The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-01-23
GOV. DENNTSON'S MESSAGE.

Luz bIodt lehSIh VI bhiS uVNuuN"' Nv
terly forbids its insertion in our col
umns. The abstract presented below
is made up partly from the Message it.
self and partly from an abstract pub.
lished in the Cincinnati Enquirer:
The Governor, after enumerating sew
eral blessings, for which "our devout
thanks are due to Almighty Cod
among which stands first the preserva-
ton Of the Capital of the nation-de.
votes some seven pages to the growth
and improvement of the State during
the past sixty years, in population, ed
ucation, religion, and material prosper
ity. The showing is a pleasant one,
and its annual production by our Gov.
ernors, shows that they regard it as be-
ing as grateful to the people as are
Christmas presents to children.
The Governor recommends to the
fostering care of the General Assembly
the State Board of Agriculture, and
suggests the expediency of having the
State represented at the International
Exhibition of works of industry and
art, to be held at London, in May
next.
The benevolent institutions Of the
State are favorably noticed. The sug-
gestion is made that they are unneces-
sarily costly, and that their expenses
might be reduced without impairing
their efficiency.
The Reform School is favorably men
toned, and we are told that at no for
mer period has there been SO great q
degree of success in this school as du.
ring the past year.
The number of convicts in the Peni
tentiary has diminished during the past
year. tits now capablo'of accommo
dating ten hundred and fifty prisoners
1t is recommended that the minimum
limit fixed by law for the punishment
of offences should be abolished, leaving
it to the discretion of the judges to afi1
the period below the maximum limit.
The Governor devotes considerable
space to the finances and the question
of taxation as connected Herewith. A
revision of our tax laws is recommend
ed, for the purpose of reducing loca
taxation, and of remedying the com
plants made of the burthens of Govern
ment being unequally distributed. T.
avoid some increase Of taxes, in tn
present circumstanc is not possible
but the Message tells US it is possibl
) to meet the crisis, and bear its burden
In spirit that shall improve the credit
enhance the honor, and render NOR
solid the reputation and character of
the State.
Of the leasing of the Public Works
he says sufficient time has not yet elaps
ed to test the wisdom Of the act. Th
receipts from tolls, fines, and water
rents, for the year ending Novembe
Is, 1861, was S127 ,842 90; the disburse
ments were S131 ,678 72.
An amendment is recon mmended of tn
law, "To establish the Independent
Treasury of the State of Ohio" as will
require the payments of public dues t.
be made in specie, the notes of specie
paying banks of the State and Treasu
, ry-notes Of the United States. Tn
Governor thinks no discretion shoult
be allowed the Treasurers as to the kim
of funds to be received in payment Of
public dues.
Attention is earnestly called "to tn
important subjects of the currency an,
, banking interests of the State" Th
charter of the State Bank of Ohio will
expire on the first day Of May, 1866
The Governor argues at some length +
show the value of this institution t.
the public, and that it merits the favo
of the General Assembly and the peo
plo. He thinks it has met every requi
= site demand Of the banks for the safet
of the bill-holder and for the immediat
convertibility of their paper into specie
Besides its specie basis, the charter O
the State Bank of Ohio makes all tn
banks associated in tho system liable t
the full extent of all their means an
assets for the issues of each branch. l
: addition to that, each branch is requiI
/ ed to receive the issue of faiIin
branch in payment of all debts at thei
par value. That prevents their depre
citation and renders them immediatel
available. For these reasons the Gov
: ernor thinks the State Bank preferabl
i to stock or safety fund banks, aud re
| CARDS its continuance as one of the mos
: important matters that can come befor
: the General Assembly. The idea o
! the Governor seems to be that the Con
S stitution can be avoided by simpl
h legislative act continuing the existenc
s of the charter. 1t is supposed that sui
i mitting the question of continuance {
= the people may be avoided in that way
/ Attention is next called to tho receu
0 report of the United States Secretar
Y of the Treasury, wherein is suggeste
!. the creation of a national paper curreu
), cy based on the Federal faith and re
sources, and the retiring of the issue
q of State banks by means Of the taxin
0 power. The Governor controverts
e some length the suggestions of the SCI
o rotary. He maintains that they are in
Q practicable, and if practicable would b
= ruinous as financial policy. On th
a point the Governor says:
Q The Secretary Of the Treasury, ia HI
= recent able report to Congress on tn
: finances of the Government, has calle
5 in question the constitutional power o
= the State to authorize the issue of pit
: per currency by local institutions. II
o also suggests that the exercise of tn
: power may be controlled by Oongrei
a undeP its constitutional nowars to lev