Mt. Vernon Republican (Mount Vernon, Ohio : 1854), 1861-01-08, EXTRA EXTRA

              ' " n'i '! i -i i,if ,'-,' t "J i , : , - ! J ' , J oi.i.. mm II I c v,.. . ' !' ; i '. .. i i .. 77?: M'& ., i.. .u ; . i . - , . I. . ' - I ' , '' ; . ,.- ,: I i ... I " '' ill '". :.':': ''I ,. . !-' M .ll , . '; i I ' ' ' !)'! i : i I , 'M.:. : ,.,ltil " '' ' ' ' - .' .-M .M.:ir,l.',.ll ' ' ' '' - : "' .... : .;! ; ir ' I-, .... n ' f ; i . ' , ( . . I ( Y,. . ... :yi: 5. ?) ii'!. 1 . SU-flugard Family. ' ' A Belgian family, from lime immemorial, baa presented instances of six-fingered ohildren at each generation; and singularly enough, while the boya have but Ave lingers, as most people, every girl born in I he family presents that atrange phenomenon of alx fingers on each band, and six toes on encli tool, in all canes me suppio-mnnlary finger or toe Is a twin of the little one, of perfect shape, and ftols quite Independently of the others. The bands and feet are very elegantly shaped, and no one would notioe at first that strange peculiarity. 'The young lady examined by Dr. Brooa, far from being ashamed of her dozen of fingers, displays them with no little degree of pride, for they are dolecato, slender, tapering, rosy, and ! deoidedly pretty. She has gloves made expressly for her, and, as she is an exoellont musician, he has invented a fingering of her own, by which she can produce effeots which oiher pi- ' anists, with ordinary bands, could never real-he. They keep fondly, in that singular fam- ' ily, the portrait of one of the ancestors of that young lady, painted by no less a master than the glorious Rubens. The artist has faithfully drawnand painted the handsome and phenomenal bands, with six fingers, of his model, MESSAGE GOVERNOR OF OHIO To the Fifty-Fourth General Aaaembly-Heoond Session. Fellow-citiient of the Senatt, and of the Houu of Reprenntatmt : - , I I welcome your return to your official lnbors, I and congratulate you upon the prosperous con-I dition of our State. ' The United StateB Census of the past year, ; with tbe Report of the Commissioner ofStatis- itics, furnish much interesting information relative to the growth of our State. To these sources, ( butj chiefly to the latter, whioh will be laid before you in a few days. I am indobted for the following faots, which exhibit, in part, the grati. fying progress of the State in its material development, during the past ton years. 1800. 8,349,000 . 368,671 18.4 13106,94 acres. 12,210.164 " . 33 pr. ct. 310,000 Population 1,980,329 Ioereasa tf Iucreasepercent. "Improved lnnds 9,851,493 acres. iUniDiprored lands 15,600,000 " , Increase of lui- proved lands. Number of land oners 277,000 Av age quantity of land owned ny eacn person 90 acres. . fit acres. 121 00 p. a're Average price c ot lam land... (19 90 pr. acre, AOBICULTUBAL PRODUCTS. " ' ' -I860. I860. ' Aggregate amonnt of 1 grain crop 88.467,154 bnstl. 133,100,173 bush. Meadow (Hay) 1,443 ItW toui. 1,8116,466 tons. livestock 7,733,466 number. 8,lil3,867 Mo. I . increase or grain ' crops r Increase of bay.. j KIXINO. Doal mined 8,000,000 bush. Iron furnaces 36 No. Iron pig metal made.... 62,668 tons.. Salt made . 50,3SU biuh. Value of saining pro- i ducts .$2,024,700 tscreaee of coal mined , ., i, " pig Iron 3 " ' salt made.. ' I . Talues 60 pr. ct. 26 " 48,000,000 bush. 64 No. 106,000 tone. 2,000,000 bush. $8,380,000 ." OOOpr.ct. 100 ' .300 ' 400 " . tuirWAOVORss. ' ' 1860. falne of manufactnres ' proper.,.. ;.....4l,l4,707 aggregate value of man- I860. ; $37 ,284,784 . , ., 1U,962,183 112 pr. et. 90 " Hiactunng, minma; anu mechanical lalulrj. bcreaee of manufactures, 62,647,2(9 values hereaae of mechanical and mauufacturUig In- daitrv 1 coMMia'oa mo aivioATion. 1 " '. I860.' . . 1858. assets botlt, number... biagaof vessels built... ggregate tonnage easels cleared. for foreign States onnage of vessels cleared for loreign porta... icreaseof vessels built.. 31 . 6,214 tons. 19,621 tops. 62,460 116,294 9.6S 33,407 40 . 61,416 " loo pr. ct 260 " " 86 " 90 I860., icrease of tonusge built Icreue of whole tonnage icrease of foreign trade. ,. . Locohotioh. : v 1850. male lilroads irnpikes aad Flank roads,.. tcreaas of Bailroads,.,. lorease of Turnpikes 960 miles . 9G0 miles. 3,084 " 3,100 .. 700 pr. ot. ' 60 " 880 " 2,000 'The estimated cost of the 2,700 miles of Rail- ad built, sinoe 1850, is eighty millions of Hlars. j Jf . FBOFXBrTANB IBT. ' h i .me of alliproperty....504,726,000 (888.302,601 00 ate Debt 16,620,768 16,927,834 21 The aggregate debt of the State, municipali se, bankers, merchants, and individuals, was timated by the Commissioner or statistics, in s report of 1859, at $189,692,346, exclusive of ilroads, wnion is a speoino pieage on tne ads. . . '' Debt due out of the State, $65,000,000, eon-sting of debt due by the State, municipalities, bits and merchants. mom in the value of property . 76 per cent. ttwrtfoa of debt to value ol property 2 . " I" " due out of the State to the iholt value of proporty. ...... .. 8 per cent, 'he entire debt of the Slate and of the people Ohio, is considerably less than the increase in I value of. property in. the. last ten years. all as is this debt compared with the re-iroes of the State, it is yet a heavy burden the industry of the people, which can only be jened, or removed, by augmented production increased economy. , ' , MINIKO AMD KAHOnOTlEIS. 1 4 ?he great increase of mining and manufac-B, exhibited by these oondensed statements, a highly , encouraging and gratifying faot. ndicates a still further and indefinite pro-ssof development of these important Inter-it,' The eapabili ties of the State in that re-d are almost unlimited. The duty of the le to foster these branches of useful indus-by all suitable legislation as it is the duty til good government to insure to labor not 7' full occupation but the greatest produc-ness is well appreciated. Aided as we 7 hope such an obligation will be by the eral government, the future will find Ohio nd to none of her confederated sisters in ,ing and manufacturing wealth, and in all accompanying essentials of social inuepend- whioh charapteriis an industrious people I Iversified pursuits. . ' i BlCOI.TVaR AND AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS. bportant as are these interests to the people be State, and as deserving as they are of ig carefully cherished, we should bear in d that it is on agriculture that we mnst de-I as the main source of our welfare. Fully . a-fifths of our population are cultivators of I, soil.' Whatever, therefore, will promote the y' jiopment of this branch of our Industry ild reoeive the animating and invigorating jaragement of lbs State. . , . , Itnust be admitted that agriculture, either as lence or an art, is far from being pursued that ardent an-? successful spirit due to its Irtance. The productive resources of the are bat imperfectly developed. The arae illy cultivated does not exceed one-fourth e entire territory.' This