The Senate,

and House of Representatives.:
In accordance with the requirements of
che Constitution, and the biennial system
of legislation which has been thereby es-
Itablished, you have assembled in your Of
Il ,ial capacities to take into consideration
the condition Of our public affairs and to
prepare aud pass such laws as the expert
ence ofthe last two years and the interests
and wants ofthe people may appear to de-
mand.
The 6rst year of the biennial period
which has just elapsed. was attended with
the various trials and vicissitudes incident
to all human associations. The extraordi-
nary drought that prevailed, throughout
this and most of the other States Of the
Union occasioned 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 extent, the progress Of
public as we'll as of individual improve
ment
The grea. abundance and rich returns
Sf the last year. however, fully compen-
safe the deficiencies Of its predecessor, and
afford ample cause for gratitude to the be-
Inefficient and alwise Being who directs all
things for the Best, and whose goodness
and favor are apparent in the still ncreas-
ing happiness and prosperity of our people
In complying with the provisions of the
Constitution which make it my duty to
communicate to the General Assembly the
condition Of the State" and 10 recon-
mend such measures" as in my Judgment
may tend to promote the public welfare, /
invite your attention, in the first place, to
the accompanying reports of the several
State officers. They have been prepared
with much care and ability, and contain
full ani detailed exposition of the opera
tions and present condition of their respec.
tive departments.
| entered upon the duties Of the chief
Executive Office of the State, under an i'm
preston. which subsequent experience has
only tended to strengthen. that too great
a ala&ity of practice prevailed in certain
branches OF the publig service, from which
serious evils might possibly result. The
law regulating the administration of these
branches had been adopted under circum
stances widely different from those which
now surround US, and the few simple safe
guards that We're formerly deemed suffi-
cient, could be no longer regarded as ade
quate to the varied and greatly increased
business entrusted to their care. Our
county AMI other local organizations, es-
pecially, were without those limitations
snl restrictions which are necessary in all
public institutions.
This state of things could not fail, ifcon-
tinued, to exert an unfavorable and demor-
alizing influence on the aff4irs of Govern
msnt; and avaied myself of the earliest
opportunity that was afforded me to recon-
mend such legislation in reference to this
subject as was most likely in my judgment
to effect the required reformation. Much
has certainly been accomplished, but the
failure of the General Assembly to adop,
an carry out my suggestions more fully,
has retarded the matter, and imposes on
mo the necessity Of again calling attention
to the subject.
| took occasion in my former message 10
develop with unusual mnuteness. through
comparative tabular statements, the fnan
cial action of every department Of the State
as we'll sof local governments, for the
previous ten years: and now propose tc
boatinue the exposition to the present time
l refer you with equal confidence ant
pleasure to the last two reports Of the ku
ditor of State for any information you may
desire in relation to our financial AFFAIRS
The untiring industry with which that Of
fcer has attended to his public duties, ant
tlie care and fidelity which he has Away
displayed in guarding the Treasury of th'
people, constitute his administration Al
epoch in the history of our financial trans
actions.
From these reports. it appears that th'
State Treasury has been the recipient o
the following revenues during the past tw'
years:
Proceeds OF State Taxes,
ipeluding delinquenciesI 1854 1855.
For StetGexpepses. $780,: s55o,lsl "a S5os,44s
For Interest aid principal
on State debt........... l,IIe,263 90 l,Oll,749 4
For State Common School
Fund .................. 1,116,263 90 1909 4l6 /
For District School IibraFv 80