Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-01-24
OHIO LEGISLATURE.

Jan. IL.
In Senate today, Mr.. Dinmock from q
select committee, laid before that body, the
ablest written report, on the subject OF the
Homestead Exemption, that we ever recol-
lect to have heard. On motion to print
it, thu pop gun ofthe Muskingum Senator
was fired as matter Of course.
To-day the subject Of Governor was o.
gain up. The resolutions of Mr. Chase,
submitlad last week, for full and fair ex-
animation of the legal votes cast, were
laid on the table on tie vote.
Mr.. Swift offered a resolution, referring
to joint select committee the examination
Of the returns in the hands oft the Speaker
and of the Secretary of State, and II was
carried. Many ofthe democratic Sena-
tors opposed it on the ground that it was
travelling out of the record-going beyond
the legal evidence, and then stopping short
after portion Of the evidence, to show the
votes, legal and illegal, for Governor, were
examined, without going into that examin-
alton which would alone show the true
choice Of the people for Governor of the
state. The democrats were in favor of
rejecting all but the legal evidence, or if
o:her evidence was TO be presented, they
wished all the evidence to be heard, so as
to arrive at correct understanding Of the
matter, that they, and the freemen they
represented, might have all the facts before
them. This would not suit whiggery, and
IN amendment calling for all the facts was
voted down by a tie and a party vote.
In adopting the plan proposed by Mr..
Swift, the federal leaders have virtually a.
bandoned the whole ground assumed by
them on Monday last, that the Speaker Of
the Senate was alone the judge of the re-
turns. After talking for week, they
have referred that to committee which
they claimed could not be referred to q
committee, under the Constitution, and they
now stand in the predicament Of men,
whose assertions, in the Legislature and out
of it, are proven false by their votes, and
what is worse for them, by this vote they
acknowledge that their conduct in the
House Of Representatives, on Tuesday last,
while the two Houses were in joint Con-
vention, was a high handed outrage upon
the rights of the people, which cannot be
palliated by any excuse.
In the House the final blow was given
TO the rights Of the minority. A more G.
trocious exercise Of power was never wit
messed in free country, pretending to be
governed by written law. The rules of
legislative bodies, sanctioned, like the prin-
ciples of the common law by immemorial
usage, like the Egis Of the Constitution it.
self, considered therefore the surest and
the infallible protection of the minority of
the House, have been stricken down by
miserable majority Of two votes, and are
now ,trampled under the insolent feet of the
dominant faction in the House.
This is small matter in appearance.
So was the demand for Ship.money, which
brought the head of Charles the first 10 the
block. So was the tax on tea, which broke
the British Empire to pieces, and ushered
the American Republic into existence and
both Of these were for less insolept and
less dangerous invasions of right, than this
reckless and desperate step Of the majority.
this morning. The review of their con.
duct by Mr.. Letter, was scathing, and had
conscience place in the breast of any of
them, would have made them hide their
heads; but no such thing; they pressed in.
solently on to enjoy the fruits of their
crime. They were however defeated by
the GOODNESS and determination of the DEM
ocrats. Statesman