returns, perhaps, inndant crops as the natural fertility of the little aided by seienoe, can produce. :, Other tries, in consequence of their dense and in-ling populations, have been obliged to sp-to seienoe and eolieit aid from its treasures, nly to restore the fertility of the soil, but, Hificial applications, to Increase the primi-: productiveness. It is gratifying to know ' the Utelllffeiit efforts of the Obit Bute ; d of Agriculture, to Introduce amonj ear farmors an Improved system of agrloulture.foiind ed on solentltlo principles, are being crowned dv the Happiest results. There Is no doubt that tho progross of agriculture would be promoted if lie advantages resulting from an experimental farm oould be conferred upon the farmers of the State, To inaugurate so desirable so institution it might be well to place a portion of llie Reform Sohool Farm under the direction of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, and to direct the result of experiments in Ihe several departments of farming and slock raising, lo be communicated to the farmers of the Stale through the annual report of that iioarJ. Agricultural schools, wherever established, have been productive of good results. Suoh an institution in this State, organized upon princi ples adapted to the habits of the people, I do not doubt, would recoive their approval. I invite your favorable consideration to this subject. PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. As our civil and politioal institutions are de rived from the wisdom, and exist in the will of the people the source of all righful authority and of all legitimate sovereignly it is obvious that it is upon the education of the' people we must rely for the purity, tho preservation, and the perpetuation of our republican form of government. In this sacred cause we cannot exercise too much liberality. It is identified with our best interests in this world, and with our best destinies in the World to come. It is a source of just pride to the people of this State that Ohio has no cause of self-reproaoh on this acoount. The wise provision of her organio law, imposing tho duty upon the Genoral Assembly of maintaining a thorough and eflicienl system of common schools throughout tho Stale, and the fidelity with which this obligation hiis been discharged, bear honorable witneBS of her lenl in behalf of popular educatiop. Our present school law whb enacted in 18511. It is much more comprehensive and effective' in its provisions than any preceding law in Ohio. Being radical in some of its features, it is not surprising that it met with early opposition. It imposed, what seemed lo some, an unreasonable taxation, and conferred authority upon Boards of Education which was objeoted to by many. But from the first a large majority of the people have approved the system, sod since it has vin dicated its value by its actual workings, little opposition isarrayed against it. Wherever it has been faithfully administered it has accomplish ed a noble work for the people of the State. For a full exhibit of Ihe progress in education under this system, I refer you to the report of the School Commissioner. The receipts and expeniiitures for the school year ending August 81, I860, wcro as follows, vis,.: KSCSIPTS. Balance on hand September 1, 1859 8J82.700 67 Vines, licenses, ami miscellaneous sources 69,776 13 Irreducible school funds 170,640 45 State tax 1,214,166 39 Township tax for prolonging schools 6 mohthi and sustaining high schools 361,303 07 Township tux for sitae, building, repairs, and contingent expenses 678,236 02 Total , (3,606,901 63 , ixiindi;kks. . Amount pal I. teachers. Sites, building and repairs.. Foe!, and all othercontingont cxpeusos,. ..32,046,060 92 ... 457, 642 31 ... 267,125 44 Total S2,760,828 07 The following table shows . the - encouraging progress made by our school' system during the past six years; also, a comparison between tho last two years : ' 1866. 1859. .: .. 1860. No. of youth enumerated 820,624 866,914 , 802,844 No. enrolled in schools... 651,939 600,034 085,177 Average dally attendance 315,851 36o,3!lU 405,592 No. of uhnrs einploved 16.761 19,541 20,731 Amount paid teachers .. 11,775,708 t1,0tl,ono 12,046,060 No. of school houses . 7,839 10,279 10,422 Value school houses $2,2211,911 $4,409,122 $4,707,227 No. pub. high schools.... 91 151 161 Teachere, high schools... 196 263 319 Pupils enrollod ." ... 7,622 10,618 13,183 These facts satisfactorily show that our school system is rapidly demonstrating its excellencies. The steady inerease in the number of children in attendance upon the schools, the improvement in the qualifications of teachers, the number and oharaoter of the high sohools of the State, and the great improvement in the architecture of the school houses, are indicative of a pervading educational interest among the people, ' i . . I do not deem it neoessary to recommend any essential modification of the sohool law. ' The small appropriation whioh the Commissioner recommends for the encouragement of Institutes in the more sparsely settled oounties would, I doubt not, be productive of good. . TBg STATS LIBRARY. Connected with the subject of education, I invite your attention to the report, for this year, of the Commissioners of the State Library, in which they make some suggestions which are entitled to your consideration. The Slate Library has now been instituted for forty-three years. The entire expenditures for its increase and preservation, including salaries, lo November 15, 1860, have been $58,542 87. The whole number of registered books is 22,793. The people of Ohio having provided liberal instruction for all the youth of the State, it Beems not only appropriate, but imperative, that while the common sohool furnishes that instruction necessary to a fair knowledgo of the methods and means of intellectual service, an institution should be fostered which is capable of collecting and preserving the appliances most approved for the practical application of those methods and means. ' . Libraries are not merely respeotable evidenoes of intelligence, nor are they only plaoes of deposit for publio records. They are workshops wherein the highest achievements of the human mind are prepared for, or wrought out. The Ohio State Library has become, in a respeotable degree, a workshop for writers of books of his-torio value, and it would be o source of just pride to Ihe people of Ihe State, If it were so supplied with books as would afford an opportunity for any citizen to execute whatever Intellectual engagement bis tastes or his business might require. ... i , Such appropriation as the finances of the State permit, for the finishing of the Library Hall and for the increase and preservation of the Library, by means of accessions and by a catalogue, are respectfully recommended. , - The suggestions of the Library Commissioners respecting exchanges of Ohio laws, reports and documents, with sister States, and with governments