American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1860-01-12

ioT private benehtS can hardly be prevented
Everything must depend on the integrity the
State and County TTesSuTers.
see no way Of escape from these difficult.
ties, except by substituting for this system o
indirect deposits, and hazardous exchanges,
thoroughly guarded plan Tor the direct deposit
OF all moneys achieved, without exchange
with selected repositories, from whom ample
securities have been required and taken, OIL
by the adoption, in full, Of the Federal system
providing for the appointment Of Sub>Tteas.
uIers, requiring from them ample bonds, and
prohibiting the receipt, for public dues, Of any.
thing but coin or specie notes OF Ohio banksi
Even such notes could not be received with
out constituting the, banks, to the extent ni
such receipts; public repositories without Sc.
surlty. or two such alternatives as these, il
can hardly be doubted that, under existing
circumstances, the former will receive the Up.
Iproval OF the people.
In former commu n ications,I have repeatedly
recommended 10 legislate consideration the
interests OF our agriculture. or the entire
products Of the Slate, two thirds are from the
farms. or the entire wealth OF the Slate, more
than half is in farms. OF the entire taxation
OF the state, much more than half ismade by
! farmers. To protect their interest and pro
mote their prosperity, must necessarily be
prominent objects of wise legislation. Sug.
gestions in relation to these objects, meriting
careful consideration, will be found in the
Agricultural Reports and in the Resolutions
Of the State Board Of Agriculture. Permit
me, also, to renew suggestion heretofore
made, OF additional provision for premiums
to be offered iD the Stale and County Agricul.
tural Societies. And may not add that the
resumption and completion Of the Geological
Survey Of the State, with special reference 10
agriculture and mining, could not fail 10 ben
eft all interests connected with the soil.
An act Of the last General Assembly directs
the judges OF elections 10 reject the votes OF
persons who may appear TO have distinct and
visible admixture Of African blood. II is not
very easy to determine what is a distinct ad-
mixture OF that description of blood, or when
it may .Le said to be visible. 1t is quite Ger.
tain, however, that it is beyond the power OF
the Legislature tolenlarge Of abrdge the rights
Of suffrage defined by The Constitution. BY
that instrument il is restricted 10 white male
citizens. The question, who are included in
the description, is not for the Legislature, but
Tor the Courts. An attempt 10 decide II by
enactment must neceSsaril, he mischievous,
both in itself and as precedent. The act re-
feTred 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 perverted to extreme abuse.
| therefore, recommend its repeal.
The Constitution declares that there shall
be no slavery in this State, nor involuntary
servitude, except for punishment of crime
To give effect to this provision and 10 arrest
the practice, becoming common through im-
punity, OF Seizing and taking out OF the State,
without any warrant or process Of law, peI>
sons claimed as fugitiyes from service, though
often, in fact, free, recommend the re en-.
actment Of the acts repealed by the last Gen.
tral Assembly, prohibiting slayeholding and
kidnapping in Ohio, and securing more effects
ually the benefits Of the writ OF habeas cor
pus.
-Four years since, the military force of the
State was thoroughly disoTganized. The pub.
lie arms-a large property were scattered
through The counties, and in danger OF total
loss. No adequate security, in the form OF
bonds or otherwise protected the State against
that hazard. The laws made no sufficient pros
vision either for discipline or organization.--
This condition OF things naturally attracted
the attention OF the General Assembly, and
successive laws have been enacted, designed
10 remedy existing evils. Under these laws,
considerable quantities of arms have been col
lected, aud either sold il useless, or, II worth
repairs, rendered fit for service. A respecta.
BILE force OF volunteers has been Organized
and ofiicered, and, as far as practicable, disci-
plined. This force now constitutes fitting
nucleus for an organization entirely compe.
teEt to all probable emergencies. As law is
The expression of the public will, so police is
the expression OF the public force. A body
Of volunteer militia, not unnecessarily large
but well ordered and efficient, is an important
element OF police, and affords, in extraordina.
~ emergencies, necessary guarantee Of or.
der and peace.
Much credit is due TO many public spirited
citizens ior their efforts, both as officers and
men, to promote reform and discipline in mil.
itary organization; and especially to the Adu.
tant General and the Quarter Master General
for their unremitting iabors TO that end. Their
reports exhibit clearly the present condition
and needs OF this branch Of the public ser.
vice and their suggestions will doubtless, re-
celye your attentive consideration.
invite your attention to the increased OK.
pense OF public printing. This results in part
from defects in the act regulating the subject,
and IN part from the mode in which the re>
ports OF the several institutions are prepared
The evil may be remedied 10 a considerable
extent by authorizing the Secretary Of State
TO prescribe the mode in which documents
shall be printed, and also the mode in which
the statements Of receipts and expenditures
by the several institutions shall be made.
All the official reports, directed by law to
be printed prior to the meeting OF the General
Assembly, except those Of the Attorney Gen
eral andlthe Commissioner OF Common Schools
delayed by the remisneSs OF county and local
officers, have been more promptly made than
IN any previous year, and all except that of
the Auditor OF State, which is in the hands OF
the printer, have been printed and are ready
to DO laid before you. They will be transmit.
ted 10 each House without delay.
II becomes my duty to lay before you, in
compliance with the request Of the Governor
OF New York, the Concurrent Resolutions of
tho Senate and Assembly of that State, con
demning the African slave trrde ahd protests
ing against the re-oponing OF that inhuman
traffic. The people Of Ohio, without distinc
ton Of party, andalmost without individual
exceptions, unite in reprobatlon Of the traffic
and its revival.
With these resolutions, | also transmit for
your information, copies OF letters addressed
by the Governor Of Virginia 10 the President
OF the United States, and to myself, and OF
my reply to that addressed to me.
doubt not, gentlemen, that expressed
your own sentiments, as well as those OF our
common constituents, when ! declared my
conviction that Il is the duty Of the EXECUTIVE
authorities Of Ohio 10 exercise whatever pow
er the law may vest in them for the suppress.
sion Of unlawful combinations against the
peace and safety Of other members of the
Federal Union; and that the people Of Ohio,
while they will suffer no invasion Of their
owa teritory,sswill conuntenappe no invasion
Of the territory OF other States; but, expect.
ing from them the Mlfllment Of every consti,
tutional obligation. will require Of their own