The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-01-17

the sceonmadasipa Of all the criminals q
the State. Z,
A large proportion Of those who are con-
sicted OF crime IN this State, belong to N a.
class Of persons who ere Usually denominat-
ed juvenile ofenderas the most Of whom.
under suitable man agement and care, might
be thoroughly reclaimed. and returned to so
ciety a. useful citizens. The erection Of q
House Of Refuge and Correction, therefore,
would be much preierable in my Judgement.
OF the six hundred and six convincts now
in the Penitentiary, one hundred and thirty
six are under the age of twenty-one years
The youthful offender should never be Plac.
ed on an eqda'ity.of treatment with the con-
Hrmed criminal, or compelled to resume the
career OF life under the odium that almost
necessarily attaches to ''Penitentiary con-
vict."
Z In closing. the Present communication to
the General Assembly; may be allowed TO
advert, with some little feeling Of pride and
congrstulation, to the high position which
our State has acquired, and the brilliant
future that is still before US. The public
debt, under the policy that has been recent
ly pursued. is rapidly diminishing. Our
credit is unquestioned on either side of the
Atlantic. There has never been period
in the history OF the State when industry
and enterprise were more adequately and
literally rewarded.
The geographical position of Ohio being
encircled by. an inland, sea aud river, which
bear upon their bosom Q commerce suffici-
ent to enrich an empire, is not surpassed
by that of any other State in the Union.
She has six hundred miles of navigable
rivers, and eight hundred miles Of ca
nails, twenty six hundred of completed rail-
road, and more than that number Of miles
projected and in course of construction
These natural and artificial channels Of COM
merce form the great arteries of communica-
| ton between the Atlantic States and the ra.
pid growing West. The soil and the clim-
ate admit Of as great an extent of variety of
production as any similar erea on the face
of the globe. Her supply ofthe most useful
minerals is inexhaustable, and she has oil
the facilities to render her one of the first
manufacturing Stale of the Union. She
contains population, that, under broad and
enlightened policy, has increased, since the
commencement. of the century, from forty
Eve thousand to at least two and a quarter
millions n
Her benevolent Institutions are monuments
Of the enlightened humanity of her people,
land her Educational system which is as
RI free and equal as the blessings of Heaven,
is ample for the solid instruction ofal hei
: youth.
The wheat crop of Ohio for the past year.
has been estimated by the Secretary of State
at thirty millions of bushels, and the corr
crops at eighty millions. The State o
Ohio Welded full one-eighth of all the corr
that was produced in the United States, unc
our wheat crop was more than one fifth o
the aggregate Of the Union. The value oil
& the cereal of bread produces Of the State for
/ for 1856, in the granaries and upon tn,
d premises where grown,will probably exceet
: one hundred millions OF dollars; Of which
i. more than one half finds market beyonC
8 the limits of the State. By the report OF ;h,
# Auditor, it will be seen that the aggregate
J. valuation Of horses, cattle, mules, sheep an
!. swine, is nearly sixty millions Of dollars; an
this valuation being for the purpose of tax
= able basis, is presumed to be within reason
r, able bounds. While the wheat and cor
}. crops are the pricipal staples of her agrcul
r ture they form but small portion OF tn,
d immense resources OF that great interest i
: Ohio.
t The returns of the Federal Cen Jus Of la
n so, which embraced the farm products of Is
n 40, do US great injustice. That year wa
If one of unusual disaster to the farmers
n Ohio, their heat crop having been almo'
.. destroyed by the weevil. II may therefore
" be safely assumed, that Ohio occupies tn
n position Of the first agricultural State in tn
}. Union.
The mineral resources of the State ar
n but partially developed. There are n
O means by which 10 form an accurate opir
q ion of their extent, but sufficient ia know
g to authorize the beliefthat when capital an
# science shall have ascertained the fu
i amount Of mineral deposits which underli
II large portion OF the soil, the State wi
v occupy no secondary rank in this respect.
j. Notwithstanding the drain which emisrc
r ton to Western States and Territories wa
f supposed by some to have made upon thi
: State, it will be seen by the returns OF tn
q enumerations of persons over the age G
i twenty one years that the average annu,
r increase of that class Of our populotion du
: ing the last fifteen or twenty years, has nj
8 been diminished. .
e For progress and prosperity SO eminen
: Ohio owes much to the great natural advar
r tages already enumerated but more to thu
: generous policy, which tolerates no illibers
8 tests OF birth or creed, and to institution
e which embody the vital principles OF popu
!, iar sovereignty. Loynl to the Union, an
n prompt to observe every obligation Of tn
e National compact, her citizens cannot ia
L.. - sk, h. Al
: and salutary principle that to the people q
e Eevery organized State and Territory belon
n the right and prerogative Of regulating fo
: themselves their own domestic and local a
d fairs, within the limits of the Constitution
: Our brief annals as State are emphatic i
j. vindication of such policy. The Const
!, tuition of 1902 was welcomed by the peopl
n as relief from Territorial misgovernmen
{ and because it secured to the Inhabitants tn
election uf their officer and the uncontrolle
h regulation o: their domestic affairs. Ii
n deed all experience demonstrates that tn
: harmony of the Union, and the success q
= the great Republican experiment in pre-
e gress among us require the infexibIe appl
cation Of the doctrine Of State Right an
= popular Sovereignty limiting the interfel
e ence by federal authority to, those few oil
o iects OF National interest which are spec
8 fically enumerated in the Constitution. Ger
= tralizdtion is the greatest danger OF Repul
II lies; and against such q tendency, wheth,
If the motive be the advancement Of specil
q interestor or the qualification sectional animo
o ity the American peoplefean establish n
= barrier more secure than4the admirable
Q vision of political power defined by ii