The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-16
Governors Message.

Governors Message.
This document, communicated to the
General Assembly, in session at Columbus,
occupies ten columns of the Ohio State
Journal. We must content ourselves at
present with giving synopsis of it.
The message treats Grst of the increase
in population and wealth of the State;
the amount of State, county, corporation
and individual Indebtedness, the extent
of our manufactures, commerce, naviga-
tion and locomotioa. The State indebt-
edness is within fraction of seventeen
millions of dollars. The increase in the
value of property in the State, the past
ten years, has been greater than the in
crease of State, municipality and indi.
vidpal Indebtedness.
Our Public Schools are favorably no.
ticed. The receipts fo- the school year
ending August 81, 1850, was So, sos, SOL
and the expenditures s2,7s0,s2s. The
average daily attendance of pupils was
405,592, out of 6s5,l71 enrolled in
schools, and S02,s44 enumerated. No
modification of the school law is recon. +.
meEded.
The benevolent institutions of the State
are briefly and favorably noticed.
The message calls attention to intem.
perasce as the parent of crime, and trusts
the Legislature will devise some sufficient
legal remedy" for diminishing its evils.
He tells that body, however, not to get
advance of public sentiment on the sub
ject, though it should meet the full de.
mands of that sentiment. .5s
The message commends the plan of the
State Auditor for the payment of the
public debt, which is by increased taxa
tion. BY the addition of six-tenths of Il
mill to the present levy for the payment
Of interest aud reduction of the public
debt, making it reach two mills on the
dollar la that way but four million Of
Indebtedness would remain after January
], 1871, which could be paid off in the
same way in less than Eve years more.
An amendment of the Treasury Law
is recommended, SO as to specify what sort
of currency shall be received by the
Treasury The Governor is of the opin>
ion that nothing but specie and the notes
of specie paying banks Of this State
should be received for taxes.
he message argues at some length the
necessity of paper currency--a neces-
sity created mainly by the currency loi
other States. It submits to the Legisla.
ture whether plan can not be adopted
for an increase of our banking capital
and consequent enlargement of the issues
of banks within our own State, as the
only practical means of expelling the
issues of foreign banks. In little ovel
Eve years the charter of all the banks ir
Ohio will expire, and. the Governor thinks
early steps should be taken to keep then
in existence.
A column is devoted to the considera
(tion of the public works of the State
The Governor tells US that for the pas
FIVE years their expenses have considera
bly, exceeded their receipts, and be sub
mits whether the interests of the State d.
not demand their disposal to privat
hands. He thinks, however, before an
disposition is made of them, that com
mission should be appointed to examiu
the whole subject and report thereon.
The message speaks well of the pres
ent militia system of our State, and recon
mends that the State be made to bear
) portion of the burden, which il does no
now do. Of the 34,962 muskets an
rifles the State has received, she can com
naad but about 5000. OF IL, ,632 cav
airy pistols. bat 1872 remain. OF 272 re
volyers, about 40 are supposed to be re
8 coverable. The annual quota now re
: ceived from the General Government
less than one thousand muskets. Th
General Government can not, therefore, b
looked to for sufficient supply of arm
for an effective State military organizs
t ton. The organized militia of the Stat
/ numbers at present little less tLan twelv
hundred men. The unorganized militi
subject to draft amount to too Aunirs
and eighty thousand able-bodied men.
The following is that part Of the Me-
i sage which treats of the Governors r.