Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-01-13

depositing or otherwise. Tho gist of the
offence should be the expectation or hope
Of the officer of receiving a private benefit
from the act. He should be prohibited from
tampering with the public funds in any
way, and restricted in their use TO the de-
mands Of their official duties. All perqui-
sites should be denied him. If tho salary
be inadequate to the responsibility or la
bors Of the particular office, let it be in
creased to a compensatory maximum
Leave no pretext for an abuse of his trust.
The sacreduess Of private and public prop
erty is the life of republican forms Of gov
ernment, and one of the very highest duties
Of the legislator, is to surround it with all
the necessary safeguards Of law.
The disposition of tho Public Works of
{ the State will doubtless attract your atten-
ton. These Works are no longer selfsus-
tanning They are an annual charge upon
the Treasury. Why this is so, whether be-
cause of radical defects in the laws rela-
ting to their management--to an unwise
: system of tolls-to the want of proper
economy in their repairs, or damaging
competition of the more improved means
Of transportation, will not now inquire.
That the question Of the disposition Of
: our Public Works may receive that careful
attention and revision which the interests
involved demand, I respectfully suggest
the passage of joint resolution authori-
zing the commission Of three gentlemen of
! enlarged experience ard capacity, whose
special duty it shall be to make thorough
and detailed examination Of the entire sub
5 ject, and that they report to the Governor
, at the earliest practicable period, such
, changes and notifications in our canal laws,
, as in their judgment are desirable to less.
{ en- the expenses, or to increase the income
so as at least to make our canals fully self.
sustaining.
If thorough experience shall demon
strate, that they cannot be made self-sus.
tanning, constant agitation must be expec-
ted of the proposition to sell or lease them,
so as to have the State relieved of their
support.
| suggest the appointment Of this Com
mission, because of my apprehension, that
the members Of the Legislature have not
, the time nor the means within their reach,
during session, with so many demands
upon their attention, to give to so complica-
ted and important a subject, that systemst-
ic, detailed and thorough investigation,
which the interests involved seem to me to
require.
Among the topics commanding the at
tention of our Sister States, and worthy of
present consideration, is the measure of en-
couragement which State should hold out
to her organized and disciplined militia
The last two General Assemblies enacted
laws and directed the preparations of reg
ulations in order to perfect the framework
of the State militia organization, and de-
velop a symmetrical and well ordered
system which has so far been realized, as to-
leave little to be done but for you TO deter
mine, in your wisdom, whether the State
shall endorse that system by its direct aid.
The reports of the proper officers show,
that through the want of such system
heretofore, the State has lost more than
100000 in value of the arms received
from the United States. A proper State
Arsenal and such direct aid to the citizen
soldier, under stringent limitations, as would
practically defray the actual expense of keep
ing the arms in the manner required by
law, would, it is believed, prevent similar
sacrifices in the future, and be economical
to the State. 1t would also command a
small and we'll disciplined force sufficiently
large to give weight to the sanctions of the
law, and prove sufficient nucleus for any
necessary increase.
Other States have embraced the plan
suggested and the counsels Of the Fathers
of the Republic, unite with the concurrent
action of the majority of the State Legisla-
lures, to pronounce well-regulated militia,
which is from and of the people to be one
Of the surest safegurds for the enforcement
of law, the maintenance of order, and the
perpetuation of those personal rights which
are our chief reliance and dear to every
American citizen.
Every other State in the Union except
Florida, has completed, or has in progress, a
geological survey of her territory, and I
would recommend to your early considera-
tion, the completion of the geological survey
Of this State, which has been too long sus-
pended. l doubt not its Importance to tho
agricultural and mining interests of the
State, and to the advancement of science,
will fully justify an appropriation for its
vigorous prosecution.
By the constitution, it is made the duty
of the Legislature to propose such amend
ments of that instrument as in its judgment
the public welfare demands.
Sufficient time has not elapsed since the
adoption of the constitution to determine
from its practical workings all the modifca-
tions which the public interests may require.
Various changes have been proposed, but
owing to causes to which l need not spe-
cially refer, none of them have been approx
ed in the manner prescribed by the consti-
tuition. The form of the proposition sub
mitted at the recent election for annual ses-
sions of the Legislature, in being coupled
with condition for biennial elections, is be-
lieved, to have prevented fair expression
of the opinion of the people upon the ques-
ton of the expediency of annual sessions.
submit the question to your considera-
tion, respectfully recommending an amend
ment of the constitution, providing for lin
tied annual sessions and annual elections.
l invite your attention also to the subject
of the unequal representation in both