and societies of Europe, deserve consideration. The Librarian has given particular attention to that branch of bis duty and ought not to be deprived of any reasonable means of promoting such exchanges. Interchange of laws and puhlio documents encourages that intercourse of nations whioh most eminently contributes to thorough acquaintance with the characteristics of their people. This, the Federal Government liberally recognised when it authorised the free transmission of III publid records between the States; and in that spirit we may encourage thorough interchange, as well with foreign nations, as within the Union. Many of the most valuable accessions made to the Library wilhin the last five years have been by means of International Exchange. BEKEVOLBNT INSTITUTIONS. The benevolent institutions of lbs State continue to make ample returns for the patronage they have received. I take great pleasure In referring you to the Reports of those entrusl"l with their administration, showing their operations during tho past year, and their present condition. '- Accompanying these Reports, you will be gratified to find Ihe firlt Annual Report! orme Hamilton Uounty Lunatic Asylum, which promises to be one of lbs most valuable and successful institutions of Its ;klnd in the country. No provision having been made, by law, for priming this Report, I transmit it lo the Senate in manusoripl. , ' : It will be sees by reference to a flartfully prepared table of institutions for the Insans in the United States in connection with the subject of recoveries ef lunatics, forming a part of Ihe very valuable Report of the Superintendent of MT. VERNON, OHIO, TUESDAY MORNING'. the Central Lunatlo Asylum, that that Institution has for many years maintained a position in advance of all similar institutions of the United Slates in the proportion of its recoveries upon tne number of pationts oommitted to its oure. This faot Is attributed by the Superintendent, in no small degroe, to the policy of the State in requiring ajl its inmates to be maintained at the oipense of the State, and all chronio aud inourable cases to give placo, when neoessary, to those that a'o recent and hopoful. Whilst this is a gratifying evidence of the wisdom of our State polioy in respect' to the administration of our Asylums for the Insane, does not the faot that the ohrouio and inourable oass must give plaoe to those vlhat nre recent and more hopeful, suggest the duty of the State lo mako some suitable provision for the custody and care of Ihe inourable insane? Would not the ereotioa and maintenanoo of an asylum for so benefioent a purpose bo in accordance with -the humane spirit of our Constitution, and the benevolent sentiments of the people? OHIO MEDICAL COLLEGB. I beg leave lo call your partioular attention to the accompanying report of the Trustees of the Medioal College of Ohio. The finances of that institution are seriously embarrassed, and legislation is asked for by the Trustees, to enable them to relieve tho college from its difficulties. OHIO PEN1TKNTIAHY. It gives me much pleasure to call your attention to Ihe report of ihe Uireotors and Warden of the Penitentiary. The management of Ihe Institution during the past year has been highly satisfactory. The law rewarding the good conduct of the convicts, by shortening their terms of sentenco, has been at tended with encouraging rc8ults,ppon the discipline of the Institution. Under its stimulating influence the prisoners, for the most part, cheerfully perform the tasks assigned to them, and faithfully discharge all their duties to the institution.' The number of convicts in the Penitentiary on the first day of November last was 932; of whom 879 were reoeived during the year. In the same period 283 were discharged by the expiration of their senlenoBS, by pardon, and by judicial prooess. Five were sent to the Reform Sohool, and nine died. The cash receipts and cash earnings of the In-stitution for the year were 397,905 60. The actual expenditures during the same time were $97,610 26, loavtng a cash balance in favor of tho Prison of $294 84. The labor performed by the convicts in the construction of shops and other buildings, was valued at $9,071 62. . This added to the profits, :ib it should be, to make a proper exhibit of the ability of the Prison for self support, shows on aggregate profit for the year of $9,366 96. These results show that the Prison when finished will not only realize the reformatory purposes for which it was established, without being a pecuniary chargo upon tho people, but that it may be mado a permanent source of revenuo to the State. The enlargement of the Prison, and construction of workshops, authorized by your act of March last, have been diligently prosecuted. In connection with this subject, I venture to suggest for your consideration, in casoyoudcter-mino upon the ereotion of a now prison, that provision be made for suoh a construction of it as will admit a completo separation between the minor and adult convicts. The humane considerations favoring such a soparalion are too obvious to need a statement of them. INTEMPERANCE AND CRIME, " ' By reference to the Warden's Report, it will be seen that of the nine hundred andthirty-two convicts in prisou, only one hundred and ninety-sevonof them profess to have been tem- pernte In tlivll Hblta, wLil ilw ku-J..H nn4 seveuty-nine acknowledge that they bad been intemperate. The proportion of the crimes coin-mitted under the influence of intoxioation does not appear, but from the statement of the habits of these oonvicts, and from other well known faots relating to Ihe subject, there can be little doubt that very much of the crime for which they aro imprisoned, was not only committed, but also originated under intoxicating lnuu-ences. - And this is but the history of crime everywhere. Could any fact furnish a more earnest appeal to the Legislature to exert all its constitutional authority for suppressing the evils of intemperanoe? I trust you will give this subject your prompt and serious consideration, and that you will devise some euffiotent legal remedy for diminishing these evils, which will address itself favorably to the people of the Stato, and thereby secure their earnest support for its enforcement. It would be of little practical benefit for your legislation on this subject to be in dvance of publio sentiment, but it should fully meet the demands of that sentiment. STATK REFORM SCHOOL. I have much satisfaction in oommunicating to you the official report of the past year's operations of the Stale Reform School. Many material Improvements in regard to economy, general management, and discipline have been introduced into its administration.