The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-01-20

from tho act. Ho should bo prohibited
from tampering with the public funds in
any way. aud restricted in thoir use, to tho |
domands of his official duties All perqui- |
sites should DO denied him. If tho salary bo |
inadequate to tho responsibility or labors of
the particular Office, lot it DO increased TO a
compensatory maximum. Leave no protext
for an abuse of his trust. Tho sacrodness Of
private and public property is tho life of ro-
publican forms Of government, and one of
tho very highest duties Of tho legislator is TO
surround it with oil the necessary safe.
guards Of law.
! Tho disposition Of the Public Works Of
the State will doubtless attract your atton-
tion. These works arc no longer sclf.sus-
tanning. They arc an annual charge upon
tho Treasury. Why this is so, whether be-
cause Of radical defects in tho laws relating
to thoir managcment-to an unwiso system
of tolls-to tho want Of proper economy
in their repairs, or to damaging compcti.
ton of tho more improved means of trans
portation, will not now inquire.
That tho question of the disposition of
our Public Works may receive that careful
attention and revision which the interests
involved demand. l respectfully suggest to
you the passage of joint resolution author
iziug the commission of thrcc gentlemen of
enlarged experience and capacity. whose
special duty il shall be to mako thorough
and detailed examination of the entire sub
ject, and that they report to the Governor,
at the earliest practicable period, such
changes and notifications in our canal laws.
as in thoir judgment are desirable to lessen
the expenses, or to increase tho income, 30
as at loast to mako our canals fully self
sustaining
If thorough experience shall demon
strato that thoy cannot DO maGe self sustain.
ing, constant agitation must be expected of
the proposition to cell or lease them, so as
to have tho State relieved of thoir support
] suggest tho appointment of this Com
mission because of my apprehension that
the members of tho Legislature havo not
the time, nor the means within thcir reach
during a session, with 30 many other do
mands upon their attention, to give to 60
, complicated and important subject that
} systematic, detailed and thorough investi.
, cation which tho interests involved seem to
mo to require.
Among tho topics commanding tho atten.
tion OF our sister States, and worthy OF your
present consideration, is tho measure of on
couragement which State should hold out
TO her organized and disciplined militia
laws and directed the preparation Of Regu.
lations, in order to perfect tho framework
of tho State militia organization, and de.
velop q symmetrical and well. ordered sys.
tenn, which has been so far realized, as to
leave little to be done but for you to do.
tormino, in your wisdom, whethor tho State
! shall endorse that system by its direct aid
Tho Reports from the proper officers
show that through tho want of such q sys
: tenn heretofore, the State has lost moro than
100000 in value of tho arms received from
, tho United States. A proper State Arsenal
, and such direct aid 10 tho citizen soldier
undor stringent limitations, as would prac
tically defray tho actual expense of keeping
tho arms in the manner required by law
would, it is beloved, prevent similar sacr
3 fees in the future, and bo economical to thu
I; State. 1t would also command q small AIT
: well disciplined force, sufficiently largo t.
r give weight to the sanctions of law, an,
d provo sufficient nucleus for any neccssar
o incl case.
g Other States have embraced tho plan sue
J gcsted, and tho counsels of the Fathers Q
: the Republic unto with tho concurren
= action of the majority of the State Legislo
turo, to pronounce well-regulatod militi,
}, which is from and of tho people, to DO one G
o law, the maintenance of order, and the pei
}, petuation of those personal rights which ar
Il our chief reliance and dear to evory Ameri
!. can citizen.
l Every othor State in tho Union, cxcep
Florida, has completed, or has in progress
a geological survey of her territory; and
: would recommend to your early considera
0 ton the completion of the geological surve
: of this State which has boon too long sus
o pended. doubt not its Importance to th
agricultural and mining interests of tn
o State, and to tho advancement of science
: will fully justify an appropriation for it
J. vigorous prosecution.
BY the constitution, it is mado the dnt
J., OF the Legislature to propose such amend
ments of that instrument as in its judgmen
the public wolfaro demands.
Sufficient time has not elapsed since tn,
adoption Of tho constitution, to determin,
from it's practical workings all tho modifica
tions which the public interests may require
Various changos have been proposed, bu
: owing to'causos 20 wbichiI need not special,
refer, none of them have becn approved il
tho manner prescribed by tho constitution
, The form of tho proposition submitted al
at the rocout election for annual sessions Of
tho Legislature, in being coupled with con
u'toh iOh p'Shb'ai ciSStlOhoY 10 DSllCNCu u
: have prevented fair expression of the
opinion of the people upon tho question o.
: the expedioncy of annual sessions.
submit the question to your considera
:: tion, respectfully recommending an amond,
mcnt of tho constitution, providing .or lin
itod annual sessions, and annual elections.
! invite your attention also to the subjoc
of tho unequal representation in boil
branches OF the General Assembly, resulting
. from the system OF single, dual and plura
election districts, provided by the con
stitution, for the purpose of recommending
to your favorable consideration an amend
ment of tho constit utOn, establishing uni
: form system of single election districts
which shonld be based solely upon pOpu
lation. Such a plan OF apportionmen
soems to me to be alike required by
logical regard to tho theory of our form o
government, the security of the people a
largo against undue control of particula
sections of tho:State, and for tho just pro
lection of mnorLies against tho power o
majoritios in tho more pOpulous counties.
; The geographical position of our Stat
forever identifies her destiny with that o
tho groat valley of the West. Whaieve
may affect the growth or prosperity of thi
highly favored region, must DO of interes
to us. Among tho objects which have lon
+, = attracted tho anxious attention of the peo
pie of the West, and which thoy Justly re
= uapH q nf tboi