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

VOL. 8. 1
GOyERNO OR'Ss MESS AaiE !
fellow- CGtiz<ns OF the Sel,ete, = IS s s,
and Of tFe Housecf Re6feseptatiqss
Our devout thanks are due to Almight tg
God for the signal blessings conferred On our
l0pnntFg isair- sal elf
Ehile an unparalleled rebellion sof q pait
Io national confederacy is wBgipg war
against the GDyefnfiept, and marshallmg iuas.
mense armies to AID its attempt to destroy the
eJnions the Gov EefAnle1t Under the blessings
tof Providenee, has preserved the Capital Of
1.-The Natiop;s maintained its authority over a
Large majority of the, States; prescribed the
tlimits within which the insa,trection is copfn-'
FED; established its stipremdsy ovek eldware,
Aiafyiand, Western Virginia, Kentucky and
FIIissouri--whpse social ss,lnpathiss were to
no small extent with the insnFg gent States
fecIalisssd bv Memorable naval victories, INF.
portant ports in these States, and by the wis
dom and vigor of its measures, removed every
doubt of its power to speedily suppress the
rebellion, restore its constitutional authority
over every State of the Union, and perma-
nently maintain the high position of the Ma
ton among the leading States of the world.
The threatening crisis through which the Go
vernmcnt is passing must take its place in his
tory as exhibiting, beyond all precedents, the
inherent vitality and power of free institu
tions, while the failure of the rebellion to ac-
complish its purpose of destroying popular
government, will, under the guidance of Pro-
violence, be instrumental in vindicating its su
periority over all other governmental FORMS
and powerfully contribute to its introduction
among less favored nations.
Looking nearer home, and examining the
condition of this State, we have equal reason
for gratitude to the Dispenser of all good
The seasons Of the past year have been gen.
tally tempered for the health of man, and the
earth has abundantly rewarded his labors.-
The peaceful avocations of the people have
been little disturbed by the public disorders.
Agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and the
useful arts are in a state of encouraging activ-
ty and developments our schools are prosper
Gus; our charitable institutions have success
fully performed their works of mercy; the
lights of religion and knowledge have in
creased, and the patriotism OF the people,
springing from their intelligence and virtue
has become intensified by the perils which
beset the nation. The animositics which have
hitherto characterised the political parties di-
viding the people, causing each to suspect the
patriotism of the other, and impairng the
ability of either doing good, have yielded to
a spirit of cancellation and moderation, uniting
them all in the noble purpose of defending
the nation from the assaults Of it's enemies at
home, and if need be, from abroad. 1t is to
be hoped that auspicious result of our public
calamities, will prove the haabingcr of a
speedy restoration of harmony and good will
among the people of all sections of the coun-
try. '.
| , The present year is the sixtieth from the
\ tadoption of the Ohio Constitution by the Con-
vention of 1872. 1t is therefore period at
which it will be interesting to review the pro-
grcss of the S:att; especially since no fairer
example of a State grown up under free inst-
tutions, can probably be found. To do this
in manner easily understood, Ishall arrange
the subject under the general heads of growth
in population in agricultural production; III
industry dependent on the arts; in commerce;
in accumulated wealth, and in social instltu
tons.
The general aggregate of these facts, at So
parate periods, will present the movement III
zoo
GUS details. ...
The growth of population in Ohio is most
remarkable. In 1902, when the Constitution
was formed, Ohio had 50,OSO' people. In
1900 the census gave her 5000. From 1900
to 1920 it received an addition of 900 per-
sons From 1920 to 1910, the addition was
939,OO From $40 to 1860, it was $4,000.
While the increase still continues immensely
great, the ratio o: increase has diminished; a
fact which is always apparent when the basis
of population is much enlarged. Taking into
view the surface of land as we'll as the num-
Der of persons, no State having as great den
sitv of habitation has increased as rapidly,
except Massachusetts, where growth is almost
entirely that of manufacturing towns. Ohio
is mainly an agricultural State. Hence its
rapid growth, since it obtained million Of
people, is the more remarkable. This fact
has become of great importance, since the ex-
istence of the present war We have been
called on to furnish what, even in the old
military States of Europe, would be deemed
a very large proportion of soldiers. The ar.
mics of Europe do not exceed one fftieth ol
the people, while the able bodied men ot
Ohio mustered into the United States Army
have reached fully one-thirtieth. If we may
imagine the war to have occurred at former
PERIOD we have the means of contrasting oul
ability to meet such demand, by contrasting
at certain periods, the men over twenty-one
years of age. Thus, compare the periods OF
1912, (the war with Great Britain the period
of 1882, (South Carolina nullifieation,) and
the present. Theable bodied men over twen-
ty-one years of age were .. as. .-
In 1912, .- ........ 10000
In 1882, 100000
In 1861, 'a 100000
The strength Of the State, for the purposes
of war, is not shown merely by this growth
for, as population grows dense and towns are
multiplied, the surplus of men who can bt
spared from the ordinary duties of life be-
comes much greater in proportions. The same
ratio of volunteers, supplied in 1861, woulc
have been impossible in 1872, and been Sc
verelv felt in 1882. At present the variou:
, branches of industry are little affected by the
| immense draft made upon the active labor O
, the State u"
; With the growth of population in State
> where four -ffths of the people are yet agrl
] cultural, the growth of agricultural productlor
w.