- The enterprise should no longer be regarded as an experiment. Brief as is its history, it has established its olaim upon the publio confidence. Its success has realized all Ihe reasonable expectations of its early advocates. The praotioal examples of reformationjwhich it hits furnished, give the most gratifying assurance of its permanent usefulness. Its administration is excellent. I oommend the Institution lo your fostering care. STATE FINANCES. j I refer you to the report of the Auditor for a detailed exhibit of the finanoial condition of the Slate, and earnostly recommend to your np proval tho plan which, with the eonourrenoe of the Fund Commissioners, he submits for the payment of our entire public debt by means of tax- ation, without the renewal of any of tbeexislng loans. The reasons presented by the Auditor in favor of the immediate adoption of this po licy are, in my judgment, unanswerable. The whole amount of our reducible debt, foreign, domestic and temporary, is $14,250,233 59, whioh sum but little exceeds one and a half per oent. of the taxable values of the State, amount ing to $900,000,000, in round numbers. With such resources ahef oommand, it dots not seem reasonable that Ohio should look to loans to meet her accruing liabilities so inconsiderable when compared with her resources unless the increased tax over the present levy which will be required to meet those liabilities within a reasonable time, would impose an unnecessarily heavy burden upon the people. Such I do not think would result from the adoption of the proposed plan. The levy for the year 1861 for the payment of the interest and the gradual reduotion of the publio debt is one and four-tenths of a mill on the dollar. The same levy coniinuod, would result in the reduction of the public debt in January 1871to the sum of $11,070,392 20. The amoudt to be raised in the meantime to meet the aocruing interest and principal of the debt by taxation all the other sources of the Sinking Fund being nearly exhausted would be $9,760,098 64, making the sums paid to January 1871, and lo be paid thereafter on the principal of the debt, $21,430,468 74. Instead of adhering to this mode of paying the publio debt, the Auditor proposes an addition of six-tenths of a mill on the dollar to the present levy, making the entire levy two mills on the dollar, whioh will provide a sufficient sum to meet the accruing interest, and thoae portiona of the principal of the debt maturing prior to, and on the first day of January, 1871, leaving then only $4,000,000 or the dsht unpaid. Under this plan Ihe amount of principal paid from January 1, 1861, ' To Januarf 1, 1871, wonld be... ................. ..'),8a7,41 20 The Interest paid during the s.tme period - . would be 4,..u.w.uh. 6,676,233 H ' Making the total paid oa prlneipl and -' ' ' lntrrit.... . . $16,678,474 70 Adding to this the principal ef the debt reoalniug unpaid Jaaaarj, 1871 .. 4,000,000 00 And the totaf amount patd to January, S71 aad to U paid thereafter, vreuld b. $1I,S7S,474 70 This is $1,860,991 01 less than would have to be paid under tho present system prior to, and on the first day of January, 1871. To this favorable showing of the results of the proposed plau of paying the publio debt, It should be ad- ueu, mat wnue the Increased taxation, necessary to consummate the plan will amount to less than twenty-five cents a year, to eaoh inhabitant of tne Btate, alter Ihe year 1870, the people will be relieved of throe-fifths of this levy, as the remaining two-fifths will yield a suflioient sum to meei me interest, and provide for the payment, ai us maturity, or the principal of the remaining four millions of Ihe puhlio dobt. I append tables to this communication showing the praotioal workings of the nlans. The following statement exhibits the amount ana description or the entire dobt of the State FoaBian Dsbt or the Stats. 6 per cents due In I860 $6,413,325 27 n pcrcenladiieln 1870. 2,183,631 93 6 per cents due In 1875 1,600,000 00 6 pur cunts due In I8N6 ; 2,4o,ooo no o pur cents due In 1861, (Temporary Loan). 850,000 00 6 or cents due ill 1866 1,025,000 00 Stocks due in 1856, not bearing interest 1.166 33 Total Foreign Debt , $13,973,023 63 Don bstio Bonds. Isnncl under act of Feb. 28. 1841. Faith and credit, 6 per cent $804,800 00 Issued under act ol Feb. 28, 1843. Land Oonds 0 per otinte..... 70,586 09 IsauiMl under act ol March 7. 1842. Faith anil credit (not bearinginterrst) 839 00 issueu unuHract ol marrtb 7, 1842. Land bonds (not bearing interest) 920 09 National lload llondenot bearing lutorest.,.. 60 36 Total Domestic Bonds ..,..$277,210 36 Irroduclble Seats Debt, U per cents $2,677,600 32 KlC'll'ULATION. Foreign Debt $13,973,023 63 tlomestio Dobt 277.210 36 Irreducible Debt 2,677.600 32 Total debt $10,927,834 21 The reoeipts and disbursements of the State for the fisoal year ending Nov. 15, 1860, were as ionows: GSNKRAL SnHMABT 0V RlGRIPTa ANO DlBRnuvMetfra General Revenue H , Hinkinir Kunrl. ,...$ 805,702 40 ... 1,364,664 18 ... 421,874 62 ..$1,288,696 72 82,719 78 14,061 38 19 04 Canal Fund Common School Fuud District School Llbrarv Fund .... National KoadFnnd Turcoperceut. Fund Total receipts , $3,977,718 12 PISBUKSSHSNTf . General Revenue 1801,223 68 Sinking Fund 1,349,385 06 Canal Fund 417,126 64 Common School Fund 1,260,833 17 District Library Fund 78.805 71 National Koad Fund 14,046 31 Three per cent. Funtl 3.911,608 97 Balanco Nov, ID, 1860 $66,209 15 The re-appraisement of real estate, subject to taxation, maue m ibo'J, as oorreoted and equalized by the State Board of Equalization last winter, was carried to tho grand duplicate of tho State in 1860. The quantity of land not in cities ana villages, as entered upon tho du plicate of 1860, is 25,611,705 oores. Valuation thereof $l!t2,593,687 Value of real estate in cltlestind villages 147,300,721 Total value of roal estate $l39,894,311 Value of personul proporty 248,408,200 ' Total value of taxable property in 1860 $888,302,601 As compared with the several amounts on the duplicates of 1859, this shows an inorease in the quantity of land of 190,863 aores: Increase in the value of land, not in cities and villages, of $54,153,087 Decrease In valuo of real estate in cities and villages of. 8,373,689 Total Increase in tho valuo of real estate $45,780,307 Total decrease in the value of personal property 3,387,657 Tho haoia of laralinn hln0 SRRS RfrlfiM . anH the State levy for all purposes, thirty-nine and a half cents on each one hundred dollars of valuation, the total amount of taxes for state purposes on the duplicate of 1860, to be collected during the year 1861, is $3,503,712 93. This sum is distributed among the several funds in the following proportion, viz: The General Revenue, 8 cts, on each $100 $709,326 04 The Sinking Fund, IVX. cts. on each $100 1,651,675 11 The Common Sohool. Fund, 14 ots. on each $100 1,242,811 78 Tho taxes levied by local authorities amount to $7,313,963 41, making a total of $10,817,-676 34, levied on the duplioate or 1860. REDUCTION OF LOCAl TAXATION. , . From these exhibits, it will be seen that the taxes levied for looal and municipal purposes far exceed, in amount, thoso levied for State purposes. I cannot doubt that