The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-11

votes Of persons who may appear to have a
distinct and visible admiXture Of African
blood. IT is not very easy 10 determine what
Is distinct ndmixture Of that description OF
blood, or when il may be said to be visible.
Ii is quite certain, however, that il is beyond
the power of the Legislature TO enlarge or
abridse the right of suffrage defined by the
Constitution. BY that instrument it is re-
s,ricted to white male citizens. The ques
ton, who ore included in the description, Is
not for the Legislature, bet for the Courts.
An attempt to decide it by enactment must
necessarily be mischievous, both in itself
and as a precedent. The act referred to is
not only such an attempt, but it gives to
Judges Of elections, under q loose and uncer-
tain rule, large and dangerous power, ca
puble of being perverted 10 extreme abuse.
! therefore recommend its repeal.
The Constitution declares that there shall
be no slavery in the State, nor involuntary
servitude, except for punishment of crime
To give effect TO this provision and to orrest
the practice becoming common through i'm
punity of seizing and taking out Of the
State, without any warrant or process OF
law, persons claimed as fugitives from SER
vice, though often, in fact, free, recommend
the re.enactment Of the acts repealed by the
last General Assembly, prohibiting slave
holding and kidnapping in Ohio, and secur-
ing more effectually the benefits Of the writ
OF habeas corpus.
Four years ago the military force Of the
State was thoroughly disorganized. The
public arms-o large property-were scat
tered through the counties, and in danger OF
tota! loss. No adequate security, in the
form of bonds or otherwise, proteCte the
State against that hbzlrd. The laws nude
no sufficient provision either for discipline or
organization This condition Of things nat.
uralIy attracted the attention Of the General
Assembly, and successive laws have be en-
enacted, designed to remedy existing evils.
Under ,hese laws considerable quantities OF
arms have been collected, and either sold il
useless, or, if worth repairs, rendered fit for
service. A respectable force of volunteers
has been organized end tffcered, and as far
as practicable, disciplined. This force now
constitutes a fitting nucleus for an orgoniza.
ton entirely competent 10 all probable emer.
gencies. AS law is the expression Of the
public will, SO police is the expression ofthe
public force. A body of volunteer militia,
not unnecessarily large, but we'll ordered
aud efficient, is an important element Of po.
lice, and affords, in extraordinary emergen.
cies, a necessary guarantee OF order and
peace.
Much credit is due to many public spirited
citizens for their efforts, both as officers and
men, TO promote reform and discipline in
= military organization and especially to the
Adju,ant General and the Quarterm 1ster
General, for their unremttng labors TO that
end. Their reports exhibit clearly the pres
ent condition and needs of this branch OF the
| public service, und their suggestions will
doubtless receive your attentive consdera'
ton.
, invite your attention to the increased
4 expense OF public printing. This results in
part from defects in the act regulating the
subject, and in part from the mode in which
the reports of the several Institutions are
) prepared, The evil may be remedied to
considerable extent by authorizing the Sec.
retsry of State to prescribe the mode in
= which documents shall be printed, and also
the mode in " hch the staten nts ofrecepts
: 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 Gener-
al Assembly, except those OF the Attorney
: General and the Commissioner Of Common
Schools, delayed by the remissness of county
and local officers, have been more promptly
} made than in my previous year; and all,
except that of the Auditor Of State, which is
in the hands of the printer, have been print.
ed, and ure ready to be laid before you.-
They will be transmitted to each House
without delay.
1t becomes my duty to lay before you, in
compliance with the request of the Governor
of New York, the concurrent resolutions O.
the Senate and Assembly of that State, con.
demnng the African slave trade, end protest
ing against the re-opening Of that inhuman
traffic. The people of Ohio, without dis.
tinction Of party, and almost without individ.
ua exceptions, unite in reprobation of the
traffic and its revival.
With these res buttons, T also trOnsmt for
your Information, copies OF letters addressed
by the Governor of Virginia to the President
of the United States, and to myself, and Of
my reply 10 that addressed to me.
doubt not. gentlemen, that expressed
your own sentiments, os well as those OF our
common constituents, when | declared my
conviction that it is the duty of the Execu.
tive authorities of Ohio to exercise whatever
power the law may vest in them for the sup
preston 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 own territory, will countenance no in
vosion Of the territory of other States but
expecting from them the fuIfllment of ev.
cry constitutional obligation, will require OF
their own authorities the prompt perform
ance of reciprocal duties.
While we will not disavow just admiration
of noble qualities, by whomsoever displayed,
we must not the less, but rather the more,
earnestly condemn all inrosds into States,
not merely at peace with us, but united 10
US by the bond of political union, and all at.
tempts to excite within their borders, servie
instructions, necessarily tending 10 involve
the country 10 the calamities Of civil, Gs we'll
as servile, war.
That q spirit Of dstrust and allie nation has
arisen IN the country, it were idle to deny.
That it is not shared, in any great degree, by
the masses in either section, il, trust,
equally true. The people desire Union and
Concord; not Dscord and Dsunion.
Clsiming no absolute exemption from
blame in behalf of The free States, we can.
not admit their liability to exclusive censure.
10 repeated instances, without pretence Of
justification. the Territory of Ohio has been
clandestinely entered, and peaceful inhsbit.
ants, guilty of no crime but color, have been
cruelty kidnapped the Fugitive Slave Act,
necessarily repugnant to public sentiment,
and believed by o large majority to be un.
constitutional in some Of its conspicuous
provisions, If not in it's origin, has been ex.
nnIifnd