The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-18
RAVENNA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1860.

lieved, prevent similar sacrifices in the lu-
ture, and be economical to the State. 1t
would also command a small and well disci-
plined force, sufficiently large TO give weight
to the sanctions Of law, and prove sufficient
nucleus for any necessary increase.
Other States have embraced the plan sug-
gested and the counsels Of the Fathers of the
Republic, unite with the concurrent action
Of the majority Of the State Legislatures, to
pronounce we'll regulated militia, which is
from and of the people to be one Of the sur
est safeguards for the enforcement Of law,
the msintenance of order, and the perpetua-
ton Of those personal rights which are our
chief reliance and dear to every American
citizen.
Every other State in the Union, except
Florida, has completed, or has in progress,
geological survey Of her territory ; and
would recommend to your early cOnsideru-
ton, the completion Of the geological survey
OF this State, which has been too long Sus-
pended. doubt not it's importance to the
agricultural and mining interests of the
State. and to the advancement OF science,
will fully justify an appropriation for its Wig
orous pros s-cution.
By the constitution, it is de the duty o
the Legislature to propose snch amendments
OF that instrument as in its judgment the
public welfare demands.
Sufficient time has no! elapsed since the
adoption of the constitution to determine
from its practical workings all the modiica
tons which the public interests may require
Various changes have been proposed, bul
owing TO causes to which need not specially
refer, none OF them have been approved il
the manner prescribed by the constitution
The form of the proposition submitted at The
recent election for annual sessions of thu
Legislature, in being coupled with condi-
ti"n for biennial elections, is believed, t
have prevented fair expression OF the opin-
ion Of the people upon The question of tn
expediency of annual sessions.
submit the question to your consid ara
ton, res pecttuIy recommending an amend
ment OF the Constitution, providing lor limit
cd annual sessions, and annual elections.
invite your attention also to the subjec
o. the uneque representa- N IN both branch
ca Of the General Assembly, resulting frot
, the system of single, dual and plural elec
ton districts, provided by the constitution
q for the purpose OF recommending to your ia
vorAble consideration, an amendment Of tt
constitution. establishing Uniform syste
o. single election districts, which should
! based solely upon population. Such pla
= of apportionment, seems to me, to be aliA
required by logical regard to the theory
q our form of ofgovernment, the security oi tt
people at large against the undue control
particular sections oi the State, and Tor tt
just protection Of minorities against ii
4 power Of majorlties in the more populol
. counties.
+ The geographical position Of our Sta
b forever Identifies her destiny with that of Il
greet valley of the West. Whatever m,
o uffect the growth or prosperity of this high
favored region, must be Of interest to Us
, Among the objects which have long ottrac
ed the anxious attention Of the people OF I;
:, West, and which they justly regard as
:. paramount importance to their material pr
!, gress, is the improvement Of the Ohio o
:. Mississippi rivers, and our Like h4rbors.
!. / invite your attention to this imports
I subject, for the purpose Of respectfully
questing your earnest application to Ct
gress, 10 adopt such measures, and to ma
). such appropriations from the National Ire
, ury, as will be commensurate tu the rem "
II. of the obstructions to the navi CATION Of th'
10 great highways, and to the needed impFo
n. ment Of these important depots, of westt
g. commerce.
ID When we consider the magnitude of
4. region directly interested in the navigati
10 OF these rivers, and our western lakes, e
ID bracng a territorial extent OF e,rly 500
.ir square miIes-a territorial superfcies grea
n. than the entire extent Of the original II
st teen States, comprising eleven States a
two territories, and parts OF three oil
q, ,Stptes, with population OF at least thirte
. millions, and bot little less than one. half
he the entire population of the United Sta
n we my we'll express our amazement
the unwise and iIIberaI policy of Conere
n. 30 long and perseveriugly persisted in,
q, refusing the necessary aid for disarming
be ts dangers the navigation OF these rive
r.. and for increasing the safety OF our Ia
IN harbors.
nd And our sense Of this injustice is no
cd little heightened, when we consider, that
r. people oil the States directly interested
the improvements, have paid largely to
n. Federal Government for the soil which Il
u, occupy and and cultivate. and are now,
n. their consumption of the foreign impo
u, contributing quite if not fully one halt,
. the annual revenues Of the governrne
ed while the national expenditures among th
Ia. are comparatively uiaing. We make
of complaint because OF the bountiful, app
, a priations by Congress for surveys and def
rh ces of the coast, for the improvement
to harbors, the erection Of light houses, and
mr. various other purposes, in aid of the navi