The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-01-15
SYNOPSIS OF GOV. DENIM
,.oa, sa SONS MESSAGE.
.IFrom the Cincinnati Enquirsr.l ]

e$VAN ~ M1 34A1AOkkU41 :
a. From the Cincinnati Enquirsr.]
We ere indebted to the courteous State
Printer Tor . pamphlet copy of the Mes
sage Of Governor Dennison to the Gen.
srsl Assembly, which commenced its City.
dfth session yesterday, at Columbus. 1,
ts . State paper Of unusual length, aud
- We think, unnecessarily 80. Its pro.
portions will not admit Of insertion in the
Enquirer. Notwithstanding its length,
1t 10 not devoid of special interest.
The Governor, after enumerating sew
eral blessings. for which "our devou,
thanks are due to Almighty God''--
among which stands FIRST the preservation
sof the Capital of the nation-devotes
come seven pages to the growth and i'm.
provement of the State during the past
sixty years. in population, education, re-
aigion aud material prosperity. The show
ing 10 pleasant one, and it's annual re.
production by our Governors shows that
they regard it as being as grateful to the
people q are Ohristmss presents to chill.
,dren. s ,s isa,s., p 5.s,-s.
~ The Governor recommends to the fos-
.tering care of the General Assembly, the
State Board Of Agriculture, sud sug-
;gssts the expedieucy of having the State
represented at the International Exhibi.
.tion Of works OF industry and art, to be
held st London, ia May next
- The benevolent institutions OF the State
are fsvorably noticed The suggestion
b made that they are unnecessarily costly,
and that their expenses might be reduced
without impairing their efficiency.
& The Reform School is favorably men.
tionsd. ard we are told that at no former
period has there been so great degree
.of success in this school as during the
past year.
so The number of convicts 10 the Peni.
tentiary has diminished during the past
year. II is now capable of accommoda-,
ting ten hundred and City prisoners. 1t
10 recommended that the minimum limit
6xsd by law for the punishment of offens.
- be abolished, leaving il to the discre
tiou Of the judges to atiix the period be-
low the maximum limit.
i6s The Governor devotes considerable
space to The 6uances aud the question of
taxation as connected herewith. 4 A re-
vision OF our tax laws is recommended,
for tbe purpose of reducing local taxa
eien, and Of remedying the complaints
made of the burthens of Government be-
ing uneqnally distributed To avoid
some Increase of taxes, in the present cir.
eumstances, is not possibie; but the mes.
sage tells US it is possible to meet the cri-
sis and bear it's burdens in a spirit that
shall improve the credit. enhance the
honor aud render more solid the reputa-
lion and character of the State.
i An amendment is recommended of the
law, To establish the Independent Treas.
asyso the State of Ohio," as will require
the payments Of public dues to be- made
Ia specie, the notes of specie.pay
banks of the State and Treasury notes of
the United States The Governor thinks
no discretion should be allowed the Treas.
nrers, ss to the kind of funds to be re-
ceived in payment of public Dues
= Attention is earnestly called "to the
Impostant subjects Of the currency aud
banking interests Of the State The char.
ter Of the State Bank of Ohio will expire
On the irst day Of May. 1867. The Gov
ern0r argues at some length to show the
value of this institution to the public,
and that il merits the favor of the Gen.
eral Assembly and the people. He thinks
it has met every requisite demanded OF
the banks for the safety of the billholder
and for the immediate convertibility of
their paper into specie. Besides its spe-
Gle basis, the charter of the Stale Bank
Of Ohio makes all the banks associated
10 the system liabpsto tho full extent Of
oil their means aid assets for the issues
Of each branch In addition to that, each
branch is required to receive the issues of
. failing branch in payment Of all. debts at
&heif par value. That prevents their de-
probation and renders them Immediately
available. Fur these reasons the Govern
or thinks the State Bank preferable to
stock or safety fund banks, and regards
tss costinuance as one of the most impor
taut matters that can come before the
General Assembly. The idea of the Gov
ernor sectns'to be that the Constitution
esa be avoided by simple Legislative
act ctcontiuuiug the existence of the char.
ter. 1t is supposed that Submitting the
q uestion Of continuance to the people may
be avoided in that way.
Attention is next called 10 the recent
report Of the United STATES Secretary of
the Treasury. wherein 10 .snggested the
creation of Q national paper currency
based os the Federal faith aud resources,
and the re.iriug Of the Issues Of State
banks by means OF tho taxing power. The
Governor controverts at some length the
Of the Secrstssy. He main.
tsins that they are impsacticable. and If
prscticable would be ruinous as . 6nan-
cisf policy. On this point the Governor
says: M
~ The Secretary of the Treasury, in bis