s,
beyond doubt, that such a work as it is now practicable to carry
out will, by making known the mining, manufacturing, and
agricultural resources of the State, lead to their development to
an extent which will, within a few years, amply reimburse the State
for its cost.

The annual report of pardons granted and the commutations of the
sentences of convicts required by law; a statement in detail of the
expenditure of the governor's contingent fund; the semi-annual
report of the commissioners of the sinking fund, for May; copies of
proclamations issued during the last year; and an acknowledgment of
the presentation to the State of several of the portraits of former
governors of Ohio, are transmitted herewith.

The most important subject of legislation which, in my judgment,
requires the attention of the General Assembly at its present
session, relates to the prevention of frauds upon the elective
franchise. Intelligent men of all parties are persuaded that at the
recent important State and National elections great abuses of the
right of suffrage were practiced. I am not prepared to admit that
the reports commonly circulated and believed in regard to such
abuses, would, so far as the elections in Ohio are concerned, be
fully sustained by a thorough investigation of the facts. But it is
not doubted that even at the elections in our own State frauds were
perpetrated to such an extent that all good citizens earnestly
desire that effective measures may be adopted by you to prevent
their repetition. No elaborate attempt to portray the consequences
of this evil is required. If it is allowed to increase, the
confidence of the people in the purity of elections will be lost,
and the exercise of the right of suffrage will be neglected. To
corrupt the ballot box is to destroy our free institutions. Let all
good citizens, therefore, unite in enacting and enforcing laws
which will secure honest elections.

I submit to your judgment the propriety of such amendments to the
election laws as will provide, first, for the representation of
minorities in the boards of the judges and clerks of the elections;
and second, for the registration of all the lawful voters in each
township, ward, and election precinct, prior to the election.

That the boards of el