The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1828-10-16
FOR THE COUNTY POST.
THE DISTRICT BILI..-NO. III.

ion for an increase of the number of Senators. Ii is
said that twelve Senators many the state has
ever had since the formation of the government and
that no objection was ever made that the number
100 SMALL Or that the influence of that body
sufficiently felt, until quite recently. From this
opponents would represent, that the principal object
ofthedTiepds of The bii is multiply Offices to make
pIacesC themselves and their friends, and to add an
unnecessary burden to the expenses of the state.
1t ought be remembered, that before the adoption
ufthe present Constitution in this state, the Lcgs
lure consisted of but two branches. When the an
cient form government adopted, the science of
legislation in Republics not well understood as
the present day, and the propre of having three
distinct branches in the egisIa ure, each of which
should have check negative upon the other
two was not advered to. Hence, the Legislature
which was formed under the ancient Constitution,
consisted of but body, and the ''Governor, Depu
ty Governor twelve Assistants and the treemen not
exceeding persons from each place, town. city,"
composed the Legislature and sat in chamber
1t was not till number of years after the formation
of the body polite, that division of the Legislature
into two branches was effected, and will be remem
bered that the number of towns at that time repre-
scented did not exceed one third ofthe present number
in the state. 1t ia obvious then, that the comparative
strength of the Council in point of numbers, much
greater than it afterwards, when all the towns in
the state were represented. II will be remembered,
too that under the ancient constitution, the Governor
and Deputy Governor, important and influential
members of the slipper House, This was sufficient
that body weight and Importance equal to the
addition of many assistants. 1t is also we'll known
that under the ancent form of government the Coun
Gil consisted of the most talented and influential men
in the sate and that such their weight of charac-
ter such the respect paid their Office, andsuch
TOO the permanency of the thea existing state Of
things, that they formed toerabIe check upon the
lower house.
Upon the formation of the present Constitution it
was thought advisable to depart little as possible
from the ancient form of government. The people
had been so long accustomed to its provisions, and
were so we'll satisfied with it, that they would not sub
NIT to any great innovations in the form. 1t was i'm
portant to separate the different branches of the Lee
gsaure into their proper departments, in conformity
with the best established systems and yet to procure
its adoption by the people, it though best to re-
tain in the SeDat" the number as the Council
had formerly been composed of. The Convention IN
doing this seemed not to he of theimmense loss
of influence and responsibility which the Senate
would sustain, by separating the Governor from that
body and constituting him distinct branch of the
Legislature. But experience has proved that it has
left it without the appropriate weight and influence
which it ought to bear to the House of Representa-,
tives. We would call upon the opposers of the Dis
trict Bill point a sing lie instance in which the
Senate has resisted the Incorporate and hasy proceed
ings of the House of Representatives, however obvi
Gus the character of those proceedings might have
been Instances numerous in which that body,
lift had possessed proportionate number and nhu-
ence in the Legislature, mil ht have prevented much
injury to their constituents and much modification to
themselves. Witness the Steamboat Law-the pas
sage OF this law not only uncalled for and unne-
cessary, but altogether to the interests OF the
state, and The opinion of every sound urIs, uncon-
stitutlonaI. The question then pending before the
Supreme Court of The United States, and proprlety
would dictate that the decision of that august tribunal
should have been waited for with the most perfect con-
fdence in Is correctness. few of the members OF
the House of Representatives taking advantage ofthe
popular feeling against the state of NewYork which
existed on the sea-board, procured the passage of
thar law through their House, with all ts mperfec-
tons and mpropriees. Here was the place for the
Senate to interpose its authority, and to arrest the
hasy proceedings of the House, But instead of this,
&hey hurried il forward without due consdera land
passed it without reflection; and the consequence
was, that they and their subjected
ihe notification of having all laws of this character
pronounced unconstitutional by the supreme judicial
authority of the land Now we may rest assured that
this will always be the case SO long our Senate is
constituted at present. But give it the Importance
ATTACHED to greater numbers and the consequent
augmentation Of influence, and shall find it assn
ming its appropriate share of responsibility and
sponsibility.
But it is objected that the increase of expense will
be SO great as to over-balance the amount Of good
which will arise from the adoption of the measure
To this answer that far from increasing the ex-
peHses believe it be shown that the expenses of
Legislation will be much diminished. 1t is we'll known
that every important which comes before the
Assembly, is first referred oint committee of both
Houses 1t would be impossible for the legislature in
body attend the examination of witnesses the al
tercaton of COUNSEL and the decision of
questions every petition which comes before them