The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-01-10


| certified into the Treasury, and are in daily
expectation of the receipt of another and
| larger payment.
The amount of claims presented, but not
yet allowed and paid, exclusive of those
presented to Gen. Casey's commission, and
those allowed by the State Military Commits
sion is ----------- s5ss,s2s ss
Amount before Gen Cafey's commission. .2ss,soi II
Amount allowed 10 this date by State
Total outstanding military claims Hs
against the United States 81, 100, $40 ~
Ofthese, it is reasonable to expect that
$50Os00O viii be paid during your session,
aud the remainder will be pressed as rapidly
as possible by the officers having them in
charge.
By ct of the last General Assembly, the
further receipt of soldiers claims, for back
pay and bounty, was stopped on the first of
June, and on the first of October the busi-
ness remaining unsettled was transferred to
the Adjutant-General' office, aud the.Bareau
of Soldiers Claims closed. The report of
Royal Taylor, the commissioner, is append
ed hereto, showing that the business of his
office was faithful ly performed, and all the
books, recnrds and papers properly turned
| over to the Adjutant- General as provided by
law. | should be glad 10 be able 10 report
the same Of Jas. G. Wetnore, ESQ. of the
Washington agency In June last / felt it
my duty 10 make some structures upon acts
of his which appeared TO me designed to de-
feat the object of the law, for the sake of per-
sonal profit, by creating the impression that
the cessation to receive new claims included
| also the cessation to prosecute gratuitously
the collection of those already received. The
| correspondence on this subject was followed
by the resignation of the agent on the first
of July, when directed the Adjutant Cen
eral to assume the duties ofthe agency, and
save the expense of a separate Office, for the
short time il had sill TO exist. For this pur-
pose General COwen proceeded 10 Washing
tou to receive the transfer of the office and
its archives, but was unexpectedly met by
refusal TO deliver possession of the records
ard papers. As the dnties of the agency
were identical in character with those of the
commissioner of claims, whose office was in
the State Capitol, and as | had then. and
have now, no more doubt of the. right of the
State to the records there than to those of the
executive Office here, directed legal pro-
ceedings to be instituted to obtain possession
of the books and documents. Ny view of
the duties IF that agent is that Ike ihose of
all other officers of the State Government
they Were administrative only, and the
State itself was the responsible prir cipal to
which the soldiers entrusted their claims
and look fot the performance of the trust, the
agent being strictly the employe of the State
which paid him, and in no sense the .emplye
of the soldiers. 7fH Ni 'sN
The local Court of the District of Colum.
bisi 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 fufnish ed by the State are
the agents personal property. DISSATISFIED
with this decision. the Adjutant- G sneral has,
with my approval, appealed to the Supreme
/ Court ofthe United Slater, where the case
will soon he heard and decided - ft
A full history Of This transaction, as well
as Of the means which have been energetical-
ly used by the Adjutant- General to protect
the interests of the soldiers undert the embar-
rasments incident to the failure tS obtain i'm
mediate possession of the records of the of
fee, will be found in General Cowen's re-
port. To that report l would also refer for
full exhibit of the steps taken TO close up
the m litary business Of the Site, of all
kinds, and to bring everything 10 a peace
footing by diminution of the number of en-
ployes aud clerks, and reduction of expendi.
tuTes
The law of the State provides for Com
missioner of Immigration, whose duty is to
use all proper means to turn the tide of i'm
migrants toward our own borders, and 10
spread information as to the resources of
Ohio. For two years no appropriation has
been made for this office, and the law is
practically dead letter 1t may well be
doubted whether the office established in
this State could be of real benefit, but there
can be no question that CAREFUL compila-
ton of facts and statistics W tn regard to the
resources of the State, and the advantages it
off rs as homo to the immigrant, would be
most useful. If to this could he added
complete geological survey of the State in
detail showing not simply the larger general
features which are already 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 hi her of desirable classes of new
comers, Valuable essays on special parts of
these subjects have, from time to time, ap-
peared in the reports of the Board Of Agri-
culture, and in the independent publ cations
and it is thought that no great expense
would be incurred in bringing toge her and
completing such an exhibitsof our resources
as has been referred to. sI- fl-&J i.aF.
Avery respectable horticultural society
has called attention to The necessity of full
invest CATION of the natu aud habits ofin-
secs which often commit great ravsges up
ON the orchards and fields in the country.
They represent with apparent reaso", that
the labor of such an investigation can not be
undertaken by individuals, and that public |
advantage requires that it be done at public |
cost. As part of the complete survey of the |
Geology and Natural History of the State,
the topic is wOrlhy of your attention; and |
am persuaded that such work, carefully
performed, w1uld be most profitable invest |
ment of the cost, by the encouragement and |
assistance which would be thereby rendered |
to the great producing interests of the State. |
The last General Assembly directed the |
submission to the people Of a proposition to |
amend he State Constitution on The subject |
of the elective franchise, so as TO abolish dis |
tinctions in political privilege based upon
race. The amendment was accordingly sub |
mitted at the October elec ion, and the re- |
turns show at it was defeated by MAORI |
ty of so, G29. votes. In accordance with the |
provisions OF the statute, issued a procla- |
nation on the 30th day of October, announc-
ing the fact. As the question is one which |
seems to me TO be CHIEF fly important in itsre-
lation to naTonal rather than State policy, |
i shall refrain from discussing it, and the |
more willingly, thar The progress of events
has only Strengthened the convictions have
heretofore made public in regard to it. sa
To foster and protect al the local and per- |
sonal interests and rights of the people of our |
great commonwealth, is The duty whchthey
have committed officially to our hands; and |
IN he hope that under the Divine Providence
your I4bors will he sagaciously directed TO
that end, welcome you to your legislative
duties -e,- j.. D. CON, ai
Governor, /