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

maintained as the bulwarks OF personal
liberty. In The faithful Observance Of hei
contracts, the State has furnished an ex
ample Of the sacred regard in which al
obligations should be held by the citizen
while by refusing, under the most solemn
sanctions, to appropriate private propert,
TO her use without making Just compen
sation IN money to the owner, she illustrate
her wise purpose Of protecting the proper
~ rights Of the citizen against whateve
invasion to his pecnniary damage.
The pledge Of the ordinance on the sub
juct of education has been faithfully redeem
ed. 1t was made part of the Constitu
tion of 1902, and is repeated in the Consti
tuition of 1850.
In 1925, the corner stone Of our frel
school system was laid. One thirty -sixtl
part Of the soil of the State had been con
secrated by Congress forever to its support
Although this muni6cent fund may moi
have been altogether judiciously managed
it has yet been nobly instrumental in the
diffusion Of learning, not merely primary
but comparatively liberal, among the youth
of the State, aud, aided by the pledge in
our Constitution, which | cannot doubt,
will be faithfully observed, requiring 'the
General Assembly to make such provisions
by taxation or otherwise, as with the in
come arising from the school trust fund will
secure a thorough and efficient system of
common schools through the State" the
future history Of our State will be adorned
by even greater achievements, than the past,
gratifying and honorable as they have been
for the promotion of popular education,
aud through it the public welfare.
But, however efficient have been these
causes in advancing the material, intellect
ual and moral growth of our State, we can
not and ought not to conceal from ourselves
that, unaided by that other noble provision
of the ordinance which forever barred the
territories against slaves, they would have
been impotent for the accomplishment Of
the stupendous results to which | have so
imperfectly referred.
This was the pre-eminently distinguishing
feature of that Incompatible instrument. =
1t was the first solemn dedication of nation
al territory to the rights of universal hu.
man freedom. 1t was the first national
declaration, in practical form, condemnato-
ry of slavery as a social Institution. 1t
was the inauguration of the policy, logical
ly resulting from the principles of the De-
claration Of Independence, and approved
by all the States of the confederacy, to for
ever exclude slavery from the national do
main, and to discourage its existence every
where within the jurisd cton of the United
States, not in conflict with the rights of the
slaveholding States. 1t was, in effect, a
moral pledge to the world, that as its franz
ers and their compatriots, had by a long,
arduous and herioc struggle, emancipated
themselves and their country from the po-
litical slavery prepared for them by an op-
presslve government, so, under our federal
system, such laws and constitutions should
be established in our national territories as
would fully recognize aud sacredly guard
the rights of human nature.
And surely it will not be denied, that to this
original and persistent exclusion of slavery we
are chiefly Indebted for our rapid growth as
State for our individual and social wealth and
comforts our varied aud extensive agriculture
and manufactures, our profitable commerce, our
achievements in all the useful arts, our humane
civilization and the love of freedom SO uuiver-
sal among the people
Had slavery been established here, our popu-
latiOn and resources would not be one half
what they are. In that case, we would not
boast of our almost uuriValed triumphs in eve
ry branch Of material development of our ex-
tenslve system of internal improvements of
our colleges and universities, our free common
schools our asylums and other public charities
which crown our State with such distinguished
honor aud illustrate-in such attractive forms
the superiority OF free over forced labor, for
all the just purposes of social and government
al organization.
Upon you, Senators and Representatives and
your successors will deyolve, 10 large part, the
grateful task of providing by suitable legisla-
tion Tor the future growth of the State, aud to
preserve in their full yigor, as vital elements of
our political aud social system, the Just and hu-
rnane principles to which have referred
10 you belong the sovereign functions of
legislation. Upon you devove the response
bllties Of enactiug laws regulating the rights OF
property OF prescribing and enforcing all du-
ties arising out OF the domestic and social rela-
tlons OF regulating elections, and preserving
The purity oil the elective franchise of estab.
lishing laws Tor the encouragement of agricul-
ture' and all useful arts ; for the organization
and discipline OF the militia for the education
oil the youth, the support of the poor and the
relief OF the afflicted of providing for the
payment OF the State debt, aud for sacredly
preserving the public faith, and of enacting all
other laws, for securing civil rights, and defend
ing the honor Of the State.
Fer the exercise of these supreme powers of
the State, the people ever extend generous
condolences to their chosen representatives.
The Executive forms no part of the legisla-
live authority. he exercises no control over
legislation. His duties are TO see that the laws
are faithfully executed and TO recommend to
the consideration Of the General Assembly
such measures as he may think adapted to pro.
mote the public welfare
II will not be expected Of me, at this time, to
eaii your attention TO many matters of Iegisla-
ton. Let me briefly refer to few
Ihe existing legislation Oh the subject of the
hscal relations OF our State and local govern.
menis' without requiring radical change. needs
q oe'ler adjustment OF details Our taxes far
state ana local purposes are very burdensome
aud more onerous on account Of the large amonn,
OF taxable property that escapes the vigilance
OF the assessor. The laws should be- mors
searching, so as to subject all the non.exempt
property, OF whatever description, to its inst
proportion Of the burdens of taxation.
respectfully suggest the expediency of
thorough revision Of the laws relating 10 this
entire subject, and particularly of those more
directly affecting our local governments to the