Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-01-14
ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF THE
GOVERNOR OF OHIO,
To the Fifty-sixth General Assem-,
bly,, at the Regular Session, Com
mencing January a. 1894.

Constitution, which requires the Governor
to communicate to the General Assembly
the condition of the State, and recommend
such measures as he may deem expcdieDt," "
l address you.
The condition Of my health for the past
few weeks, and my present indisposition,
will account for the brevity OF the COM
munication.
Your well-known character for intelligence
and experience as legislators makes it De-
cessary, only, that you he put in possession
of the true condition OF the affairs of the
State, to enable you to adopt such legislation
as the welfare of our common constitu-
ents demands.
The past year has been one OF severe la
bor to all concerned in the administration of
the Government; and | take pleasure in
bearing testimony to the faithful and vigi-
liant manner in which the Auditor of State,
Treasurero of State, Secretary Of State, Comp
troller Of the Treasury, Superintendent of
of the State House, Superintendent of Pub
lie Printing and the Librarian, have sever
ally performed their respective duties. |
regret that cannot include the Attorney.
General and the former Commissioner of
Common Schools 10 this commendation.- -
The School Commissioner, fortunately for
the State, resigned his Office on the 1lth
day of November last, end the place is new
filled by highly competent and worthy
man.
The duties of the Executive are so ardu-
GUS as to command every moment of his
time. To demonstrate this, it is sufficient
to refer you to the note of private Secretary
Hoffman, herewith, giving somewhat de-
tailed 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, con
sequent upon the war, added to the fact
that the expenses Of living in this city have
greatly increased withing the past two years,
recommend an increase of salaries OF these
officers. This increase should not be less
than fifty per cent. and to secure the
benefit OF such increase to the incoming ef-
ficers, immediate action, 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
for which they are elected. am aware that
the people Of Ohio have never favored high
salaries to their public officers; but alsc
well know that they will cheerfuly sustain
us in fixing such rate Of compensation a.
will enable those in moderate pecuniary cir
cumstances to accept positions of high trus
and confidence. also renew my recon-
mendation Of last year, for proper iUcreas,
of the salary of the Superintendent of Pub
lie 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 to the duties.
invite your special attention to the Audi
tors view. on the subject OF abolishing the
Office uf Com ptroller of the Treasury, ano
urge that your finance committees thorough
ly investigate the matter. So far as | an
able to discover, [ can see no practical gooo
result from maintaining this Office.
During the early part of the past year, al
unusual degree of excitement, disorder anc
violence prevailed in many parts of thu
State; to such an extent did this state o.
llawlessncss exist, as to make it necessary tt
send an armed force to several points in th'
State, to maintain the peace. The points
of greatest alarm and apprehension wer'
in the counties of Holmes and Montgomery
To Il great extent. the causes of this un
happy condition of affairs may be attributed
to political excitement and party strife. :.
am most happy to announce, however, tha
as the day for the election approached, tn
passions and prejudices Of the people be
came allayed; and reason and judgmen
tnus left free to act, quiet and order through
out the State was the happy consequence
we have seldom, if ever, had more quie
.. and orderly election. Copies Of the severa
orders, and other correspondence relating q
, this important matter. will bc found anon
, the documents herewith, No. l3
1t will be seen tina. the main or principa
cause of the difficulty referred to, grew ou
agents of the National Government, to OF
force upon our citizens the military order
of the President of the United States
orders deemed necessary by him to crus
4 out and put down the rebellion. 1t wa
!, claimed, or pretended to be claimed, b
: those who resisted or counseled resistance t
: the enforcement of these orders, that the
/ were unconstitutional and void. Happil
h for us as a nation and people, we had el
|, Ijoyed so many years of peace, that tn
!, questions arising, touching the powers {
! the President when the nation is in war, ha
l. been but little discussed by the present gen
e sration of people, and therefore were M
!, thoroughly understood by them. The Coz
sttution had simply declared that 18th
President shall be commander in-chef {
|, the army and navy Of the United States.
s. What commander in-chief of the arm
and navy of nation mightdo, or might n,
do, when that nation was at war to mantal
its very existeace, the trainers of our Co
stitution wisely omitted to attempt to d
fine. / say wisely, for it is not in the pr
vince of any one nation on earth to deiI
the authority of the commapder-in chief
its army and navy; this is the combine
work of all the civilized nations; We mu
therefore study the laws of nations to fir
out the limit and extent of this officers a
IN thority. Thus viewing this question, al
believing as did, that the several militia
orders issued by the President, orunder b
i authority, which ip any way affected o.
/, State or its citizens, were clearly within b
. power and discretion, and were highly n
cessary and proper to maintain, our 20!
Government, I,most cheerfully gave. to Il
duly constituted authorities of the Nation
Government, assigned to duty within Q
borders, my aid and assistance as Exeeuti
OF the State. It's extremely gratifying
bA able to believe, that in this exercise
in Official duty, I have but met tho wishes o.
r. very large majority Of the people OF ohl