Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-08-26


of over $4,000 was proposed, /
was submitted to a vote Of the peo
pie. If turnpikes we're to be bull
those who had to pay for them haC
right to be heard lfthe State i
not burdened with debt and taxes
under these laws, it will be due to tn,
wisdom and economy of their coun
ty commissioners, or to the fac
that the people by their Represent
atives in the next Legislature re,
quire them to be extensively modi.
fed, or altogether repealed.
Mr. Leete gives as the groun | oI
this extraordinary Legislation that
it is necessary in order to avoid
special legislation. The sufficient
answer to this is that the very leg
islature which passed these laws al
so passed special laws granting lar
ger powers to contract debts and
/ levy taxes, than were ever conferr,
ed in Ohio before. On this whole
subject | repeat what ] said in June,
"no intelligent man can read care
fully the enactments of the last
General Assembly contained in the
Goth and 66th volumes of the laws
of Ohio, and note the number and
character of the laws increasing the
expenses and liabilities OF the State,
and authorizing additional taxa
ton for city and village, for coun.
ty and township purposes without
having the conviction forced upon
him that the gentlemen who enact
ed these laws hold to the opinion
that the way to increase wealth is
to increase taxation, and that pub.
lie debts are public blessings"
But, says Mr. Lectc, Republicans
aided in the passage Of these laws
| need not reply to nor explain this
suggestion. The Democratic par
ty had a majority in both branches
of the Legislature and the control
and the chairmanship Of every i'm,
portant committee. 1t is idle now
to attempt to shift the responsible
ty of its actions on to the shoul-
ders Of the minority. If the Dem.
ocratic leaders undertake to shirk
the just accountability which be.
longs to the party in power, l sub.
nit that no better reason than that
need be given for saying that the
time has come when the power
ought to be taken from them.
The conclusion Of the whole
matter is that under the manage
ment of the financial affairs of the
State by the late Democratic Leg
islature, expenditures are increas-
ing, taxes are increasing and debts
are increasing, The Democratic
party in its Convention indorses
that management and MaakS the
last Legislature for its economy
The Republican party condemns
the legislation ofthe last two years,
and demands that it shall be re.
formed, Upon this issue we 90
confidently before the people Of
Ohio.
SOLDIERS ORPHANS HOME.
The Republican State Conven-
ton passed the following resolu,
ton on the subject Of a Soldiers
Orphans Home:
"5, ReSolUed, That the Repub-
lican party Of Ohio is in favor Of
speedy establishment Of n Sol
diers' Orphans home in Ohio, not
only as IN act Of justice to the many
poor and helpless orphans of de-
ceased soldiers, but as q recogni-
ton of the patriotic services Of
their fathers in the late war, and for
the purpose of redecming the
pledges made to protect the fami-
lies of those who fought and fell
in the cause Of human liberty and |
right"
This resolution was required by |
the action Of the Democratic ma
iority Of the last Legislature. -
That majority came into power
strongly pledged to a liberal policy
towards the soldiers and their fam
lilies, During the canvass Of 1867
the Republicans were charged with
having used almost million Of
dollars to pay the State debt,
which had been raised as q relief
fund for the benefit Of soldiers
families. 1t was charged that this
was the robbery of q sacred fund,
and the people were led to believe
that the Democratic party, If sue
,esshll, would restore the money
20 the soldiers. Accordingly, on
)ne Of the first days Of the first
session Of the last Legislature, Mr.
Hughes, Of Highland county, n
eading Democratic member, intro
luced q resolution looking to u re.
of the fund. No action
having been taken on this resolu-
ion, on the last of February 1868,
Mr. Hughes offered another resolu-
ion on the same subject, instruct
ng the Military committee of the !
House of Representatives to inves- |
igate and report upon it "at an ear |
y day. On the 9th of April 1868,
he Military committee reported
hat "ncarly one million, to wit.-
1925, 900, collected for the special s
,eneit of the families Of soldiers, !
las been transferred to the General |
Revenue Fund, in violation of the |
,ood faith and promise Of the !
State"
They also reported that "the {
'tate has never as yet, in the opin-
on Of your committee, fully recog.