The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1870-01-13

those institutions are wholly unfit for
children; that in a majority of cases
they are sadly neglected, and thas
even In the best infrmaries the chill
dren are subject to the worst moral
influences. Left by the death of their
patriotic fathers in this deplOrable
condition, it is the duty Ofthe State
to assume their guardianship, and to
provide support, education and homes
TO all who need them. The people Of
Ohio regret that this duty has been so
long neglected 1 do not doubt thatit
will afford you great qualification to
give to this subject early and favora-
bic attention.
DIFFERENTIATION OF MINORITY IN ELEO-
TIoN BOARDS.
All agree that a republican govern
ment will tail unless the purity OF
elections is preserved. Convinced
that great abuses Of the elective fran
ehise can not be prevented under ex-
lsting legislation, | have heretofore
recommended the enactment of a reg
lStry law, and also Of soma appropri-
ate measure to secure to the minority,
as far as practicable, q representation
upon all boards Of elections. There
ls much opposition to the enactment
OF a registry law. Without yielding
my own settled convictions IN favor
OF such law, 1 content myself, 10
this communication, with urging up
on your attention a measure Of re-
form in the manner Of conducting
elections, the Importance and Justice
OF which no one ventures to deny
The conduct of the officers whose du.
ty at elections it is to receive and
count the ballots, ami to make returns
OF the result, ought to be above suspi-
cion. This can rarely be the oIse
where they all belong to the same pu.
litical party. A fair representation
of the minority will 20 far, not only
to prevent fraud, but, what is Of al
most equal Importance, remove tile
suspicion of fraud. / DO not express
any preference for any particular plau
OF securing minority representation in.
the boards Of judges and clerks of
elections. Various modes have been
suggested, and it will not be difficult
to adopt a means ofattainiug the de-
sired result which will harmonizs
with our system of election laws
SUFFRAGE OF SOLDIERS AT NATIONAL
AsYLUM-REPEAL OF STUDENT AND
VISIBLE ADMIKTURE VOTING LAW.
The re-eHactment of she law seeur-
ing to the disabled volunteer. soldiers,
who are inmates Of the National Asy.
lum near Dayton, the right of suf-
frage in the county and township in
which said Asylum is located, which
was repealed April II, 1868, aud the
repeal of the legislation of the last
General Assembly, imposing special
restrictions upon the exercise Of the
right of suffrage by students and by
citizens having 4 visible admixture OF
African blood, are measures 80 clear
ly demanded by impartial Justice aud
public sentiment, that no argument
in their support is deemed necessary.
EXECUTIVE REPORTS.
I transmit herewith the report ~
quired by law of the pardOns granted
during the year ending November IS,
1879, a report of the expenditures Of
the Governors Contingent Fund, cop
les Of prOclamations issued during the
year, and several communications ac-
gifts to the State Of pOr-
traits Of former Governors.
FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
The most important measure which
it will be your duty to consider at
your present session, is the proposed
10 the Constitution Of the
United States. | do not feel called
upon to discuss its merits. The great
body of that part Of the people OF
Ohio who sustain the Laws for there
construction Of the States lately IN
rebellion, believe that the Fifteenth
Amendment is just and wise. Many
other citizens who would not support
the amendmentif it was presented as
the Inauguration Of a new policy, iU
view of the fact that impartial suffrage
is already established in the States
most largely interested in the que5-
ton, now regard the amendment as
the best mode Of getting rid ola cmis
wfirh ought -n0-fOuger to re-
main unsettled. Believing tnat ths
is right, and that the peeplA
Of Ohio approve it, I earnestly recon-
mend the ratification of the Fifteenth
to the Constitution Ofths
United States.- r. B.-EfA YES.
January 3, 1870. f.