with proper vig-ilauce and economy, the local taxes might be considerably lessened. The property holders of our cities most particularly feel those burdens, and with great justice ask for some prescribed limit to local taxation. . Ample authority is given by the Constitution to the Legislature to restrict the levies of munioipal governments. I respectfully call your attention to this important subject, and trust that you may be able to provide some relief for the people, from the oppressive local taxes with whioh they are now burdened. AMENDMENT TO TUB TREASURY LAW. I invite your attention to the suggestions of the Treasurer of Stale, relating to Ihe description of funds to be received in payment of the publio dues. The law establishing the Independent Treasury, while providing for the gradual prohibition of payments in paper money by the State and County Treasurers, and restricting the payments to gold and silver after the fourth day of July, 1865, does not prescribe, nor does any other law prescribe, the kind of funds to be received by those officers. This is manifestly a defect in the law, and inconsistent with its frame-work and purpose. The responsibility ought not to be imposed upon the Treasurers, to prescribe the kind or funds to be received in payment of the publio dues. This should be done by the lieneral Assembly. My own opin ion is, that the publio interests would be promoted by restricting suoh payments to specie and the notes of the specie paying Banks of this Slate, and I respeotfiilly recommend that the law be amended accordingly. i( . . BANES ANO BANKING. 1 The subjeets of banking and currency address themselves with equal force and directness to the people of the State. Whatever theories we may entertain on these subjects; whatever ingonious and beautiful visions of a people without banks, and gold and silver their only ourrenoy, the practical realities are before us: We have banks; we have paper money. As a matter of fact, banking is but one of the divisions of labor into which oommeroe is subdivided, and among every eommeroial people the business proper of the banker is as indispensable as that of the shipper, transporter, or consignor, in transacting the business of the Country. Th praotioal question whioh addresses itself to the Legislator is not whether the State may or may not dispense with the. use of all banks, but what is the best system or plan of banking for the people for whose interests be is called upon to act, and how, and to what extent should it be applied. . . And so also of the ourrenoy of the State. So long as the people of Ohio are in business connection with ihe people of other States, we are and will be in the receipt and use of the issues of the banks of other Slates which circulate with the issues of our own banks, of whioh, to the extent of their existence, they take the) place and become the substitute. The praotioal question is not whether we are to have paper money, or gold and silver as the common currenoy of the Stale, but whether we are to have the issues of foreign banks, or of banks existing within eur own State, responsible under our own laws, end regulated and controlled by our own aotlon. The experiment has been tried, not only in Ohio but in several other States, of dispensing with bank issues under State authority, with one uniform result the introduction of a debased foreign eurreaeyj inconvertible InU) gold and silver, with all the disastrous and demoralising eonse-quenoes or such a surrency. We should learn wisdom from our own experience as wolf as from the experience of other States in this mat i' : . - - - a j JANUARY 8. .. ISfil. ter. At this very time Ohio is suffering great inoonvenienoe ana loss from the aeprecialed currency of other Slates whole banks have sus pended the payment of speoie. It was to obtain relief from suoh a ourrnuoy that our existing system of banking was established under the act or lHlf, oreating the State Sank of Ohio, and other banking oompanies. It appears from the quarterly' roport or Ihe Auditor, for November last, that tho entire banking oapitai of the incorporated banks of the State is, vii: $6,881,361 ou Dntneuesor ine state uank or unio.B4,invoon 7 Indnpenilsut banka ,,... 632,2i4 11 freebauks , 1,121,000 The entire, circulation at the same time ares, via $8,634,887 Jiraucnes oi mate uank 17,40.1,950 Independent banks '. 675,685 Free beuks H 656,243 This amount of banking capital and issue bears a verv small proportion, as compared with the population, wealth and business of this State, to the banking capital and issues of most of the other States, and, as & consequence, we find our deficicucv is 8n,",lied by their excess of issues. It is hardly an cVor-estimato to say, that the issues of foreign banks now in the hands of the people of Ohio, nro equul to tho issues of our own bonks- or about, eight and a hull millions of dollars. Of this sum, a very considerable portion consists of the issues of banks which have suspended specie payments, embracing the banks of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Missouri, and parts of the issues of other Stales All such issues have dopreciated in the bands of tne people ot lUno, at least ton per cent, amounting in the aggregate to several hundred thousand dollars. VVhen it is remembered that in tho fall of 18.17, only three years ago, a like loss wns sustained by the people of this State from the same source, it becomes a question of serious moment to consider wnctnerany, ana it any, wnat measures can be adopted to guard the people from such frequent and heavy pecuniary disasters. So long as tho supply of circulating notes issued by our own banks is insufficient for the transaction of the business of tho State, it will, in my opinion, be in vain to attempt, by legislative enactments, to. expel the issues of foreign banks. The lnwsof trade and tho necessities of the peoplo will prove more fjotent than statutory restrictions and prohibitions. If the fact may be considered as demonstrated, ns I think it clearly may, that wo must depend chiefly for currency for the business transactions of tho peoplo of the State, either on the issues of foreign banks, or of the banks of our own State, I think no citizen of Ohio can hesitate a moment as to which he would prefer; and esiecially in view of the fact, that, while within three years, the batiks of nearly all the other States have suspended thq payment of specie, and many of them twice in that space of lime, me Donns oi unio nave provca truo to their obligations, and equal to these tests of their strength, and now command the universal confidence of the people of the State. I resect-fully submit to the consideration of the Legislature, the question whether any plan can be devised for the increase of tho banking capital, and consequent enlargement of the issues of banks within our own State, as ths only practicable means of expelling the issues oi" foreign banks, and of protecting the