The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-04-02
WHOLE NO. sls.g

my Us she DID, for nearly two Centuries under
me charter of a British King, has walked up
at length, and framed anew her orpanIe lav,
New Jersey, Louisiana, Texas, and more re.
Gently still, New York have each rsorgsnix.
ed lis constitution. And shall Ohio. Youro
ONO fall behind?-Sir, the ,ropress of con.
s''uoonal science (ihe great bulwark Of H.
oelly) within half century, has ainazsd the
civilized world. Nothing in any other de-
par'ment OF politics, has equalled II. The
capacity, once doubted in this country. of
tho peoele for selfgovernmont, in IFS most
expanded limits, has been demonstrated
WINE, meantime, the tyrants and leptimists
o. me old world, have looked on with blanche
Cd cheek and covering eye at the prooress
OF Inc democratic principle, which, scornina
10 'read the beatsntrach Of ordinary politics.
mas stricken out new path, crushing 10 The
ground before its giant strides, all that slug.
gard opposition of old fashioned eonserys.
tlsm' which sits like the unhappy Triton on
It's lasI-bound rock, and weeps in envy and
maevolenco at the Genius Of Improyemes,
gong forth as the strong man rejoicing in
hlc strength. The spirit Of progress, let me
admonlsh gentlemen, it 10 vain 10 resist
iou may retard, but you cannot arrest H..
know 1t will be opposed, and that all the
might ana skill Of conservatism will copspira
ior Its fall. Men are slow to give up what
they delight to call the wisdom Of tbei,
ancestors" Sir, there is a wisdom which
sometimes becomes madness. But we do
moi teach iorgetfuness of the lessons OF
the past We would 40 back to that foun.
tain, but we would desire, also. to grow wise
from experience, and 10 correct the errors
which that experience points out. Expert.
ment Is the great laboratory of politics; bu,
lis results must be carried into practice by
reforms, or they are of no value. True, sii.
IN The midst Of all this SOUL gladdenng march
OF improvement, we shsuld rejoice to lock
DOCK also, 10 tho instructions of those who
have gone before US. belong, indeed, 10
what IS sometimes. sneeringly called The
prog, essve" school of politics. / am
proud to belong 10 it. 1t teaches faith in
man as God made him. Progression too, is
law OF our race. But not tina, progression
which forgets all the teachings Of the past.
and spurns all the dangers of the future
The true law of progress, II understand i,
demands not SO much the originating Of new
principles IN politics, as the varied applca-
lion of the old and established principies to
The ever and rapidly changing circumstances
which distinguish every year in our history
from the years which have preceded il, alter.
ing our policy and conduct Of affairs, and
epen cur institutions, accordingly as these
changes demand it, directed throughout, how.
ever, by the same great leading principles
which reason and prescription alike combine
to make authoritative aud venerable. On
just such principles weuld desire that tho
great relorm here proposed, should be con.
, Quoted. And now, too, We have all tha,
wisdom can devise, or the experience of our
own or other States can teach, TO guide us.
! The time, are prepitious Why then delays
Do you fear the introduction of party into
this great question of reforml Never will
there be tine less exposed to its inflasnces.
This proposition will be submitted TO the peo-
pie at the fall election of AZ, at q season
when there will be neither president, Cover.
nor, members Of Congress TO elect, and when
no disturbing causes, therefore, will combine
, to trouble the pool Of politics, national OF
state. Nothing of SO generally an agitating
character, as to arouse even the ordinary
political excitement throughout the State,
will or can DO brought before the people. /
know OF nothing to break the calm Of that
electlen. And if the people should decide
Tor convention, the election of its members,
and the commencement Of its session both
take place before the presidential convass Of
\ II212 Whom tuin .
come again? Do you mean to wait till par
tics shall no more exisf Sir, such vain
magnings are the very worst sort Of political
mlitlerism That day will never come You
must first alter maR's nature, or striking down
the spirit Of liberty, must compel the ua-
formity of unanointsd dsspotsm. Parties
will always exist in free country, and il 10
the business of wise mon not 10 attempt to
eradicate, but to regalats and control them.
But why shall party enter at all into this
question: IT is a question for the whole
people Of the State, and concerns them, not
as wings or as democrats, bu, az sitizsnG-
Other States have met as ono people in this
great matter Of constitutional reform In
Louisiana, where parties are nearly balanced,
but three thousand votes were cast against
the new constitution oflS44 la Iowa and
Missouri the now constitutions proposed
were rejsc,ed-in the former twice rejected
through the party whose friends had sub
aitted them, was largely in the majority
Even in New York, where, if in any Slate,
pariizan influence vas most TO have been OK.
pected, in New Yerk whore tho despotism
and corruption of party are carried as far
surely as in Ohio; the call for a convention
was sustainedby vote Of two huadred and