The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-03-18
For the Spirit Of Democracy.
To the People Of Ohio.
Fellow CITIZENS:

it is true. for we then hoped Tor
help from the House Of Representatives. But
when we discovered our strength in the Senate
our apprehensions vanished. The public agita-
ton of this subject was commenced In the annual
message of Governor Shannon in December, ls4S'
That portion Of the message relative to this sub
iect, was, in the House of Representatives, re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee. Of which the
subscriber was member. As it met but cold
reception from the Committee, and as it was emi'
nently proper that some person, who might be sup
posed to possess the confidence OF our then Gov.
ernor, should move in the matter, the subscriber
introduced into the House, the first bill on the sub
ject But animosity, strife and faction rsigned IN
the House during the entire session, and the meas
ure failed But from that day 10 this the struggle
has been continued and strenuous. We have fought
the battle, though we have missed the victdry.-
But we have missed it only by hairs breadth
A little more generous confidence in the virtue.
intelligence and integrity Of the People. and in
their capacity for self.government, warming the
breasts OF three representatives, would have
crowned our labors with complete success. We
had twenty-four Senators and forty.five Represen'
tatives in favor of the measure, being two-thirds
of the Senate and only three less than two-thirds
of the House. 1t is painful to have the cup of
success dashed from the lips. The day on which
this great measure passed the Senate, was the
most cheerful and joyous in lifetime; the day on
which it failed in the House was sad and gloomy
in the extreme. We felt like settler, in the for
est who has toiled all winter and until late in the
spring, and has prepared his rails to protect
crop, then sees the fire come down from the hills
and consume them in night! But the men who
are engaged in promoting this great work OF hu-
man happiness and human progress, are not the
men to sit down and fold their hands in discourage
ment and despair. When the fabric. which our
hands have reared, is torn to pieces by the tempest
and scattered to the winds, we will instantly be-
gin to re-colect the materials. Only one thing can
stop our exertidns; convince US Of error. Letths
opponents of Improvement and Advancement show
us that the reformation which we propose will not
promote the happiness of the People. Our tongues
hands will not write another world! LeIthem
bring forward their strong arguments. nts.--arguments
they have no arguments!!! The subscriber has
listened to every thing Of the kind, which has ever
been advanced. It is admitted on all hands that
our old constitution is fatally and irrerievably de.
fective. 1t is admitted that constitution, which
was prepared for a State consisting Of nine coun.
ties, with smaller population than this Senatorial
district, is utterly unsuited tn the wants and ne.
cessities of great State, containing eighty-fve
counties land more than two millions of people tits
admitted that our Supreme Court is utterly incap-
able of administering justice, from the impossible
ty of four men performing the amount of labor re-
quired of them. 1t is admitted that we are labor
ing under the pressure Of acknowledged evils
But the ghosts of anarchy, and confusion, and Ja-
cobinism, and agrariansm, and discord, and civil
strife, are conJured up, and made to walk across
the stage, like raw-head and bloody-bones, TO
frighten men from their purposes. This now free
and happy land is to be invaded by host Of de-
mons if ever the people at large shall bs called on
to vote on the amendment Of their organic laws.
What is this but to surrender at once the cause of
popular government. Here are grievances, here
are evils according to these men, but neither vir
tue, nor wisdom, nor patriotism enough to pro.
vide remedy. No superior force, no oppression
from without, but merely vice, ignorance and
weakness within, compel US to tread the down.
hill path Of degradaton!!
Men OF Ohio, believe not these prophets ofrun.
They repose slight confidence in you. Repose
slight confidence in them. Bestow your conf
dence on your friends, your advocates, your de-
voted champions; IN the men who have un.
flnching, unwavering confidence in you. Trust
US for once and see if we abuse that trust. Give
us the power and we will construct better consti-
luton than the present We will provide rene.
1y for those abuses in the financial system, which
nave been so hurtful for the last twenty-three
years. We will construct Supreme court, calm |
md patient in hearing, mild and firm in decision,
md whose judgments will carry along with them |
uch moral force as to render physical force al. |
most unnecessary for the execution OF the laws.
We will give greater stability and frmness to the
of justice by popular election Of
he Judges. For it stands to reason that judge,
Who cannot be displaced except by the concurrent
wills oftweve OR thirteen thousand men, will have
ess to fear from resoIute discharge of his duty
han one, who may be displaced by the caprice or
rejudice of two or three men, in or near the Gen.
raj Assembly. We will give greater stability to
ur laws by dispensing with one half the sessions
{ the General Assembly. Instead of the mere
ominal Executive, who now presides over our
fairs without sufficient power to be useful. we
ill provide an officer whose powers, will be more
dequate to the due discharge of his duties. This
eminently proper for as the Representatives and
enators must forever be chosen by counties and
istricts, the Governor who is chosen by general
cket, ought to have some real weight in our sys.
I'M and not be reduced to mere shadow as at
resent. Sone of the worst evils of our institu.
ons would thus find calm, peaceful and con-
itutonal remedy.