Year: 1866

! Ol nOsule operations, the cause OF


the Government never lost any


thing by the most untrammeled


freedom of public discussion and


printing, because the people were


always able to detect the sophisms


of disloyalty, and their patriotic


purposes were strengthened rather


than weakened by seeing the whole


force of the enemy they had to
meet. Among the safeguards of
our liberties and guarantees of the
permanence Of our institutions, l
reckon our school system The very
chief. Blind and devoted love of
country may exist under despntism,
LII Ignorance be the mother of a
superstitiors or childish attach
ment; but liberty and republican
ism can be built on no'other solid
foundation than intelligence in the
whole mass Of tie people.9hA,wise
self-interest is made the basisrof
all scientific political economy, and
when whole people have
learned to estimate that interest
truly, besides loving their country
dearly, you have ground for faith
in the stability Of their Govern
ment, such as can be got in no
other way. 1t is because of the
general conviction that our com
mon schools may be made TO secure
this result, that there is an equally
general belief that no money used
fer public purposes is so well in
vested as that which supports. our
school system. -.d -yst


No statement Of our condition and our
duties would be complete which did not
speak of the debt we owe 10 the sad array
(almost an army in itsclf) of the MANNED
and disabled heroes TO whom the return of
peace brings no bright prospect for their
own future. The dead may be supposed to
look down in glory and In pride upon the
work they have accomplished by shedding
their blood, and our memory OF them be-
comes rather cXultant than painful: but
these sick and crippled ones are condemned
to look upon the general prosperity and
10y, feeling bitterly thai their lives must be
deprived ofncarly everything which health
and vigOr would have secured them. Ii we
should give them cause to think their coun-
try is mgmtcGul, we shall double their
misery and be ourselves uulNilhful to one
of the most solemn duties which can be
| imposed upon us. More than eight thous-
and disabled Ohio soldiers are already
| IN n


Bureau. The pittance which the General
Government can give them will not save
them from want. How can we best do the
remainder of our duty toward them? 4
beginning has alreudy been made in the
temporary establishment ola State Soldiers
Home. but it Is manifest that il will provide
for Il very small part of those who have
coed claim upon us, If indeed any system
of cOngrcgatinG the pensioners ia pcrma-
nent aSylums can accomplish the desired
end. | believe the people ere ready to do
their whole duty in this matter, and will
expect those whom they have intrusted
with the legislative power to provide adc-
quatcly by law the best practical system
for disCharging this great debt Of honor.
This disposition on their part has been
manifested not only iIrthc noble and gen
erouS private contributions through sOcic-
ties and commissions by which the comfort
of our soldiers in the field and the efficiency
of our military hospitals We're wonderfully
increased, but the same spirit has prompted
numerous local monuments to our dead
and will. trust, grow into some permanent
memorial on behalf of the state at large, in
"2eping with the dignity of our position
and with the depth Of our feeling.


In these rs well a. in other ways the late
war has brought grCat burdens upOn. our
State. but its prosperity has been such that
they have been borne without impoyerish-'
ing our people or straiHiug the public
resources. Our state debt has been dimin-
ishcd during this very period Of fcommOtiOn,
aud such has been the thrift of the COM
munity and the success Of business enter
prise, that we see on every hand the
evidences of accommodating wealth. Ohio,
the ilrst-born Of the ordinance Of 1TS1,"
has been true to the principles of that great
act Of statcsmanship, which dedicated the
northwestern territory TO freedom and free
labor, and now more than ever before is
realizing the benefits Of the wisdom which,
then launched her upon 4 career Of uneX-
ampled growth under the auspices Dof
religion, Intelligence and freedom.


\ different policy, based upon false and
unjust system of labor, has brought forth
its matured fruit Of rebellion, followed by
dcsolation and ruin. God grant that the
lesson so sternly taught by experience may
be wisely learned by I'LL, and that the re-
turn to the right path may everywhere
speedily result in such aboundiGg happi-
ness and wcll-being that past strifes and
sutltrings may be forgotten il the uniyer-
sal joy. . r