Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-01-16

able property, arc exposed TO danger and
loss; and in contingencies, not impossible,
various public interests may suffer serious
detrimcnt. Iventuro to express the hopo
that the necessary legislation on this subject
will constitute ono of the claims Of this
General Assembly to the Approval of their
constituents.
REFORM SCHOOL.
l take great pleasure in laying before
you the Report of the Commissioners ap-
pointed under the Act of April I, 1856,
providing for tho establishment of the Ohio
Reform School. The act required that two
Of the three Commissioners should visit
three of tho principal Reformatory Institu-
tons Of the United States, and institute all
necessary observations and inquiries, and
that all should unite in reporting tho result
to the Legislature. The Comms sioners have
more than executed their trust. Instead Of
two, all have visited, not thrco only, but all
the principle institutions in Europe. Their
Report exhibits the fruit of their extended
researches and inquiries, and commonds its
self to your most favorable regard. The
documents collected by the Commissioners
and now placed at your disposal, embody
nearly everything that is known concerning
Rcfornatory Schools For these services
no charge has been made against the Trea-
sury beyond those incident to a literal exc
cution of the law; and more than onc-third
of the appropriation remains unexyended.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The Report of the Commissioner of Com
mon Schools has not yet been received. 1t
will probably be ready by the goth inst, at
which time it has been heretofore required,
and will be promptly laid before you. In
the meantime | need not remind you of the
indispensable necccessity of adequate Pub
lie instruction to the welfare and security of
society. No public investment is so safe or
so fruitful as that which is made in tho ed
ucation of the people. No persons better
deserve the esteem and support Of the
State and the People than the Teachers. of
our youth. No essential notifications of
the present school law are, in my Judgment,
demanded by the general sentiment, except
such as will increase its efficiency without
augmenting its expense. There is, howev-
er, prevailing opinion, that, under present
circumstances, Township Libraries may be
substituted, with advantage, for District Lii
braries; and would further suggest that the
Library at each County Seat should be made
a County Library, and supplied as far as
possible with the published Documents of
the State and National Governments. For
the supply of the State Documents you can
make the necessary provisions; a little at
tention on the part of Senators and Repro
scntatives in Congress will ensure full sup
| ply of National Documents.
QUARTERLY REPORTS.
! The beneficial result of the act requiring
tho Public Report to be made to the Gov
ernor and printed in advance of the meet
ing of the Legislature, SUCCESS farther ap-
( plication of the same principle. The Con
stitution requires the Governor to commu-
nicate to the General Assembly at every
session the condition of the State, and to
recommend such measures as he may deem
expedicnt. 1t, also, requires him to sec
that the laws are faithfully executed. To
enable him the better to fulfil this injunc-
ton, he is authorized to require information
in writing from the officers of the Executive
Department upon any subject connected
with the duties of their respective offices
Would it not be well in order to give moro
competent effect to these constitutional pro
visions to require the Board and Officers il
charge of the different departments of tho
public service, to report their transaction;
and condition quarterly to the Govcrnor?-
Such an enactment would concentrate in thC
Executive Office full information, accessible
to the people, concerning all the public in
terests, while it would enable the Governo
to fulfil his constitutional obligations will
more advantage to the State. Would j
not be well, also to prescribe an uniform
rule in respect to the times for making nj
reports? At present some are required t,
be made at the close of the fiscal year; som
at other periods; some bennially: some an
nually, and some semi-annually. 1t woul
conducc greatly to the introduction of OF
der and responsibility into public affairs,
/ all reports should be required to be made O
f the twentieth days of November, February
, May, and June of each year; the Novcmbe
, report embracing all the transactions of tn
! fiscal year, and tho other Reports only thos
= of the preceding quarter.
! Permit me now to invite your attentio
: to few topics, intimately connected wit
the public welfare, but not discussed in any
these reports.
MARRIED WOMEN
The state Of the law in relation to Ma
: ricd Women deserves your consideration
p, Our legislation is already honorably disti
= = guished by its provisions in their behalf; b.
much remains to be done. Many of the b.
niiccnt provisions of the civil law might |
: transferred, with benefit, to our code 1t
!, difficult TO perceive any reason why a wifi
!. allowed to sue separately from her husban
: should be required to sue in the name of h
= next friend. Instances not unfrcquently o
! cur of gross oppression through the abs
= lutte control given to the husband over pc
:, sonal estate, and particularly overhouseho
goods. | can preccive no valid reason wi
the wife may not be allowed property
personally and especially in goods pertai
st ing to the house, and protected in the pc
!, session by sufficient and summary remedic
is These are but samples of needed reforms
St this direction | commend the whole su
1t ject to your best reflections.
y CRIMINAL LAW.
II . a