The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-01-19

governed by considerations of public
convenience and public duty IS not
questioned The action ITSELF howov-
{ or, reveals the defective character of tho
, law. When bank notes are received in
+, payment of taxes, and retained in tho
Treasury, the banks issuing thcm
, whether foreign or domestic, are made
the real depositarios Of the public funds,
without interest and without security
So, Uhero checks Of private citizens are
received, those citizens, so long as their
checks are held, are constituted such
Idopositarios. The virtual requirement
by the act of the exchange of currency
for other currency can hardly fail 70
give occasion to dangerous dealing with
the public funds. The act therefore,
seems TO me to fail of its intent I'm
der it deposit system Of the most un-
safe description may grow up, and tho
use Of public funds for private benefit
can hardly be prevented. Everything
must depend on the integrity Of tho
State aud County Troasurers.
/ see no way of escape from these
difficulties, except by substituting for
this system Of indirect deposits and
hazardous exchange, a thoroughly
guarded plan for the direct deposit of
lall moneys received, without exchange,
with selected depositaries, from whom
ample securities have been required and
taken; or by the adoption, in full, of
| the Federal system, providing for the
appointment Of Sub -Treasurers, requi-
ring from them ample bonds, and pro
lhibiting the receipt, for public dues, of
lanything but coin, or, at most, specie
notes of Ohio banks. Even such notes
could not be received without constitu-
ting the banks, to the extent of such
receipts, public dopositaries without Sc
lcurity. OF two such alternatives as
these, it can hardly be doubted that, un
der existing circumstances, the former
! will receive the approval Of the people.
In former communications, l have
repeatedly recommended to legislative
consideration the interests Of our Ag-
riculturc OF the entire products of
the State, two-thirds are from the farms.
OF the entire wealth of the State, much
more than half is in farms. OF the en-
tire taxation of the State, much more
than half is paid by farmers. To pro-
tect their interests and promote their
prosperity, must necessarily be promi-
nent objects Of wise legislation. Sug-
gestions in relation to these objects,
meritng careful consideration, will be
found in the Agricultural Report and
+ in the Resolutions of the State Board
Of Agriculture. Permit me, also, to
renew a suggestion heretofore made, of
additional provisions for premiums to
be offered in the State and County Ag-
ricultural Societies. And may L not
add that the resumption and completion
of the Geological Survey of the State,
with special reference to agriculture
and mining, could not fail to benefit all
interests connected with the soil2
An act of the last General Assembly
directs the Judges of elections to reject
the votes of persons who may appear to
have a distinct and visible admixture of
African blood 1t is not very easy to
determine what is distinct admixture
Of that description Of blood, or when it
may be said to be visible. is quite
certain, however, nat it is beyond the
power Of the Legislature to enlarge or
abridgo the right Of suffrage defined by
the Constitution. BY that instrument
it is restricted to white male citizens
The question, who are included in the
description, is not for the Legislature,
but for the Courts. An attempt to de-
eide it by enactment must necessarily
be mischievous, both in itself and as
precedent. The act referred to is not
only such an attempt, but it gives TO
Judges Of elections, under a loose and
uncertain rule, large and dangerous
power, capable of being perverted to ex-
treme abuse. therefore recommend
its repeal
The Constitution declares that there
shall be no slavery in this State, nor
involuntary servitude, except for pun
ishment of crime To give effect to
this provision and to arrest the practice,
becoming common through impunity,
, Of seizing and taking out Of the State,
without any warrant or process Of law,
+ persons claimed ms fugitives from SER
, vice, though often, in fact, free, rec
! ommeud the re-enactmont Of the acts
repealed by the last General Assembly,
prohibiting slaveholding and kidnap-
ping in Ohio, and securing more effect
ually the benefits Of the writ Of habeas
corpus
u -Four years since, the military force
Of the State was thoroughly disorgani-
zed. The public arms-a large prop
? erty-were scattered through the coun-
ties, and in danger Of total loss. No
|. adequate security, in the form Of bonds
or otherwise, protected tho State against
7 that hazard. The laws made no sufi-
cient provision, either for discipline or
, organization This condition Of things
; naturally attracted the attention Of the
General Assembly, and successive laws
t have been enacted, designed to remedy
existing evils Under these laws, cou-
siderable quantities of arms have been
j collected, aud either sold, If useless, or
{ if worth repair, made ht for sorvico.-
A respectable force of volunteers has
/ been organized and oficered, aud, as
far as practicable, disciplined. This
5 force nov constitutes a 6tting nucleus
o for au organization entirely competent
e / TO an probable emergencies As law is