Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-01-16


government, they were administra-
tivs only, and tho state itself was
the responsible principle to which
the soldiers entrusted their
claims and look for the perform
ance of the trust, the agent being
strictly the employee of the state
which paid him, and in no sense the
employee of the soldiers.
The local Court of the District
of Columbia, before which the case
was brought, held, however, that
the agent was the agent of the state
only for the purpose Of receiving
a salary, and that the archives Of
the office and record books furnish
ed by the state are the agents per
sonal roperty, Dissatisfied with this
decision, the Adjutant General has,
ith my approval appealed to the
Supreme Court of the United States,
where the case will soon be heard
and decided.
A full history of this transaction,
as we'll as of the meSns which have
been energetically used by the Ad-
jutant Gen. to protect the interests
of the soldiers under the embarrass-
ments incident to the failure to OBJ
tain immediate possession Of the
records of the office, will be found
in Gen. Cowan's report, To that
report / would refer for full eX.
hibit Of the steps taken to close
up the military business of the State
of all kinks, and to bring every
thing to a peace footing by diminu-
ton of the number Of employees
and clerks, and reduction Of ex-
penditures.
IMMIGRATION.
The laws Of the State provide for
a Commissioner of immigration,
whose duty is to use all proper
means to turn the tide of immi,
grants toward our own borders, and
to spread Information as to the re-
sources of Ohio. For two years
no appropriation has been made
for his office, and the law is prac-
tically a dead letter. 1t may well
be doubted whether the office es-
tablished in this State could be Of
real benefit, but there can be no
question that careful compilation
of facts and statistics with regard to
the resources of the State, and the
advantages it offers as home to
the immigrant, would be most use
full, If to this could be added com.
plete geological survey Of the State
in detail, showing not simply the
larger general features which are al.
ready pretty well known, but the
minuter facts of its geology and
natural history, the advantage
would be felt both by our present
citizens and in the attraction Int or
of desirable classes Of now new
comers. Valuable essays on spe-
cial parts Of these subjects have,
from time to time, appeared in the
reports of the Board Of Agricul-
ture, and in indie, endcnt publica
tions, and it is thought that no
great expense would be incurred in
bringing together and completing
such an exhibit Of our resources as
has been referred to.
A very respectable horticultural
society has called attention to the
necessity of n full investigation of
the nature and habits of insects
which often commit great ravages
upon the orchards and fields Of the
country. They represent with ap-
parent reason, that the labor of
such an investigation cannot be I'M.
taken by ind viduals, and that pub
lie advantage require that it be done
at public cost. AS part Of tho com
plete survey of the Geolt gy and
Natural History Of the State, the
topic is worthy Of your attention;
and / am persuaded that such a
work, carefully performed, would
be a most profitable investment of
the cost, by the encouragement and
assistance which would be thereby
rendered to the great producing in
terests Of the State,
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
The last General Assembly di-
rected the submission to the people
proposition to amend the State
Constitution on the subject Of the
elective franchise, so as to abolish
distinctions in political privilege
based upon race, The amendment
was accordingly submitted ut the
October election, and the returns
showed that IL was defeated a ma
jority Of 50,029 votes. In accord
ance with the provisions of the
statute, ! issued a proclamation on
the 90th day of October, announc,
ing the fact. AS the question is
one which seems to me to be chief
ly important in It's relation to ma
tional rather than State policy, |
shall refrain from discussing il, and
the more willingly, that the pro
greas Of events has only strength
eaed the convictions | have hereto.
fore made public in regard 70 it.
70 foster and protect all the 10
eal aad personal interests and
rights Ofthc people Of our great
copmeDwealth, is the duty which
theylhaye committed officially to
our hands and In the hope that un'
der the Divine Providence your la