Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-01-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
FELLOW Citizens Of the Senate

Fsll0tD- Gtizeas Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives
The people, with whom is the sole
sovereignty of the State, have committed
to you, for the fifth biennial period un-
der the existing Constitution, the legia-
latiye authority of the Commonwealth
Upon this first secular day Of the new
year you assume the great function thus
assigned to you, and enter upon the per-
formance of your important duties.
Powers of government, delegated by
fthe people of free States to chosen Rep
Fesentatives, whether Legislative, Judi
scIal or Executive, are sacred trusts. The
people who honor, by such proofs of
scon6dence, those whom they select for
Employment in public functions, have a
Eaiear right to expect from them fidelity,
teal, and unremitting diligence in the
promotion of the public good Having
leonfded, by election, the powers of gov
Iernmens to citizens of their choice, they
return to their respective avocations
Trusting confidently that all public in
Iterests andspublic rights will be dill
gently promoted and faithfully guarded,
Iand that each individual will be fully
protected byequal laws and impartial ad-
lministration, while contributing, in his
kphere, to the general good by private
thrift. How weighty the obligation
which such confidence must impose on
Fight-minded menl How deep and earn
Eest the solicitude which all true hearted
Representatives must feel, that neither by
Iremissness, nor by Indifference, nor by
abuse, the just expectations of gener-
GUS people may be disappointed!
No extraordinary changes in the con-
ldition of the State have occurred during
the past year. Private and public af-
fairs have gradually recovered from the
depressing effects of financial revulsion
land official delinquency Health has
iinvigorated and sustained the energies of
Industry. The labors of the field,
though frustrated in several counties, as
to important crops, by the severe and un-
usual frost of June, have, nevertheless,
been rewarded by harvest fully equal,
an the State at large, to those Of ordi-
nary years. In mining, manufacturing
and commercial, as we'll as in agricul-
tural pursuits, improved machinery and
processes, augmented capital, and in
creased numbers of laborers, have yielded
Iproportionally increased returns In
fstitutions of Religion, Education, and
Charity, whether organized by the vol.
'untary zeal of individuals or the wise
providence of the State, have contrib.
uted, in full measure, to improvement
melioration and progress. Solid growth
substantial prosperity, and social order
distinguish alike-the -aanditian. of. -ths
state and=the people, and demand crate
full acknowledgements to the Supreme
Disposer Of events, whose blessing alone
gives real value to the results of human
labor and human wisdom.
The sixth general valuation of rea
property has taken place during the pas
year, and will, naturally, direct your at
tention to our material resources as thus
exhibited, and their relations to the gen
eral condition of the State.
The theory of taxation, settled by thu
Constitution and sanctioned by genera
approval, requires that all property O
whatever description, shall contribute tt
necessary public expenses in exact pro
portion to value The exceptions to the
practical application of the rule, ad
mitted by the Constitution and by law
are of properties belonging to individu
ais not exceeding fifty dollars in value
and properties belonging to the counties
the State and the Union, or held and usec
Exclusively under public authority fol
educational, religious and charitable pur
lposes.
| In order to give practical effect to The
intention of the Constitution, provision
has been made by law for periodical val
uations ALI lands and town lots what
ever, subject to taxation, are required tt
be valued once in six years; while land!
recently become taxable, being for the
most part, lands sold by the Fedora
Government or the State, together will
all recent improvements on lands, ane
all non-exempt personal property, mus
be valued annually.
These appraisements, directed to b.
made at the true value in money, will ex
hibit, if the law be intelligently ant
faithfully executed, the progressive in
crease or diminution of wealth in tn
State, and in each locality, with approx
innate correctness.
Some deductions and some addition
must be made on account of that prop
erty which is taxed more than once il
different forms, and Of that which
Through the negligence of assessors, o
in spite of their vigilance, will, unde
Ieyery system of taxation, escape jus
Icontribution. Some additions must ais
be made to the official appraisements, o
account OF the disparity which is alway
found to exist between the average as
sessment and the average market value
It is to be remembered, also, that valua
tions must always be effected necessarii
| by the general circumstances of tn
country. In time of extraordinar
apparent prosperity and general expan
sion, valuations may be too high; andi
a time of revulsion and great depressio
will almost certainly be too low. Wit
the corrections suggested by these con
4 Isiderations, the valuations of each yeal
and especially of each sixth year, wi
supply the means of ascertaining, wit
some reasonable approximation to aecu
racy, the actual amount Of propert
within the State.
4 Nearer approaches to absolute exact
ness will doubtless be constantly made
as experience shall suggest more perfee
legislation, and clearer appreciation {
the duties enjoined by it shall secur
more complete and faithful listings an
appraisements. Every citizen and ever
assessor should bear in mind that the as
sessment of property at its true valu
dees dot increase the amount of taxes
be paid by the proprietors. IF the az