Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-01-12
,GWYiERNoR,S MEtsA GI,jEI...l



sovereignty Of the State, have commit
ted to you, for the fifth biennial period
.hnderthe existing Constitution, the leg.
islative authority Of the Common " ealth
Upon this first secular day OF the new
year you assume the great function
thus assigned to you, and enter upon
the performance Of your important du-
Ties. a.i
Powers Of government, delegated by
lhe people Of free States to chosen Rep.
tesentatives, whether Legislative. Judi.
tial or Executive, are sacred trusts
The people Who honor, by such proofs
Sf confidence, those whom they select
Ter employment in public functions,
have clear right to expect from them
hdei.tyy veal, and uuremitting diligence
in the prohio,ibn OF the public good =
Having confded, by election, the pow
ers Of government to c,tizens of their
choice, s,hey return to their respective
iavocations trusting confidently that all
pablic..interests aud public rights will
be diligently promoted and faithfully
guarded, and that each individual will
be fully protected by equal laws and
impartial administration, while contrib
u,ihg, 10 his sphere, to the general good
by private thrift How weigh,y the
obligation which such Confidence must
lmeSss On right minded men How
deep and earnest the solictude which
all true hearted representatives must
ieet, that neither by remissness, nor by
indifference, nor by abuse, the Iust ex.
kestNtisns Of agenerous people may be
disappbinted. r.oi .ss'I :.
NO extraordinary changes in the con.
dition of The State have occurred du.
ring the past year. Private and public
affairs have gradually recovered from
ihe depressing effects OF financial revul.
sion and official delinquency. Health
hns tnvigorated and sustained the ener-
gies", Of Industry. The labors Of the
field, though frustrated in several coun.
ties as to important crops, by the severe
aad unusual frosts Of June, have. never.
theless, been rewarded by harvest
fully equal, in the Stale at large,to those
of ordinary, years. In mining, manu-.
:fastsripg. and commercial, as we l.as in
agricultural pursuits, improved machi.
merry and processes, augmented capital.
, Increased numbers OF laborers, have
yielded proportionately increased re.
Sums. Institutions Vi Religion, Edu'
+, cation and Charity, whether organized
9 BY tl.e. voluntary zeal of individuals OF
the wise providence Of the State, have
IN full Ineasdrs 10 imp owe.
!; ineuts, .neIioralion aud progress. Solid
growth. substantial prosperity, and Sd.
ciaf order, distinguish aliAe the cundi.
tion OF the State aud the people, and
demand grateful Acknowledgements IL
ihs Supreme. Disposer Of events, whose
blessing alone gives real value to the
results Of human labor ami huHan wis.
! dvm. uu.I .as.trr. .-.. .... ......
The sixth general valuation of reai
property has taken place during the
b past. year, aud will, naturally, di'
rect Your attention to our material
resources as thus exhibited, and theil
? relations 10 the general cor!dltion of ,lfe
The theory of,taxation, settled by the
iConstiiutionasnf sanctioned by genera
10 approval, requires that ull property o
whatever d, scrlplion, shall contribute tt
necessary public expenses in exact pro
portion TO value, The exceptions to tn,
= practicaf application Of the rule, admi,
Ted by the Constitution and by law, ar,
Of pro, ,,ertics belonging to individual
mol exceeding fifty dollars iii value, an,
properties belonging to the counties
the State and the Onion, or held an,
p, used exclusively, under public authority
for educational. religious and cnarita
! bic purposes.
In order TO give practical effect to tn
Intention Of the Constitution, provision
has been made BY law tor periodical
r. valuations. AN lands and town lot
whateverj subject TO taxation, are re
qviped 20 be valued once in six years
i4hils lana recently become taxable, be
ling for the most part, lands sold by th
Federal Government Of the State, IL
/, .gstbsr with all recent improveni o.
lands, and all non exempt persona
psSper.y,' mas, be valued annually.
:, -6s These appraisements, direcled to b
made at,the true value in money, vii
exhibit, if the law be, intelligently an
Z labhIuliy executed, the progressive in
Grease or, diminution Of wealth in tn
: State, and In each locality, with appro,
innate correctness.
Some deductions and some addition
must be made on account of hat proT
erty which is taxed more than once
different forms, and of that which, thr,
the negligence Of assessors, or IN spit
of their vigilance, will, under ever
system OF TAXATION, escape just contr
button. y Some additions must also
made to the Official appraisenents, 0
account The disparity which is alway
found 10 exist between the average a
sessment ani the average market vAlu
oo II 10 to be remembered, also. that valu
'sg tions must always De effected necess
rily by the general circumstances of Il
county. Ia a time Of extraordinal
apparent prosperity and general expa
sion, valuations may be too high in
time Of revulsion and great depressic
NNIfl-. K. u A.