Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-01-12
Governors Message.

Governors Message.
EsAlor-C Caizcas of the Senate
and House of Representatives
The peopIe. with whom Is the sole sovereign
ty of the State, have committed to you, for th,
fifth biennial period under the existing Const
tuition, the Legislative authority of the Common
wealth. Upon the first secular day of the new
year you assume the great function thus as
signed 10 you, and enter upon the performanc,
of your important daties. Il
Powers Of government, delegated th'
people of free States to choose Representative
whether Legislative. Judicial or Executive, ar.
sacred trusts The people who honor, by s1cf
proofs of confidence, those whom they selec
for employment in public functions, have /;
clear right to expect from them fidelity, zeal
and unremitting diligence in the promotion o
the public good. Having confidence, by election
the powers of government to citizens OF theil
choice, they return to their respective ayoca-
tions trusting confidently that all public il
terest and public rights viii be diligently pro-
NOTED and faithfully guarded, and that eacf
individual win be fully protected by equal laws
and impartial administration, while contributing
in his sphere. TO the general good by private
thrift. How weighty the obligations which such
How deep and earnest the tolicitude which all
true-hearted representatives must feel that
neither by remissness, nor by indifference. nor
by abuse. the just expectations Of a generous
people may be disappointed
No extraordinary changes in the condition OF
the State have occurred during the past year
Private and public affairs have gradually recoy-
cred from the depressing effects Of financial re-
vulsion and official delinquency. Health has
inyigoraf, and sustained The energies of indus
try. The labors of the field, though frustrated
in several counties rs TO important crups by The
severe and unusual frost Of June, have. never
theless. been rewarded by harvest fully equal
in the Stale at large, to those of ordinary years.
In mining, manufacturing. and commercial, as
well as in agricultural pursuits. improved ma
ohinery and processes, augmented capital, and
increaced numbers of laborers, have yielded
increased returns. Institutions
Of Religion. Education, and Charity. whether
organized or the voluntarily zeal of individuals
OF the wise providence of the State, have con-
iributed, in full measure, to improvement, NELL
Grafton and progress. Solid growth. substan-
tial prosperity, and social order, distinguish
alike the condition of the State and the people,
and demand grateful Acknowledgements to the
Supreme Disposer of events whose blessing
alone gives real value te the results of human
labor and human wisdom.
The sixth general valuation Of real property
has taken place during the past year, and will,
naturally, direct your attention TO our material
resources as thus exhibited, and their relations
n the general condition of the State.
Tie theory of taxation, settled by the Con-
stiiuiion and sanctioned by general approval,
that all property of whatever descrip-
tion. shall contribute 10 necessary public ex-
penses in exact proportion TO value. The ex-
eeptions to the practical application of the rule
admitted by the Constitution and by law, are
Of properties belonging to individuals not ex-
eeeding fifty dollars In value. and properties
belonging 10 the counties, the State, and the
Union. or held and used exclusively under pub
Lie authority for educational religious ard char
table purposes.
In order to give practiced effect TO the intcn-
ton OF the Constitution, provision has been
made BY law for periodical valuations. All
lands and town lots whatever, subject to taxa
ton, required to be valued once in six years;
while lands recently become taxable. being for
the most part, lands sold by the Federal Gov
eminent or the Ssate, together with all recent
on lands, and all non-exempt per-
sonal property. must be valued annually.
These appraisements, directed to be made at
The true ralne in money, will exhibit, if the
law be intelligcntly and faithfully executed, the
increase or diminution of wealth in
the State, and in each locality, with approx
mate correctness.
Some deductions and some additions must be
made on account Of that property which is tax
I'd more than once in different forms, and of fha;
which, through the negligence of assessors, or
in spite of their vigilance, will, under every
Iystem of taxation, escape Just contribution
additions b,..f IN he
,ppraisements, on account of the disparity
which is always iound to exist between the av-
rrage assessment and the average market value
1t is to remembered, also, that valuations must
also be effected necessarily by the general cir
cumstances of the country. In time of ex-
Irsordinary apparent prosperity and general
expansion, valuations may be too high; and in
, time Of revulsion and great depression will
almost certainly be too low. with the corree-
ions suggested by these considerations tho val
nations of each year, and especially of zach
sixth year viii supply the means of fascertaining.
vith some reasonable approximation TO aecura-
y, the actual amount Of property within, the
State.
Nearer approaches TO absolute exactness will
doubtless be constantly made, as experience
hall suggest more perfect legislation, and clear
r appreciation of the duties enjoined by it shall
,nn,ssenenfs Eyerv cit citizen and every asses. .,s
,or should bear in mind that the assessment Of
,roperty at its true value does not increase tbe
,,pount of taxes TO be paid bv proprietors. If /
he aepreeate amouuf of nroperty Is aue,nepted
" correct assessmeut. the total taxation need
,ot be affected. ior the rates NAV be diminished.
Correct assessmepts. az real value will alone
.,nre tbe eop;tahia .nnor,iopnent of nublic
,urdeus among tbe ncon5e Whoever Therefore
auses his nronertv 10 be listed At less than act
,,I y.l,,e ars3.s I;s inst share of nnhl;c contri-
- HAS >'of SA''s.S v