True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-01-07

to the financial condition OF the state,
and to other equal claims upon the Trea- !
sury. I'll gratifying to observe that the
exnepses xnaG Of each Institution during the
wear have been less than the appropria-
tions for, their support. ! particularly
commend toyour attention the economical
use Of the appropriation Of ten thousand
dollars for dormitory for the Deaf and
Dumb, to bc hereafter converted into
work shops. The purpose Of the Oppro-
priation has been most satisfactorily ac-
cOmplishcd, and balance of about four
thousand dollars remains in the Treasury.
This circumstance, doubtless, will have
its proper weight with you when cousd-
cring the expendiency Of entering with
out further delay upon the construction
of the new Asylum Edifcc, the need of
which. has been SO long acknowledged.
The Report of the Commissioners of
The the New State house will exhibit the
progress ofthe work and the disburse.
ments on account Of itaI taIdnring the last
year. It's with greatsaPieasure that l
direct your attencion to the careful econo-
my. thorough work and substantial pro-
gress which have distinguished their ad-
ministration. Your own observations,
now that your sessions, are held in the
new building, will satisfy you as to the
character and condition oftbe work. The
fact that of the ninety Thousand dollars
appropriated for this service, more than
f0rty-six thousand remained unexpended
at the close of the fiscal year, sufficiently
,attests the economy Of the management.
The nature and magnitude ofthe trust
committed to the Quarter Master General
and the manner in which thea duties of
his Office have been performed during the
past year, will appear from the Report of
that officer. The suggestions of this report
and particularly that relating to the con
struction of State Arsenal, deserve your
consideration. The proceeds of the old
Penitentiary ground may be advantageous,
zly applied to the purchase of site and the
erection of the necessary buildings; or
the Legislature may direct the location of
the arsenal upon part of these grounds
and the application ofthe proceeds of the
residue to construction. | recommend the
,discontinuance of the per diem allowed to
the Quarter Master General, and the al.
lowance of q fixed salary sufficient to
compensate fairly for the time, attention
and intelligence necessary to the proper
performance Of his duties.
.aaIn this connection l. beg leave to direct
your attention to the laws concerning the
Militia. The known existence of an or.
ganized public force, competent to the
enforcement of law and the defence of
right, is among the surest guarantees of
order and security, In all emergencies
requiring military force, the States of the
Union must rely on the patriotism of their
militia. A wise regard to these consid-
erations dictated the provisions Of our
State Constitution relating to this subject.
To carry, out these provisions and give
them due effect, legislation is indispensa-
BILE. For the want of it, the Militia of
the State is in danger of total disorgani-
zation; the public arms, q valuable prop
crty, are exposed to danger and loss and
in contingencies, not impossible, various
public interests may suffer serious detri,
ment. | venture to express the hope that
the necessary legislation on this subject
will constitute one of the claims of this
General Assembly to the approval of their
constituents.
l take great pleasure in laying before
you Che Report of the Commissioners ap-
pointed under the act of April 1886,
providing for the establishment Of the
Ohio Reform School. The act required
that two of the three Commissioners
should visit three of the principal Refor.
matory Institutions of the United States,
and institute all necessary observations
and inqui res, and that all shonld unite in
reporting the result to the Legislature.
The Commissioners have more than ex-
ccuted their trust. Instead of two, all
have visited, not three only, but all the
principal Institutions in our country, and
one Of their number, at his own expense
has visited the principal institutions in
Europe. There Report exhibits the fruit
oftheir extended researches and inquiries,
and commends itselfto your most tavora-
ble regard. The documents collected by
the Commissioners and now placed at
your disposal, embody nearly everything
that is known concerning Reformatory
Schools. For these services no charge has
been made against the Treasury beyond
those incident to q literal execution of
the law and more than onc,third of tho
appropriation remains unexpended.
The Report Of the Commissioner of
Common Schools has not yet been rccev-
ed. It will probably be read by the Goth
inst, at which time it has been heretofore
required, will be promptly laid before you.
In the mean time | need not remind you
of the indispensable necessity Of adequate
Public Instruction to the welfare aud SO.
curity Of society No public investment
is SO safe or SO fruitful as that which is
made in the education Of the people, No
persons better. deserve the esteem and
support of the State and the people than
the Teachers of the youth. No essential
notifications Of the present School law
are, in my judgment, demanded by the
general sentiment, except such as will in
crease its efficiency without augmenting
its expense: There is, however, q prevail.
ing opinion, that, under present circum
stances, Township Libraries may be sub
mitted, with advantage, for District Ii.
braries; and would further suggest that
the Librarv at each Conntv Seat shonlJ