The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-23
Ihope that | shall NOT be charged with

10 a Christian Assembly. But u such
sentiments take possession OF our
breasts. how long will we continue to
rend the bosoms of our COMMON MOTHER
in the insane rage of our party con-
Aicls. The dumb boy, when he saw
the sword raised 10 shed his fathers
blood, recovered his speech to forbid
the deed. In his transport he cried out
"don', kill King Philip" SO, ] say to
the men who, in their suicidal rage, are,
at this moment, tearing down the tenn
pie of our liberties, Forbear! Stay your
sacrllegious hands,! Leave that fabric
in all its fair proportions!!! Would to
God that ! could for one brief hour, pos
sess the talents Of an archangel,l | would
employ them all in administering to the
disorga the slernest rebuke.
As to the origin of our present diff.
cules few remarks will not perhaps
be deemed out of place. They have
their origin in the division Of Hamilton
County by the last apportionment law.
That law was palpabIy and unquestion
bly, unconstitutional. The third section
Of the constitution OF Ohio declares that
"The REPRESENTATIVES shall be chosen
annually by the citizens of each county
respectively on the second Tuesday OF
OCTOBER" There can be no doubt or
mistake about this language. l,is plain
and unequeIvocal. Ilcapnot he fritterd
away by Interpretation. 1t violates all
jus, rules of legal criticism "to interpret
that which has no need of interprela-
ton" But if it were possible Tor in
genious sophistry TO hang doubt about
the matter; ifany difficulty could posi-.
bly, urise about the construction Of this
clause Of the Constitution. when consid.
cred by itself, that detficul,y is removed
by the contemporaneous construction
given to it by the convention which
framed The instrument. In tho provi-
sional apportionment of Senators and
Representatives, made by that body,
they assign 10 this same Hamilton coun.
ty four Senators and eigh! Representa-
tlves, to Ross county two Senators and
four Representatives, &C., &c. Thus
giving practical construction to their
own instrument which had prevailed
unin nterrupledy Tor forty.fve years, un.
til new Ugh, broke ou: in the whig ma
ori,y last winter. No man could mis-
take the motives of that enactment or
pretended enactment. 1t was bare.
faced, unblushing attempt 10 seize poIit.
ical power by undue means. 1t tunsel-
lied foundations. { a construction of
The constitution. made SO early and con.
,inued so long and SO uninlerrup,edly,
is not 10 be considered settled, nothing
can ever be considered settled among
men. We are out a, sea without com
pass, chart, or rudder. Nay, we are
involved in chaos come again. In the
Morgan county contested election case,
a committee Of Wing Lawyers, with
Samson Mason a, their head reported
to the House Of Representatives., ;hree
years ago, that the idea Of an election
district less than a county was an ab.
surdily, unconstitutional impossibiHty."
This enactment "was conceived in
SIN, was shaped in iniquity," and the
memories Of gentlemen may supply the
reminder Of the quotation. Yet, two
gentlemen come up under its provisions
to claim seats, in the other House.
which the constitution forbids them to
hold, ard whoes very first official act is
violation of that sacred instrnmen, in
the oa,h. which they take to support il.
According to thar instrument. they are
mere usurpers in this capitoI they have
no business here. The difference be.
tween the two parties, amounts to this:
the wings CLAIM that their LAW is in
force; we claim that the CONSTITUTION
is in force, and it remains to be decided
which is TO prevail. Come what will,
The democrats have done their duty.
Every topic Of reason and argument
was exhausted to induce relentless
majority to pause in their career. Vt
W wouId be recolected by every gentle.
man, who was present at the debate
Of the last session On the apporiionnent
bill, ,ha, he, Mr.. Archbold, after every
effort of opposition had been exhaust.
ed, called upon his democratic friends
10 cease their vain opposition, TO stand
aside, and look upon the countenance
of lawless power-to stand aside, and
witness an exhibition of arbitrary
power, acting upon the maxim Of ty.
rants, old as tyranny, "Ciive no right.
take no wrong" These walls had rung
with those warnings, yet they passed
unheeded as the idle wind. The Car
of Juggernaut must move forward over
law and right, and constitution, bot the
democratic people ofOhio are not Hin.
doos; not one of them will cast himself