The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1860-01-26

and House OF Representatives.;
appesr before you to take the oath which
the Constitution prescribes as necessary quail
ifica tion 10 perform the duties of the Chief Exc.
cutive Office OF our State, to which | have been
called; aud avail myself OF the occasion now
presented. to express my grateful thanks to my
fellow. citizers tor the favor with which they
have been pleased to look toward me, and in
compliance with usage sanctioned by the ex-
ample of my predecessors, to declare briefly, the
principles that will guide Inc in the discharge
of my official trust.
Ny immediate predecessor has communica-
ted 10 YOU theeCondiiion of the State, with the
eminent ability aud fidelity that have character
lied all OF his official acts.
may well congratu ate you upon the gratify-
ing evidences he has furnished of the grow tn and
greatness OF our State. The history of no other
political community has been marked by more
wonderful progress in all the elements of benifi
ceut civilization. Oar condition is at once
prosperous, commanding and happy.
Lutte more than halt a century has elapsed
since we passed from territorial to a Stale gov
ernment. The number OF our inhabitants did
not at that time exceed fifty thousand he
State was au almost unbroken Wilderness
What have we noe accomplished snce'
We have created and reared up civil institu
tiers, and onImrnts of pubic spirit aud social
the work of centuries. Our Population has in.
creased fifty fold, aud we rank among the first
States oil the Union iu wealth, aud d nifty, and
power
/ We have cleared the forest from many mill
ions of ucres, reclaimed the soil from the domn-
ion OF nature, aud subjected it to such course
CT profitable husbandry as to supply an annual
! surplus ot agricultural products OF not less than
! fifty millions OF dollars IN value Wehaveerec-
! -,
and opened excellent thoroughlarcs in nearly
every part of the State. When almost in our
infancy, comparatively poor, and with an un-
tried credit, we projected and speedily compile
| ted the construction OF our extensive system OF
canals. and slackwater navigation in our ineri-
or rivers II cost of over fifteen millions of dot
lars. We have built. almost entirely by private
capital, more than three thousand miles in leugth
OF railroads. at cost of over Que hundred mil
lions of dollars, which have greatly augmented
the public wealth. largely contributed to equal
izng the value OF lands in the different paris Of
the State, and vigorously encouraged the develop,
! ment of nearly every branch of useful employ
ment. We have Invested largely aud pro(tabiy
in mines and mining, aud in manufactures, all OF
which branches Of industry give promise OF such
IA steadily increasing prosperity, as will permc
nenily preserve to Ohio her place in the front
RANK OF the mining and manufacturing STATES Of
Tue " lllOl ONT ullil UtNlHdllDn lu
terests have kept equal pace with our agricl llu
raj, mining and manufacturing
We have done more We have adopted a
Wig lnat aud humane confinement aud disci pnc
ioI the vicious; have erected asylums Tor the
unfortunate which challenge the admiration of
the world; we have endowed colleges and uni
versiueS numerously and literally, aud organ
IL ID system OF schools for educating the youth
OF the State, which is justly our greatest pride.
Such are some of our riumphs. TO what
causes are we, under the favor of Providence
chiefly indebted for them?
Our geographical position, giving to us mild
and healthy climate. equally removed from the
severe cold OF the North, and the intense heat
OF the South, und peculiarly adapted TO vigo-
rouS labor in every form; the diversified charac-
ter of the surface OF the State, divided into up-
lands and lowands, hill ranges aud intervening
valleys, heavily timbered tracts and naked prai
ries which alternate IN a q amer the most ia vO-
rdbIe for tie productive interests OF life; the ex.
tent and unsurpassed fertility Of our soil, yell-
ing in perfection nearly all The agricultural sta
pies the most valued by cvillz d communities;
our exhauStless mineral treasures, aud natural
facilities for commerce aud navigation, " hich
by the genius AID Ell erprise of the people have
been so bountIlully tributary 10 our lth and
power-have been so potent aud Indispensable
agencies in the production or our marvellous
gtow.h, as not to be overlooked in how.ver
summary review Of its causes
But as inviting as they have been to labor aud
their multiplied auxiiories they would have
b9en comparatively Intellectual in popuating and
enrching our state, and in securing to us he So
cal advantages !OI which we are so eminently
distinguished but for The moral assistants b flor
ded in the wise provisions Of the organic act
under whose benign auspices the foundation OF
our territorial organization were laid, aud which
incorporated into our State Constitution as fun
ca mental principles of so, eminent, have BEEN
most effective in moulding our Institutions and
by furnishing the chart. III directing the progress
OF our legislation.
1t was appropriate that the ordinance of 1887
should have been the last as ii was the crownIug
gift, Of the Congress of The old confadera ion to
the country. NObly did its farmers illustrate,
IN It's matchless provisions Tor guarding the
rights and promoting the happiness OF the pto-
pie, their sagacious forecast and exalted patriot
ism. ..sr
L. established the fundamental principles of
civil an religious liberty as the b,sis of all our
laws, constitutions and governments; provided
for the freedom OF persons uRdrr the habeHS cor
puS and trial b. juries to be inparially selected,
male the encouragrm Of schools and ddvan-
eng the means OF education high and binding
duty OF government, in the plain reason, that re
igiop, morality ami knowledge, are necessary
TO good governm nj and to the happiness OF
mankind; established the invioldbihly of con
tracts, and the security of private property; pre-
vented the lingering remnants of ieadilry from
taking root in our soil, and proclaimed aud de
Tended the rights Of labor, aud OF humlnity by
lor ver excluding slavery from the territory.
To these noble principles the people OF Ohio
have ever been true. Our legislation has never
been marred 10y prescription of religious opn-
lOus, nor any political privilege denied because of
The birth place of the cilizen. The invioldbilty|
OF the person of the inhabitant has always heen
defended. ard The habeas corpus aud trial by iu.
ry, maintained as the huwsrks OF personal 30,
erty la the faithful OBS rvance of her contracts.
the state has furnished an example of the sacred
regard in which all obligations shoud be held
by the citizen, while by refusing under the most
solemn sncIions. to appropriate private prop
eIty to her usa without making Just comprns4.