The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-01-13
Governors Message.
RELIEF LAW,

As l apprehendcd would be the case,
the fund for the reliei of the families OF
soldiers and marines has proved made
qua'e TO meet the wants OF this meritorI.
Gus class OF persons; owing in part to the
insufliclency of the tax; but mainly to the
largely increased expenses Of living
The families OF the National Guard made
a considerable drsin upon it, during the
hundred days they were in service. In
view of this, l appropriated the sum Of
five thousand dollars from the Exraor.
dinary Contingent Fund, TO this class Of
families, which was disbursed by the sew.
eral county military committees, and ac.
complished mnch good, As we cannot
reasonably expect any material reduction
in the prices Of living during the next
year, there would seem TO be no resort
purpose l suggest an increased levy Of
one mill on dollar.
The workings Of the law have not been
AS smooth as l expected; and yet l DO
not know that sny amendment or rev:s.
ion would aid in The accomplishment Of
its objects. The conflicting constructions
OF it's provisions have, believe, become
reconciled. As a general thing, the county
officers have performed their duties unter
it with reasonable promplitude. Numer.
Gus, and in some cases serious, com plants
have been made against Township Trus
tees, in regard 10 the distribution of the
fund. The military committees have
rendered very valuable assistance in in .
vestiga,ing these complaints In some
cases he omissions were found TO be ac.
cidental; IN others they arose from the
insufficency OF the fund 10 meet the tx
pec'aiions OF the parties; in very few they
were found to be Exaggerated aud iraudu.
lent; and IN many, tar too many, they
were found to be correctly stated, and
properly attributable 10 the political hos.
tIiity OF the officers, not only 10 the pro.
visions Of the law, but TO the prosecution
OF the war, ann the cause of he country.
In no case reported 10 me did this amount
TO absolute relusa, TO perform the re.
quired duties; but in some instances they
were tardi'y perfo,med; in others, wo-
men were required to walk long distances
to get signatures 10 orders; in others,
again, the payments to them were &C.
companied with harsh, aud in some cases
upgentlemaniy language, which in many
instances deferred females from second
applications. 1t is painful 10 be compelled
TO record these facts; yet it affords me
pleasure 10 state that such conduct has
not been generally manifested in the po.
i'ical party opposed to the government.
The cases are insulated, and have usually
been found connected with ignorance or
intense partisan bitterness.
Township officers are under tie imme-
diate control o the county authoilies. 1t
is only when the latter refuse to act, and
correct abuses, that the Executive is au.
thorized 10 assume control OF the fund
But one case of ibis kind has been report
ed 10 me. The Commissioners were i'm
media,eIy notified that the provisions Of
the law would be enforced; upon which
the matter was adjusted between them
and the Military Committee, and fnrther
action was thus avoided.
The reports required by the seventh
section o, The law are not made with suf.
ficen, prombtilude. AT The present time
Of writing, reports have been received
from only twenty five counties; and many
of these are deceive, by reason of re-
ports not having been made by trustees
to county officers. In number of the
counties reported, very considerable bal
ances of ,he fund remained on hand in
October 10 the remainder the balances
are small, except the counties OF HolhNs
and Marion, which have paid ou; all the
money received, These reports are very
important to the State officers and the
Legislature. The neglect or delay Of
them defeats one of the most important
purposes OF the law. suggest .ha.
reasonable penalty be attached to the
neglect 10 make them, either by township
or county officers.
o. the counties reporting, Coiumbiana
Cuyahoga, Coshocten, Fulton. Guernsey,
Huron, Hamilton, Lawrence, Marion, Per-
ry, Preble, Stark, Summit, Van Vert
and Wood, made county levies in aid OF
the fund. and to cover deficiencies in pre-.
vious years.
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
The militia system of the State was put
10 severe test during the year, and |
am happy 10 say that Ii passed the ordeal
in The most satisfactory manner. In the
month Of April, at conference OF the
Governors OF Ohio. Indiana, Illinois, Iowa
and Wisconsin, il was determined to offer
to the Government the services of eighty
FIVE Thousand militia for the term OF one
hundred days-lhe quota of Ohio being
fixed at thirty thousand. The policy Of