ent gives me the
boon of equality before the law, terminates my enlistment, and
discharges me cured."

Another letter, dated June 2d, in reply to a stranger in Baltimore,
shows his tender regard for the private soldier, whether he be living or
dead:

"I acknowledge with great gratification the receipt of your letter
of the 30th, informing me of your patriotic attention to the grave
of an Ohio soldier in your city on Decoration Day."

"Be pleased to accept my thanks for your generous action, and for
courtesy of your letter."

To a friend in Congress he writes, on June 13th:

"You will as astonished as I was by this decision as to the right
of the soldiers to vote at the Dayton National Asylum. But there it
is. How can we get rid of it? Can you pass an act of Congress that
will avoid it? I feel like saying that the soldiers must vote as
usual, and test the case again. I merely call your attention to it
with a view to Congressional action. You recollect the act ceding
jurisdiction expressly provided that residents of Ohio retained the
right to vote."

To the president of the Commercial Union of New York he wrote, June
20th:

"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the
10th instant, inviting me to attend a meeting of the Commercial
Union of the State of New York, to be held in the city of Rochester
on the 15th of July next, and to express my regret that prior
engagements will prevent me from being present on that occasion.
The subject to be considered--cheap transportation between the East
and West--is of importance to the whole country, and especially to
the State of Ohio. Earnestly hoping that the deliberations of the
meeting will greatly promote this object, I remain, etc."

January 3, 1871, Governor Hayes delivered the following important annual
message:

_Fellow-Citizens of the General Assembly:_

The official reports, which the law requires to be annually made to
the governor, show that the affairs of the various departments of
the State government and of the State institutions have been
conducted during the past year in a satisfactory manner. I shall
not attempt to give a synopsis of the facts and figures which the
reports contain. The most important parts of them have been spread
before the people of the State by the newspap