The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-01-18

The reports from the proper officers show
that through the want of such a system here
tofore, the State has lost more than 5000, 900
In value of the arms received from the United
States. A proper State Arsenal, and such d.
rect aid to tAe citizen soldier, under stringent
limitations, as would practically defray the
actual expense of keeping 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 COM
maui a small and we'll disciplined force, sufi-
elently large to give weight to the sanctions of
ktw, and prove a sufficient nucleus for any ne
eessary increase.
Others have embraced the plan suggested,
and the counsels of the Fathers of the Re-
public unite with the concurrent action of the
majority OF the State Legislatures to pro
nounce a we'll regulated militia, which is from
ami OF the people, to be one of the surest
safeguards for the enforcement of law, the
maintenance of order, and the perpetuation of
those personal rights which are our chief re-
lance, 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 l would
recommend to your early consideration the
completion of the geological survey of this
State, which has been too long suspended. l
doubt not its Importance to the 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 amendments
Of that Instrument az, 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 / need not specially
refer, none of them have been approved in
the manner prescribed by the Constitution.
The form of the proposition submitted, at the
recent election, for annual sessions of the Leg
~islature, in being coupled with a condition for
biennial elections, is believed to have prevent
cd q fair expression Of the. opinion Of the peo-
pie upon the question of the expediency Of
annual sessions.
ksubmit the question to your consideration,
respectfully recommending an amendment of
the Constitution, providing for limited annual
sessions and annual elections.
invite your attention, also, to the subject
Of the unequal Representations in both branches
efthe General Assembly, resulting from the
system of single, dual and plural election dis
tricts, provided by the Constitution, for the
purpose of recommending to your favorable
consideration an amendment of the Constitu.
tion, establishing a uniform system of single
election districts, which should be based solely
upon population. Such a plan of apportion.
ment seems to me to be alike required by a
logical regard to the theory of our form OF
government, the security of the people at
large against the undue control of particular
sections Of the State, and for the just protec-
ton Of minorlties against the power Of ma,
j~orities in the more populous counties.
The geographical position of our State for
ever identities her destiny with that of the
great valley of the West. Whatever may af-
feet the growth or prosperity Of this highly
favored region, must be of interest to us
Among the objections which have long attract.
ed the anxious attention of the people of the
West, and which they justly regard as of par.
amount Importance to their material progress
is the improvement of the Ohio and Missis
sippi Rivers and our Lake harbors.
/ invite your attention to this Important
subject fer the purpose of respectfully re-
questing your earnest application to Congress:
to adoptsuch measures, and to make such ap
preparations from the National Treasury, al
will be commensurate to the removal of The
distinctions to the navigation of these great
highways, and to the needed improvement O.
these important depots of Western
When we consider the magnitude of the re
glen directly. interested in the navigation o.
these rivers, and our Western lakes. embracing
a territorial extent of nearly 100000 square
miles, a territorial supsrfces greater than tn,
entire extent Of the original thirteen States
comprising eleven States and two Territories
and parts of three other States, with a popu
lation of ct least thirteen millions, and but lit
tie less than one-half Of the entire population
Of the United States-we may well express oul
arnazement at the unwise and illiberal policy
Of Congress, so long and perseveringly persist
ed in, of refusing the necessary aid for disarln
ing of its dangers the navigation of these riv
ers, and for Increasing the safety of our lax,
harbprs.s
and our sense Of this injustice is not a lit
tie heightened, when We consider hat the PEG
pie of the States directly interested in thes,
improvements have paid largely to the Fedora
Government for the soil which they occupy
and cultivate, and are now, by their consump
tion OF tie foreign imports, contributing quit
If not fully, one-half of the annual revenue
Of the Government, while the national expen
aftures among them are comparatively trihins
We make no complaint because of the bounti
ful appropriations of Congress for the sui
veys and defenses of ths coast, for the i'm
prepayment of harbors, the erection of light
locses, and the various other purposes in al
Of the. navigation and commerce of the oceaI
but we do complain, that, while cheerfully sus
tanning our full proportion of the expenditure
for these purposes, for the benefit of one branc
of the national wealth and enterprise, a suita
BITE portion of the national treasure is not ez
pended for the protection of another branch
orr Western co,nmerce-rivaling in tunnag
the whole foreign of the Unite
States, its character equally national, and il
protection equally essential to the comma
benefit and advantage of all the States.
The time has arrived when the West will n
longer consent that her just demands upo
the Federal Government for the protection
her great interests shall be disregrdod. SL
is no longer a frontier, and will not patientl
be treated as such. She is the heart of til
Union, the center of population, its productio
and its consumption. From the great Twin
fountain of boundless resources the nation
.r,icbod and austaiued and upou them 4