True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-01-07

Il not be WELL also 10 prescribe an unifbrm rule in re-
spect to the times f making all reports AT present
some reQnfed to be made at the close Of the fiscal
nually, aud some setannually. Itwoud conduce great
lyto the Introduction Of order and Fesponsb ty into
pu lie adrs " all reports should he required 10 be
and June, Of eaeh ysar the November report embracing
H the transaetcnso " the Scai year and the other 70
ports only those Of the preceding quarter, ~
Permit ME now to invite your atten.
ton tearfcw topics, intimately connected
with the public welfare, but not discussed
in any of these reports. iei.4a y *.
The state of the law in relation to mar
ried Women deserves your consideration
Our legislation is already honorably dis
tinguisned by its provisions in that be-
half; but much remains to be done. Ma
ny of the bcne6cent provisions of the civ
il law might be transferred, with benefit
to our code. 1t is difficult to perceive.auy
reason why wife, allowed t6Assue sepa-
rately from her husband, should be requi-
red 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 es-
tate, and particularly over household
goods. / can perceive no valid reason
why the wife may not be allowed pro-
perty in personally and especially in
goods pertaining to the house, aud protec-
ted in the possession by sufficient and snm-
mary remedies These are but samples
of needed reforms in this direction. 1
commend the whole subject to your best
reflections. ,s-S t'ii ip"atela 1880
Defects in the laws regulating prac-
tices in criminal casesofien give rise to
serious embarrassments in the adnlinistra-
ton of justice, and occasion great expense
and Inconvenience to the counties imme-
diately concerned. l suggest the expe-
diency Of revising and codifying those
laws. ,re -vrt rveg
The inadequacy of judicial compensa-
tiou is much complained of. High salar-
les are inconsistent with the true idea of
a republican 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 dispos-
ition Of thoroughly competent persons to
iakean 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 became
unable to serve for the compensation al.
lowed and in some Of the counties it is
impossible 10 induce men of large exper-
icnce, learning and requirement, to &C.
cept judicial positions. 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
actual cost of the three Luuatic Asylums
Alleged abuse Of the elective franchise will probnbl,
claim your attention. The light of suffrage Is sacred
1t Is the hit to vote which makes the citizen soyer
egn 1t s the right which o all political is to ID
most scrupulously guarded aud most resolue!y defend
ed Every citizen, native naturaized is entitled Il
the most absolute cedomani security in its exercise
Frauds this right merit the severest reprobaUn; fO
andn ent voters cheat the people Of their rshtfn con
troll of own their affairs Every suitable measure for TN
prevention Of such frauds will deserve your st atten
on. II will only be needful to beware less the pm
posed remedy for class OF evils becne the
others still mere greviouS.
The subject ofamendments Of the State
Constitution must necessarily come under
your consideration at the present session
Upon former occasion, | submitted tt
you my views in favor of amendments
providing for an impartial distribution o
political power among all portions of thu
State, and for the adequate representation
of every interest, by Single Districts
and securing effective supervision over ev
cry department of administration and ;
ready adaptation of legislation to.the wants
and wishes of the people, by annual Ses
sions. et tt..," '.. .Nt
Much dissatisfaction is expressed Will
the constitutional organization of thu
Judiciary, and particularly with thu
system of District Courts. Some re
lief from the inconvenicnces complainec
of may be gained by repeating the legis
lativc provisions for jury trials in the Dis
trict Courts, aud by relieving them frou
holding more annual terms than the Con
stitution absolutely requires. Whether
for the present the evils of the existing
system shall be redressed as far as posi-
BILE by these Or other expedients, or an at
tempt shall be made to effect a more rad
ical cure through an amendment of thu
Constitution, l submit, respectfully Il
your better judgment
Other amendments of the Constitution
may, doubtless, be made with advantage
suggest only those which seem to b.
most essential, and most generally de-
manded by the public sentiment. c
The internal concerns and interests oI
the State will chiefly engage your delib
crations but its relations to the Nationa
Government, and to the other members
of the Confederacy, cannot be altogether
disresarded.
Having surrendered to the Fedora
Government, among other great preroga
tives, the important powers of maintain
ing an Army and Navy, and of raising
revenue by duties on imports, it becomes
the duty of the States to observe its ac
ton with even jealous vigilance. z
The tendency to wasteful extravaganza
and to centralization of power, which
alarmed the fears Of the early, patriots
has, oflatc years, become more and more
conspicuous. Enormous revenues, con.
tributed by the people, almost uuconsci
ously, in the form of enhanced prices, in
the National Legislature a contempt
of econemy, and encourage combinations
for the pillage of the Treasury under