Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-12-22

=, inquire Into the sxpediency Of q repeal
Of the law requiring real estate to be ap-
praised and sold at two.thirds Of its ap.
praised value. Agreed to.
HousE.-Dec. 9.-Mr. Hardesty, on
leave, e,introduced bill TO amend the tax law.
Mr Blake, bill TO secure / o every citi.
asn o homestead exempt from execution.
DR.. Clark, o bill to extend the time oil
paying taxes.
A BILL prohibiting any citizen Of thi:
State from holding, by election or appoint
msnt, more than one Of several offices
therein named, at the same time, was con
sidered in committee Of the whole, and re.
SExATE.-Dec. l0.-Mr. Lewis pre-
ssnted petitions from citizens Of Stark, Co
lumbiana, and Guernsey counties, asking
the Legislature to declare the Union dis
solved on account of the annexation O
Texas.
Mr. Lewis moved its reference 10 the
committee on Federal Relations.
Mr. Oids hoped the time of the Senate
would not be taken up in the reception ol
petitions bearing treason in their very face.
The forms are printed, and the time OF the
Senate will be taken up in their discussion
Mr. Lewis said that he had no sympathy
with the signers. He knew them not. and
the petitions were sent to him by one he
had merely seen. Last winter, he stated,
when similar petitions had been presented
and rejected, that tho proper mode was to
receive and refer them. He verified his
prediction. These petitions were more nu-
merously signed than those sent last win
ter. Mr.. l.. then proceeded to show that
Nd treason was named, meant, or intended
by the petitioners.
Mr. Olds said he wished to be understood
in the vote that he was about to give. He
was in favor Of the largest and most ex-
tended right to petition, when>the granting
the prayer Of the petitioners would not sub
ject US 10 the name Of traitors. But no
Sman should be permitted, without his con.
demnation, to ask him to commit treason
against his country. would not myself,
said MIR O.,) nor would sanction by my
action, the initiative of any act, which
believed to be- reasonable. | love my
country too we'll to harbor thought, or
encourage any other person in thoughts or
actions which may look to the destruction
Of the glorious privileges enjoyed under our
present happy form otgovernnent. Our
rights are too sacred. and our form Of gov
srnment too precious for me to permit any
man to blacken and destroy them. Are
;hese petitioners actua,ed by any patriotic
motives! or are they slaves and hirelings
e = L. IS
srnment in the old world? Could the des.
pots of Europe send their emissaries among
us, they would do just what these petition
ers are doing doubts about the sta
bility Of our government. | ask you, Mr..
Speaker, what will be the effect Of enter.
tanning such reasonable petitions by the
great State of Ohio? The friends of free
dom will tremble and tyrants laugh. No!
Let US reject it at once, and say to the
world, that our government, like Caesar's
wife, is above suspicion.
Messrs Beaver and Eaton went for the
reception of the petitions, and for referring
them to standing committee.
The question was further debated by Mr.
Archbold in favor of rejecting the petition,
and by Mr. Randall in favor oil receiving it.
Mr. King said that when he submitted a
motion last winter for the rejection of n
similar petition he did so with the belief
shat t.would seitle the4matter. The Sem
ate afterwards received a petition of the
same character and sen: it 10 a committee
with instructions to report against ii. From
that report, made by the present Speaker
of1he Senate, he would read. Mr. K. then
read from the report, denouncing the peti.
ton I'M strong terms trdiloroas, and showing
The value of the Union. A motion at that
limo was made 10 strike from the repor,
the word .streitoroas," and it was voted
down by Q unanimous vote, save that Of the
mover.
Mr Lewis called for the reading Of the
petitions, one Of which was read. The form
is q printed one, and all the petitions pre-
cisely nike,
Mr Lewis said that The term Iraiiorous
was NOT to be- defined by the 'Providential
majority Of last winter. He hoped the pc
s,tion would be- received. e
M.. Beaver said that il the majority la>
winter was Presidential, that Providence
was dlspleased with the party, for he hat
given tha minority this winter against them
Mr. Reemelin said, that he wished TO cor
rect an effOrs lDtO WHICH several CeNutOFs
had fallen in asserting that Mr. Jefferson
had decided against the constilutionality q
annexing territory, not in the Union at tn.
time of its fo:ra on, into the Union. Nj
jefferson had originally inclined to that o
pinion, but ultimately became convince'
that the constitution bore the construction
Of the power Of annexing territory by tn
General Government, and had avowed up
on it, and almost every President and eve
~ Congress since had also acted upon tha
construction.
Mr. R..also wished those Senators VIII
were such, ,ssicklers for the right of petition
to show wherein the right of petition ha
been violated. Tho persons who had sign
cd that petition had certainly exercised tn
right. The Senator had presented their pc
tiiion TO the, Senate, and it had been read
The right Of petition had thus been full,
exercised, what more did they wantl
reference to committee. What for? T
deliberate and report upon it? Now, sal
Mr. B., recognize the right of petition, al