Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-01-25
Whole Number 1864

that you will furnish the necessary
legislation to make them practical.
OF course, this will require consid-
srable appropriation; but, in my
opinion, there is nothing, which mo-
ney is likely to be called for, that is
more deserving.
The improvement of the naviga-
uon of the Ohio River is properly
the business of the General Govern
ment; nevertheless, it is a matter in
which the citizens Of our State are
deeply interested, and, as it has
been your habit to give some atten-
tion to it, you should, during your
present session, give it such con-
sideration as it's Importance may de-
mand.
1t is certainly a cause for congratu-
lation that amicable relations be-
tween the recently distracted por-
tlons of our country seem to be now
entirely restored. The people of
this State can not be Indifferent to
whatever will tend to preserve these
relations and promote commercial
intercourse with the southern States.
1t is believed that the Cincinnati
Southern Railway, which bids fair
TO soon be completed, will prove an
efficient agent in both these respects.
1t should, therefore, receive your
hearty encouragement; not only be-
cause of the high public spirit which
1t represents, but also for the rea-
son that it will assist, by bands of
steel, to unite more closely the ties
of sympathy which now hold togeth-
er the North and the South.
The registration law, as passed by
last Legislature, upon a fair trial,
proved TO be not only inconvenient
and troublesome, but extremely ex-
pensive. It should, therefore, either
be repealed, or so amended as to
make it more acceptable to the peo-
pie.
There are at least three public griev-
ances which should receive from you
the same preliminary treatment. I
refer to our unequal, unjust, and,
therefore, comparatively unproduc-
tive system of taxation; our clumsy,
exceedingly dilatOry and generally
odious system of courts, or judiciary;
and our confused, extravagsDt and
badly managed system of municipal,
or city and town government. I
cannot enlarge upon the Importance
of these subjects now, further than
to say that, should you be able to
find and provide remedies which
will give us fair taxes, speedy jus
tice, and economy in city govern
ment, you will undoubtedly perform
a work for your State which will
command and receive the cordial
appreciation of all honest and good
citizens.
As step antecedent to any legis-
lation that may be needed, I would
recommend that you, either by COM
mission or by joint committee, cause
a thorough investigation of each of
these subjects; requiring the COM
mission or COMMITTEES to take testi-
mony, both oral and documentary,
so as to obtain full and authentic
knowledge of the facts; and after
duly considering any and all plans
that may be suggested, to report by
Dill or otherwise, such amendments
to existing laws, as will cure exist
ing evils.
This plan will furnish what the
Legislature has not yet had before
it, viz: A thorough knowledge of
the facts, Nnd this knowledge, it
seems to me, is all important before
any legislation should be attempted
on subjects of such vital eOnss-
quenee.
l am especially solieitous that
something shall be done in this di-
rection to provide against the evils
of our present system of municipal
government. Our cities are becom-
ing, more and more every day, great
centers of social, commercial and po-
litical influence, and as they contin-
ue to grow in power and importance
the problem of their proper govern
ment challenges the gravest eOnsid-
GRAFTON of the most enlightened
craftsmanship. And not the least
difficult feature of this problem
is: how to reach the best results
without endangsring the right of
self government? This, l believe,
should be faithfully guarded, for no
other benefit, however, vsluables
could possibly compensate for any
material loss of this right.
In concluding these brief suggss-
tions, | wish to urge upon you the
Importance of making your session
a short one. Go to work in earnest
give close attention to the matter,
with which you are intrusted, work
faithfully for the best interests Of
YOUR State and country. Pass such
laws as are necessary, and avoid sn
uperhuous legislation. Let ali you
o be characterized by wisdom and
rudsnce. And when you have ao-
omplished your work, yon can 60
ONE to your constituents who viii
onor you for your faithfulness and
sward you for the manner in which
you have maintained their best In
And now I have only to add that
desire to express my sincere thanks
to the people of the State for the dis
tinguished honor they have confer
red upon me in calling me TO that
high and important Office, the re-
sponsible duties of which l this day
assume.
Believing as 1 do on your patriot
ism, and assured, as am, that l
shall have the hearty cooperation
of your body in all my efforts to
promote good government and
trusting to the guidance of an all
wise and bsnifcent Providence,
enter upon my work not without
hope that our mutual labOrs may re-
suit beue6cially 10 the people we re-
speotively represent.
II is ordered that we shall not lab
bor ON Sundays, and vet on that
l.. H., boar.ls,,-. bo,,s, Eaor,