people from the manifold disasters of a debased currency. This question is also important in another view. It is but five years, from the first of May next, when the charters of the banks incorporated under the act of February, 1845, will expire. This embraces the thirty-six branches ot the Stntft Ttanlr. find the npvpn inrlftnnndpnt. hnnltR the circulation of which being withdrawn, wo would be practically without an Ohio circulation and dependent upon foreign banks for our en tire currency, lue State may tollow the example of the General Government in restricting the oirculation and disbursement of its revenues in gold and silver. But, after all, tins will be found to exert little influenco over the great business interests of the people. The fact, then, of the near approach of the time for five years is but a Uriel period in the history ot a State when the existing banking system will terminate, and a view of the very important consequences which must follow this event, unless provision be made in time to meet it, aro sutticient reasons for recommending this important matter to your consideration. Thero is abundant reason to believe that a large majority of the people nre not only satisfied with their present system of banking, but that they would regard it as a great public calamity to see it pass out of existence. It has met its obligations under all circumstances, maintained its credit, and furnished a currency at all times convertible into gold and silver. These are advantages which tho people duly appreciate and would very reluctantly forego. With amendments of the system which may be deemed desirable, if any, for the better protection of the creditors of the banks, and, in terms subjecting the property of the banks to a taxation equal to tlmt imposed on the property of individuals, as provided by our Constitution, I do not doubt the system would, during its renewed oxisteuce, give as universal satisfaction to the people "of the Slate as it is now giving. TUB PUBLIC WORKS. I again invite your attention to our Publio Works. During the past year the expenses of that department nave considerably exoeded the receipts. This, it is said, is mainly owing to the extraordinary floods of April, which caused much damage to a portion of the works. The faot that tor the last five years the result has been the same, has induced the opiaion that they will oontinue a permanent tax so long as they are controlled by the State; and a feeling prevails to a considerable extent that the entire interest of the State in them should be disposed of. There are grave oonsideratiooa conneeted with this subject, which will, doubtless, receive your careful attention. That the people of the State will demand the sale of these works, when they become satisfied they cannot be madeeelf-uataining, I think admit of little doubt. i I am not insensible to the great advantages these works have been to the State, in developing its resources, and increasing its wealth. They have oreated far more capital than they have cost. But the counties not lying upon these works, and which reoeive but little, if any, advantages from them, object to taxes to keep them in repair for the benefit of others. 'J hey have built'their own railroads and means of communication without the aid of the 8tate, aod sustain them at their ownoost, no matter how expensive they may be, and they contend that It is just at, fair and proper for the rest or the Sta'e to be taxed to pay the expenses of keeping their railroads in repair, as it is to compel them to pay (axes to keep up the canals. The active oarrying competition or the railroads, it is said, not only diminishes the business on the canals, but will in all time to some prevent them from transaoling enough business to make them self-sustaining. The following table, compiled from the report of the Board or Public Works, is pertinent to this view of the cose : lJi 1 ill' s Is 1 186............, i8o!!!.!!!.".!!Z!.'!.. $424,7671 $7,mts aV--8 66,718 00,21 10 70,4 Uf,7M M7.3H " B57.820 808,11351 ' The estimated total oost of our Publio Works at the time or their completion was $14,627 649 79, The average annual expense, beyond the income for the last five years, has been a fraction leaa than one-half or eat pereent. oa thie onst We have then this unfavorable exhibit W save property that cost u about fifteen millions of dollars, and we find by five eonseau- live years' experience that, instead Of Ha paying the interest on in oost, It ia actually running ua in debt. This Is one view of the case. Let us look at the other. Many intelligent aitisens urge that the Public Works, by a proper system of management, and graduation of tolls, ean be mad not only solf-suataining, but a source or revenue to the State. There are many and weighty reasons why this should be thoroughly tested, before we abandon these costly and important works. Large investments have been made on the line or these works, as is claimed under an implied pledge on tho part of the State, that they should be kept in. permanent oondition for use. An abandonment or the canals, or their sale without a sufficient guaranty for their maintenance would be ruinous to the parties interested. It would depreciate the value of proporty to an amount exceeding tho cost of the canals. In 1828 Congress granted nearly half a million or acres or land, betwoen Dayton and the mouth or the Auglaize river for oaual construction. This was upon the condition expressed in the deed or conveyance, "that said oanals, when completed, shall forever remain publio highways for the use of iTie Oovernmont of the United States, free from tolls or other charge whatever, for any property of the TTnitad States, or persons in their servioe passiug through the same." These lands were accepted by the State of Ohio with this oondition. They hive been sold, and the proceeds have been applied to the purposes of Ihe grant. If these canals are sold, or pass out of the hands or the State, how is this promise to be fulfilled to the General Oovernmont?On tho most of the canals, nnj especially on the Muskingum Improvement, there are outstanding leases of water power by the State, for ninety-nine years, renewable forever, and in some instanoes there are contracts in lieu of former grants, in perpetuity. These contraots impose obligations on the State that must be mot. How shall these vested rights be protected if the State dispose of her interest in these works T It is urged that if the Canals are sold, they will ultimately bo controlled by the Railroad Corporations of the State, the effect of which will be to so diminish transportation on the canals as to result in their virtual abandonment, the effect of which, in turn, would be to create such a monopoly in the rail roads as to materially increase the tariff of transportation, and conflict with the well established policy of overy commercial State to multiply rather than to lessen Ihe avenues of trade. Even if the support