The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-01-21

no small degree, to the gratifying re-
suit presented to you, and it is pleas
ing reflection that the people of the
State will be able to follow him into bis
present retirement from Executive du-
ties with the grateful plaudit of "well
done, good and faithful servant" 1t will
be an abiding pleasure with me, if at
the end of my brief service; shall be
able to attain alike his usefulness and
his reward.
1t is not less gratifying than honor0
bic to the State, that we have been
able to pass through the third year of
an expensive and sanguinary war, in
the full performance of all our duties
to the National Government, without
impairing in any manner, the prosperi
ty of the State, or expressing our peo
pie by burthensome or excessive taxa
ton.
The financial condition of the State
is highly satisfactory. The currency is
in a sound condition. The agricultural,
industrial and commercial interests Of
the State were never more prosperous.
The State has been protected, with a
single exception, from invasion; and the
desolating ravages of war have not
.n.oo1 tko,o oluo, ,,;I1,;n our LIMIT Az
the same time, the great institutions of
education and benevolence, which con.
stitute a material element of our pride
and strength, have not been encroach-
ed upon or impaired. Our schools
and colleges-our seminaries Of learn
ing--our arts and scionces--our noble
institutions for the relief and instruc-
tion of the stricken portion of our peo-
pie our public works-.-all these have
been fostered, nourished and protected,
as though war never existed in the land.
While we have abundant cause in this
respect, not only for self-gratulation,
but of devout thankfulness to that Di-
vine Providence that rules all the af.
fairs of nations, as of individuals, we
may learn of it the obligations of duty;
that, by wise administration, we secure
10 the future, as far as human effort
can do so, the blessings we have enjoy
ed in the past.
1t is true, that amid all our prosperi-
ty, our people have been called upon to
meet privations and endure sacrifices
The blood of Ohio has been poured out
upon almost every battlefield of tho
nation, and her sons have found graves
in nearly every Southern State. The
shouts of victory from ensa nguincd bat
tlea6elds have been two-fold messe n
gers, bringing alike joy and sorrow to
our people, and the exultation of the
one have been mingled with the lamen-
tation of the other. Our men have Civ
en- freely of their substance, and our
noble women Of their enduring patti
once and labor, to alleviate the priva~
tions and sufferings of our sons in the
field.
The parental hand of the State Gov
ernment has been constantly and liber-
ally extended, to aid and protect her
gallant men living, aud honor her dead
heroes. Yet all these burthens have
been freely and even cheerfully borne,
for the reason that the cause was that
of nation struggling for its existence
of freedom grasping for its vitality
Of good and beneficent Govcrnmen
laboring to assert its supre macy over
the rebellious and misguided portion o.
its people. The lesson of the past i,
ever the guide for the future. While
this struggle continues, priyations anC
sacrifices will continue with il, and
while we adhere to the purpose of ac
complishing the restoration of our Gov
ernm ent aud Union, we must alleviate
as far as practicable, the sufferings, nc
bear with fortitude the burthens i'm
posed upon us.
In one particular only do desire
upon this occasion, to add to thu
recommendations of my predecessor, "a IND
that is in regard to the act Of March 81
1868, imposing tax for the aid o
families of soldiers and marines in tn,
service. have carefully watched tn,
operations of this law. II is not suffi
cient for its purpose. I cordially ap
prove the recommendation of Gov. Toe
for the increase of the tax; but in m,
Judgment that increase should be ever
greater than he proposes, in order t.
do justice alike to our soldiers and oul
people. The advance in the cost of liv
! ing has reached the necessaries Of lif
as heavily as the luxuries. The increAs
, Of wages does not reach the labor o
! dependent women with children I,
Clothe, feed aud educate. The amour