Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-01-15
the public welfare, but not discussed in any

The state of the law in relation to Mar.
Eried Women, deserves your consideration.
Our legislation is already honorably distin-
guished by its provisions in that behalf;
4 bat such remains TO be done. Many oi
| the bene6cient provisions of the civil law
might be transferred, with benefit to oul
code. 1t is difficult to perceive any reason
why wife, allowed to sue separately from
her husband, should be required to sue in
the name of her next friend. Instances
not unfrequently occur of gross oppression
through the absolute control given to the
husband over personal estate, and particu-
iarly over household goods. can perceive
no valid reason why the wife may not be
allowed property in personality and es-
pecially in goods pertaining to the house,
and protected in the possession by sufficient
and summary remedies. These are but
samples of needed reform in this direction.
l recommend the whole subject to your
best reflections.
Defects in the laws regulating practices
in criminal cases often give rise to serious
embarrassments in the administration OF
justice, and occasion great expense and in
convenience to the counties Immediately
concerned. suggest the expediency of
revising and modifying those laws.
The inadequacy of judicial compensation
is much complained Of. High salaries are
Inconsistent with the true idea of a repub-
lican government; but fair rewards for skill
ed labor are due for public as well as pri-
vate service. Perhaps the best test of
proper compensation is the deposition of
thoroughly competent persons to 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 resign
ed their places because unable to serve for
the compensation allowed; and in some of
the counties it is impossible to induce men
of large experience, learning and acquire
ment. to accept Judicial positions. In con-
sidering this subject it may be well to re-
member that the whole amount of salaries
of all the Judges of the Supreme Court,
and Common Pleas Court, is less than the
annual cost of the three Lunatic Asylums.
Alledged abuses of the elective franchise
will probably claim your attention. The
right of suffrage is sacred. 1t is the right
to vote that makes the citizen sovereign.
1t is the right which of all political rights
is to be most scrupulously guarded and
rlost resolutely defended Every citizen,
native or naturalized, 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 the
rightful control of their own affairs. Ey
cry suitable measure for the preventation
of such frauds will deserve your earnest at
tention. 1t will only be needful to beware
lest the proposed remedy for one class of
evils become the source CT Others still more
grievous.
The subject of amendment of the State
Constitution must necessarily come under
your consideration at the present session.
Upon former occasion I submitted to
you my views in favor of amendments pro-
viding for an impartial distribution of po-
litical bower among all portions of the
State and for the adequate representation
of every interest, by single districts; and
securing effective supervision over every
of administration and steady
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
the District Courts. Some relief from the
inconveniencies complained of may be gain
ed by repeating the Legislative provisions
for the jury trials for 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 re-
dressed as far as possible by these or other
expedients, or an attempt shall be made to
effect more radical cure through an
amendment of the Constitution, l submit,
respectively to your better judgement.
Other amendments of the Constitution
may, doubtless be made with advantage.
I suggest only these which seem to be
most essential, and most generally deman-
ded by the public sentiment.
The internal concerns and intesests of
the State will chiefly engage your deliber-
ations; but its relations to the National
Government, and TO the other members of
the Confederacy, cannot be altogether dis
regarded.
Having surrendered to the Federal Gov
among other great prerogatives,
the important powers of maintaining an
Army and Navy, and of raising revenues
by duties on import, it becomes the duty
of rhe States to observe its action with even
jealous vigilance.
The tendency to wasteful extravaganza,
and to Capitalization ofpower, which alarm
ed the fears of early patriots, has, of late
years, become more and more conspicuous.
Enormous revenues, contributed by the
people almost unconsciously, in the form
of enhanced prices, foster in the National
Legislature contempt of economy, and
combinations for the pillage of
the Treasury under delusive pretexts ofpub-
lie good.
Ohio, paying one-tenth of these contribu-
ton, has substantial interest in these mat
lers, which should not be overlooked; and
it cannot be deemed unfit that her General
Assembly should give expression to her de-
mand for retrenchment and reform, and for
O reduction of revenue, the only sufficient
sucurity for both.
Immediately after the close of your late
session, in conformity with your instruc-
1 tranr,,n;ttod To tho Gorcrnor of