Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-01-31
Columbus Correspondence.
COLUMBUS, Jan. 20, '62.

{ lniS CllJ Jan. tti, q eioCh W., nv
Immediately repaired to the Represen-
tative Hall, where we joined the other
members here in caucus session, con-
vened for the purpose of making suita-
BILE nominations Of House officers
Meeting continued in session until y
at night, when business was completed,
and it adjourned
The forenoon of Monday, 9th, was de-
voted to the organization of the House,
and the election of its officers. The
Senate at the same time performing like
duty.
In the afternoon the Governor mes
sage was read to both houses in their re-
spective halls, which, owing to its great
length consumed the entire hours of
the session. The preliminary ceremo-
nies usually attendant on commence
ment being over, the Legislature con-
vened on Tuesday morning to commence
its regular work.
Already several petitions, a number
of resolutions, and over forty bills have
been introduced. The only ones that
have seemed to elicit much feeling and
discussion, were the Bank and Military,
or Relief, Bills. The former, to author
ize banks to temporarily suspend specie
payment, and 10. receive and pay out
United States demand notes, yas-two
DAYS in the House, and drew out the
best eloquence and arguments from
both sides, when it passed by two-to-
one vote, and was sent to the Senate
It was there amended by annexing a
clause, requiring all banks that avail
themselves of the benefit of the act, to
be taxed on the capital stock of the bank
the same as other taxable property. 1t
thus passed the Senate aud returned to
the House After undergoing slight
revision there, .and an all-day heated
discussion, was voted upon and passed
by more decisive maj ority than before.
1t was sent again to the Senate, and
passed that body, and became a law.
The bill for the relief of the families
of volunteers in the State and United
States service, proposes to add one-half
mill on dollar, to the grand list. Va
rious amendments were offered to this
bill, virtually for its defeat. But they
were all voted down, and the bill was
finally referred to the Committee on Mil
itary affairs for the purpose of changing
its phraseology. When again intro
duced, it will pass substantially as it is,
and | presume meet with no serious OBJ
struetion in its passage through the
Senate.
1t was proposed, and quite an effort
made to sustain the proposition, that
each county be taxed for the relief Of
the families of its own volunteers, who
are now and shall hereafter be in the
service This would be doubly taxing
community for their patriotism. I'm
der the provisions of the general list
bill, Meigs County, for the same amount
of relief, will pay only about one-third
the tax that they would if each county
was required to pay in proportion to its
numbers.
Our county has furnished her quota
of what 10, 900 would be for the State,
or one to less than eighteen of her in
habitants. Several wealthy counties i'll
this State have furnished comparatively
few men for the war, and now to make
their tax light in proportion to their
scanty numbers, would be awarding
premium to disloyalty.
| have witnessed no manifestations Of
a desire on the part of Union meubers
to introduce the subject Of slavery into
the Legislature in any form, but will
lingness to let it remain where it rightly
belongs-with the Government of the
United States,
A petition somewhat novel, but more
ridiculous in its nature, aud signed by
some 250 citizens Of Franklin County,
was presented to the House, praying the
Legislature to enact law prohibiting
negroes from migrating into, settling, or
holding property in the State of Ohio,
and to cause those now in the State to be
removed, and to make it the duty Of the
trustees of the several townships to see
that said law De faithfully enforced.
DdCISuIy dS IeNtIe tue TiSHI OI pc
tition, and much as | deplore the ad-
mixture of the two dissimilar races, we
could conscientiously give no counte-
nance much less support to the prayer
of the petitioners. Accordingly, our
vote was given to lay it on the table,
where it now slumbers.
When our Government is in condi-
ton to justify it, and an expressed will
of a majority is in favor of removing
that unfortunate class, now in our midst,
to some suitable place by themselves, by
paying owners for immovable and an
salable property fair compensation, l
will be among the frstto embark in such
a christian enterprise. Uutil that time
arrives, if in my day, I shall remain a
strenuous advocate of the right of prop
erty and habitation to all, whether white,
black or yellow. T.