The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1868-01-23
Gov. Hayes Inaugural
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of
Representatives, and FelloaC- Citizens i;

VI ny luo OOIlStlGUGlOuJ Vi COlAlluuulCdl
ing by message to the General Assem-
bly, the condition of the State, aud 0
recommending such measures as hr
deems expedient. has been performed
by my predecessor, Governor Cox, il
a manner so thorough and cOmprehen
sive that do not feel called upon t.
enter into a discussion of questions
touching the administration of the
State Government.
i can think of no better reward fol
tthe faithful performance Of the duties
of the Office which I am about to as.
sumo, than that which, 1 believe, my
Immediate predecessor is entitled to
enjOy-the knowledge that in the
lOpinion of his fellow citizens of all
parties, he has, by his culture, bis abili-
ty and his integrity, hOnorcd the Office
of Governor of Ohio, and that he now
leaves it with a conscience satisfied
with the discharge Ofduty.
/ congratulate the members Of the
General Assembly that many of the
questions that have hitherto largely
engaged the attention of the law-mak-
ing power, and divided the people Of
the State, have, in the progress of
events, either been settled, or in the
general judgment of the people, been
transferred for investigation and decis-
sion to the National Government
The State debt, taxation, the curren-
cy and internal Improvements, for
many years furnished the prominent
topics of discussion and controversy in
Ohio. In the year 1845 the State
debt reached its highest point. It
amounted to $20,O18,515 81, and in
the same year the total taxable prop
'erty of the State was S136, ,142, $685.
With a disordered currency, with
business prOstrated, with labor often
insuficiently rewarded, the burden of
this debt was severely felt, and ques-
tiOns in regard to it naturally entered
into the partisan struggles of the time.
Now the State debt is S1I, ,031 ,941 56;
the taxable property of the State
amounts to 81, ,138, ,754,779; and there
is no substantial difference. of opinion
among the people as to the proper
mode of dealing with this subject.
State taxation was formerly the Oc-
casiOn Of violent party contests. Now
men of all parties concur in the Opin-
ion that as a general rule every citizen
ought to be taxed in proportion to
the actual value Of his property, with
out regard to the form in which he
prefers to invest it; and differences as
to the measures by which the princi-
pie is practically applied, rarely enter
into political struggles in Ohio.
Party conflicts and debates as to
State laws in relation to banking and
the currency, constitute a large part of
the political history of the State. But
the events of the past few years have
convinced those who are in favor of
paper currency, that in the present
condition of the country it can best be
furnished by the National Govern
ment, either by means of National
Banks, or in the form of legal tender
Treasury notes. State Legislatures,
are, therefore, relieved from the con-
sideraiion ofthis difficult and perplex-
ing subject.
internal Improvements made by
State authority, SO essential to growth
and prosperity in the early history Of
the State, no longer require much con
sideration by the General Assembly.
Works of magnitude too great to be-
undertaken by individual enterprise
will hereafter be, for the most part, ac-
complished by the Government of
the nation.
The part which patriotism required
Ohio to take in the war to suppress
the rebellion, demanded important
and frequent acts of legislation. For |
the transactions of the State !
growing out of the war have been, or
can be, closed under exist |
ing laws, with very little, If any, ad-
ditionaI legislation.
If not mistaken as TO the result of
this brief reference to a few of the
subjects of the legislation of
the past, the present General Assem-
bly, has probably a better opportunity
than any of its predecessors to avoid
the evil of too much legislation. Ex-
epssive legislation has become a great
evil, and / submit to the Judgment of
the General Assembly the wisdom Of
avoiding it.
One important question of principle,
rs old as our State Government, still
remains unsettled. All are familiar
with the conflicts to which the policy
Of making distinctions between citi-l
zens in civil and political rights has
given rise in Ohio The first effort Of
those who opposed this policy was to
secure to all citizens equality Of civil
rights. The result of the struggle
that ensued is thus given by an emil
lent and houored citizen of our States:
"The laws which created disabilities
on the part of negroes in respect to
civil rights were repealed in 184q, af- !
ter an obstinate contest quite memoir
able in the history of the State. Their
repeal was looked upon with great
disfavor bya large portion of the peo-
pie, as a dangerous innovation upon a
Just and well settled policy, and vote
in that direction consigned many
of the Legislature to the re-
pose of private life. But I am not
aware that any evil results justified
these apprehensions, or that any effort
was ever made to impose the disabin-
ties. On the contrary, the new poll
~, if I may call it so, has been found
20 consistent with justice to the ne
groes and the interests of the whites,
that no one-certainly no party-in
Ohio would be willing to abandon it."
An effort to secure to all citizens
equal political rights was made in the
State Constitutional Convention of
1851. Only thirteen out of one hum
ired and eight members Of that body,
voted in its favor; and it is probable
hat less than One-tenth of the voters
1f the State would then have voted
10 strike the word "white" out of the
The last General Assembly submit
ed to the people a proposition to