The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-11
Governors Message.
FsllOw Citizens Of The Senate
N.fE and House Of Representatives.

reienty OF the State, have committed 10 you,
for the fifth biennial period under the exist.
ing Constitution, the legislative authority OF
the Commonwealth. Upon this first secu.
lar day Of the new year you assume the
great function thus assigned to you, and en-.
ter upon the performance Of your important
duties.
Powers OF government, delegated by the
people Of free States to chosen Representa-
tives, whether Legislative, Judicial or Exec.
utive, are sacred trusts. The people who
honor, by such proofs of confidence, those
whom they select for employ ment in public
functions, have clear right TO expect from
them fidelity, zeal, and unremi,tiDg diligence
in the promotion of the public good. Hav-
ing conided, by election, the powers Of go,
vernmeDt to citizens OF their choice, they
return to their respective ovocations trusting
confidently that all public interests and public
rights will be diligently promoted and faith.
fully guarded, and that each individual will
be fully protected by equal laws and an i'm.
partial administration, while contributing, in
his sphere, to the general good by private
thrift. How weighty the obligation which
such confidence must impose on right mind
ed men! How deep and earnest the solci
,ude which all true hearted representatives
must feel, that neither by remissness, nor by
Indifference, nor by abuse the just expecta.
tions of a generous people may be disop-
pointed
No extraordinary changes in the condition
OF the State have occurred during the past
wear. Private and public affairs have grad.
usllv recovered from the depressing effects
Of financial revulsion and official deirquen.
cy. Health has. invgorated and sustained
the energies Of industry. The lObors OF the
field. though frustrated in several counties
as to important crops, by the severe and
unusual frost OF June, have, nevertheless,
been rewarded by harvest fully equal, in
the State ct large, to those OF ordinary years.
In the mining, manufacturing, and CONNER
Oial, as we'll as in agricultural pursuits, i'm
p.oved machinery md processes, hgmented
c,pitsI, ard increased Numbers OF laborers,
hive Welded propottionally increased re
tuns. Institutions Of Religion, Education,
aod Charity, whether organized by the vol
uotsry zeal Of individuals or the wise provi
d.nce of the State, hive contributed, in full
measure, to improvement, meiiorstion and
prcpress. Solid growth, substantial pros
oeriiv, and social order, distinguish alike the
condition OF the State and the people, and
demand grateful acknowledged 10 the
Supre me diaposer OF events, whose blessing
alone gives real value to the results Of hu.
man labor nI human wisdom.
The aixth general vHlu"ticn of renl prop
er,y has taken place during the past year,
and will, naturally, direct your attention to
our mot, rial resources rs thus exhibited, and
their relations to the general conditicn Of the
Stale.
The theory Of ttxstion, settled by the
Constitution ard sanctioned by general ap.
prcysl, re quires that all properly of whatever
ieactip,ion, shall contribute to necessary
public expe nses in exact proportion to value.
The exceptions to the practical npplic' ton
of the rule, admitted by the Constitution and
by lew, are OF properties belonging to inoi'
viduals not exceeding fifty dollars in value
and the properties belonging 10 the counties
the State, and the Union, or held and used
exclusively under public authority, for edu-
cational, religious ard charitable purposes.
In order to give practical effect to the in.
tens,on O. the Constitution, provision has
been made bv law for periodical valuations
All lands and town lots Whatever. subject to
tsxa,ion, ore required to be valued once in
elk years; while lands recently become tax
able, being for the most part lands sold BY
the Federal G, vernment or the State, to
oether with all recent Improvements or
lnnds, and all nom xempt personal property
mu,t be valued annually.
These oppraise ments, direc ted TO be mode
at the true value in money, will exhibit, i
the low be intellgenty and faithfully exc
cuted, the progressive increase or diminutor
of wealth in the Sttte, ard in each locality
with approximate correctness:
Some deductions and some additions mus
be made on account of that property which
is taxed more than once in different forms
and of that which, through the negligence o
assessors, or in spite of their vigilance, will
under every system OF taxation, escape jus
contribution. Some additions must also bt
made to the oficial apprOisements, on &c
count OF the disparity which is always toun'
to exist between the iveroge assessment an
the average market value. 1t is TO be re
membered, also, that valuations must ais
be effected necessarily by the general cir
cumstanc of the country. In time Q
extraordinary apparent prosperity and gene
rel expansion, valuations mey be too high
end in time OF revision and great depress
ion will almost certainly be too low. Wit
the corrections suggested by these consider
atiops, the valuations of ench year, end es
peeislly of every sixth year, will supply tn
mems OF sscertainiDg, with some reasonabl
approximation to accurscy,ihe actual amour
Of property within the State.
Nearer approaches to absolute eXactnes
will doubtless be constantly made, os expe
rience shall .uegest more perfect Legislation
and clearer appreciation OF the duties -erjoin
ed by il shall secure more complete On
faithful lis,ings and ndspPraisements. Ever
citizen ani every. aseeseor should bear i
mind that The assessment OF property at it
true value does not increase the emount {
uxes to be paid by prop'ietors. If the ag
Rregste amount OF property is augmented b
core CT assess meDt, the total taxation nee
not be effected, ior the rates mey be dimir
ished. Correct ssse Sc ments, at real valu'
will alone secure the equitable apportfor
ment Of public burdens among the people
Whoever, therefore, causes his property
be listed ot less Than eCtuol value, eVade
bis lust share of public contribution, on
upjps,ly increases the proportions OF his fe
low:citizens. u-. a.,....
a succinct account Of the vaTltu systeu
OF ixsiion, adopted in this State, and Ii
Valuations msde, will illustrate these obser
slioDs, and enable you The better to unde
s.end our present condition. ...,. B..
- For many years no provision for gener
vH1nslion constituted part OF The revenl
svstem OF Ohio. All lands were classed
6ss,. second or third rate, and taxes for Ii
rsLII.a. ! & .A~ Ctaeo Unv NJ nmenf wepa Paiae