The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-04-04
I OHIO PRESCRIPTION.

OHIO PRESCRIPTION. b
We alluded, a few days ago, 70 the
abrogation Of the contract made under
the law Of Ohio with the editor Of the
Statesman for the execution Of the
printing for three years, by the acet
dental federal minority in the State ie-
gis,ature. The law under which the
contract was made appointed the mode
in which the printer was to be remov-
ed, Gf at all J and this was part OF the
contract. II hwason charges made and
trial by the Legislature. But there
were no charges that could be alleged
and established; and hence to get rid Of
him, they were obliged to deny him a
trial, and sweep him out By the mere
will of the majority. repeating the law;
yet he had been induced to invest
means to comply with the three years
contract. it being secured for that time
by the express terms Of the law, unless
he committed some offence which
would justify his removal, upon trial
and Judgment against him; and yet he
is turned out. while whole year Of the
contract remains unexpired, merely be-
cause his political opinions did l.ot
agree with those Of the majority. Up
on the principle of this act of proscrip-
ton. there is no covenant which a man
can enter into with his governm mt,
that may not be annulled at any NOM
ent by majority which concelves ii
dislike to the individual, from poll l.
cal or any other cause.
Next in character to this proceeding.
is the assault upon the board of public
works. This board consisted Of three
members. By single act, these men,
whose official terms extended to one
and two years, were legislated out. and
three others. with advanced salaries,
legislated ia. But the act did not stop
here. Unwilling to trust their Vn in
struments-the men of the board, to
whom was given the appointing power
they made the law itself the instru-
ment of vengeance, hy providing that.
on the lst of April, the place OF every
collector, engineer, superintendent, in
spector, and lock tender, on all the line
of public works, should become vacant.
1t is safe to say that, by this arbitrary
act of power. in the repeal of one law,
and the enactment of another. and by
one single clause in this new act, at
least two hundred men are dismissed
from the public Sc, vice. and that mere
ly for their political opinions, to make
place for horde of federal partisans
And yet this is the 7arty in whose
name the National Inteligencer now
puts IN the meekness of Il saint, and
withwhose voice the smoothed .iongued
editors Of that canting print descant
against prescription for opinions sake.
and the dangers and Impropiiety OF ro-
lation in office. The first of lawgivers
hath written it in his code. "that with
whatsoever measure ye mete, it shall
be meted to you again. Let the In
teIIigencer look at these things; and.
kno wing them, consider how far,in dep
recating the rightlu exercise Of political
power properly obtained, ii brands its
elf and its party as dissemblers, who'
to glut the full malice OF ,scription,
have overridden all the barriers of law.
scofied at the contract rights of men
legally acquired, and trampled with
their unholy feet upon the constitution
of one of the States of this Union.
Ciobe.