Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-01-18

tlking root in our soil, and proclaimed,
and defended the rights of labor, and hu-
manity, by forever excluding slavery from
the territory.
To these noble principles the people of
Ohio have ever been true Our legislation
has never been marred by prescription for
religious opinions nor any political privilege
denied because of the birthplace of the
citiz;n The inviolability of the person of
J the inhabitants has been always defended.
and the habeas corpus and trial by jury.
maintained as the bulwarks of personal
} liberty. In the faithful observance of her
contracts, the State has furnished an ex-
, ample of the sacred regard in which all
obligations should be held by the citizen.
; while by refusing, under the most solemn
sanctions, to appropriate private property
to her use without making just cOmpen-
sation in money to the owner. she illustrates
her wise purpose of protecting the property
rights of the citizen against whatever inva-
sion to his pccuniary camage.
| The pledge of the ordinance on the sub
ject of education has been faithfully re-
deemed; 1t was made part of the Con-
stitution of 1902. anu is repeated in the
Constitution of 1850.
/ In 1925, the corner stone of our free
school system was laid. One thirty-sixth
part of the soil of the State had been con-
secrated by Congress forever to its support
Although this munifcent fund may not
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. and. aided by the pledge in
our Constitution. which | cannot doubt
will be faithfully observed, requiring 1.-The
General Assembly to make such provisions
by taxations or otherwise. as with the in
come arising from the school trust fund
will secure 4 thorough and efficient system
of common schools throughout 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. and through it the public welfare.
But. however efficient have been these
causes in advancing the material. intellect
ual aud moral. growth of our State, We
cannot and ought not to conceal from our
selves. that unaided by that other noble
provisi IN of the ordinance which forever
barred the territories against slaves. they
would have been impOtent for the accom-
plishment of the stupenduous results to
which | have SO imperfectly referred.
This was the pre-eminently distinguish
ing fcatuIe of that incompatible instru-
ment 1t was the first solemn dedication
of national territory to the rights of uni
yersal human freedom. 1t was the first
national declaration, in practical form,
condemnatOry of slavery as a social institu,
ton. 1t was the Inauguration of the poll
cy. logically resulting from the princip pies of
the Declaration of Independence, and ap-
proved by all the States of the cOnfedcracy,
to forever exclude slavery from the national
domlin. and to discourage its existence
every where within the jurisdiction of the
United States, not in conflict with the
rights OF tn eslave holding States. 1t was,
in effect, moral pledge to the world, that
as its trainers and their compatriots, had
by long. arduous and herioc struggle,
emancipatcl them selves and their country
from the political slavery prepared for them
by an oppressive government, so, under our
federal system. such laws and constitutions
should be established in our national ter
ritories as would fully recognize and
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 a State; for our individual and
social wealth and comforts. our varied and
extensive agriculture and manufactures, our
profitable commerce, our achievements in
all the useful arts, our humane civilization,
and the love of freedom so universal among
the people
Had slavery been established here, our
population and resources would not be one
half what they are. In that case, we
would not boast of our almost unrivaled
triumphs in every branch of material de- /.
velopment; Of our extensive system of in
ternal improvements; of colleges and uni /
versities. our free common schools, our asy-
lums and other public charities which /
crown our State with such distinguished 1
honor, and illustrate-in such attractive
forms-the superiority of free over forced
labor, for all the just purposes Of social and 4
governmental organization
Upon you, Senators and Representatives |
and your successors. will devolve, in large
part, the grateful task of providing by suit
able legislation for the future growth of the
State, and to preserve in their full vigor,
as vital elements of our political and social
system, the just and humane principles to
which have referred.
To you belong the sovereign functions of
legislation. Upon you devolve the respon-
si6iiities of enacting laws regulating the
rights of property; of prescribing and en-
forcing all duties arising out of the domes-
tie and social relations; of regulating elec-
tions and preserving the purity of the eicc-
tive franchise; of establishing laws for the
encouragement Of agriculture, and all use
ful arts. for the organization and discipline
of the militia; for the education of the youth
lhS ouppVAl VI tuC iOOFs anu lHc ESllet VI
the afflicted; of providing for the payment
of the State debt. and for sacredly preserv-
ing the public faith, and of enacting all
other laws. for securing civil rights, and
the honor of the State
For the exercise of these supreme pow
ers of the State, the people ever extend
generous confidence to their chosen repre-
The Executive forms no part of the leg
islative 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 promote the public
welfare.
1t will not be expected of me, at this
time, to call your attention to many matters
of legislation. Let me briefly refer to few.
The existing legislation on the subject
of the fiscal relations of our State and local
governments without requiring a radical