The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-01-12

whose duty it shall be TO inspect and
see If the prisoners are we'll treated
and kept cleanly, and thinks the
Board will prove one of economy to
the State. He also suggests that the
Iplan Of allowing a new bidder TO come
into contact with the Prison contract.
or, in any special work he is engaged
in, TO be unjust. Also that some
specially appointed officer should in
spect the purchases of the Warden,
for Prison purposes.
PARDoNs.
The statement of the number OF
pardons granted during the year by
my predecessor and myself, is here.
with attached according to law
The reasons given for each act OF
this Executive clemency are very
briefly - perhaps too briefly - sci
forth. Doubtless (if the policy OF
the law would permit theirpublicity
the reasons given for those refused.
would be quite rs interesting and
more instructive upon this important
subject. apprehcnd there must
be IN the community very erroneous,
/ If not crudcst, ideas Of the rights and
duties of the Governor IN the matter
Of this prerOgaiiye. Certainly there
is very slight sense of the due re.
sponsihility, in regard to the true in
terests Of the State, felt bv Il major.
ity of the signers to the petitions. II
is useless, however, TO complain ot
this. AS long as human nature re
mains unchanged, people will toe
readily sign petitions which can sub
iect themselves, personally and di
rectly, TO no loss or Inconvenience.
RAILROADS.
The railroad interests of Ohio hay,
become of immense value to tn,
stock holders, the people, and th,
State
Unquestionablv some legislation /.
necessary to protect the lives, limbs
property and other rights of the pe0
pie from the encroachments or neg
lects Of these powerful agents. The
true line, which shields the people
and yet shall not invade the vested
and equitable rights fthe companies
will necessarily be most difficult
line to find or follow. This is a gen
| A..tn ,1fnt.,tlt.r Dnt pa.s .lnnN,
special circumstances greatly en-
hance it. The most important road.
for usefulness, and therefore the mos
Important for regulation, are for eX
ample, the Ohio roads in a chain o.
connection with those OF several 9th
er States. Goods are started in ono
of the eastern titles, and are passed
into the custody, Tor conveyance, o
corporation after corporation unit
they shall reach the delivering com
pany. 1t is delivered in bad order
Who shall pay the owner his dana.
ges ? If these companies of the ALI
ance were wise 10 their own highest
interest, they would allow no ques.
ton to be raised as to their separate
liability. They would (as single
company pay it, and, as they the
most truly could do, assess among
themselves the proper liability. But
ipasmuch as, in point ofact, they dc
not, and most of them lie out of oul
! jurisdiction, and in default of the pro
| per remedy by the national legisla
tive authority, what is Ohio to do
with the company under her power
Make it pay all the damgesY That
would be the most acceptable to th,
eastern company, which is primarily
liable by the laws of contracts, ano
which (it may bc) committed the in
Jury. Bat IL would be neither jas
TO one company, nor good policy f0i
our state. This example is Of value
! tor another use. The railroads Ia or.
der to guard themselves against this
frequent danger, have adopted Il form
of receipts OF bills Of lading, exempt
ing themselves from such liabilities
bv the special contract Of the consig
Inor. And they refuse TO carry The
goods unless this exemption shall bC
stipulated. Now this is all wrong
As they derive the profits upon theil
line, as the part Of a through line
they should in like manner, beal
their due share of its burdens. Ii
may be very true that the refusal tc
transport is Illegal, and subjects thC
company TO damages by suit, 1t i,
also true that the receipt signed, i,
Of no binding force, because agains
public policy, Still, the case is prac
tically great wrong committed 10y
the railroads, and a great injury suf
fered by the community. 1t is one
too, which needs legislation. For
large majority of men, will in sucl
case always suffer rather than go tC
law against their own contract, al
though it may have been eXtorteC
under a sort of duress.
| Upon a consideration Of the Who'll,
subject, it seems to me that with {
frank admission Of the extraordinary
benefits arising, directly and indircc
lily, from these insttutions-the Gen
eral Assembly should undertake
system Of proper legislation, whicl
should do justice to them and th'
people.
IMMl GRAFTON.
You will have, and doubtless, will
carefully consider, the report of tn
Commissioned on Immigration, an,
the general topic OF which IL make
a part