The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-18


browning gift. of the Congress of the old cor
federation to the country. Nobiy did its frs
mers illustrate, in its matehless provisions ft
guarding the rights and promoting the happ
ness OF the people, their sagaciaus forecast an
Iexalted patriotism. @ ~.
1t established the fundamental principles {
civil and religious liberty as the basis OF a
our laws. constitutions and governments; prJ
yided for the freedom of person under tb
protection of the habeas corpns and trial b
Juries to be impartially selected made tn
encouragement of schools and advancing th
means OF education high and binding dut
of government. on the plain reason, that re
lgion morality and kDo Wedge, are necessar
to good government and to the happiness Z
mankind established the inviolability of cor
tracts, and the security of private property
prevented the lingering remnants of feudalit
from taking root in eur soil, and proclaimed
and defended the rights of labor, and of hu
manity by forever excluding slavery from th
territory. 5 sIlQ 1aF
TO these noble principles the people of Obi
have ever been true. ss0dr legislation has neve
been marred by prescription for religious ouii,
ions. nor any political privilege denied becaus
OF the birthplace of the citizen. The invio
liability of the person of the inhabitant bas
been always defended, and the habeas cornu
and trial by jury, maintained as the bulwark
OF personal liberty. In the faithful observance
of her contracts, the State has furnished al
Example of the sacred regard 10 which all oh
legations should be held by the citizen, Will,
BY refusing, under the most solemn sanctions
to appropriate private property to her use
without making a just compensation in money
to the owner, she illustrates her wise purpose
OF protecting the property--ghts of The citi
zen against whatever invasion TO his pecunia
Try damage. go @ | af
The pledge of the ordinance on the subject
OF education has been faithfully redeemed Il
was made a part of the Constitution of 1902
and is repeated in the Constitution of 1850
"a In 1928, the corner stone of our free school
system was laid. One-sixth part of the soil
of the State had been consecrated by Con
gress forever to its support Although this
munifcent fund may not have been altogether
JudIciously managed. it has yet been nob,y in
strumental in the diffusion of learning. not
merely primary, bnt comparatively liberal.
among the youth of the State, and, aided by
the pledge in our Constitution, which can,
not doubt will be faithfully observed, reqniring
"the General Assembly to make such provis
ions by taxation or otherwise, as with the in
come arising from the school trust will secure
thorough and efficient system of common
schools throughout the State" the future his
tory OF our State will be adorned By even
greater achievements. than the past, gratifying
and honorable as they have been, for the pro
motion OF popular education, and through it
the public welfare @'-t
But. however efficient have been these
causes il advancing the material, intellectual
and moral growth of our State we cannot
and ought not to conceal from our.elyes that
unaided by that other noble provision of The
ordinance which forever barred the territories
against slaves, they would have been impo
tent for the accomplishment of the stupendous
results to which have so imperfeetly referred.
This was the pre-eminently distinguishing
feature OF that Incompatible instrument III
was the first solemn dedication of national
territory to the rights of human freedom. II
was the first national declaration, in practical
form, condemnatery of slavery as q social in
stitution. Il was the inauguration of tie pol
ICY logically resulting from the principles ofI
the Declaration of Independence. and approy
ed BY all the States of the Confederacy, to
forever exclude slavery from the national do
main, and to discourage its existence every
where within the jurisdiction of the United
States, not 10 conflict with the rights of slave,
holding States. 1t was, in effect, moral
pledge to the world, that as its trainers and
their compatriots. had By long, arduons and
heroic struggle. emancipated them elves aud
their country from the political slavery pre-.
pared for them by an oppressive government,
SO, under onr federal system. such laws and
constitutions should be established in our ma
tional territories as would fully recognize and
sacredly guard the rights of human nature.
And surely it will not, be denied, that to
this original aud persistent exclusion of slavery
we are chiefly indebted for our, rapid growth
as State; for our individual and social
wealth ahd comforts, our varied and extensive
agriculture and manufactures, our. profitable
commerce, our achievements 10 all the useful
arts, our humane civilization. and the love of
freedom so universal among the people.
Had slavery been established here, our pop
ulatIon and resources would not be one half
what they are In that case. we could not
boast OF our almost unrivaed triunphs in
every branch OF material development; of
our extensive system ofinternal improvements;
OF our colleges and universities our free com
mon schools, our asylums and other public
charities which crown our State with such dis.
tipguished honor. and illustrate-in such at.
.ractlye forms-the superiority of free over
II
and government organization
Upon you, Senators and Representatives.
and your successors, will devolve, in large part.
The grateful task of providing by suitable LEG
station for the future growth of the State,
and to preserve in their full vigor, as vital
elements of our political aud social system,
the just and humane principles to which l k
have referred
10 you belong the sovereign functions of
Upon you devolve the responsi-
oiiiiies OF enaetlng laws regulating the rights
d property OF prescribing and enforcing all
luties arising out, OF the domestic and social
relations of regulating elections, and pre-
serving the purity of the elective franchise {
of establishing laws for the announcement of i
agriculture, and all useful arts for the or
,anization and discipline of the militia for {
'he education OF the youth, the support of the Q
Door, and the relief of the afflicted !; of pro.- s
riding for the payment of the State debt. and t
or sacredly preserving the public faith, and of r
,nacting allother laws for securing civil rights
md defending the honor of the State. q. ~ I
For the exercise of these supreme powers e
Vt the State, the people ever extend a gene. .
ons confidence to the chosen representatives. q
The Executive forms no part of the lepis- Il
atlve authority. He exercises no control 6
,ver legislation. His duties are to see that Il
he laws are faithfully executed, and torecom. 8
mend to the consideration OF the General As o
embly such measures as he may think adapt il
ID to promote the public welfare. 80 siar -
q IL will be expected of me, at this time. to q &
all your attention to many matters Of legisIa-
lion. Let me briefly refer to a few: 4
The existing legislation on the subject of e
ne hssal relations of our State and local gov 9
without requiring radical change, II
reeds better adjustment of details. s. Our p