Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-05-27

per dtem OF members, which would at this session
nave amounted to about $1,000. This office and
all Others should be sought as mark of the confidence
OF the constituency, and not for any pecuniary
Vantages to which they may be attached. The only
way for the people to secure the services of coupe
tant and patriotic their agents to take from
offclal station its pecuniary inducements. By this
means and by this only, will they ever be able to
drlVe from power the horde political vampires who
nave SO long infested the public councilsand fill their
places with patriotic men who wisserve their coun
try for their countrys good"
The division of the State into single districts for
the purpose of representation, measure calculated
to bling within the reach ofevery eector full knowl
edge of the character and qualifications on the can
didate and prevent partially at least the evils in
cldent to the odious and corrupt system of caucus
dlctatlon now In use, we deem to be measure emf
nently called for at the present time. This with
such change in the present tax system as should
relieve the property of the State from tax which
has for the last three years averaged some $4,000
year, not dollar Of which has found its way into the
public treasury and for which no other apology can
be found, than that it is wanted for the support of
few useless oficers.and for distribution to partzan
press, that the administration may secure to itself
whether deserving or not, unwavering support in
every organized country in the State Has also re-.
ceived support and has met tile same fate at the
same hands.
1t Is however but fair to state, that portion of
the majority earnestly desired the adoption of many
of these measures So just were the measures them
selves, and manifest the advantages to result from
their adoption, that in almost every instance they
were able to command majority in their favor but
rejection by the Senate, or rigid enforcement of
party discipline, has finally triumphed over the bet
terjudgement and honest convictions of sufficient
number to ensure their defeat.
The revision of the laws has from the commence
ment been unfortunate and expensive measure for
the people. The system reported by the Revisor,
though prepared with great care and labor was not
adapted to the condition of the country or the views
or wants of the community. To make it such, ard
still preserve proper consistency in all It's parts
would have required that the Revision itself should
be revised. Therefore, to prevent protracted ses
sion and the expenditure of large of money
upon code of laws shat should have no greater
claims to permanency than that in force, we brought
forward at early period of the session land prior
any action on the subject, proposition to postpone
the consideration of the revision until the next an
nual meeting of the Legislature; but SO little favor
did it find at the hands of the majority that contrary
to all Legislative practice, second reading was re
fused.
The revision, when completed can hardly cost less
than $4,000, and it may far exceed that sum, be-
sides by protracting the session. it has opened the
door for vast amount of other useless legislation
| Although there is semblance of judicial reform
in some part of the new Codes still its being addet
to, instead of substituted for, the present system
must render it more complicated and expensive in it
operation.
The same high salaries, the same system of Exec
utive patronage, the same complicated machinery
and an equal if not greater number of offices are pro
vided for. Simplicity and economy have been total
ly disregarded and though change. the order of til
day, has in few instances been effected pcrmanenc
and substantial reform have not been secured.
1t has not been purpose in this address to rails
any undue prejudice in the public mind against tn
Legislation of the past winter, to arraign the mo
tves of those with whom we have been associated
but whom many occasions we have felt 1t GU
duty to differ. Our only desire has been to place be
fore you in as brief manner as possible statemen
of the condition of the State-the result oflegilasto
upon the various measures to which we have allude
and the motives by which we have been governed i
deciding upon the important questions that have bee
presented for our consideration.
Investigation and reflection will not fail tn convinc
every man that the public tax rolls might be great
reduced by a simp6cation of the laws and a jus
wise and economical administration; and that sue
reform would necessarily lead to corresponding re
ductlon in the contributions required to be paid
individuals for services that would be rendered ur
necessary under proper modification of the gener;
laws.
Should you say that in this we are travelling be
yond the Legitimate sphere of public inquiry, our al
swer is, that the productive energies of the people
constitute the only true of the wealth of n;
tons or States, and that whatever weighs upol
embarrasses, or iverts the produce labor from tn
hands of industry,s not only worthy of, but demand
the attentive consideration of every individual in til
community.
Not only are there vast pecuniary evils that dc
mand your attention, but growing out of and resu
: ting from these, usages that are sapping tn
foundations of the government, and undermining tn
patriotism of its citizens by destroying that conf
dence in its parental care and supervision, which
government constituted as ours is, ought always
command, land which would never fail to be accordin
to it, if honestly and properly administered.
We sought to do something for the good of tn
state Circur,cfa mos have hppn AGAINST NJ