Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-01-16

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through the third year OF an expensive ana
saneuinary war, In the full performance OF all
oar duties 10 the national government, without
impairipg In any manner, the prosperity oil the
State, or depressing our people BY burthen-
some or excessive taxation.
The financial condition Of the State is high.
" satisfactory. The currency is in a sound
condition. The agricultural, industrial and
commercial interests OF the State we're never
more prosperous The State has been protec.
ted, with single exception, from invasioni and
the desolating ravages OF war have not spread
themselves within our limits. AT The same time
the great Institutions Of education and benevo
lence, which constitute material element OF
our pride aud strength, have not been encroach'
ed upon or impaired. Our schools ana col
leges--our seminaries of learning -our arts
and scieuces--our noble institutions for the re-
lief and Instruction o! the stricken portion Of
our people-our public works--all these have
been fostered, encouraged, and protected, as
though war had not existed in the land. While
we have abundant cause in this, not alone for
self graduation, but Of devout thanksgiving to
that Divine Providence that rules in the af-
fairs OF nations as of individuals, We may learn
of it the obligations of duty, that, by wise ad.
minisration, we secure 10 the future, as far as
human effort can do so, the blessings we have
enjoyed in the past
1t is true that amid all this prosperity
our people have been called upon. to meet
priyations aud endure sacrifices. The blood
of Ohio has been poured out upon almost
every battle field Of the nation, and sons
hove found graves in nearly every Southern
State. The shouts of victory from ensan.
gued battle fields, have been two fold mes,
engers, bringing alike joy and sorrow to
our people; aud with the exultation of the
one has been mingled the lamcntions of the
other. Our meu have given freely of their
subs ance, and our noble weIhtn ot their
enduring patience and labor to alleviate
tie privations aud sufTerings Of our sous in
the field. The parental hand of the State
Government has been constantly and liber.
ly extended, 10 aid and protect her gallant
men living, and honor her dead heroes
Yet all these burttens have been freely
and even checrfully borne; for the reason
that the cause was that of nation strug
Cling for its cxi ncc-of freedom grasping
for its vilsl.ty--of good and benifcen,
government laboring to assert its suprema-
cy over at rebellious and misguided portion
Of its people. The lesson of the past is ey
er the guide of the future While this
struggle continues. psivations and sacri.
hcee will continue with it; and while we
adhere to the purpose of accomplishing the
restoration of our government and our Un.
ion, We mast allvea;c, as far as practicable
the SufleringS. and bear with fortitude the
Uurtlens imposed upon u.s.
In one part calar only do desire, upon
this occasion, to add 10 the recommends.
!ions of my predecessor; and that is in re.
gard 10 the act of March 2lst, 1868, i'm
posing tax for the aid of the families of
soldiers aud marines in the service.
have carefully watched the operations OF
this law. IL is not sufficient fer lis purpo:-
es | cordially approve the rceommenda,
lion Of Governor Ton for the increase OF
tie tax; but in my Judgment lat increase
should be even greater lhan he supposes, 10
order 10 do justice alike 10 our soldiers and
/ our people. The advance in The cost of
living has reached the neceSsaries Of life rs
heavily as the luxnries The increase OF
wage. does not reach The labor of depend.
enl women, with children to clojbe, feed
and educate The amount saved from their
scanty pay, and sent home by our soldiers.
though large in the aggregate, is very
small in its distribution amoug those for
whom it is designed. When this revenue,
aud the procee IS Of the tax. are added 10
gether, there is still large amount depend
ent upon private bounty, TO meet the aetn.
al wants Of this class Of people and ward
off positive suffering. / have not been
able 10 collect the statistics as extensively
as | desired, but in many counties Of the
State tue private collections for soldiers
families have considerably exceeded, aud in
some cases doubled The Object has not been
fully accomplished. 1t is argued that it is
better to contisue thus 10 divide, between
State aud people, this contribution; SO that
in what the one fails the otherIwill make
good. The true and just response is:
lst. That if the States Acknowledges this
obligation to the family of the absent sol,
dier, she should meet it as q compensation
for his services, and in q manner tnlly equal
10 the necessities Of the case.
I'd. Private contribution is not EQUITABLE
in its character and can't be adjusted 10 the
property and interests that are protected by
our armies. The generous will give beyond
their actual abilities, while the parsimoni.
ous, or the opponent Of the war, will with.
hold, from pecuniary or unpatriotic consid
erations. Taxltion alone will eoualize this
burthen, aud impose it, where it should
rest, upon the property protected by The
services that the revenue is intended lC
compensate. If the additional levy in
creases the taxation of generous contribu
tors, it relieves them from larger amoun
of private bounty. and imposes it upon the
non contributors. where il should fall
Even when the Stale assumes the entire
support of soldiers families, there will b,
scope enough for private contributions tC
aleyilte tie privalions and suffcrings o
s ck, di abled, and wounded men, in hospit
ais and at home.
3D.. The form Of private charity is no
always acceptable TO its recipients, and es
pecally the class to whom this is applica
ble. Much suffering and privation will b,
endured before pride will suffer application
10 private charity, where there is con
ciousness that meritorious services OF tht
absent proVider should promptly call tn,
State to the protection and support of biz
! dependent family We shonld divast thi,