The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-01-13

Commissions has been extremely arduous,
and I commend 10 your favorable action
his application for a Clerk. Tho great
interest entrusted to his charge is of pri-
mary Importance. That the people feel
and understand its true character, rs ap-
parent from the fact that of SO, l69, 40l. go,
collected in ] 857, and disbursed for State
purposes, 1855, 764. 40 was applied in
support of Common Schools. And no
wiser application of the public funds could
be made. The youth of the State are the
future State. The State will be what,
under present training, they become. No
body of men do a G eater work, or do
serve higher favor than the teachers of
the schools. Their wishes and sugges-
lions merit your most serious attention
aud favorable consideration. Among them
no one appears to be of greater moment
than that of a provision of an Institution
for the preparation of a larger number of
thoroughly qualified teachers. l respect
fully commend to you the inquiry whether
this provision may not be made by organ.
iziug a Normal Department for the in
struction of teachers, in one or both of
the State Universities.
The report of the Commissioner Of
Statistics was not required to be in readi-
ness at the commencement of the session.
It is, however, In preparation, and will
be laid before you as soon as possible
The labor Of collecting, collating, analyz-
ing and arranging the materials for this
report must necessarily be vast and per-
picking but | haye full confidence that
it will be well and thoroughly performed;
and that the report, when made, will pre-
sent a most gratifying exhibit of the in
justry, resources and civilization of the
State.
The reports of the Auditor and Treas
ur will exhibit fully and in detail, the
state of the finances. They contain ma
ny valuable suggestions which / commend
to your consideration. The report of the
Auditor also shows the amount of means
provided for the expenses of the current
year within which amount it will be me-
cessary that legislative appropriations be
strictly limited
Among the suggestions contained in the
report of the Secretary of State, that of
securing uniformity of election returns by
the distribution to the returning officers of
proper blank forms prepared iu the Secre-
tary's Office, seems especially to merit be-
A6S -
Your own observation, as 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 aud economy.
The report of the Quarter Master Cen
sral will direct your attention to the con
dition of the military department. The
object of the act ofthe last General As
sembly to organize and discipline the mi
litia and volunteer militia, has been in
part accomplished but some important
notifications are necessary to its most
beneficial effect. Peace is among the
highest interes,s aud most sacred duties
of States as well as of individuals. To
secure domestic order, essential to peace,
a thoroughly organized system of police is
necessary and, as a part of this system
of police, "a diciplined military force is of
ten indispensable. 1 do not doubt that
you will cheerfully sanction such amend
ments as will best subserve the general
purposes to be fulfilled.
Some progress has been made, under a
resolution of the last General Assembly,
in the collection and sale of public arms
unfit for service - of which a detailed
statement will soon be submitted to you.
The remarkable immunity from disease
of the convicts in the P~enitentiary their
regular instruction in useful knowledge,
and in moral and religious duties; their
geueral good conduct and steady industry,
evince the Judgment and fidelity with
which its concerns are administered. The
recent loss sustained by fire was a serious
injury to the Institution, and accounts in
part for the slight excess which appears
Pin its expenditures over its receipts.
The Reform School, authorized by the
last General Assembly has been estab-
lished in the county OF Fairfield and is
now ready for the admission of inmates.
The report of the Commissioner charged
with its organization will be found inter
esting and satisfactory.
Tue reports of the different Asylums
exhibit, in the main, satisfactory results.
Their management has been marked in
general by ability, energy, fidelity and
success. The large average cost of each
inmate, however, and the large aggregate
expenditures for these Institutions suggest
the necessity of strict economy, and
the expediency of SO modifying their reg
u~latious that payment shall be required
for admission and maintenance, in cases
where the circumstance of the inmate
or his parents seem to justify it. 1t is
highly desirable, also, that provision be
made as far as practicable for the i%nstruc-
ton 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 of their maintenance, and of prepa-
ring them for self support in alter life.
The Constitution of the State authori-
yes the General Assembly to provide by
law against the evils resulting from the
traffic in intoxicating liquors. While in
temperance crowds our prisons. desolates
our homos, robs society of it's brightest
ornaments, and proclaims itself every
where the foe of virtue, of peace, and of
security, all r~ight-minded men will agree
that whatever can be rightfully done to
protect the community from such an evil,
should be done. 1t will be>your duty t
consider this subject with a wise reference
to the demands of public sentiment, with
a sincere respect for personal rights, aud
with an honest purpoSa IN plIah the