The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-11-20
THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY.
JAS. R. MORRIS, PROPRIETOR.
wOODsFIELD, OHIO, NOV. go. ls47.
Amendments to the Constitution.

Amendments to the Constitution.
The question Of amending the Constitution Of
Ohio is now being agitated in various sections Of
the State 1t seems to be the prevailing opinion
that our present Constitution is inadequate to the
wants and interests of the people. Our judiciary
system, especially as far as regards the Supreme
Court, is manifestly an imposition on the people
However well-suited it might have been at the
time Of the organization of our Government, when
the population of Ohio was only some forty thou
sand, it certainly cannot or ought not to be now
claimed that it is adequate to the wants Of two
millions of people. Notwithstanding the Consti-
tuition of this State declares, that s'the Supreme
Court shall be held. once year, in each County,"
yet Monroe county was, this year, without a
Court; and why! because the Judges were en-
gagged in the investigation of an important case in
neighboring county, and absorbed the time pro-
perly belonging 10 US. Suitors, witnesses and ju-
rors were in attendance. at a great expense, not
only to individuals, but to the county. The Judg-
es Violated that Constitution which they are s,oOn
TO support, and Of which they are considered the
Legitimate expounders.
Another reason why we should seek the amend
ment Of our Constitution is, that all our public Of
ficers may be elected by the people. Not only
the Associate and President Judges should be
elected by the people, but our Supreme Judges,
our Auditor, Treasurer. and Secretary of State
In republican government the people are the
rightful repositories of power; but in many of our
State Governments they have parted with great
deal more than is at all necessary. The time is
arriving when they should call back, Had they
done SO, years ago, in this State, we would not
now, in all probability, be groaning under enor.
nous taxes. Men are too prone to work for their
own interest I'd be trusted with much of the peo
ple's power. Had our Canal Commissioners been
responsible to the people directly for their acts,
we believe, in fact, we have no doubt, but more
economy would have been used in our public i'm
provements.
The only objection urged against amending our
the land "should not be changed for light and tri
vial causes" and the danger of submitting to the
judgment OF our fellow-citizens the imperfections
of an instrument devised by the wisdom of our
forefathers. We will here introduce the language
af Jefferson as an answer TO such objections:
"Some ever look at constitutions with
sanctimonious reverence, and deem
them, like the ark Of the covenant, too
sacred to be touched. They ascribe
to the men of the preceding age wis
dom more than human, and suppose
what they did to be beyond amend
ment. | know that age well; | belong
ed to it, and labored in it. II deserved
we'll Of its country. 1t was very much
like the present, but without the expe-
rience Of the present, and forty years
af experience in government is worth
a century of book reading; and this
they would say themselves, were they
10 rise from the dead. ! am certainly
not an advocate for frequent and un-
tried changes in laws and constitutions.
But | know, also, that laws and institu-
tions must 60 hand in hand with thelpro.
gress of the human mind. AS that be-
comes more developed, more enlight-
ened, as new discoveries are made,
new truths disclosed, and manners, and
opinions change with the change OF
circumstances, institutions must ad.
vance also, and keep pace with the
times. We might as we'll require man
to wear still the coat which fitted him
when boy, as civilized society to re-
main ever under the regimen Of their
barbarous ancestors. 1t is this prepos-
ferrous idea which has lately deluged
Europe in blood. Let US follow no
such examples, nor weakly believe that
one generation is not as capable as
another Of taking care of itself, and Of
ordering its own affairs. Let US as our
sister States have done, avail ourselves
of our reason and experience, to cor
rect the crude essays oil our first and
inexperienced, although wise, virtuous,
and well meaning councils"