Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-01-06

ly, large amount OF property now escap-
ing taxation, upon various pretexts and
omissions, which should be brought up
on the duplicate. Such a revision can
not be well made during session of the
Legislature; but should be done by
committee or commissioners during the
recess. 1 commend the subject to your
attention.
The annual examination of the Treas
ury was made in July last, by 7. P.
Handy, Esq, of Cleveland, and his re-
port is presented in the appendix.
THE Governor compliments his several staff
officers, says they all discharged their duties
with faithfuness and fidelity, and refers TO
their report fer details. He also refers in
complimentary terms to the valuable services
ting money from soldiers and transmitting it
to their friends at home.
A somewhat detailed account is given OF
the expenditure of the extraordinary contin-
gent fund, of which S48,266 % has been ex-
pended during the time Gov. Brough has
been in Office. The expenditures have been
exclusively for the benefit of the soldiers
sending special agents to the field to see TO
their wants, employing extra physicians and
nurses, sending supplies furnished by Aid So
cieties, relieving destitute soldiers in various
ways, etc. IL reference to the efficiency of
the State military Agents in the distributing
supplies to soldiers, he says:
While l desire to be fairly understood as
not impeaching, or desiring to impair the val
ue of either of the associations laboriug for
the relief of our soldiers, l still adhere to the
opinion expressed TO you last winter, that
more real good can be accomplished, at less
expense, though the State agencies, and our
aid societies, than in any other way. While
extending our own operations, 1 have care
fully watched these of our sister States of In
diana and I have found that her system mer-
its the strongest commendation. 1t is sim
pie in its character. A central society at the
Capital, under the immediate care of the Gov
ernor, receives all the contributions from the
various aid societies within the State. These
are classified and distributed TO the several
State agents, according to the wants in their
respective departments, who in turn distrib-
ute them among the men. The State pro-
vides fund that aids in the purchase of ar
ticles not contributed, and pays the transpor-
tation. There Is no expensive machinery
about mo waste, and no extravaganza
It has been objected to, as being local and
selfish in its character, but this is not the fact
While the first care of the agents is for Indi-
ana men, no Ohio man in want or distress has
ever, to my knowledge, appealed to an Indi-
ana-agency, without having his wants reliev-
ed The Indiana agents have frequently d.
vided their stores with the agents OF Ohio j,
and we have always tried to reciprocate the
kindness
There are many benefits attending this sys-
tenn, which should not be disregarded.
lst 1t is decidedly the most economical
way of aggregation and distributing the con-
of our people, and expending the
means appropriated by the State for this pur-
pose.
ID. 1t renders certain the distributation of
all supplies to the object and purpose for
which they are intended. There is hardly
possibility for misrepresentation. There is no
machinery about it to be kept fabricated, and
no class of middle men to levy toll upon it,
Sd. By proper care and management it is
made more prompt and energetic than any
will be more general and appropriate in its re-
lief
4th. 1t fosters and gratifes the State pride
of our soldiers. 1t comes nearer to the feel
ing of Home. An Ohio soldier regards an Ohio
Agency as place he has right to enter and
expect welcome. If he is in want, there is
no system of order or acquisitions for him to
60 through--no prying and unpleasant cat
echism for him to submit to. The supplies
furnished by bis State and bis people are
there and he feels that be is no object of char
ity when he partakes of them. His remem-
brances OF home are freshened-hs attach
ment to his State quickeued and increased
and he goes away feeling that he is not neg
lected or forgotten-@that the country is still
worth upholding, and the dear old State still
worth defending from the encroachments of
the rebel adversary. And this is doubly the
case when the agent passes almost daily through
his hospital-bends over the bed on which he
is stretched with sickness or wounds-enquires
kindly into his wants, and ministers unto them
from the benefactions of his people, and the
Gberality of his State. Surely this spirit is
worth cherishing and preserving.
While do not seek to limit the contribu-
tions of cur people through other channels. l
invoke their attention to their own agencies, and
their active cooperation in the labors of the
opening year. II earnest, benevolent citi-
zens will organize a central association here,
I will be glad to work with them If our
aid societies are satisfied with.the presnet sys-
TEN of working through the Quartermaster's
Department, we will continue it, in the hope
it will be much enlarged-that our supplies
will be iucreased-and our soldiers comforted
and strengthened under the perils and suffer-
ings they are called to endure.
THE Benevolent Institutions are represented
as in prosperous condition, their management
commended aud the continued fostering care
and protection of the State to these refugees
for the unfortunate solicited.
The Ohio PeDitentiary has been well man
aged but owing to diminution of the guam
tity and quality of labor performed, without
corresponding reduction of expenses, the
preponderance of expenditures over receipts
has increased; the excess of expenditures for
the fiscal year being $l7,684 81. The par
dons granted during the year number forty
four.
In order to render the services of the Su-
periutendent of Public Printing more efficient,
it is recommended that he be paid u salary
that will enable him to devote all of his time
and attention to the duties of the Office.
The Governor explains at some length the
controversy between himself and the Secreta-
ry of State and Attorney General 10 reference
oC