Year: 1877

| signed the Office of Governor of Ohio to as
sumo the duties of his exalted position at
| Washington. J
To say how be will discharge the important
trust confided to him is not necessary smOng
his neighbors and friends who know him so
well, and love and respect him so much.


We have his public history, which belongs
to us all, and from it we know that the ability
and faithfulness with which he has discharged
every public duty-as soldier, in defense of
his country, IN time Of war, and as a states
man, in time of pesce-is satisfactory guar
antee to us and the people of the Nation nf our
safety in his hands during his official term.
And feel that l express the feryent hope of
every honest heart in this great Common
wealth, which President Hayes governed long
er than any other Chief Magistrate since the
organization of the State, three quarters of a
century ago, that the God of our country, in
whom he trusts, may bl, So his administration,
SO that all discordant elements of our political
society may disappear; that real and lasting
peace, based upon general recognition of the
political and social rights of ali men, may be
fully restored, and that history will record
the events of the next four years as an era of
national concord and Unprecedented prosper
ity and happiness throughout the whole land.
The Constitution of the State provides that,
upon the resignation of the Governor. the
duties of his office shall devolve upon the
Lieutenant Governor for the uneApired term.
In conf. rinity to that provision, on the I'd in
stant, during the period of your adjournment,
| took the oath Of Office, and entered upon the
duties of Chief Magistrate


: The honor of the position fully appreciate.
When reflect that Ohio is the third State of
the Union in population and wealth, and that
she has furnished the country with many of
her leading statesmen, jurists, scholars, jour
achieved worldwide fame for thoughts and
deeds, which history will perpetuate forever;
when | think Of her immense agricultural,
mineral and industrial resources, and the great
commerce which they create; when l think of
the fact that in her liberality of the laws for
the encouragement of education, for the care
OF her soldiers orphans, her deaf, dumb, aud
blind, and the poor unfortunates who are
mentally afflicted, she is second to no other
State of this Nation, fesl Just pride in my
citizenship, and a still greater pride in sue
ceeding to position among my fe.low-cIti-
zens which has been occupied by so many
good and great men. And l beg to say to
you, and through you, to the people whom
you so well represent, that with the Divine
help shall endeavor to discharge the duties
of my Office on which enter with very great
diffidence-for the best interests of the whole
people. 9.
1t is usual for the incoming Governor to
make such recommendations as to legislation
as may appear to him proper, but as my pre-
decessor, familiar from long experience of the
office, only weeks ago, addressed a message
to your honorable body, embracing the result
of his close observation of the workings of
our laws as they relate to Our finances and
public institutions, of which you are properly
the guardians, and his recommendations re-
lating thereto-sll of which l cordially in
dorse-leaves me but little to add


My suggestions shall be few. During the
past year our people throughout the State
have been blessed with abundant crops, far
exceeding the demand necessary for home
consumption. Fair prices have ruled
for all agricultural products. Labor has been
comparatively cheap, and the really industri-
Gus people have prospered. 1t cannot be de-
MED however, that our extensive manufacto


ries and our mineral interests have expert
enced very great depression, and may continue
still for some time to come to do so. This, /
am glad to think, cannot be traced 10 any un-
wise legislation on your part, but rather to a
glut brought about years ago by imprudent
speculation by the parties interested in these
enterprises. 1t is my sincere hope that in
good time the commercial law of demand,
aided by our constantly increasing facilities
for transportation to our sister States west
and south, which are almost wholly agricul-
tural, will create a market for our surplus
supply.


If in your wisdom any legislation is deemed
necessary, or can be adopted to hasten this
result, it will meet with my hearty COM
mendation and support, because it will give a
fresh impulse to mechanical labor, which,


with productive agricultural labor, is the true


source of prosperity to the State, and ought


to be fostered and encouraged In this con-


nection beg to call your attention to two


bills-House bill No. S02, by Mr.. Fehren-


batch, of Cuyahoga county, and House bill


No. 40, by Mr.. Monahan, of jackson county


now pending in the Assembly, providing


for the creation of bureau of labor statistics


and bureau of statistics of mining and tn,


mineral resources of Ohio. Their purpose,


am informed, is to educate, protect, and en-
courage workmen in their various callings o
trades by obtaining accurate information TO
their use and the use of their legislators


which will enable them to understand NOR


thoroughly the relations of capital to labor
and the best means to accomplish the devel
, opment of the mineral resources of our State
think these measures are highly commend
able, and if, upon investigation, you shall fin
them adequate to their intended purposes
: and that they, in your opinion, will ultimatel
!. be benefit, directly or indirectly, to all th


people of the State, and not simply to clas


hope they will pass


Y A subject of great Importance to every pc
/ son connected with the administration of Il
!; law is the revision of the general statutes.


Commission. COMPOSED of three member
i has been engaged on that work since the 1
: of April, 1875. Portions of the work ha'


already been reported to the General Asser


bly,, and the remaining parts are in such .
D. advanced state of preparation that the Con
n missioners have been enabled to assure Il
y Legislature they can furnish the whole wor
70 In the form of the parts already submitted,