The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-01-16
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
GO VERNON HAYES

Gentlemen Of the Senate and House
of Representatives, and Fellow,
citizens:
The duty devolved on the Gov
ernor by tho Constitution Of com,
Municating by message tothe Gen.
eral Assembly tho condition Of the
State, and OF recommending such
measures as he deems oxpedient
has been performed at the present
session by lnE. predecessor, Govern
or Cox, in a. manner 30 thorough
and comprehensive that Idonot
iecl called upon to enter upon q
discussion Of questions touching
tho administration of the State Gov.
ernment. ea o' Oh rH fpA'o ~
can think of no better reward
for the iaithinl performance OF
tho duties of the Office which l am
about TO assume, than that which,
| believe, my immediate predeces-
tsor is entitled to enjoy-the knowl-
edge that in the opinicnlof his iel.
tow citizcns OF all parties, he has,
by bis culture, his ability and his
integrity, honorcd the Office OF
Governor of Ohio, and that he now
leaves it with II conscience satisfied
with tho discharge of duty.
/, lcongrntuIate the members Of
the General Assembly that many
OF the questions which have hith
erto largely engaged tho attention
OF tho law making power, and divi.
ded the people of tho State, have,
,in the progress of events, either
been settled or in the generaljudg
ment of The people, been trausier-
red Tor Investigation and decision
10 tho National Government. The
State debt, taxation, tho currency
and internal improvements, for
many years furnished the promin.
ent topics of discussion and con
troversy in Ohio. In the year
1918 the State debt reached its
highest point. IL amounted to
S2O,0lS,5l5 81, and in tho same
year the total taxable property OF
the State was 1885, 6,l42,6GG. With
q disordered currency /; with bust
noss Frustrated; with labor often
insutliciently rewarded, the bur.
den OF this debt was severely felt,
and questions in regard 10 it nat.
urally entered into tho partisan
struggles Of tho time. Now the
State debt is Sll, ,031 .9l1 So. The
taxable property OF the State a.
mounts TO Sl,13S,754,T79; and
there is no substantial difference OF
opinion among the people as to
tho proper mode Of dealing with
this subject. eIDuo -Ir
oiale taxation was formerly the
OCCASION Of Violent party contests.
Now mon Of all parties concur in
the opinion thatas a general rule
evory citizen ought to be taxed in
proportion TO tho actual value Of
his property, without regard 10
to the form in which he prefers to
invest it;and ditrcrenccs as 10 the
measures by which the principle is
practically applied raroly enter
into political struggles in Ohio.
Party conflicts and debates hs TO
State laws in relation 10 banking
and tho currency constitute large
part Of the political history of the
State. But the events Of The last
few years have convinced those
who arc in favor OF a paper cur.
rcncy, that in tho present condi.
ton OF the country it,can best be
furnished by the National Govern.
ment, either by n,ouns Of National
Banks or in the form of lcgll ton.
der Treasury notes. State Legis.
Iaturcs arc therefore, relieved from
Lhe consideration OF this difficult
and pcrplcxing subject,
Internal improvements mede |
by State authority, so essential to
growth and prosperity in the early |
history Of the State, no longer 70, |
luire much consideration by the
General Assembly. Works OF
too great to be under.
aiken byindividual enterprise, will |
hereafter bc for the most part nc.
by tho Government of
.he nation.
Tho part which patriotism re.
luired Ohio to tako In the war to
'uppress tho rebellion, demanded
important and frequent acts of
cgisla,ion. Fortunately the tran.
'actions of tho State growing out
If tho war have been, or probably |