The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-01-06
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

weeks, and my present indisposition will account
for the breyity of the communication.
Your wei known character for intelligence and
experience as legislators makes il necessary, only,
that YOU be put in possession OF the true condition
of the affairs of the State, to enable yoW to adopt
such legislation as the welfare of our common
Constitution demands.
The past year has been one of severe labor to all
concerned ia the administration oi the Government,
and take pleasure in bearing testimony to the
faithful and vgant manner in which the Auditor
of State, Treasurer of State, Secretary Of State,
Comptroller of the Treasury, Superintendent Of the
State House, Superintendent of Public Printing,
and the Librarian, have severally performed their
respective duties. | regret that | cannot include
the Attorney General and the former Commissioner
Of Common Schools in this commendatiun. The
School Commissioner, fortunately for the State, re-
signed his Office ON the llth day of November last,
aud the place is now filled by highly competent
and worthy man.
The duties Of the Executive are so arduOus as to
command every moment Of his tine. To demon
strate this il is sufficient to refer you to- the note of
Private Secretary Hoffman, herewith, giving a
somewhat detailed statement Of the labors Of the
office In view of the increased labor thrown upon
this department, also upon the departments of the
Auditor and Treasurer of State, consequent upon
the war, added to the fact that the expenses Of iiv-
ing in this city have greatly increased within the
past two years, recommend an increase of the
salaries OF these officers. This increase should
not be less than City per cent. and to secure the
immediate action, during the first week of your
session, is necessary, as the Constitution forbds
the increase of salaries of any of the State officers
during the term for which they are elected. | am
aware that the people OF Ohio have uevcr favored
high salaries to their public officers; but also
well know, that they will cleerfulv sustain us in
fixing such rate of compensation will enable
those in moderate pecuniary circumstances TO ac-
ccpt positions of high trust and confidence also
renew ms recommendation of last year, for proper
increase of the Silary of the Superintendent 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 compensation is entirely inadequate tn the duties
invite your esp rcial attention to the Auditors
views on the Subice! of Sbolishiug the Office of
Comptroller Ot the Treasury. and uCge that your
finance committees thoroughly investigate the mat
ter. SO far as am able to discover, can see no
practical good result from maintaiug this Office.
During the earl y part of the past year, an un-
usual degree of excitement disorder and violence,
prevailed in many parts of the State. To such an
extent did this state of lawiessncss exist, as to
make 1t necessary to send an armed force to scve-
raj points in the State, to maintain the peace. The
points OF greatest alarm and apprehension were in
the counties OF Holmes and Montgomery. To a
great extent, the causes of this unhappy condition
ot affairs may be attributed to political excitement
and party strife. am most happy to announce,
however, that as the day for the election ap-
preached, the passions and prejudices OF the peo-
pie became allayed and reason aud Judgment thus
lett free to act, quiet and order throughout the
State was the happy consequence. We have sell
dom, II ever, had more quiet or orderly election.
Copies of the several orders, ard other corrcSpou-
deuce relating TO this important matter, will be
found among the documents herewith, No. Is.
1t will be seen that the main or principal cause
OF the difficulty referred to, grew out Of the effort
the part of the officers and agents Of the National
Government, to enforce upon our citizens the mill
tary orders of the President Of the United States
orders deemed necessary by him to crush out and
put down the rebellion. 1t was claimed, or pre-
tended to be claimed, by those who resisted or
counselcd resistance to the enforcement of these
orders, that they were unconstitutional and void.
Happily for us as nation and people, we had enjoyed
So many years of peace, that the questions arising
touching the powers of the President when the ma
ton is in war; had been but liitlc discussed by the
present generation of people, and therefore were
not thoroughly understood by them. The Consti-
tuition had SilAlly declared that "the President
shall be Commamder-in Chief of the Army and
NaCy Of the United States" What a commander
n-clcf of the army and navy of Il nation might
do or might rot do, when that nation was nj war
to maintain it's very existence, the trainers of our
Constitution wisely omitted to attempt to define.
| say wisely, for it is not in the province of any
one nation ON earth to define the authority of the
commaudcr-in-rhicf of its army and navy; this is
the combined wori; Of all the civilized nations /;
we must therefore study the laws of nations 70 find
out the limit and extent Of this oicer's authority.
Thus viewing this qucstiun,ani boliavugaS did
dent, or under his authority. which in any way a!lGc
ted our State or its citizens, clearly within his
power and discretion and Were highly necessary
and proper to maintain Our good government, most
chceriully gave to the duly constituted authorities
OF the National Government ns signed toduty within
our borders, my aid and assistance as Executive
of the State. 1t il cXtremcy gratifying to be able
to believe that in this exercise Of official duty, |
have but met the wishes of Il very large majority
Of the people Of Ohio.
a :.
better condition. Although we have advanced du-
ring the past year, for the General Government, in
the care of sick and wOundcd soldiers and in the
payment of troops called out tn aid in the capture
of Morgan ard his band, the sum of Sl53, ,l3G 03
and have reduced our public debt, by payment
from the Treasury, the sura of $G1G.7a2 63 there
still remained tn the TrcasWgy the credit Of Geu
cral Revenue Fund, on the 18th of November last,
the sum of 1923, 7S6 81.
AL taxes have been promptly anil checrrully
paid, exhibiting really smaller delinquent list
than ever before in the history of the State. The
Reports of the Auditor sad Treasurer Of State,
which will be laid upon your tables, exhibitin FULL
and in detail, our financial condition.
Under the provisions Of the statute, ] caused a
thorough special examinaieu of the Treasury TO be
made by the Hon. 5. $. Osborne, of Lake County
a highly competent and suitable man for this duty
His report, bearing date the 10th day of june
\. d. 1863, which was duly published according
to law, was highly complimentary to the Treasurer
The Reports of the Directors Of the several Be
nevoent Institutions of the State are herewith sub
mitted. These Institutions are all in most pros
porous condition; the same care and liberality
heretofore extended, are recommended. Your at
tcntiOn is particularly invited to the buildings for
the accommodated of the Deaf and Dumb. | far
that entire structures will be found to be ne
cessary. The present main building is lily adapted
to the purpose--it is ia dlapdatcd condition. and
entirely too small to accommodate this unfortunate
class of the children of our State. Workshops
should also be provided so that the boys may have
facilities for learning trades.
The Report of the Directors Of the Ohio Penitcn-
tary with, presents that Institution in highly
favorable condition. The Report of Private Sec
retary Hoffman herewith, shows that the number
of applications for pard0ns during the wear ending
November 18TH were 81, of which Al were granted
80 refused, and IL continued. This report also
shows in brief, the reasons grounds upon which
the several pardons were granted
Upon the application Of the military authorities
of the National Government, ! requested the Di-
rccto's and Warden Of the Peneutlsry to receive,
for safe keeping, certain rebel officers, taken in
arms against the Government, within our State.
they were received on the 9th day Of July, A. d.
1868, and the greater portion of them are get there
cenfned. | regret to be compelled to announce
however, that for the want of proper vigilance on
the part of those entrusted with the custody Of
these prisoners, the leader of the band, the nOtori-
Gus john Morgan, and six others, made their es-
cape. 1t is proper to add, that this negligence
arose entirely from misunderstanding between
the Uuited States military Authorities at this post
aud the officers in charge Of the institution. Full
particulars, as 10 the confinement and escape of
these prisoners, will be found Gu document No. &
herewith.
had the satisfaction of wishing, during the Fail
the State Reform Farm, near Lancaster, and take
great pleasure in bearing testimony 10 the fd.ltv