The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-30
OHIO LEGISLATURE.
Letters from the Editor.


DEAR SIR:-In the Sen.te. yesterday, an an.
imaied discussion snsued on resolution introdu.
ced by Mr.. Archbold, to instruct the judiciary
committee to inquire into the cpnstitutionalty Of
the law giving the State Auditor the po wer to 10.
w taxes. The wings oppose the inquiry. What
can they be afraid of Ifthe law violates the con.
stution. let il be repealed and that speedily. The
Senate adjourned without any final action on the
resolution.
In the Senate, to-day. nothing was done. ex.
cept toread the minutes, and adjourn. Tho dem.
ocrats opposed the adjournment.
In the House, yesterday. nothing transpirsd e1.
cept the call Of the roll-ths wings meeting and
adjournng as usual.
To-day passed over the same - yesterday.
II may not be amiss to give you the precise state
of the case a. it now stands ia the House.
All are aware that the House. as organized by
the democrats, consists of 40 members. leaving
out Pugh aud Pierce, Of Hamilton; and that the
whig side consists Of 80. leaving out Spencer and
RunyaE. of the same county. The democrats
hav, agreed unanimously, that the House shall
be organized on plan submitted BY DR.. Towns.
end. which is as follows:
"Rsoiped. That the certificates of membership
which were handed to Mr.. Swift, Except those Of
Me,srs. Spencer and Runyan.) shall be passed to
the Clerks desk, and filed with those of the for.
ty.twa already on file. That, recognizing Mr..
Letter as Chairman, for the purpose of organiza.
h. frat huoin 81 half h. sh>
sideration Of the following resolution:
"ResolUed, That Messrs. Pugh and Pierce, are.
by their certificates, prin'a dcie entitled to seats
until their claims shall be finally decided upon
their merits. On which resolution. the said Pugh
and Pierce shall not be entitled to vote, but tho
same shall be decided by the remaining seventy
members. The vote on said resolution shall be
decisive OF the prima facie right of said Pugh
and Pierce to seats; but nothing in the aforesaid
proceedings shall be construed to interfere with
the right Of either Messrs. Spencer and Runyan,
Pugh and Pierce. to contest for such seats after
the organization.
On motion Of Dr.. Townsend. this proposition
was amended as follows:
"Whereas, Doubts are expressed a to tho
scope aud tendency of the second of the resolu-
tions passed by this House on the 18th inst. for
the purpose cf removing those doubts, be it
"Resoiued. That in the consideration Of said
resolution, Messrs. Spencer and Runyan are en,i-
tied to present the proofs they may have, of right
to seats as members prima facie, and to be heard
thereupon, and that such is the scope aud inten-
ton Of the said resolution"
Carried unanimously.
The whig side OF the House have submitted the
following proposition:
:'Resoiued, That for the purpose Of organiza-
ton. Mr.. Letter act as Chairman, and Mr.. Swift
as Clerk; that the certificates of members. incu.
ding those Of Messrs. Pugh and Pierce. Spencer
and Runysn, be placed on file al the Clerk desk;
that the first business transacted shall be the con.
sideraion Of the following resolution: "Resoiued,
That Messrs Pugh and Pierce are entitled tc
seats in the organization of this House" If said
resolution shall not BE- decided afirnatively, then
the next business shall he the consideration of the
following resolution: "Resoiued. That Messrs.
Spencer aud Runyan are entitled to seats in the or.
ganization Of this House." In the consideration
Of each Of the foregoing resolutions. Messrs.
Pugh and Pierce. Spencer and Runyan, may ap.
pear before the House, and present and advocate
their respective claims. but shall not be entitled
to vote-the question in both cases being left to
the decision Of the remaining seventy members;
providing that nothing herein contained shall be
construed to interfere with the rights of either Of
said parties TO present their claims for seats at er
the organization of the House. In case neither Of
said resolutions shall be decided atfirmatvely by
majority. Messrs Pugh. Pierce. Spencer and Run.
yan shall all stand aside until the organization Of
the House. and until their claims to seats he fully
settled.
.Resolped, That after the right to seats in the
organization shall have been thus disposed of. the
members shall next proceed 10 elect Speaker,
Clerk, and Sergeant-at-Arms, all pro fenpore-
that the Speaker shall forthwith appoint the usual
committees OH Privileges and Elections, to whom
shall be referred all certificates. papers. and claims
to seats, On which said committee shall as prompt
ly as possible report to this House.
"R solped. That there shall be no election Of
permanent officers. and no legislative business
transacted. unless by common consent ofthe mem.
bers, until all claims to seats shall be finally deci.
ded, except it be to communicate with the Senate.
and to be present with them at the opening and
publishing Of the vote for Governor
"Rtsoiued. That all questions relating to the
claims Of members to seats. shall be con- idered
separately. and in the order in which the counties
aud districts stand in the aPporionment law; and
no one shall have right to vote upon any ques.
tion in any way relating to bis own seat"
You will perceive by the foregoing that the
wings wish to block out our whole course of leg
slation. or at least such portion of it as will make
to their advantage. The democrats wish to occu.
py just such position as we would have occupied
on the first Monday. had the wings came into an
organization. For this purpose the democrats will
agree to proposition like the first resolution Of