The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-01-22
GOV. mAYEs, 1yAUGURAL.
Gentlemen ofthe Senate and
H.. r

the Constitution OF communicating by mess
sage to the General Assembly the condition
of the State, and of recommending such
measures as he deems expedient, has been
performed at the present session by my
Governor Cox, in a manner so
thorough and compresensive that do not
feel called upon to enter upon discussion
IF questions touching the administration OF
the State Government
can think of no better reward for the
faithful performance OF the duties of the Of
Ace which | am about to assume, than that
which. believe, my immediate predecessor
is entitled to enjoy,-the knowledge that in
the opinion OF his Fellow Citizens of all par
ties. he has, by his culture, the ability snd
his Integrity honorc1 the Office Of Govern
or of Ohio. and that he now leaves it with
a conscience satisfied with the discharge of
duty
congratulate the members Of the Gener.
al Assembly that many of the questions
which have hitherto largely engaged The at
tentiOn of the law making power, and divi-
ded the people of the State, have, in the
ofevents, either been settled. or in
the general Judgment of the Teopie. been
transferred lor Investigation and decision to
the National Government. The State debt,
taxation, the currency and internal improves
ments, for many years furnished the promi
nent topics Of discussion and controversy in
Ohio. In the year l845 the State debt
reached its highest point. 1t amounted to
500 0lS.5l5,67, and in the Same year the
total taxable property of the State was
$l36, l42 666. With di8or1ered currency,
with business prcStrated, with labor often
rewarded, the burden of this
debt was severely felt, and questions in re.
gard to it naturally entered into the parii
san struggles of the time. Now the tate
debt Is 81 ,031 ,94l Sc; the taxable proper>
ty Of the State amounts 10 S t,l3S, ,754, ,7T9;
and there is no substantial difference OF opnN
ION among the people as to the proper mode
Of dealing with this srbiect.
State taxation was formerly the occasion
ef violent party contests. Now men OF all
parties concur in the opinion that AS a ecn-
eral rule every citizen ought to be taxed in
proportion to the actual value of his pros
erty, without regard TO the form in which
he prefers to iaves, it, and differences as to
the measures by which the principle is prac-
tj.aliy applied, rarely enter into political
struggles in Ohio.
dftg CuhIIClS anu htpat4S az 10 lftate
laws in relation to banking and the curren-
cy, 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 OF paper currency, that in the
present condition OF the county i can best
be furnished by the National Government,
si'her by means OF National banks or in the
form OF legal tender treasury notes State
eglsIatures are therefore re!irled from the
constipation OF this difficult and pcrpcx-
ing subject,
Internal improvements made by State au-
thorlty, so essential to growth and prosper
ity in the early history OF the State, no Ion
ger require muuh consideration by the Gen.
eral Assembly. Works Of magnitude too
great to be undertaken by individual enter
prise, will hereaitrr be, for the most part,
accomplished 10y the Government OF tbs
Nation.
The part winch patriotism required OHIO
to take IN the war to suppress the RebelI-
ion, demanded imnortant and frequent acts
of legislation. Fortunately the tranSac.
!lons OF the State growing out OF the war
have been, or probably can be, closed un-
der existing laws, with very little, II auy,
additional legislation
II not mistaken as to the result OF th 5
brief reference to a, tew Of the principal
subjects OF the legislation Of the past, the
present General Assembly has r:'baDly a
better opportunity than any Of It's rrede-
coSsors to avoid the evil of too much Ielis-
lation. Excessive legislation has become a
great evil, an | submit to the Judgment OF
the General Assembly the wisdom OF avoid
ing 1t.
One important question OF principle, as
old as nur State G"vernm9nt, stlIi remains
unsettled. All our familiar with the. co'i-
tiicts to which the policy OF making ilstnc.
t!ons between c'hzens! IN evil and political
liGhts mas given rise III Ohio. Inc ursF ef-
fort Of thOln who onnOStd this po'irv was