The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-01-15
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Tcnitmcn If the Senate and House of
Representatives.:
In compliance with the provision OF
our Constitution, which requires the
Governor to communicate TO the
General Assembly the condition Of
the State, and recommend such meas
ures as he may deem eXpedient," |
address you.
The condition OF my health for the
past few weeks, and my present in
disposition, will account for the brew
ity of the communication.
Your well known character for in
tclligence and experience as lcgisla-
tors makes it necessary, only, that
you be 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 constit-
uents demands.
The past year has been ono Of Sc
we're labor to all concerned in the ad-
ninistration ofthe Governments; and
take pleasure in bearing testimony to
thc faithful and vigilant manner in
which the Auditor of State, Treasu-
rer Of State, Secretary of State. Comp
trollcr of the Treasury, Superintend-
ent Of the State House, Superintend-
cnt of Public Printing, and the Libra
ran. have severally performed their
respective duties. | regret that | can
not iaclude the Attorney General and
the former Commissioner OF Common
Schools IN this commentator The
School Commissioner. fortunately for
the State. resigned his Office on tn
llth day Of November last. and the
place is now flied by . highly compe-
tent and worthy man.
The duties of the Executive are SO
asslduous rs to command every mo-
ncnt of his time. TO demonstrate
this, it is sufficient To refer you to the
note Of Private Secretary Hoffman.
herewith giving a somewhat detailed
statement Of the lahors Of the office.
In view of the increased lahors of the
office. In view of the increased la
bor thrown upon this department. al
so upon the departments Of the Aud
ltor and Treasurer Of State, conse
qnent upon the war, added to the fact
that the expenses Of liyingin this city
have greatly increased within the past
two years. ] recommend an increase
OF the salaries OF these officers. This
increase should not he less than fifty
per cent; and to secure the benefit
Of such increase to the incoming Of
iiccrs, immediate action, during the
first week of your session. is nccessa-
ry, rs the Constitution forLids the in
crease 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 favor
ed high salaries To their public ofiic-
ers: but also well know, that they
will chccrrully sustain us in fixing
such rate Of compensation as will en-
able those in moderate pecuniary cir
cumstanccs to accept positions Of high
trust and confidence. ] also renew
my accommodation of last year, for
Il proper increase of the salary Of the
superintendent of Public Printing
The duties Of this Office are highly
important TO the State, and have ma
torially Increased within the past
year The present rate of compensa-
ton is entirely inadequate to the du-
ties.
| invite Your especial attention to
the Auditor 5 views on the subject OF
abolishing the office Of Comptroller
of the Treasury, and urge that your
finance committees thoroughly inves-
tigate the matter. SO far as am able
to discover, | can see no practical
good result from maintaining this Of
fee.
During the early part of. the past
year, an unusual degree Of excite
ment. disorder and violence prevailed
in many parts Of tire State; TO snch
an extent did this state Of lawlessness
exist, as to make it necessary to send
an armed force to several points in
the State, to maintain the peace. The
points OF greatest alarm and appre-
hensiOn were in the counties OfHolmes
and Montgomery. To great extent
the causes Of this unhappy condition
Of affairs may be attributed to polit-
ical excitement and party strife. |
am most happy to announce, however,
that MS the day for election approach
ed, the passions and preiudices of the
people became allfyed; and reason
and Judgment thus left free to act,
quiet and order throughout the State
was the happy consequence; we have
seldom, if ever, had more quiet or
orderly election. Copies Of the sew
eral orders, and other correspondence
relating to this important matter, will
be found among the documents here
with, No. I3.
1t will be seen that the main or
principal cause of the difficulty refer.
red to, grew out of the effort on the
part of the officers and agents of the
National Government, to enforce up-
on our citizens the military 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 pretended to be
claimed, by those who resisted or
counseled resistance to the enforce
ment Of these orders, that they were
unconstitutional and void. Happily
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