The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-01-08
Governors NEessage.
GsaHemsa Of tie Senats and House o.,
Representatives. /:

In compliance with the provision ofSour
Constitution, which requires the Governor
TO "communicaie 10 the General Assem-.
bly, the condition Of tue State, and recon-.
mend such measures as he uay deem *.
pedient," | address you.
The condition of toy health for The past
Few weeks, and my present ]iudisposition.
Will account Tor the brevity OF the com.
Eunication.
Your well known character for %iu,elli.
gence and experience as legislators makes
1t necessary, only, that you be put 10 pos.
session Of The true condition oftie affairs
OF the State, to enable you 10 adopt such
legislation as the welfare OF cur common
constituents demands.
The past year has been one OF severe
labor TO all concerned in the edminis.ra.
ton OF the government aud | take pleas.
ure in bearing testimony to the faithful
and vigilant manner 10 which the Auditor
OF State. Treasurer o! State, Secretary Of
state, Comptroller OF the Treasury, Su.
perintendent OF the State House, Super
intendent OF the Public Printing, and the
Librarian, have sevearlly performed their
respective duties. l regret that cannot
include The Attorney. General and the
former COMMISSIONS oil Common Schools
IN this commentator. The School Com.
missioner, fortunately for The State, re.
signed his Office on the lllh day OF No.
vemoer last, and the place is now filed
by a highly competent and worthy man.
The duties Of the Executive are So al.
duous as 10 command every moment Of
MS time. 10 demonstrate this, it is SUI.
hcient TO refer you TO the note of Private
Secretary Hoffman, herewith, giving a
somewhat detailed statement: of the Ia.
bors OF the Office. In view of the in.
creased labor lhrown upon this depart
ment, also upon the departments Of the
Auditor and Treasurer Of State, conse-
quent upon the war, added 10 the fact
that the expenses Of living in tlis city have
greatly Increased within the past two
years, ] recommend an increase OF the SAL
aries OF these officers. This increase
should not be less than fifty per cent !;
and TO secure the benefit Of such increase
to the incoming officers, immediate &C.
ton, during the first week OF your session,
IS necessary, as the Constitution forbids
the Increase OF salaries Of any of the State
officers during the term Tor which they
are elected. am aware that the people
oil ONO have never favored high salaries
to their public officers but | also well
know. that they will cheeriuliy sustain Us
IN liking such rate Of compensation as will
enable those in moderate pecuniary cir
cumstances TO accept positions of high
'rust and confidence. ! also renew my
accommodation OF last year, for a proper
increase OF the salary Of the Superintend.
ent OF Public Printing. The duties Of this
office are highly important to the State,
and have materially increased within the
past year. The present rate Of compeu-
sallon is entirely inadequate to .he duties.
l invite your special attention TO the
Auditors views on the subject of abolish.
ing the Office Of Comptroller Of the Treas.
ury, aud urge that your finance commit.
lees thoroughly investigate tho matter.
SO FAR as | am able to discover, l can
sec no practical good result from main.
tanning this Office.
During the early part OF the past year,
80 unusual degree Of excitement, disor-
der and Violence prevailed In many
parts OF the State TO such an extent
dId THIS state OF lawlessness exist, as
10 make 1t necessary TO send An armed
force to several points In the State, to
maintain the peace. The points of great
est alarm and apprehension were in the
counties OF Holmes and Montgomery
To a great extent, the causes OF this un
happy condition of affairs may be allrib-
uIed to political excitement and party
strife. ! am most happy TO announce,
however, that as the day for the election
approached, TIE passions and prejudices
OF the people became allayed I; and reason
and judgment thus left free 10 act, quiet
aud order throughout the State was the
happy consequence /; we have seldom, il
ever, had a more quiet and orderly cleo.
ton. Copies OF the several orders, and
other correspondence relating to this i'm.
portant matter. will be found among the
documents herewith, No. IS.
1t will be seen that the main or princi-
pal cause Of the difficulty referred to,
grew oat of the effort on the part of the
officers and agents of the National Gov.
eminent, TO enforce upon our citizens the
military orders Of the President of the
United States (; orders deemed necessary
by him 10 crush out and put down the
rebellion. 1t was claimed, or pretended
to be claimed, by those who resisted or
counseled resistance to the enforcement of
these orders, that they were uncona,itu.
tional ana void. Happily for us q nation
and people, we had enjoyed SO mas
years of peace, that the questions arising
touching The powers OF the President when
the nation is in war, had been blu; little
discussed by the present generation of
people, and therefore were not thorough.
ly understood by them. Tho Consulu.
tion had simply declared that "the Presi.
dent shall be commanders in chiet of the
army aud havy Of The United Statcs."-
What a commander in.chlcf of the army
aud navy of a nation might do, or might
not do, when that nation was at war to
maintain its very existence, the trainers OF
our Constitution wisely omitted 10 attempt
to define. l say wisely, for il is not in the
province OF any one nation on earth to
defne the authority Of the commander
jn,chief of tia army and navy /; this is the