investigation, to be effective, must be
made by an authority independent, if possible, of all local
influences. When abuses are discovered, the prosecution and
punishment of offenders ought to follow. But even if prosecutions
fail in cases of full exposure, public opinion almost always
accomplishes the object desired. A thorough investigation of
official corruption and criminality leads with great certainty to
the needed reform. Publicity is a great corrector of official
abuses. Let it therefore be made the duty of the governor, on
satisfactory information that the public good requires an
investigation of the affairs of any public office or the conduct of
any public officer, whether State or local, to appoint one or more
citizens who shall have ample powers to make such investigation.

If by the investigation violations of law are discovered, the
governor should be authorized, in his discretion, to notify the
attorney-general, whose duty it should be, on such notice, to
prosecute the offenders. The constitution makes it the duty of the
governor to "see that the laws are faithfully executed." Some such
measure as the one here recommended is necessary to give force and
effect to this constitutional provision.

In compliance with the constitution, the last General Assembly
submitted to the people the question of holding a convention "to
revise, alter, or amend" the constitution, and at the October
election a large majority of the voters of the State decided in
favor of a convention. It is the duty of the General Assembly, at
its present session, to provide by law for the election of
delegates and the assembling of the convention.

The vote on the question of calling the convention which formed the
present constitution was taken at the October election, 1849. At
the next session of the General Assembly an act was passed which
provided for the election of delegates to the convention the first
Monday of April, 1850, and the convention was convened on the first
Monday of May following.

In conclusion, I wish to make my grateful acknowledgments to the
people of Ohio for the honorable trusts they have confided to me,
and to express the hope that the harmony, prosperity, and happiness
which they now enjoy in such full measure may, under Providence,