Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-01-23
Gov. Hayeg, Inaugural Addrosa


GeHiLsmeH ofEe Senate and House Of Repre-
seatatiUes, and FelloD. Citizens;
The duty devolved on the Gov
ernor by the Constitution of com
municating by message to the Gen
eral Assembly the condition Of the
State and of recommending such
measures as he deems expedient
has been performed at the present
session by my predecessor Gov
Cox, in a manner 80 thorough and
comprehensive, that do not feel
called upon to enter upon a discus.
sion Of questions touching the adj
ministratiop of the State Govern
ment
/ can think of no better reward
for the faithful performance of the
duties Of the office which / am about
| to assume, than that which, ! be-
lieve, my immediate predcce essor is
entitled to enjoy, the knowledge that
in the opinion Of his fellow-citi2cns
Of all parties, he has, by his culture,
his ability and his integrity, honor
ed the Office Of Governor of Ohio,
and that he now leaves it with a con
science satisfied with the discharge
of duty.
Congratulate the members of the
General Assembly that many of the
questions which have hitherto large
/ ly engaged the attention of the law
/ making power, and divided the peo-
pie of the State, have, in the pro-
gress Of events, either been settled,
or in the general judgment of the
people, been transferred for invcs-
tigation and decision to the Nation
al Government. The State debt.
taxation, the currency and internal
improvements, for many years fur
nished the prominent topics Of dis.
cussion and controversy in Ohio.
In the year 1845 the State debt
reached its highest point. Itamount-
ed to S20,01S.5l5 67, and in the
same year the total taxable property
Of the State was S13G, I42, ,666.-
With disordered currency, with
business prostrattd, with labor of
ten in8ufIiciently rewarded, the bur
den of this debt was severely felt,
and questions in regard to it natur-
ally entered into the partisan strug-
giles of the time. Now the State
debt is S11,031, ,941 Sc; the taxable
property of the STATE amounts to
81, S1,138,754,778; 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
occasion of violent party contests.
Now men Of all parties concur in
the opinion that as a general rule
every citizen ought to be taxed in
proportion to the actual value of
his property without regard to the
form in which he prefers to invest
it; and differences rs to the meas
ures by which the principle is prac-
tically applied, rarely enter into po-
litical 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 last
few years have convinced those
who are in favor ofa paper curren-
cy, that in the present condition of
the country it can best be furnished
by the National Government, either
by means of National Banks or in
the form of legal tender treasury
notes. State Legislatures are there
fore relieved from the consideration
of this difficult and perplexing sub
ject.
Internal improvements made by
State Authority, SO essential to
growth and prosperity in the early
history of the State, no longer re-
quire much consideration by the
General Assembly. Works of a
too great to be underta-
ken by individual enterprise. will
hereafter be, for the most part, ac-
complished by the Government of
the Nation.
The part which patriotism requir-
ed Ohio to take in the war to sup
press the Rebellion, demanded i'm
pOrtant and frequent acts of legis
lation. Fortunately the transac
lions of the State growing out of
the war have been, or probably can
be, closed under existing laws, with
very little, if any, additional legis-
.ation.
If not mistaken as to the result
Of this brief reference to a few of
The principal subjects of the legisla-
ion of the pfst, the present Gener-
Il Assembly has probably a better
opportunity than any of its prede-
,essors to avoid the evil of too
much legislation. Excessive legis-
alton has become a great evil, and
submit to the Judgment of the
General Assembly the wisdom of
-voiding it.
One important question of prin-
iple, as old as our State Govern
nent, still remains unsettled. All
re familiar with the conflicts to
which the policy of making dis
motions between citizens in civil
nd political rights has given rise
n Ohio. The first effort Of those
Who opposed this policy was to Sc
nre to alt citizens equality of civil
lights. The result of the struggle