of canals shall Impose a small tax, it is worthy of consideration whether the incidental benefits lo the oounties not upon or adjacent thereto, by reason of losBer rates Of transportation, might not more than compensate for the tax. There are thirty-Bix counties in Ohio, on or contiguous to our Publio Works, leaving fifty- two oounties dependent mainly upon rivers, lake, or rail roads for their avenues to market. The canal counties are mainly those that were without natural outlets to a market. It is instructive to note their presont position in regard to population and wealth. By, the census of 1860, the thirty-six canal counties havo a population of 1,153,280; while the fifty-two other counties have a population of 1,190,137. The thirty-six oanal counties have an aggregate or $169,2G3,49'2 on the tax list. Tho nfty-two other oounties have an aggregate or $420,263, 707. ; As a large portion of this value in the oanal counties has arisen from the existence of the canals, bo their destruction would seriously depreciate the same, and the basis of taxation being correspondingly lessened, the burdens of me publio debt, and tne ordinary expenses or the government would thus be proportionately increased upon the remaining property of the Sta'e. Whether a sale oan be made on such terms as will secure to the people the full use of these publio workB, is a question which addresses itself to the careful consideration of the General Assembly. The report of the Board of Publio Works and the Auditor of State contain many faots con nected with this subjeot that will aid in your investigations. Ho large an interest, involving so important questions of publio policy, and such vast pecuniary results, should.not be disposed or witbiut the maturest consideration. After giving the subjeet my earnest attention, I am constrained to repeat my former recom mendation, and suggest the passage of a joint resolution authorising the commission of three geatlemen of large experience and capaoiiy, whose speoial duty it shall be to make detailed examination or the entire subjeot, and report to the Governor at the enrlioBt praol icable period, such changes and modifications in our canal laws as in their judgment may be desirable, to lessen the expenses or to augment the income so as, at least, to make the oanalsself-sustaining. tue mum SYSTEM. I invite your speoial attention to the report of the Adjutant lieneral. The subjeot of our State militia should not fill a place in an Executive Message merely because the Constitution enjoins upon the General Assembly the neoessary legislation to render it effective. It demands a more considerate attention. The Report refer red to presents a olear and practical outline of the system established by law and regulations, the burdens under wh;oh it struggles, and the necessity of legislative aotion in its behalf. The organised militia of the State numbers at present a little kbs than twelve hundred men. These are uniformed, armed and equipped, and are for the most part in a commendable state of discipline. The unorganised militia, subject to be drafted for military duty in the event of insurrection or invasion, amounted in 1859, to 260,000 men ; and the entire disposable foroo of the htate, at Ibe present time, is about 280,000 able-bodied men.. The Constitution requires the enrollment of all white oitizens, residents ot this State, being eighteen years of age and under forty-five years of age, in the militia. The law of March 27, 1867, provided for snch enrollment; but ao much of it as relates to that snbjeot has been repealed. I recommend the revival of the re pealed sections. . - The present militia system, I am advised, has received the favorable notioe of officers of the army, and military men of other Statee; but no system ean work successfully unaided by the State. The experiment, wherever tried, has railed. The eltiien soldier is necessarily subjeoted to a continual expense. By existing laws the State shares no part or the burden in maintaining our present militia system. The bill which passed one branch of tbe General Assembly at its last session, proposing an allowance, to each well-disciplined company, of a certain annual sum for the oare and keeping of the public arms, is m tbe right direction, but 1 submit, with great deference, whether the basis of that bill should not be enlarged, both aa it regards the Bum to be appropriated to eaoh company and the number or the uniformed militia to be aided. Certain it ia, (bat two thousand or a militia the estimate upon which thesum in that bill is baaed Is a number greatly disproportloned to the extent and population or the State. By the theory ot onr government Ihe a-eneral defense ii entruated to the militia. It ia your duty to determine to what extent that theory shall be praotioally observed in Ohio. A ma jority or the Slates have made liberal provision ror tne support or the militia. While it would be uawiseto burden the peo ple with taxes for large military appropriations In time or peace, it would be equally unwiM to disregard tbe sacrifices and burdens of those who nave undertaken 4he duties aod responsibilities of the lerviee, and the practical pur poses of a military organisation. Aa effective mllitik ia one of the most reliable pledged of continued peaee. The ability of the State to eummon her oiiisens to snpport her peaoo when threatened, tor ber laws when vitiated, if a silent but impressive guaranty f their perpetuity aad supremacy. i" a :; i.-ov s 'j ,',.. i i ASUS MSCXIVSD IROIt TU UTHtttU GOV URNMIKT. ,, It appears that the State has reoeived 34,062 musket and rifles, and hu but about 6,000 at her present oonuuand. Of 11,632 ovlry pistols, but 722 remain. Of 272 revolvers about 40 are supposed to be recoverable.. Of 46 brasa cannon more than three-fourths were uselcse, or dangerous, for aervioe, from neglect or bad uaage, autillhe Quarter-Master General restored them to serviceable oondition.' The same proportion of loaa and depreciation runs through the whole list of arms reoeived from the United States, the original coat of which was $920,208. While the present system of tbe issue and ear of t he publio arms prevents a similar result for the future, it is for the General Assembly to dotermine whether the supply now owned, by Ihe Stat is adequate to ber wants. Other States, under similar oiroumslaaoes, have supplied tlie loss and waste by purohas. ' r The annual quota reoeived from the General Government diminishes wilb the accession of eaoh new State and Territory, It ia at present less than one thousand muskets in value; and when other arms, or tbe aeoessary accessories to keep other arms in serviceable order are substituted, the number of muskets ia diminished to the extent of the substitution. It i obvious, therefore, we oannot look to the General Government for a sufficient supply of arms for an , effective State military organisation. ,., , j SALARIES OT ADJUTANT ARD 4)DAtTin-HASTCn