Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-01-14
Governors Message.

collectl0n, sate-keeplng anu ulsouISemehI VI
revenue will necessarily command your at
tenton. The first consideration, without
doubt, in every discussion concerning pub
lie moneys, is safety. If safety can be
combined with general convenience and ad-
va age, few will question the wisdom OF
tn combination. Such a combination, in
my Judgment, may be obtained by provid-
ing for the payment of all dues to the State,
in coin or the notes Of the specie paying
Banks of Ohio by authorizing the selec-
tion Of depositaries by the State Treasurer
under suitable guards and restrictions, aud
by requiring ample and unquestiouahle Sc
curity for prompt payment OF all deposits,
on demand, in specie or specie notes. No
interest should be taken on deposits except
for the State All use Of public moneys
by public officers, and oil attempts to Sc
cure in any way, private advantage from
the deposit or other disposition of public
funds, should be strictly prohibited under
the severest penalties.
Such system will approach as nearly
to the Independent Treasury of the FEEDER
oil Government as a due regard to the wei
fare of the people will admit; and much
nearer, in my opinion, than the system re-
Gently adopted. The act of 1858, by which
that system was introduced, contains many
useful provisions but their value is great
ly impaired by its virtual sanction of the
receipt of whatever the several County
Treasurers may choose to take 10 payment
of taxes; by the absence of all provisions
in relation to the exchange of funds; and
by its omission to require bonds to the sat
isfaction Of State officers for the safe-keep-
ing and transfer of moneys belonging to
the State. tn the practical execution Of
the act the County Treasurers have gener-
ally received for taxes whatever was cur
rent in their counties, and in some instances
it is said, checks of individuals on Banks
in their vicinity, and have made such ex-
changes Of the funds received for coin or
other funds, as the public interest seemed
to require. That in this action they were
governed by considerations of public con-
venience and public duty, is not questioned.
The action itself, however, reveals the de-
fective character of the law When bank
notes are received in payment of taxes,
and retained in the Treasury, the banks is
suing them, whether foreign or domestic,
are made the real depositaries of the pub
lie funds, without interest and without Sc
curity So, where checks of private citi-
zens are received, those citizens, so long as
their checks are held, are constituted such
depositares The virtual requirements BY
the act of the exchange of currency for
other currency can hardly fail to give oc-
csson to dangerous dealing with the pub
lie funds. The act, therefore, seems to me
to fail of its intent. Under it deposit
system of the most unsafe description may
grow up, and the use of public funds for
private benefit can hardly be prevented
Everything must depend on the integrity
of the State and County Treasurers.
see no way of escape from these diff
culties, except by substituting for this sys-
ten Of indirect deposits and hazardous ex-
change, thoroughly guarded plan for the
direct deposit of all moneys received, with
out exchange, with selected depositaries
from whom ample securities have been re
quired and taken; or by the adoption, in
full, of the Federal system, providing for
the appointment of Sub -Treasurers, requir-
ing from them ample bonds, and prohibit
ng the receipt, for public dues, of anything
out coin, or, at most specie notes Of Ohio
banks Even such notes could not be receiv-
ID without constituting the banks, to the ex-
ent of such receipts, public depositaries
without security. OF two such alternatives
Is these, it can hardly be doubted that, un-
Ter existing circumstances, the former will
'eceive the approval of the people.
In former communications, / have re-
,eaiedy recommended to legislative con-
adertion the interests of our Agriculture.
Of the entire products OF the State, two
birds are from the farms. OF the entire
wealth of the State, more than half is in
arms. Ofthe entire taxation of the State,
more than half is paid by farmers. To pro-
ect their interests and promote their pros
,erty, must necessarily be prominent OBJ
ects of wise legislation. Suggestions in
elation to these objects, mertlng careful
consideration, will be found in the Agricul-
ural Report aud in the Resolutions of the
State Board of Agriculture. Permit me,
Ilso, to renew suggestion heretofore made,
# additional provisions for premiums to be
offered in the State and County Agricultur-
i Societies. And may not add that the
aud completion of the Geologi-
al Survey of the State, with special refer
nee to agriculture and mining could not
all to benefit all interests connected with
he soil
An act of the last General Assembly directs the judges of
lection 70 reject the y9tss Of persons who may appear to