Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-12-23

meht Is a representative democracy,
formed by the people themselves. for their
benefit, and moulded according to their
will and pleasure. They have adopted
The representative system 10 order to a.
void the trouble and expense, 10 an ex.
tended territory, ba wing a large p%opuIa-
ton, Of meeting together, as IN some Of
the ancient republics, and expressing
their will, 10 person as 20 public meas.
ures. Each representative and senator
is clothed with The important and highly
responsible trust Of expressing The will
and wish olhis constituents on n II mat.
tiers of legislation which may be brought
to his consideration. The people have
provided in the organic law Of the Site
how the public will shall he expressed,
and when so expressed how it shall be
executed. By the theory Of our govern
mcnt, The will OF a majority of The Legts.
allure, so long as that body keeps with.
IN The constitution, is presumed 10 be the
will OF the people; and although this
may not always be true in practice, vet
any supposed variation from the public
will, by a majority Of the representatives,
o. the people. will not justify any other
mode OF redress than that provided bv
the people themselves, in the form and
organization OF the Government they
have adopted. II errors are committed
by a majority, The wisdom of our lnsti-
tutions has provided a peaceful and Or
derry remedy in the haltot-box. What.
ever wrongs, if any may be perpelraled
by the majority OF the representatives,
we may rest assured will be speedily
renedied by the people themselves, in
the mode and manner known TO the con.
slilution. Such | conceive TO be the
character Of our representative form of
government. 1t is based on the great
principle that lays at The foundation of
all public liberty, that the will of the
majority, when constIluiionally express.
sep, shall govern. Destroy this prlnci-
pie and you destroy free government,
PROSTATE our popular institutions, anG
lay The axe at the root Of civil liberty.
For the first time in the history of our
State, we were called upon to Witness,
at the extra session of the Legislature in
July last, a successful attempt, on the
part oil the minority, TO control and paraI.
we the will of the majority. By the
concerted and simultaneous resignation
thirteen Senators and twonly EIGHT
members of the House of representatives
the will OF the majority was arrested, the
legislative branch ofthe Government was
broken up and dissolved, and an appeal
made by the minority to the people, 10
sustain this assault on their government
Had this been done by a body OF armed
entering these halls ard expeIIing
The membera with the bayonet & sword,
1t would have been denounced by all as
evolutionary, not because the bayonet
and sword had been used as instruments
10 accomplish the end, but because it
would have annihiIated and DESTROYED the
most important branch of the govern
ment. II the same end 10 accomplished,
not by armed citizens, but by members
the very body sought to be destroyed
BY some less violent means, il is not The
less revolutionary. 1t may be said that
he members Of the Legislature have a
to resign. This is a qualified right
md must be exercised in good faith and
or a %lustihabIe purpose and not with a
view Of Frustrating the constitution and
'ubveftlng or arresting, for The time be.
"g, the very government they are sworn
o support.
do not aIlude 10 these transactions
q a spirit Of unkindness, nor with the
Jew OF duplicating The motives of any
me, but for the sole purpose Of warning
ny fellow -citIzens against an act,
which, if it should become a precedent,
vii lead 10 anarchy, bIoodshed, and the
destruction of all government. If the
will of The majority should no longer be
ecognIzed Ia these halls, as the great ar
'ltet to decide all questions for the time
.eing, there is an end to legislative and
lvll government; and the most lalaI con.
equences 10 our repose and happiness
must be the result.
When we look back to the days Of our
evolutionary struggle, and estimate The
1Iood and treasure that were expended
n the achievement of our liberty, the
are and toll that we're exerted by our
evolutionary fathers in building up our
rec institutions, the unexampled hnppi.
ess and prosperity which we have en-.
Dyed under their mild and genial InGu.
nee, we should feel ourselves bound, by
he most sacred obligations, 10 guard
hem with a parents hand, aud defend
hem against every attempt to impair or
estrOy them. We owe this alike to our.
TO The friends of civil liberty,
throughout the world, and 10 posterity.
WILSON SHANNON.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. ID, l942.