Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-01-12
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will supply IS additional cells. But the
number will be far too small, and if pris-
oners continue to multiply at the present
rate. the disproportion, already inconven-
lent, must soon become dangerous.
Under faint Resolution of your predecessors,
Isppointed Commission ofthree citizens to in
quire into the expediency of further enareing the
present prison, or constructing new one in some
part of the State. Their report; presume, viii
soon be submitted to you, and it win be for you
to determine what action is required by the public
interest.
have thought it my duty to exercise the pow
er of pardon somewhat more sparingiy than most
of my predecessors. No light reason has been
consciously permitted to induce interference with
the yericts of juries and the sentences OF courts
Still, the number of cases in which nave felt
myselfboun to interpose, has not been very small
In some. the innocence Of the prisoner has been
mpde manifest; in others mitigating circumstances
have come 10 light, which if known, would have
abaied the rigor of the senence; and in others
clear evidence of the reformation, and exemplary
conduct in prison, with other circumstances, seem
to require my action. A report will be immedi-
ately laid before you, stating fully each case of
pardon, with reasons which decided my judg-
ment.
The state of the law in respect to the collection
safe keeping and disbursement of revenue, will
necessarily command your atse.Ition. The first
consideration, without doubt, in every discussion
concerning public moneys, is safety. If safety
can be combined with general convenience and ad-
vantage, lew will question the wisdom OF the
combination. Such a combination, in my judge
ment, may be obtained By providing for the pay
ment of all dues the State, in coin or the notes
of the specie paving Bank of Ohio; BY authorizing
the selection OF depositaries BY the State Treasur
er under suitable guards and restrictions, and by
requiring ample and unquestionable security for
prompt payment of all deposits, on demand, in
specie or specie notes. No interest should be ta-
ken on deposits except for the State. All use of
public moneys by public officers, and all attempts
to secure it in any way, to private advantage from
the deposit or other disposition of public funds,
should be strictly prohibited under the severest
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 adopted. The act of 1858, by
which that system was introduced, contains many
useful provisions; but their value is greatly i'm
paired by its virtual sanction of the receipt of
whatever the several County Treasurers may
choose to take in payment of taxes, by the alb
scence of all provision in relation to the exchange
of funds; and by its omission to require bonds to
the satisfaction of State Officers for the safe keep
ing and transfer of moneys belonging to the State
In the practical execution of the act the County
Treasurers have generally received for taxes
whatever was current in their counties, and in
some instances it is said checks of individuals on
Banks in their vicinity, and have made such ex-
changes of the funds received for coin or other
funds, as the public interest seemed to require
That in this action they were governed by con-
siderations of public convenience and public duty,
is not questioned. The action itself, however,
reveals the defective character ofthe law. When
bank notes are received in payment of taxes, and
retained in the Treasury, the banks issuing them,
whether foreign or domestic, are made the real
repositories of the public funds, without interest
and without security. So, where checks of private
citizens are received, these citizens, so long as
their checks are held, are constituted such depos-
itaries. The virtual requirement by act of the
exchange of currency for coin, and the virtual
permission Of the exchange of currency for other
currency can hardly fail to give occasion to dam
gerous dealing with the public funds The act,
therefore, seems to me to fail of its intent Under
it deposit system of The most unsafe description
may grow up, and the use of public funds for pri-
vate benefit can hardly be prevented. Everything
must depend on the integrity of the State and
County Treasurers.
l see no way of escape from these difficulties,
except by substituting for this system of indirect
deposits and hazardous exchange; thoroughly
guarded plan for the direct deposit of all moneys
received; without exchange, with selected deposit
taries, from whom ample securities have been re-
quired and taken; or by the adoption, in full, of
the Federal system, providing for the appointment
of Sub -Treasurers, requiring from them ample
bonds, and prohibiting the receipt, for public Dues
of anything but coin, or, at most specie notes of
Ohio banks. Even such notes could not be re-
ceived without constituting the banks, to the ex-
tent of such receipts, public depositaries without
security. OF Two such alternatives as these, it
can hardly be doubted0 hat under existing cir
cumotances, the former will receive the approval
of the people
In former communications, have repeatedly
recommended to legislative consideration the in
terests OF our Agriculture. OF the entire products
of the StaJe, two thirds are from the farms. Of
the entire wealth of the State, more than half is
in farms. Of the entire taxation of the State,
much more than half is paid by the farmers, To
protect their interests and promote their prosperity
must necessarily be prominent objects of wise leg
islation Suggestions in relation to these objects,
meliting careful consideration, will be found in
the Agricultural Report and in the Resolutions of
the State Board of Agriculture. Permit me, also, |
10 renew a suggestion heretofore made, of addi- |
tional provisions for premiums to be offered in |
the State and County Agricultural Societies.
And may not add chat the resumption and COM |
pletion Of the Geological Survey of the State, |
with special reference to agriculture and mining
coul not fail TO benefit all interests connected with
the soil?
An act of the last General Assembly directs the |
judges of elections to reject the votes of the per-
sons who may appear TO have distinct and visi- |
BILE admixture OF African blood. It is not very |
easy to determine what's distinct admixture of |
that description of blood, or when it NAV be said
to be visible Itis quite certain, however; that it
is beyond the power of the Legislature to enlarge
or abridge the right of suffrage defined by the |
Constitution. By that instrument it is restricted
to white male citizens. The question, who are in
cluded in the description, is not for the Legislature
but for the Courts. An attempt to decide it by en-
actment must necessarily be mischiev vous both in /
itself and as precedent. The act referred to is
not only such an attempt, but it gives to Judges of
elections, under loose and uncertain rule,
large and dangerous power, capable of being per-
verted to extreme abuse. therefore recommend
its repeal.
The Constitution declares that there shall be
no slavery in this State, involuntary seryitude
except for punishment of crimes. To give effect
to this provision and to arrest the practice, becom-
ing common through impunity, of seizing and tax
ing out OF the State, without any warrant or pro-
sof law, persons claimed as fugitiyes from
service, though often, in fact, free, recommend
the re-enactment Of the acts repealed by the last
General Assembly, prohibiting slaveholding and