The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-12-20

Just complaint has often been made
against the mode in which the Convlcts
| in our Penitentiary have been employ
ed. Their labor has been brought in
to direct competition with that OF our
| Mechanics and Manufacturers, to their
manifest injury. There is no doubt
that the Convict labor can be so direct
ed as to compete with foreign labor a.
lone, without being made less product
i've than it has been heretofore. No
class of our citizens is better entitled
to protection than the one to which rel
erence is made, and take the earliest
opportunity to attract your notice to
this subject, and recommend radical
change, at as early period, as it can
be effected consistently with a proper
management Of the Prison. 1t is also
worthy OF consideration whether some
thing more cannot be done for the ref
ormation Of that unfor tunate, but dam
gerous, class of our fellow citizens,
who are suffering the penalty OF the
law.
Permit me TO call your attention to
the laws of our Statute Book, which
lays restrictions and disabilities on the
unfortunate colored population Of our
State. Laws which are two severe
to be executed or obeyed, can answer
no valuable purpose. II does appear
to me that revision of those laws, is
now called for, and that reason justice
and mercy demand mitigation oftheir
penalties.
1t will be perceived by the Legisla-
ture, that revision of the militia Law
is demanded by the people of the State.
In republic like ours, a standing ar
my is regarded as dangerous and hostile
to liberty, and repugnant to the leel-
ings Of the people. 1t is td the militia
we should look for assistance in repell-
ing invasion from abroad, and suppress
ing tumults and insurrecton at home.
and to aid the civil authorities in the
preservation of order, and the due ex-
eculion of the laws. The existing law
exempts most of the militia from duty
in time Of peace;it creates an inequali-
ty between the independent companies
and those relieved from duty; hence,
: it is believed, that the present law, II
permitted to remain in force, will abol-
ish our military organization.
In my Introductory remarks al'u-
ded to the limited power ofthe Execl'
ve-with feelings of pride, | recur to
it. This popularity in our Constltu-
tion marks the superior wisdom of its
trainers. Man is fond of power, and
the history of the human rae, shows
that he is strongly and almost invaria-
bly, inclined to its abuse. Hence, the
more narrow the limits within which
executive power and prerogatlve is
confined, consistently with a safe and
efficient administration, the better fol
the people. 1t is contended that the
veto is necessary to prevent hasty and
ill-advised legislation, and TO guard a
gainst infracllons oil the. Constitution
Theory must bow to positive fact or
this subject. After an experiment o
forty two years we have found no ne
cessity for such power in our State
government. # has been contendet
, also thae,be patronage OF the Executive
, is indispensable to it; efficiency; an(
that, if lodged with the Legislature
we should have corruption without re
sponsibility in appointments to office
So far as our experience as State gov
ernment goes, it contradicts this ny
pothesis.
The trainers of the Constitution 0
. the United States were apprehensivs
, that the Executive would not have ad
equate power; and, Tor many years al
ter the organization of the Government
many revolutionary statesmen and par
ties, viewing our Constitution IN con
I trast with the governments OF Europe
were fearful it was ga rope OF sand.
Had they lived to our own day, how
, ever, their fears would have run in tn
reverse direction. 1t is too obvious t
F.: escape the observation of even the 81
| perficial observer, that the tendency G
our General Government is to consoli
dation. There has been, for year
past, a gradual accumulation of powe
!. in the centre.
q We have seen measures, after bein
canvassed by the people, and passe
deliberately by strong majority {
their Representatives,, arrested by tn
!, Veto, in hands too, which from the pe
culiar delicacy of the mode in whle
they were clad with supreme authority
ought to have handled the tone ma
. power" with great hesitancy and mod
3 esty.
! The exercise of the Veto, has Of lat
. years, become 50 commoa as scarce
excite astonishment or orobservation.
IS a matter of graduation that the Anne