The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-08-25
Address
OF THE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE
OHIO LEGISLATURE TO THE PEOPLE OF
THE STATE. i'H Doe. s.aT

PROPLE OF OHIol ..r ..
A series of most extraordinary events, which have
resulted IN the overthrow and humiliation of Repre-
sentative Government in Ohio, impose upon us the du
ty to acquaint you with the facts which mark this start
ling epoch in the annals our Commonwealth.
BY law, the General Assembly of the state, was con
Vened and assembled at The Capitol, the 25h Of July
last BusnssE ofgreat public moment, and general in-
teres a0d importance. demanded, and was receiving,
the careful aud deliberate consideration Of your repre|
sentative servants, when on the morning of the llth
inst, twenty eight members Of the House of Represen
tave, and thirteen Senators, BY concert Of acon q
under the relex ofresgning their seats, retired from
the Halls of Legislation, and left both Houses of the
General Assembly without that number Of members
which the Constitution requires for the transaction Of
business
Every effort was made on our part in either House.
to compel the attendance Of the absentees; but the pro-
cess ofthe law was dsobeyed -contemned, and the
public officers, charged with ito execution, nsulted and
menaced with violence. The Executive Chief Magis~
Irate ofthe State, whose duty it is made by the Cons
suiiOn and the laws, TO provide for the filling OF va
Cancies in the Legislature, as in other oces was then
appealed to, to perform his duty. Your Representa-
tves were answered by that officer that he could have
no official communication with the remaining fragment
of the law making power-that neither the constitution
the laws, his official oah the responsibilities of his
high station, imposed any duty upon him In the emer'
gency
Thus was every peaceful legal, constitutional means
part exhausted unavalngy to preserve the in~
tegry Of the legislature and to vndicae the suprema~
Oy ofthe constitution and the laws; and thDs were we
compelled to the law-makng power stopped in the
full career ofits progress, literally annhlated-your
government stabbed in the vital part by successful in
Burgents against its organic law.
Fellow citzensl The more immediate oonsequen-
ces ofhis revolutionary act the part of portion of
your public servants will be found in the almost total
abrogaton of the entire legislation of the session. 1t
avas the people of the State nothing that their Legs
laure had been seventeen days in session. at expense
of thousands of dollars and that measures Of aper-
vadng interest to the community-measures which
would have been credilable to the labors of three
months session, wore on the point of consummation
and the Legislature itself upon the eve of formal and
constitutional adournmen!-a resolution fixing on Mon
day. the 18th is, for an adjournment having passed
one branch ofthe Legislature UNANIMOUSLY. This act
ofthe insurgent members which we cannot regard as
less hana predetermined and organized conspiracy a.
gans the government has arrested and prostraed
ry thing
Tho State has not been divided into congressional
districts, although The bill for that purpose had passed
one branch of the sgisature and therefore, you
not elect your representatives to Congress at the usual
and proper time fgssa a.''s-~
The bill to provide relief for the suffering contrac.
tors and aborera upon the public works although it had
passed one and reached its second reading in the other
branch, has failed. ...
The bill to provide for the apprasement of personal
property be sold on execution although thad passed
both Houses, and only awaited the signatures of the
Speakers of the respective houses, 10 become law,
has failed.
The bill to Tax brokers and prohibit fraudulent cur
rency, has failed.
The bill extending the corporate existence ofthe SOL
vent and specie paying banks of the State, under the
restrictive provisions of the act regulate banking, has
failed.
The bill 10 give mechanics lien upon the labor of
their own hands, has failed
These and many other measures Of absorbing interest
and imperious necessity. prayed for by common
stuency, have been defeated by this bold attempt to
subvert all government and law.
But, fellow citizens, all these consequences will be
lost in that much graver and weighter consideration
which must arrest your attention WHAT is YOUR
DUTY IN THIS CRISIsi
BY revolt from constitutional duty and legal oblga
tion your Legislature has been completely parayzed.
bere OF the power to even constutionay adjourn and
terminate its existence. This insurgen procedure,
feel called upon now in the exercise of our best udg-
ments, to pronounce AN ACT OF OVERT TREASON Now,
it is TREASON: ifyou condemn it, coming generation.
Will pronounce Treason, and these foiled architects
ofanarchy traorsl Ifyou approve 1t; it will rank as
high precedent sustained and sanctioned by the pop,
uldr verdict, containing all the virtue and validity Of
positive law, and giving perennial vitality to the pre-
Togatlve of minority to annhilae the law>makng
power in the government, whenever the majority shall
not obey their behests in its exercise.
Fellow citizens this is the great issue in which all
others are lost presented to you at this perilous
gency. The momentous consequences that hang upon
its deoision are with you The facts are before you.
You are the only rightfhl triers Your judgment is
final and irreyerslble. '~'i
We humby hope and confidently believe, that in
this extraordinary conunctue, as lovers ofaw and
der, nay as the sworn supporters Of the Constitution
Ofyour government, we have fully acqtted ourselves Of
all our obligations.
Assuming a responsibility imposed upon us by un>
comfortable circumstances, we have informally separa>
ted 10 return to our homes and constituencies and a.
wait their judgment with the calm confidence ola con-
Scous rectitude of conduct
SENATOR'S.
e"ofss Sa%Ss i W. E'ffS Holmes, ofIInmillon county
Robert Hazetne of Butler, ..
Byram Leonard Of Knox,
William Robbins ofAdans,
Allen Latham of Ross, n
Thomas W. Bartleyof RichIand .-. ...
Alexander Mcconnell of Morgan, ... .... .....I 4
William G. Walton Of Monroe, ... ..
John Richey Of Perry,
Jacob Hosteter ofSark, s' '''' 1hi' 4
Samuel Spangler Of Fairfield -. II
3. b. Taylor of Licking, H..'.. ri .e.Y =!
John II. Harris of Wayne,
benjamin Ream Of Tuscarawas, ..t. q .,.,s.,
Charles NJ Aten ofColumbiana, ." .''
John Goodin ofSenaca gIt tf Btj
James Mitchell ofJeff rson, E .H. 54H|
jacob Clark Of Lucas. la.,... .... .....l ,s
a REPRESENTATIVES ....
RuIils p, Snndnp of SUNNI, ,o,r,, t...