Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-03-27
Che Ohio 9tatesnra,t
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN =. MYERS.

marks on MIR. Hitchcock,p amenomentto noul
Bill 291. aisa ,av jsl.i 1851 sp.1 al
s.w. SHAW, HENRY b. DIoKEY,
WIN. JONES, gNo HADD0W' DD'
SAs s1sTSgE M fTSTE Wi gad' p y wSSSs SoSSrRsp
DAVID ). BROWNE, D. L. RES.
Tx. JACOBS, la ID
SprKcH OF How. JOHN e. MYERS, OF CLEnMon7
IN TIE House OF REPREsENTATIvEs, MARC
8, 1861; sg t.J,',''
On the proposition of Mr.. Hitchcock, o
Geauga, to sell the Public Works; offered a
an amendment to House Bill 29l, by Mr.
Woods, Of Licking, being a bill to lease tn
canals: t... ..ri..
Mn, SPEAKER:-The consideration of this sub
ject carries US back to the time when Gov. Nor
row, De Witt Clinton, Thomas Ewing, and thei
compeers, stood upon Licking Summit, contem
plating with enthusiasm the prospective benefits
70 be derived by the people of the State Of OhiC
from the construction OF the vast system OF in
ternal improvements which they were about tc
inaugurate. They depicted in glowing colors
with fervid eloquence, the glorious future to re.
suit from the successful completion OF the stu
pendous enterprise they were then about to un-
dertake; and no one then doubted for moment
but that golden showers would continue to de-
scend as long as the State continued its paternal
and fostering care over the offspring of its am.
btion about to be uehered into existence. They
painted in their imagination, as the ripe fruits
Of the system Of internal improvements they
we're about to usher into being, State covered
with school.houses, churches, villages, cities,
and the usual accompaniments Of civilization;
q well'flled treasury, prosperous, happy and
uncomplaining people, freed from all the bur-
dens usually imposed by States upon their citi-
,.ca ill not M, GnaaLa, ho -
enough to deny that this splendidly drawn
picture had many truthful lines. nor that the
enthusiastic expectations Of the projectors of
this magnificent enterprise were entirely disap-
pointed; but / will freely admit that we owe
much Of our wealth, commercial, manufacturing
and agricultural prosperity, and the exalted po-
sition of this State among her sister States of
this Confederacy, to the early development of
its resources by the practical operation of the
system of internal improvements under discus-
sion t.-.s ,.uJ.yI rM
But we have now arrived at period In their
history when, Mr.. Speaker, it is imperatively
necessary, from the force OF circumstances which
the most astute could not have foreeeen, to de-
termine upon different line of policy In rela-
tion to these works. There are two proposi-
tions now before US for our consideration, and al
most oil are agreed that something must be
done, some measure Of relief adopted, to rid the
people of an onerous and growing burden.
The friends of this bill GEEK this relief in the
proposition to lease the Public Works for q
term Of years, while many members qof this
House, including myself, will support the
offered by the member from Geau.
"a, proposing to sell them and divorce the State
entirely from their oorrupting Influences; while
there are others who willoppose either the prop.
~ A.l Ill l.. =
in the control of the State soc stibU
Il is the duty Of government to afford pro-
lection to its citizens in the exercise of their
quisition and enjoyment of property; and on;the
eontident faith that goysfnsenf is not only able
but willing TO secure 70 all, the high and low, |
the rich aud poor, the noble and ignoble, equal
lights and privileges, and immunity from all |
depends the stability and perpetuity
IF republican form of government; and when
his feeling Of security 10 impaired 10 any con-
siderable extent, and no proper means of redress |
ian be had by the citizen, revolution, ending |
q anarchy or monarchy, must be the inevitable
esult. a alsta ss sIat nal s.T
Our system of internal improvements was
In 1926. The act to authorize their
construction, and making appropriations for the
same, was passed that year. There were other
.cts passed in 1920, In 1922, and In 1923, au-
horixing the survey Of routes and the accep-
ance of donations Of lands from the general
and the appointment of seven
to fix on plans and locations
nd also appropriating $4,000 for the payment
4 expenses Of survey. The act of February
th, 1895, provided for the commencement Of
he Ohio and Miami and Erie canals, and for a
anal fund to consist Of appropriations made BY
be Legislature, to be raised by direct taxation,
md donations Of lands from the general gov. {
rnment to the State, and of the proceeds OF the |
ale of State bonds. This act, also, provided {
Or canal fund commissioners, who were author.
led to borrow money and issue State stocks,
caring interest at the rate of 6 per cent, and
ayable between the years 1880 and 1875. In
he wear 1926, they were required to issue honda
. the amount of S400. 900, and pledge for their
exemption the proceeds Of all tolls collected
nereon and all rights and privileges connected X
herewith, and also $500, 900 annually thereaf- I
er for certain period, which several amounts ID
Tere to be applied to the construction of the |
anals. This act further provided that GER
ain amount should be raised annually, by di.
ect taxation, sufficient to pay the accrung i'm 4
crest on outstanding bonds up to the year 1897.
0 addition, there was TO be raised by direct {
axstion, In the year 1923, $4,000; Ii. 1899.
10000; in 1880, $4,000; In 1881, $40 600; |
nd In 1882, and thereafter until the canals,
hall have been completed three years, SAC, 900
after which It was further provided
nat S25 900 should be raised annually until the
nd surplus sums over and above the amount
ecessary to pay the interest shall be sufficient I
, redeem the principal borrowed under this act, i
+ until the canals shall afford nett annual !
svenue of SOS, 900, from which time this latter :
precipitation was to be drawn from the pro-
seds of the Public Works. aa 3t 8gA 4 ,1It
Under this aud other acts, the State OF Ohio 9
uilt her Public Works, and thereby created q l
ebt Of $l5 900, 600, under which we are now .
roaming, and from the burden of which we are J
7ainly striving TO relieve ourselves. Here we I
nd the origin of the sinking fund, and here 9
Tas laid the foundation, deep and broad, for '
early all the financial difficulties with which .
10 State has been troubled. Itis fair to pre- |
nme that the entailment of this heavy debt, I
isbursing annually of large amounts ofmoney,
nd the facilities afforded for deception and i
'aud In the complicated working OF the ma
hinery Of State government, opened up the Way 4
D temptation, and the result has been q detaiis ]
and systematized robbery Of the treasury by I
reat villains and petty thieves, to the disgrace
nd modification of the good and honest people Q
{ this great commonwealth. No one, wiilim.
ugu the motives that actuated such men as =
low. Morrow, De Witt Clinton, Thomas Wofth,| I
ngtop, Thomas Ewing and others, to lay the !
,undatlon Of the vast system Of internal i'm
with which Ohio is to-day checker .
d. Itmay have been good policy, and perhaps d
was. Be that as II may, the purposes for {
'hich they were created have been subseryed. q
he resources Of the State have been develop 1
d, and portions Of have been enriched BY
lese canals. and The people along Che line Of 9