True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-01-16

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brilliant future that is still before us.-
4 The public debt, under the policy that has
been recently pursued. is rapidly diminish,
ing, Our credit is unqueslionsd on eth.
erside Of the Atlantic. There has never
been period in the history of the State,
when Industry s1d enterprise we're
more adequately and literally rewarded.
The geographical position Of Ohio. be-
ing encircled by an Inland Sea aud River
which bear upon their bosons com
merce sufficient 70 enrich an empire, is
not surpassed BY that Of any State in the
Union. She has 500 miles Of navigable
rivers, and 500 miles Of canals 2,6Ou Of
completed railroad, and more than that
nnmbpr Of miles projected and in course
of construction. These natural and ar
tificisl channels OF commerce form the
great arteries Of communication between
the Atlantic States and the rapidly grow
ing West. The soil and climale admit Of
as great an extent and variety OF produc-
tion as any similar area on the face Of
the globe. Her supply Of the most use
ful minerals is inexhansiible. and she has
all the facilities to render her one Of the
first manufacturing States Of the Union
She contains population that, under a
broad and enlightened policy, has incres-
sed, since the commencement OF the cen
tury, from forty-tiye thousand to at least
two and quarter millions.
Her Benevolent Institutions are monu.
ments Of the enlightened humanity Of her
people. and her educational system, which
is as free and equal as the blessings Of
Heaven, Is ample for the solid instruction
of all her youth.
The wheat crop Of Ohio for The past
year has been estimated by the Secretary
of State, at thirty millions bushels, and
the corn crop at eighty millions. The
State Of Ohio yielded full one-eighth Of
all the corn that was produced in the Uni
ted States. and our wheat crop was more
than one.ifth of the aggregate Of the
Union. The value of the cereal or bread
products Of thu State for 1855. 10 the
granaries aud upon the premises where
grown, will probably exceed one hundred
millions Of dollars; of which more than
one-half finds market beyond the limits
OF the State. By the report Of the Au
dltor, it will be see that the aggregate val
uation Of horses. cattle. mules, sheep and
swine. is nearly sixty millions Of dollars
and this valuation being fer the purpose
OF taxable basis, is presumed to be with,
in reasonable bounds. While the wheat
and corn crops are the principal staples of
our agriculture. they form but small
proportion Of the immense resources Of
tha: great interes! in Ohio.
The returns of the Federal Census OF
1850, which embraced the farm products
OF lS49, do us great injustice. Tia
year was one of unusual disaster TO the
farmers of Ohio, their wheat crop having
been almost destroyed by the weavil. 1t
may therefore be safely asserted. that
Ohio occupies the positioneof The first ag-
ricultural Sta'e in the Union.
The mineral resources OF the State are
but partially developed. There are no
means by which to form an accurate opin-
ion Of their extent, but sufficient is known
to authorize the belief that when capital
and science shall have ascerlained the
full amount Of mineral deposits which un-
derlis large portion Of the soil. The State
wiz no Secondary rank in this re-
sped.
Notwithstanding the drain which emf.
grafton to Western States and Territories
was supposed by some to have made up,
on this States It will beseen by the returns
Of thesenumefation Of persons over the
age oflwentyione years, that ,he'average
annual increase Of that class Of popu-
laIion during the last fifteen or twenty
years, has not been diminished.
For process and prosperity SO emf
nent. Ohio owes much to the great natu-
raj advantages already enumera,ed, but
more to that generous policy which toler-
ates no iliberal tests Of birth or creed. and
to institutions which embody the vital prin-
ciples Of popular sovereignty. Loyal TO
the Union, and prompt to observe every
obligation Of the National compact. her
citizens cannot fail to recognize, in the
broadest sense, the just aad saIulary prin-
ciple that to the people Of every organized
State and Territory, belongs the right and
prerogative Of regulating for themselves
their own domestic and local affairs, with.
in the limits Of the Constitution. Our
brief annals as State are emphatic in
vindication Of such policy. The Con-
stitution Of 1909 vas welcomed By the
people as relief from Territorial mis-
government. and because it secured to
the inhabitants the election Of their off
GERS and the uncontrolled regulations Of
their domestic affairs.
Indeed. all experience demonstrates
that the harmony Of the Union, and the
success Of the great Republican expert
ment in progress among US, require the
inHexble application Of the doctrine Of
State Rights and popular Sovereignty,
limiting the interierference by federal au.
thority to those few objects Of National
interest which are specifically enumerated
in the Constitution. Capitalization is the
greatest danger Of Republics and against
such tendency. whether the motive be
the advancement Of special interest or the
qualification Of sectional animosily. The
American people can establish no barrier
more secure than the admirable division
Of political power defined BY the founders
Of our institutions.
| Nor is it necessary, in order to COM
mand the public approval Of these funda-
mental principles, to add any appeal IN