Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-01-16

the entire population in the midst Of growtt
are seeking the moral and intellectual ad
vancement which education confers; and j
this fact lies the sure foundation of socis
stability and prosperity.
Referring to the outward organization o
religion, we find there 5 5.250 church buildings
being one to each 460 persons. These EN-
brace every variety of Christian professions
all secured by our Constitution in full libert
of worship, and each jealous in carrying for
ward its own view.
In estimating the morals Of society We hav
social tests, in the number and character O
crimes. in the number of violent deaths, an,
in the number of marriages. While we canr o
estimate the amount of vice existing beyon'
the reach of the law, these exterior tests at
ford means of comparison between differen
communities. The facts connected with thi
subject have been for several years reported
by the Commissioner of Statictics, and ma.
be briefly stated.
The average number of indictments fo
crimes in Ohio for four years ending 1861
was 400, of which one half we're statutory
offences, and the residue crimes against per
| sons or property. The proportion of crimes
is about the same as in Great Britain, but thu
proportion against property is much less.
The average number of deaths by violence
in Ohio is Eve hundred or one in forty-sever
hundred. The average number in Prussia il
one in eighteen hundred and seventy three =
Crimes of violence seem, therefore, to be
much less frequent here than on the cont
nent of Europe.
The number of marriages in Ohio varies but
little from one in one hundred; in Prussia one
in one hundred and ten. But the proportion
in Germany is probably greater than in France
or England. 1llegitimacy and infanticide
though frequent in den,ely populated coun-
tries, are comparatively rare here.
Reviewing these external tests of social
marality, we find that while social evils OF
great magnitude exist among the most civil
lied states, our own proportion is less than
in older countries, and sufficiently moderate
to prove that the existence of extraordinaIy y
freedom has not given existence to extraor-
dinary vice. The statistics of the State show
that one half of all its crimes are due to in
temperance. While it is easy to prove that
other communities, share even more largely
in this calamity, it can never cease to be
subject of profound regret, that a people
placed under the happiest auspices should be
unable to deliver itself from an evil SO great
and so disastrous.
The Message recommends that the present
law with regard to statistics be so amended as
to provide for ascertaining the annual number
of births and deaths in the State, which would
furnish more complete means of determining
our moral and sanitary condition.
B,ARD OF AGRICULTURE
The State Board of agriculture is perform
mig useful Offices in connection with our agri-
cultural interests; 1 earnestly commend it
to the continued favor of the Legislature, and
trust that all proper facilities will be given'it
10 accomplish the greatest beneficial results.
In that behalf l repeat the recommenda-
lion made to your immediate predecessors, for
the establishment of an experimental farm, on
a portion ofthe Reform School Farm, to be un-
der the direction of the State Board of Agri-
culture, making it the duty OF the Board to
the results of experiments in
he several departments of farming and stock !
.aising, to the farmers of the State, through
is Annual Report.
l call your attention also to the expediency
Of having the State represented at the inter-
rational exhibition of works of industry and
lrt. TO be held at London in May next. and
% the propr iety of authorizing the State
Board of Agriculture to select delegate,
recommend that suitable ap,
,ropration, therefor, be made by the Gener-
Il Assembly.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
The various Benevolent Institutions of the
State are in prosperous condition, and have
,ecu conducted during the past year with f.
ielity and success. No State in the Union
,as greater reasons to be proud of its chari-
les than Ohio. They are justly encouraged
~ legislative action, and have in marked
legree the confidence and sympathies of the
,eople. 1 take pleasure in again commend
ng them to the fostering care of the General
Assembly.
The number Of patients in the Central,
Northern, and Southern Lunatic Asylums at
he end of the fiscal year were: