The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-05-29

tbsA . 80 ssS
kno wing one conceives the scheme o
an improvement embracing five or si'
counties. He makes it known. In
stantly a score Of spectators in eact
Of the counties concerned, perceive th'
capabilities Of the thing. Each one o
these reflects for himself, 'if this ap
preparation is obtained l am a Rlcf
MAN"
What a fund Of fraud and deception
is here provided for the unsuspectina
members of the next General Assembly
They are met at the Capital by an army
of adventures and lobby-members al
most as numerous as themselves. They
are dined and wined, and treated and
hattered, and c%ajoled and w~hsedled'
and coaxed and entreated, and some.
times even threatened, until in an evil
hour they 60 into the House and vote
away millions of the Peoples money
"for that which is not bread, and their
substance for that which satisfieth not"
But this whole system is at war with
the moral sentiments. Conscientious
and intellect distinctly denounce and
oppose it. Hence some of our very
best men have always been at war with
it. But these men stand no chance at
all, in an election carried on at Column
bus by the General Assembly. What
hopes could they entertain, with an
army Of enraged and disappointed spec
u~lators enlisted against them, ready to
inspire their representatives with their
own sentiments of hostility None,
whatever. On the contrary, the very
men whose toilsome days and sleepless
nights have contributed to heap on the
head of this abominable system, a part
of the odium and execration which it
deserves, know full we'll hat they are
enduring an ostracism from all public
employments, in the gilt Of the State,
as strict and rigorous as that of the old
Athenian, who wrote his own condem-
on the fatal shell. Of this ex-
clusion, in and Of itself, | do not COM
PLAIN. No man has any vested right
to office, or its honors or emolu-
ments. The man who is ambitious of
public employment, ought to prepare
himself by long study and extensive C
quaintance with public affairs, and then
trust to the Peoples discernment to be-
stow their suffrages where they are
best merited. But at the same time
that no man has any vested right to Of
flee, no nan has any right to be pun
ished for doing his duty, as is often the
case at present. Nor ought the wishes
and intentions Of the People towards
a public servant, whose former fidelity
and good conduct they approve, to be
liable to be frustrated by the very men
whom he may have offended, in the
strict discharge OF an absolute and I'M
perative duty. Yet this is our case at
present; we cannot elect even an AS
~sociate Judge for ourselves, but must
become humble suitors and petitioners
to the central power annually assem-
bled at Columbus. What interest have
the citizens of Darke, or Shelby, or
Mercer, or Montgomery, in our Asso.
ciate or President Judges? Then WHY
should angry and disappointed specu-
lators from those, or any other sections,
have an opportunity to exercise their
hostile and vindictive feelings in our
Judicial elections?
Fellow Citizens, if we are true to
ourselves and to our posterity, there
will be neither PEACE NOR TRUCE with
our present miserable and defective in
stltutions, until they are replaced by
others more in accordance with the
spirit of the age, and better calculated
to promote the happiness Of mankind.
The friends of reformation are full Of
ardor and hope, for well we know, that
if advancement and Improvement are
laws of human nature, instituted by
HEAVEN, we must have a. Convention
TO amend our Constitution.
Most Respectfully,
EDWARD ARCHBOLD.
-ur..J.6aId Nav "a 1847. No. 9.