The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-01-14

cd in the secrctary's office. seems especially to
merit being embodied In y Legislative enactment.
Your own observation AZ well as the report Of
the Commissioners, will inform you that the work
on the New State House has been carried forward
during the past year with diligence and economy.
The report Of Tho Quarter Master General will
direct your attention 10 the condition Of .he mill
tary department The object OF the act o. the
last General Assembly TO organize and discipline
the militia and volunteer militia has been in part
accomplished; but some important notifications
arc necessary TO its most beneficial effect Peace
Is among the highest interests and most sacred
duties Of States as well NJ individuals To secure
domestic order, essential 10 peace, thoroughly
organized system of police Is necessary; and az
part of this system Of police, disciplined mill
tary force is often indispensable. ! do not doubt
that you will cheerfuy sanction such amendments
as will best subserve the interest to be fulfilled
Some progress has been made, under resolu-
ton of the last General Assembly, In the collec-
rion and sale of public arms unfit for service; Of
which a detailed statement will soon be submit.
ted 10 you
The remarkable immunity from disease of the
convicts in the Penitcntlary, their regular nstru
ton in useful knowledge and In moral and relig-
ious duties their general good conduct and steady
industry, eyinces the judgment and fidelity with
which its concerns are administered. The recent
loss sustained by fire was serious injury to the
Institution, and accounts in part for the slight
excess which appears in Its expenditures over its
receipts
The Reform School, authorized by the last gen.
eral Assembly has been established in the county
of Fairfield and is now ready for the admission
Of inmates. The report Of the Commissioners
charged with its organization will be found inter-
esting and satisfactory.
| The Reports of the different Asylams exhibit
| in the main, satisfactory results Their manage
ment has been marked in general by ability, fl
deity aud success. The large average cost of
each inmate, however, and the large aggregate
expenditures for these Institutions suggest the
necessity of the strictest economy, and the expe-
dency of so modifying their regulations that pay
ment shall be required for admission and mainte-
nance, in cases where the circumstances of the
inmate or his parents justify it. 1t is highly de-
sirable also, that provision be made as far as
practicable for the instruction and employment
! of the inmates in such industrial occupations as
may be suited to their capacities and abilities, for
| the double purpose of diminishing the cost oi
their maintenance, and Of preparing them for self
support in after le
The conspicuous fact that in numerous instan.
ces the causes of the nfrmities, and especially
! OF the idiocy lunacy and crime, which ill our
Asylums, our Pcntentiary and our Reformatory
natural laws, and especially to intemperance, can
not fail to attract your notice. More general in.
struction in the physical laws of life and well be
| ing, and in the moral and relifious obligations
connected with them; must be relied on for the
diminution and prevention Of these violations.
The Constitution of the State authorizes the
General Assembly to provide by law against the
evils resulting from the traffic in intoxicating iq
uors. While ntemperance crowds our prisons
ornaments, and proclams itself everywhere the
foe of virtue, of peace and of security, all right
minded men will agree that whatever can be
rightlully done to protect the community from
such an evil should be done. 1t will be your du
| ty to consider this subject with wise reference
| to the demands of public sentiment, with sin
cere respect for personal rights, and with an hon
est purpose to accomplish the end indicated by
| the Constitution.
The condition ofthe Public w orls of the State
is fully stated in the report Of the Board charged
with their supervision. 1t will be seen that the
net income of the Canals during the last year has
fallen short of the expenditures, including Com
missioners' salaries, by the sum of $l3,6l 61.-
1t will also be seen that the actual cost of the re
| pairs upon two sections, exceeds the contract
price by lS,Og4S2, while the contract price
upon four sections exceeds the actual cost by
$i5567 ,43 making a net difference in favor ol
actual cost of $27 ,472 6l. Under these circum-
stances, the sale of the canals will doubtless be
urged upon your attention. 1t may be admitted
that true policy requires the total separation oI
the State from the control and management Of
public works of this description ; but as the ca
nails were constructed when different policy
| was strongly recommended by the circumstances
of the people, and have thus become the pro
perty of the State at immense cost, am clearly
of the opinion that they should not be sold ex
cept for their actual value, and under such re-
strcton as will secure the ends of theisccnstruc.
tion. 1t will be for the General Assembly, if dis
posed to authorise sale, to determine the nee
essary restrictions and how far the results of the
past year are to be accepted rs al indication OF
its value. In my judgment those results are to
be ascribed mainly to the temporary causes indi
Gated in the Report of the Board, and l have
little doubt that the income in future years, un
der prudent and economical management, will
realize their snticipations.
| Under these circumstances, II will probably be
safest in case sale is contemplated, to take the
average net income Of the last ten years as a
| proper criterion, and to estimate the value al
the principal of which that income would be the
interest at six per cent.
II gives me pleasure to state that the expenses
of most of the State Institutions, and of the diff
fereut Offices and Boards in the public service
have been kept strictly within the limits Of the
legislative appropriations. An important excep
ton will be foundtn the case of ftheNorthernLuna
tic Asylum, Debts have been contracted in behal
of shat Institution largely beyond the appropri
ations for ts support and in part at least, in di
rect violation of the act of March 80, 1887 which
not only expressly prohibits such contracts, bu
subjects the officers making them to personal Ii
nbilitp for their performance, aud distinctly de
clares that the State shall not be liable. 1t is in
dispensably necessary to arrest practice which
together with the defalcation, has caused tn,
prespnt embarrassment of our finances, and which
ii permitted, will transfer the determination o
the amounts TO be appropriated to the various
objects of the State Government, from the Rep
rcscntatives of the people, 10 the several Admin
istmtive Boards aud Officers
There are some aspects of the relations of Obi,
with the Federal Government, to which feel my
self constrained to call your attention.
In my last communication 10 the General Assem-
bly,, stated some reasons for believing that larg
sum is due to the State, from the United States
7 hn nCt ~ In thn p1a IF M