Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-06-18


yet leads where other States fear 10 follow.
On the Temperance question our action was not
as satisfactory. We however accomplished some
good, and gave the cause an accelerated motion
in the right direction as the following brief yuop.
sis will show:
lst. It passed triumphantly through the Sen.
ate an exceedingly stringent prohititory law, which
only failed in the House for want of few votes.
End. 1t made it penitentiary offence to min.
gle slryehnine or other poisonous ingredients in
the manufacture Of intoxicating liquors, thus re-
ducing the traffic, or the profits thereon, full one.
third.
81. II secured to the lrunkard's wife or chil.
dren all property exempt from sale on execution,
and the absolute control thereof, and of their own
earnings
4th. 1t re-enacted an old law supposed 10 be
dormant giving to cities and villages the power to
prohibit the traffic.
5th. The Senate passed certain resolutions con-
templating an amendment to the Constitution, en-.
abing the Legislature to prohibit the importation
and manufacture of intoxicating liquors.
Now, submit that upon the temperance ques.
ton the Legislature did something, though am
free to admit that it did not accomplish all that
was desirable.
The financial affairs of the State, the Legsla-
ture found in inextricable confusion. The Treas
ury was as full of holes as an old skinner, and
at each hole there was small army of Locofoco
eeches, gorging themselves with the contents ev.
cry time the party gave the concern a shake. -
Kings claim to rule by divine right, and these
fellows claim the right to grab at the treasury, by
the imnemorial s'ot their party. The peo-
pie had given the leaders leave of abs,uce,' but
the Treasury was full of camp followers as were
the kneadng troughs of the Egyptians with yer.
MN. So tenatious was their hold upon the Treas.
ury, that it required time and labor to detatch
them.
lst. 1t swept the State House of those who
had burrowed there so long as to give the build.
ing an almost rotten appearance.
2nd. 1t cleaned those out of the Blind Assy.
Ium, who had .sscccoled in clearmg the pupils our
! Of it.
81. 1t re orgai2el the three Lunatic Assylums
and recffcered them, So carefully drawn were
the laws for this purpose. that even corrupt men
will not be able to fatten upon the public.
4th. 1t cleared the Penitentiary of those Grim.
inas for whom the State bad not provided cells,
and put honest men in their places. The entire
discipline of the establishment was changed, and
one adopted in accordance with the humanitarian
progress of the age. No more dying men will be
Aogged by petty tyrauts until the vital spark is
extinct. No more men will be driven to insanity,
scourged into idiocy, or manned for life, as has
heretofore been the case within the walls Of the
Ohio Penitentary. Humanity and reason, not
the cat and the scourse, reign there now. Strong
incentives for good conduct and thorough reforma,
tion, are now constantly before and with the con
vict Ohio may congratulate herself upon such
advanced legislation, aud the Republican press Of
the State afford to do simple justice BY the men
who inaugmated such measures.
now propose, as the next question in order, to
speak Of the finances of Ohio and their condition
as the Legislature found them and as it left them.
On the 5th of July, A. D. 1856, John G. Bres.
lin, Democratic ex Treasurer of State, bad failed
to pay over to Mr. Gibson, his successor, 81 ,O48,
53G,l4: See appendix to Senate Journal fol 1856,
page Al and 6l. This heavy defacatiou brought
Ohio to the very door of real "repudiation." -
From time to time small instalments on this
amount were paid by Mr.. Breslin. By night and
BY day both branches af tie Legislature, through
their appropriate committees, were incessett in
their endeavors to save this large sum of money
,or as much as possible. On tbes3d of March, two
months after the Legislature commenced its ses-
sion, Mr.. Breslin paid $l74. .917,2O. On the 9Th
Of March, 1857, he paid $l5I,279,ls; making
the amount paid By him TO the last date, $685..
lOl,57 leaving him still indebted for $2&R, 49,
81, (See Senate journal and same pages) 1t is
believed that by the action of the Legislature,
most of this money thus paid in, has been saved
to the taxpayers Of Ohio. Much of the large
deficit of $21a,49957, by measures of the Leg
isature, and its legislation will yet be realized
These facts ara now a part of the history of Ohio,
and | commend their consideration to the taxpay
ers of Ohio, the Locofoco press and other anathe.
rlatizers of the last Legislature.
I'd. The Locofoco party, when driven from
power, left unpaid newly created State debt, Of
S6l7. 1885. They made no provisions for it,
payment Without increasing the taxes, as you
know, the Legislature has by economy paid this
enormous debt. (See appropriation bills for the
last two sessions