The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1848-03-10
From lie Ohio Statesman.

NeAkeh Suc hiout
Writers on law aud government have
eyefheld that courts ot law sh,uld be pure
and free from prejndice,-- that justice
like HE dows Of Heaven, should be dis
rsassd with an impartial hand, aud the
world has sanctioned Tie assertion. While
then, the fountains Of justice should be
kept pure, how much more needful is il
also 10 keep puiethe source from Which
juslicc flows. In a Republic, constituted
as is ours, laws are enforced, not by the
baJonet of Tired soldtery, as is the case
ii tle lnonarehical governments ofibosola
werld, but >, the force alone, Of public
pPiniup, and he swho tribes withthis pow
wr, and, BY unlaw lul acts, seeks 10 bring
The law making power of the State, or Of
o nation, into contempt, IS not a good
citizen, and deserves the soorn and de-
hesitation Of all who reverence the laws and
sAs constitution, enacted and formed for
thesprotc c,ion ofciyil rights aud ofptoper.
~
The ccnstiiulion has thrown certain re
ttricliuns around the law making pnwer,
forthe protection Of Il cilizen--au GER
and OF binding force on those who enacted
them, are formed for the prolec ion Of he
minority. and 10 preserve the people from
lie effects Of hasty and i'll digested legis
tation. While our government is formed
on the principle Of the majority ruling, il
also guardswitl studous care. the rights
ofthe minority.
The late legislative session disclosed
many acts calculated TO alarm the patriot.
Tie last election show the whig party
10 minority Of the people, yet in both
branches Of The legislature they held the
power. Tat power they determined to
perpetuate, that they, though represent |
Jog minority Of the people, might give
laws TO the State through all time. Every
four years, the constitution requires The
State to be Distracted, and the Senators
and Representatives apportioued among
the aeyeral counties OF the State. The
dominant party brought forward an ap
portiuBment bill, unequal and unjust in
its operations, and clearly uncoDstitutiou-
al in lis provisions. To secure power be
yopd the possibility Of doubt, 1t divided
couolies against the clearly expressed,an
we'll defined provisions OF the constitution,
and against The practice Of lis trainers anb
OF every legislature since first che State
government was brought into existence.
They also so ogerrymandered the other dis
trlcts, as to give minority Of the people,
who hold 20 the principles of the federal
party, largely the majority in the halls OF
legislation, thus rendering nugatory, the
avowed principle upon which our gov
eminent is framed, tho right of the maJor
ity TO rule, thus corrupting, for the basesi
party purposes, the law making power ,and
thus trampling under foot, and in the dust
that charter of our rights, the CONSTITUTION
OF the State, that they, witlloplifted hand,
before their God, had sworn TO preserve,
protect and defend. For tins apportion-
ment bill 30 enormous in its ipjustice--so
destructive of Republican government in
its principles, and so constitutional in
its provisions, every whig Senator and
every whig Representative recorded their
vote.
When the last question was about to be
taken, which would have made this infam
Gus and unconstitutional bill a law in one
minutes time-wilhout power or law to
test its unconstitulionality 10 the courts
of justice, fifteen Democratic Senators
left the chamber, and thus destroyed the
quorum, without which, under the cousti
luton, no business could be transacted,
except to compel the attendance of alb
sent members. and to adjourn from day 10
day. Before this was done, they announ.
ced to the whg members, and subsequent.
ly TO the world, their object and the mo-
tives which impelled them. BY remain
ing in their seats aud allowing the bill to
pass, they would become party the crime
OF violating the constitution. Under their
own proper signature they pledged them
selves to whig Senators aud to the world,
that II the sprorlionment bill was purged
ofits suncopstitutioDal features, by erasing
the clause which divided Hamilton coun.
ty, and il 1t was made to bear 'ecen the
sembiance Of an honest and fair dpporiioa-
meni,' in regard 10 other districts, they
would return to their seats and vote upon
its passage. II the whig Senators refused
this, then the democratic members offer,
ed, IL the obnoxious and unconstitutional
bill was laid on the ia Bile, 10 return and
finish up the remaining business OF the.
session. These propositions, 50 fair and
so honorable, were secuted by the federal
Senators. They knew, from the public
voice, as reflected in the late election,
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