The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-01-13

a substitute for legislative Assembly
The protestants conceive the acts
granting this authority to the Auditor to
be clearly unconstitutional on another
ground. The constitution Of this state
provides that mo money shall be drawn
from the Treasury except in conse-
qusnce appropriations made by law"
Is any appropriation made 10 pay the
interest on ou: state debt, or Tor repairs
on the public works? We discover no.
thing Of The kind in the annual appropri-
alton bills. The money paid into the
treasury from the eighty.iour counties
goes out by the sole authority Of our
money.monarch; for our meagre little
civil list is scarce worthy Of notice in
this connexion. 1t is said that the origi.
nal act besto wing authority on the state
Auditor to levy taxes made the appro-
priations. If this argument is sound,
appropriations may be made hundred
years before hand. They may be made
without knowing The person of the re-
clPieni, the amount Of the sum, or the
object Of the grant. They may be made
in the mast general and sweeping man
ner, which amounts 10 making Just ex-
actly no appropriations at ali!! Provis-
ions substantially similar to this are
found in the constitutions oil most Of the
states Of the union. They are intend
ed to prevent gross abuses. In coloni-
al times u custom had sprung up in the
colonial Assemblies, Of granting large
sums OF money in general way with
out specifications. Coming soon found
means to make profit by such loose leg
lslatlon; hence 1t has been forbidden as
nuisance in our state constitutions.
Do not the laws, which we impugn as
unconstitutional, introduce this mischief
again in its worst form?
Can any thing be more fuctuating,
more uncertain than the amount of in.
Vulnerable leans paid and unpaid, and
OF the sum necessary to keep in repair
our extensive system OF public works?
Have not our state bonds, under the
operation of these laws sometimes, sold
as low as fifty-two cents on the dollar?
Appropriations made twenty five years
before hand!
Some gentlemen high in authority,
and distinguished BY the confidence Of
their political friends, boldly cut the
Gordian Knot, instead Of attempting 10
unite it. They contend that the origi-
nal enactment, deIegating the taxing
power to the State Auditor, provided
for loans, and provided this engine Of
taxation to meet those loans, and this
law being Of considerable age, must be |
supposed to have received the passive
assent Of the people, and this passive !
assent as they contend, has changed;
he constitution. Positive preceder I'll
ire admitted to possess conside prope
weight, not in changing apk koro7 physi
'ut in calculating and ex, Time ap' class,
ure and design. But a chaplain spons
lie mere absence ofind prepare and o
s'S"'o"' Pio'e htsneN oil mi
weigh lIg ne could Inhue
n the balance. 1t death. bul alton,
buses OF yfsierday,5 WEST. G idl
edents Of today. | tT md
'eallng from the many ROE ca oguard
yrah's OF o'd PreValied----, cautIc
,odern speculators prev. W;re ing q,
hey will prevail indeed e,,or s' =, ed, ar
ind are sufficiently unenood,dsld, Monp ,
e cajoled by tho films .E.. ssl.s
ur opponents. which GLoUs swF171Nc.
we otiose assent evaiplied forms, whether in