Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-03

my impressions are very favorable, / also
suggest that the Steward should not be the
supervisor of the purchases of the War
den, from whom he receives his appoint
ment. This Jaw Off, indeed, such be is
true Interpretation, of which I entertain
doubts6 should be changed one way q
the other. Either some other authority
should appoint the Steward, or some other
officer should inspect the purchases of the
Warden.
The absence of the new machines for
washing, ironing, cooking, etc, is apositive
loss, each yearof their entire cost. Surely
the appropriation ought to include
the cost of these articles.
PARDoNs.
The statement of the number of pardons
granted during the year by my predecessor
and myself, is herewith attached according
to law. The reasons given for each act Of
this Executive clemency are very briefly
perhaps too riefy-set forth. Doubtless
Cf the policy of the law would permit
their publicity the reasons given forthose
refused, would be quite as interesting and
more instructive upon this important sub
ject. / apprehend there must be in the
community very erroneous, if not crudest,
ideas ofthe rights and duties of the Govern
or in the matter of this prerogative. Ger
tainly there is a very slight sense of the
due responsibility, in regard TO the true
Interests, Of the State, felt by a majority of
THE signers tothe petitions. 1t is useless,
however, to complain of this As long as
human nature remains unchanged, people
.wllltoo readily sign petitions whieh4can
subject themselves personally and direct
lN to no loss or inconvenience. "E" Ii
A"'1@ Il RAILROADS.. 10 ~
The railroad interests Of Ohio have be-
come of immense value to the stock
holders, the people and the State. The
great changes which this new system of
commercial intercourse has brought about,
are in many respects obvious enough. In
others, thoughequaIy great, they are not
so apparent. Some well digested system
of laws suitable to them, is quite indispen-
sable. But it is quite necessary for a
Legislator, , framing laws for their
taxation, regulation and punish
ment, to consider all these compli-l
Gated relations more cautiously andwidely
than he might, at first thought, deem esq
sehtial. i bHa ylaGh' ~ 2fss1ic lsIS
Unquestionably some legislation Is ne
cessary to protect the lives, limbs, prop
erty and other rights of the people, from
the iencroaehments or neglect of these
powerful agents. The true line which
the peopleald vet shall not invade
the vested and equitable rights of the
will necessarily be q most diff
ticult line to find or to follow. This is a
generic difficulty. But accidents and
special circumstances greatly enhance It.
The most important roads for usefulness,
and therefore the most important for reg
are, for example, the Ohio roads in
a ehain Of connection with those of sew
eral other States. Goods are started at
one of the Eastern cities, and are passed
the custody, for conveyance, Of cor
poration after corporation, until they
reach the delivering company. 1t
is delivered in bad order. Who shall pay
owner his damages2 If these COM
panIes of the alliance were wise to their
own highest interest, they would allow no
question to be raised as to their separate
liability. They would las if a single COM
pany) pay it, and, as they the most truly
do, assess among themselves the
liability. But, inasmuch as, in
point of fact, they do not, and most of them
lie out of our jurisdiction, and in default
Of the proper remedy by the nationalleg-
authority, what is Ohio to do with
company under her power Make it
pay all the damages That would be
most acceptable to the Eastern company,
which is primarily liable by the law of
contracts, and which Git may be) commit
ted The injury. But it would be neither
Just to our own company, nor good policy
for our State. This example is of value
another use. The railroads, in order
TO guard themselves against this frequent
danger, have adopted a form of receipts or
bills of lading, exempting themselves
from such liabilities, by the special con-
.rdctio of the consighor. And they refuse
to carry the goods unless TINS exemption
shall be stipulated. Nowthis is allwrong.
As they derive the profits upon their line
as thu part of a through line, they should
n like bear their due share of its
burdens. 1t may be very true, that the
to transport Is Illegal and subjects
companyLto damages by suit. 1t is
also true that the receipt signed is ofIno
force, because against public, pol
cyl. Still, the case is practically a great
committed by the railroads, and a
great INJURY suffered by the community.
It is one, too, which needs legislation.
alarge majority of men will in such
,ase always suffer, rather than go to law
their own contract, although it
nay have been extorted under a sort of
1ai bios IT 300 -9tsv ode Us &c lsl-
Upon reconsideration of the whole sub
ect, it seems to me that with q frank ad-
of the extraordinary benefits arts
ng, directly and Indirectly, from these
n$itutions-withou ver-estimating their
'refts for the best of them will not be
ound, in the long rum very profitable
nd without treating this class, or its prop
rtg, differently from Others-the- General
Assembly should undertake a system of
legislation, which should do justice
0 them and the people,
The subject has many and intrinsicdi diff
The principle of combinations by
II such interests; their unsleeping Tef-
their great powers of sedueing all
authorities, from the County auditors
who tax them) up to the Congress Of the
States (which ought to regulate
nem1, by the little thing Of a free pass 70
Elf and family, are by no means to be
verlooked as among them. Perhaps a
.easonably severe penalty against the
or receiving . free pass in the case
{ officers, would be a good law. Ishould
it would be acceptable to the rail-
BAD companies, for they are really .op-
ressed and tyrannized over in this way. |
Whether it would 50 wen suit the Andi-
,rs and Congressmen, is more doubtful.
AGRICULTURAL LAND-GRANT.
The Committee appointed by the late
Governor, under the authority of the act
assed April Is, 1865, after careful exam
lation and consideration, has made its re-
ort!. 1t will be duly submitted to you in
special message. 1 beg leave to say,
lat having, in the first instance, avery
.ifferent view of the matter, l am now
that, all things considered, this
ommittee has decided upon the best
purse whichlthe Statelcan now pursue in
le premises. I commend to the General
.ssembly a careful consideration of this
document.
The more intimately I have known the
tie lamented Governor Brough, the more
aye | seen,reasOn to respect all his judg-
and to distrust my own, when they
to be different. Nevertheless, |
pom the subject of the grant, and the in
contemplated by it, am bound,
understand them, to dissent from GER
in parts of his r~easonings and their con-
usion in his last message.
He seems to labor under a great diff
lily, (which does not EXIST, upon the old
lestions Of a sacrifice, in the educational
Establishments, of the practical and the
,eful, o.the scientific aud abstruse parts