The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-01-11

for the payment of all dues to the State, in
coin or the notes Of the specie paying Banks
OF Ohio; by authorizing the selection of de-
poSitaries by the State Treasurer, under sui
table guards and restrictions, and by requir-
ing ample and unquestiOnable security for
prompt payment Of all deposits, on demand,
in specie or specie notes. No interest should
be taken on deposits except for the state.
All use Of public moneys by public officers
and all attempts 10 secure in sry way, priv
ate advantage from the deposit or other dis
position of public funds should be strictly
pyodibited under the seyerest penalty.
Such system will approach as nearly to
the Independent Treasury Of the Federal
Government as a due regard to the welfare OF
the people will admit; and much nearer, IN
my opinion, than the system recently adopt
ed. The act Of 1853, By which that system
was introduced, containing many useful prov
iSionS; but their value is greatly impaired by
, its virtual sanction Of the receipt of whatever
/ the several County IreaSurerS may choose to
+ take in payment Of taxes; by the absence of
! all provision in relation to the exchange OF
/ funds; and by its omission to requiTe bonds
| TO the satisfaction ofState officers for the
/ safe.keeping and tranafer Of moneys belong
| ing to the State. In the practical execution
ofthe act the County TreaSurers have gen.
orally received for taxes whatever was cur
( rent in their counties, and IN some instances,
it Is said, checks OF individual Is on Banks in
| their vicinity, and have made such exchanges
the funds received for coin or other funds
as the public intescst seemed to require.
/ That in this action they were governed by
consideration Of public conveience and puplic
duty is not quess ioned. The action ITSELF
! however, reveals the defective charac er Of
the law. When bank notes are received in
payment of taxes, and retained in the Treas
ury, the banks issuing them, whether foreign
or domestic, are made the real depositarieS
of the public funds, without interest and
without security. So where checks o priv
ate citizens are received, those citizens, so
long as their checks are held, are constituted
such depositalies. The virtual requirement
by the act of the exchange o! currency for
coin, and the virtual permission of the eX-
change Of currency toI other currency can
hardly fail to give occasion to dangerous deal
ing with the public funds The act, there
fore, seems 10 me 10 fail Of its intent. Under
it d deposit s. stem of the most unsafe des
Crption may grow up, and the use of public
funds for private benefit can hardly be pre-
vented. Everything must depend on the in
tegrity Of the State and County Treasurers.
] see no way Of escape from the ditlicul-
ties, except by substituting for this system
of indirect deposits and hazardous exchange
a thoroughly guarded plan for the direct de-
positarieS, from whom ample securities have
been required and taken; or by the adoption,
in full, of the Federal system, providing tor
the appointment of Sub-Treasures, requiring
from them ample bonds, and prohibiting the
receipt, for public dues, oil anything but coin
or, at most, specie notes of Ohio banks
Even such notes could not be received with
: out constituting :he banks, to the extent o
. SGch receipts, public depositaries without Sc
/ curity. Oftwo such alternatives as these, i
! can hardly be doubted that under existing
e Circumstances, the former will receive thu
= approval Of the people.
G In former communications, I have repeat
Q ed)y recommended to legislative consdera
ton the interests Of our Agriculture. Of tht
, entire products Of the State, two-thrds arr
q from the arms Of the entire wealth OF tht
= State, more than half is in farms. Of tht
It entire taxation of the State, much more thar
e halfis paid by farmers. TO protect their in
n terests and promote their prosperity mus
. nt tcessarily be prominent objects Of wise leg
If lsation. Suggestions IN relation to these OF
e iects meritng careful consideration, will b
found in the Agricultural Report and in tn
e Resolutions of the State Board OF Agriculture
: Permit me, also, to renew o suggestion here
toore made, Of additional provisions for pre-
Z; miums to be offered in the State and C0un
rs ty Agricultural Societies. And may | no
h add that the resumption and completion {
n the Geological Survey of the State, wit
IF special reference to agriculture and mining
e could not fail to benefit all interests connect
n cd with the soil?
4, An act of the last General Assembly d
/ reefs the judges Of elections to reject tn
votes Of persons who may appear to have
J. distinct and visible admixturc of Africa
ID blood 1t is not very easy TO determine wht
ID is distinct admiXture of that description
10 blood. or when 1t may be SAID to be ySSbl
$, 1t is quite certain, however, that it is beyon
he The power Of the Legislature to enlarge {
N abrldge the right OF suffrage defined by Il
re Constitution. by that instrument it IS IT
as strcted to white male citizens. The question
rs who are included IN the description, is NJ
Of for the Legislature, but for the Courts A
ID attempt to decide it by enactment mu
ed necessarily be mischevous, both in itself ar
ii, as precedent. The act referred to is NJ
OF only such an attempt, but itglves to Judg
Of elections, under loose and uncertain rul
US a large and dangerous power, capable oil b
n ing perverted to extreme abuse | thereto
OF recommend its repeal,
The Constitution declares that there shc
w be no slavery in this State, nor inTolunta
n servitude except for punishment Of crime,
be To give effect to this provision and to ARE
n the practice, becoming common through IL
on punity, OF seizing and taking out OF the Stat
ot without any warrant or process oil law, perso
tie claimed as iugitives from service, though {
eh Ten, in fact, free, | recommend the Ie.enat
ry, ment OF the acts repealed by the last Gene
al Assembly, prohibiting slaVehOldIno a.