OIKKAX. ; ' ' Yonr attention is also Invited to the duties of the Quarter Master General, and in this connection to Ihe phraseology of the las general appropriation bill, by which he has been prevented from drawlug the compensation due his service as armorer. The salaries or both the Adjutant and Quarter Master General are merely nominal. This ought not to be. Their duties are arduous and or great responsibility. ' ; STATI AR9INAL. During the recess of the General Assembly the State Arsenal has been completed to the extent provided by law, nnder tbs immediate supervision of the Quarter-Master General. '- It is a substantial edifice. Estimates for its completion, to meet alt the purposes contemplated by its erection, will be furnished by the Adjutant-General. i,l'! "'-..ii I have thus oalled your attention to such topics in connection with the State Militia as require the application of money. : Tbe aggregate ia sufficiently reasonable when it is remembered that it will bring to the praotioal. test the experiment on the part of Ohio, as a Btate, seriously and effectively to give animation and strength to a thorough and well-balanced militia system. " ' '' . RENDITION or IOOITIVIS FROM JDSTICI. During the legislative recess the power of the Executive of the State to surrender fugitives from justice has frequently been invoked, and though ns a rule this class of cases does not require speoial publio notice, yet in two instances the applications involved matters of the greatest moment. The rtolamation in one case was founded on a charge that the fugitive had stolen certain slaves, with intent to defraud the imputed owner;, aud in tbe other case, thedemand was predicated On an indictment, charging, the accused with aiding a " female slave" , to escape from, "her owner and possessor." These cases did not, in my judgment, fall within the soope of the authority conferred on me in this behalf, and my conclusion, with the reasons therefor, was duly mado known to the Executive by whom the respective demands had been mode. Each replied, controverting the rightfulness of my conclusion. ri'., '' T I The legislative power vested in the General Assembly comprehends an authority to provide for the surrender of fugitives from juitioe- in eases not oovered by the Federal Constitution; and this consideration, added to the importance of the subjeot itself, seems to render it proper that the reasons whioh, in these instanoes, eon-trolled my aotion, should be laid before yoo. n The persons demanded by these reclamations wore then sojourners.: within this State, owing to it allegiance, and entitled to tbe correlative right of protection.' Its constitution and laws seoured to them, while dwelling here, the same measure of personal freedom and personal security which belonged to its own eiliiens. Speak-in 3 the language of ths "great charter, of English libertits," the State had deolared that" no one wilhin its limits "should be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due prooess of law." The same prinoiple has, in Rome ' form, been asserted by every other Stats, and finds conspicuous plaoe in the Constitution of -the United States. ' ; ., : ' ir i Upon the requisitions being made, it was my first duty to enquire whether the oases were suob a oalled for the exercise of tbe power thus invoked. It was readily ascertained that all my authority, in this behalf, came from the familiar provision of the Federal Constitution relating to the surrender of fugitives from justice. Inasmuch as this provision operates in restraint! of liberty, it must be rigidly oonstrued, and every case not fairly included must be held as beyond its scope, and every doubt must be resolved against ilB application. Rigorous al this rule seems, its existence and wisdom are alike beyond question. It is the same rule in favor of liberty which has obtained for centuries ia that country from which we have drawn our systems of criminal jurisprudence, and the - tame, rule which to-day in all theStatea is applied toorimin-al pioceeJings in every stage of their progress. Adopted to protect the oitisen against the exercise of arbitrary power, the experience of many ages has proved its value, and it still retains its place among the chief safeguards of personal security.1 . It has beoome a, fixed principle of law, and yet, independent of its olear, dictates, I am satisfied that upon no recogniied rule or construction ean the constitutional provision be made to eover tho oases in question.' These reclamations presented substantially the same question, and were therefore to be de-tei mined by the application of the same general principles. Eaoh of them charged the accused with the commission of at aot by which "an owner and master" had been deprived of hit alleged "slave." The question was thua presented, whether an act ef thlt nature can- be eonsidered as either "treason, felony, or other jrime," in the sense in which these phrases are used by the Constitution. Manifestly, it it not treason, and manifestly, it is not felony, according to the import of that word when, tbe Constitution was adopted, 'fn' Does "other crime" inolade every offense deolared to be tueh.by the laws of Btate? i If ao, my duty to surrender wat placed beyond question. But this I conceive would be a moat le-chievous and impracticable interpretation. For, if by "other .crime" it meant any act made eriminal by the law ef a State, then the Executive of each Slate it nnder constitutional obli-, gation to remand its citixeas to another, for any aot whioh the Legislature of any Stale may designate at a crime. In this sense the word "crime" ha no other meaning than that which a Legislature, in its d iseretion, may give it; and the constitutional obligation of tht Executive of each State would be created by the caprice, and the liberty ef the citisen would be deprived, upon the legislation of th others. .Such a construction of the constitutional - provision could not be tolerated, for it would lead te infinite abuse; nor oould its obligations be enforced. If, then, by "other erime" it was net intended to make tbeeititent of eaoh Stale liable to rendition at the discretion of tbe Legislature of every other Slate, and a more bmiud and definite meaning it to be given te the term "or ether crime," where stall that limitation be found?..., ' -..I,,' ii r , The prevision under consideration wat introduced at. a rule vl international law between the Slate. At international law it must have .definite meaning, understood and recognised when entered into by the Slates, it must have tbe tame meaning ia all the States. - lis eon-struetion, therefore, must bedetermiaad by the general and accepted meaning of tht liml ttd at the time the provision was adopted. 7 !ll I-.1 "II I ; '.'i D'Jt ' It Mi i tlw.t- ,Miv.ft H:txa',r :t ff'tx-a. ,:i .1 t. to iii n v 'rr' -i . ii i"t ! I t . c 'i.l "'ia :ii -11 is - ii 'At '' i . m : Lift.!.."; '1; a M i 1 insai tit v't i if V e.Ii fs.iir TT-rrT"vr