The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-01-23
UNITY, OHIO, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY %, 1856.

maintenance OF State Rights and the
security of personal rights, will find an
other reason fora q preference of annual
to biennial sessions, in the obvious con-
sideration that while the sessions of
Congress are annual, and those of the
/ State Legislature are only biennial, the
regards of the people will be more and
more absorbed by the former, and less
and less attracted by the latter. No
we'll wisher to the permanence of Amer
ican institutions, will desire to augment
the tendency, already too apparent, to-
wards the absorption of the States in q
centralized and consolidated Federal
Government.
The greater expense of annual ses-
sions is sometime surged as an argument
drawn from the important principle of
public economy, is certainly entitled to
respectful consideration. But think
It may we'll be affirmed, that, in this in
stance, the argument from economy is
not valid. Without taking into account
the cost to the State of the mischief
arising from the delay of needed legis.
lation, it must be remembered that the
accumulation, through two years, of
business demanding the attention ofthe
General Assembly, will require pro-
tractsd sessions for it's due considera-
tion. The time needed for two annual
sessions is not, necessarily, greater than
that reqired for one biennial session.
The argument from expense, therefore,
may be readily obviated by proper
Limitation of duration, and the question
of preference may be reduced to sim.
pie choice, irrespective of expense, be-
tween limited annual sessions, and un-
limited biennial with occasionally extra
sessions. My own judgment is so thor
oughly satisfied upon the whole matter,
that cannot hesitate to recommend an
amendment of the Constitution, provi
ding for limited annual sessions.
Your first and most earnest attention,
gentlemen, will doubtless be directed
to the important matters within the inn
mediate sphere of your legislative pow
ers; but you cannot forget that you
represent sovereign State of the Amer
lean Union, third of the thirty-one, in
wealth and power, and population, and
second to none in patriotic devotion to
the welfare of the whole country. The
appointment of Senator to represent
the State in one branch of the Ameri-
car Congress devolves upon you, and in
making this appointment you will neces-
sarily be required to consider the inter-
ests of Ohio as member of the Union.
Foremost among these interests is
the preservation of the Union itself
Established by the wisdom of our Fa-
theirs for the sublimest and noblest DO.
litical ends,it descends to Us as sacred
trust. Under it's benign influence our
country has steadily advanced from
strength to strength, and from greatness
to greatness, extending her borders, en-
larging her resources, and augmenting
hOr power, until the name Of American
citizen has become a noblef distinction
than was the name of Roman citizen in
the proudest days of the mightiest re-
public of antiquity. To maintain the
integrity of the Union to defend the
Constitution which is its bond and to
guard against all invasion from whatever
quarter those American Institutions
which the Union and the Constitution
secure to us, have ever been, and trus.
will ever be, acknowledged as sacred
obligations by the people of Ohio.
Cherishing these sentiments and ever
prspa red to give full proof of upwaver.
ing fidelity to them, it is not only oul
right but our duty to insist that the in.
terests of Ohio shall be duly regarded
in the administration Of the General
s Government. Few States contribute SC
largely to the national revenues as our
own. The people Of Ohio have paid to
the Federal Government or to its grant.
ees. for the soil which they occupy and
cultivate, more than thirty millions Of
dollars. OF the revenue derived from
duties We contribute necessarily in pro-
portion to cur numbers As the popu.
lation of our State ID about one-tsnth
of the entire population Of the Onion,
We pay about one tenth Of that revenue.
Its entire amount for the last year OF.
ceeded sixty millions Of dollars. The
proportion Of Ohio was Of course six
millions.
/ While We have thus paid for the very
soil We live on. IN amount which no 9TH
or people has ever paid under like or.
cumstances, aud while we still contrib
ute thus amply and freely to the annual
revenue, it is not an agreeable reflection
that, ofail the States Of which the Gen.
\ ersi GovsrnmeDt bas asserted . pfopri.
etary right to the soil, Ohio has recsiv.
ID the least In grants Of lands for edu.
cation, improvement, and other like
purposes; and that while millions are
I. expended for the protection and hsneft
OF commerce on the Ocean coasts of the
J Republic, the property and lives of our
J own people are exposed to continual per-
il and enormous loss upon our Rivers
and our Lakes for the want Of compare
lively Insignificant appropriations for