The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-01-13

The sexpedieney of establishing an
asylum for the cure of inebriates has
not been much considered in Ohio.
ported by the officers III charge of the
State inebriate Asylum of New Y ork,
induce me TO recommend that the
General Assembly provide for the in
vestigation of the subject.
The Agricultural and Mechanical
College Fund, created by the sale of
issued to Ohio by the Ma
tional Government, amounted, on the
first instant, to $404,GI1 3711SS. The
State accepted the grant, out of which
this fund has been created. February
10, 1864, and is bound, by the terms of
acceptance as modified by Congress,
to provide "not less than one college
on or before July 9, 1872, where the
leading object shall be, without ex-
Guiding other scientific and classical
studies, and including military tactics,
to teach such branches OF learning as
are related to agriculture and the me-
chanic arts The manner in which
this fund shall be disposed of has been
amply considered by preceding Cen
eral Assemblies, aud lin the messages
of my predecessors in the Executive
Office. respectfully urge that such
action be had as will render this fund
available for the important purposes
for which it was granted. 1t is not
probable that further delay VIII fur
nish additional information on any of
the important questions involved in
its disposition. Much time and atten-
ton has been devoted to the sub;e: It
of the location Of the College. No
doubt it will be of great benefit to the
county in which it Shall be established,
but the main object of desire with the
people OF. the state can be substantial
Iy accomplished at any one of the
places which have been prominently
named as the site Of the college. I,
therefore, trust that the friends of ed
ucation willnot allow differences upon
questions of comparatively small i'm
portance to the people at large longer
to postpone the establishment of the
Institution in compliance with the OBJ
legation of the state.
a large part of the work required
to complete the ..Soldiers' Record"
in pursuance of an act passed March
II, 1854, has already been done at an
expense of about $4,000, and the pro-
priety of making an appropriation suf-
ficient to enable the Adjutant Gene
raj TO complete it, is respectfully sug-
gested for your consideration.
During the war for the Union, the
people of this state acknowledged
their obligation to support the fami-
lies of their absent soldiers, and un-
dertook to meet it, not as charity,
but as q partial compensation justly
due for services rendered. The ma
ton is saved, and the obligation to
care for the orphans of the men who
died to save il still remains TO be full
filled. 1t,is officially estimated that
three hundred soldiers orphans, du-
ring the past year, have been inmates
OF the county infirmaries of the state.
1t is the uniform testimony of the di-
rectors of county infirmaries that those
institutions are wholly unfit for chill
dren: that in a majority of cases they
are sadly neglected, ,and that in the best
infirmaries the children are subject to
the worst moral influences. Left by
the death of their patriotic fathers in
this deplorable condition, it is the du-
ty of the state to assume their guardi-
anship, and to provide support edu-
cation and homes to all who need
them. The people of Ohio regret that
this duty has been so long neglected.
L do not doubt that it will afford you
great qualification to give to this sub
ject early and favorable attention.
All agree that Republican govern
ment will fail unless the purity of
of elections is preserved. Convinced
that great abuses of the elective fran
chise cannot be prevented under ex-
isting legislation. | have. therefore,
recommended the enactment ofa reg
istry law, and also of some appropri-
ate measure to secure, to the minority,
as. far as practicable, a representation
upon all boards Of elections. There
is much opposition to the enactment
of registry law. Without Welding
my own settled dJconvictions in favor
Of such a law, content myself in this
communication. with urging upon
your attention a measure of reform in
the manner of conducting elections,
The importance and justice of which
40 one ventures to deny. The CON-
duct of the officers whose duty at cleo
ions ii is to receive and count the ball
ots, and to make returns of the result,
ought to be above suspicion. This can
'arely he the case where they all be-
ong to the same political party. A
fair representation of the minority
will go far, not only to prevent fraud,
out what is almost of equal impor-
ance. remove the suspicion of fraud.
do not express my preference for
my particular plan of securing minor
ty Representation in the boards of
Judges and clerks of elections. Vari-
ous modes have been suggested, and
t will not be difftcultto to adopt means
If attaining the desired result which
will harmonize with our system of
election laws.
The re-enactment of the law secur-
ng to the disabled volunteer soldiers,
who are inmates of the National Asy-
um, near Dayton, he.right OF suffrage
n the county and township in which
aid Asylum is located, which was re-
oealed April II, 1868, and the repeal
If the legislation of the last General
Assembly, imposing restrictions upon
he exercise of the right of suffrage,
" studentsyand by citizens having
'isible admfXture of of African blood,
re measures so clearly demanded by
justice and public sentiment.
hat no argument in their support is
leemed necessary. s..ff..s. ,,.s5,.r-
/ transmit herewith the report re-
luired by law of the partlons granted
Turing the year ending November 15,
$3.50, a report of the of
he Governors Contingent Fund, cop
es of proclamations issued during the
'ear, and several communications ae-
gifts to the state of por-
rats of former Goverors.
The most important measure which
twill be your duty to consider at
our present session, is the proposed
to the Constitution of the
United, States. I do not feel called
lpon to discuss its merits. The great
'ody of that partof the people ofOhio
Who sustain the laws for the recon-
of the States lately in rebell-
on believe that the fifteenth amend
nent is just and wise. Many other
itizens who would not support the
il it was presented as the
a. a