Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-01-07

authority to prescribe the powers and du-
tics Of the Board in general supOrintendsnce
and control, aud not an authority TO divost
the Board Of these Constitutional functions /;
1t is an authority 10 prescribe the powers
and duties Of its several members in subor-
dination to the Board and not an authority
to constitute each member nm independent
Board, in separate and substantially uneon-
lrolled charge Of the whole or n part Of the
Public Works. IL not so limited tho
authority of the General Assembly over
the Public Works is clearly Unlimited
1t may restrict the superntendcnce Of the
Board TO the Walhonding Canal with its
insignificant revenue Of seven or eight hun
drcd dollars year. and give to some one
member the entire management Of the rest.
II may abrogate the Constitutional Board
Of three members, and substitute three Leg
islative Boards Of one member each, giving
in charge to each just as much and just rs
little of this great and important property
as it may see fit. cannot think that such
a construction of the Constitution can com
mend itself to your judgment, aud there
fore recommend the reconsideration Of
those provisions Of the act Of tho last ses-
sion which divide the Public Works into
three sections, and excluding virtually all
superintendent Of the Board, commit each
section in appointment Of officers, dsburso-
ment Of moneys, and general management,
to a single member.
In this connection the system hf repairs
and payments on these works should receive
consideration Under tho act Of the last
session, the member in charge Of each sec
ton appoints the Engineers assigned to it..
These engineers certify claims for work and
materials to the member 10 charge; the
member in charge, upon these certificates,
draws his check on the Auditor for pay
ment; and the Auditor is required, without
further evidence of the claim, to issue his
warrant for the amount upon tho Treasury.
No fact has come to my knowledge exciting
suspicion that this large discretion in the ex.
penditurc Of the large sums appropriated
for the Public Works has been abused, but
it is certainly worthy Of consideration
whether the principle Of ehecks'and limita
tion upon disbursement which has been ap-
piled in other departments of expenditure
may not be properly introduced in this.
The extraordinary foods Of the last summer we're at
tended y disastrous consequences to the canals. So
mcrnus au extensive the injuries to tile southern
portion II the Ohio Canal and OH the Hooking Canal thai
twas impossible TO make the repairs necessary to navg'
tOn and consequently to without considerable
Penlute Seyond the sums appropriated to That purpose
In THIS emergency did not hesitate To advise what the In
tercss Of the State clearly required prompt repairs
payment as far as the money could be spared from tbs
Treasury hy drafts In excess of the appropriations. de
not doubt your approval of what then done, ta
provision will promptly be made for the drafts drawn IL
this emergency but to guard against the recurrence
similar eNigences recommend that contingent fund h
provided by law, from which expenses made indispensable
necessary by unforeseen contingencies Of this character
The expenditures on the Public Works have, during TN
past again exceedeed the revenues and the question
OF their future disposition must necessarily demand YOU
attention Ny views upon this subject have beer
sufficiently stated in former Communications. The polic
o: sale in proper sections for adequate prices under suc
guards and restrictions viii insure the continued use
the canals for the purposes they designed to
and exclude the control Of the interest now csmneng
with them, will probably best fulhl the wshes OF ma
iority Of the people. Neither public sentiment however
nor sound policy recommends sale for less than the
real value not measured by two years Of disase
but ascerined by thorough examination ofal the deter
mining circumstances without such limitations viii
ensure beyond any probable connger , the ends ofhci
Agricultural.
The agricultural progress Of the State during tn, pas
wear has been steady aud upon the whole satisfactory
BY the unfavorae weather and the attacks finsect
rmies crops have been diminished and some amos
entirely destroyed, while one or two have exceeded The
usual overage. and tho deficiency in quantity of other
has been compensated by excellence Of quality. Th
health Of the people has been good and constant improve
ment has characterized the instruments and methods
cnt"ation. the recommendations addressed Il
you at session relating this great eadin
interest: andespeciay reconimcudt your attention tn
admirable report of the State Board which fail
exert most beneficial influence
Ten Per Cent LAW.
J think my duty again to recommend to you, the re
peal of the act allowing interest the rate of ten pc
cent Itwoud be far better in mviudgment leave tn
subject ofinteres without regulation than regulate 1t
such way as to encourage usury embarrass enterprise
I and impover,sh industry.
slavery.
Nv opinions fully communicated In YOU Mt your las
session in respect Just claims this state upon tn
Federal Government well in respect to the prone
interest of Ohio In the due administration Of that Govern
mcn and especially a this time in action upon the mo
mentous question of slavery reman uncha ged and
notbe resulted.
Congratulations.
Permit me congratulate you upon the auspicous cir
cuUstnnccs under which you the grave duties
legislation. The storm Of financial disaster which sven
the land in the summer and autumn Of 1857 has ahaed
ana though its effects yet visible in much remanin
embarrassment, there is every anticnae tn
speedy return of general prosperity The dehllcati9
which then oppressed our finances, has been supplied
your provtd"nt legislation; and general fidelity and eff
cheney have marked the ssven departments nf admnisra
ton. From this point we well look to the fntur
with hope and confidence Differing, often may a
to the best Of nrGmnttng
good we'll may often find ourselves able to harmonic
differences BY mutual concessions and combine effort
Tor the common good Accept my assurance that in Al
towards this sale end n vrtunus patrnt
ism you confidently rely upon my jealous coonera
ton, and that nv sncerest wishes will he accomplished
" under the guidance of Divine Beugnity your legisla
General Asseml may be remembered with graitud
7 me feoPle OF ohio. s. =. CHASE.