The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-23


olutions pertaining to their common welfare' H
was not disposed to deny to the people in their in
dividual elementary capacity, the right of revolu
ton, right never to be abandoned, but never t
be exercised except in extreme cases; but for al
practical purposes, the man who denies to the peo
pie, the power TO act on any given subject through
their constituted organs, denies them the power t.
act at all. The people cannot meet and consult cr
masse, then if they cannot meet and consul
through their authorzedagents and representatives
they cannet meet and consult at ALL And this i
precisely the situation of hepIessness and desttu
tion to which the arguments Of gentlemen would
reduce them
Having convinced themselves, and attempted tc
convince Others, that the peoples power to create
abody OF special agents with plenary powers on one
subject, but limited to that subject, abors under
palsy, they proceed to draw the most frightfu pic
lures of the anarchy, the confusion, the ruin, thai
are to rush in as flood-tide, if we once open the
gates, by calling convention clothed with general
powers TO amend our whole Constitution. He had
no such distrust of the people. The evils for which
we propose to provide remedy are admitted by all
to be urgent in the highest degree. The eight
new President Judges, and the four chanceors OF
the gentlemen from Preble, and his proposition to
destroy the appellate powers of the Supreme Court,
and to lop off one of the Associate Judges Of the
Common Pleas, discover, in glaring light, his
sense of the evils under whichswe labor.
Would the gentleman propose to add so many
new cog-wheels and trundle-heads, if our mill
would even grind tolerably: And he would add,
that complex and intricate machinery is apt to be
would be the case with the gentleman's, if put in
operation To distrust the capacity of the people,
safely to amend their Constitution, is to distrust
their capacity for selfgovernment; is to despair Of
the republic. The people would be stimulated by
the strongest motives that ever influenced the hu-
man breast, by their own interests and the inter-
ests ofthe latest posterty, to the exercise of their
highest mental and moral faculties. The noblest
sons of the commonwealth, the men most distin-
guished for high, mental, and moral attainments,
would be willing to accept seats in that conven-
ton; in one word, the effort to amend the Consti-
tuition would concentrate the highest mental and
moral energies of the State, and he had fears for
the result. Before the awakened majesty OF the
people, demagoguery would start back appalled, and
rebuked. Itcould not breathe in the atmosphere
ofpurity, which the awakened intelligence and
moral feeling of this great community would cre-
ate, Although gentlemen have made the ghosts
of anarchy, and confusion, and turbulence, and
agrariansm, stalk .mournfully across the stage be-
fore our eyes, it was easy to perceive that the
threatening apparitions were merely hobgoblins,
raw-head- d.bloodybon which ought to fright
en- none but children.
Political topics had been unnecessarily dragged
into this sdscusson. 1t was not necessarily party
question, and he would not be the first man to
make it so. Ifover aquestion demanded calm and
mature consideration, it was question concerning
the amendment of the organic law. They were
bound, at their peril, by the highest and weight
lest motives that could influence the human breast:
Kindred, country, friends, and above all by their
paternal conneXion with all posterity,
10 the highest exercise of their intellecs, and the
;ubjugation of their passions. They were legisIa-
ting not for the present generation alone, but for
the millions of men who were soon TO tread the soil
Of this great State. Yes, and in some respects for
The unnumbered millions who were soon to inhab
i our mighty continent; for our example might tell
upon the destnies of other States OF this confede
'acy. twas noble conception of Fisher Ames,
hat an 'sAmerican legislator ought to consider
himself the patriarch Of half mankind" Let the
Diets and Juntas of the little petty States of Eu-
'ope, engage in faction, cabal and intrigue. They
lad no such stakes involved as we had; their re-
tricted territory and limited population afforded
zone SUCH For himself he pretended not to be
exempt from the ordinary frailtes and imperfec-
ions of human nature, and he supposed no man on
his floor pretended to such exemption. But he
lis compatriots here. 10 set upa high standard of
legislative purity.
In the words of celebrated author, he would
emark, that "the highest praise ever bestowed on
statesman, was, that all his aims were his coun-
rvs, his Gods and Heaven's;" and would add,
hat legislative assembly of this mighty Common
wealth engaged in petty political scramble, in the
little intrgues and partizan conflicts of the day,
must, in the eye of reason, resemble giant play
ng with rag-doll.
The following is copy of the bill offered by Mr..
Archbold, which was yesterday lost n the House:
A BILL,
To prouide for taking the sense of the qualified cleo
tors Of this State as to the propr,ety cfholding
cenpentiOn 10 amend the Sd article Of The con- !
stituiion Of this Stale,
Whereas, by the existing constitution of this
State, the number of judges of the supreme court
annot exceed four, who are constitutionally bound
o hold court in every county in the State once in
ZACH yea., two being necessary to constitute quo
um, an amount Of labor which they are made
luate TO perform, by means of which, justice is
reatiy delayed imperfectly administered, and its
:.ainment rendered enormously costly; the courts