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

braeing all the transactions of the fs
cal year, and the other Reports only
those of the preceding quarter.
Permit me now to invite your atten
ton to a few topics, intimately coaneo
ted with the public welfare, but not dis
cussed in any of these reports.
The state of the law in relation t.
Married Women deserves your consid
Grafton. Our legislation is already hon
orably distinguished by its provisions il
that behalf; but much remains to b.
done. Many of the benefcent provis
ions of the civil law might be transfer
red, with benefit, to our code. It is
difficult to perceive any reason why
wife, allowed to sue separately from hel
husband, should be required to sue il
the name of her next friend. Instances
not unfrequently occur of gross oppres
Sion through the absolute control giver
to the husband over personal estate, ant
particularly over household goods.
can perceive no valid reason why tn,
wife may not be allowed a property ii
personally and especially in goods per
tanning to the house, and protected il
the possession by sufficient and summa
~ remedies. These are bnt samples o.
needed reforms in this direction.
commend the whole subject to your besI
reflections.
Defects in the laws regulating prac
tices in criminal cases often give rise tc
serious endorsements in the admins
tration of justice, and occasion great ex.
1870 cd ao--apoa - kha oa,,or
Immediately concerned. I suggest the
e~xpedicncy of revising and codifyine
those laws.
The ~inadequacy of judicial compensa.
tion is much complained OF. High sal
aries are inconsistent with the true idea
of a republican government; but fair
rewards for skilled labor are due fol
public as we'll as for private service
Perhaps the best test of proper com
p~ensation is the disposition Of thorough
ly competent persons to take and hold
Office at the compensation allowed
Tried by this test it must be admitted
that tho salaries Of the Supreme
Judges, and, in some Parts Of the State
of Common Pleas Judges, are insult.
cient. Learned and able Judges, oil
the Supreme Court have resigned theil
places because unable to serve for the
compensation allowed; and in some Of
the Counties it if impossible to induce
men of large experience, learning and
requirements, to accept judicial positio 9
In considering this subject it may bs
we'll to remember that the whole amount
of salaries of all the Judges of the Su.
preme Court and Common Pleas Courts
is less than tae annual cost of the three
Lunatic Asylums.
Alledged abuses of the elective fran
chise will probably claim your attention.
The right of suffrage is sacred. It is
the right to vote which makes the citi
zen a sovereign. It is the right which
of all political rights is to be most scru'
pulously guarded and most resolutely
defended. Every citizen, native or nat
uralized, is entitled to the most absolute
freedom and security in the exercise OF
it. Frauds upon this right merit the
severest Reproduction for the fraudulent
voter cheats the people of their rightful
of their own affairs. Every
measure for the prevention of
such frauds will deserve your Earnest at
t%ention. Il will only be needful to beware
lest the proposed remedy for n class of
become the source of others still
more grievous.
The amendments of the State Con-
,titution must necessarily come under
your consideration at the present ses-
sion. Upon a former occasion I submit
led to you my views in favor of amend
nents providing for an impartial dis
;ribution of political power among all
of the State and for the ade-
Iuate representation of every interest,
BY Single Districts and secaring effec
i've supervision over every department
If administration and a ready adoption
If legislation to the wants and wishes of
he people, by Annual Sessions.
Much dissatisfaction is expressed with
he constitutional organization of the
Judiciary, and particularly with the sys-
EN- of District Courts. Some relief
rom the inconvenience complained of
nay be gained by repeating the legisla-
i've provisions for jury trials in the
District Courts, and by relieving them
rom holding more annual terms than
be Constitution absolutely requires.
Whether for the present the evils of the
system shall be redressed as
ar as possible by these or other expe-
or an attempt shall be made to
feet a more radical cure through an
of the Constitution, I sub
lit, respectfully, to your better judg-
lent.
Other amendments to the Constitu-
ion may, doubtless, be made with ad-
antage. 1 suggest only those which
to be essential, and most generally
emanded by the public sentiment.
The internal concerns and interests of
be State will chiefly engage your delib-
but its relations to the Ma
ional Government and to the other
lembers of the Confederacy, cannot be
together disregarded.
Having surrendered to the Federal
among other great preoga-
ives, the important powers of maintain
,g an Army and Navy, and of raising
evenue by duties on imports, it becomes
he duty of the States to observe its
ction with even jealous vigilance.
The tendency to wasteful extravaganza
nd to the Capitalization Of power, which
Harmed the fears of the early patriots,
as, of late years, become more and more
onspicuous. Enormous revenues, con-
by the people, almost uncon-
in the form of enhanced prices,
,ster in the National Legislature a con-
smpt of economy, and encourage COM
for the pillage of the Treas
ry under delusive pretexts of public
God.