Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-05-19
JOHN PORTER, EDITOR.
The Revolutionary Convention.


May has come and gone, the Revolutionary
Convention has met and adjourned, the SOlomOns
Of Locofocoism have convened at Columbus
and returned to their homes, and-the Conslilu-
tonofOhio, the Government ofiheSate, the te.
nure by which offices are held, the laws regua.
ting society, protecting the virtuous and punish
ing the misunderstanding the innocent and de.
livering up to justice the evil-doer,-are TO re-.
main in full force until the first Monday of De.
cember nexti when, unless the Wings of Ohio,
decided majority Of the freemen of The State,
follow in the wake Of the iuminary Of Democra.
ey, James K. Polk, and "back out" from their
position, abandon their just rights, strike their
coIors, ground arms, and, without a struggle,
deliver the State Government into the ruthless
hands of ocoiocosm,-execute quit. claim,
and deliver the keys ortt Treasury over 10 those
that have squandered its contents, pocketed the
revenues of the State, roted upon plunder, de-
voured the hard earnings Of the people, destroy.
ed their currency, and, finally, brought the Stale
to the verge of bankruptcy, the State Govern
ment is to be annhilated, al the pointof the bay
onet, if the majority will not knucke to the mi
nori,y. Anarchy and confusion, riot and blood.
shed, conspiracy and assassination, are to stalk
abroad, at MONDAY and night, in our streets, at
public places, at the freside, and, even at the
sacred altar, unless the people of Ohio, more
than million and half freemen, shall suc-
cumb to the dictates of about two hundred up
starts and political proAigates, lost to all moral
restraint-who presume 10 legislate for the State.
Such is the last shift of Locofocoism-such
the regard it pays 10 the rights Of the people
such the monstrous stride by which it would
regain power and place. The Constitution of
the State, the laws that regulate society and pro-
tect the honest from the reckessness OF designing
knaves. the moral restraints that cement man
kind in common brotherhood, are as cob webs
when they stand between Locofocoism and the
goal o. its ambition.
We do not desire to be understood as accusing
all of our opponents of participating mea-
sure for tramplng upon The Constitution and
laws of The State, and setting at naught the po-
litical and moral rights Of the people. Well do
we know that a large majority of them-the
calm, sober-minded, rejecting, and viruous por.
ton of the party, utterly detest the mad and suc-
dal course of the prime movers, the getters up,
and the members of the late Convention. Well
do know that even all the members of the
Convention did not agree in the nelarious doc
trines adopted by the majority. Well do we
know that, to consummate their wicked designs,
the gag had to be resorted to- the whip had 10 be
applied, the mouths of freemen had to be sealed,
that the freedom of speech was openly denied,
and that too, in Convention said to have been
called by the people, 10 deliberate upon the peo-
pies rights!
But, what is to be done! what is to be the re.
sultl The Convention deliberately-no, not
deliberately-but under the application of the
lash, resolved "That there is now ia existence
In Ohio, no law, by means Of which the State
Legislature can be formed and organized after
the second Tuesday in October next" and that
they call upon the Executive to "exercise the
prerogative vested in him by the Constitution,
and convene the Legislature for the purpose of
enacting the requisite law, for the apporlionment
Of Senators and Representatives among the sew
eral counties Of the State;" but that should the
Governor refuse to obey their behests, and decline
TO convene the legislature then "twl become
necessary for the Democratic voters of Ohio, as
measure of protectioa and self.defence, TO ap-
pear at the polls on the second Tuesday in DC.
tober, in all their force, and cast their surages
for Democratic candidates for the Senate and
House of Representatives, under the Wing ap.
measures for the preservation Of their just poIit
ical rights"
Now, let US briefly examine these positions.
It's first resolved that there is no law now in
existence by which new Legislature can be
elected; yet, with this avowal upon their lips,
with this sentiment proclaimed from sthe house
tops" with this declaration as the watch.word
of Locofocoism, they further resolve, without
law, without shadow of authority, to assemble
at the ballot-box, to bring every voter to the
polls, to poll their whole vote, and, if thew
should succeed in obtaining the majority in the
Legislature, then, "the Wing apportionment
scheme" will be fair and Constitutional law,
but should they fail, should the people decide
against them, the tenure of the State Govern
ment will have expired, the Constitution will no