The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-01-12

cause, lt Is the ABUNDANT source OF |
Pauperism, Lunacy and Disease, as well
as of crime. Its cost to society is be-
yond the power of computation, and its
multiform influences for evil beyond the
reach of estimate. again invoke your
attention to this vitality important sub
lject, and trust that your action in regard
to it may be wise and efficient.
In this connection / think it my duty
to recommend to you the establishment of
an Asylum for Inebriates. Much evil to
individuals and society may be averted,
and much positive good accomplished, by
means of such an Institution. If estab-
Ilished on the State Reform Farm, upon
Ejudicious plan and scale, its cost need not
be great.
| The administration of civil, not less
than that of criminal justice, is intimate
lly related to condition and advancement.
When cheap, prompt, unbiased and sure,
it guarantees industry, promotes enter
} prise, and ensures progress. When dear.
| dilato.y, partial and uncertain, it impov-
, erishes labor, discourages useful undertak-
: ings and introduces decline. In this
State tie people elect their Judges, AND
thus directly determine In large meas
ure the character Of judicial .administra-
ton. The results thus far, especially in
= civil justice, have not disappointed the
advocates of an elective judiciary. In
: competent judges have, it is true, been
sometimes elected, and the evils of NAL
: administration have been someti mes felt;
f but the Courts of Ohio, considered in
q general, have nothing to apprehend from
!; a comparison with those of any other
s State in respect to intelligence, learning
s or efficiency. The amount Of their labors
: may be inferred from the fact that the
number of civil suits last year was about
: $4,000, in $4,000 ofwhich judgments
o were rendered. The number of suits In
e volving serious controversy of law or fac
It bore small proportion to the whole.
|. Much the larger number were prosecut
e ed for the collection of claims, and it il
n estimated that nine-tenths in amount o
IS the debts unsecured by mortgages or 9th
y erwise, which class constituted three
! fourths of the whole, was recovered or i
= recoverable. This estimate, if at all re
liable, indicates plainly the grounds OF
e which the high credit of the busines
d men, us well as of the State of Ohio, is es
r tablished iThewhole debt of her peopl
le public and private, as took occasion t.
e show last year, is hardly equal in amour
,e to one-fifth OF the property in the State
: and the loss by individual failure in pay
r ment, is only two and half per cent q
rt the debt The rate of commercial hazar
d, in credits, is, therefore, comparatively in
significant ea ii4
e, Such is the social condition of th
ne State, contemplated in some of its mos
s, important and interesting aspects. Th
SIS sketch is necessarily imperfect, for ,h
he materials are inadequate. 1t may no
ye.| however, be altogether without yalu,
It. while the provisions judiciously made b
: you, and the preceding General Assembl
cs for q more ample collection of statistics
al information will supply, hereafter, th
at means of mere certain and more usefr
in comparisons and deduction, than are po:
wv sible now. o
Passing from these general views
a, other topics of perhaps more immediat
be concern. permit me to invite yonr after
or tion, in the frs. place, to our 6nancil
"a condition.
y. The Constitution requires that all prt
ng perty of whatever description, and
sr, whomsoever held, shall be listed for tal
es alton at its true value. The Revenues
u. the State, the Counties, the Township
is the Cities, the Villages and the Scho
h. Districts, are raised by rates levied, if f,
he State purposes, on the whole proper
pg listed, and if for local purposes. on Il
III. property listed within the proper territ
lst rial limits. The school laws of vario,
mt years, but particularly of 1853 and lS5
SITS the road and bridge laws of 1854, al
A. other years; the poorhouse act of l83
nd one act OF 1857; two of 1853, aud sor
OF other acts of less Importance, preserib
,ns the rates of taxation.
mt, The School acts direct the levy of o
ear mill and six-tenths on each dollar of val
ro- alton throughout the State, for geneI
op- school and library purposes and of yario
ion rates to be fixed by the local authorities.
hat local purposes, such as the construction
,ne school houses and the purchase of sites
g. The Road and Bridge laws authori
rates for the objects indicated By ths
M titles, varying from the 25th of mill
at nine and half mills to be determined
de- the County Commissioners and an ado
zee, tional rate, not over six mills, to be levi
ion by the County Auditor, on property a
on joining roads within certain limits on I
lis petition of the property holders.
our The poor house act of S3l aulhoriz
Jon the levy by the County Commissioners
de- an indefinite rate for the erection of InI
or maries, and rate not exceeding one n
to for the support of the poor.
cnt The act Of 1851 requires the levy
my -tenths of mill for general St,
mt, purposes; Of nine-tenths of mill for p,
the ment ofinterest md principal of the p,
ich lie debt; of rates for county purpos