The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-01-14

Asylum EdIhce, the need of which has
been SO long acknowledged.
The Report of the Commissioners of
the New State House, will exhibit
the progress of the work and disburse-
meuts on account of it during the last
year. 1t is with great pleasure that I
direct your attention to the careful econ
omy, through work and substantial pro.
gress which have distinguished their
administration. Your own observations,
now that your sessions are held in the
new building, will satisfy you as to the
character and condition of the work.
The fact that of the ninety thousand dol.
lars appropriated for this service, more
than forty-six thousand remined unex-
pended at the close of the fiscal year,
sufficiently attests the economy" of the
management.
The nature and magnitude of the trust
committed to the Quarter Master Gen,
eral, aud the manner in which the duties
of his Office have been performed during
the past year, will appear from the Re-
port of that officer. The suggestions
of this Report. and particularly that re-
latiDg to- the construction of a State
Arsenal, deserve your consideration. The
proceeus of the old Penitentiary grounds
may be advantageously applied to the
purchase of a site aud the erection of
the necessary buildings /; or the Legisla-
ture may direct the location of the ar
seual upon a part of these grounds, and
the application of the proceeds of the
residue to construction. ] recommend
tho dieoonfiuuouoo Of tba nj 1;a-
lowed to the Quartermaster General and
the allowance of a fixed salary sufficient
to compensate fairly for the time, az
tention and intelligence necessary to the
proper performance of his duties.
In this connection I beg leave to di-
rect your attention to the laws concern
ing the Militia. The known existence
of an organized public force competent
to the enforcement of law and the de-
fence of right, is among the surest guar
antics of order and security. In all
emergencies requiring military force,
States must rely on the patriotism of
their militia. A wise regard to these
considerations dictated the provisions of
our State Constitution relating to this
subject. To carry out these provisions
and give them due effect, legislation is
indispensable. For the want of it, the
Militia of the State is in danger of total
disorganization the public arms, a val
liable property, are exposed to danger
aud loss and in contingencies, not i'm
possible, various public interests may
suffer serious detriment. 1 venture to
express the hope that the necessary
legislation on this subject will consti.
tute Que of the claims of this General
Assembly to the approval of their con-
st tuonts.
1 take great pleasure in laying before
you the Report of the Commissioners
appointed Under the act of April T., 1856,
providing for the establishment of the
Ohio Reform School. The act requir-
ed that two of the three Commissioners
should visit three of the principal Re-
formatory Institutions of the United
States, and institute all necessary OBJ
servations and inquiries, and that all
should unite in reporting the result to
the Legislature. The Commissioners
have more than executed their trust.
Instead of two, all have visited, not
three only, but all the principal Institu-
tions in our own country, and one of
their number, at his own expense, has
visited the principal Institutions in
Europe. Their Report exhibits of the
fruit of their extended researches and
inquiries, and commends it self to your
most favorable regard. The documents
collected by the Commissioners and now
placed at your disposal, embody nearly
every thing that is known concerning
Reformatory Schools. For these SER
vices no chrage has been made against
the Treasury beyond those incident to
literal execution of the law !; and
more than one-third of the %appropria-
ton remains u~nexpended.
The Report of the Commissioner of
Common Schools has not yet been re-
1t will probably be ready by
the Goth inst, at which lime it has been
heretofore required, and will be prompt
ly laid before you. In the mean time I
need not remind you of the iudispensa-
BILE necessity of adequate Public In
.struction to the welfare and security of
No public investment is SO
safe and so fruitful IS that which is
made in the education of the people.
No persons better deserve the esteem
md the support of the State and the
than the teachers of our youth.
No essential notifications of the present
ichool law are, in my judgement, de-
handed by the general sentiment except
Iuch as will increase its efficiency without
lugmenting its expense. There is, how
'ver,a prevailing opinion, that, under
circumstances, Township Libra
les may be substituted, with advan-
age, for District Libraries; and I would
ther suggcstthat the Library at each
Seat should be made a County
Library, and supplied as far as possible
With the published Documents of the
State and National Governments. For
he supply of the State Documents you
an make the necessary provision a lit
lie attention on the part of Senators and
representatives in Congress will ensure
full supply of National Documents.
The beneficial results. of the act re-
the Public Reports to be made
% the Governor and printed in advance
# the meeting of the Legislature, sug-
tests a farther application of the same
principle. The Constitution requires
he Governor to communicate to the
General Assembly at every session the
condition of the State, and to recommend
UGH measures as he may deem expedi-
rnt. 1t also, requires him to see that
he laws are faithfully executed. To
'nable him better to fulfill this %injunc-
ion, he is authorized to require infor.
nation in writing from the officers of the
D~enartmnnt nnon anu snhiect