Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-01-27

e, some are required to bemhdeat the clo
D. of the fiscal year; soma NJ other period
r, some biennially; same annually, and SON
le semi-annually. 1t woul4 conduce great
to the introduction of oi'er and respons
st bility into public afaira # all repor
/, should be required to be made on tn
is twentieth days of November, February
st May and June. of each yeag; the Noven
1t Der report embracing all the Transactions {
: the fiscal year, and the other reports onl
e those of the preceding qu.lpter.
e Permit me now to invite your attention
e to few topics, intimately k6pnected wit
: the public welfare, bps noI discussed i
Q any Of these reports, Y
: The state of the la,siin ElrelAtioh 70 Mar
= ried Women deserves your consideration
Q Our Legislation is honorably distinguished
: by its provisions in that behalf, but mucl
[ remains to be done. Many of the benef
r cent provisions of the civil law might b.
transferred, with benefit to our code. Il
is difficult to perceive any reason why
wife, allowed to sue separately from he
, husband, should be required to sue in the
name of her next friend. Instances no
unfrequently occur of gross oppression
through the absolute control given to the
husband over peasonal estate, and particu
arly over household goods. 1 can per
ceiye no valid reason why the wife may
not be allowed property in personally,
and especially in goods pertaining to the
house, and protected in the possession by
sufficient and summary remedies. These
are but samples of needed reforms in this
direction. | commend the whole subject
TO your best reflections.
Defects in the laws regulating practices
in criminal cases often give rise 10 serious
embarrassments in the administration OF
justice, and occasion great expense and
inconvenience to the counties Immediately
concerned. suggest the expediency OF
revising and codiiylng those laws.
The inalequacy ofiudicial compensation
is much complained of. High salaries are
inconsistent with the true idea of Hnpub-
lican Government; but fair rewards for
skilled labor are due for public as well as
for private service. Perhaps the best test
of proper compensation is the disposition
Of thoroughly competent persons 20 take
and hold office at the compensation allowed.
Tried by this test it must be admitted that
the salaries of the Supreme Judges, and in
some parts of the State, of Common Pleas
Judges, are insufficient. Learned and
able Judges Of the Supreme Court have
resigned their places because unable to
serve COR tho comPsBsat ION aliowad: and ia.
some Of the counties il is impossible to
induce men Of large experience, learning
and requirement, 10 accept judicial posi-
tions. In considering this subject it may
be well to remember that the whole amount
of the salaries of all the Judges of the
Supreme Court and Common Pleas Courts,
is less than the annual cost of the three
Lunatic Asylums.
Alleged abuse of the elective franchise,
will probably claim your attention. The
right of suffrage Is sacred. 1t is the right
to vote which makes the citizen a sover-
eign. 1t is the right which of all political
rights is to be most scrupulously guarded,
and most resoluteE defended. Every cit
izen, native or na;uralized, is entitled to
the most absolute freedom and security in
the exercise of it. Frauds upon this right
merit the severest reprobation; for the
fraudulent voter cheats the people of their
rightful control of their own a1airs. Ev-
cry suitable measure for the prevention Of
such frauds will deserve your earncst atten
tion. 1t will only be needful to beware
else the proposed remedy for one class OF
evils become the source Of others still more
grievous.
The subject of amendments of the State
Constitution must necessarily come under
your consideration at the present session.
Upon former occasion, | submitted TO
you my views in favcr of amendments
providing for an impartial distribution of
political power among all portions Of the
State, and for the adequate representation
of every interest, by single Districts; and
securing effective supervision over every
department of administration, and ready
adaptation of Legislation to the wants and
wishes Of the people, by Annual Sessions.
Much dissatisfaction is expressed with
the constitutional organization of the Ju-
dietary, and particularly with the system
of District Courts. Some relief from the
Inconvenience complained of may be
gained by repeating the legislative provis-
ions for jury trials in the District Courts,
and by relieving them from holding more
annual terms than the Constitution abso-
lutely requires. Whether for the present
the evils of the existing system shall be
redressed as far as possible by these OF
other expedients, or an attempt shall be
made to effect more radical cure through
an amendment of the Constitution, | sub
} init respectfully, to your better Judgment
Other amendments OF the Constitution
may, doubtless, be made with advantage
, suggest only those which seem to be
most essential, and most generally demand
ed by the public sentiment.
The internal concerns and interests o
the State will chiefly engage your deliber
, ations; but its relations to the Naliona
t Government, and to the other members o
the confederacy, cannot be altogether dis
+ regarded.
Having surrendered to the Federal Gov
3 ernment, among other great prerogatives
the important powers of maintaining al