The Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1861-1862, 1862-01-11

have been made to justice and equality; and
no higher ecomium need be paid our past
Legislation, than the acknowledgment gener-
ally made, that close analysis, and somewhat
rigorous logic are necessary to show its injus-
tice. 1t is obvious, ell other things being
equal, the larger the grand list the smaller
must be the rateof assessment and the small
er the list the larger must be the rate of as
sessment The object to be gained by an in
of the grand list though more accurate
and impartial valuations, is not an increase Of
burdens, but more Just distribution of them.
1t is q source Of satisfaction to know that, in
any contingency, the ability Of the State COM
pared with her burdens, is now far greater
than in several of her past trials, which she
met with courage, and sustained with honor.
l repeat the recommendation made in my
annual communication to the last Legislature,
for such an amendment of the law "To estab-
lish the Independent Treasury of the State Of
Ohio" as will require the payment Of public
dues to be made in specie, and the notes of
specie-paying banks of the State, to which
may be added Treasury Notes of the United
States; and respectfully refer to that commu-
nication for the reasons which have induced
the recommendation. 1T manifestly only
proper that the General Assembly, and not
the Treasurers, should prescribe the kinds Of
funds to be received in payment Of the pub
lie dues. Especially is this an important duty
for the Legislature to perform, in view Of the
financial perils to which the State may be
exposed during the troubles that now afflict
the country. For although it is true that, at
this crisis, the financial position and resources
are strong beyond all preceedents in our histo-
ry, and as compared with nations who have
passed successfully through similar trials, they
are fully equal to any probable exigences, we
should bear in mind, that novel and extraor-
dinary financial expedients may be restored to
by some of the States and by the Federal
Government, to meet the real or seeming de-
mands of the crisis, which may disturb the
currency of the country, and render it indis-
pensible for the financial security Of our State
that its means, received from its taxes and
other dues, should be Of the most certain, and
of the highest value.
The whole number Of Ohio Volunteers
mustered into the service of the United States,
under the two calls by the President, and the
special authority of the Secretary of War, is
one hundred thousand two hundred and twen-
ty-four. This does not include the citizens
OF Ohio who have gone into the military Or
carnations of other States, chiefly because Of
want of authority to receive them into the
Ohio contingent. From the most reliable
sources of information l have been able tc
consult, l estimate the number of soldiers en-.
listed from Ohio, for other States, at not less
than ten thousand.
The number of enlisted men, both in SER
vice and in camp, is divided as follows:
Infantry, 67,54(
Cavalry, 7,27C
Artillery, 3,O2e
Total, 1884
To which add:
% full regiments for three months, 22,OO(
2 companies cavalry, 18(
sections artillery, 81
| battery, 12(
Grand total, 1OO224
Under the first call of the President for
thirteen regiments of infantry, ninety-two
thousand of our citizens volunteered. An
earnest application to the Secretary of War
for authority to organize thirty regiments in
Ohio for three months service, having been
declined, l organized and called into State
service nine regiments of infantry, ten pieces
Of artillery, and four companies of cavalry
under the act to provide more effectuaiiy for
the defence OF the State against invasion,
passed April 26, 1861. This force was early
ordered, with my consent, by the Major Gen
eral Commanding, into Western Virginia,
where, with the other troops under his COM
mand, they protected Ohio from invasion, and
restored the authority of the Federal Govern
mont. Ohio State troops, associated with the
First Virginia Regiment, opened the railway
connection between the Ohio river and Graf
ton, from Wheeling and from Parkersburg,
and established the base Of operations from
which all movements in that quarter of the
Department of the Ohio were directed. AL
though actually in the service of the United
States from the time they were ordered into
Western Virginia, these forces were not ac-
cepted by the Secretary of War until the close
of the term of their enlistment. They were
then transferred to the Federal service, the
Government agreeing to regard them as Uni
ted States troops from the date of their enlist
ment, and to reimburse the State Tor all ex-
pcnditures on their account. In addition to
the troops thus described, companies not mus
tered into the three months service were do
tailed on State account for special service in
guarding railways and military depots. In
formation at this Department, presenting ne
cessity for such service, left no alternative but
to provide for it promptly Having been
performed in aid of the suppression of the re-
bellion, the United States authorities will in
Lemnify the State for all expenses incurred,
as directed by act of Congress, July 27, 1861;
and the people of Ohio will only be required
to bear their proportionate share of the gener-
al war expenses Of the Federal Government
The total actual expenditures Of the State
of Ohio, for military purposes to January l.
1862, are $2,069, ,451 81, of which $1,212,134
Is were paid by the State out of its own
funds, and the balance $677,316 76 was paid
out of moneys received from the United
States. From the most accurate sources of
information have been able to consult, es-
innate the unpaid claims against the State for
war purposes as not exceeding the sum of
$25O00O. Upon this estimate, the whole
amount expended, and the unpaid liabilities
of the State incurred for war purposes to JAM
uary l, 1862, are $2,339,451.
0TThe recent report of the Sanitary CON-
mission gives the following as the average
pumhnrq nf mnn cnnstantlv cic1y in tho roo,: |